Book Four: Air

IC: Soldiers

One of the men swore. "He sure is loud! Annoying geezer..." he snarled.

The leader sighed. "Fine, old man. We'll let you take a piss. But that better be all you do!"

"You sure, sir?" asked the third soldier.

He shrugged.

They opened the door, and quickly brought a sword up to Iroh's neck.

***

IC: Toph

She snorted. "Please," said Toph. "I'm not stupid enough to ask for a secession. I'd never start an incident." She laughed, and added, "At least not a big one."

They walked out into the streets of Lo Shan. It was only then when her good mood somewhat dwindled.

"This... I've got a feeling it's not gonna end well, Sokka."

***

IC: General Narrative

The officer did not back down from the new set of accussations. He was loyal to his nation and to his beloved Fire Lord, and while the words angered him he knew to keep his cool. Falling into a temper would help no one.

He could only hope his men would do the same.

"I could say the same thing of you," said the officer. "Or the Colony leaders who have called for this secession. Who is to say they really have your best interests at heart? They very well may be after power for themselves. I would not doubt it. Some have had very dirty pasts, and yet you listen. You think what they have to say is worth something. Still, you will not give Fire Lord Zuko a chance. Your words sound pretty, but they betray hypocrisy. You point fingers without looking inward."

He drew back his shoulders.

"And do not question what happened that day in the War Room. Everyone knows it truly happened. Had those generals listened to our Fire Lord, maybe my brothers would have been spared."

He nodded at his men. The soldiers drew in closer.

"Now please move along. You are disrupting the peace."

Sokka frowned. He knew his friend well-enough to know that she didn't worry about things lightly. He nodded in agreement, "I know what you mean. During the War, I thought everything would be perfect after Ozai was defeated. Now we have rebels in the Fire Nation and colonies calling for succession."
He smiled reassuringly at his friend and held her hand, "Don't worry too much, though. You and the others are the best benders in the world and I'm a genius." He grinned at the last part, proud of himself.

He was holding her hand.

Her hand.

Toph felt her entire face heat up. Thankfully, it seemed Sokka was enjoying boasting and did not notice. At least she hoped not.

She struggled to get the telling sign of her affections off her face.

"A genius at what? Eating meat and tripping?" she said.

Teasing him helped, and he knew her well enough to know that she was not being unkind. They did this sort of banter all the time. Nothing hid that they thought highly of each other.

And she did think he was a genius.

She squeezed his hand.

"C'mon, genius, I'll buy you a meat platter. I found this really great place. Two platters for the price of one, and all you can eat!"

"I happen to be a geinus swordsman and planner!" protested Sokka, oblivious about how much hold her hand meant to Toph. His eyes then lit up when she mentioned the meat place. He grinned at her, "Toph, you are awesome!"

Aang


The wind blew through Appa's fur as the skybison landed in front of what Aang assumed was where they would be staying as it was the largest building on the island. "Well I guess since we're late we might as well find Sokka." He suggested as he looked towards Katara with a rather relieved smile now that they were this close to seeing everyone again.

Citizens

"No! We will not leave. We shall stand out ground. We have a right to protest here. You will have to make us move." the previous protester said. The crowd voiced similar motives. Only a few left in fear of the soldiers.

“Ahh! Thank you!” Iroh said as he stood up and got out of the box.
.
As they were walking towards a near by tree Iroh said “Do you know how I got the name Dragon of the West?”

Not many people knew the actual reason why or how he got that name. They just knew he was called that. Iroh grinned and turn around to face the men.

IC: Soldiers

The leader pointed a sword directly in Iroh's face.

"Of course we do," he said. "You breathe fire. And if you even think about doing it, you'll regret it, old man."

His two fellows drew in closer. One held up his hands in a firebending stance. The other had no visible weapons and did not take up a firebending stance, but his eyes were watchful and suspicious.

***

IC: Toph

She laughed. "Of couse I am! I'm glad you finally realize that!" She let go of his hand, very reluctantly, and thumped him on the back. "That means you definitely deserve a free meal."

Toph lead Sokka to the restaurant in question. It dealt mainly in meat platters, of meals that had meat as a large portion. Toph had discovered it the day she had arrive at Whale-Tail Island. She loved meat almost as much as Sokka did.

The main room--there were separate booths for high-paying customers--was filled with tables and chairs. A bar up front boasted ales and sake for the harder drinkers. Toph took up her usual place, near a window, and scooted over so that Sokka would have room.

It smelled wonderful already.

***

IC: Lord Shu

"Ah! Avatar Aang! Lady Katara!"

A finely-robed man raced out to greet Aang and Katara.

