Catch Me a Catch
CHAPTER TWO
Matchmaker, Matchmaker,
Make me a match,
Find me a find,
catch me a catch
"I still don't get why you're doing this!" Aang exclaimed as he led Toph through the village.
"Don't you know, Twinkletoes?" Toph said innocently. "I fell madly in love with Zuko during our travels and this is my chance to finally have him."
Aang tripped over his own feet, bringing Toph with him. They both fell with an "oomph", Toph hitting the ice with Aang holding his hands out to keep him from completely crushing the girl when he fell on top of her. Aang stared wide-eyed at the earth bender below him, not knowing quite what to do. Though she was blind, Toph could just feel how close they were; Aang's breath hitting her softly on the face.
"Toph," he said softly, unsure.
To lighten the mood and to keep them both from embarrassing themselves, Toph did not use his real name like she longed too. "Twinkletoes," she replied. "I'm cold."
Aang's eyes widened. "Oh! R-Right!" He quickly air bended up, took Toph's hand and pulled her up gently. "S-Sorry."
"Are you cold too, Fancy Dancer? You're stuttering."
"Y-Yeah…cold…" said Aang while rubbing the back of his neck, blushing like crazy. "Come on, you're going to love penguin sledding!"
Toph sighed as he pulled her to where Sokka and Katara were waiting. "I don't know. I can hardly stand sliding on this ice, what makes you think sliding on an Otter Penguin will be any better?"
"…It's fun…?"
Toph let out a chuckle. "If I end up in the ocean I'm earth bending your fancy dancing self to the Spirit World!"
Aang smiled. "Don't worry; I won't let the big bad ocean get you."
Toph scowled. "You're lucky there's no earth here."
"Why do you think I said it?"
Before Toph could answer a loud, obnoxious, familiar voice called their names and both looked to see Sokka waving at them to hurry up. "Alright Toph," Sokka said when the two came over to him. "Who are you riding with?"
"She's going with m-"
"Katara," Toph said, interrupting Aang.
"Me?" Katara said; it was becoming her favorite word. "Toph I don't think I'm good enough to ride with anyone."
"Yeah," agreed Sokka. "You two would probably end up in a glacier. You'd better go with me or Aang."
"No," said Toph, shaking her head. "I want to go with Katara."
"But Toph," Aang interjected.
"I'm going with Katara and that is that." Toph hissed through gritted teeth.
The three others nodded their heads in defeat and sighed. Once Toph made up her mind, it was next to impossible to change it. This trait will probably cause more trouble for the water tribe siblings, no doubt cause disaster for the Avatar, and most defiantly cause catastrophe for the young Fire Lord.
Matchmaker, Matchmaker
Look through your book,
And make me a perfect match
"Are you sure you should be traveling alone?" The ring master asked as Ty Lee walked out of her tent.
Ty Lee gave him a smile. "You know very well I can take care of myself."
The ring master sighed and nodded. "I just worry."
"Don't worry; I wont let any icky boys touch me," Ty Lee rolled her eyes and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. "I'll miss you, old man."
He smiled and patted the young girl's head. "Just promise me you'll come back… and not married."
Ty Lee laughed and nodded. She made her way out of the Circus, giving it one last longing look before making her way down the road. She had to travel to the Ruins of Taku where Iroh would pick her up at the port on his way back to the Fire Nation from the South Pole. If she was able to grab a few rides on carriages and on an ostrich or two she estimated she would be at the ruins in three days or so.
After walking a few miles down the road, she finally heard the sound of wheels rolling on rocky road. Finally a ride! She turned around to see a young man about her age driving a cart with a single ostrich pulling it. She put on a big smile a waved.
"Hiya!" she said when the cart pulled up next to her. She finally got a good look of the boy driving and she must say, she gave her full approval. He had long brown hair pulled back, with a few strands in his face. His muscular body was covered by the normal gold, green, and brown clothing Earth Kingdom middle class men wore.
