This is a request from my friend Daniel, who drew a little comic of Toph and Lin that gave so many feels but still managed to be fricking adorable.
Again and again she slammed her heel into the ground, each time feeling the sting of disappointment as nothing changed in the scenery before her. The ground remained cold and hard, refusing to budge even the slightest bit for the master Earthbender.
Tears of frustration gathered in the green eyes, and she kicked her bare foot towards the unforgiving Earth again, gritting her teeth as she felt the blood begin to roll down the back of her heel, before spotting the ground underneath of her. She let out a strangled cry, her knees folding beneath her. She rested her head on her knees while balancing on the tips of her feet. She let a few sobs escape, the tears joining the drops of blood spilt, painting the ground around her.
Lin took a few shaky breaths before straightening. She stared out at the ground before her and felt a weight descend on her shoulders.
Her mother would be able to do this move no problem, she was the greatest Earthbender who had ever lived, greater even than the late King Bumi of Omashu. And, although she was brash she had also been an excellent teacher, able to teach the advanced art of metal bending to an entire police force.
She missed her so much.
Growing up, it had always been her and her mother. The two of them went through everything together, and although her teenage years had been difficult, with the two of them constantly butting heads, her mother had always been there for her. No matter how much they had fought earlier that same day, Toph was always a shoulder to cry on when Lin needed someone.
Her mother had left her with more than the Beifong name. She had passed down the secret of real Earthbending. A smile twitched at Lin's lips. Her mother had taught very few people how to use Earthbending as an extension of themselves, and they had only gotten very brief lessons. Lin had been trained, every day for months with a blindfold over her eyes, being forbidden to remove it until the training was done.
And suddenly, a realization struck her. Lin's hand flew to her forehead as she slapped herself. She had been so stupid, the answer to her problems had been right before her eyes, or not before her eyes. She took a deep breath, planting herself firmly, before closing her eyes. Another deep breath. She kicked her foot into the earth and she saw everything, she felt the life moving around her.
The vibrations of the ground travelled through her feet and she felt herself become a part of the earth that was underneath of her toes. Thrusting her fist into the air, she felt the earth move with her and she heard the grinding as the stones broke apart.
A victorious smile spread across her face and she sighed in relief.
"Thanks Mom."
I hope you liked it Daniel!
