"You sure it's okay for him to come along?", A tall young man with short black hair styled into a wolf's cut with a ponytail and dressed in Southern Water Tribe clothing asked with a frown as he sat along with his friends in the saddle of an air bison, looking over the side at the komodo rhino keeping pace.
"Yeah, he's just going to destroy my parents' garden otherwise," A short young woman with her hair styled into a Gao Ji and two bangs framing her face, her lithe form dressed in royal Earthbending martial uniform.
"You sure we're allowed to take him, Toph?", Another young woman dressed in the same Southern Water Tribe clothing as the first young man asked with a raised eyebrow, her brown hair styled into a ponytail with hair loopies on either side.
"Honestly? I think Toji'll be pissed, but he'll get over it and come find us."
"I'm hoping he does," A familiar voice spoke with a harsh tone, everyone looking towards the woman that had spoken as Suki sharpened her katana with a glare in her eyes.
"Suki, like I've said before, you must-"
"Aang, if you're going to give me another speech about forgive and forget, I will cut your balls off," The woman spoke, to which the bald sixteen year old teen at the steering seat of the air bison just flinched and decided to turn around before he lost his family jewels.
"And like I've said so many times, you touch a hair on Toji's head and I'll beat the shit out of you."
"Oh, you think that you can protect him from me?"
"No, I'm protecting you from him. I've gotten strong enough to beat your ass without trying and I'm very sure Toji can do the same."
"That's a bit too optimistic there, Toph. I know the guy is supposed to be famous, but no one has seen him in over three years," The Water Tribe young man spoke with a raised eyebrow and Toph snorted as she shook her head.
"Nah, Sokka. One thing I know about Toji is that he's far too persistent to just croak over and die. That and he's promised me that he'd come back."
"And you expect him to honour his promise? He's a lying, conniving, stealing bastard that deserves to rot at the lowest levels of the Spirit World."
"Aw, are you mad 'cause he manipulated you into liking him?"
"I will punch you, blind or not, Toph."
"Make a move," Toph spoke as she cracked her knuckle, but the Water Tribe woman quickly moved in between the two and Toph pouted in disappointment as Suki sheathed her katana with a huff.
"Thanks for stopping that, Ms. Katara," The final member of the saddle spoke with a shaky smile, taking off his bucket hat and wiping the sweat from his forehead as Professor Zei of Ba Sing Se University looked tensed at the glares the two girls gave each other.
"My pleasure, Mr. Zei. Now, are you sure that the library actually exists?"
"Unfortunately I cannot say with certainty that it does exist, but what I do know is that this is what it looks like so if you spot anything that looks like this, make sure to let us know."
"Oh, there it is!", Toph spoke with a grin as she pointed in the distance, everyone looking excitedly only to blink as they saw nothing at all.
"That's what it will sound like when one of you find it."
"You really like to do your blind jokes, huh?", Sokka spoke with a shake of his head to which Toph cackled as the others grumbled before she looked down to Iron.
"Hey, Iron! Big place with a sharp tip at the top and kind of like the dumplings you like to eat!", She shouted down, grinning as Iron took a whiff before he moved off to the side.
"Aang, follow him. He'll take us there."
"You sure?"
"Iron can find a piece of candied ham in the middle of a forest. He can definitely find what you're looking for," She spoke and Aang shrugged as he pulled at the reins of his air bison Appa, the beast rumbling as he turned and followed after Iron.
"We're just going to trust that thing?", Sokka asked, shrugging as everyone just stayed silent and they followed after him. It was moments later that everyone was surprised when Iron raced towards a tower sticking out from the ground, the top of it matching the tallest spire of the library on the drawing in front of Zei.
"That's it? I thought this library was supposed to be a lot bigger?", Aang asked as they landed, Toph hopping down onto the ground and her eyes widened slightly as she felt the entirety of the building below the sand.
"Uh, this is the library."
"Toph, not to doubt your 'sonar vision', but how is this the building if-It's underground, isn't it?", Sokka murmured with a sigh, Toph nodding as they watched her stomp onto the ground with a frown.
"It's...deep, yeah. I can't feel the bottom of it, but I can feel the many books underneath the ground."
"Lovely. Well, how the hell are we getting in?"
"That is a good entry point," Katara spoke up, everyone looking up at where she was pointing to see a window at the tallest point of the tower."
"Aang?"
"Throw," Aang spoke as he unfolded his air glider, shooting up while catching the rope Sokka threw at him and flying through the window.
Tying it to one of the spikes outside, Sokka waited before nodding as Aang returned, the teen landing beside him with a grin and a thumbs-up.
"Rope is secured."
"Good. Now, who's going down and who's staying with these two?"
"I'll stay outside."
"I will too," Suki spoke with a frown and Toph raised an eyebrow at that as Katara narrowed her eyes.
"We won't come back to you two fighting each other, will we?"
"Don't worry. I won't provoke her, but I can't say the same for her."
"I will do my best not to injure her," Suki spoke with a frown as she sat in the shade that Appa provided, Sokka shrugging as Katara sighed before the two of them along with Aang and Zei made their way through the window.
