If it wasn't difficult enough being blind, try dealing with the overprotective parents which come with it. I, Toph the greatest Earthbender in the frikin' world! Saved the world, and then out of petty came back to my parents… However, I didn't realise that they'd keep me here for 2 years, and try to curve me into perfection. I was stupid though, I could have left whenever I wanted –I mean hello greatest Earthbender in the world living in the city of Gaoling practically made of Earth…
Anyways, I am now 15 and I must admit I am living the easy life, the dream some may say. Everything is done for me; I literally wouldn't have to lift a finger if I asked it of the maids.
I didn't know what was happening exactly but my body was changing at a spectacular rate, things that weren't there before are there now. I trained on a daily bases in the training room specially built for me, but for some reason my used to be straight muscular body, was now just slender… I guess diet and height change had something to do with that, but I just wonder what the gang would have to say about that. No one ever really spoke about my body, but I knew something was going on, mum spoke to me frequently about it, but I couldn't exactly compare normal girls' bodies of my age to mine. Seeing as, ya'know… I'm blind…
-Present-
I had received a letter a few days ago stating that Sokka wanted all of the Gaang to meet up again. We hadn't seen each other in a while (especially me) and my parents were surprisingly happy with the idea – well my mum more than dad. We had written to each other often, and Sokka would pass on messages from me to the Gaang, however it wouldn't be the same as actually getting to see them and talk to them, seeing as my mum wrote and read my letters for me, so it didn't have the same qualities as the average conversation.
From what was written, I found out that Sokka was in-between the North and South Poles reuniting the two (so the letters were normally sent to him as he passed Omashu quite often), Katara was down in the South Pole helping re-build the area with other waterbenders (which was at stage of completion), Suki was back in Kyoshi and I believe Ty lee had left for a break, Aang was at the different air temples rebuilding them and completing his spiritual side of the avatars journey (whatever that means) and Sparky was in the fire nation doing whatever he does…
I couldn't wait to see them again (in theory) to be myself, around the people I trusted the most. I was ready to move on from my parents, I gave them 2 years to re-kindle the relationship between parent and child that never really existed, my mother and I grew closer and my father and I began to have a mutual respect for each other, and they knew I was ready to explore again so they didn't expect me back too soon, no matter how much I promised I would be.
-Two weeks later-
This was it. The maids loaded my belonging onto the boat, as I bid farewell to my parents. I didn't see the point of this really, dad brought all of our maids and the gardeners and the cook to say good bye to me at the dock. I never really had a care for them, but I guess I never appreciated how honest they were, and what a family they were like to me when I didn't truly have one.
That morning my mother had dressed me in my "finest milky green garment" she had called it, and she had loosely braided my hair (I could feel it) but left out my bangs which were placed neatly behind my ears for comfort, she also gave me a poppy to hold onto for the journey (a reminder of her) she told me. It was red and strong just like the fire nation she said, and that I was ready to go there.
She kissed me on the cheek and then grabbed me into a hug which I gave back. It took me a little while to realise that the damp feeling on my shoulder were her tears, as she pulled away she whispered in my ear "good luck, my brave little badger mole" my eyes began to swim, but I didn't want to make this any more difficult for her, I let go and nodded replying with a crackly "Thankyou." Which had more heart than meaning in it. I then walked over to my father, remembering my lessons of normal people walking heal toe, but more importantly young ladies walking with elegance. I hugged him and he hugged me back, no tears, no emotion, and no change in heart. However this was an overload of affection for my father, I smiled at him and felt him bow to me. I bowed back with no words and walked onto the boat. Wait did I say boat? I should have probably said ship… anyways dad said it was a boat, one of the finest actually.
I don't know if it was the breeze in the air, or the grapefruit snacks, or me taking of my half-shoes to actually feel the cold metal under my feet. But I was excited to go back to my family.