All Hail the Queen

"Are you sure about this Toph?" Katara asked, "I mean, we're basically performing for a bunch of sweaty drunk guys. It's just kind of creepy, don't you think?"

"But that's what makes it so fun!" Mai interjected, putting her arm around her friend. "This is the last time you'll get to show off like this."

"Plus free drinks!" Ty Lee said. "Here's what you need honey, a Mai tai. Loosen you up before a battle." Ty Lee handed her a pretty green drink with an umbrella in it.

Just then June approached the girls who were seated with a bunch of other amateurs. "All right ladies here's the deal: No bending, no ripping any clothes off, and no hair pulling! Just throw mud and push each other. That's what the men like to see. Knock your opponent to the ground and keep her down for a count of five. The grand champion gets 50 gold pieces. The rest of you get free drinks and a meal when you're done fighting, plus whatever tips the men throw at you. First match fights, and the winner fights the next three. Then they break and we bring in the next match…so it continues until the two champions face each other."

"Let's do this thing!" exclaimed Toph, "I just want to get dirty."

"All right ladies. Match one." June pointed at Ty Lee and another girl from the crowd. The two challengers took their positions.

"Ready, Fight!" June struck a gong and Ty Lee and her opponent were locked in a vice grip. They shoved each other for a few minutes, which proved difficult due to the mud. After some scuttling on both ends. Ty Lee twisted and pushed the Earth Kingdom girl to the ground, pinning her with her shoulder.

The men exploded in cheers and so did the friends observing from the sideline. "Go Ty Lee!" Katara and Suki yelled.

The fight concluded and June held up Ty Lee's muddy arm. "Now the champion may choose her next opponent."

Ty Lee pointed at Toph. "You want to get dirty mud slug come on out here!" She laughed and threw wad of mud at Toph before the gong even sounded. Toph grinned from ear to ear.

"All right, now this is a party!." Toph screamed. She jumped and swept her foot against Ty Lee's ankle, tumbling her stance. Ty Lee came down for a moment but was back up before Toph could pin her. They struggled for several minutes before Toph finally won out, but Toph punched Ty Lee in the shoulder in congratulations. "That was a tough match circus girl." Ty Lee left the ring. Mai handed her a towel and a Daiquiri.

"Sukki get out here," Toph hollered, and she splashed her with a wave of mud.

"No bending!" June reminded.

"Sorry." Toph said. It was just the distraction Sukki needed. She leapt onto Toph and pinned her to the pit.

"One two three…" But Toph rolled out from under her grip before June could reach 5. Suddenly Toph was on her feet again and the two were locked arm in arm, pushing against each other for what seemed like an eternity…

# # # #

"Now this is a party!" Iroh hollered. "Hey Zuko you gotta see this!'

By now Zuko's head was a little fuzzier and he leaned toward the railing with Iroh. Mila and Kila had brought up a heaping tray of food and refreshments. Aang had been the most conservative of the four, limiting himself to only a couple of drinks that he nursed thoughtfully. He actually wanted to remember the advice the twins had given him that night, plus he was enjoying the show. It reminded him of how Katara and Toph had fought each other before they pulled scams that day in the fire nation. That had been hot. Seeing Katara all flushed and angry and covered in mud like that. He'd wanted to kiss her badly that day. He smiled to himself. Sweet memories.

Strangely though as he watched the two contenders his mind drifted to Toph. Toph of all people? Why? He leaned over the railing next to Zuko and Uncle, and suddenly he knew why. "Wait a second…" He squinted in close study.

"Wow," he heard Mila say, "That girl is blind and she's totally holding her own! Awesome!"

Aang's eyes flew open. That confirmed it. "Umm, guys.." Aang said, nudging Uncle "I think we have a problem. The girls are here."

"No really Aang?" Sokka laughed, his voice heavy with sarcasm; the Kyoshi Waitress was playing with his wolf tail.

"Yea, where have you been all night?" Zuko said, laughing along with his Uncle.

"No guys, you don't' get it…" Aang hissed. "I mean OUR girls, OUR GIRLS are…." His voice trailed off when he saw the next challenger step into ring. He'd know that mocha skin and long brown tresses anywhere. Katara. He put his hand on the rail to steady himself as he forgot all the reasons why they should be concerned. Seeing this…seeing this was worth all the risk in the world.

The match between Toph and Sukki had come to a draw so June had removed them from the ring, declaring neither the victor but promising to match them later. Katara had volunteered to fight next.

