[A/N: Have you ever been dared into a situation and then found out it was a stupid challenge to take when you lost more than you realized?

Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender

Comment if you wish. If not read anyways.

I hope you enjoy.]

Chapter 37

Dare

Breakfast was being served to the princess and her three would-be interrogators in the large sitting room, adjacent to the little general's office. Exotic juices and hot drinks, both sweet and savory, were presented for the tasting along with a vast varieties of foods, tailored to the taste of the young women.

All of the ladies were dressed in new outfits, with hair and makeup done exceptionally well. That is except for Toph. She was donning her military uniform for an upcoming meeting with the Council of Five later that morning.

Even though the others were enjoying the meal, the princess was still basking in the afterglow of her early morning interlude. She inadvertently let loose a long moaning sigh as she finished sipping her tea, gaining the attention of her chief lady.

"Are you not feeling well your Majesty," Lili asked with deep concern as she leaned in closely. "Do you have a fever? Your face seems really flushed... perhaps you did not get..."

"I'm fine," Toph replied, mentally focusing on the present. "I was just think..."

"I bet you were," the waterbender snarled under her breath. "Dream all you want... but he's mine, and he'll always be," she proclaimed staring down the princess.

"Whatever," the earthbending royal replied with a roll of her green muted eyes. "Dreams have a way of coming true... Sweetness."

Before Katara could fashion a comeback, a maid approached with a huge bowl of the purple sea prunes for her.

Immediately Toph began to gag at the all too familiar aquatic smell. "First you spoil my wonderful Twinkle Toes filled sleep Sugar Queen, and now you're trying to spoil my appetite with that eel-shark chum you pass off as edible? What's your issue?" she asked sharply.

Katara rolled her big blue eyes as she dropped her spoon into the bowl, "Look Toph, didn't I already apologize to you... four times? Besides, you weren't asleep by your own admission..you kinda brought it on yourself."

"What! How could I have possibly brought that on myself? Was I yelling... come into my room and mess with me? And besides... once you three started, what did you expect me to do? What would you have done if I came into your bedroom and started asking all sorts of goofy, stupid questions abut you fooling around with my boyfriend? I thought you were turning into some sort of extreme Psycho-Queen, Sweetness," the princess fired back.

"W-well I wasn't the only one..." she muttered, looking sheepishly around at her cohorts. "They asked you first Toph," the waterbender reminded everyone.

"Hey, don't try to pin your jealous insanity on us Katara," Mai stated as she sipped her juice. "We... we simply asked her questions, after you suggested that would be a good idea. You planted the idea in our heads."

"Yeah, this was your idea," Suki agreed not giving her eye contact. "So you were using us to grease the skids weren't you Katara. That way if Toph woke up, you could deny everything. Because... why would we have anything to fear from Toph... about our boyfriends... right?"

The petite general folded her hands, "Why indeed. You two are a piece of work! Both of you apparently had a lot to fear... and now, just look at yourselves. Throwing poor, stupid Katara here under the cabbage cart, and all because your men were staring at my ass yesterday. Well listen up, a lot of guys were staring at my ass... I have a great ass! It's nothing to be ashamed of."

Both Mai and Suki looked down into their plates.

"Pitiful," Toph exclaimed shaking her head. "They can be counted on them in a fight, but when it comes to men... don't turn your back on 'em Suga."

Suki took in a deep breath, "I'm really sorry Toph. You'd understand if you had..."

"Had a what Suki?" Toph asked turning her blank gaze upon the shamed warrior.

"Well... a boyfriend of your own," the Fan Master replied. "Maybe we could help you find one... some nice guy... a good bender who..."

"Thanks, but no thanks," Toph commented with a shake of her head. "I thought trust was a part of love and if you can't trust them, then why are you with them anyway?"

Her mature comment stunned her elders.

"It's more complicated than that," Mai stated flatly. "Like Fan Girl here said, maybe you would understand more if you had an interest... other than in your dreams."

"At least in my dreams, I don't have to worry about my guy cheating with my friends... or accusing me of trying to take their guys," the princess remarked candidly.

