Tokka: 5 Years After the War (Avatar: TLAB-LoK WA 2017)

Sokka: 18

Sokka crouched behind a bush, watching Aang make his way through the trees. The clearing was just up ahead, and hopefully Ozai would be there. Katara and Toph had gone the other way, leaving him and Zuko to watch the left side of the clearing alone.

He had to admit, his plan was fool proof, but it would only work if Ozai showed up. Sokka had a feeling that this was some sort of a trap, or at least not what they thought it was. The "Phoenix King" always had something up his sleeve. What would it be this time? The gAang could only prepare for the worst.

"Ozai! Show yourself!" Aang yelled with authority, standing in the trees just beyond the clearing.

Sokka took out his boomerang, tensed to throw it at any sign of trouble. A growing sense of dread weighed his stomach down, and he couldn't help but acknowledge his gut feeling. His instincts were never wrong, but this time, he wondered if they were. He wanted to call Appa back and escape while they could.

Ignoring this very irrational thought, he took a deep breath and honed his senses in on the clearing. Nothing was moving. Everything was absolutely still, creating an excruciating silence all around them, as if something bad was about to happen. Narrowing his eyes, Sokka took a small step forward, straightening out form his crouched position. That was when the first wave of fire hit.

A giant blazing wall rose up before them, causing Zuko to scramble backwards. The water tribe warrior stood his ground, facing the hot flames. They licked at his ankles and sent white hot fingers of fear up his spine. Only a very powerful bender could conjure up fire like this. What was going on?

Ozai came from above, jets of fire shooting out of his hands. He had a sadistic smile plastered on his face, revealing his teeth. Eyes like the bottom of hell shone bright with excitement, and Sokka managed not to give away his position with a yelp of fear. He quickly crouched down before he could be seen.

"Foolish Avatar! You thought it would be that easy to beat me?" He laughed a mischievous laugh.

Zuko choked on his astonishment from where he sat on the ground behind the young water tribe warrior. Sokka was speechless himself. He thought Aang had taken away Ozai's bending, but perhaps not fully. Sokka sucked in a quiet breath, listening to the Avatar's response.

"Y...your bending..."

"Ah yes. Well, you see... It seems that taking away my bending was only a temporary fix.

"There I was, stuck in my cell, bored out of my mind, when I thought to try bending. I'd already tried to bend numerous times before this account, but I hadn't given up hope yet. I knew I wasn't going to be able to create fire, but I still wanted to try. What was the harm? So I stuck out my hand and willed there to be heat, and before my eyes was a handsome flame.

"I broke out of my cell and recruited my loyal followers. Now here I am, ready to claim my rightful place on the thrown as ruler of the universe; The Phoenix King, and I'm ready to rid the world of their fowl Avatar," his eyes glinted with evil.

Aang was in denial," That's impossible... I... I took your bending away!"

"Yes, but you see, don't you? It didn't work. You failed."

Sokka could see the hurt in his friends eyes. Ozai was getting to him; playing wit his emotions. He had to do something to help, but he couldn't blow his cover. What if he needed that extra amount of surprise to take down the ex-firelord? The possibility of the water tribe warrior defeating Ozai on his own we're very slim. After all, he wasn't a fully realized Avatar like Aang, but he was sure that he could do something to help their situation. So, he stayed behind his bush, feet planted firmly on the packed dirt in an uncomfortable crouch.

"And now your friends are going to die," Sokka barley caught the words that came out of Ozai's mouth. He was to busy looking horrified as the wall of fire raced towards his sisters position. She jumped up and bended water at the wall, almost getting swept up in the flames. Aang leaped at Ozai in fury, trying to protect Katara. Sokka was about to do the same, but his sister was fine.

"Nice save, little water bender. But what about you, Blind Bandit? You cannot see the fire," he laughed, throwing his head back and letting out the evil sound. Sokka stared confused at Ozai? What was he going to do? The ex-firelord fixed his eyes on Toph's hiding spot, and Sokka realized what he was about to do. That was the last straw.

Jumping up, the water tribe warrior ran at full speed towards his girlfriend. He'd just realized how much she meant to him, and he was not about to lose her. He threw himself in front of her just in time, spreading his arms so that his body would receive the worst of whatever Ozai had thrown at them. Pain wracked his chest, but before he could fight back, the world dissolved into darkness.
::::::::

Groaning, Sokka put a hand on his throbbing forehead, trying in vain to lessen the ache there. Pink and orange stained the inside of his eyelids, painting his mind in an array of sunset colors. He became aware of other people in the room with him.

"Do you think he can hear us?" That was his sister's voice.

A very unladylike snort followed Katara's comment," Of course he can hear us. He's awake isn't he?"

Toph. That was her sweet voice, like honey. It brought a smile to his lips, knowing that she was here; safe. He needed her to be safe, almost like the need for water or food. If she wasn't safe, he couldn't live with himself until she was.

"Sokka? Sokka, can you open your eyes?" Toph grasped his hand as she said this.

He squinted, allowing his eyes to adjust to the bright light streaming through the open window. When he could open them all the way, he meet the eyes four worried benders, including Toph, who seemed beyond hysterical at his current state. The room he was holed up in had red walls, red sheets, and red curtains, so he guessed he was still in the Firenation palace. Had they gone on their mission yet? Was it too late? The last thing he could remember was standing outside, waiting for the right time to leave. He tried to sit up but Toph's gentle hand on his chest stopped him.

"Easy Meathead. Don't want your bandages to rub on your burns," she gives him a half smile.

Confused, he looked at his friends gathered around the bed," Burns? Where did I get them?"

"Where did you get them? What do you mean where did you get them?!" Zuko looked livid.

"Do you remember anything?" Aang asked, planting his hand on Sokka's left foot.

Maybe he didn't. After all, he had no idea what they were talking about. Lifting the red tinted sheets off of himself, he peered under them. Bandages covered his torso and his upper arms, concealing the burns underneath their folds. He didn't feel any pain, so he guessed he'd been given something, perhaps melatonin, to make him sleep peacefully.

"What happened?" He whispered this while poking at his wounds. Toph swatted his hand away and gave him a stern look. Well, she gave the wall somewhere behind him a stern look.

"The fight with Ozai. He burned you when you jumped in front of me." She squeezed his hand, as if thanking him.

"The fight with Ozai? Did Aang put him back in jail?" His four friends lowered their heads in shame. The avatar answered him with a somber expression.

"No. He got away. I... I failed," Aang's voice broke on the last word. Katara went to him and wraped her arms around him, whispering kind words and kissing his cheek.

"You didn't fail, Aang. We failed... together. And we will succeed together," Zuko said with passion, placing his hand on the Avatar's wrist. The same hand that was on Sokka's foot.

"Yes. Together," Katara agreed. She put her hand over Aang's, smiling at him.

Toph brought her free hand to rest on Sokka's knee," Together...."

Now it was his turn. He inclined his head to his friends; his fighting partners; his lover.

"Together. Always."