Just a little something I've been thinking about. Let me know what you all think.
Pov: Aang
I was in the forest again and saw the two figures from my vision. It was a guy and a girl, laughing, and playing with each other next to the flying boar. It then shifted to what Bumi said.
'I guess I need to find someone else to teach me earthbending.' I said.
'Your teachers will be two people who have mastered neutral jin. You need to find someone who waits and listens before striking while the other provides help in structure.' Bumi said.
'Structure?' I asked.
'You will learn in time. Goodbye, Aang. I'll see you when the time is right.'
I woke up from my dream and saw that we were still flying. Katara woke up and saw me.
"Hey, you okay?"
"Yeah… it's just… Bumi said I needed teachers, as in more than one." I said.
"Well I'm sure that we will be able to find them in no time. Try and get some sleep." Katara said as she went back to sleep.
I nodded and drifted off again.
Present
"It's pricey, but I really do like it." Sokka said as he looked at a bag. It was so boring.
"Then you should get it. You deserve something nice." Katara said, smiling.
"I do, don't I? But no. It's too expensive, I shouldn't." Sokka said.
"Alright, then don't." Katara said, slightly annoyed as she left. I followed her, and Sokka followed me… before grabbing the bag.
"You know what? I'm gonna get it." Sokka said.
As we stood in the street, a man approached with a paper in his hand and spoke to us.
"Psst, psst. Hey, you kids like earthbending? You like throwing rocks? Then check out Master Yu's Earthbending Academy." He said.
He handed me a flyer with a smile and left. I flipped it over to reveal the other side.
"Look, there's a coupon on the back. The first lesson is free." I said.
"Who knows? This Master Yu could be the earthbending teacher you've been looking for. Er, well one of them anyway."
Later
I was in a dark green earthbender training uniform and had a round helmet. I was so confused. I picked my ear with my finger, then sniffed it. I looked at the other kids. The boys are younger and smaller than I was by a head. They stood resolute, looking forward. I followed their stance.
"Take your stances." Yu said.
The students except myself assume earthbending stances.
"Now, strike as if you're punching through your opponents head!"
The other side of kids shot rocks. The rock hit me square in the chest and knocked me backwards into a large ceramic pot behind me. The pot exploded in a cloud of dust and fragments.
Master Yu walked over and looked at me from above.
"So, are you ready to commit to more lessons? If you pay for the whole year in advance, I'll bump you up to the next belt." Master Yu said. "Who knows? You might even be as good as my prized pupil over there, Ren Shiagoto." He said.
I looked at Ren. He had shaggy black hair, but seemed quite formal. He had his eyes shut as he was meditating. However, he felt… familiar. I walked out of the academy and saw Sokka and Katara sitting just outside.
"He's not the one." I said as I leaned over and patted one side of my head, ejecting bits of dirt from my ear.
"I think The Boulder is gonna win back the belt at Earth Rumble 6." I heard.
"He's gonna have to fight his way through the best earthbenders in the world to even get a shot at the champ."
"Excuse me, but where is this earthbending tournament exactly?" I asked.
"It's on the Island of Noneoya - none o' ya business!" The boy said.
Both of them laughed and walked away.
"Ha, ha! Oh, I got to remember that one." Sokka said.
"I'll take care of this." Katara said as she followed them. "Hey strong guys, wait up!"
"What was I thinking? I don't need a new bag. Why'd you let me buy this?" Sokka asked me.
Katara returned pretty quickly.
"You ready to find an earthbending teacher? Because we're going to Earth Rumble 6!" Katara said.
"How did you get them to tell you?"
"Oh, a girl has her ways."
Later
"Hey, front row seats! I wonder why no one else is sitting here."
Suddenly, a boulder slammed into the spot next to us.
"I guess that's why." Sokka said.
A man earthbent a mighty explosion of rock and dirt at its center. A huge column of earth begins to raise the man upwards. It stopped rising. The man motioned and the column collapsed back to floor level. As I watched, I looked up and saw that pupil master Yu was talking about, Ren, staring at the ring.
"Welcome to Earth Rumble 6! I am your host, Xin Fu!" He yelled.
This is just gonna be a bunch of guys chuckin' rocks at each other, isn't it?" Katara asked.
"That's what I paid for." Sokka said.
