--XOXOXOXO--

Shocks and Surprises

--XOXOXOXO--

Where would he be? She could hear his footsteps as well as sense them, but she couldn't tell where they were coming from. Vaguely, she moved around, trying to get closer to the direction his vibrations were coming from. His vibrations got stronger as she got closer to him. "Twinkle toes!!" She yelled.

Aang spun around. "Toph?"

"Have I changed that much?".She stood there grinning at him.

"Not really." It actuality, she had changed quite a lot since he had last seen her. Curves that weren't there three years ago were there. She had cut her hair and let it loose instead of that bun she always wore. But she most definitely hadn't lost her sarcastic wit, probably because pf her spending too much time with Sokka.

"You're a bad liar." She laughed and walked up to him and hugged him. "It's good to be here."

Aang hugged her back and laughed. "Good to be able to follow some rules or good to have some new place to trash?"

"I'm not sure, but whatever it is, it's good to be with you." Toph smiled.

"Come on, grand tour around the whole palace, and then we can train awhile if you want to." Aang smiled.

"Of course. Let's go." With that, Toph ran down the corridor. Aang chuckled and ran after her.

--XOXOXOXO--

"It's got to be here somewhere." Katara muttered as she shifted books around the shelves. They were in the Royal Library. The elephant rats seemed to have disappeared.

"What are you looking for?" Zuko asked."You won't tell me, and I don't even know what the hell we're searching for. If you told me, I could help you."

"Fine. It's a book about mythical creatures that once live in this world like horses, dolphins, Felwyrrns, octopus, even vampires. And there were also rumors about elves!" Katara's eyes were shining as she spoke of the creatures. "Aang told me that in one of his past lives he had seen all of these creatures, and they were beautiful. Like the horses, he told me they had sleek fur covering their bodies, and their fur was usually black, white, cream or caramel colored. And the elves, they were fairer and more beautiful than any human."

"That was the book I was reading earlier, " groaned Zuko. "We've wasted THREE WHOLE HOURS looking for that stupid book because you wouldn't tell me what it was! Spirits!" Zuko looked at her with exasperation. He rubbed his temples with his fingers.

"No need to get so huffy with me! It's not my fault you didn't tell me you had the book!!" Katara shot back, crossing her arms over her chest.

"That's because you didn't tell me you were looking for that book." He glared at her then he turned and walked out,leaving her in the dark, musty room.

"And this is the Royal Library. Last I was in here, the whole place was full of elephant rats." Katara could hear Aang's voice coming closer. Elephant rats? Cold sweat trickled down Katara's back. She detested elephant rats. And she didn't bring her water pouch.

"There's someone in there besides the elephant rats." She heard an unfamiliar female voice.

"I'll go check it out." Aang's footsteps came closer to her. "Katara?"

"Yeah." Katara looked at him.

"What are you doing here?" He asked as they walked out of the library.

"Looking for a book." Katara answered.

"Alone?" Aang was surprised.

"Zuko left me there because I didn't tell him which book I was looking for and he had it." Katara smiled ruefully. They left the library.

"Katara, this is my earthbending master, Toph." Introduced Aang "She's blind." He added blandly. He suddenly flinched. Katara raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

"Pleased to meet you." Katara smiled at her. "I'm Katara, daughter of Hakoda. I'm from the Southern Water Tribe."

"Hakoda's daughter?" the last time I spoke to you father I promised him I would get back at him for a dirty trick he played on me." Toph smiled wickedly. "And now I know just how to get back at him. But I need your help." Toph added.

"Sure, I guess. What do you want me to do?" asked Katara.

"Okay. Here's the plan. First, we'll ask ..."

--XOXOXOXO--

"Dad?" Katara popped her head into her father's study. Her father was writing.

"Yes, Katara?" Hakoda continued writing.

"Cam you come and have a cup of tea with me and Aang?" Katara asked.

"I guess so. Just let me finished this document." Hakoda answered.

"Okay. I'll be at the garden near the turtle-duck pond. And you must be there." She added sternly.

Hakoda sighed. He dipped his brush in the ink pot and finished the document. He would have to read it and correct the mistakes later.

--XOXOXOXO--

"Okay, he's coming." Toph went and hid behind the bushes. Katara giggled as she sipped some tea.

Suddenly, the earth opened up and Katara disappeared.

"Katara!" Hakoda rushed to the spot where Katara had stood only a minute before. He put his hands there. "Katara! Can you hear me?" He started scrabbling, trying to make a hole.

"Aang! Do something!" Hakoda was hysterical as he continued trying to make a hole in the dirt.

"I can't do anything, I don't know how or where she disappeared to." Aang continued to sip his tea.

"Can't you try?" begged Hakoda.

"No, he can't. I've taken your daughter." Toph's voice seemed to be coming from the bushes. She walked to where Hakoda and Aang were and laughed.

"Toph Bei Fong." The way Hakoda said it made it seem like a curse, a swear word. "Where is my daughter?" he demanded.

"Gone, lost. Somewhere." Toph waved her hand about vaguely. "I can't tell you because I'm blind." replied Toph, emphasizing the word blind.

"Tell me!" Hakoda was hysterical with anger and fear.

"I won't" smirked Toph. "It's revenge for that trick you played on me the last time we met." Hakoda looked at her, eyes narrowed. He swore at Toph.

"Don't you remember? I was walking into the room and opened the door when a bucket of muck fell onto my head. I promised revenge, and here it is." Toph laughed and the earth swallowed her and she disappeared the same way Katara had.

"Aang!"

"Yes?" Aang refilled his cup of tea. He opened the teapot and frowned. Then, he bent some water into the teapot and heated the teapot.

"Do something!" Hakoda screamed at him.

"Can't." Aang took another sip of his tea.

"WHY NOT? MY DAUGHTER IS IN DANGER. DAMN IT!! A MAD EARTHBENDING BITCH HAS TAKEN HER AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE ON THIS DAMNED EARTH SHE IS!!"

"I strongly oppose to the phrase 'mad earthbending bitch'. Had you not insulted Toph like that, I might have tried to help." Aang stood up and walked off. Hakoda watched him in disbelief.

"Dad??" Katara was walking towards him like she had not disappeared at all. "Why were you screaming?"

"T-toph-y-you-disappeared-you're here-you-" Hakoda stammered. He looked at her, his eyes wild. He dropped to the ground in a dead faint.

A/N: I'm sorry i took so long to update.School, all that.. R'n'R

Ewagan