Written for the prompt Dai Li for the atlaland comm on lj.
Disclaimer: I definitely do not own Avatar.
The ranks of elite earthbenders stood in their customary eerie silence as their king walked in, followed by a short black-haired teen.
At the appearance of the girl, more than a few heart rates sped up. The Dai Li had a perfectly rational fear of dark-haired teenage girls. One never knew when they'd take over your city, then kill a third of your ranks to ensure loyalty. The smirk the girl gave wasn't comforting anyone, either.
King Kuei began to speak, and stony faces didn't change as they listened. He sounded much kinglier since his trip, "King Bumi of Omashu has graciously recommended an Earthbending instructor and new commander for the Dai Li in the wake of the war. As it has become common knowledge that your organization has been severely corrupted, only someone with a very good reputation can salvage you at all. So I present to you Master Toph Bei Fong. You are to do everything she says," he emphasized.
One of the men in the ranks recognized the girl suddenly, and told the man next to him. In seconds everyone realized they'd fought her before, during the war. She had been with the Avatar when he attacked Lake Laogai and then stormed the palace. This was the person who had leveled the famous hundred steps of the Earth Palace, leaving weeks of work for manual earthbenders.
As the king left, the girl lifted her head to face them. "Alright, disclaimers first. Yes, I have fought with many of you before. Yes, I am sixteen and a girl and blind. If any of you want to challenge me, do so now or accept me as your leader, am I clear?" sightless eyes stared them down.
No one stepped forward, and the new head of the Dai Li grinned scarily.