Someone Better:

Toph

[[[[[ INTRO ]]]]]

When it comes to take account the actions that transgress in the past, one finds it hard to take in account how the past effects the future. I have spent deep nights into the twilight hours reading by candle light, rifling through old libraries, scroll after scroll. Scanning, gathering, recording, but most importantly, writing. I have followed the passage of one woman, an earth bender so aptly named, Toph. By the tender age of thirteen she has taught the Avatar, and helped end the 100 Year War. By circumstance Toph found herself to be the only 'known' metal bender in the world, so with confidence she proclaimed herself to be 'The Best Earth Bender In The World'. Of course we all know this old war story that has been retold and retold taking in multiple accounts retelling the story in different ways and matters, but what of her master? Did she have a master, would be the next question to ask, and in short, she did and she did not. To answer the latter of the answers, Toph taught herself how to earth bend. To answer the former is where my research comes into play. As Toph aged, and her skills began to dull, rumors started to spread of a new younger, better earth bender, with much more control over his element than Toph had ever experienced. From my research I have gathered a name of our prodigy, Rajah, and I have deduced he is about the age of sixteen, two years younger than Toph.

That was the last seed of knowledge my otherwise fruitless research provided. Stifled with the utmost curiosity, I sought after Toph, who isn't that hard to find as she holds a throne of honor on the Earth King's Court. A remarkable story of love, hardship, trial, perseverance, courage, and triumph unfolded before me. After filling my thirst of my curiosity, I returned to my study and began to write down the story, attempting to catch every stifled breath, ache, laugh, smile, joke, trial, triumph, pain, cut, scrap, literally everything Toph so easily told as a great epic of trial and error. We start where every story starts, the beginning, and we find our Toph now turned eight-teen in her hometown of Gaoling. I'll see you at the end of this great journey.

[[ I ]]

"Well, the party was a huge success, what do you think?"

"I dunno mom, I didn't get to see him tonight."

"Oh, pish posh, if he didn't try to see you tonight, then he doesn't deserve you."

"I know, but ... I wished he did try."

"Toph," Poppy now extended her arm to fall upon her daughter's shoulder, "it's late, why don't you go to bed, I'll finish the dishes."

Toph's thoughts were on the ever playing fantasy in her head; however, she still acknowledged her mother's command and dragged herself to her bedroom unaided. In the bedroom, she dressed for the night, a lace nightgown draped over her frame, and she heard a tapping at the window as she laid down in her bed. She turned her back to the window in an attempt to ignore the rapping at her window.

"Toph." said he, "Wake up!" in a distinct but projected whisper.

Toph opened her useless eyes in glee, that very voice can sooth her very essence, and she retreated to her window, and pulled it ajar.

"Sokka!" she implored, "Do you know what time it is!" keeping her voice from raising from a whisper.

"I tried to make the party, but I got caught up in Omashu. Happy birthday." he explained as he reached behind his person to show her present, "I kinda got you a little something."

Toph raced down to meet her Romeo, and to her present. She gave him a quick hug in the dew heavy grass, as a longer hug would keep her from her present. He opened it for her, and produced two diamond studded earrings. He helped her put them on her earlobes, and they twinkled in the moonlight. Toph's lips were set into a smile as she felt the balanced weight of her new accessory.

"Sokka, they are beautiful."

"They are even more beautiful if you could see them."

"Sokka," she said placing a timid palm on his cheek, "I don't need to see them to love them."

"I should go." he turned rather too abruptly, brushing her hand off his face.

With much reluctance she replied, "... all right ..."

"I'll catch you around, I promise."

With his promise she fluttered, keeping the dim flame of passion alive in her heart, and she let him skulk off the property, expertly avoiding all the guards. She returned to her room, smitten from the visit from her life long crush, and she fell asleep smiling.

Dawn broke, which is followed by the morning traditions. Poppy and Toph went shopping for the day, Toph proudly displacing her new earrings.

"Dear, I'm going to get some vegetables. Toph, please try to stay out of trouble."

"I will mother."

Toph sensed her mother walk off, but another pair of feet approach her.

"Those are some pretty diamonds."

"Thank you, stranger."

"Maybe you don't understand me, I want them girlie." the man said pointing a finger at Toph.

Toph acted on instinct and bent her knees into an earth bending sense, her body filled with adrenaline as she raced towards a fight. Then she felt a giant column summon from the ground, spearing the man and sending him flying. Toph was shocked, she sensed for anyone else in the courtyard, and only sensed one boy.

"Hey! Who do you think you are?" she threw at the lone person.

"I'm called Rajah, and I have been searching for you Toph. You see, I'm the greatest earth bender in the world, not you."

"Fat chance! I'll take you on right now!" she exclaimed calling forth a boulder from the ground.

"So be it ... let the kings do battle in the spring."

Toph focused every part of her energy on Rajah, completely feeling all of his movements. She hurled the boulder at the boy. Before the boulder crossed half way between her and Rajah, the boulder was crushed. Stunned, Toph called another boulder of equal size of the first, and sent it at Rajah, but the fate met the new boulder. She felt his fist clench ever so slightly at the moment her boulder was crushed into pebbles, so as a good warrior she initiated a new point of attack. She called forth four columns, pillars of earth to come smashing at him from all four cardinal directions. She clapped her hands together to initiate the attack, and punched both fists together at Rajah completing the movements, and setting forth the pillars. In response, Toph felt Rajah stomp his foot jamming all four pillars straight into the air. He outstretched his fingers each finger summoning a slim disc from the pillars, and he clenched his fists to send them spinning at Toph. Toph shot up a wall, but Rajah counter bended her wall, pushing down the wall as he pushed his hands down across his chest as if he was taking a deep meditating breath. He forced her wall down as his discs came flew by and gashed against her body.

"I win." Rajah plainly said, and he walked off the battle field.

In all the fight lasted a mere ten seconds, with Toph preparing to bend the pillars taking up half of that time.

"We are not finished!" Toph shouted at Rajah in vain.

"If you really want to get better. I train at the Gobi Cliffs. You are welcome to accompany me, as long as you accept me as your master and teacher."

Toph as stubborn as an ass, politely declined with, "FUCK OFF! I'm never calling you my master!"

"The offer will always stand, I will wait for you at the Gobi Cliffs." Rajah said with calm and complacency.

[[[[[ END I ]]]]]

Dedicated to everyone special in our lives.