(A/N) Hey guys! Jhelle's here with yet another fanfiction in her paws. This one's a little harder to write than the usual since it's AU, but it was really fun planning out its plot. So anyways, I hope you'll like it!

*A few I'd like to point out before you read the story: Toph can see, and Aang's not bald. This is AU so unfortunately there aren't any 'Avatar' business going on…

And of course, the disclaimer: I ONLY OWN AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER IN MY DREAMS.

Chapter 1: Mist

Toph Bei Fong was a princess. She had everything.

And by everything, you really mean everything.

"Mother, I don't think more frills are necessary for this dress."

Born to a highly prestige and wealthy family, she was spoiled with almost anything money could buy even if she didn't ask for them.

"Nonsense, dear," her mother said as she circled her daughter in the overpriced dress she ordered for tomorrow's event. It fitted the girl a little too nicely. The skirts covered her feet and laced sleeves graced her arms. "The frills add to the design. It looks absolutely darling on you."

Toph scowled as she stood on a stool, her back was turned away from the full length mirror. A number of tailors and seamstresses tended to her left and right, sticking pins to the dress's skirts and some on her torso.

A seamstress inserted another pin and accidentally penetrated her hip slightly. "Ouch! Watch it," she yelped.

"My apologies, Young Miss," the seamstress said apologetically.

Her mother turned to her when she heard her yelp. "Toph, what did we say about your manners?" she questioned coldly.

Toph was tempted to roll her eyes but let out a small sigh instead, "I'm sorry, mother."

Poppy Bei Fong smiled at her daughter's immediate response. The Bei Fongs are just as strict with the use of proper words just as every noble family is. Just like every child born to nobility, the girl was taught in the proper ways of etiquette and manners. They molded her into the image of quite the obedient and reserved young lady they've dreamed of having. Toph's father was more than pleased with his 'courteous' daughter. Poppy couldn't help but marvel at the success her private lessons have taught the child.

Indeed Toph seemed like a well-mannered and properly tended young lady, but what her parents failed to realize was that despite giving her everything she could ask for, their little daughter was not happy.

She knew that they wouldn't understand her so she just kept it all to herself. Toph didn't feel the happiness that others could feel. That happiness didn't come from things that you could easily touch and hold. Her parents are forcing her to be something that she's not, expecting her to be elated in the process. But she just wasn't. They wanted her to be the demure girl that everyone expected her to be.

But Toph Bei Fong was anything than that type of girl.

She wasn't some princess nor did she enjoy living in the so-called 'palace' she's imprisoned in.

She may seem so prim, proper, innocent and helpless on the outside, but she is stronger and more capable in the inside. Toph would give anything for a taste of freedom and true happiness even just for a day. She was sick and tired of being imprisoned and forced to do things out of her will.

Right now, much to her dismay, she has to bear with whatever situation there is. She doesn't want to hurt anyone – most especially her parents. And it would break their heart if she ever did.

But if she could do things her way, even just for one night, she would be long gone by now. And it felt good even just by giving it a thought.

When their servants were done with the fitting, the young heiress was told not to move from her spot on the stool. Toph knew it was best not to complain, so she stood with her back straight and head properly poised. Her mother circled her once more, a thoughtful expression written on her delicate features. She raised one of her daughter's arms to check the sleeve's fitting, and lifted the skirts slightly to check the hem's stitches.

"Well, nothing seems to be wrong with it no more," her mother mused as she carefully sets down the skirts. "You're as good to go, dear."

Toph couldn't help but feel more relieved than ever. She held her mother's offered hand as she stepped down from the stool she was standing. Dress still on, she started to head towards the double doors.

"Toph," she heard her mother call out. "We're not done yet."

"Mother, I thought you said that I was as good to go."

"But that does not mean that you can leave."

Toph huffed in annoyance, turned her heels and walked towards the middle of the room once more.

Her mother guided her to stand in front of the full length mirror so that she could take a full look on herself; seeing her reflection wearing a dress with excessive frills and bows made Toph want to gag. She thought she looked like some oversized blithe doll in a big dress and thick petticoat. She bit back the grimace.

Oma, the laces are tolerable. But the bows look absolutely and most ridiculously stupid... I want them gone.

"You look lovely," she heard her mother say behind her. She did look pretty, but the dress seemed a little too much.

And well, it really was if you'd look at it. Poppy didn't seem to mind.

Toph's eyebrows furrowed but she forced a smile anyway. She didn't want to disappoint her mother in the slightest bit, but she wanted at least a say on the dress. "I…think it's pretty…classy," she struggled for the right words to say without giving an offense. "But… don't you think the dress is a little too much?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, the bows," she gestured to her skirts, "seem to be everywhere. They're quite distracting, don't you think?"

