A/N: Okay! First of all, I'd like to give a special heads up to fm94 and lenzinforever for giving me such great ideas! Thanks you guys!
And this is for one, KiyumiArashi for giving me awesome ideas, VERY helpful suggestions, and supporting this story. Thanks for all that and ALL the other stuff you've contributed. I LOVE YOUR IDEAS! THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH!
Okay, now let's get this story started!
Chapter 1
Years had passed since the Hundred-Year War and the four nations were at peace once again. Firelord Zuko and Avatar Aang had maintained peace throughout the world and built a city where Aang believed to be the center of peace and harmony in all of the nations. They named it Republic City. They built it from scratch and made it a safe haven where benders and non-benders could live together in harmony and prosperity. Soon, the city began to prosper and more and more people came to live there.
Aang built his very own home in Republic City, on an island. He built an Air Temple on it and took in non-benders who were genuinely curious about Airbending cultures. They helped in maintaining everything in the island and at the same time, they received lessons from the Avatar himself. They were devoted people who were willing to change their lifestyles just to learn the ways of the Air Nomads.
Years after, the city was now full of life and it indeed prospered. More buildings were built, each higher and better than the ones before. New methods of technology were invented and non-benders lived their life happily with these new inventions, thinking that these were some ways that would at least, put them on par with the benders in the city.
For many years, it continued to be peaceful. Until, one day, gangs began to appear and a series of crimes spread throughout Republic City. Both Avatar Aang and Firelord Zuko thought that someone has to keep the city safe from these crimes. The crime rate has been steadily rising in the past few months and they thought that someone had to lay down the law. They needed someone to keep Republic City safe and keep the crimes at bay.
And Aang finally thought up a solution. He knew the perfect person for the job...
...
...
...
"WHAT?!"
The Avatar scratched the back of his head and approached the person sitting on the couch slowly. He sat down and looked at the woman on the couch. "Toph, I'm serious."
That's right. He needed Toph Beifong. She was the most perfect person for the job. Aang was sure that keeping an entire city safe was no problem for Toph. After all, she IS the greatest earthbender he had ever met, also a strong one at that. And she was also the very woman who invented metalbending at the age of twelve and defeated countless of firebenders and other enemies single-handedly during the Hundred-Year War. And now, she constructed a school of metalbending so she can share her newfound knowledge. Who else would be better for the job?
"Okay, okay... so you're telling me, that I have to leave my school, tell my family to pack up, give up this amazing house, and move to Republic City just so I can chase around teenagers who cause trouble all around the city? That's got to be the craziest idea you've had!" Toph screamed at him.
"Aw... c'mon Toph. We really need you back there!" Aang said. "Look, you can build another house in the city. There's plenty of space! You can build another metalbending school there! And you can contact your old students and ask them if they're interested in joining the Police Force or teaching in the Academy. We still have to get some new recruits to join the Force and it'll take about a few more years to get it in absolute shape but c'mon! You're the only one who can do this! You're the greatest earthbender/metalbender ever in all of history!"
"Now that last part, I liked. But Twinkle Toes, I just can't leave everything behind here. What about the school HERE? Did you ever consider that? It has to be active. The more there are metalbenders here, the better. It's not like I can leave the place with some caretakers like I'd do with this house."
"Wait... say what? So, you're really going? It sounds like it at the last part of your speech." Aang said, perking up.
Toph sighed. "Yes... I'll go..."
"WOHOOOO-Ow!"
Toph smacked Aang. "I'll go IF you make sure that this place will be taken care of. Make sure the school here will be in good hands by tomorrow and you'll see me in Republic City in two weeks. I'd also like my new house to be just like this one. Got it? And the new Metalbending Academy? Make sure it'll be at least started it's construction when I get there."
"Yes ma'am!" Aang said as he rubbed his arm. That punch Toph gave him really hurt. "Toph, I'd like to have the blueprints of this house and of the Metalbending Academy, if you don't mind. We have a lot of constructing to do."
Toph waved at him. "Get it from Kui later. He's the one who made them and he's the one who keeps them."
