(Aang and his friends walk away from the stadium- though not in any particular direction, for most concerned)
Sokka: ...Toph? You doing okay?
Toph: ...
Aang: ...You did great out there, Toph!
Sokka: Yeah. You made us all proud.
Toph: ...Thanks.
I've been thinking... I guess when everything's said and done... I'm not so opposed to the idea of being mistress of Beifong. Even though I'll have less time to earth bend, I doubt I'll ever get bored. Diplomacy can actually be... fun, if you know what you're doing. I guess what I'm really scared of is having to spend weeks on end... without you.
(Everyone stops, turning to her in surprise)
Toph: Sokka, that day you taught me braille... the day my parents started to see me for what I could be... it was one of the best days of my life. Then, I had to spend years without seeing you, or Aang, or Katara... I...
(Toph begins to tear up)
Toph: I hate admitting this... but I miss the war. I miss being a team. I miss getting so exhausted that I start falling asleep on Appa's saddle, I miss listening to Aang getting excited about becoming an earth bender, I miss telling stories by a campfire, I even miss that time when Zuko burned my feet... just being there... with all of you...
(Toph's breathing patterns become short audible bursts. Sokka lays a hand on her shoulder, and soon everyone converges for a group hug. All except for Zuko)
Zuko: ...If it's any condolence...I think we all miss it too... except for the burning your feet part.
Aang: ...Toph, what do you think I am?
Toph: (Sniffs) An airhead.
Aang: ...Anything else?
Toph: No. That's about it. (Gasps a laugh)
Aang: Well, in case you haven't noticed... I'm the avatar, and it's my duty to bring balance to the world.
Toph: I know. You're busy.
Aang: You don't understand. So long as it's my duty to bring balance to the four nations of the entire world... I need to be able to bring balance to myself. Now, how can I hope to do that... without my family?
(Katara subconsciously hugs tighter)
Aang: I've let you go for too long without being there for you.
Katara: But we're all here, Toph. Every step of the way.
(After a moment, Toph calms down enough to continue)
Aang: Toph... I've been meaning to ask...
Toph: Hmm?
Aang: This will probably sound like a dumb question, but... why didn't you warn me about being dragged into the earth rumble?
Toph: Dragging you in wasn't my idea.
Aang: Then who's was it?
Sokka: (Satisfied with himself) It was mine!
Aang: What?
Sokka: Well, sort of. See, I was chatting with Dau Jin, and he wanted some kind of epic prelude for Toph's fight with the earth king-
Aang: Ex earth king.
Sokka: So tonight I told him to put your name in!
Aang: ...Then why didn't you warn me about being dragged into the fight?
Sokka: I wanted to see the look on your face when the spotlight hit. Priceless!
Aang: Yeah. Sorry if it wasn't all that interesting.
Sokka: Oh, I'd say the anticlimax was worth it.
Suki: ...It was.
(Everyone looks at her)
Suki: What? The way his eyes bugged out was hilarious!
Ty Lee: You're right, Suki! It was! Here I thought you lost your sense of humor!
Suki: Excuse me?
Ty Lee: Don't take it personally! You've spent so long with that mask on that I sometimes mistake you for a statue! (Knocks playfully on Suki's mask)
Zuko: I will agree that Sokka's addition was pretty funny.
Sokka: Thanks, Vol Cano!
Zuko: You're welcome, guy who's other shoulder is on fire.
Sokka: (Glances at other shoulder) ...Aw, come on!
Katara: (Splashes him with water)
Sokka: (Spits out water) THERE'S NO NEED TO KEEP SPLASHING MY FACE, WOMAN!
Katara: Like your "fake water bending" could've done a better job?
Sokka: YES! IT COULD'VE! THAT'S THE POINT!
Toph: The only point I'm seeing is that Katara saved your shirt. Twice.
Sokka: Look, I've got dark splotches on my perfectly good shirt, and now I'm drenched.
Toph: You know I would look, Sokka, but here's the thing.
Aang: (Groans) for the last time, enough with the blind jokes.
Toph: Aang, they're all I've got!
Katara: I'll take blind jokes over Sokka's earth bending puns.
Sokka: Why? My puns are rock solid.
Toph: Eh, I'd say you're off to a... rocky start.
Sokka: Goodness, Toph, you're stone cold!
Toph: Not my fault for being blunt.
Sokka: ...Okay, now you're just cheating.
Zuko: You guys are some of the weirdest people I've ever met.
Katara: But we're not your sister.
Zuko: That's fair, I guess.
YOU ARE READING
Toph's Vacation: an Avatar Fan Fic
Fanfic-SUMMARY- Four years after the Hundred Year War, Toph finally decides to have her mini vacation- dragging her friends into a new Earth Rumble. -CAST- Toph Sokka Katara Aang Bumi Haru Flopsy Zuko Mai Jin Lee Suki Ty Lee Ka...
