The sun was begging to set over Kyoshi Island. Hidden beneath the trees of the lush forests were two slim figures. Neither of them had left their spot for hours, as if they had beenwaiting for something. One of them shuffled anxiously, letting out a low grumble. The peculiar snapping of a twig made the taller one's head lift, then a smile expand on his face. It was definitely what they were waiting for. He pushed the smaller woman around the edge of the tree they were hidden behind, and motioned for her to crouch down.
"Okay, Koko, this is it! Are you ready? She shifted her feet, and shrugged her shoulders.
"I guess..." The boy didn't seem to catch her lack of figure was walking closer to their location. The boy took a deep breath, and turned back to Koko.
"Alright, when I give the signal, activate our secret weapon!"
He was just about to raise his hand when a sudden trembling of earth nearly knocked both of them onto the ground. There was the mild sound of rustling grass, then cries of confusion from the man they were about to ambush.
The two looked around to see him entirely trapped inside a cocoon of earth, with a smaller figure facing him, hands on her hips.
"Great, we caught him. Can I go home now?" Koko sighed, picking at some brush that had fallen onto her head.
Once again, she was ignored. "Toph, I asked you to wait for the signal!" The boy whined.
"Well, sorry. You guys were taking too long for a surprise attack." She said still facing the stranger.
This caused the boy to laugh, and run a hand through his black unruly hair. "At least we caught him."
He walked up to the man who was struggling to get out, and talking obscenities to be released.
"It's no use! Toph here is the greatest earthbender in the world. She'll crush you to a pulp unless you start talking!"
"I-I don't know what you're talking about! I'm just a simple fisherman, please let me go!"
Toph tightened her hold on him, "You're trying to smuggle the Elephant Koi Fish to the black market." "I don't even know what Elephant Koi are!"
Toph and her friend laughed. "We know you're lying!" They had said it in unison; it was one of their favorite lines. The man's face turned red, and he hung his head in defeat. There was nothing he could do with the earth around him so tightly.
The boy and earthbender slapped their hands together.
"Job well done, Freedom Fighters, let's take him back to the village."
"Finally!" Koko cried.
The man was handed over to the Kyoshi Warriors, who would be giving him a delightful trial against the Unagi.
It was then that Koko left, waving goodbye to the Freedom Fighters. The boy frowned, "I guess she's not going to join, huh?"
Toph put a hand on his shoulder, "Don't worry, Duke, next time we'll try recruiting in a place that isn't the hometown to the Kyoshi Warriors."The Duke blushed in embarrassment.
She smacked him on the back. "You got me to join, didn't you? We'll just have to try elsewhere. Now let's go find the others, I'm starving!" She headed for the center of Kyoshi Island. The Duke watched her go for a second, and ran his fingers through his hair again. "I miss my helmet..." he muttered.
"Good job on catching that smuggler today you two!" Suki said happily handing Toph and The Duke their dinner.
"How'd he hold up to the Unagi?" The Duke asked.
The warrior laughed. "He didn't even make it that far before he was begging us to tie him back up."
An arm wrapped around her shoulders, and pulled her to sit down. "So, in other words, the usual! Another score for the Kyoshi Warriors!"
Toph blew the hair out of her eyes. "Uhm, what about the Freedom Fighters? We're the ones that caught him."
The Duke laughed. "Trying to get on Suki's good side, Sokka?"
"No offense to the Freedom Fighters, but the Kyoshi Warriors have been protecting this Island before you were born. They also have more than two members."
Suki pushed against Sokka's arm a bit, warning him to lay off. The Duke smiled. "Hey, we're getting there!"
Toph decided go on the defensive. "Seriously, Sokka, why don't you tell us about how all you do when you're away is sit around drinking tea, and playing Pai Sho with old people?"
Sokka's face went red with anger, "-"
He stopped short from getting hit in the face with a dumpling. Everyone in the room giggled.
Toph lowered her throwing arm, "Forget I asked."
It was that moment that Katara and Aang chose to walk in.
Aang instantly flew over to the soup cauldron in the corner on the room. "Hey Toph, Duke, how'd the patrol go today?" The Duke spoke up. It's THE Duke, Aang. How many times do I have to remind you?"
"Whoops, sorry. Guess I'm just used to Toph calling you-"
"The patrol went fine!" The boy cried, hurriedly changing the subject.
Thankfully, Suki caught on. "Yea, they caught a guy who was trying to sell the Elephant Koi to the Black Market!"
Aang handed a bowl to Katara, and continued filling his own. "Great! Too bad he wasn't trying to catch the Unagi."
Toph snorted. "And let it have all the fun?"
"Speaking of fun," Katara interrupted "Did Sokka tell you about the Fire Festival yet?"
No. The two younger ones replied.
This caused the waterbender to shake her head, while her brother innocently looked around the room.
Aang chimed in. "This year Zuko and Mai are hosting it! It's gunna be so much fun!"
Suki smiled excitedly. "We'll be leaving tomorrow. Even Ty Lee and I are taking time off to come."
The Duke looked at Toph, her expressions where hard to read at times. "What do you say?" he asked, "The Freedom Fighters could stand a little vacation."
The earthbender groaned. "I'd rather go play with the Unagi, and that's actually saying something."