Chapter three:

Three versus Three

Zuko quickly walked into the lounge. "I trust you all enjoyed the city."

The others nodded.

Hakoda was the first to speak. "I must compliment you, Lord Zuko. Your citizen's are a lot friendlier than I had given them credit for, especially the children."

Zuko sighed in relief. "I'm glad. I'd hate to insult the father of two of my friends."
Hakoda nodded. "Yes, it's a shame you couldn't have made friends with them earlier. They're great kids and very talented." He said smiling proudly at Katara.

Zuko nodded. "I am sorry for how I acted towards them. I hope you will forgive me, sir."

Hakoda laughed heartily. "That's all under the bridge, Lord Zuko. You're their friend now and that's all that counts."

Zuko bowed toward Hakoda. "My thanks, sir."

Arnok cleared his throat. "There are a few other things to consider for the treaty, For instance security from thieves and murderers. If we are to trade, we must assure the safety of the trade routes. I suggest security details with all trade wagons."

Hakoda shook his head. "But won't that just irritate the thieves into an uprising? Isn't that what we're trying to avoid, more war. How about instead we give them a reason not to steal. Allow the trade an extra amount of goods to drop off at special locations that the thieves could then go to and get what they need."

Arnok scoffed. "And what's to stop them from taking more then they need?"

Aang leaned forward. "I think its better just to have a second wagon follow the first with enough supplies for everyone. The first one can make a stop and then the second one makes a stops and hands out more."

"Same question." Arnok insisted. "They'll see two wagons and figure that they can get more."

Zuko shook his head. "And what if they do? We'll just have to make sure to pack extra in the wagons. I think we need to provide medicine as well."

Arnok shook his head. "That's a sure way to run out of trade fast."

The Earth Kingdom gentleman scratched his chin. "Not if we send out several supply wagons to the location days before the trade wagons."

Zuko wrote this idea down. "Right, that way we can stockpile some food."

Aang smiled. "I think that'll work."

Arnok sighed. "I think you're all naïve. But I will concede so that we can actually see what happens."

Zuko looked at the others. "Is there anything else?"

The others shook there heads.

Zuko nodded. "If you think of anything, please bring it up at our next meeting. I'm hoping we can get this done soon so that you can all return to your homes."

Katara looked at Zuko. Even she had to admit he seemed different and more royal. It was quite a contrast to the sometimes angry, independent, and hostile nature he used to have.

The others were given a tour of the palace, by Zuko's request.

Toph Bei Fong sat at the table at her parent's house, she and her parents had reconciled a few months ago and she was living with them again. She now had a lot more freedom than before, so she didn't need to go to Earth Rumble as much. She sat and ate her food quietly.

She was wearing her familiar green and tan casual clothes, with her hair done up in her classic hairstyle with a headpiece.

Lao, her father, broke the silence first. "Toph, when you told us about what you did to help save the nations from Ozai we were unsure of it, but also so very proud. You may not have felt like it but we do love you, very much. With that in mind your mother and I have a belated birthday gift for you."

Toph stopped eating and raised her head up. "A gift, eh?"

Lao moved the chair away from the table and stood up. He walked over to a nearby cabinet and grabbed a large black box. It was heavy, and was printed with the symbol of the Earth Kingdom on it. He struggled to carry it over and laid it near Toph's left side. "Go on, open it."

Toph moved to her left and laid her hands on the large box. She felt around the box and could tell where the opening was. She pulled one side away from her, pushed the box a few inches away and opened the other side. She reached her hands inside and a smile crept onto her face. "It feels like, armor of some kind." She pulled out one of the pieces of armor.

"It's part of a set. One we commissioned just for you. Some of your friends helped pay for it too. There's an inscription on it, why don't you tell us what it says."

Toph ran her fingers down the characters on the forearm guard and 'read' them outloud. "Though tiny, you posses all the spirit and persistence of the largest Earth Bender, let your friends, through these, protect you." It's a little cheesy but also very touching." A small tear rolled down her cheek. She fitted it over her arm.

The forearm guard was constructed of a black leather band with leather straps and metal buckles. Metal ran the length of the guard stopping at the first set of knuckles. Inlaid in the metal was a large metal circle with a metal flying boar. Surrounding that was the inscription.

Toph grinned widely. "This is made out of metal!"

Poppy nodded. "Parts of it are, yes. We tried to get the size right, but if it's too big you can always adjust it."

Lao looked at Toph, her smiling face was worth the price they paid for the armor. "There's more."