The man nodded and continued on his way. Ty Lee frowned and ran after him, keeping in step with the cart rather easily. "Where are you heading?" she asked.
"Makapu Village," was his reply.
Ty Lee brightened her smile and fluttered her eyelashes at him. "Would you mind giving me a ride? I'm on my way to the Ruins of Taku and-"
"It's too far out of my way." He made the ostrich speed up. Ty Lee frowned and went after them.
"Listen girly-man we can do this the hard way or you can be a gentlemen, what's it gonna be?"
The boy rolled his eyes. "Once again, it's too far out of my way."
Ty Lee grinned and spread her legs out, getting a more firm footing. "You asked for it."
She jumped up and flipped onto the cart. The boy was apparently an earth bender, since he suddenly bended a boulder from the side of the road toward Ty Lee, who flipped over the rock and landed on the drivers bench next to him. He dodged her first couple of jabs, she was a little rusty, but she was finally able to hit him in the right places and he fell to the ground. Ty Lee stood over him smirking, her hands on her hips.
"Need a ride?" she asked, raising a brow. "Though, Makapu village might be a little out of my way."
The boy could only scowl in reply. Ty Lee, being the nice young lady she is, lugged the boy onto the passenger seat and took hold of the reins. After about an hour of riding in silence (and a few more jabs whenever the boy tried to take over again) Ty Lee had enough and decided to strike up a conversation.
"So…" Ty Lee said, grinning at the boy. "My name is Ty Lee, what's yours?" The boy frowned. "Want me to hit you some more?"
"…Haru," the boy mumbled.
"That's a nice name. I'm from the Fire Nation, though I've been living in the Earth Kingdom for about four years with a traveling circus."
"A Fire Nation circus freak... Why does that not surprise me?"
Ty Lee scowled. "Let me guess, you're one of those guys who completely and utterly despise the Fire Nation and refuses to forgive everyone and everything in it, right?"
"No; I completely and utterly despise girls who highjack my cart," Haru replied.
"…But aren't you glad that your highjacker is so adorable?" She flashed him s smile. "Plus one who is polite enough to take you along for the ride!"
"Do you usually highjack unsuspecting citizens? Or am I special?" Haru grumbled.
"You're special. Other boys are usually straight enough to stop and give a pretty girl a ride," Ty Lee explained.
Haru glared at her. "Are you calling me gay?"
"Of course not! So do you think this color pink works for me? I think I make's me look a little fat…"
Haru let out an irritated sigh but a small smile appeared on his lips. That is, until the cart it a bump, due to her poor driving, and he fell out of his seat and onto his face in dirt.
Matchmaker, Matchmaker
I'll bring the veil,
You bring the groom,
Iroh loved the beauty of the South Pole. The ice and snow glittered like diamonds whenever the sun rose into the sky and glowed like a misty treasure whenever the moon took over the sky.
Iroh stretched his arms after stepping out into the cool air and took a deep breath. The poles were so different from the Fire Nation. Yes, his home land had its own beauty; but it was a much more intense beauty whereas the poles held a beauty that was more mystical.
The former general raised his eyes in question when he saw the young tribe warrior sitting under the clear sky, staring at the moon. Iroh silently walked up to him and sat down. "It is a very beautiful moon, is it not?"
"Yeah," Sokka said, turning his face away and rubbing his forehead. "I'm getting married to Suki in a month, you know."
Iroh nodded. "I know, she turned down my offer because of it."
"You asked Suki too?" Sokka demanded, scandalized.
Iroh shrugged. "Well yeah, she wouldn't want to marry Zuko either."
