A/N I don't own avatar

Toph and Kuzon returned to Do-San and handed him the talisman. "Well done," he said putting one hand on each of their shoulders, "You have successfully assassinated all six of the pirate lords. Now you can…" before he finished there was a knock at the door. Kuzon looked at Toph

"Who is it?" he asked.

"It's Katara!" Toph ran and opened the door as she hugged her. Kuzon smiled and walked over to join the hug. "What are you doing here?" Toph asked. Katara explained her mission to them.

"So we're heading for the eastern air temple then?" Kuzon asked.

"Exactly." She replied. Kuzon looked at the old man as he observed the scene. He smiled at them and handed them the box of talismans.

"Here," he said handing Kuzon the box "now you must help the avatar stop Shing. Gather the last two talismans and destroy them. I am honored to have worked with you both." He bowed and they bowed back. Kuzon gave his old mentor a hug and left with Katara and Toph. Do-San watched as they left. "We will meet again someday Kuzon, but you might not be so happy to see me." He said returning to his cup of tea.


Finally the gang had gotten back together. After all the greetings, they received another surprise. It turned out that Guru Pathik had the next to last talisman. They only need the last one from Shing. Aang and Kuzon roamed about the temple together while the others talked about strategy. As they walked Aang said "I never got to thank you for evaluating my ability to firebend."

"It was no problem at all," he said with a smile "but now I want to see what you are really made of." His smile grew wider.

"You want to fight?" Aang asked as a smile grew on his face.

"Of course."

They left to the training room. They got Katara to stay on stand by for healing. They took their stances and waited. Kuzon knew Aang would use Toph's strategy, so he made the first move. Aang blocked and countered with ease. Kuzon then started to get more intense. He sent out a flurry of fire at Aang, who had very little time to block the counter. Kuzon kept attacking, every move becoming more aggressive. There was also something about his moves that seemed almost familiar. As Aang blocked and dodged he realized what Kuzon was doing. Kuzon fought with the aggressiveness of a firebender, yet his moves seemed constant and fluid like a waterbender. He also refused to back down like and earthbender and he attacked dynamically like an airbender. Aang realized that the avatar wasn't the only one who could follow all these principles. All it took was a smart mind or as Bumi would put it 'a mad genius' to figure out that you could still fight like the avatar with only one element. Aang would have to do the same.

He waited for the slightest pause or misplaced foot. Once he found it he sent a blast of air forcing Kuzon to block. Aang took this moment to send out and air dome, but instead it was a fire dome. Kuzon now had to distance himself. Aang then went on the offensive and followed Kuzon's techniques. In a matter of minutes he backed Kuzon against the wall. He held up his hands as Aang cornered him "Not bad, you are good." Aang smiled at the complement.


Now all the training was over. Kuzon had been focusing on strategy for the last couple of days while the others trained, but not Aang and Katara. They spent time alone because they had been apart for what seemed like a long time. Katara sat next to Aang on the bed. He had his arm around her and her head rested on his shoulder. She noticed how much taller he had gotten. He had finally grown taller than her. "I love you." He said and kissed her.

"I love you too." She said as they broke apart.

"I think after this, I'm going to spend more time with you. The world can handle itself. Besides we have everyone else to help out." He said to her, smiling at the thought.

"Shouldn't you be fulfilling your avatar duties?" she asked.

"I made a vow to you when we got married," he said "You are my true duty." A small tear ran down her cheek at how sentimental he was. "Kuzon told me how he wanted to spend more time with Toph and to be with her, I think I need to do the same." he finished. They sat in silence until they heard Toph at the door.

"Guy's get out hear you won't believe this!' they ran outside as they saw about fifty men dressed in long brown and green robes. They wore circular hats and bared the Earth Kingdom insignia. The Dai Li had found them! Everyone took a fighting stance, but the Dai Li did not. Instead they all got on one knee and bowed their heads. A man in the middle said "We are honored to serve Toph Bei Fong, queen of the Earth Kingdom." All eyes turned to her. Toph didn't move from her stance.

"They're not lying," she began "they are really here to serve me." One agent stood up and walked to Kuzon and handed him a scroll. Kuzon noticed that his hand was not covered with rock gloves, a trademark symbol of the Dai Li. Kuzon read the scroll.

"What does it say?" Aang asked.

"It's from King Bumi," Kuzon answered "he has trained these men to serve the queen and only the queen."

"Well in that case," Toph said "Dai Li, I put you in the command of Admiral Kuzon." She commanded them.

"Of course, your majesty." They all replied in unison. Kuzon gathered everyone in front of him. They all sat and waited for him to speak.

"In a few days we will attack the pirate emperor Shing," he began "we will fight primarily with a naval force as Aang heads for the palace. The sea battle will be risky, pirates are experts at naval warfare. I have sent a messenger hawk to the city of Madrath that Sokka and the Kyoshi warriors liberated. There they have a navy waiting for us. Aang, Toph, and I will take Appa and fly there to meet with the admiral. The rest of you will go by foot. Once we are all there, I will organize the fleet and finalize the strategies for the battle. Any questions?" there was silence "Well then, lets move out!"


They all went to gather their supplies and set off. Aang, Toph, and Kuzon made it to Madrath with little problems. They were greeted by many people, and one walked up to him. He had short jet black hair and short beard. He was dressed in a naval uniform. He bowed to Kuzon who bowed back. "It is an honor to meet you, Admiral Kuzon. I am Admiral Kevar." Kuzon explained his plans for the battle to Kevar. He set off to make the preparations for the ships. About two days later the rest of the group arrived. They boarded the ships and sailed off. They had fifteen well armed ships, some were metal others were wood. They were arranged in wedge formation, with Kuzon's ship in the middle. On the two edges of the fleet were the ships led by Sokka and Haru, who had been in the city at the time and asked to help. Their ships held the Kyoshi warriors. On the two sides of Kuzon's ship were two ships filled with the Dai Li agents. Behind Kuzon was Kevar's ship and behind him was a transport vessel led by Katara which held some other soldiers and Dai Li. On Kuzon's signal Sokka, Katara, and Haru would break off formation and sail to the Fire Nation. Aang was already well ahead of them with Zuko on Appa. Aang would make a preliminary strike on the beach and head to the palace.

Kuzon kept an eye on the sea, looking for enemies. He saw a large line of ships in a blockade formation. Their broad side guns faced them. He thought they needed a new strategy, but he saw them break apart and sail to them. Kuzon sent a blast of fire, the three strike force ships broke apart. He sent out another and the rest of the formation split. They were about to engage. Finally the first gun fired resulting in the rest firing. Gun powder smoke filled the air along with the sounds of the pirates roaring at them for intimidation. Kuzon was about to send his men to board when he saw Dai Li agents jumping from ship to ship with impressive agility. Using their rock gloves they smashed apart masts and sails. They charged from ship to ship, destroying each one and their crew.