A Kiss in Ba Sing Se

[A/N: This is an A/U story. The Toph character does feel inferior to Katara and so in order to compete for Aang's affections pulls out all the stops. Aang is a boy with near infinite power and is being offered love and comfort from the two girls most dear to him.

Disclaimer: I do not own any rights or titles to the characters of Avatar: The Last Airbender. ]

Chapter 26

Pretty!

The war had left lots of orphans all across the Earth Kingdom. Bands of youth running around trying just to survive were quickly becoming a major social problem. There was also the issue of war veterans. Many of them injured and/or permanently disabled, needing continuous medical care. To make matters worse, famine because of crop destruction, illness and injury, displacements, all considered collateral damages, effected vast numbers of civilians across the country. These outcasts of a previously callous society, now looked with hope to the palace.

Katara felt very honored to be asked to the charity outing. Plus this was an opportunity for her to reclaim her super powered beau from the crafty princess.

"Only losers give up without a fight Katara," Suki had told her. "If you have to... bang his brains out... but only if you have to!"

She didn't quite know what the second part meant, but it sounded encouraging nonetheless.

After the pep talk, they decided to go to the Fancy Lady Day Spa and get the full treatment. The spa always made her feel good.

"What will it be for the heroes of the Earth Kingdom," the proprietress asked with a smile.

"Full makeovers," Katara said with a wide toothy grin, "we're having brunch with the new Queen. Please, do it up."

The lady snapped her fingers, "Of course, only the best for you, Lady Katara and also you Lady Suki, hero of Wulong Forest. No charge for you two. Ladies... the premium package!" A swarm of attendants fell upon them, stripping off their clothes and guiding them into the mud baths.

Two hours later, off to the dress shops they ran. The Kyoshi warrior had wanted to wear her customary uniform, but the waterbender talked her out of the militaristic attire for this occasion. "C'mon Suki, don't you think these people have seen too many uniforms and weapons? Let's just dress like normal people," Katara had told her.

"You're right... but I have to at least carry a fan and a sword, somewhere on me. They represent my spirit and my soul as a warrior," Suki explained.

Katara found a sky blue moon flower kimono with slits up to the calves, perfect for the occasion. This gown was just formal enough to say business, but sexy enough, around the bust and hips, to grab the attention of a certain Airbender. She even bought some lacy silk underwear, though the feel took a little getting used too, but they did look sexy.

Suki found a turquoise wrap with a wide silk belt that tied in the back. It had long wide sleeves, billowing out to cuffs. Perfect concealment for her fans and short sword.

The girls purchased new shoes, hair pieces and with a swish of the hip, were causing accidents up and down the boulevards. They had changed at the store in order street test their new looks.

Distracted men ran into posts and each other, while cart drivers collided. Wives and girlfriends swatted, prodded and chastised loudly at the jaw dropping gawking.

"See Katara, you're steaming today," the Fan Master laughed. "Aang will be on his knees, kissing your feet girl!"

"I hope so Suki, because the only thing he's been kissing lately... is Toph's ass."

Katara was still frustrated by Aang giving all his attention to the new princess at the Announcement Tea. She ended up that night, venting to Zuko and a rather irritated looking Mai, for what was probably hours.

"Look Katara, you know Aang, I know Aang. He's a nice guy. If anyone can take advantage of him, it would be Toph. Just give them some space, and he'll grow tired of it all and slip away... right back to you.. okay?"

Mai shook her head quietly behind him. When Zuko left to go to the bathroom, Mai added her opinion.

"Look Katara, that little she wolf has her polished claws so locked around his staff, it'll take a doctor to extract it. She's got to be doing him, and I mean doing him good! He's walking like a man that's been hitting it! If you want him back, you better get into the fight and show him what he's missing! Do you understand me little virgin?"

The next day, she stayed in her hotel room, thinking over Mai's word. Aang's walk had been different, his mannerism, more masculine. All that was true. She cried until she was tired of crying... and then she cried some more. Then came her resolution.

"Okay Aang... I'm all in... and so... you can have all of me," she declared to herself. "I'm turning up the steam... Ditch Witch!"

Now she was made up and dressed up to the hilt. Heads were turning and men were tripping over their own feet. Today, she felt good, and like her usual confident self.