"But Toph! I can't just wait for your husband to return! Who knows when he'll be back?!"
"I'm back!" a voice said from the door.
Toph smirked at Aang. "You were saying?"
Aang held up his hands in defeat and flopped back on the couch. Kui arrived minutes later and he was carrying a lot of rolled paper. He set them down and he went over to Toph and kissed her cheek. Toph smiled at him and told him to sit down. Kui did so and he noticed Aang.
"Wait a... is that you Aang?" Kui said, a smile creeping up on his face.
"The one and only!" Aang said as he extended his hand for Kui to shake. Kui took it and they shook hands and exchanged a short hug.
"Hey man. It's been a while hasn't it?" Kui said.
"Yeah... the last time I saw you was about... three months ago? On your birthday... right?" said Aang.
"Yeah. That's right." Kui said, chuckling. "So... what brings you here?"
"Ah... actually, I offered Toph a job up at Republic City as the Chief of Police. The gangs all over the city had become quite unbearable lately. Their mischief intensifies every week. They even took it up a notch last week when they started robbing people around the city. We really need someone to protect the citizens and keep those gangs and their crimes at bay."
"So she'll just be chasing around some teenagers all over the city?" Kui asked.
"Well... teenagers who can bend."
"And you... agreed to this?" Kui asked Toph, his expression becoming worried.
The thirty-year old woman just shrugged and said, "The old gang needs my help. I can't just turn them down. After all, I have to contribute something to Republic City."
"But... what about the house? And the Metalbending Academy? We worked so hard to build them. Don't tell me you're just going to throw it all away."
"I'm not throwing them away!" Toph said with her voice slightly raised. "I'd never think of doing that. Ever. Aang made a promise to make sure it's in good hands. Both the house and the Academy. I can't just throw away what I've worked hard for so long."
Kui stared at her. "Well... gah! FINE! We'll go!"
"Haha! Yes!" Toph yelled triumphantly. "Thank you!"
Beside them, Aang was also celebrating. "So, does this mean I can pick you up in two weeks?"
"Yup! All of our stuff should've arrived at Republic City by then." Toph said.
"Okay! Now that that's settled, I need to go find someone to run your school. I'll be back for the blueprints later, Kui!" Aang said and took off, leaving the couple all alone.
"I never thought you'd agree that easily." Toph told her husband.
"Me neither. Must be Aang's charm with things. Besides, it's still on you."
"Huh?"
"You'll be the one watching over our son during the entire trip." Kui said evilly.
Two weeks later...
"Okay... since your house is still undergoing construction... you'll be staying here on the island. We've provided your rooms inside the house." Aang said as he helped Toph come down from Appa. Kui had taken their son, Kian in his arms and some bags.
"Man! I haven't been here for a long time!" Toph said as she jumped down. Aang followed her a few minutes later.
"Yeah... been a while." Kui said, setting Kian down on the ground. Kian immediately ran around. Kui set down the bags and stretched his back. Toph went over to him and helped him with the bags. Aang stopped them and called some Air Acolytes over. They picked up the bags and left them as quickly as they came, heading inside Aang's house.
"You don't need to carry your bags. The Air Acolytes are here to do that." Aang said, gesturing them to come and follow him.
"Wow Twinkle Toes! You sure are living large here." Toph said.
"Well, they insist on doing it. Not my fault." Aang told her.
"Yeah but you don't stop it. Man, if I knew better, I'd say you're encouraging it." Toph chuckled as she entered the doors.
Aang just ignored her and let her walk inside and walked in after Kui and Kian. Toph and Kui immediately went to the living room. Aang followed them and he found Katara there as well as his children. His five-year old daughter saw him and she immediately ran towards him.
"Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!" she said as she hugged his knees.
"Hello, Kya! How's your day with mommy?" Aang asked her. The little girl giggled and looked up at him.
"Mommy gave us crayons and I draw pictures!" Kya reported. Aang laughed and picked her up. Katara approached them with their two-year old son, Bumi. "Yeah... REALLY messy pictures." Katara joked.
"Mom!"
