Hey! TezTra here.

I've finally updated and I really hope you enjoy this chapter. Not so much action, and a warning beforehand: not much action next chapter either. But if you want something to happen, you should read my sixth chapter. Thank you! So here's no. three and I really really really want you to review.

Thanks

Chapter Three

The Dual Broad Swords

It was early in the morning, just as the Sun was rising over the forest, two figures appeared from behind the trees as one collapsed with exhaustion. The man clutched his side breathlessly as he lay. His partner leaned over and rested her hands on her knees. The blind girl crinkled her face in concentration.

"Phew! That was a long run…" The girl trailed off as she straightened up. The Earthbender slowly walked past the man and murmured something about a creek nearby.

The Firebender turned on his side and watched his companion walk away. He sighed before getting up and dragging himself after Toph. When he reached the girl he found her kneeling beside the creek she had found, with her head in the water.

"You never run out of energy do you?" Zuko asked as he knelt down next to her. Toph's head resurfaced and she took a big breath. The blind girl dried her face with her sleeve then turned to Zuko.

"Sorry?" She questioned, as if he offended her.

"Don't you ever run out of energy?" The scarred man repeated, as Toph dipped her head into the water again.

"It depends on the situation." Toph answered when her head came back up. "What about you? It'd be nice to get to know you."

Zuko paused before he cupped his hands and dipped them in the creek and drank from them when he brought them back up.

"Why would you want to get to know me?" The Firebender continued to act like a gentleman (In Toph's point of view) and drunk from his hands. Toph turned to 'stare' at him in disbelief, as if the answer was obvious – and in this case, it was... at least in her opinion.

"We'll be travelling together for the next two months." Toph explained simply. Zuko spat out the water in his mouth dramatically, coughed a few times as he choked then stared at the blind agent as if she had gone mad.

"Wait, wait, wait! Who said I'd be travelling with you for a month? Huh?" Zuko demanded as Toph frowned in frustration. "I never agreed to come with you. I never asked you to come along and ruin my life! I had a great time before you –"

"Hey! I never agreed to get along with an ex-prince like you! I never agreed to put up with you! I agreed to become an agent, to play along with this stupid mission and make the most of my life." Toph shot back. She glared at the man as he did back.

"Why don't you just shut up for me for a bit? Out of all the agents I could've gotten, I had to get one with a big mouth." Zuko yelled. "Get out of my life!"

"Oh, I'm sorry your majesty." Toph mocked, standing up and doing a curtsy formally as she addressed the ex-prince. Toph turned her back toward Zuko as she spoke in a 'girly' voice: "I'm sorry that I ruined your life. I'm sorry that you're sick of having me. I'm sorry that I have a big mouth. Well, you want to know what I'm sick of? I'm sick and tired of having to run from life to solve other peoples' problems. I'm sick and tired of being no one but Agent Toph. I-I-I'm sick and t-tired of having no one but me…" The agent slowly trailed off as her shoulders sagged. Zuko eyed the girl with shock. The determined warrior he met last night was now the lonely 'damsel-in-distress'. He was a lonely prince-in-exile for the last three years and now he had to be the guy who had to comfort the strange 'damsel'.

There was silence for a long time, with Toph having her back turned to a shocked Zuko. Surprisingly, it was Toph who broke the silence: "Look. This is getting us nowhere, the whole yelling thing. We just came to a bad start, so… Hi. I'm Toph from the Earth Kingdom and I'm here to take – um, escort you to Ba Sing Se. And you are?" She commented casually. Toph waited patiently for the still shocked prince to answer. It took Zuko a while to recover.

"Er, hi T-Toph, I guess. I'm Zuko from the, um, Fire Nation and um," – Toph smiled encouragingly him, which surprised Zuko even more – "I think you're unpredictable, I m-mean –"

Zuko cut off mid sentence when Toph smiled again. She didn't giggle like all the girls he met would. She didn't laugh at him making him feel like a clown and she certainly didn't express nothing as if she was emotionless. That reminded him of someone…

Zuko eyed her again. Toph cleared her throat and spoke: "Look, I know it was a bit crazy last night –"

"Yeah right. Just a bit."

