I was sitting on a chair that I had made a of ice and watched Aang trailing session with Katara and Toph. Toph and Katara are facing each other, each taking a fighting stance, the latter controlling two streams of water in her hand. Aang walks up and ties his headband over his eyes like a blindfold.
"Okay. I'm ready for some training." Aang said
Aang turns to face the girls and takes two steps forward in a stance similar to Toph's. When he brings his second foot down, he dodges three pillars that appear out of the ground near him. Aang redirects the water that Katara sent at him. He quickly launches a boulder at Toph who catches it and stops it.
"Good job, twinkle Toes. Visualize, then attack." Toph said
Toph launches the boulder back at Aang, who burrows into a hole with earthbending. The boulder instead hits Katara square in the chest, knocking her down. Katara stands back up and brushes dust off of her.
"Maybe you should take your own advice, Toph." Katara said
"What's the matter? Can't handle a little dirt, Madame Fussy-Britches?" Toph asked
Katara's eyebrow twitches and she glares at Toph with her vein shown on head before she angrily creates a wave and sends it at Toph, who gets splashed by it and becomes annoyed.
"Oh, sorry. Did I splash you, Mud-Slug?" Katara asked
Katara creates an ice ramp, and Toph creates an earth ramp, both proceeding to head straight for each other. They crash and both girls go flying.
"Are we taking a break?" Aang asked
I see Sokka smiling evilly from behind Aang. He quickly gets up and charges at Aang. The background changes to a rushing one.
"Sneak Attack." Sokka yells
Aang, casually and still looking away from Sokka, creates an earth wall, which stops Sokka dead in his tracks. Aang lowers the wall, which causes Sokka to fall down. Aang raise his blindfold and turns to look at Sokka. I start laughing.
"Sokka, sneak attacks don't work if you yell it out loud." I said
We hear a noise, we all turn to see Toph and Katara wresting in a puddle of mud.
"Hungry for a mud pie?" Toph asked
Toph kicks mud in Katara's face. Katara wipes the mud off her face.
"I'll give you a mud pie." Katara said
Katara waterbends a stream of mud at Toph, knocking her down. She quickly gets up and earthbends a pillar underneath Katara, which sends her flying towards a wall. She starts running toward Katara, but stops at the last second when they hear Aang.
"Uh guys, I thought we were supposed to be training me." Aang said
Katara takes a few steps forward, covered in mud but very calm.
"Very well, pupil. I believe we've had enough training for today." Katara said
With that she turns and walks away.
"While Katara cleans up." Toph said
Toph then earthbends the mud off herself and runs towards us.
"Let's go have some fun." Toph said
"Yeah." Aang, Sokka, and I said together
We all leave the camp site and head towards the closet city which is named Fire Fountain City. Sokka is carrying his sword horizontally across his shoulders. We all hear a loud crawling noise, we look up to see messenger hawks flying in and out of a large coop.
"Look at all those messenger hawks! You know, I've been thinking about getting one for myself. That way, I wouldn't have to talk to anyone. I could just send them messages." Sokka said
"I gotta say, I like the idea of not talking to you." Toph said
Sokka then glares at her.
"So, guys. What are we gonna get with our last silver piece?" Aang asked
Toph stops walking.
"We can get more money." Toph said
We all look at each other than at her.
"Right there." Toph said
She points to a area, we move so we can see where she is pointing. In the area is a table with two men sitting across from each other, with people around them watching the action. The table has three shells on it, all upside down. The first man places some money on the table and the second man, a scam artist, lifts the shells to reveal that the middle one has a rock underneath it. He places the shells back down and they were and starts moving them around.
"This is where you seeing people are at a disadvantage. Everyone guesses wrong because the dealer moves the rock at the last minute. But I can feel it with my earthbending." Toph said
As Toph is talking we continue to watch the game. The scam artist continues to move the shells around as the gambler tries to focus on the shell with the rock, and right before stopping, the scam artist quickly and inconspicuously earthbends the rock from underneath one of the shells into his sleeve. The scam artist stops moving the shells and arranges them how they originally were. The gambler points at the shell in the middle, which the scam artist lifts to reveal nothing underneath. The gambler stands up and walks away drying. A few more people move and the dealer notices Toph, and that she is blind.
