Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar.

Summary: In the previous act, Aang and the gang have just visited a tiny Earth Kingdom village. However, the people do not appreciate the Avatar because he defeated the Fire Nation, causing the Earth Kingdom Post-War Restoration Forces (EKPWRF) to drive out remainding Fire Nation occumpants and governors in the kingdom. Apparently, one of the Fire Nation factory owners, Shin De, was really kind to the townspeople, bringing to them Fire Nation culture, food, and knowledge. He victim to the EKPWRF and was taken away. Now Aang, Sokka, and Toph have decided to rescue Shin De to improve Aang's image and make a point to the world that you can't judge a person by his nation.

Note: Here is the second act to a six-act two episode story featuring Aang, Sokka, Toph, and a variety of other characters. This time, Momo, everybody's favorite lemur, is involved, too. I guess by now you can tell that I am going with a Sokka and Toph shipping because they sort of have fun with each other in this act. I hope you enjoy this act and please review!

Book 4: Air

Chapter 4:

Shin De's List

...

"They won't give up anything to anyone unless it involved, one, freedom, or, two, money. Sure you're the almighty Avatar, but they don't give a mole badger's butt if you don't have any authority or gold."

-Toph, on Earth Kingdom Refugee Soldiers

...

Act 2:

Aang, Sokka, Toph, and Momo travel to the EKPWRF's camp to find Shin De and free him.

Aang landed Appa behind several boulders and down in the valley they spotted the Earth Kingdom Post-War Restoration Forces camp. It was composed of mainly a bunch of tents, but there was also a few prison cells scattered in the center of a ring of tents. Outside the outermost tents were a short wall that was earthbended out of the ground.

Aang pat Appa on the back. "Stay here, boy. I'll be back soon."

Sokka was stunned. "You're going in by yourself? I thought we were a team!"

Aang pointed at the arrow on his forehead. "Don't worry. I'm the Avatar. All I have to do is to walk in. They'll understand what I have to say." He straightened his shirt. "Play it cool, Aang."

Sokka was about to grab Aang's shirt and stop him, but Toph pushed him back. "Let him handle this by himself. It makes our job a lot easier." She lay on the ground and relaxed.

"Fine." Sokka said and he sat right next to her as he watched Aang walk down the mountain Appa was parked on and toward the Earth Kingdom camp.

"So what's up right now?" Toph asked him. "Everything all right?" It was a bit awkward making small talk, since in the past few months they never had time for conversation.

"It's fine," Sokka replied. "I'm not sure about our rescuing this man, though. As I've already pointed out, we don't even know him."

"Pfft. Come on, sometimes you have to be less calculating and believe that the world is a better place. How are we going to help the people out if they themselves aren't good? Don't forget that you were the second most skeptical about Zuko's reform. And guess how that turned out."

"I know, I know…" Sokka lay his head down right next to Toph. "It's just that I have this nagging feeling."

"Nagging feeling? You're sister is really rubbing off on you, huh?"

Sokka immediately got up from the ground. "Hey, don't call me that!" He shouted to Toph. "We all know that she's the motherly waterbending master while I'm the kick-butt plan guy and sword fighter!" Toph laughed. It was always funny to see Sokka try to make a point.

Time Passes

Aang walked back up the mountain, but there was no Fire Nation employer or prisoner traveling with him.

"So, how'd it go, Twinkle Toes?" Toph got out from behind a rock, wearing one of her royal uniforms. "Did you get Lord Savior for us?"

Aang was about to answer, but he was surprised by the fact the clothes Toph was wearing. "Why are you in a dress?" The Toph he knew abhorred girly clothing.

"Don't laugh at me," Toph said. She pulled out Sokka from behind a rock, who was also wearing a royal costume. He even had a thin mustache inked on his face.

"What the?" The last time Aang saw Sokka with facial hair when Sokka was presenting himself as Aang's father at the Fire nation Academy.

"Hey! Don't make fun of the mustache. It's part of the act. It was all Toph's idea. Trust me. My plan wouldn't have involved wearing such…uncomfortable clothing. Or this devilishly wicked mustache."

"Plan?" Aang was confused now. Something had been going on behind his back. Sokka explained. "You see, Toph made a bet that you couldn't get Shin De out from the camp just by selling yourself to them. That reminds me." He turned to Toph and reached into his pockets. "Here's five silver pieces."

Toph took them and stuffed them into her pocket, grinning.

Aang grabbed his bald head in astonishment. "Toph, you knew that I couldn't get Shin De from the camp? Why didn't you just tell me not to go then?"

Toph shrugged. "There was a chance you could've. Hence the bet we made. If you did, it would have saved me and Snoozles here some energy."