The waterbender started to tear up, "Why... why did you say those things about Aang... like you did Toph? You made it sound like you were really in love with him... and was gonna to... try to take him away from me!"

"Yes you were quite the persuasive actress," Mai concurred. "That point about being your first time and then the blushing... how did you do that?"

"I always blush when I talk about sex," Toph pointed out plainly. "Just ask Sweetness here. She used to bring up the subject just to watch me turn all those shades of red... didn't you?"

Suki giggled, "You had the best shade of red with those pretty green eyes of yours in the light of the campfire Toph."

"Is that why you and Katara teased me in front of the guys Suki... color coördination?" the little general asked, leaning in on the table,

Suki reached over the small round table and placed her hand over the earthbender's, "No Toph... we were simply just having a few laughs..."

Toph withdrew her hand, "Maybe next time Suki, let the blind girl in on the joke too.. okay?"

The silence in the room was only matched by the heaviness. Suki sucked in her bottom lip, biting it in order to restrain herself from saying what she saw the princess and Avatar doing in the park the other night.

"That was harsh Toph, and you should apologize right now to Suki," Katara snapped standing up. "You know she never meant you any harm. Plus, all the shitty pranks you pulled in camp... you shouldn't feel slighted in the least. I recall the time you deliberately told the boys that we were bathing on the west side of the gorge so they could swim on the east..."

"Oh yeah," she smiled, "I do get my sense of directions confused at times."

"Like Hades you do Toph," Katara shot back. "We couldn't even cover up because you had buried our towels and our clothes before you left... conveniently, just before they arrived, Do you know how embarrassing it is to have your own brother gawk at you?"

"Hey I said I was sorry," Toph threw in, "... just like you girls just did."

"So are you girls going to continue to harangue and harass each other... or are you just going to forgive and forget?" the knife thrower asked.

"Okay we're even, " Toph proclaimed. "But no more pumping me for information in my sleep, okay Sweetness. And Mai if you're gonna grab my nose... clip those claws! You just about tore it off. I still have a huge scratch."

All the girls now laughed as they began to unwind finally. Somehow the story about the two-headed fish came up,

"Hey as long as it went down and stayed in," Toph retorted, "...I was good. But those funky clams, they gave us all the shits for a couple of days, including Momo. Remember Katara?"

"Do I ever. It must have been something in the water, because even Aang had them and he didn't eat them," the blue-eyed girl recalled.

"Well that's not quite... totally true Sweetness. I poured some broth over his rice... just to see if he would notice... like you did with the fish stock," Toph admitted.

"Katara!" Suki gasped in shock. "No you didn't?"

"Hey, I only did it when we were low on supplies and he needed the protein. We didn't always have beans or nuts for him ya know," the waterbender informed them glowering at the earthbender. "I never did it as a prank... Toph!"

"Oops, then... my bad," the princess confessed.

"So if you all were crapping everywhere, what did you do for hygiene?" Mai asked with a straight face. "Surely after a while, leaves would make you rather raw down there."

"Ew... really Mai," Suki sighed.

The dark lady crossed her arms, "I was just curious... I've never... what do you people call it, oh yes, roughed it."

"That's when it's nice to have a couple of waterbenders around Mai," Toph revealed. "Aang took care of himself and Sokka and Sweetness took good care of me. They just created these wonderful warm springs of water beside the brook and all we had to do was squat over them once we finished. I'm thinking about having something like that made... you know us girls could use it at least one week a month."

Glances were exchanged this time, considering Toph's statement.

"Now that you girls are all dressed up, you have to do the Walk," Toph stated as she pushed back from the table, leaving a small pile of cherry pits.

"What's the Walk?" Katara asked as she downed the last of her sea prunes.

"Well ladies, you've all seen the great hall leading to the main Dining Room" Toph went on to explain, "It's lined with one hundred of the Earth Kingdom's most elite guards. The walk determines how many of those heads you can turn in a single pass. Highest score wins."

"Huh... I for one am not going to sashay down a hall full of leering soldiers just to see if I can turn more heads than anyone else Toph," Katara quipped smugly.

