Disclaimer: I own nadda, zip, zilch, nichts, N-O-T-H-I-N-G! (…yet)

Dedication: This one goes out to jennibare who wrote a review for a different story of mine… and ultimately got me up off my arse. (See? The mighty power of R-n-R is not to be taken lightly!) Thank you also to anyone else who reviewed any of my stories! (Eternal love for you…)

A/N:

Just so you guys know, this is more a filler-chapter (to get me back in the writing-saddle after my hiatus)… However, the Mighty-Toph acted as my muse in this section so it's got plenty of our favorite blind earth-bender… Enjoy!

XXXXXXXX

Having dressed herself, Katara shuffled out of her cabin, making her way on-deck, her thoughts jumbled and in disarray due to a certain fire-bender. The realization that Zuko had seen her in her nightgown didn't help much either…

"HEY, KATARA!!!" Aang called out with his widest smile. "Look! We've arrived at Ember Island! Isn't it great! Isn't it!"

Katara attempted a small smile saying, "Yeah, Aang, it's great." Her smile easily slipped into nonexistence as she caught a glimpse of Zuko.

He was talking with the captain of the ship, discussing when and where the ship would pick the group up at the end of their vacation…

A sudden thought hit Katara like a ton of bricks. A couple of weeks. Alone. With Zuko. Aang. And Toph. Spirits! What have I gotten myself into? Doomed! I'm doomed!

"Yo! Sugarqueen, don't just stand there blocking the exit," Toph said from behind her, "some of us would actually like to leave this metal bath-tub!"

Katara mumbled an apology as she moved out of the way. "Hey, Toph. I thought you left our cabin before me? Why weren't you already on-deck?"

Toph turned sharply in the direction of her voice. A moment passed. "I was making use of the facilities if you must know… Gosh, Sugarqueen! I knew you were nosy, but this!"

Katara mumbled another flustered apology, trying to explain how she just didn't know or she wouldn't have asked.

Toph smirked. Candy. From. A. Baby.

XXXXXX-FLASHBACK-XXXXXX

Toph was so glad that the Fire Nation used metal ships… After all, what good were her earth/metal-bending abilities if she couldn't use them to snoop?

Besides, how else was a girl like her to get her kicks? It's not like she could take up painting, right?

And this… oh this was amusing! While Twinkletoes was outside reveling in their arrival by showing off his air-bending moves and monkey-smile, the "love of his life" was having a lovey-dovey-moment with his fire-bending rival.

Ah, the simple joys in life…

Toph could feel Zuko's heart beating like a drum in his chest. In the next moment, she knew why – he had just helped Katara to the floor. And now that Katara's bare feet were on the metal floor… Toph could feel the wild vibrations coming from the water-bender.

Toph nearly snickered aloud at the situation she was peeping in on. (If you could call it "peeping" – it's not like she was watching them or anything…)

All too soon, Zuko was making his way to the exit.

Toph was torn between the desire to quick hide like the Peeping-Tom she was (or would it be Peeping-Toph?) or play it cool and gloat.

Ultimately, the former Blind-Bandit chose the most macho-Toph-like thing to do. Yes, gloat.

"So, Sparky, how was your morning so far?" Toph asked a little ways down the hall from the girl's cabin. The new Fire-Lord froze like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie-jar. "Did you do anything worth telling little ol' Toph about?"

Toph could feel his eyes on her, suspicious of what she might know. Another moment passed in silence.

"Not really," Zuko finally replied before moving out on-deck.

Feeling his footfalls as he walked away, Toph was suddenly struck with a plan. A devious plan.

Oooh, I shouldn't, she thought, but I think I will!

After some maniacal snickering to release her giddiness, she concluded that they'd thank her someday… maybe.

Now… where would the captain of this thing be? In his cabin?

XXXX-END-FLASHBACK-XXXXX

Toph felt as Katara moved away to the side of the ship. Probably to watch the water, the blind-bender concluded.

Striding up to the captain and the Fire-Lord, Toph commanded, "Yo, Sparky! Do me a favor and tie Twinkletoes down, 'kay? We're going to dock on Ember Island in a moment anyways, right?"

"I guess… yeah."

"Good," she continued. "So hop to it! Don't keep me waiting all day!"

Zuko rolled his eyes and decided to go with the flow. After all, the little earth-bender could be really annoying if she wanted to… He sighed before making his way to the side of the ship to call down the Avatar who was playing around on his glider.

Toph instantly turned her milky eyes to the captain of the Fire Nation vessel. "So, Captain, I was wondering if you might do me a favor…"

XXXXXXXX

A/N:

Any guesses as to her devious little plot? Come share! After all, even I'm not entirely sure what it is! (Okay… I kind of do have an idea, but nothing's set in stone, right?)

SO REVIEW!

Help me add intricate layers of cunning to Toph's plot! Who knows? Yours might be better than mine!

Side Note:

I would still like some help coming up with the Zutara-romance scene… (yes, I'm still kind of bashful about writing it), so HELP!!!

SOS, kind readers!

(AND PLEASE FORGIVE MY ABSENCE FROM THE WRITING-SCENE!!!)

(I'm a terrible person. I know.)

Yet Another Side Note:

I just realized…

SOS = save our ship… thus, I'm asking you to save our favorite 'ship (aka Zutara)…

Damn-it! An unintentional pun! Damn-you Pokemon, Digimon, and Monster Ranchers for exposing me to such things at a young age! No wonder my friends tease me about puns!

(Pokemon, Digimon, and Monster Ranchers… please forgive your humble servant, I meant no disrespect…)

I am such a dork.