"How were you so sure, though?" Aang asked. He assumed the fact that Toph was sure, for she had very sharp intuition.

"We're talking about Earth Kingdom soldiers. Stubborn soldiers! The war is over, and still they're away from their family. They won't give up anything to anyone unless it involved, one, freedom, or, two, money. Sure you're the almighty Avatar, but they don't give a mole badger's butt if you don't have any authority or gold."

"Even to the person who likely saved their lives?" Aang was disgusted.

"Even to the him," Toph repeated.

"So they won't help one of the most powerful benders in the world, but they'll help you because…?" Aang asked.

"Because I'm rich," Toph said, finishing the sentence. "I'll just redirect them to my family, tell my parents to give them some gold, and we're done. Problem solved."

Who would have known that once honorable Earth Kingdom soldiers had fallen to become no better than mercenaries. Aang thought. "So what do I do?"

"You stay here, Twinkle Toes," Toph said. "You've had your shot. We'll handle this." She gestured to Sokka and the two climbed down the mountain.

Aang watched them leave. He turned to look for Momo. "Hey, do you want me to show you the nuts I found in the bush down there?" Momo, however, wasn't with Appa. Where could he have gone?

Scene switches

Toph approached the main gate of the camp with Sokka following her. One of the guards lowered his spear. "You are entering an authorized zone. What right do you think you have?" He said.

"I'm Toph. Toph Beifong." She placed raised her ticket and showed it to the head guard.

He took it from her hand, looked at it, and felt it. It was real. "The emblem of the flying boar. You're a Beifong."

She stomped her foot. "Did you not hear me? I just introduced myself as Toph Beifong."

The guard laughed. "Well, I'm just surprised that a royal family member like you would come to such a tiny camp like ours."

"Explain why, Butler" Toph said, shoving Sokka between her and the guard.

Sokka cleared his throat and scratched his head. In a deeper voice he said, "Well, you see, Miss Bei Fong here is…um…" He began stumbling on words but then he saw a sign by the door that read, Hiring New Janitor. He finally got an idea. "She's looking for someone to hire. For her estate. She says that her…uh…" He tried to recall the last time he went to the estate and how many people were there. "She says that her sixty servants aren't enough."

Toph punched Sokka in the shoulder. "Don't forget yourself and the other butlers." She turned to the head guard. "Sorry, my butler doesn't really know his math." She faced Sokka again, and in a reprimanding tone, said, "Do you want me to fire you, too?"

Sokka groaned. He couldn't believe that Toph was making fun of him during such a serious situation.

"So she stops at my little camp in search of a servant? Why, I'm flattered." The guard bowed to Toph. "This is a prison camp heading en route to Ba Sing Se, so I'm afraid we cannot help you out here. We don't have anyone for hire. I'm really sorry, Miss Bei Fong."

"Tell it to my parents when I report to them that you denied my request."

The guard now kneeled on the floor. "I'm really sorry, but I'll lose my job. I'm under strict orders…"

"Fine, how about this. I'll spare you and your friends some money if you just lend me one of your prisoners."

The guard stroked his beard. "Well…perhaps…"

"She means a lot of money," Sokka chimed in. He gave a wink and a thumbs up.

The guard nodded. "Let's discuss this transactions in one of the tents." Toph and Sokka followed him around the quarters and into a pavilion. The guard lowered the blanket over the exit. "Sorry about our facilities. It's just that we are about to leave tomorrow."

"Bah, it's all right." Toph said. The guard guided them into a tent. She snapped her fingers once again. "Butler, ready my mat."

Sokka took out a rug from his bag and unfurled it. Toph asked the man, "So what kind of people do you have for me?"

The guard opened the tent entrance and guided her out of the room and Toph followed. Sokka slapped his head angrily and rolled up the mat. She didn't use it at all! Why is Toph still abusing me?

The guard took them to a row of cells. "So what kind of people are you after?" He pointed at a man with fairly skinny frame. "How about Lee? He's a fairly good earth craftsman, once we break him, he'll probably be more obedient."

Toph shook her head. "I'm not looking for Earth Kingdom worker. I want Fire Nation."

The guard's jaw dropped. "Fire Nation? Are crazy? They're the enemy nation!"

"There are tons of earthbenders in the kingdom. Why do you think we came to your camp? Because we want a firebender! Butler, explain!" Toph shouted.

Why did Toph always have to leave the hard questions to me? Sokka straightened up. "She wants Fire Nation because…" Sokka was stumped. Then he recalled his massive hunger pangs and came up with a convincing argument. "Because Miss Bei Fong is looking for a new cook at her estate. And no one would understand the art of cooking better than a master flame controller. That is why she wants a firebender."

