AN:
There is bending in this story
Toph can see, but still uses the vibrations of the Earth to help with her bending. She can't metalbend…yet.
Aang is an airbender, he does not have his tattoos and he is not the Avatar (the Avatar does not exist in this story)
Although the airbenders are not extinct, they are outcast and face detrimental outcome.
In this story I imagine a Medieval time period.
Just put your mind wherever it is comfortable while you read this
Yea I'm sorry if I took everything out that made Avatar, AVATAR, but it needed to happen. Just give the story a chance, you'll learn to love it...hopefully.
CHAPTER ONE: Greetings
Toph sat stiff straight, hands softly folded onto her lap, with a blank expression on her face, as she sat next to her mother who looked just as elegant as she. Toph's mother sat next to her father, as all three sat as stone statues carved with the utmost care. Toph currently resided in the throne room, with had a beautiful cathedral ceiling overhead nestled along with a large refined chandelier. Toph stared and listened to a handsome man that wished for her hand in monogamy he looked to be 20 years older than her but seemed to have a lot to offer. Toph barely listened to what the man before her was saying. She just stared down at him, hoping he'd cease speaking soon enough.
Toph Bei Fong was Princess of the Earth Kingdom, daughter to the King and Queen of the Earth Kingdom, the second most powerful Royal family in the world. As she and her parents sat on their respected thrones they listened to the many suitors that would come in and wish to take Toph as their bride. Toph inwardly sneered at this thought, she was not anyone's to own. Toph was 16 years of age so she knew she was unfortunately at the marrying age. Toph knew it wasn't imperative to listen to any of the suitors since she knew her father would never agree to any of them. He wished to marry her off to Zuko Prince of the Fire Nation, since they were the most powerful Royal family in the world. Her farther, with much persuasion, considered Sokka of the Water Tribe, Son of the Chief and some high ranked families here in the Earth Kingdom and Fire Nation, but his top choice was Zuko, and only Zuko. The only reason why he endured this babble from these hopefully suitors were for custom purposes. Every eligible bachelor had a right to put his name in for consideration. After each suitor was done with his deliverance he would come up, and Toph would stick her hand out on cue and he would kiss it and take his leave. If the suitor was from a wealthy family that owned large quantities of land and if he was a bender, he was allowed to take Toph on a stroll through the gardens; it was only her father who was allowed to permit this.
Toph was the perfect Princess when anyone and everyone was watching, she always made like a statue, never spoke out of turn and always abided by her father. No one ever saw the real her, not even her own parents. The thought made Toph terrible sad as she sat on her large thrown and stare down at the gentleman who was continuing to make his request. Toph was the most powerful earthbender in the world, but no one knew that much either. She only ever did the basics around anyone.
Once the suitor was finished with his proposal, he bowed to his subjects, walked up the few steps that were in place and kissed Top upon the hand and left.
"That is enough for today." The King spoke aloud. His advisor nodded and then headed for the main entrance to bid the rest of the suitors outside waiting to leave. The King stood, as did Toph and her mother, and they both bowed towards him right before he departed, most likely off to do paper work. Toph's mother turned towards her and gave Toph a kiss on the forehead and left, most likely to pray at the Chapel before she would join her husband in the Council offices where he did his paper work.
Toph stood there and looked at all the apprehensive servants, waiting for her to make a request for them to follow.
Toph sigh for a moment, then lifting her velvet emerald gown as she descended the steps.
"Someone please fetch me some tea, and have it sent up to my room." She said steadily, as she walked with purpose up to her bedchamber. It took a few minutes, since it was far on the second floor down a long hallway.
Once she was in her room, Toph shut her door softly and leaned her forehead against the cool wood. Toph closed her eyes and sighed. Toph pushed off the door and turned around and walked to her vanity. Toph sat down and opened a side drawer and found her journal; she fondled the leather spine for just a moment, it was the only thing she could be completely honest with in this ocean of rules, order, and unhappiness.
Toph turned to a blank page and got a feather pen and some ink, and began to write.
Journal, I swear my days are starting to blur and blend in together. I don't know if today is yesterday or if it's tomorrow. I'm going to lose my mind if I have to live my life in this black hole any longer. Where is the light? I promise, the next suitor I see will be swallowed up by the earth, by my hand! That is if I don't allow myself to get swallowed up first.
Just then there was a knock on the door and Toph bid whomever it was that they may come in.
"Hello Lady Toph, I have your tea here." Said Jin, one of Toph's most personal maids. She was the only lucky one that got to see bits and pieces of the true Toph, she's probably the only one who has seen Toph truly smile.
"Thank you, you can put it on the night stand." Toph stated. Jin did as she was told, then turned to Toph.
"Anything else you would like Ma'am?" She asked kindly.
"Company would be nice, if you don't mind." Toph smiled ever so slightly towards her.