"– and you weren't expecting something like this," Toph brushed some dust off her robe, indicating that she was the one that wasn't to be expected. "I just want you to understand that it is your choice whether you come with me or stay here."

"Wait. So you're giving me the decision here? That's, um, thoughtful… Wait! You weren't acting like this before. What's the catch?" Zuko smiled as Toph sighed but returned his smirk.

"There's no catch… But! I just want you to know that we're going to pass Omashu and Gaipan." Toph stated matter-of-factly.

"What do I care about what towns or villages or cities you'll pass?" Zuko demanded, wondering what she had 'up her sleeve'.

"Well, I don't know… But I or rather, you should know that the 'Dragon of the West' is currently leading a siege on Omashu… also known as General Iroh." Toph smirked as Zuko tensed up at the name of the general. Toph continued: "And about a week or two before I was assigned to this mission, I was innocently stumbling around when my sensitive ears got caught in a conversation between two Dai Li Agents."

Zuko snorted; how much more innocent could this girl get?

"I decided it wouldn't hurt if I listened in. Turned out it was worth the eavesdropping. The two guys were talking about past missions they had been on, and one of them coincidently happened to have recorded the last sighting of the ex-Fire Lady Ursa. You know her don't you? Oh, yeah! Aren't you her son, since you were the Fire Nation prince and all?" Zuko tensed again when he heard the name and grew more irritated as Toph knew the connection he had with the woman.

Toph smiled knowing she won. "Go ahead. You're choice. It's all on you."

She continued to wait 'patiently' and Zuko felt she was more of a platypus-bear than a damsel-in-distress. She was no longer the little girl who screamed 'apologies' at him. She was now a beast tearing him apart slowly between the decision of life or family. Zuko stood there taking in the information the Earthbender had given him. After a long silence he finally got to a conclusion.

"Alright. I'll come along with you to Ba Sing Se, but only because there's a chance I'll see my uncle and mum again." Toph smirked as Zuko gave in. "But! If I go with you, you tell me all about the mission and what's going to happen to me after we get to Ba Sing Se. No secrets from now on. Deal?" Zuko held out his hand for a shake.

Toph hesitated for a moment causing Zuko to feel slightly uncomfortable. She reached out her hand and took his, shaking it.

"No secrets. Deal." Toph promised. Zuko smiled, happy because he thought he had the advantage here, though little did he know, that the agent had her fingers crossed behind her back, and little did she know that the prince wasn't the type that would keep promises in most situations.

The two nodded in agreement before getting back on track of the journey and walking towards the north, as Toph explained everything she knew without revealing too much of what she thought was confidential.

The sun was shining high in the sky, indicating it was about midday, and it was very peaceful around the island of Kyoshi. Though it could've been more silent if it wasn't for the young woman Firebending on her ship. The girl jumped and kicked out at the sky, letting blue fire shoot from her foot. When she touched the deck again, the girl punched out causing more blue flames to erupt from her fist. The fire was aimed at the ocean and when the two elements connected, steam appeared.

The girl stopped bending, turned around and took a deep breath. Then she made lightning so fast, anyone would have missed it if they blinked for a second. The Firebender directed the lightning at the sky, making an unusual sight (it's not every day you see lightning on a sunny day). Then she stopped, took another deep breath and took a Firebending stance to end her 'performance'. The sound of clapping was heard on the far side of the ship opposite to the end the girl was bending on. The girl's audience were two old women, both looking very alike, as if twins.

"Almost perfect. There's just one hair out of place." One commented. Both of them nodded once. The girl noticed a single strand of dark hair, loose from the traditional topknot it was supposed to be in, hanging in front of her face.

"Almost isn't good enough." She growled and created lightning again, but with more force. She shot it at the sky again (forget just lightning alone, it looked more like a thunderstorm). When she finished she relaxed, and stretched her arms.

"What are you planning to do now Azula? Since you do not have Zuko as your prisoner?" The two women asked in unison. Azula turned to her tutors.

