A/N: As I was writing this I remembered that Toph is like 12. So let's just pretend she's older and I'm not a creep. Also, the chapter before this involved a storm that everyone gets separated in. This is the same storm plot, and is totally not canon.

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Through the Woods

Tophzula: TophxAzula

The only thing visible through the thick trees and heavy rain was a dark shape standing somewhere to Azula's right. She could sometimes see movement when she used her peripheral vision, but staring directly at the darkness seemed to make it melt away.

Toph, having a great deal of trouble feeling vibrations through the muddy ground, could barely make out a blob (which she assumed was human) off to her left. It wasn't until the blob spoke that Toph realized it was the Fire Nation princess standing in the rain.

"Identify yourself," she shouted sternly. "By order of Princess Azula of the Fire Nation."

Toph grinned, letting water seep into her mouth. She has no idea who I am, she thought.

Slowly covering herself in mud, Toph called back in a sweet voice, "Can you help me? I was lost in the storm. I don't know where my parents are." She swiped mud across her face, completely hiding her identity.

Azula scoffed. "Did you misunderstand, peasant? I'm a princess. I don't have time to find your mommy and daddy." She trudged closer to the small shape, no longer feeling threatened.

"Do you wear a crown? Can I touch it?" Toph sang out, still pouring mud over herself.

Azula came closer, hands on her hips and hair plastered to her wet forehead.

"Of course I don't wear a crown. How foolish. Crowns are only to be used in the palace for special occasions. How old are you, peasant?"

Thinking for a moment, Toph said, "I'm seven, but I know how to get out of the forest."

The girls were barely ten feet apart now, but the rain was so extreme that only their shapes were visible. Azula saw a muddy young girl looking directly at her. Toph crouched, still trying find Azula's exact location through the slop.

"I order you to show me the way out," commanded Azula.

Snorting, Toph said, "I order you to stop being a bitch, Princess A-lizard." Waving her arms, she sent a column of mud blasting into the Firebender's face.

Azula, now sprawled on her back, spat mud from her mouth. She jumped into a fighting stance, and sent a blue-flamed kick in Toph's direction. Unfortunately for her, the rain stopped it from reaching her target.

"Damn it!" she shrieked. Azula wasted no time charging the smaller girl.

Sensing movement, but still unsure of distances, Toph was practically as blind as a bat. Azula tackled her hard, driving a knee into her stomach. Losing her wind, Toph took another quick punch to the face before grabbing hold of her attacker's arms.

The girls quickly traded their years of exact training for back-alley brawling techniques.

Toph sent them both rolling in the mud, fighting for dominance. Azula was bigger and stronger, easily pinning the Earthbender. She grabbed hold of her throat and hissed, "I see you now, Bei Fong. You're one of the Avatar's cowards. That was a low-down dirty trick you just pulled. I expected more from you."

Toph was turning blue beneath her mask of mud. She reared back with all her strength and punched Azula in the neck. It was a cheap shot, but the Firebender fell off of her with a gasp.

"You like it messy then?" asked Toph raggedly through deep breaths. "I can give it to ya messy."

Still gripping her neck in one hand, Azula grabbed a handful of mud and slung it at her enemy. It loudly plopped in Toph's face, sending her reeling backwards.

The princess jumped on top of her again, "I prefer it rough, so let's play." She threw an elbow, catching Toph below the jaw.

The blind girl dizzily scrambled to find the latches of Azula's armor, ignoring the taste of blood in her mouth. She unhooked them, leaving the Firebender's body unprotected in their struggle.

She punched the princess in the ribs and pounded the back of her head as she fell. Facedown in the mud with Toph sitting on top of her, Azula struggled to find air. With a quick movement, she bucked her hips and came face-up again. Toph straddled her, not releasing the grip of her wrists.

"I'm declaring myself the winner," said Toph. She bent down and suddenly kissed Azula harshly. She bit the Azula's lower lip with a smile. "That means I'm on top."

Opening her mouth in surprise, Azula could do nothing but ask, "Is that what you were fighting for?"

Raising a rock in her fist, Toph slammed it on the princess, rendering her unconscious. Still sitting on her opponent, Toph giggled, "Yep."

When they found Azula still unconscious in the Hung La forest, she had a very red lip and a nasty bump on her forehead. They never figured out how her armor came off.

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A/N: Hahaha. Super chemistry. They would be a fun pair to handcuff together.