This is my first time writing for this fandom, and I'm just getting into Avatar, so if I make any canon errors, please let me know. This is for Rowena DeVandal's 1000 words or less challenge over at The Fireplace and I had to chose a moment that changed a character's life. Since Toph is my favorite, I chose the moment where she leaves her home and joins Aang. Enjoy, and constructive criticism is always appreciated.
Luxury may have been paradise for some people, but for Toph, it was a prison. Day in and day out, she was amidst splendor of ridiculous amount, and she hated every inch of it. Not only the ostentation of it all- but the isolation.
She craved the taste of fresh air, of the earth in between her toes. She had a sense of contentment- at least as content as she could possibly be- when she was allowed to walk around in the gardens, but now her father wouldn't even allow her to do that.
She wasn't even allowed free reign of any other room in the house other than her own. Her parents feared so much- and Toph could tell that they cared less about her and more about the fate of the priceless breakable antiques scattered about their spacious estate.
As a result, she had spent her time memorizing, planning, and thinking, ever since her father had paid his price for her- both literally and figuratively. She knew when the guards outside her door took breaks, and how long it before they'd get so drunk they wouldn't notice if a herd of sky bison hankered past.
When the gong in her father's Great Room struck half past two, she slipped out, feeling the vibrations of the guards' snoring. They were definitely out; and wouldn't come to for a while.
This was not the first time she had run away, yet she felt a tad more adrenaline this time around. She was more confident in her Earthbending than she once was. That connection to the earth was the one thing that kept her going- without the comfort of friends; it felt as though the Earth itself spoke to her, through its vibrations. And she was able to respond, in a language that only the two of them understood, a bond that no one else could recreate.
She knew exactly where she was going, but she still felt lost- besides her Earthbending, she had no idea who she really was. She knew what she wasn't: the weak society girl her parents wished her to be. But what could she be? Who was Toph Bei Fong? What would she become? It was the type of question she knew she ought to truly think about, but she felt panicked- she needed to know now.
She could hear the soft snoring of the Avatar's sky bison, and could feel that kid Sokka (was that his name? Toph wasn't sure, and didn't really care) stirring in his sleep. She had to make a decision immediately- and as far away from the girl her parents thought she was. She was strong. She didn't need them; they needed her. She could be aloof- she would pull her own weight. She didn't need anyone else's help then, and she sure as hell wouldn't need it now.
Taking a deep breath, Toph stepped into the outskirts of camp, leaving the old Toph Bei Fong behind.