"You there. Wanna play a friendly game?" Dealer asked
"How can I possibly play? I'm blind." Toph said
"You don't have to see to be lucky." Dealer said
Toph sits in front of the table and feels around it, pretending to be the helpless little girl. She places their last silver piece on the table. The scam artist shows the rock under the shell on the middle and starts moving them around. This time, he tosses one rock from his sleeve into each of the two empty shells. Toph senses this and smiles slyly. When he stops, Toph points to one on her left, which has a rock underneath, wining about two silver pieces.
"Flamey-O, Toph." Aang said
"Wow, fancy guessing. You are amazing at his." the dealer said
He is playing with a few silver pieces in his hand.
"Would you like to make the game a little more interesting?" the dealer asked
"More interesting? How?" Toph asked
The dealer eyes Sokka's sword.
"Well, let's say you toss in your friend's fine sword there, (grabs a bag of money) then I'll put up twenty silver pieces against it, and that's more interesting." the dealer said
Toph reaches up and grabs Sokka's sword, he stares at us with his mouth wide open.
"I'll do it for forty silver pieces." Toph said
"Forty silver pieces it is." the dealer said
He drops so more money into the bag and starts moving the shells faster this time. The scam artist moves the first two rocks onto his sleeves which Toph senses as she smiles slyly again. He attempts to do the same with the third rock, but Toph inconspicuously clutches her fist, causing the rock to move back underneath the shell, which the scam artist does not notice. When he stops, she smiles and points at the shell in the middle. The dealer moves his hand over the shell about to lift it.
"Sorry, little lady, but -" the dealer starts
He lifts up the shell and sees the rock, which shocks and confuses him.
"Huh?" the dealer asked
"I won." Toph said
She grabs the bag of money, and Sokka grabs his sword as they run off. We leave the dealer and go shopping. We return to camp carrying things and laughing. I see Katara cooking something in a pot, we drop our baskets onto the ground. Katara looks at them then to us.
"Where did you guys get the money to buy all this stuff?" Katara asked
"Toph got us money. " I said
Aang picks up an apple and takes a bite of it.
"She scammed one of those guys in town who moves the shells around all sneaky-like." Aang said
He then mimics the scam artist moving the shells with his hand. Katara's expression shows disapproval.
"She used earthbending to win the game! Classic!" Sokka said
"Ah, so she cheated." Katara said
Toph starts to bite her apple, but stops to defend herself.
"Hey! I only cheated because he was cheating. I cheated a cheater. What's wrong with that?" Toph asked
"I'm just saying this isn't something we should make a habit of doing." Katara said
"Coming from the girl that stole from a pirate." I said
"That was completely different." Katara said
"Whatever you say." I said
"Why? Because it's fun? And you hate fun?" Toph asked
"I don't hate fun." Katara said
Katara places Momo on her head like a hat while grinning unconvincingly.
"See? Fun." Katara said
Momo slips off her head, screeches at her and runs away.
"Katara. I'll personally make you an Avatar Promise that we won't make a habit of doing these scams." Aang said
Aang didn't keep his promise.
On Look's Pov:
Aang goes from bowing to doing tricks with the money in his hands and runs off. A few citizens are seen playing a dice like game. The two winners see Toph holding a bag of money and call her over. She tosses the two die. One lands on three, which is the highest number, and the other is about to go from three to zero. Toph, twitches her head to the left slightly without any of the others seeing, causing the die to move back to three, meaning she wins much to the winners' dismay and Sokka's and Aang's joy, and Kida just shakes her head.
Different Day
There is a carnival being hosted, where a big man tries a test-your-strength game, in which you need to use a hammer to launch a ball up to ring the bell, but can only make it about halfway. Toph jiggles a bag of money and walks over. Aang, Sokka, and Kida watch from behind as she hands the man in charge of the game the money and places her hands on the hammer. She struggles to move it over her head and behind her, which makes all in the crowd snicker and laugh. Toph smiles again as she uses earthbending to launch the hammer's head from behind her to the lever with great force. The ball is launched so hard that it launches out of the game, destroying the top of it, which leaves everyone shocked. She casually grabs her winnings and leaves as the ball crashes into the tent behind, causing everyone to cringe at the sound, and looks back to see the damage.
