A/N: Long time reader, first time writer. Trying out writing so I had to start with my favorite pairing. Slow start with this chapter, but it'll improve with time. Read, review, enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't ATLA or anything that awesome.
Every morning begins the same, much to her displeasure. A chorus sounds cause her to rise from her dreams as she begrudgingly comes into consciousness. Despite the thick stone walls of the earth tent, her heightened sense of hearing makes the blind earthbender all too aware of the outside world. Stretching her tightened muscles and running her fingers through her long, jet black hair, Toph adjusts her senses to everything what is going on around her. From the birds chirping miles away to even the most miniscule ant creating elaborate capillary-like tunnels underground, she becomes acutely aware of her surroundings.
With a quick downward motion of her hand, the tent made of stone retracts into the ground as Toph stands and goes through her routine motions to revitalize her body. Ten years of freedom from her parents' estate has given her the freedom she craves and the lifestyle she prefers. A born fighter, she welcomed the chance to travel with the Avatar all those years ago, leaving behind her cozy lifestyle. She has now grown into the fighter she was born to be, a forced to be reckoned with worthy of being dubbed "The Blind Bandit". Though not physically menacing, she was still a ferocious combatant. Shorter than average, she is considered petite by many unfortunate opponents until she displays her true strength. Despite the rough personality, she is a beautiful young woman with long, silky black hair, porcelain skin with a few hidden scars under her clothing, and lean muscle that accents her slender frame. Although not overly well endowed, she still possesses a strong feminine charm that gets unwanted suitors, but gives her a reason to practice her earthbending on unsuspecting victims.
Reaching in her bag, she unrolls a custom map Sokka created for her travels. The areas are raised and created to show the topography of the four nations. Every mountain, valley, hill, and town was raised and given a texture so she could feel the layout of the land. Toph noted mentally all her previous stops and found her current location. With a downcast sigh, she rolled the map up and returned it to her bag, retrieving an apple and rising to her feet. A warm breeze caresses her cheek as she smiles softly.
"Damn it Twinkle Toes. You're dead meat when I find you." She mutters to herself as she begins her seemingly never ending journey.
It has been 4 years since the disappearance of the Avatar and most of the world has moved on with the newly formed United Republic Council working to rebuild the four nations. Issues still arose in various areas that needed immediate attention, but Fire Nation dirigibles only moved so fast. This is where the Avatar was called on the most. Constantly flying from village to village, acting as the world's repairman. Yet the call of the four nations has gone unanswered for years now, and the only one that seemed to mind a young, blind earthbender. She alone has been searching for him ever since his initial disappearance and stubbornly refuses to give in despite the advice of her extended family.
"It's not that we don't care about him," says Katara soothingly "It's just that-"
"Just what?" Interrupts Toph. "You guys think the world is better off without him too? Who stopped that psycho pyromaniac of a Fire Lord? He did, a twelve year old kid!"
"Toph, I miss him too. Believe me, I do But these things happen. He's the Avatar. He goes through things that we can never understand. We just need to be patient."
"Then you don't care about him as much as I thought Sugar Queen! What? We're just supposed to sit on our hands and wait for the world to almost end again?" Barked Toph as she rapidly backed her green and gold bag that she stole from Sokka.
"What? No, I do. I miss him...There are just other issues. Look, remember when we had to fight Ozai and he disappeared? He always comes through in the end." replied Katara in a cool tone.
"Yeah yeah, well I'm going to go find YOUR fiance one way or another. You can go practice your tearbending to Sparky like you always do" Snarled Toph as she burst through the stone door of her small house on the outskirts of Ba Sing Se.
"Toph! Toph, get back here! You don't even know where to start looking."
"He's not in the Fire Nation palace or the council hall, that's for damn sure. Look, either help me find him or stay out of my way, Katara" Toph shot back as she secured her bag over her shoulder and glided away on waves of earth with her bending.
Left hurt and in awe, Katara stood in the obliterated doorway clenching her fist to hold back her emotions as she watch what has become her little sister leave from her field of view. She slowly made the trek back to the walls of Ba Sing Se. Greeted by a more personable attendant than the previous incarnations off Joo Dee, they rode in a carriage back to the inner circle.
"So, Councilwoman Katara, Was your meeting with Miss Bei Fong successful?" chirped the young attendant Suyin.
"Eh, not exactly." Sighed Katara as she looked out the window towards the sky. "The girl is as stubborn as ever. I guess all we can do is hope for the best…"
Stopping on the outskirts of a new village, Toph settled the wave of earth she was riding and began the walk into the town's marketplace. The area was crowded with its elaborate shops and grand statues of badgermoles on the edge of the town. The large amounts of people in the village was more than enough to give adequate vibrations of the area, but it made it difficult for Toph to identify anyone in particular. Searching was pointless with the surge of patrons in the town square, especially without visual sight. With a frustrated sigh, Toph blew her bangs out of her eyes and made her way to a stall near the center of the town. A short, stout man with a small topknot and a neatly groomed fu manchu mustache warmly greeted his approaching, potential costumer.
"Greetings young lady! Feel free to take a look around and purchase whatever suits your fancies." shouted the shop owner in a loud, boisterous voice.
"Calm down pops. Besides, not much looking will do someone like me." Toph retorts with a sarcastic wave of her hands in front of her face. "I need information instead." She then pulls out her map and lays it out on the counter.
"Well like all things, that comes with a price." sneers the shopkeeper as he rubs his fingers together.
"Okay, how about I don't break your fingers I hear in front of my face and you give me some information like I tried to ask nicely for." growled Toph.
"I like you young lady!" laughed the shopkeeper. "What would you like to know?"
"Where on this map am I exactly?"
Studying the unique map briefly, stroking his mustache. "Well you're here, in Taku." He says as he puts a finger on a spot near a mountain range on the map. Toph drums her fingers on the counter as it appears she's deep in thought about the new information when she is actually feeling his finger's exact placement on the map.
"Thanks a bunch." responds Toph as she casually rolls up the map and returns it to her bag. "One other thing."
"Wait now, first one's on the house, but anything else will cost ya."
"Fine, here's two silver pieces. Now can we talk?" sighs Toph as she throws two silver pieces on the counter. The shopkeeper grows a snide smile across his thin lips.
"I guess you are really blind, little lady. Those are copper pieces." says the shopkeeper casually.
"Why do dunderheads like you always think you can pull one over on me?" pondered Toph as she twisted her hand and the earth encased the shopkeeper up to his shins. She pulls out a scrolls and holds it open in front of him. "Take the silver or leave it, but tell me if you have seen this guy."
Squinting at the paper, "Hey there champ, sorry I missed you. Important Fire Nation business. Hope uncle isn't boring you with all his stories-" read the shopkeeper before she quickly put away the piece of parchment.
"No, not that one! This one." She yells as she blushes and unravels a picture with an artist's rendering of the Avatar sporting a more angular and mature face with a shaved head and a trim beard.
"Oh! The Avatar. Saw him here maybe a few months back. He came to see the herbalist here in town. Crazy as a wolf bat, she can cure anything. But that's all I can see, he ran faster than a bolt of lightening, so I assume it was him."
With a defeated groan, Toph released the shopkeeper and put the scroll away. "Just give me some supplies. I appreciate the info." she says as she puts a couple more silver pieces on the table and begins to fill her bag with supplies needed for the journey that just got a little longer.