"So, can I ask? Did you really like Toji before he dumped you?"
"I don't want to talk about it."
"So, that's a yes, then. Okay, secondly, why did you tag along with them if you were going out and about looking for him?"
"Because Toji is a bounty hunter at heart and the bounty the Fire Nation put on the Avatar's head is more than enough to entice him. Combined with the fact that he always likes to prove himself superior to everything else, he'll most definitely come to fight against the Avatar and I'll be waiting."
"To die, most likely. I've seen your moves with that blade when you fight against others and let me tell you that you're only at the same level he was when he left Gaoling."
"That does not matter to me. I'm simply going to retrieve Kyoshi's fans and hopefully, I never have to see his ugly face again."
"I wouldn't say he's ugly, more like a rugged handsome kind," Toph answered with a shrug, Suki turning her head to glare at the girl before Toph narrowed her eyes as she felt vibrations approaching.
"We got incoming."
"How many?"
"Can't say. The sand is shifting too much and from the weight and the sound...they're on boats?"
"Sand gliders and only sandbenders can use them. They're nomads," Suki spoke with a frown as she stood up, turning her head to the right when she finally heard the sound of them approaching.
"So, what's your plan? You wanna take one side and I take the other?"
"They could be here to talk," Suki spoke, to which Toph gave her a flat stare before shaking her head.
"Sure. Fine, I'll do it," Toph shrugged as she cracked her neck, reaching for her pockets before pulling out four small bags. Opening each one before dumping their contents onto the ground, the many marble-sized iron balls thumped against the sand before Toph cracked her fingers.
Stomping onto the sand, she hardened the sand below their feet before flicking her hands up, the iron balls floating up as she felt the sandbenders' sand-gliders stopping in front of them.
"I'll give you all one chance. Either, you turn and you leave or you try your luck and I riddle you with holes. Take your pick."
"Keep them busy. Take the rhino and the bison."
"Yeah, wrong answer," Toph whispered before she punched forward, the iron marbles shooting forward with sonic booms rippling behind them.
The sandbenders yelped as several marbles shattered the wood and the cloth of the gliders, Toph pulling her hands back and the marbles with them as the sandbenders rolled across the ground.
Unsheathing her katana in a swift motion as the first charged with a rope towards Appa, Suki rushed at him and sliced through it, another slash cutting through the back of their knees before she kicked them forward and cut deep into their wrists.
Iron and Appa were not stationary either as the air bison bellowed, flapping his tail to whip up strong gusts while Iron charged through everything in its path with a roar.
Toph on the other hand was a monster as she danced in the centre of numerous sandbenders, disrupting their sand while throwing her marbles around to tear through their bodies and gliders with ease.
Soon, it was just Suki and Toph left standing, Appa floating back down and Iron chewing on the leg of a sandbender that was torn off by Toph's iron marbles.
"That wasn't too bad."
"Look alive. We got one more," Suki spoke with a frown as she looked into the distance, staring at the cloaked figure walking across the sand with their hood up and a spear in hand.
To their surprise, Iron let out a bellow as it charged at the figure, Appa right behind him as the two beasts made their way towards the figure who let out a soft chuckle.
"As stupid as always, eh boy?", Toph's eyes widened at the familiar voice and tone before the figure vanished, appearing above Appa while swinging his spear down.
The beast rumbled in pain as the spear dug through the saddle and into its back, falling to the ground with a spray of blood before the figure vanished and caught Iron's charge with one arm.
"No way," Toph whispered in surprise and delight as the figure pushed against Iron with some struggle before he pushed the beast into the ground, Suki's eyes widening as she saw the figure taking off their hood.
"Not bad, boy. You've gotten stronger," Toji spoke with a grin as he rubbed Iron's horn, the rhino letting out a happy growl as its leg twitched.
Looking back up at the two women, Toji stared at the katana drawing closer before ducking under it, rolling away while stabbing behind him.
Suki blocked the strike with gritted teeth even as it sent her sliding backwards, a snarl on her face as Toji stood up while raising an eyebrow.
"Do I know you? I feel like I know you."
"That's Suki, dipshit," Toph spoke up and Toji blinked as he turned and looked at the young woman walking up to him with a grin.
"Toph? Damn, the short girl didn't get tall at all," That was not far from the truth as she still only came up to his chest, but as she thumped him in the stomach with a grin, he grunted in surprise at the force that came with it.
"Yep, still as freakishly strong as ever."
"Shut up," She spoke with a scoff as she held out her hand, Toji raising an eyebrow before he grinned and grabbed it in a firm grip right as Toph pulled him into a hug.
"Huh, you never were big on hugs."
"I grew up."
"I can feel that," He spoke as he could feel her sizeable chest for her height pressing against him, but chuckled as she looked up at him with a flat stare.
"Pervert."
"Always was. Anyway, who is Suki ag-", Leaning to the side as another slash barely missed him, Toji spun his spear and blocked another slash before being surprised as iron marbles shot past him and snapped Suki's katana in half.
"...Did I just see you...?"
