A/N: I don't what to say to all the supporters of the fic, that waited and waited for an update that never came. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to just let this go. I have a mess of things going on and this just kind of... fell under. But now and again I get a spark and decide to go on an updating frenzy for stories people thought I dropped a long time ago, but hey. I don't know who will pick up on this again, but it's better than nothin', eh?

Hope you like this :)

Chapter 7: Dancing Lessons Part II

"Where do you think you're going? I'm not done yet." Toph said, while Servant Girl flailed across the room from the momentum of their current activity. The poor girl fell to her knees, beads of sweat dripping off her face. She breathed deeply, as if she just resurfaced from a near-drowning experience.

"I can't do this anymore, Princess. I agreed to help you practice the dance, but not all night! I think we should sleep! Have you ever heard of beauty sleep-ahh!" She dived to the side as the princess made a grab for her.

"Come on, only three more hours until I have to do this thing in front of everyone," Toph said firmly. She had every intention of dancing until she mastered the whole song. The two had been practicing in one of the many abandoned rooms of the palace without stopping. At first the servant felt a bit awkward when Toph took her by the arms and twirled her around the room like a rag doll, but together they improved her steps until they were nearly equal.

Servant Girl had a new way of meeting Princess Toph's demands lately. And she made sure there was a little bit of vice versa.

"Oh my.. Oh, you're… YOU'RE RIGHT! What am I going to do? Why didn't you warn me about the time!" Servant Girl demanded, escaping Toph's clutches and fleeing to the door. "What are you going to wear? Your hair and makeup, there's no time! I-"

"-Hey!" The earth bender interjected. "I don't need hair and makeup, I'm just going to dance. I'm serious." A frown slid onto the servant's face, but Toph couldn't see it.

"Well, you at least need something to wear."

"No, I don't. I'm not getting all dressed up again." She said, turned around promptly, and began to dance with the air. She felt an hand on her shoulder yank her around, thoroughly surprised that Servant Girl would attempt to use force to what, intimidate her? Toph knew from the beginning she was different than the rest.

"Princess, listen to me. I want what's best for you. I'm not saying that I'm going to cram you into some frilly ballroom gown. I just want you to make a big impression, you've been practicing all night." The girl's voice began to grow desperate, as if she were the one in this situation. "I want them all to look at you, and think-"

Toph couldn't listen anymore. "-Okay! Alright already, stop bothering me." Why did she have to have such a way with words? The kind that just buzzed in your ear. Or was it the way her heartbeat fluttered while captivated in the vision of Toph's success? "Just make sure it's fit for the world's greatest earth/metal bender and dancer."

Servant girl beamed.

"Of course! All I'll need is one of your old outfits. Earth Kingdom style, please. I'll remodel it." Toph blinked slowly. She didn't own many clothes, just a set or two of her Earth Kingdom ones and her Fire Nation robes. To give up a pair without reassurance that they would come back alive…

Well, they were just clothes. She told Servant Girl where to find them, and the girl dashed off. Just Toph and the old room. She slid to the floor, giving her feet the rest they deserved.

It wasn't long before the familiar pattern of scurrying feet entered her senses, a moment or two before Servant Girl burst through the door, holding something swooshy in her hands.

"Are you aware of the time?" she yelped. "You've got to put this on!"

"Whatever. I'm trusting you," Toph muttered shortly, snatching the fluffy feeling fabric out of the girl's hands. "I'm throwing this on, then leaving." Servant girl twirled around to admire her 'master.'

"I'm sure you'll do great!"

A knowing smile tugged at the corner of the earth bender's mouth. "Thanks."

"Okay! She sets the time and place yet she's late!" Sokka cried. He and a few others occupied the abandoned ballroom they used the day before. Restlessness set in as everyone waited for just one person.

Wants to make an entrance, eh? thought Iroh, currently comfortably seated in a corner. A few more minutes, and as expected, Toph waltzed into the room with a defiant look in her posture… wearing something that stunned Sokka in particular.