Toph herself had agreed to wear the dress (even if she'd rather die than wear another one) a few moments before she actually saw it. Her mother told her that it was designed to her liking so Toph gave the woman a chance. But what she didn't expect was that it would be this exaggerated. It was heavy, too hot that she was sweating, and overly decorated. Toph never thought such thing was even possible.

It was itchy too. She tried to keep herself from scratching her thighs but she cannot withstand the discomfort the dress gave. She dug her nails into the fabric to get at least a good scratch. Lucky for her, her mother seemed a little too preoccupied to catch her in a very un-lady like act.

"But they add a nice touch, dear," her mother said sweetly. "Just like the frills and laces."

Toph tried not to shudder.

"Stop fidgeting."

"Please, mother. They make the dress look a little too voluminous."

Poppy sighed. She raised her index finger in the air just above her daughter's head, and waved it in a small twirling motion.

"Twirl."

Toph obeyed without any complaint, much to her irritation.

Damn, this thing itches like hell.

The cream dress flowed gracefully as she twirled slowly. The skirts were like a rare fountain of frills and jewels. The miniature jewels on her torso sparkled as they caught the light from the windows. It was beautiful to look at. The servants secretly marveled at their work and Poppy couldn't help the smile that tugged on her lips.

But she couldn't ignore the fact that her daughter truly did seem to struggle with the weight. She understood it was quite heavy and the child was a little too small to support it. Maybe it was a bit too much.

When Toph was finished twirling, she was gently pushed in front of the mirror once more.

Her mother started calling a few seamstresses and tailors and asked her daughter not to move from her spot on the mirror.

"Alright," Poppy said hesitantly. "We'll remove the bows."

What she said was enough to make Toph happy, but she did not show it.

"But," her mother continued and Toph was afraid of what the woman might say next. "We'll add a few more jewels to make up for the lessening of bows. That way it won't be a total waste."

Toph's eyes widened for a split second and then she scowled.

Great.

Indeed, Toph Bei Fong may be treated like a princess, but she wasn't some desperate damsel in distress. She's just waiting for the perfect opportunities. But right now may not be her very best. When it finally comes though, she won't waste her precious time.

~*-((o))-*~

Meanwhile in the other side of town, her complete opposite walked through the busy streets of the town.

Aang was a nomad. He had no proper settlement.

He was a boy Toph's age but they were a little too different in more ways than you could count. If Toph lived in a 'grand palace' with servants tending to her every need, Aang didn't even have a proper home. He traveled around the world with his companions as they skipped from town to town to study cultures and see the world itself.

His two companions have been by his side for almost four months now. Ever since they met Aang, they have been traveling along with the nomad. And since then, the three of them were on their own. Of course Aang didn't force them to join him; they merely chose to follow. And he has never been more grateful to have them by his side. They've been an inseparable trio since the beginning of their quest.

They were independent teenagers as their ages vary. Nobody was telling them what to do or how to behave. Unlike Toph who was seemingly capable enough, but was forced to act as if she's unable to do things on her own.

Spirits only knew how Aang and his companions, at their young ages could actually manage to do so.

They never backed down from adventure, especially Aang. He had the kind of freedom that the young heiress wanted. He was always free-spirited and elated despite not really having a real home and the right budget. Needless to say, he had the kind of life Toph craved.

Aang and his friends were visiting the city on their way to their next move which was a good distance from the town they're currently at. The streets were littered with carts, animals, goods and people. It was another typical afternoon in the streets of Gaoling.

The boy navigated his way happily through the narrow streets with two of his other companions in tow. One of them irritated, and the latter was nonchalant. They shouldered their bags with them and sported the mediocre apparels. Nobody seemed to regard them as anyone important or famous (not that they were) because they blended in perfectly with everyone else.

"Tell me again why we're here, Aang?" the irritated one asked impatiently.

"We just needed to have a pit stop until we move on to the next city, Sokka," Aang said cheerfully. "We'll spend at least two nights here to regain our energies. We'll find the inns first then we can rest. There's no rush in anything," he shrugged casually. "Besides, you've been complaining that you haven't slept in a real bed in days."

"No, tell me why we're here," he pointed on the road they were walking on. Aang gave him a weird look as Sokka continued. "We're at an extremely crowded marketplace and we're going deeper into it. I thought that we were looking for an inn."

"We are," Aang's female companion said. "That's why we're here looking for one. It's not that crowded, Sokka. You're over-exaggerating."

"But in the market place, Katara? There aren't many inns here, just so you know."

"Well, it's worth the try."

"Yeah, who knows," Aang said. "Maybe we'll find one."

"Always the optimist, Aang," Sokka sighed in exasperation.

They continue to weave through the crowd, stopping once in a while to wait for the other to catch up. Sokka grumbled softly as he trudged, complaining about crowds and his hunger. His sister Katara seemed to pay little attention to him. Aang was always in the lead seeing that he most probably knew where they're going. The other two followed him closely behind, all the while helping him search for an inn as well.