Different Day
A street where a carriage is being pulled by a dragon moose. Toph emerges from a dark alley and creates a small rock right in front of one of the wheels to stop the cart. She falls back, pretending to have been hit. The noble peeks outside the carriage window and sees Toph. He jumps out of the carriage and starts to run, but is stopped by what looks like a Fire Nation guard, who is really Sokka in his Wang Fire costume. He notices Toph being "run over" and crosses his arms angrily at the noble, who gets on his knees and begs Sokka. He places twelve small bags of money as bribery, one after another in Sokka's arms, and Sokka smiles and winks at him to assure him that Sokka will keep this secret.
Back At Camp:
"Guys, I think these scams have gone far enough. IF you keep doing them, something bad is gonna happen." Katara said
"Could you for once stop being such a sourpuss and just lighten up?" Toph asked
Toph then tosses some money to Katara.
"Oh, I'm sorry. You think I should be more like you? Like some wild child?" Katara asked
Katara just tosses the money back at Toph.
"Yeah. Maybe. Maybe then you'd see how great we have it. I mean, looks at us. We're traveling around the world. Making easy money. Having fun. With no parents to tell us what to do." Toph said
"Ah. I see. You're acting like this because of your parents." Katara said
"Katara, be careful." I said
"Whatever." Toph said
"They were controlling over you, so you ran away, and now you act like your parents don't exist. You act like you hate them, but you don't. You just feel guilty." Katara said
"I do hate them." Toph yelled
"I don't think so. I think you miss them, but you just don't wanna deal with that, so instead you act like this crazy person." Katara said
Toph stands up and she is very angry.
"Look, I ran away to help Aang." Toph said
"You know what? It doesn't matter. These scams put us all at risk, and we don't need that. We've already got some third-eyed freak after us." Katara said
"Sokka tell them about what you were thinking about." I said
"I think I've come up with a name for him. What do you think of 'Sparky-Sparky-Boom-Man'." Sokka said
No one said anything. Katara and Toph went back to fighting.
"We have enough money. You need to stop this." Katara said
"I'll stop when I wanna stop and not when you tell me." Toph yells
She uses earthbending to launch a bag of money behind her into her hand and walks away angrily. Katara shakes her head just as angrily as Toph sits and creates an earth tent. Sokka grabs a different bag of money and his sword.
"Speaking of money, I'm off to spend some. See you guys later." Sokka said
Sokka leaves the heads towards town. I look at Katara to see that she is still mad. I sit down next to her, she looks at me and smiles a little.
"How are you feeling? I know it can't be good for you or the baby to be doing all these scams." Katara said
"I'm okay. Toph knows about it so she makes sure I won't get hurt or to tired. She won't even let doing anything I just watch." I said
"That's good. When are you going to tell Aang and Sokka?" Katara asked
"I don't know. Aang might be okay with it, since he knew about Zuko and I. Sokka on the other hand…" I trailed off
"You're worried about how he will react." Katara said
"He hates anything to do with the fire nation. He didn't talk to me for almost a week when he found out I could fire bend. I can't even think about what he will do when he finds out I'm carrying the crown prince's baby." I said
"Just know that I'm here for you. Aang will be there for you when you tell him, and even Toph is here for you. Together we can handle anything." Katara said
"I'll think about it." I said
I helped Katara do a few things and soon Sokka was back. He had brought a messenger hawk. Katara, Aang and I were practicing waterbending. When Sokka comes running up and towards Toph.
"Toph, while I was in town, I found something that you're not gonna like." Sokka said
He pulled out a wanted poster of her, he shows it to her.
"Well it sounds like a sheet of paper, but I guess you're referring to what's on the sheet of paper." Toph said
"It's a wanted poster. Of you. They're nicknamed you the Runaway." Sokka
"A wanted poster. That's great! 'The Runaway' I love my new nickname. Is there a picture of me? Does it look good?" Toph asked happily
Sokka and I look from the poster to Toph.
"It looks just like you." I said
"But, Toph, you're missing the point. Maybe Katara was right. These scams are drawing too much attention to us." Sokka said
"Don't be such a worrywart like your sister. Think of it this way: Now you've got plenty of money to help with the invasion plan." Toph said
She holds up a bag of money and jiggles it in front of him.