Aang and Katara laughed while Kya pouted.
"Aw, c'mon baby, we were just joking!" Katara said.
"You're really mean..." Kya said, looking away from her parents. She noticed Toph, Kui and Kian on the couch. "Mommy? Daddy? Who are they?"
Aang, who was playing with Bumi, looked up and saw that Kya was referring to Toph and her family. Aang walked towards her and said, "That's your Aunt Toph. Don't tell me you've forgotten about her! And that's your Uncle Kui too. And that's their son, Kian. You used to play a lot together."
"Huh?"
Aang chuckled and nudged her forward. "Well, say hi."
Kya shyly held up her hand and said, "Hi..." to the floor.
"Hey, kid!" Kui said. "Wow, look at you! Have you gotten taller?"
Kya perked up at this and said, "I have! And I grew a lot taller! Mommy says it was because of the milk!"
"Wow! Kian doesn't even finish his milk." Kui said. "Look, Kian! Kya finishes her milk. You should too."
"Don't wanna!" Kian said.
Kya's eyes lit up when she saw Kian. She ran over to him and shook his hand. "Hey! Your name's Kian, right? Let's play! Let's play! Come on!" Kui let go of Kian and set him down. Kya took his hand in hers and they went over to the small rug on the floor where Bumi was playing with some stuffed toy versions of the gang. Kya gave Kian a Toph doll and said, "You're gonna be Auntie Toph! I'm gonna be mommy and then we'll talk and have a bending battle!"
"Why do I haffta be mommy?" Kian said, holding up Toph's doll and looking at it weirdly.
"You don't really have a choice, you know. You see, Bumi's already drooled on the other dolls." Kya said and gestured to Bumi, who was chewing on the Sokka doll. The other ones, Aang, Zuko and Suki, were lying on the floor and were sopping wet.
"Besides, I love playing as my mommy! She's really cool when she bends!" Kya said.
Kian looked at the Toph doll, then at his mother, then back at the doll. Now that he thought about it, his mom really was strong. He had seen her beat a lot of people to a pulp in just a matter of seconds and just walk away like nothing happened. She was the strongest woman he knew and she was also the greatest earthbender ever. Not to mention she was a metalbender. She even SCARES THE AVATAR himself!
"Fine. I'll pway my mommy." Kain said and positioned his doll. Kya smiled and she positioned the Katara doll too and then they started playing. Pretty soon, they were throwing words at each other like Toph and Katara used to and even started a small fight and pretend bending with the dolls. After the "bending battle", they really started to get into character.
Kian, who had bangs like Toph that covered his eyes, got a short cloth from spirits-knows-where and tied it on his head, like Toph does. He then looked up at Kya and swiped at his nose cockily. "What awe you lookin' at, loopies?"
Kya, who fashioned her hair like Katara's, crossed her arms. "Stop that, Toph... why don't you just wash your feet?"
"Never!"Kian yelled and waved his arms, like Toph does when she bends. In reality, he was just throwing some pillows at Kya. Kya dodged some of them but she still managed to get hit by a few.
"You'll pay for that!" Kya said and whipped the blue cloth she tied to her wrists at Kian. Kian kept getting hit by her attack so he raised up a huge pillow to act as a shield.
"You can't hide behind that Earth Wall forever Toph!" Kya yelled as she kept hitting the pillow. "I'll bring that wall down!"
"I'd wike to see you twy!" Kian said from behind the pillow. Kya kept hitting the pillow and Kian eventually gave up and ran. Kya ran after him and the short bending battle eventually turned to a game of tag, then hide and seek, then another bending battle, tent house, then another game of tag. By the time it was dark, Kian and Kya were found by their parents asleep under a tree near the house's entrance. It seemed like they had become great friends in such a short time.
Over 1 Year later...
The Police Force in Republic was at last 100% complete. They had a lot of recruits and although about 70% of them were Earthbenders right now, Toph was sure that in a few years, they'll have a Police Force with only metalbenders. The new recruits were still in training and the only ones who were assigned big missions were the metalbenders. The earthbenders were still learning metalbending along with the students from the Academy.