"Metal bending. Figured it out a few years ago when I was pissed at Iron for bending my favourite training pole."
"Ah, he tends to be a great motivator. Anyway, Suki. Suki? Suki...Ah, Suki from Kyoshi Island."
"Yes, that Suki," Suki hissed as she threw her broken katana to the side, Toji raising an eyebrow as the girl took out two shortswords.
"Oh yeah, you had feelings for me. Sorry, but I wasn't exactly looking for a relationship at the time."
"I'm not mad about that. You stole Kyoshi's fans and I want them back."
"...Nah," Toji answered with a shrug as he let go of Toph right as Suki charged in, Toji raising an eyebrow as he could feel her chi flowing rapidly through her form.
'Huh, so she's learned how to regulate it. Not bad,' He thought as he shifted just enough to let her first strike miss, his spear haft cracking against her ribs and sending her rolling to the side.
Still, she rolled over to her feet and slashed upwards, Toji swinging his spear to block and deflect both before he stomped and sent her sliding back.
"Not bad. You've improved considerably from the time I trained you."
"I thought! You didn't! Remember?!", Suki growled as she swung down with a scissor strike, Toji blocking both strikes ease while raising an arm to block the sand she tried to kick at his eyes.
Wrapping his leg around her own as she kicked at him, Toji pulled her in while pushing her arms down, a headbutt making her stumble back before he slashed at her.
Straining her arms as she blocked the strike, Suki gritted her teeth as Toji slowly pushed down, a grin on his face as he leaned closer and spoke.
"You sure you came to take the fans back? From what I'm feeling, this isn't exactly what I'd call a good attempt."
"Oi, as much as the two of us don't like each other, stop taunting her and take her serious," Toph spoke up from the side, making Toji raise an eyebrow as he grunted and pushed her back.
"Rule number one, Toph?"
"Rules don't apply in a duel for one's honour, remember?", Toph spoke with a knowing smile, to which Toji nodded with a chuckle as he twirled his spear.
"Heh, right. Okay then, Suki. I'll take you serious," Toji spoke as he stabbed the spear into the ground, Wormy peeking his head out from under the cloak at the young man's side while spitting out the hilt of the Split Soul Katana.
Grasping it firmly, Suki's eyes narrowed as she watched him shift into an iaido stance, readying herself when he crouched low and took a deep breath.
The air was tense as Toph watched Toji's form, noting his muscles rippling as he shifted his footing while Suki steadied her footing.
The next moment, the ground exploded as Toji moved, Suki barely crossing her swords in time before her eyes widened as the katana cut right through her blades and deep into her chest.
She would have been cut in half had Toji not shifting his footing, settling for a deep scar as he leapt to the side and let her fall.
"Huh, you were actually taking her serious."
"You said that it's a duel, didn't you? I always take those serious."
"Right. Also, is that a new weapon?", Toph asked as Toji nodded, holding up his hand and calling the Spear of Kuruk to his hand.
"Yep, the Spear of the Avatar Kuruk."
"...Have you just been going around and stealing the weapons of the Avatar for the past couple of years?"
"Pretty much, yeah," he nodded, Toph just giving him a flat stare as he snickered before turning his head as he heard Suki stand up.
"Th-This...this isn't over."
"Oh, it is. You keep fighting and you'll open that wound more."
"He's telling the truth, princess. Sit down and live another day."
"You think I'll stop? After everything he's done, you think I'll-"
"Don't make me knock you out because I will do that," Toph spoke with a frown as she stomped on the ground, the iron marbles rising with her before Toji turned his head as the tallest spire exploded.
'There you are,' Toji thought with a grin as he stared at the bald teenager flying high, wind gathering around him and carrying Sokka and Katara with him as they landed.
"Whew~! That was fun!"
"I think we have very different definitions of fun, Aang," Sokka groaned, to which Aang chuckled before his eyes widened at the sight of Appa on the floor.
"Appa!", he exclaimed as he raced over, feeling his heart drop at the blood dyeing Appa's back fur a deep red as well as the wound on his back.
"It was him, Aang!", Seeing an opportunity, Suki immediately pointed at Toji, grinning as the man just raised an eyebrow before he turned to the teen to see him glaring at him.
"You...you did this?"
"I did, but I won't apologize for that."
"Why?"
"He attacked me first. What, am I not supposed to defend myself?"
"Then, why isn't Iron injured?", Aang asked as he stood up, taking deep breaths while Toji held up a hand to stop Toph from speaking.
"Because I actually care for Iron. I don't really care for an air bison. You can find another one."
"Appa...is my friend."
"Friends die. It's called life," Toji spoke wit-h a shrug before he kicked Toph out of the way and sliced through the air blade thrown at him, grinning at Aang's glowing eyes and the wind spinning around him.
"You will pay."
"You can try," He spoke as he twirled Kuruk's spear, watching as Aang leapt into the air before the teen swung his staff as Toji swung his spear.
A/N:...Cliffhanger We end it off here! Toji has reunited with Toph, but unfortunately, we have some complications to worry about first.
Next chapter: I am Him.
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