"Well, that is true. I had this idea of making armor for Appa." Sokka said
He looks at Appa, who is napping, but opens one eye. Toph takes some money out of the bad and hands it to him.
"Here's a little extra, so you can get yourself a nice map of the Fire Nation. You know what? (gives him the bag) Make it an atlas." Toph said
"I do like expensive atlases." Sokka said
"Of course you do." Toph said
Grabs the wanted poster and tucks it into her outfit.
"And that's why this wanted poster is going to stay our little secret." Toph said
"Okay." I said
Toph walks away, Katara and Aang walk up to Sokka and I.
"Sokka, tell me you didn't buy a bird." Katara said
"Not just a bird, a messenger bird. Now we can send messages all over the world. Even to Gran Gran." Sokka said
"Wow, how does it work?" Aang asked
"Hm. Uh, I never actually thought about that. Hawky, Gran Gran, South Pole." Sokka said
He points, and the hawk shakes his head.
"I think he gets it." Sokka said
Momo flies over and lands on Aang's shoulder and screeches at Hawky. He jumps to Sokka and starts chasing Hawky around Sokka's head.
"Hawky! Make nice. Bad Hawky!" Sokka said
Sometime Later at Camp:
Katara is mixing something in a cooking pot using her waterbending. She waterbends some of it out of the pot and into Appa's mouth, which causes him to lick his lips, while Aang and I sit on a ledge on front of Appa drinking it out of a cup. Toph and Sokka walk up carrying big bags of money.
"Well, look who decided to join us. Where have you two been? Off scamming again?" Katara asked
"Yes, we were." Toph said
"And I suppose you don't think what you're doing is dangerous at all?" Katara asked
"No, I don't." Toph said
"Really?" Katara asked
"Yes. Really." Toph said
Katara pulls something out from behind her back.
"Well then. What's this?" Katara asked
She holds the wanted poster out in front of Toph.
"I don't know! I mean, seriously. What is with you people? I'm blind." Toph answered annoyed
She points at her eyes and pulls down her eyelids to emphasizes her words.
"It's a wanted poster of you! 'The Runaway' is that what you're called now? Are you proud of this?" Katara said
Toph looks at me.
"I didn't tell her." I said
"You went through my stuff. You had no tight." Toph said
"Your stuff was messy and I was just straightening up, and I happened to stumble across it." Katara yells
"That's a lie. You're lying, Katara." Toph yells
"Fine! It's a lie. But you've been so out of control lately, I knew something was up. I knew you were hiding something and you were." Katara said
Katara holds the poster in front of Toph, but Toph grabs it, tosses it and starts to walk past Katara.
"Don't you walk away from me while I'm talking to you." Katara said
"Oh really, Mom? Or what are you gonna do? Send me to my room? You should be the one that's pregnant not Kida." Toph said
Then everything went silent. I just look at Toph.
"Wow Toph." I said
"Kida what is she talking about?" Sokka asked
"Nothing. I was just saying something." Toph said
Sokka and Aang just looked at me. I didn't say anything I just turned and left the group. I went and sat down on the cliff. I could still hear Katara and Toph yelling at each other. They acted like Toph didn't just out me.
"I never said I was." Katara said
"No, but you certainly act like it. You think it's your job to boss everyone around, but it's not. You're just regular kid like the rest of us. So stop acting like you can tell me what to do. I can do whatever I want." Toph said
"I don't act that way. Sokka, do I act motherly?" Katara asked
"Hey, I'm staying out of this one." Sokka asked
"What do you think, Aang? Do I act like a mom?" Katara asked
Aang starts to rub his eye.
"Well. I, uh-" Aang is cut off
"Stop rubbing your eye and speak clearly when you talk." Katara said
Both Aang and Sokka sit straight.
"Yes, ma'am." Aang said
"I can't be around you right now." Toph said
"Well, I can't be around you." Katara said
Both girls turn and walk away. Hawky sitting on Sokka's shoulder screeches.
"I know, Hawky. Why can't they just get along?" Sokka asked
Katara walks over and sits down next to me.