"Oh yeah Toph, today he's mine!" she said to herself.

A carriage arrived at the Inn, right on schedule, to take the three of them to the palace.

"You two look great," Sokka said as he observed them. "My, my Katara... if you weren't my sister..."

"Oh... stop it, Sokka," she blushed deeply, with a shy smile, her cerulean eyes beaming.

"Yeah Sokka, stop it!" Suki warned with a threatening scowl.

Aang finished his sitting and now rushed to the private dining hall for the brunch. He wanted to make especially sure that the scarf stayed in place to avoid any needless embarrassment or lies. As he walked in he froze, it was Katara looking more sophisticated than he had ever seen.

"Well how do I look Aang," she prompted him striking a pose, "I thought you might like this... it is your favorite color... right?""

The Avatar smiled as he nodded and then she saw his eyes drift past her. His mouth suddenly hung open, and his cheeks turned a blazing red.

Katara didn't even need to turn around to know who had snatched away her victory, "Toph," she growled under her breath, even as she did, crossing her arms.

But she did she his point. The princess was shining! Toph was radiant in her golden dress, followed by her ladies-in-waiting. She was the picture of elegance and grace. All eyes in the room were on her, as she strolled past the Avatar, delivering a wink from behind her fan.

Katara never knew the once tom-boy had that much feminine prowess, and she felt threatened, extremely threatened as Mai mouthed, "I told you so."

Aang stood dumbfounded with mouth wide open. His eyes locked on her every move. He could only follow the Princess with his head, his heart pounding in his chest.

"Close your mouth Aang, before a fly lands in it," Suki prompted him, feeling bad for the waterbender. "Remember, no matter how pretty she's dressed, it's just Toph."

"Yeah, Toph," the enthralled airbender said dreamily, forgetting Katara was in earshot. "Yeah, wow... pretty Toph... pretty, pretty Toph."

The slap that resounded off the back of the Avatar's bald head, sounded almost like a thunder clap. The sheer force sent his chin to his chest causing him to bite his tongue in the process.

Katara now had more attention than she wanted, standing beside him with the offending red palmed hand, still raised high in the air over his stinging head.

She blushed furiously, scanning the faces of the onlookers, "Eh, eh... uh... mosquito," she alleged nervously with a chuckle, "...oops? Aang come with me, I need to speak to you," she ordered, taking his arm and dragging him off to the side into a small alcove.

"What was that?" Katara yelled in a harsh whisper. "Pretty Toph? I admit, she looks better than average... today... but to say pretty..."

"Yeah Twinkle Toes... what is that suppose to mean," Toph asked walking up behind the angry waterbender, startling her. "Were you leering at your blind Sifu?"

Katara spun around, "Toph... wha... I mean why are you here? I was just..."

"I know what you were just about to do Sweetness. Remember I have extra good hearing," the princess exclaimed, pointing to her ears. "I wouldn't want to miss this show, especially not when I'm the main topic, and he's being a perv."

Aang turned multiple shades of red, as he looked to the floor, unable to speak. He tasted the blood in his mouth as his throbbing tongue was still swelling. Even though his head was down, he was still pealing off side glances at the pretty petite princess. He just couldn't help himself now, even with the menacing specter of the wrathful waterbender right next to him.

"Perv," he thought, his breahing becoming ever deeper, "that might be a good description of me right now. Toph if you could read my mind, you'd know, I only want to get you out of that dress and unto my bed! If you were dressed like this when you asked me this morning, we would have been joined before the word would have been completed."

The earthbender could feel his rapidly accelerating vitals. It excited her.

"Well you really can't blame him Toph," Katara surprisingly defended him, though the nonverbal communication, " you do look absolutely incredible, and also he's just a dumb guy... raging hormones and all!"

Toph started to laugh, "So is that the issue Twinkles Toes? I got your hormones all a raging," she asked walking closer to him. "Then... this is probably driving them absolutely crazy... hey?" she said, rubbing his chest, feeling his heart rate increase just like her own. "Hmm, feeling a bit trapped my pupil?"

Katara didn't like what she was seeing, as the two stood only a hairsbreadth apart, with this strange tension around them, "Enough Toph... leave him alone! He's not your plaything."