"Well, I know I can handle my brother with both hands tied behind my back as well as my feet. But with that wretched agent with him, I admit that I need more help. And someone I could trust too…" Azula trailed off as she turned toward where the sun was.

"Looks like I'm going to have a reunion." Azula turned to the tower of her Royal Fire Nation ship, where the control room was and yelled out to the captain, "SET COURSE FOR OMASHU!" – Then in lower words – "I'm going to send a letter to a friend of mine, and on the way to Omashu, we're going to the Circus."

It was nearly Sunset when Toph and Zuko walked breathlessly along a dusty road, too tired to run. The two came along to a small lone town and Zuko nudged Toph. She turned to him and frowned. "What?"

Zuko pointed to the town but remembered Toph couldn't see. He was about to tell her when she spoke: "I know there's a town there. What about it?"

"I don't know about you, but I'm not gonna take another step. I know someone here. He sells ostrich-horses, weapons, armour, you name it. We should buy an ostrich-horse or two, so we can get to Kyoshi's port faster. You got any money?" Zuko said. Toph sighed and nodded.

"But only one… I can't see anything off the ground, no use steering it, let alone riding it." Toph pulled out a small bag from her sleeve and followed Zuko through the town gates. Toph started to laugh quietly as the two walked deeper into the empty-like town. Zuko turned to her and looked around. Nothing he thought funny.

"Why are you laughing?" He asked. Toph stopped and smiled at him.

"I thought you said you weren't gonna take another step..." Toph continued to laugh as Zuko rolled his eyes and continued his path. After a while, Zuko lead Toph to the store furthest from the town gates. There was a small stable beside it. There were not many people in the streets around this area of the place; this made bothered Toph, making her suspicious. When they entered the store it was empty, or at least Zuko thought so. Toph took off her conical hat and sat on a stool, making herself comfortable.

Zuko called out, "Lan! Lan? Are you in here?"

There was silence, and then a shuffling sound and a tiny man appeared from behind a shelf, holding a large box.

"Ah, Lee. It's been a while." Lan said, in a slightly raspy voice. He coughed several times. "Now what can I do for my old friend… and his lady?" Lan added as he noticed Toph sitting there, not paying much attention to what was happening. Lan coughed several times again and shivered.

Zuko frowned. "She's not my lady. She's just a friend." Toph almost snorted at this, but held on to her 'manners'.

Lan coughed once again before rolling his eyes. "Yeah. Okay, I believe you. Anyway, you've come to visit old me for what?" Lan waited patiently for Zuko to answer.

"I need an ostrich-horse. Oh, and can I have a look at your weaponry? And do you need something for that cough?" Toph turned to Zuko and frowned. She quickly masked her expression when Lan mumbled he was fine and permitted Zuko to look at the weaponry. Lan then called for her to follow him to the stable.

When Toph and Lan exited the store, Zuko made his way to the very back, where all sorts of weapons were kept. The prince studied the shelf that held swords. He came across a pair of matching swords; double broadswords. Zuko took the dual broadswords from the shelf and unsheathed them from their scabbard. He studied the weapons and pictured himself fighting with them. He remembered when he was banished from his homeland and moved into the Earth Kingdom in secret. Before he hired men to defend him, he remembered how he was taught to use dual broadswords back in the Fire Nation before he left, though he only ever used them once, against an assassin. And he survived only just.

"Oh please. You can't even bend properly, what makes you think you can handle two oversized knives?" Toph's voice came from behind him. Zuko turned to glare at the agent, but she already left him. Zuko walked back to the front of the store, carrying the double broadswords with him. He found Toph paying Lan for the ostrich-horse. He looked around and saw one tied to a pole outside the store. Lan coughed into Toph's face a few times causing her to jump back. When Toph finished paying she walked out and went to untie the ostrich-horse.

Zuko walked up to Lan. "Damn it. You're girl" – Zuko glared at Lan – "took the best I had."

"They're stolen, though. Anyway, how much for these?" Zuko held up the broadswords for Lan to see.