Zuko, whose eyes had been aimlessly lingering on a small portrait that hung on the wall, turned suddenly and wondered what everyone was gaping at. He turned his eyes to the source, his mouth set in a determined line.

Yeah, it was Toph. She was wearing a dress again. The reactions of the others made him curious. What was so shocking about it? Sure, she wasn't usually girly, but if they did get married, she would have to wear lots of dresses-

Ooh, stop there.

If…

Never mind. He probably just didn't know her as well as the others did, even if they had spent a considerable amount time fighting a war together.

Toph, who was wearing a dressier version of her regular Earth Kingdom attire, raised a hand to the crowd. Sokka still couldn't tear his eyes away from the odd exhibit, and wondered briefly if he could sell her to a museum. Her top was almost the same, but sleeveless and a beige sheet of material crossed her chest area and fastened at one shoulder. Her usually thick, black belt wound around her waist with it's four studs. However, below that a fluffy, lighter green material in contrast to her dark green top fell to about her knees, almost like a flattened tutu.

It was the most Toph-like un-Toph-like thing he had ever seen her wear, which he hoped made sense. Her usual ankle and arms cuffs were in place, and a mysterious green pearl necklace choked her neck.

She stomped her way into the middle of the room and snapped her fingers.

"I'm ready. Where's Aang?" she demanded in her peculiar voice.

"Uhh, Aang couldn't make it. He was really sad about it, but he had a meeting or something," Sokka pointed out. A flash a disappointment entered her face, but she seemed to flick it off.

"Fine then, it's you Snoozles. She held out her hand commandingly at the flustered boy.

"M-me? I mean, um…" In truth, he was intimidated by her. First the dress, now this! Where was the Toph he knew? Quick Sokka, think, the confused boy told himself. "W-Why dance with me, when, you should be dancing with Zuko!"

Silence… Toph cocked her head, as if the idea never even crossed her mind. Any hint of reluctance melted away as she shrugged and held out her hand again. "Fine. Get ready to lose, Sparky."

Zuko hardly looked surprised at being drafted into the action. His uncle beckoned him forwards and corrected the girl.

"There is no winning and losing, Toph, remember; you are equal." Zuko approached her neutrally, and took the arm offered to him. Without a moment to think or second-guess himself, a cry rang out.

"Cue music!" Toph commanded, her head low while she focused.

"Hey, that was my line!" Sokka complained indignantly, but no one was paying attention. The flute weaved in the air with it's musical introduction, and sure and steady steps were heard as the two benders in the center of the room rotated slowly.

For Zuko, it felt strange; not the dancing part. His uncle told him it was a dance that needed eye contact, and staring at those sightless green-hued eyes underneath a veil of dark bangs made him feel like….

…they could see.

The Fire Lord secretly dreaded the 'snap' part of the dance that was rapidly approaching, but he would do as he was instructed. When it came, she snapped just as hard as he did, leaving him with a sudden desire to vie for the lead. Her footwork was impeccable, complicated, hard to keep up with, but he was as determined to match her. When his hand slipped to her waist it was almost unconscious, like a guide for him to predict her movement.

The part came when he whipped her from him, and Zuko did so with his eyes on the back of her head. She did this part gracefully, her bangs flying in the direction she glided. When she dutifully came back-they were close.

They were now closer than Zuko expected, forgetting this part of the dance. It was when the eye contact was supposed to be at its strongest. Obeying the rules, he looked her straight in the blank eyes. Their fingers were entwined as the remained the position for a few more seconds. Before he was quite ready Toph snatched herself from him again, using that amazing footwork to awe the others, and he hastily snatched her back. The music calmed down, as did they. The final step was approaching, the dip.

The earth bender whirled at an unnecessary but impressive speed into his arms, and he dipped her quickly, almost hoping to scare her. Her head was a mere inch from the floor, but the Fire Lord could only raise his eyebrows. She was smirking. She pushed herself from his hold and silenced the new applause.

"You got owned," she said triumphantly, and left. Her business here was done. Zuko watched her retreating back with a blank look.

Iroh smiled; competition, he knew, was the one of the two things to undermine the stubbornness of an earth bender.