Toph dug into the box again and pulled out a leg guard. It was made in a similar fashion to the forearm guard. This time the metal ran over only the top of the foot and toes, leaving the bottom exposed. She put it on. "This is so cool! I can still earth-bend with this."

"And metal-bend also. We made sure to tell the blacksmith to make the metal a little looser than normal. He gave us a strange look but we reassured him it's what we wanted." Lao said proudly.

Toph didn't express gushy emotions much, but she made an exception this time. She stood up and walked around the table to her parents and gave them a big hug, they wouldn't have understood a big punch to the arm. She made the hug quick though as to not feel to vulnerable or girly.

Suddenly a loud but familiar groan came from outside. "Appa?" Toph put on the other Forarm and leg guard and walked outside.

She walks up to Suki and Sokka and gives them a big bear hug. "It's nice to see you again, Suki and Sokka." She noticed other people there, including Appa of course. "And you brought guests."

"Toph, I'm sure you remember the other Kyoshi warriors." Suki said indicating the other, even though she knew Toph couldn't see."

Toph could feel them though, through the vibrations in the earth. "Yeah, we briefly met at Zuko's coronation. How's ol' hot head doing anyway?"

Sokka sighed. "That's what we're here to talk about… Wow! Where did you get those?" He said distracted by the new Armor Toph was wearing.

Toph smiled. "Funny enough, it was my parent's birthday gift. Check it out." She clenched her left fist and the metal on the fore arm changed into a large katar like dagger. She also lifted a rock out of the earth. "I can still metal and Earth bend in them."

"That is so awesome!" Sokka said, running over to examine the armor closer.

Toph raised her head. "So what's the matter? Is ol' hot head in danger?"

Suki walked up to her. "Aang and Katara are as well. Can we come in?"

Toph nodded. "Yeah come on in." She led the others inside the house. Sokka had been there before but this was Suki's and the other Kyoshi warriors' first time.

They marveled at the house. "This is a really nice house Toph." Suki said complimentary.

Toph shrugged. "Can't see it, don't care."

Their parents were sitting on their cushions in the greeting room. "Welcome friends of Toph. Thank you all for looking after our daughter during the war."

The others bowed. "You are welcome."

"She really didn't need that much looking after." Sokka added.

Her parents nodded. "We have made amends for how we acted toward her. Now what brings you to our house?"

Sokka steeped forward. "Our friends are in trouble and we need Toph's help. Could we speak with her privately?"

Lao nodded. "Very well. Toph we'll be outside, please let us know you're going this time."

Toph nodded. "Alright."

Her parents left the house and took a walk in the garden.

Toph looked at the others. "What do you mean their in danger?"

Sokka cleared his throat. "Well you see I was having a dream about Ty Lee, when Suki came into my room and woke me up."

Ty Lee interrupted a moment. "Sokka, you had a dream about me?"

Suki looked at her. "It was only a dream. And in fact, you were the one trying to kiss him. He told you no."

Ty Lee still looked flattered. "Well of course I'd try and kiss him."

Sokka looked at the two. "Can I continue?"

Suki and Ty Lee hushed.

"Thank you." Sokka turned back to Toph. "Suki had heard a noise and said something didn't feel right. I listened to see if there was something and this strange voice called us by name and told us to meet it in the outdoor training yard I set up at Kyoshi. There we saw a woman from the spirit world and she told us that the three were after Aang, Katara and Zuko. Being the Avatar, Aang's in the most danger. So we hopped onto Appa and here we are."

Toph sighed. "Spirit World stuff huh? Why are we getting involved again? I mean I know our friends are in danger but can't those spirits handle this?"

Sokka scoffed at the idea. "Yeah, after our friends are hurt or killed, they might help. Remember time and urgency has no meaning to them."

Toph, admitting the sound reasoning, cracked her knuckles. "Alright, I'm in. I could use some action; it's getting boring around here." She looked toward the door. "Let me just tell my parents. I need to start considering their feelings more since they're trying really hard to change."

Sokka nodded, he knew first hand how difficult Toph's parents were when they first met them. "Yeah, good idea."

Toph walked toward the door, opened it, and walked outside.

A few minutes later she returned, her parents behind her.

Toph smiled. "They said I could go."

Sokka smiled. "Great! Get whatever you need and we'll meet you at Appa."

Toph ran, got the few things she needed, and met the others outside by Appa.

Appa growled happily and licked Toph affectionately.

"It's nice to see you too, Appa." Toph said petting Appa.

They all climbed on board and again Sokka snapped the reigns gently. "Yip Yip."

Appa lifted into the air and headed for the fire Nation Capital.