Of course, along with the completion of the Police and the Academy, the gangs' activities were lessened. The second the Police Force finished construction, Toph immediately rounded up a lot of gangs in just a week. Peace was quickly brought upon Republic City and Aang immediately knew that he was definitely right when he chose Toph as the Chief of Police.
Toph's husband Kui, also helped Toph out in the Police Force. He was the one who designed their uniform and he was also the one who made the bueprints for the station. He invented metal chords that he gave to Toph as a weapon. Toph was very thankful for these chords. It was such a great help in rounding up gangs and gave more pain, which was what Toph needed and only admired about the thing. Right now, Kui was in the middle of making an airship for the Police's use. He was trying to figure out ways to attach a lot of weapons and add a lot of defence to it without letting it sag down in all the weight. Also, he needed a lot of space for the airship for the police to sit at or stay at. He wanted to at least fit around 50-70 people in it. And it was proving to be a really tough challenge.
Today, Toph was at work as usual. She was really getting used to her routine. Wake up really early, drink a cup of coffee, prepare for work, spend some time with her family for a few minutes, go to work, work until late at night, or midnight, or early mornings if the station gets really busy, if she gets released early she would be the one to pick up their son on Air Temple Island, ( it seemed like Kian didn't mind being left on Air Temple Island as he was getting along great with Aang's kids ) if she was late, she would just go straight home and check on her son in his room, then go to her room and sleep.
Today, however, the esteemed Chief of Police was... nervous. Extremely nervous. The other officers noticed it immediately but were too afraid to mention it in front of her. Nobody had the courage to point out things to Toph whenever she was nervous or serious or angry ( especially the angry part ) or even speak to her for that matter.
Kui arrived at the station at noon that day. He was about to give Toph a detailed report about the airship. It still wasn't quite ready yet but he could feel that it just needed bit more... something... and some more time to think and stuff and then the airship will be ready. Well, after a few test tries. But test tries were still far from their reach right now.
"Hey Toph!" Kui said as he closed the door to her office. Toph, who was bending the meteorite bracelet Sokka gave her absentmindedly and a bit nervously, looked up and her expression showed that she was clearly surprised.
"Oh... it's you..." Toph said.
Kui looked at her, confused at her tone. "Uh... yeah. It's me."
"Sorry, Kui. Just a lot of stuff on my mind right now..." Toph said. Actually, she only had one thing on her mind. And the problem was she had to tell her husband about it but she was too nervous, still she needed to do it. She just didn't know what to say or do.
"Well... if you're busy then, I could just tell you at home or I'll come back tomorrow." Kui told her.
"N-No... um... Kui, it's nothing. You can stay and give the report about the airship." Toph said to him.
"Toph? Is everything alright?" Kui asked. He noticed Toph's movements and there was a hint of nervousness in her voice.
"I told you... It's nothing. Um... the report?" Toph told him.
Kui placed a hand over hers and squeezed it tight. "Toph, there's something wrong. Come on. Tell me."
Toph bit her lip. Should she just spit it out? She could remember what happened when the exact same thing happened years ago and it was not pretty. Kui squeezed her hand again. "Toph?"
Toph let out a small whimper and she was very surprised that she could even produce such a sound. "K-Kui...?"
"Yeah?"
"K-Kui... I..."
"Yes?"
"K-Kui I... I'm..."
"You're... what?"
"I'm... I'm..."
"You're what? Come on. Tell me."
"I'm..." Toph said and mumbled something.
"Sorry?"
"I'm... *gulp* I'm p-pregnant"
Kui looked at her in shock.
"K-Kui...?"
Kui didn't answer. He was still staring at her in shock.
"Kui?"
Kui didn't say anything. He looked as if he was paralyzed. Top sighed and got up from her desk and walked to her husband and stood in front of him. Once she was sure she was at least in front of him, Toph raised her hand up and slapped him. This definitely did the trick.
"Ow! What was that for?" Kui said, rubbing his cheek.
"You were spacing out!"
"Well, sorry! I was just... shocked..." Kui said.
