The next morning had lived up to Toph's expectations. She had finally agreed to go due to some coaxing by The Duke, but hadn't expected to be shaken awake from her bed by Katara. When Toph protested, the water tribe girl explained that she had let her sleep to the last possible second. "Then wouldn't it have been easier to just carry me onto Appa?" The blind girl said, hiding under the covers.
Katara wouldn't listen; she had already laid Toph's day clothes out for her to get ready.
By the time the earthbender groggily made her way outside, everyone was still packing Appa's saddle.
Toph made sure to punch The Duke extra hard for convincing her to go.
"Morning to you too, Toph" He whispered, rubbing his arm.
"It's about time you woke up. We were going to leave without you." Sokka teased, already seated next to his sister.
"You still can you know" Toph muttered.
The Duke put a hand on her shoulder. "Come on, it won't be that bad." He smiled bashfully, even though he knew she wouldn't see it. Toph faced his direction for a minute before nodding, then earthbended a platform so they both could get onto Appa safely.
Suki and Ty Lee walked up with their belongings to load. Ty Lee was beaming from ear to ear.
"Oh, you guys are going to LOVE the Fire Festival! It's one of my favorite parties of the year!"
Katara raised an eyebrow "Party? Aang, Sokka, and I saw one in the Earth Kingdom, and it didn't look like much of a party."
Aang laughed from Appa's head, "Maybe that's because we crashed it."
In one swift movement the acrobat cart wheeled into her seat, and continued her conversation. "They're much more festive in the Fire Nation. Lots of DANCING and FIREBENDING!" She smiled at Suki who was now getting on, and pulled the Kyoshi Warrior into a hug.
"Thank you SO much for letting me go!"
Suki coughed for breathe until she was released, then discreetly started scooting away from her fellow warrior. "I think a vacation will do both of us some good."
Aang looked over at his companions "Is everybody ready?"
Most of them nodded.
"Then it's off to the Fire Nation! Appa, yip yip!"
Everyone in the saddle jerked around as Appa lifted off. The Duke instinctively put his hands out to catch Toph. Instead, she bolted foreword and clung to the edge of the saddle. He put his hands to the edge also, hoping no one had seen his movement. He knew that Toph always clung to the seat when they were flying.
He also knew they'd be in for a decently long ride, so it would be best not to make another move like that.
At least, that's what he was hoping.
A few hours had passed, and the group was starting to get restless. Sokka had started to dig into a bag of blubber seal jerky, and Suki was sleeping next to him. Katara had gotten up to sit next to Aang, both were having a quiet conversation that only Toph would be able to hear.
Ty Lee sat off in the corner sewing a pink garment, humming to herself.
The Duke sighed, and looked at Toph. She hadn't said a word, let alone moved, since the flight started. "Are you alright?" He asked her, leaning in closely to see any signs of emotion.
"Don't feel well...hate flying..." She mumbled.
The boy put a hand on her shoulder, and tried smiling. "Well, you could always throw up in my helmet!" "What...helmet..?"
"Ah..." Once again, he put his hand back onto the wooden seat and looked down. "Nevermind."
"So, The Duke, Suki was telling me about this new group you created. The new Freedom Fighters?"
He turned quickly to Ty Lee. "W-Well, it's not a very creative name. I couldn't think of anything else other than the Freedom Fighters, and that was Jet's idea." Katara shifted slightly in her seat next to Aang, but didn't look back.
The pink clad girl thought for a minute "How about the Peace Keepers? Or The Peace Patrol!"
The Duke heard a snort from the girl next to him.
"Those aren't bad names, He said I'll think about it. We don't really need Freedom Fighters now that the war is over..."
Sokka swallowed a mouthful of jerky before speaking "Maybe that's why people aren't joining your group, you need a cool name. Like Team Avatar, right?" He looked around for an agreement.
Suki rolled her eyes, "Since when did we start calling ourselves that?" A whole new conversation had started, and The Duke was glad to be out of it. He noticed that Toph was starting to doze off, and figured it wouldn't hurt to do the same. If only she would let go of the saddle, he'd gladly help her to lie down and use his lap for a pillow. He wouldn't mind the stares from the group as he blushed madly at the contact, and tried resting his head against the board behind him while his hand lay softly on her head.
But when he tried to lift his hand, he hesitated for a slight second. That was all the time the girl needed to curl into a ball in the opposite direction, and fall fast asleep. Yet another target missed by the leader of the Freedom Fighters.