"You have arrived. Welcome, welcome, to Whale-Tail Island. I am Lord Shu, the owner of the house where the delegates and representatives are staying."

***

IC: General Narrative

"You leave us no choice, then," said the officer. "We have orders to move you. We cannot allow you to endanger the other civilians of this colony. Men!"

The soldiers moved forward. They rose up iron-plated shields with which to protect themselves. They knew not to use excessive force, unless they were attacked, and right now they only wished to try and disperse the protesters before anyone was hurt.

IC: Azon

The cloaked man carefully walked up from the coast of the sea, keeping his head bowed low. Whaletail Island was large, and he just happened to be on the wrong side.

"A little walking will do me good," he said, catching sight of a local farm.

"What happened here...?"

The small field before the home was nothing but ash, a farmer slowly moving through what used to be his crops. Azon continued foward, approaching the man who looked up at the stranger.

"What happened here?" Azon now asked the man.

The farmer gave a sad grin and shook of his head.

"Thugs...torched my whole field. I have a family to support...."

The man trailed off, simply shaking his head. Azon watched him carefully, and slowly bent down beside him.

"I think your field will be fine."

The man tilted his head up to smile into Azon's darkened hood.

"That's kind of you to say stranger, but this field is dead."

Azon shook his head in disagreement, placing his head upon the ash. The farmer looked on in awe as a blinding green light seemed to swell beneath Azon's palm. The ash upon the whole field started to stir, and up shot stalks of vegetables, healthy and green, reaching towards the sky.

The farmer stumbled to his feet, looking around in gawking amazement as Azon got to his feet next to him.

"How did you...."

Azon simply shook his head, and the man could make out a smile in the darkness of his hood. Azon turned, and continued down the dirt road.

Sokka grinned as he followed Toph into the restaurant. He spoke, "Mind if I order cactus juice? Suki hasn't been letting me drink." He frowned a little, "I can control myself!"

IC: Toph

"Sure you can," said Toph. She thought a little, then shrugged. "Go ahead and knock yourself out, Snoozles. Today's been a crap-fest. We should have a little fun."

Suki would probably be irritated that she bought Sokka cactus juice, of course. Toph decided not to worry about it.

"Here's some money." Toph shoved a few coins into his chest, and waited until he held it for himself. "I'll go ahead and order us food."

***

IC: Mercenaries

The trip over the sea had been peaceful, if fruitless. No ideas had been put forth as to how they could spirit away the Blind Bandit from her friends. But at least now, Kara thought, they had a chance to observe their target.

And it had not been hard to find her.

They had only just docked and walked off the ship when they saw her. She was walking with a Water Tribe youth. The two walked into a restaurant, most likely for lunch, since it was that time.

***

OOC: I'm going to cut down the number of mercs. So there is Maku, the leader, Kara, the Water Tribe woman, and Chan, the former Earth Kingdom soldier. The other two haven't done much, anyway.

Sokka nodded in thanks before deciding to tease Toph a little, "You know, it's usually the man that pays."
With that said, he left to buy himself some cactus juice from the bar.

"Well, seeing as how I do wear the pants in our odd little relationship, I guess it fits!" shouted Toph back at Sokka.

She laughed to herself as she took a seat at their table. She had missed their banter and the sarcasm. What irritation she had felt with him before was now long gone.

The waitress came by and asked for Toph's order. Toph bought both she and Sokka the House Special, which was basically a plate filled with different types of meat. She figured Sokka would like that.

Heck. She'd like it too.

Sokka rolled his eyes as he ordered himself his cactus juice, but he smiled despite himself. He gave the barkeeper his money and returned with a grin. He sat across from Toph.

To tell the truth, he hadn't been this comfortable in ages. He raised an eyebrow at her, "What'd you order?"

"Drink your juice and wait," said Toph, easily enough. She took a gulp of her own drink: cider. Smacking her lips, she added, "Let it be a surprise. Trust me, though. You'll like it."

A few minutes later, the waitress returned with their House Specials. The two trays were filled with meat selections: chicken-pig pork, elk-steer steak, rabbit-hen drumsticks and breasts, and a small bowl of meat stew, to name a few.

Toph dug into hers as soon as she had the chance.

Citizens

"We shall stand our ground! You cannot make us move!" a protester shouted. The crowd surged forward, attempting to push the soldiers back.

Jing

"Where is Maku?" Jing asked the mercenaries. She had yet to see the mercenary arrive on the island.

(Where's the loyalist citizens?)
Sokka practically drooled when he saw the meet. He murmured overdramatically, "I love you, Toph."
With that said, he started stuffing himself with as much meat as possible, forgetting his manners.