"Hmmm. Well, the original price I'd charge you would be five gold pieces –"

"What? Five gold pieces for this old thing –"

"– but because you're an acquaintance… I'll bring it down to forty copper coins… We got a deal?" Lan asked, quite innocently. Zuko glared at him, then sighed and paid. Zuko slung the broadswords over his shoulders, letting the rope hang on. As Zuko left he heard Lan murmur "Got to see someone about this cold".

When the scarred man exited the store, Toph was waiting for him. "What took you so long?" Toph was holding the reins of the ostrich-horse.

"Well, you could've of left without me." Zuko joked.

Toph, however, didn't seem to find it very funny. "I can't get on by myself, you idiot."

Zuko seemed shocked for a second. "You're an amazing bender who can defeat a small army of well-trained Fire Nation soldiers single-handedly. Yet, you can't get on an animal without help?" Zuko laughed lightly as Toph ignored him.

"So? Can I get a leg-up or not?" Toph asked. Zuko stopped laughing and nodded, a smile still plastered on his fine face. Toph braced herself as Zuko pushed her up with all his strength. In doing so, he nearly flipped Toph over the ostrich-horse.

"Hey watch it! Are you trying to kill me, or what?" Toph slowly moved into a good sitting position, clinging onto the dirty saddle and making sure she was secure, before turning to glare in (what she thought was) Zuko's direction. Zuko was surprised. Toph looked so immovable when she was on the ground, but she was as light as any other girl her age should be. Zuko stopped thinking and pushed himself up onto the animal. He sat himself comfortably in front of Toph. He held the reins ready and ordered Toph to hold on to him.

"Oh, great." She mumbled. Toph placed her hands lightly onto Zuko's shoulders but he moved them to his waist. Zuko felt his companion shift uncomfortably in her position and chuckled.

"It's more secure this way." He explained.

"And how does that help me?" Toph retorted. Zuko smiled. He pulled the reins sharply and the ostrich-horse jumped slightly. Toph nearly screamed but only a small "eek" came out of her. Zuko gently hit the sides of the animal, causing it to move. When they passed the gates, the Earthbender had her arms wrapped around Zuko's waist tightly, holding on for dear life. Zuko chuckled again and hit the ostrich-horse once more, making it move faster.

The bright sun was setting to give the moon a place and the blood-red sky was turning black. Two figures on an ostrich-horse were riding across a clear valley that was only a short ride to the town that was only a mile or two away from it.

"Let's stop for the night. It's getting late." Zuko said. There was a faint "No" from behind him. Zuko chuckled. He pulled the reins and the animal stopped. He made sure Toph was still sitting as he got off the ostrich-horse's broad back. He checked on the Earthbender and to his astonishment, she was asleep.

"Toph, um, wake up. Toph? C'mon, get up already." Zuko frowned. Then he sighed. The prince slowly lifted the girl off the animal's back and carried her a few feet away. He slowly put her on the ground. But as soon as Toph touched the earth, her clouded eyes snapped open. Zuko jumped back as Toph shot straight up.

"Zuko?" was the first word she spoke. Zuko was surprised. Actually, Toph was surprising him a lot now.

"I'm here." Zuko said, as he quickly got up and led the ostrich-horse to a nearby tree and tied it down. "You okay? You were sleeping for one moment but then the next you were –"

"Oh? I was just worried for a sec. Scared Azula caught up and knocked me out and took you away… even though that would be impossible. But still, I was worried." Toph got up and stretched. She stood there for a moment, silently taking in the environment around them.

"Hmmm we only a short way from... and there's a large lake not so far from here… so I don't think we're that far from Ran Jai. You set up camp, I'll get the firewood." And with that, Toph left Zuko, standing there dumbfounded.

In the middle of the valley was a small flickering light. It was supposed to be a fire, but to Toph, it was good enough to keep an ant warm.

"Hmmm. We gotta do something about that Firebending of yours princess, before you lose it completely." Toph joked. Zuko just growled.

"It's hard to bend when you haven't been doing it for three years." Zuko mumbled. Toph was shocked.