Aang leaned on the railing, his heart pounding with excitement. Katara jumped into the pit, and droplets of mud and water splattered onto her slender limbs. He saw her smiling and her blue eyes reflecting the torchlight. She was laughing and shouting something back at the sidelines as June picked out a contender for her.

Aang crossed his arms over the railing and rested his head on top of them, knowing that if he didn't he would fall over.

"WOW, SHE'S HOT!" Kila exclaimed.

"She's my fiancée'" Aang said quietly, more to himself than to them.

# # # #

Katara eagerly locked eyes with her opponent. If she wrestled with her friends it was just fun, but with this girl she didn't intend to hold back. The alcohol had made her a little more daring, and her friends cheered her on from the sidelines.

She heard Toph cry out "GO SUGAR QUEEN!" with insane drunken rage, and soon all of Katara's bridesmaids were chanting "SUGAR QUEEN!" in glorious repetition.

Their cheerleading filled Katara with great resolve. The gong sounded and she slammed into her opponent with all of her strength, knocking her to the ground. The two girls slid into the pit in a beautiful tangle of arms and legs. A second later Katara emerged, having pinned her with her elbow. . Katara took out two more opponents, and by this time every inch of her was covered in a thin layer of mud.

The sideline bridesmaids went crazy. Sukki rushed out and handed Katara another Mai Tai. She downed half of it in one sip, then jumped on top of the hay bales lining the mud pit, threw her glass against the ground, and waved to the crowd victoriously. "I am SUGAR QUEEN!"

# # # #

Aang gripped the rail until his knuckles turned white. He felt his breathing deepen and desire engulf his body. He closed his eyes, thinking back to a few days ago when he'd arrived at the South Pole for their wedding. They had been separated for two months, allowing Katara some time with her family and to plan the wedding.

After this time he'd flown with Sokka to the South Pole. He'd found her in the Water Temple and kissed her passionately in greeting. He meant to halt at that, but once they touched he found himself unable to stop at her lips. Her scent and the feel of her skin were unbelievable, a thousand times better than he remembered it; it drove him to do more.

"I think the Avatar needs a little dip in the ocean!" Hakoda had interrupted, peeled Aang off of her, and told him he had to wait another ten days. Then himself, Sokka, Bato, and several other members of the Tribe dunked him in the frigid waters of the South Pole for a count of ten.

But in that brief moment he had found her scent and taste incredibly intoxicating it stayed with him all the way here. Now it was her looks that affected him so. The sheen of mud resembled gold in the torchlight and painted her curves perfectly.

What happened next was much like the rude awakening with Hakoda.

"All hail the Queen!" Uncle Iroh cried out suddenly.

Aang felt Kila pull him to the balcony. Mila ducked with him. "That was close!" they chimed.

"Wow she's awesome!" Kila said. "I can see why you love her so much."

Following Iroh's example, the crowd began chanting "ALL HAIL THE QUEEN! ALL HAIL THE QUEEN! ALL HAIL THE QUEEN!"

Aang felt as though his heart was going to leap out of his chest. He didn't know whether to feel appreciation or jealousy at the fact that his future wife was being adored by hundreds of screaming guys. But the fact that she was enjoying herself seemed to cancel out all of his feelings.

"Hey she kinda looks like my sister!" Sokka was hovering beside Aang now, a little unsteady on his feet.

"Sokka she is your sister."

"What?!' Sokka's glass fell to the balcony, shattering against the wood floor. "Why didn't you say anything!?"

Aang jumped up. "I tried to; you wouldn't listen!"

"Hmm, no wonder she looks so familiar," Uncle said, overhearing the two 'brothers.'

"I can't believe Katara! How can she do something like this?" His escort tried to take him by the arm but he shrugged her off.

"She's just having fun Sokka, you know like we're doing now…" Zuko said.

"Yea, she seems happy," Aang said.

"You mean you're actually OK with this?!" Sokka yelled at Aang.

"If she's happy then YES!" Aang yelled back at him, something he rarely did.

"Now, now, let's all calm down," Uncle started.

Sokka just glared at him and turned away from his friends. "I'm going down there. "

"Sokka don't you dare do anything before I get to see Mai fight!" Zuko shouted after him, but he was stumbling a little himself and unable to move very quickly.

The twins looked at each other.

"Uh Oh Kila!"

"Red Alert Mila!"

"We'd better get June for damage control!" They chimed together and ran ahead of Sokka down the staircase. Aang followed after them.

# # # #