"Exactly!" Toph shouted. "You read my mind. That's why my parents hired you. Now let's get on with the tour."

The guard nodded and showed her all of the Fire Nation soldiers they captured.

"So who's this guy? Butler, describe to me."

Sokka peered in and saw a man around his mid forties. He had a thin black beard and a huge grin. Though he was obviously trapped in a prison for breaking the law, he seemed really friendly. Sokka described to Toph all the features. "Seems like a decent guy. What's his name?"

"Dong." The guard said.

"Dong?" Sokka scratched his chin. "It's like the sound of a bell. Dong! That's a nice sound...I like it! We'll take him!"

Dong leaped and yelled out a "Woohoo! Now I get to stay at a super rich estate!"

Toph jabbed Sokka in the belly. "We're here looking for Shin De, you dolt. Don't go taking unnecessary calls!"

Sokka rubbed his stomach. "I think you may have destroyed my digestive tract."

Toph turned to the tour guard. "I'm sorry, but my butler here…" She glared at Sokka with her blind eyes (She heard that it was effective at demonstrating anger) "…doesn't know what he is saying. I make the calls." Dong slumped back into his cell with a heavy sigh. Toph spoke again. "Do you know a man by the name of Shin De?"

"Shin De?" The guard said. He sounded shocked. "Why would you need Shin De?"

"I want him. I heard that he has a good attitude."

"He fights like a beast, too," the guard said. "It was hell to capture him. He was going crazy shooting fire all around. If it wasn't for the fact that he was outnumbered six to one, I don't know what would have happened. Are you sure you want him? He's dangerous."

This all struck as really weird to Sokka. This friendly Fire Nation employer didn't sound so friendly anymore.

Toph slammed her fist into her palm. "Well, I like it that way. I want a man with some fight. He could double as a body-guard for me. Unlike my Butler here."

"Hey!" Sokka shouted. "I can fight!" He picked up a stick and swung it around.

Toph earthbended a rock at his direction, breaking the stick easily. "But you can't bend. Now keep your mouth shut."

Sokka slumped and walked behind Toph. First, he was commanded by his sister. Now he was being commanded by a blind twelve-year old girl. Who would he have to obey next?

The guard was puzzled Toph's last statement. He didn't know why such a diminutive girl like her would want such a wild man. "He's not here. We just held an interrogation with him. He's in one of the other tents right now."

"I don't care. I want him." Toph stated.

"You can't. The Avatar just came by. He wanted to meet Shin De also. Shin De's under scrutiny for now. We suspect that he might be involved in an infamous rebel group."

"Really? It doesn't matter. Let's get on with this. There's no one else I'll choose."

"Miss Bei Fong, we are terribly sorry, but we simply can't. I have another person who would be glad to work for you. Perhaps he could prepare us some dinner? I'm sure you'll like him!"

Toph was going to deny the request, but Sokka jumped in and said, "Dinner? Sure!" He could never refuse the opportunity for food.

Toph jabbed him in the stomach again. "Stop fooling around. It looks like it is time for our backup plan."

Scene switches

The three walked into a dining tent. Sokka unfurled the carpet again and Toph sat down beside the short table. She placed both of her legs on the table and leaned back. "Cushion!" She shouted. Sokka grabbed a pillow and placed it under her head.

"So what does this cook of yours have in store for us?" Toph asked.

"You'll see. But it'll be something special for sure."

"Thank you for your hospitality. How about in return, my Butler will prepare some tea for the both of us."

"That would be greatly appreciated," The guard said, bowing. He left the room to ask the cook to prepare dinner.

Sokka nodded and ran out of the tent. Outside, he took out a tray and teapot and two cups out. He whipped out ingredients and began preparing the tea. He took out a Saber-tiger Lily, which was rumored to be poisonous, and added to the tea. When consumed, Saber-tiger Lilies could cause short-term memory loss.

Scene switches

Inside the kitchen tent.

Momo had left Aang and Appa earlier in search of food. He sniffed the air and could smell all sort of good stuff going on. He dodged the steps of all the Earth Kingdom guards and ran into one of the tents. There, he heard one of the guards give an order to the cook, who was moving like crazy around with the utensils and pots.

"One of the Bei Fongs is here. She wants to sample your cooking. If you do well enough, she might hire you."

The cook's jaws dropped. A Bei Fong at our little camp? This could be my big break! He took out a book and was searching through a meal to make. Momo ran across the counters and into a sack full of nuts.