"I can't believe she outed you like that." Katara said
"It's okay. I wish she hadn't, but she did. Maybe I should just tell Sokka and Aang. Get it over and done with." I said
"You don't have to tell them if you aren't ready." Katara said
"Have you ever wonder what's going to happen if we succeed with the invasion. I mean Aang is going to take out the Fire Lord, then what. Who is going to takes his place? What is going to happen to the rest of the Fire Nation? What about its people?" I asked
"I haven't thought about that." Katara said
"I have. I think about how there is not going to be a next one. I think about how much the other nations already hate the fire nation. I think about what will happen if this baby is born a firebender in a world that hates firebenders." I said
"Iroh, he can take over." Katara said
"He won't want to take over. He wants a normal life, he wants to do nothing but play Pai Sho and drink tea. The only none crazy person is Zuko, and he is so confused that he won't do it." I said
Katara laughs a little bit.
"What's so funny?" I asked
"You. You are carrying the next leader of the Fire Nation. In that stomach you have a little Fire Prince or Princess." Katara said
"You find that funny?" I asked
"Yes, I do. I don't why but I do." Katara said
We just sat there for a few more moments.
"Do you hate him?" Katara asked
"Who?" I asked
"Zuko." Katara said
"No I don't. The only person that ever loved him was his mother. Then she left, then there was Iroh. All Zuko's ever wanted was to please his father. His father is the that burned him. He believed for so long that in order to get his father's love he needed to get Aang. Then he set Appa free and had a war going on in his head. We were happy for a week till Azula showed up, and she got inside his head. I'm mad at him and I don't trust him anymore, but I don't hate him I could never hate him." I said
"Because you understand him." Aang said
Katara and I turned around to see Aang standing there.
"How long have you been standing there?" I asked
"Since Katara made the comment about you caring Zuko's baby." Aang said
"Are you mad at me?" I asked
"What? Why would I be mad at you?" Aang asked
"Because of everything the Fire Nation has done. They killed your people. Zuko has tried to capture you at every turn." I said
"Yes, but he has also saved me as well, and you. He let Appa free." Aang said
"What do you mean she understands him?" Katara asked
"All Kida's ever wanted was your fathers love. Just like Zuko." Aang said
"But father does love her." Katara said
"No he doesn't. He could hardly look at me after what happened to mom. He stopped talking to me years ago. And even when were all stuck on a ship together he didn't even try to talk to me and he didn't once look at me." I said
"I never realized. Why did you say anything?" Katara asked
"It's not that big of a deal. I've gotten pass that. I don't care what he thinks of me anymore." I said
I stood up, and started getting undressed.
"What are you doing?" Aang asked
"Going for a swim, I need to cool my head, before I deal with Sokka." I said
"Mind if I join?" Katara asked
"Not at all." I said
We left and head down under one of the cliffs. We are in the water when from above we hear Sokka and Toph.
"So lemme guess: You brought me out here to tell me that your sister's not as annoying as I make her out to be." Toph said
"Nah, she's pretty much a pain. She's always got to be right about everything and she gets all bossy and involved and in your business…" Sokka said
"Yeah, I don't know you could deal with it." Toph said
"Actually, in a way, I rely on it." Sokka said
I see Katara look up at them.
"I don't understand." Toph said
"When our mom died, that was the hardest time in my life. Our family was a mess, Kida was catatonic for a while, but Katara? She had strength. She stepped up and took on so much responsibility. She helped fill the void that was left by our mom, Kida tried to help but…" Sokka said
"I guess I never thought about that." Toph said
"I'm gonna tell you something crazy. I never told anyone this before, but honestly? I'm not sure I can remember what my mother looked like. It really seems like my whole life, Katara and Kida have been the ones looking out for me. They have always been the two that are there. And now, when I try to remember my mom, Katara's is the only face I can picture." Sokka said
Katara is touched she is now in tears.
"The truth is sometimes Katara does act motherly, but that's not always a bad thing. She's compassionate and kind, and she actually cares about me. You know, the real me. That's more than my own mom." Toph said
Katara is deeply touched by Toph's words, sinks slightly into the water. Toph punches Sokka in the arm.
"Don't ever tell her I said any of this." Toph said
"Hey, my lips are sealed." Sokka said
We wait for them to leave before we climb out of the water and head back up to camp. We dry off and sit down next to the fire. Momo is sitting next to Katara, he was napping while Katara was rubbing the top of his head. Katara is looking down in front of her, saddened. Sokka and Toph walk towards us, Katara gets up and walks towards them. Katara comes face to face with Toph and Sokka just gets on walking.