Jin smiled warmly in return and did a slight bow. "Not at all, ma'am." When Toph asked for company Jin was all too happy to oblige. She was only 10 years older than Toph but knew Toph since she was a baby. Jin's mother has been working for the Royal family for 50 odd years and so Jin grew up tending to the Royal Palace and it's royal family. For a few years now she unofficially became Toph's personal maid. Whenever Toph asked for company Jin would do an assortment of things from picking up cloths and organizing the room to making the bed, since she liked to keep busy, even when Toph exclaimed heartedly that she didn't ask Jin to clean, she would anyways. On special occasions, though, she would simply talk with Toph, read with her, or brush her hair in tranquil silence.
Jin saw nothing in particular that needed cleaning and Toph was quietly writing in her journal, so Jin walked over to Toph's vanity, picked up her brush and began to brush Toph long, dark, rich hair. Toph sighed contently at being cared for by Jin. She never failed to enjoy Jin's company.
As Jin continued to brush her hair with no protest from Toph, her eyes unconsciously wandered to what Toph was writing in her journal.
"Oh I don't think he was that bad of a suitor my Lady, you have had worse." Jin didn't really realize what she did until she caught Toph's eye as Toph slowly looked up at her through the reflection in the mirror. Jin's face suddenly lost all traces of color as she became fully aware at what she did and said.
"Lady Toph..I-I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have been—."
"So you did not think of him as pompous, arrogant, and someone searching for only wealth and power?" Toph asked simply, as her eyes squinted slightly.
Jin's eyes widen slightly at Toph's choice of words and at the fact that Toph was not upset with her for reading over her shoulder, reading her most personal thoughts at that!
Jin tried to calm down and answer the question truthfully; she always felt Toph deserved the truth since she, on so many occasions, never received it. "I think he came from a good family, and that his wealth and social standing could be beneficial, but he could never make you happy, Lady Toph." Toph smiled up at Jin then looked back down and began to write in her journal some more.
After a couple of hours of conversing, Toph let Jin take her leave and thanked her for the company she provided. Once left alone, Toph immediately felt lonely. She walked to her window and saw the orange skies that mixed with purples, blues, reds, and yellows, signaling the setting sun. Toph touched the glass of the window, as she stared at the rare beauty that the sky possessed.
Wanting to feel the wind on her face and in her hair, Toph turned around and left her room, her tea still untouched. She trudged down the long impending hallways being bowed to by subjects who she would pass, while she gave a polite nod in return never stopping her quick strides. Twisting and turning in every direction, Toph finally made her way outside, opening one of the double doors and stood outside to greet the dusk. Toph took a few steps forwards before she was stopped by the voices of the guards that stood at attention guarding the front doors.
"Princess, it's nearly dark, I don't think it's best to be going on a stroll now." One guard said.
"Don't be so brash, it's not like I'm going to leave the grounds." Toph said as she lifted her head up ever so slightly to show importance.
"But the grounds are miles wide, Your Highness the King has said—." But he was abruptly cut off.
"Your Highness the King is not here." Toph said as if end of discussion.
"But Princess, we have direct orders." The other guard said timidly.
"I'll keep in view." Toph said lastly, with an irritable way of her hand. Toph walked a few paces forward and relished in her bare feet on the stone walkway; feeling the earth under her toes made her smiled slightly at the warmth it made her feel in her very being. Toph veered off of the path and onto the grass. Once she was a few yards away Toph looked over her shoulder at the guards. With a smirk, Toph did a quick motion with her arms and a large dusk cloud erupted around her and the surrounding area. Toph heard the guard's yell and scramble towards her, so she ran until she came to the perfect hiding spot out of the view of the guards. Toph hid behind a crescent-shaped hiding spot in the wall. She heard the guards run by and when she counted to three she ran out and ran in the opposite direction. Toph ran for what felt like forever until she knew she was a safe distance away and then she started to slow to a walk. Toph giggled and smiled as she was satisfied with her escape attempt. Toph continued walking until the castle became smaller and smaller in the distance.
Toph spread her arms out and fell backwards, the earth catching her as if she fell on top a pile of feathers. Toph smiled warmly at the sky, not caring that she was most likely getting mud and grass all over her dress and in her hair. Toph closed her eyes and grabbed a handful of earth and let it slide gently through her fingers like sand, but suddenly she became still for she heard something. Toph opened her eyes and leaned her head back to look behind her, but since that did not, work she rolled onto her stomach, leaving her eyes locked onto where she was staring out too. Toph leaned up onto her elbows and began to crawl. Since she was near a hilltop, Toph just simple crawled until she was at its peak and that's when she saw it. A boy, sitting under a tree, her tree, humming as he read a book. Toph immediately became furious at the trespasser. Struggling to stand up, because of the dress, Toph march towards him, as she held her dress up with one hand.