"The rules are simple. Just knock the other guy out of the ring and you win." Xin Fu said. "Round one! The Boulder (cut to a long shot of The Boulder as a huge foot crashes onto the floor in the foreground. Cut to a frontal shot of a huge fat man) versus The Big Bad Hippo!"
"Listen up, Hippo. You may be big, but you ain't bad! The Boulder's gonna win this in a landslide."
"Hippo mad!" Hippo yelled.
The Boulder earthbent a boulder at the Hippo, who caught part of it in his mouth, crushed it and spat it out. The Hippo then began to jump up and down. His enormous bulk actually causes the arena to shake around. The Boulder wobbles backwards on the verge of losing his balance.
"Unbelievable, ladies and gentlemen! The Hippo is rocking The Boulder!" Xin Fu said.
As The Boulder reached the edge of the arena, he earthbent a sheet of rock out of the side of the arena and throws it at his opponent. It hits the Hippo's back and he turns around to face the Boulder once more. The Boulder, with a tremendous effort, then earthbent the Hippo off the floor and throws him over the side of the arena.
"The Boulder wins!" Xin Fu said.
Katara and I looked at each other.
"How about The Boulder? He's got some good moves." Katara asked.
"I don't know. Bumi said I need a teacher who listens to the earth and a teacher who teaches about structure. He's just listening to his big muscles. What do you think, Sokka?"
"Ha ha! Whoo!" Sokka cheered.
"Next, The Boulder versus Fire Nation Man!" Xin Fu said.
The crowd booed audibly as Fire Nation Man walked across a stone bridge to the arena floor waving his flag. The bridge crumbled behind him.
"Boo! Boo!"
"Please rise for Fire Nation national anthem. Fire Lord, my flame burns for thee!"
The crowd boos and threw small stones at him.
"Go back to the Fire Nation!" Sokka yelled as he throws a stone, which hits Fire Nation Man on the head. His anger is cut short as he is twisted violently around and sinks into the earthen floor of the arena. In a flash he is buried up to shoulders in the arena floor. He stared ahead at The Boulder, who raised himself up on a huge column of earth.
"No. No please!" Fire nation man begged.
The Boulder, atop of the column, grins and jumps off. He sails downward with his legs bent at the knees so he can hold his feet with his hands. He hits the ground in front of Fire Nation Man, who is hurled high into the air and out of the arena on impact. The kids watch as Fire Nation Man flies into the rock that was previously there.
"Yeah! Whoo! The Boulder knows how to put the hurt in the dirt! Yeah! Whoo!" Sokka said.
I looked at Ren who seemed bored.
Later
Several matches have now passed by in rapid succession. The Boulder defeats every contestant he faces.
"Now, the moment you've all been waiting for. The Boulder versus your champion...The Blind Bandit!"
It was a girl, she had a green and yellow earthbender attire as she held a belt above her head.
I saw Ren as he now seemed interested.
"She can't really be blind. It's just part of her character, right?" Katara asked.
"I think she is." I said.
"I think she is... going down!" Sokka yelled.
"The Boulder feels conflicted about fighting a young, blind girl." The Boulder said.
"Sounds to me like you're scared, Boulder." She said.
"The Boulder's over his conflicted feelings, and now he's ready to bury you in a rock-a-lanche!" He said.
"Whenever you're ready...The Pebble. Ha ha ha!" She laughed, triggering the memory of the encounter in the swamp.
"It's on!" The Boulder said as he yells and takes a step forward. The girl moves forward and opens her arms as soon as she registers the shock wave indicating the movement of her opponent. Cut to a shot of her feet as she moves forward to finish the set up for her attack. The Boulder moves forward at a slow frame rate. He is bellowing a battle cry, and as his foot strikes the ground again, the Bandit began to swing her right foot in an arc towards the ground in font of her. As she strikes the ground, her strike creates a shock waves in the arena floor that churns up the ground and heads toward the Boulder in a straight line as if a gopher were tunneling toward him at great speed.
The Boulder's foot meets the shock wave just as he puts it back on the ground. The shock wave makes him drop down onto the ground in a perfect split.
"Ooh!" The Boulder screeched in pain.
The Bandit who makes a chopping motion with her right hand. Three stalagmites erupt from the ground near The Boulder and eject him from the ring. He slams into the wall beneath the stands and slides down into the crevice between the arena and the stands.
"Your winner, and still the champion, The Blind Bandit!" Xin Fu said.