Sokka shook his head and then looked at the moon again. "You remember, right?" Iroh nodded, which Sokka caught from the corner of his eye. "When I first met Suki I had liked her; she was strong, confident, and brave. When I met Yue…it was love. I knew it the moment I looked into her eyes." He let out a chuckle. "Before then I scoffed at the idea of love at first sight but, as always, I was proven wrong. I love Suki, I do but… at night, when the moon's out, I can't help but wonder what would have happened if I had…had been able to protect Yue…"
"Princess Yue did not need protecting," Iroh said, rubbing his chin and staring at the moon as well. "She knew her duty and gave her life for a cause she believed in. She knew the moon spirit needed to live and she did what she had to do. It's natural to wonder… She is still a very important aspect of your life; but I know that you love Suki more than anything and she feels the same way. I also know that Princess Yue is happy for you."
"How do you figure that?" Sokka asked.
"Princess Yue is the kind of person who wants the man she loves to be happy and I know that Suki makes you happy."
Sokka let out a sigh and smiled. "You know… for a crazy old loon you're very good at this advice thing."
"Thank you," Iroh said, smiling.
"You're also very good at coming up with ways to torture Zuko."
"Whatever do you mean?"
"The girls you said who were also competing; Toph's bad enough but I remember that Jin girl. She helped us with getting that Ba Sing Se revolt going; she also was able to tie Zuko to a boulder and send him down a steep hill into a lake, although I think it was the dress and bonnet she somehow forced on him that really got Zuko angry…"
"I think she'll be on her best behavior…at least in front of the council…" Iroh said, though looking doubtful himself. He shrugged his shoulder. "Ah well there's no lake near the palace…"
Sokka scoffed, stood up and stretched. "Just watch out for Katara for me… and make sure she doesn't do anything stupid." Sokka let out a yelp when the snow he was standing on suddenly rose up, causing him to fall.
"You're the one who always end up doing stupid things, oh brother of mine," Katara growled, glowering at her older brother.
"Uh Katara," Toph said from a few feet behind them. "Blind girl who can't see left totally alone here!"
"Oh, sorry," Katara went over to her and grabbed her hand. She then turned back towards her brother. "Are you sure you're nineteen and not nine? How in the world can Suki want to marry an idiot like you?"
Sokka puffed his chest out in pride. "Hey, she turned down the Fire Lord for me."
Katara raised an eyebrow but then shook her head, deciding she didn't really want to know. She pulled Toph away from the two men and into the large hut, taking her to where the young girl will be staying for the night.
"So Katara," Toph said. She sat down on the cushioned bed. "Looking forward to seeing Fire Breath again?"
Katara raised an eyebrow at the question. She gently took the pins out of Toph's hair, letting the black mass fall down the young girls back and then walked over to the chest Toph brought with her and took out a blue night along with slippers and a robe. "What do you mean? I mean, sure I want to see him; we are friends and he did help us." She helped Toph out of her clothes and into her nightgown. Toph slipped her feet into the warm slippers and Katara wrapped the silk robe around her. "Plus I get to be away from Sokka; why wouldn't I be excited?"
Toph smirked. She lay down on the bed, leaving room for Katara to sit down, which she did. "Need a vacation, huh?"
Katara laughed. "Oh yeah. Don't get me wrong, I love the South Pole but…"
"After traveling and knowing what's out there, it's hard to stay in one place," Toph said in understanding.
"Exactly!"
"And having a handsome guy like Hothead around made it even better."
"Exact- what?" Katara looked down at Toph, who only smirked in reply. Suddenly there was a burst of wind and Aang flew into the room. "Aang, what's wrong?" Toph had jumped out of bed, thankfully able to catch her footing, at the intrusion.
"Iroh asked me to tell you two that he wants to leave after breakfast tomorrow," Aang said, a frown on his face. Suddenly his nose twitched. "Uh oh…" Aang suddenly let out a classis air bender sneeze. Katara was knocked out of the bed, along with the sheets and pillows, most of the furniture moves at least a few inches and Toph's nightdress flew up revealing a little more than she wanted revealed. Aang stared at the raven haired girl in shock as her nightdress settled back to its original state, a blush evident on his face; Katara gaped openly while Toph remained calm.