"Why Sugar Queen, are you the only one who gets to have some fun with this wayward boy?" the little general asked in a tone now sounding agitated. "He takes and disrespects you and me in public. Doesn't that deserve punishment of some sort? I think so girlfriend!"

Before Katara could object, the princess's hand was across the airbender's face, sounding just as loud a her strike. Aang's head snapped to the side and then back front, with a menacing glare.

What Katara didn't see was that Toph hand was cupped. It went gently against his cheek, while she struck her thigh, a trick she learned for effect in the Earth Rumble Arena. He also knew it from their scamming days. Aang's glare wasn't anger, but from the lust that was steadily building! Toph was feeling rather saucy herself. He knew this performance wasn't over yet, in fact, he was counting on it.

"You eyeballing me boy," she snapped at him, now removing the air between them with her hands on her hips, "you want to hit me back Arrow Head!"

Katara stepped beside them, "Toph... he looks kinda mad... I wouldn't..."

"You mad No Nuts?," the princess joked harshly, as her body tortuously brushed his, "I can't see if you're mad or not, and I really don't care. So I'll just check for the nuts!"

"NO TOPH!" Katara called out, just as the earthbender took hold of the monk's arms, pressed in quickly lifting her knee right between his legs. Aang doubled over, falling back against the wall.

The princess turned towards Katara with a satisfied look, "I think he's learned his lesson now Sweetness. Oh he yeah, does or did have have nuts. Small one... but nuts all the same. You may want to check on them if you are thinking about kids in the future," she snickered, walking back into the hall, leaving a groaning Avatar.

Again, Katara was totally oblivious to the subterfuge played upon her. The timing was perfect as Aang's face dove into Toph's chest, while her knee slowly lifted and withdrew giving his naughty bits a nice rub. The rouse had come off perfectly, as he enjoyed her stroll away, swinging those full hips.

Katara hugged his back while he was still bent, "Oh Aang I'm so sorry... she can be such a brute. I'd like to teach her a lesson one day... are you okay?"

"T-tatara," he tried to speak with his swollen tongue.

"Oh what's wrong my love?" she asked moving around to front of him, helping him stand more erect.

"Id, Id blit bly tund! It all tollen."

"That evil little Dirt Devil," Katara snarled, blaming Toph for her handiwork. "Hurting my Aangy's pride and his tongue. At least I can take care of one of them," she remarked seductively. "Stick it out."

Aang's heart skipped a beat at the order, not quite sure what she wanted him to stick out.

She watched as Aang just stood bewildered, "C'mon... nobody's looking if that is what you're worried about Aang. I'm sure it's pretty sore right?"

He just stood still, trying in his heat, to make a decision again as to what she wanted him to pull out.

"Oh for Yue's sake," she finally exclaimed sucking his tongue into her mouth, as the soft healing glow framed her lips.

Immediately his tongue felt normal, but they didn't stop until a few more lip sessions had been shared just to make sure.

"Thanks Toph," Katara thought holding him in her arms.

All he that filled his mind was the princess in that orchid dress... and peeling her out of it.

Suki jabbed Sokka in his ribs as he watched Toph go by. a bit too closely.

"Yep, our little tomboy is really growing up, the boys are noticing, that backside," she thought as she observed the other men around the room.

Zuko's eyes had been locked on the princess from the moment she reentered the room. It was so obvious that the fish roll he held was still at his lips, uneaten.

Mai hadn't noticed as she was talking to Iroh, but slyly glancing at a certain blue eyed guy.

Suki got the tall girls attention and pointed towards the mesmerized Fire Lord. "What are you looking at," she growled," pinching him in the back of his arm, "...you're drooling over her."

"Ow-ow-ow... that really hurts Mai... I-I was just... okay, you caught me... I'm sorry, but... she's beautiful." Zuko exclaimed, freely looking.

Mai took another look herself, "Indeed."

Toph turn their way, "Why thank you, Lady Mai," she said with a small curtsy.

The princess then unfurled her golden fan, and dropped her foggy jade eyes the Fire Lord's way, "and as always your Majesty, your attention is my eternal pleasure."