I looked at Ren who smiled and nodded his head before getting up and leaving.
"No!" Sokka said.
"How did she do that?" Katara asked.
"She waited, and listened." I said.
"To make things a little more interesting, I'm offering up this sack of gold pieces to anyone who can defeat The Blind Bandit!"
Silence.
"What?! No one dares to face her?!" Xin Fu asked.
"I will!" I said.
Pov change: Ren
I was about to leave when I heard someone say they will. I turned around and saw the kid from "Master" Yu's academy.
Xin Fu hopped out o Father ring for the match to start.
"Go Aang! Avenge The Boulder!" Someone yelled.
"Do people really want to see two little girls fighting out here?" Toph asked.
"I don't really want to fight you. I want to talk to you." Aang said.
"Boo! No talking!" Someone said.
Aang takes a step, then Toph, stomps the ground with the side of her left foot. A shock wave travels across the ground and causing a large rock to grow out of the ground underneath Aang, who is launched into the air. He lands softly on the ground behind her. She turns around with an upset expression on her face.
"Somebody's a little light on his feet. What's your fighting name, The Fancy Dancer?" Toph asked.
'She's getting cocky again.' I thought to myself.
Aang smiled and shrugs his shoulders. Another rock erupts from the ground and launches Aang into the air. He somersaults through the air and lands behind her.
"Please, wait!" Aang said.
"There you are!" Toph said.
She turns quickly, raises a boulder and throws at him in a straight line, like a bullet. The crowd cheers. Aang jumps into the air, turns and airbends the rock backwards. Cut to a shot from behind the bandit. She and the rock are blown backward and off the arena. I was shocked, both because Toph was defeated and he used airbending.
I ran out of the arena and to the meet up where we usually go after a fight. I ran around the corner of the entrance and saw Toph appear.
"Hey." I said.
"Shut up." Toph said. She was angry.
"Come here." I extended my arms.
She walked up and hugged me.
"Anger will end with nothing but disaster." I said. "But… I assume that a few trees will be okay."
Toph chuckled lightly as we walked off.
Pov change: Aang
"I gotta admit, now I'm really glad I bought this bag. It matches the belt perfectly." Sokka said.
"That is a big relief." Katara said.
"If we want to find The Blind Bandit, the Earthbending Academy is a good place to start." I said.
As we entered the gate of Master Yu's academy once again, the two guys who made fun of me looked up as we entered.
"Oh great, you again." One of them said.
Katara walked towards them, freighting them.
"Yeah, I didn't think so." Katara said.
"Nicely done." Sokka said.
"Hey, you're the kid who beat The Blind Bandit." One of them said.
"We need to talk to her. Do you guys know where she lives?" I asked.
"The Blind Bandit's a mystery. She shows up to fight, then disappears."
Katara put a hand on my shoulder.
"Let me handle this. You're not telling us everything!" Katara said.
"No no, I swear it's true! No one knows where she goes, or who she really is."
"That's because we're asking about the wrong person. In my vision, I saw a girl in a white dress with a pet flying boar talking with a boy. Know anybody like that?"
"Well, a flying boar is the symbol of the Bei Fong family. They're the richest people in town, probably the whole world."
"Yeah, but they don't have a daughter."
"Flying boar is good enough for me. Let's check it out." I said as we began to leave
Pov change: Xin Fu
"I'm telling you, The Boulder was standing right there. I saw the kid strike, but there was no earthbending. Nothing made contact. The Blind Bandit just fell out of the ring. She must have took a dive and split the money with the kid." The Boulder said.
I planted my fist into the wall of the cave exit. Rocks fell down onto my foot. I screamed, then recovered, enraged.
"Nobody cheats Xin Fu." I said.
Pov change: Ren
I was walking in the garden with Toph. Her family hired Master Yu to teach her earthbending. And by hiring him, he made me train her while he collected the money. He's a weasel.
That's how Toph and I met. Ever since, I've been helping Toph by training her and soon we started being together too so it isn't too bad. Her dad doesn't want the world to know about her, and I don't want him to know about us.
"Another boring lesson from Master Yu?" I asked.
"Less of a lesson, more like a lecture on how to move a rock." Toph said.
"Boring." I said.
We chuckled.
"Wait… something is wrong…" Toph said.
I reached down and pulled a long piece of rock up and formed it into a sword.