"Katara," Toph said, smiling. "Did my nightdress just fly up?"
"Y-Yes," Katara replied. She stood up and brushed off her dress.
"Ah… Katara would you be kind enough to face me toward Aang?"
"…Sure?" She walked over to the young girl and turned her slightly, making her face the Avatar directly. "Okay."
Toph let out a loud shriek and dove towards Aang, a promise of pain in her eyes.
Bring me a ring for I'm longing to be,
The envy of all I see.
When Smellerbee walked into the apartment she shared with Jin in the Middle Ring of Ba Sing Se her eyes widened when she saw her roommate packing up many of her clothes and belongings.
"What's going on?" Smellerbee asked in confusion. "Are you moving out?"
Jin laughed and shook her head. "No, I'm just…going on vacation for about a month."
Smellerbee raised an eyebrow. "Vacation? Where?"
Jin shrugged. "The Fire Nation."
"The Fire Nation? Why in the world would you be going to the Fire Nation? You hate the Fire Nation almost as much as Jet."
Jin frowned. "Don't mention that two-timing, sword swinging, thinks he's so cool, Komodo Rhino butt face in my presence."
"Two-timing? Jet cheated on you? With who?"
"He didn't cheat on me, I just couldn't really think of how to start the insult."
"…Right… So where exactly are you staying in the Fire Nation?" Smellerbee asked.
"Oh…no where special…just, well, the Fire Lord's Palace…" Jin mumbled under her breath, but Smellerbee heard it all the same.
"The Fire Lord's Palace?! You hate the Fire Lord! Why in spirits name are you spending vacation there?!"
Jin smirked and turned to face her friend, placing her hands on her hips proudly. "I've been asked to partake in his Courting Ceremony."
"Courting Ceremony?"
"It's when the Fire Lord has to choose between four girls and make one his wife," Jin explained, letting her smirk grow when Smellerbee's jaw dropped in disbelief.
"You're going to be the Fire Lord's wife?!" Smellerbee exclaimed. "What about Jet?"
"Oh Bee," said Jin, using the girl's nickname. "There's only a chance that I'll be chosen." Jin flipped her hair over her shoulder. "Plus Jet's gone for five months; what does he care?"
"Oh right," said Smellerbee, remember that her former leader was going to be gone doing some secret business that he couldn't tell anyone about for the Earth King. "But I'm pretty sure that Jet didn't leave expecting you to get married…"
Jin smirked and zipped up her bag. "I know." She threw her bag over he shoulder, gave Smellerbee a quick kiss on the cheek before walking out the door. "I'll miss you! I'll write you as soon as I can!"
"Wait!" Smellerbee called, but it was too late, her friend was gone. Smellerbee quickly darted out the door as well and onto the patio. She turned to look down the street and opened her mouth wide. "LONGSHOT! We got trouble!"
Author's Note: Okay, here's the next chapter. Sorry, no Zuko but he'll, definatly be in the next chapter and he'll get to meet the girls. Also I made Ty Lee half Earth Kingdom cause to me, it make's sense. Everyone we have seen from the Fire Nation has black hair and gold eyes, Ty Lee's looks are more Earth Kingdom. So I figured her mother was from the Earth Kingdom since Ty Lee's father is a Fire Nation Noblemen.
I also made the Freedom Fighters stay in Ba Sing Se because I know they wanted to start over and where better to be but in a city that has to start over (which after the war, I believe Ba Sing Se will have too). Also Smellerbee is rooming with Jin because she's older now and rooming with two single men would most definatly be frowned upon in B Sing Se.
And Haru... well, I wanted Ty Lee to have someone and I really didn't want an OC so I went through all the boys we have seen in the show and I decided Haru might be the best choise. Believe it or not it was between Haru and Tao (I actually think I might have the later appear in future chapters).
So tell me what you think. The more reviews the more I'll believe people want to read this story.