A/N: So obviously the story is similar to what it was in some ways, and vastly different in others. If you're wondering where the romance is, it's coming, but I have to build the foundation for the story first. This is it, though hopefully it's a bit exciting/interesting. BEGIN!
The Earth Kingdom is a confederate monarchy led by the Earth King and is the most powerful nation in the world, after the technologically advanced Fire Nation. The people of the Earth Kingdom are proud and strong, and the Earth benders use their abilities for defense, having fiercely defended their cities against attacks by the Fire Nation. However, as time has passed the Fire Nation has continued to attack, thus creating a strain on the populace and economy. And while the people of the Earth Kingdom adhere to a philosophy of peaceful coexistence and cooperation with the other nations of the world, they recognize that when another nation is unwilling to negotiate (such as the Fire Nation), swift action must be implemented.
Within the great walls of Ba Sing Se, the largest city in the world and the Earth Kingdom's Capitol, a highly focused discussion was taking place inside the Palace. A group of six men were gathered about a round table, speaking avidly.
"Your Majesty, the people will revolt if something isn't done about the Fire Nation's continual attacks." One man, councilor Wei Pei reasoned.
"They grow weary of having to defend their lands on their own. Some villages have already fallen to their control. " Responded another of the council.
" What do you suggest I do? I cannot send our soldiers into battle; they aren't strong enough to fight the Fire Nation's technologically advanced weaponry. " The Earth King, Lord Kuei exclaimed, fidgeting in his high chair.
" It would be wise to organize a coup. " King Bumi, the ruler of the Earth Kingdom's second largest city, Omashu, and second in command after Lord Kuei, said.
"Such as?" questioned the Grand Secretariat, Long Feng.
" Look at this. One of my spies found this, among other copies, on the streets of The Fire Nation Capitol. This is an opportunity to save the Earth Kingdom, without bloodshed!" King Bumi held up a scroll, placed it into the center of the table, and unrolled it.
On the paper read " By Royal Decree: Prince Zuko of our noble and great Fire Nation has declared that he will marry any woman whom can defeat him in a fight." In smaller font, below the decree read, " The woman in question must be of the upper class, and of no relation to Prince Zuko."
A pause. King Kuei looked the scroll over, " It is true there is no indication that the woman who defeats him must be from the Fire Nation."
" But my lord, have we any women of our upper class strong enough to beat the Prince? I've heard it said he is a very capable warrior. Furthermore, most of our high class women aren't instructed in the ways of Bending because it is considered unattractive in a lady." One of the councilors interjected.
" There must be a few…" King Bumi beamed, " Life is full of surprises!"
"Indeed," Agreed King Kuei, " This is our only chance. Long Feng!"
"Your majesty?"
" Get your Dai Li to organize a battle arena and tournament for all the unwed upper class ladies of Ba Sing Se and Omashu."
" My lord, surely you do not intend to—"
" The winner of the tournament will fight Prince Zuko. If we're lucky, she will win."
" But your majesty, a wedding between a girl of The Earth Kingdom and The Fire Nation's Prince may not guarantee peace between our lands. For all we know, the girl will become but a slave to the prince and his whims, " said Long Feng.
Councilor Wei Pei agreed, saying, "Even if the prince himself weren't entirely unkind to her, would she not still be ostracized by the people of the Fire Nation? They would not accept her; she is not one of them. Do you truly intend to subjugate one of our finest women to such a treatment?"
General Sung, a man who had been silent since the beginning of the conversation began to speak: " All wars have their casualties. This viable option requires no true loss, no death. The suffering of one woman does not compare to the suffering of millions."
Lord Kuei agreed, " This may be a gamble, but we aren't in a position not to."
King Bumi nodded, his old age showing in the many wrinkles that were etched across his face, " We have luck on our side, we've made it this far."
"But what if our luck runs out?" Long Fend demanded.
" You'll come up with something." Lord Bumi grinned toothily.
General Sung clapped him softly on the back, " You're a crafty old man, aren't you, King Bumi?"
" It comes with the age."
And with that, the generals, the High Secretariat, the council member and the two kings began to plan for the tournament that would soon be held in the kingdom of Earth.
The Earths Kingdom's greatest city and capitol; Ba Sing Se is by far the largest city in the world. It is also notable for having a unique system of dividing the populace into different parts of the city based on social status. To the north of the city lived the farmers and peasants, to the south was the working class, to the east was the upper class merchants and doctors, and the West was consumed by the Kings Palace and the houses of his royal relatives.
Toph Bei Fong, along with her parents, lived in a large house that was technically in both East and West parts of the city, due to its size. She had moved recently to the city of Ba Sing Se after her hometown of Gaoling had been invaded by the fire nation.
Toph Bei Fong was blind girl of sixteen years. She was small in stature, and had a frail looking body. She had long obsidian hair, pale skin, and her grey eyes often reflected the colors of whatever they landed upon. She, at a first glance, appeared quite similar to other upper class girls of the Earth Nation, but at a closer look, one would see that there was an unusual confidence in her stride, one would find a cheekiness in her smile, and if you looked at her feet, you would notice callouses. At the moment, Toph was meandering about the courtyard of her new home, stomping her feet in a rather masculine manner.
"Stupid fire nation." Toph remarked to herself, aloud, then, "Stupid Ba Sing Se."