"Stop lying Katara," Suki broke in leaning over close to her. "I don't even have to be Toph to know you can't wait to strut your stuff."

The statement caught Mai in the middle of drinking her juice which she unexpectedly spat across the table and out of her nose, with a weird short snort.

Suki and Toph both exploded into laughter.

"She gotcha that time Sweetness," Toph responded between breaths. "Oh... my sides hurt, and what was that noise Mai?"

The gloomy girl could only dab at her face with her napkin in silence.

"Okay Toph... so have you done this... this uh Walk?" Katara challenged with a sure smirk. "Or is this something you're gonna put us up to as payback for this morning?"

"Hey if you don't wanna do it Sugar Queen, you don't have to get all snootty about it," the metalbender replied sitting back in her chair,

Katara smirk widened, "I didn't say I wouldn't do it Toph... I just wanted to know, if you had been down this... gauntlet, so to speak. Or are you just a spectator?"

Toph instantly recognized the challenge and the veiled insult, "Well, if you must know Honey Cheeks, I did just yesterday I. I think I turned a few heads... wouldn't you say Lili?" she threw in.

"Aye your Majesty, more than a few. If I may be a bit bold, her majesty is being far too modest. She actually broke the record... decisively," the countess told them.

Mai and Suki could instantly tell this was getting personal and they were going to keep out of the line of fire.

"If that's the case, it couldn't have been very high then," Katara replied with a scowl. "I've seen you walk Toph, and a platypus bear has a better gait."

"Funny, never knew Aang to drool over a platypus-bear Sweetness?" Toph came back with a cheesy grin. "So guys... in general, have a thing for the way platypus-bear's walk?"

"Ha, ha," the waterbender replied sardonically. "You had one day where they made you resemble a human being and now you think you got it all Toph?

"If you think you can do better Water Jugs, then bring it sister," Toph again challenged as she stood leaning over the table, directing her sightless gaze at the waterbender.

"Oh, I will bring it, you little dirt diver," Katara accepted. "And once your record is busted, you'll have something each day to try and live up to... my ass!"

"Oh, that was so cold," Suki commented to Mai, "I wonder how high is this record?"

Without further adieu Mai asked, "So Toph, you never said your score? She should at least know how high the bar is set to be fair."

"Yeah Toph," Katara started mocking. "What's the bar? Will I need more than my fingers and toes to count up to it?"

"Hold up Sugar Queen, before you get too far ahead of yourself... care to place a wager or are you too pig-chicken!" Toph goaded her even further.

Katara stopped her smirking, "Wh-what are you trying to say Princess Pea-gravel?"

Toph clicked her teeth, "What I'm saying Bubble Butt, is maybe momma's swing ain't got the zing, it's cracked up to have... is all I'm say'n," the princess replied crossing her arms.

"Oh, trust me, I got enough zing... in my swing to take you out, any day of the week Toph," Katara fired back with both hands on her hips. "So I'll take you up on that bet. What are you putting up as a bet Princess Dirt Devil?"

Suki felt uneasy as Toph smiled like a Tigerdillo about to pounce, "Katara... do you really think this is a good idea?"

"Can it Suki," the waterbender snapped. "I'm gonna show this little mudslinger who's got it going on, once and for all!"

"Ya better listen to Suki, Fussy Britches," Toph warned causally, retaking her seat. "Wouldn't want to see that delicate ego of yours in shambles."

"The only thing that will be left in shambles is you stupid record Bei Fong," Katara warned. "Now, what are you putting up?"

"That tiara you had on last night Sweetness. I know you were admiring it. Let me tell you about it. It's part of a matched set with earrings and a necklace. It was custom-made for me on my 11th birthday, a few years back," Toph explained knowing that Katara liked shiny and expensive things. "There is not another set like it in the whole world. Daddy paid a small fortune for it. If you win, the entire set is yours, Sugar Queen."

The waterbender took the bait, "And if by some crazy chance, I don't break your score, what do you want Toph? What could I, a mere peasant from a backwaters tribe, give the Princess of the Earth Kingdom to match? What could you possibly want from me?"

"A date," Toph stated flatly and without hesistation.