"Yeah, I can see that." Toph told him. "W-Well...?"
Kui's shocked expression suddenly turned into a smile. "What do you think I'm supposed to feel? Of course I'm happy! Finally Kian's going to have a little sister!"
"Hey! I'm still a month pregnant you know! What makes you so sure that it's gonna be a girl?"
"I just know..."
A few months later...
"Toph! I really don't think you should - Toph!" Kui yelled as Toph stumbled on one of their son's toys. He was immediately at her side and caught her, not that Toph needed it.
"I can handle myself! Sheesh!" Toph said as she stomped down her foot to bring the earth pillar she had made earlier to break her fall before Kui made it to her side.
"But Toph. You're eight months pregnant. Could you just, at least... I don't know... behave like all other pregnant women?"
"Look, just because I'm pregnant right now, doesn't mean you have to dote on me. You know perfectly well that I am capable of taking care of myself." Toph said, sitting down on the couch.
"Fine... fine... But take care of yourself! Especially to my precious Lin. Isn't that right baby?" Kui said, placing a hand on Toph's huge stomach.
Toph swatted his hand away and said, "Stop naming it Lin! What if you get stuck on it and then it turns out this kid is actually a boy? The poor kid's gonna be teased for being called with a girl's name."
"Right. Right. Sorry." Kui said, putting his hands up to show that he had surrendered. Kui looked at the clock on the wall and his eyes nearly popped out of his head. "Uh-oh! Toph, I'm running late! The airship's test run is today! Shoot!" He got up quickly and ran frantically around the house in search of his socks. After he was ready, he gave Toph a quick peck on the cheek and ruffled his son's hair. Kian arrived in the living room when he heard his father screaming for socks.
"I'll be back by dinner! I promise! We'll just be taking it for a spin around Yue Bay. Love you!" he said as he went out of the door. Toph and Kian waved at him and watch him disappear.
A smile crept up to Toph's mouth when she heard her husband's excited tone. He had worked so hard for that airship for several months and finally, FINALLY he was able to do a test run of what he liked to call, his greatest work yet.
"C'mon kiddo. Let's go in." Toph said to her son.
That night...
Toph looked out of the window worriedly. When she asked her son on what time it was, he said that it was already night. Their family dinner time was usually really early in the evening but she asked Kian that question hours before. She was getting increasingly worried. Her husband never breaks a promise. Ever since they met, he never did break a promise. But their agreement was that he would be back by dinner and it was already late.
"Where is he?" Toph asked to no one in particular. She was getting a pretty sick feeling inside of her and she was very certain that it wasn't the baby. It almost felt like something bad was happening right now. She even felt her gut squirm inside of her and a small nagging feeling kept telling her that it was about Kui. It felt like something bad happened to him. Toph shuddered at the thought.
She suddenly felt footsteps approaching her house. From the sound of it, the person was running. A few minutes later, her door banged open and she felt a heartbeat. It was beating furioustly and quickly. Toph turned her head to the new visitor.
"What is it?" Toph asked him.
"C-Chief... I..." So, he was an officer, huh?
"What is it, officer?"
"C-Chief... it's about the a-airship..."
Toph's expression fell and she felt her heart freeze at those words. 'Oh no... What about the airship? What happened? Is Kui alright?' These thoughts ran through Toph's head.
"W-What...?"
"C-Chief... the airship experienced technical difficulties by the time it arrived at Yue Bay... The engine failed them and there was an explosion and... Chief... it all happened so fast... I... the airship... it... it went down... and... and it fell... straight into Yue Bay... Chief..." the officer looked at her sadly. "Chief... there... there were no reported survivors... the airship exploded the moment it came in contact with that cliff near the bay... I'm so sorry Chief..."
A/N: Now how about that people! What do you think about that? Pretty long chapter 1 if I do say so myself. So, what do you guys think? Need clarifications or something? This is another multi-chapter story and I know, I know, I've got five stories to finish now... But hey, I like this idea.
Again, I wanna say thank you to fm94, linzinforever, and of course, KiyumiArashi. Thank you guys so much!
R & R !