IC: Mercenaries

"Maku will join us when he arrives," said Kara. "He had something in mind. We need to trust him. Until then, we watch." She smiled at her companions. "And perhaps have some lunch?"

They walked into the same restaurant they had seen the girl enter. They took seats across the room from her, and acted as any other patrons. The only difference was that they kept a close eye on the Blind Bandit.

***

IC: General Narrative

"Yes, we can. And we will," said the officer. He nodded at one of his soldiers. "Set up a perimeter. We do not need anyone else getting involved in this mess."

"Yes, sir!"

Several soldiers darted off to keep the rest of the colony out of harm's way. The others continued to push at the protestors. If anyone became violent, the soldiers rapped them with small batons.

***

IC: Toph

She felt herself blush again to hear those words. Toph shoved her feelings away with some disgust, and with herself. Of course he didn't mean it the way she would like for him to mean it.

He had bad manners, but so did she, so she did not point it out to him. This was a time for them to enjoy themselves.

***

OOC: None have shown up. I'm guessing this Colony is largely sympathetic to the seccessionist cause.

(Ah. I see.)
After awhile, Sokka was happy and full of meat. He leaned against his chair and grinned at his friend, "So, what have you been doing in the Fire Nation besides bodyguarding?"

Toph finished her meal around the same time Sokka did. She belched and leaned back, patting her full tummy. A satisfied sigh left her.

That was much better.

Sokka asked his question. Toph shrugged.

"Not too much. I've run around and participated in a couple of small earthbending tournaments. I went home but didn't stay long. I guess you could say I'm sort of an ambassador in the Fire Nation, but that's a bit much. I'm just staying there."

She did not dare say she had been very lonely the past few months. Even Zuko was too busy for her, it seemed, and the others were off doing their own thing.

Sokka nodded in understanding. To tell the truth, he was sympathetic to her. She didn't really have a home. Her parents weren't necessarily the type that anyone would want to live with in Toph's position.
He leaned back and belched himself. He spoke, "You're always welcome at the South Pole if you ever need somewhere to stay."

“Well good you guys do know! Let me tell you not many people do. I feel so sad sometimes, such a famous figure I’ am and sometimes they don’t even know my stories.” He was talking too much. Trying to win sometimes was key, now that his surprise was spoiled, for they knew that he could breathe fire.

“Ohh well it’s too sad about your sword” Iroh said as he looked at the men. Suddenly a burst of flames came from his mouth, it was so hot that it melted some of the blade and burned the man’s hand and some part of his arm.

Iroh turned quickly to the other 2.

IC: Toph

She was surprised by the offer, though she supposed she shouldn't be. Sokka was a generous guy, and although they had not seen each other in a while, Toph knew he cared about her.

All the same, his words touched her. It helped ease the ache that remained at knowing her parents would possibly never be proud of her, the real her.

"The South Pole?" Toph shrugged. "I'd just get in your way down there, Snoozles. I'd never be able to get around in all that snow and ice."

***

IC: Soldiers

The leader yowled, swearing loudly, as he jumped back to avoid the worst of the flames. He dropped his red-hot sword, but the weapon was long since damaged past repair. Burn wounds covered his forearm and hand.

The firebender immediately shot out a few blasts of flames at Iroh. The third soldier came in, moving quickly and swiftly, his hands poised in a familiar stance.

***

IC: General Narrative

The soldiers continued to push the unruly crowd. Though no one wished to move, and their efforts to restore peace to the street was slow, the officer thought they would be sucessful.

But then it all fell apart.

"Go back to your homes!" he shouted, as he aided his men. He never used too much force, but he was firm. "Enough of this! I will grant a few of you an audience with our governor in the next town meeting, if you agree to move out now! This is not the way to--URG!"

The officer stumbled forward. His face was as pale as snow. Blood dribbled from his gaping mouth.

Somehow, someone had stuck a dagger into his unprotected side. The officer crumpled to the ground in a pool of his own blood.

He did not get back up.

The death of the officer infuriated the other soldiers. The angry one from earlier, who had responded badly to the protesters, led a more violent charge against the crowds.

"Move them along, no matter what it takes!" he shouted. "Smack the traitors across the face if you have to! Arrest those who resist!"

Sokka grinned at the thought of Toph amongst all the snow and ice in the South Pole. He spoke, "I'd buy you some shoes so you feet don't freeze."
He paused for a moment, as though deep in thought. He spoke, "You know, we never gave you a nickname like you did to everyone else, did we?"

Aang

"It is an honor to meet you Lord Shu. We apologize for missing the first meeting but there was some important business that delayed us on our way here." The Avatar explained after getting down from Appa so he could stand properly in front of the man.