Peace or Not (Avatar Roleplay)

"I don't like dancing," said Toph. "And nobody asked me." She laughed. "I think I scared some of those kids."

"Well, you weren't exactly as friendly to them as Aang," Sokka joked with a grin. He liked her laugh, he decided in the back of his mind.

*

A man with a Blue Spirit mask stood upon the roof of the palace, unseen by anyon save for his companions that flanked both his sides. He loaded the dart-thrower on his wrist, a useful contraption, even if he prefered Dao Swords. He aimed it at the first of his targets, one of the Avatar's former companions, the Water Tribe boy. He was dancing with the blind girl. How convenient. He'd take both of them down within seconds of each other.

"Ha! You expect me to be nice to anyone?" said Toph, smirking. "I'm hardly nice to you, and I actually like you. I'm just ornery by nature, I guess." He was holding her close, so she grew bold again and drew closer to him. "I am having fun, though, by the way."

Sokka laughed aloud and shook his head, "Don't ever change. I'm glad you're having fun. I am too. Nothing can ruin this nigh-ARGH!"

A dart was protruding from his neck and Sokka's eyes widened as men dressed in red Oni masks burst into the garden, some using firebending while others used regular weapons. Sokka glanced at them in surprise before moving in front of Toph to take another dart as he fell to the ground, twitching and sweating.

"Good evening ladies and gentlemen," came a mocking voice as a figure wearing a Blue Spirit mask jumped onto the ground, drawing Dao swords, "We are tonight's entertainment."

Mai scowled as she watched the panic, Fire Nation soldiers moving to intercept the attackers as the party guests ran away in panic.

"Sokka!" cried Toph. Horror laced through her as he just crumpled to the floor. She knelt beside him, her hand pressed against his chest. His heartbeat was racing a mile a minute and his breathing was labored. "Sokka, what's wrong?!"

He didn't answer. Someone else did.

She did not recognize the person who spoke, but she could feel as several more people darted into the garden, and she could hear the terrified shouts of the wedding guests.

What was going on?

Aang stood and glared at the masked man. "Who are you, and what do you want?" he demanded.

"Why, I simply want you and everyone else here dead," the masked man told the Avatar cheerfully, "As for who I am, well, if I wanted you to know, I wouldn't be wearing a mask, would I? Shame about the Water Tribe boy, by the way. Such a waste. Perhaps he would be able to speak if he didn't move to take his girlfriend's poison as well."

"He's a rebel, Aang. He wants to kill Zuko and put someone on the throne to continue the War," Mai scowled, stabbing two of the rebels in the throat who had foolishly tried to to kill her.

"Oh, I just want to have fun. I have the antidote for your friend, Avatar, but then, I think many will die without the Avatar's help," the man mocked, holding a vial up before placing it on his belt, "What's it going to be?"

Sokka's eyes flickered to the man, his vision becoming blurry and his mouth gurgling with his own spit. Three of the rebels moved towards a group of kids, swords ready.

Aang really did not have a chance to accept or turn down the man's dare. Toph had barreled into the intruder within seconds. She moved like a feral animal, and a menacing light seemed to shine in her normally blank eyes.

"Give up that antidote, or I'll crush your balls," she said, stalking after him again.

Aang would have joined her, but he saw several of the guests were now being attacked. Slashing his staff, he sent a wave of air crashing into the rebels.

The Blue Spirit laughed aloud, letting the Avatar pass. This would be fun. Besides, he could trust the others to kill the Avatar and the Fire Lord.

He smirked behind his mask, "I would suggest you don't waste your time with empty threats, little one. Your boyfriend doesn't have much time, what with foolishly taking the dart meant for you. Now, how does that make you feel?"

"What, can't you tell? It pisses me off!"

Toph slid forward on her feet, pushing her arms out. Her palms opened, and the ground responded to her silent call. It rumbled and then rose, almost roaring, and came crashing after the masked man.

The masked man's eyes widened beneath his mask and rolled to the side to dodge the crashing earth. He grinned and charged at her, his swords ready.

"I shall enjoy this!"

"Oh, so you enjoy getting your butt kicked?" Toph took up a stance and measured his footsteps as they drew closer and closer to her. "That's fine by me."

