Author's Notes: Recognizable dialogue is from 'Sokka's Master'. I know this chapter derails from the main plot a little bit, but I really like this episode, and I thought it would be good to spend some time with Sokka.

"What are we going to tell Sokka and Toph?" said Aang softly as they walked back to camp. There was a growing, frantic energy about him.

Zuko stiffened.

'I don't think we should tell them yet. Especially Sokka," he whispered back.

"What shouldn't you tell us yet?" said Toph, scowling at them.

"Toph!" yelped Aang jumping back, "Zuko and I were… uh... taking a walk together."

Toph looked unimpressed.

"Because you and Zuko are such good friends," she said, eyes narrowed, "Now spill Twinkle Toes."

"Where's Sokka?" said Zuko desperately.

"Sleeping like a log," said Toph impatiently, "don't change the subject."

"We don't even know if there is anything to tell," said Zuko carefully.

"Clearly there is something to tell," Toph scowled, "you two should know better than to lie to a Master Earthbender."

"It's about Katara," Aang burst out.

"What," said Toph, the anger slipping from her face in shock, "What are you talking about?"

Toph didn't say anything after they had related their discussion. Her face was stony.

"Zuko is right," she said finally, "do not tell Sokka this."

"But what if - ," Aang began.

"No," said Toph cutting him off, "there is not but with this. You are not going to say a word of this to Sokka."

"There's a chance that Katara is out there somewhere!" cried Aang, "and you're not even excited!"

Toph's face contorted in anger.

"Lister here Twinkle Toes," she growled, "are you even listening to yourself? Katara is gone, we had a funeral."

She paused before spitting, "you may have forgotten since you ran off in the middle of it and left us. But I remember. Zuko remembers."

She jabbed her finger at Zuko, "and you, why are you encouraging this?"

Aang had shrunken under her words. Zuko tensed, but desperate hope still hovered in his chest. It was an empty sort of fullness that had ballooned beneath skin, pressing against his ribs.

"It's just… it's possible, isn't it?" Zuko asked tentatively, "I mean Aang survived a hundred years frozen in ice. He was supposed to die, but he didn't. I just thought..."

Toph dropped her arm. They stood in silence.

'It's not like I don't miss Katara," said Toph quietly, "and it's not like I wouldn't give anything to see her again. But hold onto some impossible idea… it's only going to cause us more pain. I'm not going to tell you what to believe, but it will hurt Sokka if you tell him this. Think about that."

She strode away, kicking up a wall of solid rock behind her.

Beside Zuko, Aang began to sniff, and his breathing became shuddering. Zuko couldn't bear it. He turned from the Avatar and began walking. To be anywhere but there.

If Sokka noticed the tension between the group, he didn't mention it. He was in fine form, talking animatedly to Momo and cracking jokes to Appa when the others didn't respond.

They flew night after night, taking shifts to sleep, and stopping briefly in the villages they passed to collect food. Sokka was determined to keep them on schedule, and no one wanted to linger in the dismal looking villages they passed. Everywhere they looked, there were Fire Nation factories pumping thick smog into the surrounding area, casting a grey tinge over everything.

"What was that?" said Sokka loudly one night as they flew.

Another burning light shot across the night sky before fizzling out. Appa cried in distress and swerved, throwing them all off balance.

"It's a meteor shower," said Zuko, squinting at the sky, "they're common this time of year."

"I don't think Appa is appreciating the view," said Aang crawling over to rub the bison's forehead, "can we pull over for the night Sokka?"

"Hm, that should be fine," said Sokka, whipping out his map, "you're forfeiting future bathroom breaks though."

They flew low, landing in a secluded spot near a small village. Settling against Appa's warm back, they watched the meteors flash across the sky.

"My mother used to tell me that meteor's were stars falling from the sky," said Zuko staring up, "that if you looked very carefully afterwards, there would be stars covering the ground."

"Did you try to find them?" asked Aang.

"I looked out and saw stars floating on the water," said Zuko quietly, "she had put out paper lanterns in the garden to surprise us. I believed her for a long time."

The lapsed into silence, watching the sky.

"Kind of makes you realize how insignificant we are," commented Sokka.

"Eh," said Toph, "you've seen nothing once, you've seen it a thousand times."

Suddenly a bigger meteor rocketed past. It lit up the sky, and crashed into the ground sending tremors through the earth.

"That sounded big," yelled Toph scrambling up the hill, "it landed close to the town."

"The fire is getting close to that town," warned Zuko.

"Not if we can stop it!" cried Aang, "I'll go bend water out of that creek. Toph, Zuko, try to control the fire!"