It was nightfall when the gang finally made it to the Fire Nation Palace. Appa was already resting in the stables from a long day of flying, while the others were stretching their legs walking up to the main gates. One of the huge doors opened to reveal a somber looking Mai.
"Oh, MAI~!" Ty Lee cried, jumping onto her friend. "It's so good to see you!" The raven haired girl patted Ty Lee lightly on the shoulder, then tried to pull her off, to no avail.
She turned to the rest of her guests. "Zuko's waiting inside the main hall." Everyone proceeded inside, except for Ty Lee who was rambling on about how much the two had to catch up on. As promised, Zuko had been waiting for them. When he saw Aang he gave a bow, and then encompassed him into a hug. The Fire Lord bowed to the rest of his guests, and turned to his left.
"Dinner's not ready yet, but if you follow me I'll show you to your rooms."
"Finally." Sokka yawned. "I'll catch some beauty sleep before stuffing my face, great vacation!"
Suki glared at him, but followed the others obediently. Katara walked arm in arm with Aang, "So how does it feel to be hosting the Fire Festival this year?" Zuko looked at them. "It wasn't really my idea...my advisor thought it would be 'fun'"
The waterbender giggled. "Iroh knows you too well"
Aang smiled. "Yea, I don't know how much Zuko and fun mix!" "I'm doing this for him, okay?" Zuko shouted, slightly going red.
"Speaking of, where is Uncle Iroh?" Toph spoke up.
"He's not here yet, he has to finish up some work at the tea shop. He'll be here in a few days."
"That's some devotion there, Sparky. Throwing the Festival for your uncle even though he'll only see the end of it?"
The Duke laughed at this.
"You saw how happy Ty Lee is to be back, I'm sure it'll be the same for his uncle." said Suki.
Zuko nodded, and came to a halt. "Aang, Katara, this is your room. I hope it's okay."
The two looked to see a room draped in ruby and gold coloring, a queen sized bed with silk sheets, velvet curtains with dragons on them, and even room for a study and meditation corner.
They looked at each other, then at Zuko. "I think we'll manage." Aang said smoothly while Katara bowed, and made her way inside.
"See you all at dinner." she said, closing the door after Aang.
Sokka and Suki were next, to which they were equally relieved. It finally had just come down to Toph and The Duke. "Here you go, Toph." Zuko said, stopping before another door. She was silent for a minute then walked over to the scar faced man. "Say, Zuko, you have any metal I can bend?" "Uh, sure. I'll have Mai bring you some later." "Make sure there's a lot of it." Toph grinned, and proceeded into her room.
The Duke was last. By the time they had made it to his room he seemed a little disappointed.
"What's wrong? Is it not what you were expecting?" Zuko asked a little astonished. He and The Duke barely knew each other, but he had the feeling he had missed something.
"Are you and Toph-"
"It's fine! I'm just tired is all!" he shouted and ran into his room. "Uh, thanks." He said, hiding behind the door and finally closing it. Zuko shook his head in confusion, and went to go find Mai.
The Duke tried sleeping in his bed, knowing he was also exhausted from the flight. However, he couldn't shake how distant Toph seemed to be since the Festival was even mentioned.
Maybe she just needed some fun, something to get away from the formal visit they were making. Well, The Duke was certainly up for some fun with his friend!
He made his way to her door slowly, his stomach churning as he crept closer. Just as he was coming up to her door, it opened. "Okay, Duke, what's up with the Twinkle Toes act? Think I wouldn't be able to sense your little footsteps?" She wiggled her fingers at him, as if teasing him for his height. It had been a few good years since she had been taller than him, but the short jokes never ceased.
The Duke laughed, and patted her head. A habit he had picked up to counteract her continuous height teasing. "I just thought we could wreak a little havoc, you know, since you seem so down about the Festival and all."
The girl took a step back. "Thanks, but now's not a good time." The Duke's eyes widened. "What? You mean you don't want to pull a prank on Sokka, or Aang?" he coaxed, trying to pull her out of her room.
"Trust me, I usually don't pass up the chance to pick on those two...but I'm busy."
"With what?"
"None of your business."
"Aw, come on Toph!"
She put her hands on her hips, "I'll tell ya what, we can pull all the pranks we want at the Festival."
"Will I at least see you at dinner?" He could tell as soon as he asked what her answer was going to be.
"At the Festival, I promise."
The door had slammed shut. The boy sighed at his failed attempt, and proceeded back to his room. He would wait for Toph at the Festival, like she promised.