"How can you not bend for three years? Bending is something that's apart of you. You can't just throw it away. Not bending is like not breathing!" Toph exclaimed. "Not bending is like throwing part of your knowledge, no, part of your sanity away!"

"Okay! I understand how bending is so important to you. Can you just stop bugging me about my mistakes and move on to the main question; how to improve my Firebending?" Zuko growled. Toph looked thoughtful for a moment, but then again Zuko could never guess what she was feeling, let alone thinking.

"Well, it's getting late and I want to get up early enough to get back to your friend before we leave. I want to get one of those small pocket knives I noticed in his store; you never know when you're gonna need one." Toph added when Zuko gave her a confused look. "How 'bout tomorrow we spar to see where you're up to if we have time. Then we decide what to do to help you bend better. It helps to know what level you're on so it's easier to help you improve." Toph explained.

Zuko sighed then nodded. Toph yawned, not bothering to stifle it. The blind Earthbender created two small earth tents for both of them then snuggled into one of the tents before coming back out, mumbling about keeping watch. Zuko stared at the very small tent Toph made for him. Oh well, better than nothing, he thought.

Zuko squeezed himself into the small earthen shelter and tried to get into a comfortable position. It wasn't as bad as he thought it was, he fit into the tent perfectly and only had to curl up a bit. Zuko waited for sleep to overpower him, which most certainly did not take long.

The next morning was quite cold yet the sun was shining as bright as ever. Zuko was snoring lightly but was woken with a hard prodding on his side. He opened his eyes to find a stick poking at his ribs. Zuko crawled out of his earth tent and the first sight that met his eyes was Toph, holding a long pointy stick.

"About time you woke up. Got scared you were in a coma." Toph stated. Zuko glared at her as he stood up and brushed himself from the dirt. "Now c'mon, I want to get out of here as soon as possible, I don't want to be late visiting your friend again."

"Lan has a cold or something. I don't think it's such a great idea visiting him at this hour in the morning when he's sick." Zuko said. Toph just shrugged.

"Eh, I'm sure he's going to be fine."

"I don't think I'm going to be fine." Lan said as he sneezed once, coughed a few times and sniffed.

"Okay, I take back what I said. You seem terrible." Toph winced when a few sneeze attacks were sent to her face. Lan did look terrible. His eyes were sore and red and he looked like he detached himself from life for a while. He looked like a living zombie to whoever knew what a zombie looked like.

"Um, can I buy something, um, from your weaponry?" Toph asked as Lan accidentally coughed once again into her face. Toph moved back and behind Zuko for protection as Lan answered.

"Sure, just take it for free; I feel like a generous man today." Lan sniffed again and coughed at Zuko who turned his head so he wouldn't catch Lan's sickness.

"Yeah right." Toph mumbled as she stalked off to the back of the store. Zuko turned back to his friend.

"You really need to get something for that cold," Zuko said. He covered his face with his arm as Lan sneezed again.

"I know, I know. But do you know the costs for appointments to a doctor?" Lan asked Zuko. The prince shook his head as a response as Toph returned holding a pocket knife in her right hand.

"Let's get out of here before he kills me with the flu." Toph whispered to Zuko as Lan sneezed in her direction for the last time. Zuko nodded and bid a goodbye to Lan and a speedy recovery as he and Toph left the store.

They both left the town on the ostrich-horse and rode on for the next long hours. As Zuko rode the animal, he let go of one of the reins and touched the dual broadswords tied to his shoulders like a bag. Toph hugged Zuko tighter as the ostrich-horse rode on. Not long after they passed the valley they slept in last night, Zuko began to drift off in his memories. He could picture the face a beautiful woman who looked similar to Azula. She had long dark brown hair and a Royal Fire Nation headpiece was attached to the top of her half-ponytail topknot. Her smile was like the radiant beams of the sun itself.

"Mum".

So there you have it, chapter 3 (finally)… I want to thank all those who reviewed my story so far and I'd like to encourage those who haven't yet. REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! You could just say a word or two like "yes" which means you like it or "no" which means you don't. Thank you for reading!

Happy Days!

TezTra