Just before he reached her, she stomped her foot. The ground erupted beneath him, and a pillar shot upwards, aiming for his chest.

The man grunted, his breath leaving his lungs in an instant as he was knocked back onto the ground. He sat up and took a knife from his belt and threw it at her.

"I always enjoy a challenging kill," he told her.

Toph twisted, her arms tucking into her sides as she turned. Another section of the ground shot up, creating a shield. It deflected the man's thrown blade.

That was close, she thought. She had never been as good at defending herself from air-born weapons as she was against benders. If she hadn't sensed him move through the earth...

"You're going to be disappointed tonight, then," she said. She kicked the shield, and sent it hurtling towards him. "Now give me that antidote!"

He dodged to the side and cursed. He'd have to get close to the girl if he was going to end this. He smirked. She really was a challenge. Not even his thrown blade had thrown her off. He charged towards her, moving this way and that in order to confuse her.

"Now where's the fun in that?" he asked her.

He was not doing anything to attack her just yet, so Toph held her stance and "watched" his movements. The second he started an attack, she would know, and she would not hold back. This loser would pay for poisoning Sokka!

The thought of Sokka made her stomach twist. She hoped he could hold out a little bit longer.

"Now you die!" he shouted gleefully as he jumped so that he was behind Toph, his blades coming down to slice her neck. He grinned darkly. He wondered if he would manage to get the Avatar into his Avatar State because of this.

Darn, the guy was quick. Thanks to her preoccupation with Sokka, she had allowed him to get too close!

Toph jumped forward to try and avoid his attack. One of his blades managed to slice her across the back, however. Crying out, she stumbled forward. While she was falling, she punched out an arm.

A boulder ripped from the dirt and slammed towards the man.

The man's eyes widened and he was knocked back into a wall, hearing a snap as his his arm was bent the wrong way. He grimaced as he tried to get up but he couldn't. It looked like his back was damaged as well. Damn it. He should have went ahead with the kill. He looked over at the blind girl. He was completely at her mercy now.

"Well, looks like you got me," he told her, "Wonder if it's not too late."

*

Suki, meanwhile, hit a man on the head with one of her fans before kicking him in the chest. She looked around, Fire Nation soldiers and rebels fighting everywhere. At least, she reassured herself, the soldiers were keeping everyone safe.

She turned to Jet, "Well, you wanted to fight Fire Nation."

"It better not be," she snarled. She felt hot blood, her blood, running down her back. The wound stung and ached, making it hard for her to move. But move she did, because she did not want to appear weak or bothered by her wound in front of him. She stomped towards him. "Now give me that antidote!"

He handed it to her and laughed, as if this was the funniest thing he had ever seen, "Take it, you earned it. Tell him I said hi."

Toph just scowled in the man's general direction. Without a word, she ran back into the garden. The fighting continued, but she focused on only one set of vibrations.

Sokka.

He was still laying where he had fallen. Toph slid to a halt beside him. She lifted up his head with one hand, and held the vial of antidote in the other.

"Sokka, pay attention," she said, trying to sound strong and sure of herself. Deep down, sh was terrified she was too late. "Drink this. It'll help."

She pressed the vial against his lips.

Sokka could only nod as he felt the antidote pour into his mouth, doing his best to drink it without twitching. He coughed a little, breathing heavily as his body calmed somewhat. He was still sweating, but he could see without his vision blurring. His vision centered on Toph and, in particular, the blood staining her dress. His eyes were filled with worry. Was she hurt? He'd never forgive himself if she was wounded badly.

His breathing evened out, and though his heartbeat was still faster than it should have been it was returning to usual too. Toph released a half sigh, half sob, and held him close to her. She didn't care that it hurt her back.

"Don't scare me like that again!" she said.

Sokka blinked, surprised first by her actually hugging him and next by her tears. He hugged her back slowly, ignoring the fighting around him. He felt blood on his hand he embraced her. He frowned.

"Don't worry. I won't," he promised her, "Are you okay?"

She flinched as he hugged her, but Toph still managed to smile. She didn't want to worry him.

"What kind of a question is that?" she said. "Of course I'm okay." More seriously, she added, "How 'bout you? Wait, hold that thought. We need to get you outta here."

Toph stood, helping Sokka to his feet.