Zuko swallowed hard, a grin appearing upon his lips, "And yours... mine..." was all he could reply as Mai's elbow connected with his short rib, sending a wave of indescribable pain through him. The fish roll hitting the floor as well.

"We'll talk with you later Toph," Mai chimed in as she lead the gasping monarch away.

Katara walked slowly back in the room, arm-in-arm with the Avatar. She again had her feeling of victory as they joined with their friends.

Now all of them, Suki, Sokka, Mai, Zuko, Katara and Aang, hovered around the adorned princess.

"Okay spill it Toph," Katara demanded, "how did you go from looking like a ragamuffin one day, to a goddess the next? Even caterpillars need more time to change!"

Toph blushed slightly with a smile, "I can't take any credit for this Sugar Queen. I never know how I look, being blind and all. So if I look as good as you say, and these poor sore guys indicate, then you can thank those four ladies over there." she remarked pointing over to her four cousins.

Katara looked at the other lookalikes in amazement. She was so taken up with the eartbender's transformation, she had totally ignored the ladies-in-waiting,"Hey Toph did you copy yourself or something?"

"They're all relatives Sweetness, and the one that looks like an older version of me, with the real big chest, that's Mei Mei. Be careful, if you want to hang onto your men ladies," Toph warned the girls.

At the advice all three guys got a sharp pain in the ribs again for ogling the seductress' rather exemplary cleavage, in her extremely low cut gown.

"Okay then that explains it Toph. They all look like goddesses themselves," Katara complimented them, "maybe, you could get them to do my makeup and hair sometimes."

"Sure Katara, why don't all the you girls spend the night with me. It'll be fun, you too Mai," she suggested, still giggling at the guy's pain.

Mai was flattered. She had never been included in this tight little groups outings.

"Go on Mai, you'll have fun" Zuko encouraged her, rubbing his side, "gives you a chance to run with some new girls... and me to heal. "

The knife thrower thought for a second, "Okay Toph... it does sound like fun but I didn't bring anything to sleep in or to wear tomorrow. Will I have time to go back to the Jasmine Dragon?"

"Neither did the rest of us," Suki added, "So we'll need to go to the Inn as well."

"That is never a problem here my ladies," Lili informed them, joining the gathering. "We have many wardrobes of clothes. I am sure we can find something that will suite each of you perfectly. If not, the royal tailors will make any alterations you wish."

"Then it all settled girls?" Toph asked rhetorically, as the three women stood in stunned silence. "We'll have a sleep over tonight! Lili tell the chef we'll need some special goodies. Also girls, tell Lili, if you have a taste for anything unusual."

"You-you mean like sea prunes?" Katara asked pensively, "real sea prunes... not those ocean kumquats... yuck."

The countess smiled, "Our chef keeps a regular supply on hand for the Northern Water Tribe diplomats, Ambassador," the countess answered with a smile. "Many say he makes them better than their mothers."

Katara and Sokka were drooling. "Toph can't I stay too," the new Vice Regent begged. "I'll just keep out of the way?"

"This is a girls only night Snozzles, but you guys can hang out with Aang, I'm sure he's lonely. I'll make sure you get the same treats."

A tear came to the Water Tribesman's eye, "Have I told you lately Toph, you're the best friend a guy could have!," Sokka sighed deeply.

"No, but you can definitely stand to say it more often," she laughed punching him in the arm.

"Your Majesty... remember decorum. Punching is on the list," Lili reminded her.

"The List?" Mai inquired in her flat tone.

"It's just my list of don'ts when I'm in public. Like, you know, picking my nose or spitting."

"So acting like a normal, respectable person Toph? " Katara snickered.

"Okay... if you say so, Madame Fussy Britches," Toph fired back.

Katara rolled her bright blue eyes, "Do you always have to be so snide Toph?"

Toph folded her arms, "Do you always have to be so, mothering, Sweetness?"

The two seemed to be glaring at each other for a moment, and then they started to laugh.

"Okay Lili... sea prunes for my sister here," Toph reiterated, "...and make sure the slobbering guy gets some too."

"Yes your Majesty, I'll make sure all will be ready," she replied with a curtsy, noting that the men were observing her cleavage as well.