' I hate this place, even more then Gaoling—and that's saying something! This city supposed to be so great, but they don't even have Earth Rumble here!' Toph thought, angrily, the ground beneath her trembling slightly. ' I miss the tournaments. The thrill of winning against all those stupid men who underestimated me . . . but even more than that…'
" I don't even get any privacy here!" Toph screamed, turning her head so that she could glare in the direction of one of the guards. Yes, her family's estate was complete with maids and guards.
" I apologize for causing you any disturbance, milady, but I am here to protect you." Said her personal guard, Xin Fu.
" You of all people should know I don't need any protection," Toph remarked, turning away from him, staring blankly at the sky, her grey orbs reflecting its color, " You know my strength."
" You speak of the strength you demonstrated as The Blind Bandit." Xin Fu stated, referring to Toph's Earthbending wrestler name.
" Hello, The Blind Bandit and I are the same person. Though I've had to abandon that persona since coming to Ba Sing Se. There are no tournaments here. " Toph plopped herself onto the green grass beneath her, facing him, her silken jade robes becoming soiled by the dirt as she did so. Xin Fu shrugged, it was true he'd seen her fight, he'd been the promoter as well as the host of the underground Earthbending tournament Earth Rumble VI, which Toph had, unbeknownst to her parents, fought in under the alias of "The Blind Bandit."
A moment passed.
"Isn't it impractical to have you of all people as a body-guard?" Toph questioned. Xin Fu's eyebrow twitched. He had once been an Earthbending wrestler himself, but unlike most of the other wrestlers, he was very business savvy, and always looking for another way to make money. After the Fire Nation attacked Gaoling, he realized his best option for money was to be hired by Lao Bei Fong, Toph's father, in order to be one of the guards at the Bei Fong's estate. Luckily for him, and unluckily for Toph, Mr. Lao had hired him as Toph's bodyguard. Mr. Lao had been afraid for his daughter's welfare since the Fire Nation had attacked Gaoling. Little did he know, Toph had in fact defeated Xin Fu in a fight before, which she, to the annoyance of Xin Fu, boasted about every. single. day.
" And are you going to tell your father you beat me?" Xin Fu questioned casually, circling around Toph's small form.
" Uhh, of course not. Not like he'd believe it, anyway." Toph grunted.
Xin Fu sighed in relief; he didn't need anything getting between him and money. Especially not something like an obnoxious little blind brat whose robes were coming undone, making her cleavage visible.
Toph noticed a difference in Xi Fu's stance, and a slight change in his breathing pattern, " Hey, what the hell are you looking at?" She readjusted her robes and stood.
" I can't tell my dad I beat you, but I can tell him you're a creeper!"
Xin Fu remained stoic, " You have no proof."
Toph face palmed, " You aren't even denying it."
" The first step is acceptance."
Toph threw her hands into the air, " Gah!"
The corner of Xin Fu's mouth quirked upward, as Toph laughed uproariously, her head falling back.
" Ehem." Poppy Bei Fong tip-toed onto the scene with caution, " Are you alright, Toph?"
Toph breathed in. She loved her mother, but the damn woman was far too overprotective.
" I'm fine, mother. I was just amused by a story Xin Fu was telling me."
" Don't hurt yourself laughing, dear." Poppy said, worriedly. Toph did an inner eye-roll.
" Of course not, mother. What is it you want?"
" I came to inform you of a tournament…" Her mother began, pulling a scroll from her sleeve and unrolling it. Toph did a double take, thinking only 'What?'
" The Earth King has sent decrees ordering all unmarried girls to attend a tournament tomorrow, where they must compete for prizes. The winner has a chance at becoming royalty."
' Who care's about any of that crap? I wanna fight!' Toph thought to herself. 'But isn't it strange that mother would be the one to tell me—"
" Naturally I'll be informing the King that you will be unable to participate due to your blindness." Poppy said, rolling the scroll up and tucking it back into her sleeve, " I just thought I should tell you about it now in case you caught wind of it later somehow."
Sometimes, Toph wondered if her mother was just spiteful.
" I don't talk to anyone outside of our home, so how could I 'catch wind of it later'?"
" Who knows? Maybe you'd overhear the maids gossiping." With one look at her daughter's sullen face, Poppy added, " I know you're disappointed, dear, but it just isn't safe."
Sensing Toph's anger over the matter, which would mean more trouble for him later, and also feeling that the tournament could be an interesting place to find opportunities to make money, Xin Fu said, " But Ms. Poppy, Toph would do well in such a tournament."
Both Ms. Poppy and Toph looked at Xin Fu as if he'd grown twelve arms, though for different reasons. ' He isn't going to tell her about Earth Rumble, is he?' Toph thought to herself.
Xin Fu continued, " Surely this tournament is one that revolves around beauty and manners. Why else would it require only the Earth Kingdoms young and fine ladies?"
Poppy Bei Fong paused, then, " That's true . . ."
Toph sensed the lie in Xin Fu's voice and smirked inwardly, while outwardly attempting to fake tears, " Mother, because I'm blind, I've never been able to know if I am aesthetically pleasing in appearance. "
" Nonsense, Toph, darling, you're beautiful!" Her mother began.
" - but I am confident in my manners . . ."
" You do have great manners dear, but—"
"- Even if I couldn't win such a tournament, mother, I'd like to make you proud."
Tears welled in Poppy's eyes " Toph, I understand." She embraced her daughter, then turned to Xin Fu, "As long as he goes with you, I will allow it."
" Oh, mother, thank-you so much." Toph exclaimed, returning the hug. She glanced up in Xin Fu's direction, smirked, and then mouthed the words:
" The Blind Bandit… is back."