"What should I do?" demanded Sokka.

Aang paused, "uh… keep an eye on Momo. Don't move!"

"Lemur sitter," mutter Sokka, seizing Momo and sitting on the ground.

Toph began clearing out a trench to block the fire, Zuko worked quickly beside her, burning the brush in front of the town to stop the fire in its tracks. Once it was under control, Aang and Toph buried the meteor in earth, leaving a mound, still slightly smoking.

"Good work everybody," sighed Aang wiping dirt from his face.

The next morning, they walked through the village, looking around curiously at the calm crowds.

"These people have not idea how close they were to getting toasted last night," said Aang.

"How about you go let them know," suggested Zuko, "tell them to pay us in some food."

"Worst thing about being in disguise is that we don't get the hero worship anymore," said Toph dryly, "I miss the love."

"Boo hoo," sniffled Sokka, "you poor heros."

"What do you mean?" asked Aang frowning.

"At least you can do cool stuff," retorted Sokka, "I can't do anything like that."

"That's not true!" exclaimed Aang, "you do lots of stuff!"

"You...uh… read maps good," tried Zuko.

Sokka grimaced.

"Yeah," called Toph, "I can't read at all!"

"All of you can do amazing bending things," explained Sokka, "I just feel a little useless sometimes. I'm just a regular guy."

He looked down, scuffing the ground with the heel of his boot. Aang, Zuko, and Toph stood uncomfortably, unsure of what to say.

"You're special to us Sokka," said Aang softly, "you're our fearless leader."

"Yeah," said Zuko, rubbing his neck, "you've kept us going, after all."

"Thanks," said Sokka. He tried to smile, but his face fell, leaving his features morose.

They meandered through the village, picking up some necessities. Sokka perked up when they passed a weapons shop, and Aang suggested that they stop in.

"Maybe a little something to invigorate my battling," cooed Sokka as he cradled an enormous sword.

Zuko watched as Sokka excitedly swung some daggers, and Aang tripped, trying to hold his body up under a set of heavy armour.

"Ooh," said Sokka staring at a sword framed on the wall, "that's what Sokka's talking about."

"You have a good eye," said the shopkeeper walking over, "that's an original from Piandao, the greatest swordmaster and swordmaker in Fire Nation history. He lives in the big castle up the road from here."

"That's it," announced Aang, jumping up, "that's what you need Sokka!"

"A sword?" asked Sokka, taking the blade carefully from the wall and holding it in his hands.

"No, a master!" said Aang, "think about it. We all learned from masters. You need a master to teach you. Let's go see if you can study with Piandao."

"It would be nice to be a master swordfighter," said Sokka, quietly.

He brightened. "Alright, I'll go talk to him!"

Sokka approached the door of Piadao's castle. Steadying himself, he rapped loudly on the door, straightening his back.

The door swung open, revealing an older man who regarded Sokka without interest. "Can I help you?"

"Yes," said Sokka, throwing his chin out, "I've come to train with the master."

"You should know," said the man, "the master turns almost everyone away. What did you bring him to prove your worth?"

'Uh," Sokka said, patting his shirt nervously, "just myself."

"Alright," the man sighed, "let's get this over with then."

He ushered Sokka into a large room, flooded with light from the floor to ceiling windows. Piandao, sat, turned away from the door, holding a calligraphy brush.

Sokka stepped forward, his heart in his throat.

"Master," he said, slowly, clearly, "my name is Sokka and I wish to be instructed in the way of the sword."

Sokka waited. Piandao spoke after a moment.

"Sokka," he said, "that's an unusual name."

"Oh," said Sokka, faltering, "well, it's uh, pretty normal, where I come from. From the Fire Nation colonies."

"Let me guess," sighed Piandao, wearily "you've come hundreds of miles from your little village where you're the best swordsman in town. And you think you deserve to learn from the master."

"Actually, I've been all over the world," Sokka replied, his eyes going distant.

"Of course you have," Piandao said dismissively.

"And I only know one thing for sure," said Sokka quietly, "I have a lot to learn."

Piandao looked back, regarded Sokka for a moment.

"You're not doing a very good job of selling yourself," he noted.

"I know," Sokka admitted, "your butler told me that when I met you, I would have to prove my worth. But the truth is… I don't know if I am worthy. I've failed so many times in my life. I don't know if this can redeem me, but I'm willing to try."

"I see," said Piandao, "well then, let us find out together how worthy you are."

Sokka raised his head slightly in surprise. Piandao smiled.

"I will train you," he said.

Sokka looked up. And grinned.