"Hmm… The Super-Spicy Chili Flambe with Hot Sauce…" The cook murmured to himself, but then shook his head. "Nah… They'll probably get the idea I'm Fire Nation." He flipped the page over. "Perhaps Stone Soup…" He shook his head again. "Nah, I need to give her the impression that we have better food around this camp than…rocks." He finally got an idea. "It's autumn. I'll cook a special Air Nomad dish!" He searched bag of nuts in preparations of making a fruit cake for desert, but then felt a furry creater. Momo leaped and began flying through the air.

The cook rubbed his eyes. "Is that a lemur? I thought those critters were extinct!" He grabbed a huge fork and closed the tent's door. "Better for me I guess. Now I can prepare a special Lemur Soup for Miss Bei Fong."

He started throwing silverware in Momo's direction. "Come down you little, little, lemur." Momo tried to dodge the flying utensils the best he could, but one finally hit him, knocking him onto the floor. The cook bound and gagged Momo. Next, he began cutting vegetables for the soup.

Momo uncovered the gag and began gnawing on the rope. The soup was almost done, and the cook was about to cut him up. Right before the cook grabbed a knife, Momo snapped the rope and flew free.

The cook angrily began the mad chase again. Momo managed to kick some flour into the cook's face, blinding him. The cook grabbed a piece of chicken, mistaking it for Momo, and laughed. "Ha, ha… I finally have you now!" He raised a knife and cut the chicken into pieces, dumping them into the bowl of boiling water.

Momo pushed hard on the tent flap and flew out of the tent.

After the cook washed his face and came back in, the soup had finished. He poured it into bowls, put them onto a tray and headed for the dining tent.

Scene switches

The cook walked into the dining room. "In celebration of the season, I have prepared for you a special dinner." He placed the bowls and silverware down onto the table. "Behold, Lemur Soup!"

Sokka grabbed his spoon, shouting, "Oh boy!" And began to dig in.

Toph was thinking. "Did you say Lemur Soup?" She asked the cook.

"Why yes. I was fortunate enough to have one fly into my tent during my preparation of the meal. Who knew they still existed?" He shrugged. "Let me prepare some special fruit pies, now." He left the tent.

Oh shoot… Toph thought. I hope he's just bluffing to sell himself better.

The guard who gave them a tour of the facilities began drinking the soup, but it was too hot for him. He reached for his tea and began drinking. After a few sips, he fell over onto the ground and began shaking violently.

Toph turned to Sokka.

"What the heck did you do? He's not supposed to be shaking! He's only supposed to black out!"

"Hmm…" Sokka said, wiping the remaining soup off of his mouth. "That tasted more like chicken than lemur…" Then it hit him… "Is Momo with Aang?"

Toph ignored his question and asked her own again. "What did you put in his tea?"

"Well, we had three Saber-tiger Lilies, so I put them all in."

Toph clasped her forehead with her palms. "Darn it! You're only supposed to put in half of one!" She remembered Uncle Iroh's tea teaching very specifically. Putting in more than one could be disasterous. Apparently, Sokka hadn't remembered her orders.

Scene switches

With the guard knocked out, Toph and Sokka free Shin De.

With the guard knocked out, Toph and Sokka easily found Shin De. He was in a cell-box like the others, except for the fact that he was placed in a tent. Toph metal-bended the bars apart and pulled him out. Before Shin De could make any comment, Toph said, "Follow us."

She pulled him out of the tent while Sokka looked for a safe way out. "There!" he shouted and pointed in the direction where there weren't any guards around. They ran that way and Toph, with her earthbending, catapulted them all out of the camp. They ran to the outskirts of the mountain where they met Aang.

He noticed the arrow tattoo on Aang's forehead. "Ah, Avatar, it is an honor to be in your presence." He bowed.

Aang bowed too. "I'm the honored one. I'd never thought I'd meet a Fire Nation citizen who would give the Earth Kingdom villagers so much hope. You are truly inspirational."

"Thank you," Shin De said in reply. "Now I can finally return back to my factory."

"Well, let's get a move on," Aang said as he waved for them all to get onto Appa.

"Where's Momo?" Sokka asked, wiping off his mustache.

"I thought he was with you," Aang said.

Before any of them could say anything, Momo flew through the sky and landed on Aang's shoulder.

"Whew!" Toph said. "Thank god that dish wasn't really Lemur Soup."

"I knew it!" Sokka shouted. "My taste bud's never fail me. That was just plain old Chicken Soup!"

They all got back onto Appa and headed for the Earth Kingdom village. "I can't wait to see how they react," Aang said, pulling the reins.

Shin De nodded and patted Aang on the back.

Fades to black.

I know not much happened in this act, but the next few chapters will be a lot longer and more interesting. Thanks for reading and stay tuned for the next act... and the next episode. Please review! They are much appreciated.