"Hi, Toph. Um, I wanna-" Katara starts
Toph holds up her hand in a stop motion.
"Katara, stop. You don't need to apologize. I was the one being stupid. These scams are out of control, and I'm done with them." toph said
"Actually I wasn't going to apologize. I was gonna say…I wanna pull a scam with you." Katara said
Aang, Sokka, and I stare at Katara, all of us extremely shocked.
"What? You wanna pull a scam?" Toph asked
"Not just any scam. The ultimate scam." Katara said
Sokka, Aang, and I are still staring at her with shock. Katara puts her arm around Toph's shoulder, who gives a sly smile.
"Whaddaya say, Toph? Just me and you. One last go. You in?" Katara asked
"You know I'm in. Now what's this idea of yours?" Toph asked
They walk away leaving Aang, Sokka, and I behind. I turn around to see that at one point both them had fainted. I shake my head and go sit down by the fire. Toph and Katara come sit also they start going over their plan.
"The plan is simple. This wanted poster says you're worth a lot of money; ten times more than you've made in all of your scams. So I'm gonna turn you in and collect the reward. Then you metalbend yourself out of jail, and we're on our way." Katara said
Toph smiles.
Next Day:
Toph and Katara put their plan in action this morning. They had been gone a while.
"Guys, I think something went wrong, they should have been back by now." I said
"I agree." Aang said
"I was just wondering the same thing. We'd better check it out." Sokka said
Sokka turns and looks at Hawky and Momo.
"You two behave." Sokka said
Sokka then points at Appa.
"Appa's in charge." Sokka said
Appa lifts his head as the two animals start screeching at each other. Just as we cross over a hill we hear Appa roar at them. Sokka, Aang, and I walk around town looking for Katara and Toph. But as we are walking around I notice that the town is seemingly abandoned.
"Where do you think they might be?" Sokka asked
"Where is everyone?" I asked
We all look around, I see the assassin walking across a rooftop behind them. I hear the assassin inhale.
"Sokka, Aang, watch out." I yell
Aang moves and grabs Sokka as they dodge a blast from the assassin and take cover behind a Ozai start.
"It's Sparky-Sparky-Boom Man." Aang said
"You know, I'm starting to think that name doesn't quite fit." Sokka said
The assassin jumps down from the roof and fires another blast at us. We are barely dodge it. But it still sends us flying back. We get up and start running, the assassin is chasing after us. He fires another blast at us we dodge but still get sent flying.
"This guy is too good. He shoots fire from his brain." Sokka said
"We should spilt up. He can't chase all three of us." Aang said
We all nod, we turn to see the assassin coming from the smoke. We split, Aang goes left, Sokka goes right, and I head straight. The assassin turns and fires at Aang which sends him flying into Ozai statue. Sokka and I look at each other and head towards Aang. Aang falls from the statue to the ground. We stop when she see the assassin standing above him inhale, about to fire another blast at Aang, but his head is suddenly encased in ice. The assassin moves and Aang turns to see Sokka, Toph, Katara, and I.
"Aang, get up." Katara said
Katara helps Aang up.
"Let's get out of here." Toph said
The assassin breaks the ice with brute force. He launches another blast at us, but Toph quickly launches a boulder at the blast, blowing the boulder up. A pebble from the boulder flies toward the assassin and hits him square in his third eye, which momentarily stuns and angers him. He tries to fire another blast, but with his chi blocked, he ignites the air around him and gets sent back, head first into a wall. We all quickly leave the town and run back to camp.
"Hey, I got it. The perfect name for that guy; 'Combustion Man'." Sokka said
"Good job, Sokka. Now let's get outta here before Combustion Man catches us." Toph said
"See? It fits so well." Sokka said
"Not now. Run now, talk later." I said
Later that night:
We were flying to a new camp site.
"Well, I'm exhausted. Hawky, how about you, buddy? Yeah. You're such a lazy little bird." Sokka said
We land and all climb off Appa. We expect for Toph and Katara.
"Katara? I need your help." Toph said
"What is it, Toph?" Katara asked
Toph pulls out a sheet of paper.
"I need you to write some things down for me. I wanna send a letter to my parents." Toph said
"I'll be happy to help." Katara said
I go to sleep with a smile on my face.