Aang stopped in the middle of the town square and decided on their next move. Gaoling wasn't such a big town but if you get lost then it could be a problem.

Sokka stopped beside him. "So where to?" he asked.

"Umm," Aang's eyes scanned the square's surrounding buildings and roads for their next possible move. He looked around him and can't help but notice the obvious discriminating separation of the social classes in the area. The town square seems to be the main border between the houses and shops of those in nobility and the homes and marketplaces of humble peasants.

It's unfair and rather intimidating to see marvelous looking structures towering over all the other houses that weren't even properly built. Aang scowled when he took notice of that. There was obviously a problem about equality among the people here.

Although, he wondered for a moment how would it be like to live in one of those houses far ahead. Aang never really had a permanent home so he couldn't really feel what it's like to settle in a house permanently.

There was this one house his eyes focused on that seemed to tower above all the others. From afar it looked like a king's palace. But in truth, it was merely the house of one of the wealthiest families in town – possibly even of the whole world according to some locals. Aang couldn't help but be enthralled. It was perched on the farthest part of the upper ring but it can be seen from a good distance. It was a majestic structure surrounded with white walls. A large gate at the center led to its entrance. On the center of the gate, there was a symbol imbedded that neither of them can make out since it's a little far away for the eyes to decipher.

Sokka seemed to follow his gaze and so did his sister. Aang didn't notice the two until they walked right beside him.

"Sooo," the older boy's voice cut him from his thoughts. "Are we gonna find a place to sleep now or are we just gonna stare at rich people's houses and pretend that we're living in them?"

Aang heard Katara give a small laugh and he laughed along. They could dream but the boy knew that that would never happen. Still, it would sound awesome to actually live in one of those mansions, right?

The trio turned to the opposite side of the square and just when they were about to leave, someone called out from behind them.

"I see that you are tourists and need a place to stay," a weary but friendly voice said.

Aang turned to the voice and found that it belonged to a friendly-looking old man. He was middle aged but the smile on his chubby face makes him look almost ten years younger. The young man smiled warmly in return.

"Yes. How did you know?"

"An old innkeeper would know, seeing that he's been on the business for such a long time," he chuckled to himself. "We know travelers when we see them. You're welcome to my inn if the three of you are interested," he paused shortly and added, "We also serve hot tea and good food at the Jasmine Dragon."

At the sound of the word 'food', Sokka instantly perked up. His stomach has been bothering him about food since their 'tour' of the marketplace. "We're interested alright," he said enthusiastically.

Katara stepped forward to give a curt bow and said, "That would be really nice, sir."

"Yeah," Aang said. "We were actually looking for a place to rest and spend the night in since we got here. Coincidentally, you came to our aid just when we were about to continue our search."

The man laughed in amusement.

Despite not knowing the man's name, Aang knew that they could trust him almost immediately just by looking at his face. He seemingly looked kind and harmless. His smile reminded him of someone familiar, but he didn't know who. He doesn't look any dangerous and plus, he approached them kindly so there's no reason for them to turn down his offer. Besides, Sokka has been complaining nonstop ever since their trip to the marketplace and it's starting to annoy him and Katara.

"The inn's not so far. I could lead you to where it is," he gestured for them to follow and they did without any delay.

He led them to a decent looking building that was large enough to be considered an inn. The first story was a small and simple tea shop that was filled with a good number people. Aang guessed it to be the 'Jasmine Dragon'. Tea must be famous here, seeing that many locals came in just to drink some fancy tea.

"Gaoling is famous for its tea," the old man said as if reading Aang's mind. "Many people come to my teashop every afternoon just to enjoy a cup of my famous jasmine tea. I could give you each samples if you'd like."

"That would be nice," Aang mused. He glanced back at his friends for approval. Katara looks tired and didn't catch his gaze while Sokka just yawned. "But we'd prefer to rest for now if it's okay. My friends and I are really worn out," he said.

He chuckled heartily. "But of course. I'll show you your rooms."

Just as Aang had predicted, the inn was at the second and third floors. They asked for two rooms to spend a couple of nights in or until they're ready to continue with their journey. The boys shared a room and lucky enough for Katara, she had a whole room entirely to herself. The rooms were not entirely spacious but they were comfortable in a warm welcoming way.

As soon as Sokka entered their room, he flopped down on the bed farthest from the window and mumbled something about 'sleep' and 'being too tired to do anything else'. Aang took that as a note not to bother the older boy. He was tired himself. They have traveled through sea for hours just to get to this town and it completely wore him off. He lay down on the other bed and allowed himself to rest a little. It wasn't so soft but compared to the bunk beds the crew provided them in the ship, this was much better.

Soon enough, his eyelids grew heavy and he found himself drifting to sleep.

To be continued…

*Guess who the smiling old man was (as if you still need to guess haha)?