"Excuse me! You are trespassing on Royal property, I demand you leave immediately." Toph yelled, startling the boy. He gasped and stood up suddenly like gravity helped lift him off the ground in a grace like manner and faced Toph with a horrified expression, the color draining from his face. Toph was dumfounded for a moment at what he just did, but caught herself.
"You should not be here, how'd you get in here?" Toph demanded.
"I'm so sorry." He said sincerely with his hands up, as he took a step forward.
Toph stomp on the ground and a large boulder of earth emerged. Toph took a stance where her left arm was lowered and straightened and bent at the wrist while her right arm was pulled back in a fist ready to strike at any moment.
"Don't take another step closer." She exclaimed through gritted teeth. Toph may be small and dainty-looking, but she was strong and menacing underneath.
The boy seemed to suddenly realize who she was, for his eyes glanced at the tiara on her head then her face, then his eyes went wide and he instantaneously dropped to the ground on his knees and buried his face into the grass
"I'm so sorry Your Majesty, I didn't realize it was you." He pleaded, for you were to always to bow before royalty, when you were instantly approached by anyone of the royal family.
"I'm not going to ask you again. How'd you get over the wall!?" Toph yelled, still in her stance.
The boy lifted his head and answered her, "I jumped over it." He breathed out.
"You jumped over it? Do you think I am stupid? Do you think I just sit in that palace and rot my brain all day long? That wall is bloody 100 feet tall, no way you could jump it." Toph said harshly.
"No, no, no" he said frantically as he went to stand, taking two steps forward all in one quick motion, "that's not what I at all intended—." But the boy suddenly jumped up high into the tree as a boulder came flying for his head.
Toph looked up at him in the tree and gasped. "Your...your an airbender." She voiced quietly. She watched him poke his head out of the leaves and land with the grace of the controlled winds helping him; she felt her dress and hair being whipped around by his descent.
Toph took one step back when he reached the ground. She's heard about airbenders, how they can create tornadoes, and suck the very breath out of your lungs. She was in awe and felt fear all at the same time.
"That I am Princess," he said with a warm smile, and a respectable bow.
"I've never met one before." She breathed.
"Well I've never met a Princess before, I'm Aang." He introduced kindly, while extending his hand. Toph stared at him; he wore brown pants and a yellow tunic on top. He had brown hair and grey eyes, kind grey eyes. He was lean and only a couple inches taller than her. He looked to be around her age if she was to guess any, and she had to admit he was quite handsome.
Toph looked at his extended hand and saw his uneasy expression for she had not grasped his hand. Toph didn't know if she was supposed to shake it or if he was just going to grasp her hand and kiss it. Toph was told Princesses never shook anyone's hand for it was unlady-like, but she was also told not to ever speak to commoners.
Toph surprised both of them by slowly reaching her hand out and grasping his lightly, wanting to shake it. By the look on his face, Aang probably found it odd that she did not simple stick out her hand to be kissed like h half expected. Toph held on to his hand for a few seconds before releasing it quickly and standing up straighter.
"I am Toph." She introduced back finally and formally. He smiled. They were silent for a moment, as they took in each other's appearance.
"Oh you have a little mud...oh um everywhere." Aang said for the first time noticing her attire.
Toph felt embarrassed for her un-Princess-like presentation of herself. Mad because he noticed, Toph glared at him and earthbend all traces of mud and dirt of her body.
"So it's getting dark." Aang stated looking at the sky, as he scratched the back of his head. "Don't you think it's unsafe to be out here by yourself." He finished, looking at Toph. She really was beautiful.
"You don't really know how to act towards royalty do you?" Toph inquired, slightly amused.
"Um." Aang said with his cheeks reddening, "I'm sorry." He said bowing his head.
"And for the record, I can take care of myself. I don't need protecting." Toph said stiffly.
"Of course, Your Majesty." He said, bowing his head once more. While he wasn't looking Toph rolled her eyes. He was a timid as a mouse, and the constant bowing was actually getting on her nerves.
"Well I guess I now know how you got over the wall. By chance, are you the only one who does that? I mean, there's not more of you that jumps over the wall is there?" She asked worriedly. That would be dangerous if many people could get over the wall like he could.
"Oh no!" he reassured, "Me and my guardian are the only airbenders in the town. So no, I'm the only one."
"Well good, then I trust that you will not jump over the wall again." Toph said back in her Princess manner.
"I-I won't Princess." He said with a courteous bow. Toph nodded in return and turned to take her leave.
As she walked a few steps, Toph heard, "Goodbye, Princess."
Toph turned her head around to look at him, thinking him odd. "Goodbye." She returned, and began her trek back to her sordid palace.
AN: So tell me what you think! I solely live on reviews, you know how people need to eat and sleep. Well I just need reviews. :)