"A whaa…" Katara stuttered stunned at the request. "You-you... want me to take you on a date! I didn't know you liked me that way?"

Toph shook her head at how thick the waterbender could be, "No not you! EW... don't flatter yourself babe, you're not that good-looking... well I don't think anyways. I want you to tell Twinkle Toes to take me on a date. You know, the whole deal... dinner, dancing and whatever else goes with that kind of stuff."

Suki did not like the sound of this wager and remembered Sokka telling her now that Toph never really gambled. It was always a sure thing with the earthbender. She could only reason that somehow Toph wanted revenge... but against who?

The seriousness of the wager set Katara aback, "That's outrageous Toph, what makes you think Twinkles … I mean Aang, would even go for something like this silly plan?"

"Because you're going to ask him to do it Sweetness, that's how," the princess put it simply.

Katara was nervously looking down at the floor, unable to reason her way out, "Why Toph? Why would you ask such a thing of me?" she now pleaded.

The earthbender sighed, "You can thank your friends here. You all implied that once I had a real boyfriend, I would truly know how you felt. Why you did what you did. Call this... perhaps... a right of passage?"

Katara pointed a finger at the earthbender,"So this is about payback!"

"No, this is about empathy and understanding Katara. I want to know what could make my dearest friend break our trust," Toph yelled back, slamming a fist on the table.

There was a true sense of panic in Katara's chest. "So you think going on one date will give you the answers Toph?"

The princess shook her head, "When I say date Katara," Toph started methodically, "...what I mean is that he'll, truly and for all purposes, will be my boyfriend in every way... the entire time. Got it?"

"Screw that!" Katara yelled falling back into her chair with her arms folded. "You must think I'm crazy? All this time you were trying to take him... now you think I'm just going to hand him over? Fuck you Bei Fong!"

Toph began to snigger, "I thought you would runaway Sugar Queen. You were always afraid of true competition. Where's all that big talk now? Poop or get off the pot, Sweetness! You just gonna go back on your word now? Okay... be a promise breaker... no skin off my knees," the princess said sarcastically.

"Hey, I said no such thing about not doing this... Walk, Toph," Katara snapped, glaring at the crafty royal. "I just think... it's a stupid bet. Aang will never do it."

"Okay, if he says no... after you honestly tell him, then... deal off," Toph offered looking away. "Is that better, Sugar Queen? Of course if you beat me, you'll never have to ask... right?"

Toph's tone was identical to when she had been supposedly dreaming and she told Aang that she was more woman than Katara would ever be. That insolent voice just started the waterbender's blood boiling again.

"You are not better than me Bei Fong," Katara barked. "This changes nothing... this still is a stupid bet! Why should Aang listen to me."

"Cluck, cluck, oink, maybe I should call you the Pig-Chicken Queen instead," Toph teased ruthlessly. "I think... Aang will do just about anything you tell him to do, short of murder, Katara."

Mai and Suki were now snickering, obviously enjoying the show way too much. The waterbender's ego was at its limit.

Katara brooded, trying to think it all through. With a sigh she began to speak, "You have a bet, but on one condition Toph," she stipulated, "Well, make that two."

"And what would that be Katara," Toph asked, listening closely, knowing how equally crafty the sister of Sokka could be at times.

"One, I get to choose another dress that will enhance my swing and… your Lady-in-Waiting, this one Lili, does my hair and makeup like she did for you yesterday," Katara finished.

Like a true Bei Fong, Toph took a moment to weigh out all the options purposed.

"What's your answer now Toph, or have you pig-chickened out," Katara pushed turning the tables.

"Um... my clothes, my lady... my jewelry as well I suppose," the princess summarized.

"It's your challenge and record Toph to lose... you do have home advantage," Katara rationalized. "I'm just trying to give myself a fighting chance."

Toph smiled, now savoring the moment, "You got it Sugar Queen, and anything else you may need is at your disposal," she generously offered. "Oh, and by the way Suga... 98."

Katara looked confused, "What's 98?"

Toph chuckled lightly, "My record... you wanted to know how high the bar was? 98 out of 100."

Katara's confidence now was at an all time... low!