"What is it?" I asked.
Toph suddenly earthbent and I heard three people shout. We walked up and saw that Aang kid and some friends of his.
"What are you doing here, twinkle toes?" Toph asked.
"How did you know it was me?" Aang asked.
"Don't answer to twinkle toes. It's not manly!" His guy friend said.
"You're the one whose bag matches his belt." The girl said.
"How did you find me?" Toph asked.
Pov change: Aang
I saw Ren next to Toph and he had a sword in his hand, but it was made out of earth.
'Structure… sword structure!"
"Well, a crazy king told me I had to find two earthbenders who listen to the earth and structure things with it as well. And then I had a vision in a magic swamp and..."
"What Aang is trying to say is, he's the Avatar, and if he doesn't master earthbending soon he won't be able to defeat the Fire Lord." Katara said.
"Not our problem. Now get out of here or I'll call the guards." The bandit said as she began to walk away
"Look, we all have to do our part to win this war. And both of yours' is to teach Aang earthbending." Sokka said.
She looked at Ren who didn't make any motion. She turned around, distraught.
"Guards! Guards, help!" Toph said.
We all quickly hid.
"Toph, what happened?" A guard asked.
"I thought I heard someone. Ren said that he couldn't see anything, so I got scared." Toph said.
"You know your father doesn't want you wandering the grounds without supervision, Toph."
"I was here." Ren said.
"I'm talking about real security. Not a peasant like you." The guard said. "Come on Toph."
As they walked away, I smiled as I thought of a plan.
Pov change: Toph
Ren was sent home, which made me sad, but I couldn't show any emotion towards it.
"I'm pleased to hear that Toph's private lessons are going well, but I want to be sure that she's not trying anything too dangerous." Dad said.
"Absolutely not. I'm keeping her at the beginner's level. Basic forms and breathing exercises only. And my best pupil and most trusted student, Ren Shiagoto, is her tutor when I cannot be there."
"Very good." Dad said.
"Excuse me sir, but you have a visitor." A servant said.
"Who thinks they are so important they can just come to my home unannounced?" Dad asked.
"Uh, the Avatar, sir." They said.
Later
Pov: Aang
A variety of food has been placed on a , Sokka, and I sat along one side, Toph, Mrs. Bei Fong, and Master Yu sit along the other. Mr. Bei Fong was at the head of the table.
A servant placed a hot dish in front of Toph.
"Blow on it. It's too hot for her." Mr. Bei Fong said.
"Allow me." I said.
I created a small whirlwind which zoomed across the table and disappears over her dish, cooling it. Everyone clapped.
"Avatar Aang, it's an honor to have you visit us." Mrs. Bei Fong said.
"In your opinion, how much longer do you think the war will last?" Mr. Bei Fong asked.
"I'd like to defeat the Fire Lord by the end of summer, but I can't do that without finding an earthbending teacher first." I said, looking at Toph.
"Well, Master Yu is the finest teacher in the land. He's been teaching Toph since she was little."
"Then she must be a great earthbender, probably good enough to teach someone else."
My foot suddenly hurt from a shockwave.
"Ow!" I looked at Toph angrily. Toph simply smiles and puts some food in her mouth with her chopsticks.
"Toph is still learning the basics." Master Yu said.
"Yes, and sadly because of her blindness, I don't think she will ever become a true master." Her father said.
"Oh, I'm sure she's better than you think she is."
I felt another shock wave. It knocks my chair backwards sending my face into the bowl in front of me. I righted myself, the bowl still stuck to my face. I decided to pay her back. I built my nose up and sneezed, sending a wind across the table that sent food all over the place. Master Yu, Mrs. Bei Fong and Toph are covered. Toph gets up in anger after the bowl that had covered face fell off.
"What's your problem?" She asked.
"What's your problem?" I asked.
"Well, shall we move to the living room for dessert then?" Her mom asked.
Later
Sokka was lying on his side and Katara sat on a green couch on the left of the shot. I stood in front of a large window where Appa's face can be seen. I waved at Appa.
"Good night, buddy." I said.
I looked and saw Toph in the doorway. I turned around, yelped in surprise, and assumed an airbending stance. Toph stood with her back to the door frame, myself near the window on the right, and Sokka and Katara on the couch in the middle.
"Relax. Look, I'm sorry about dinner. Let's call a truce, ok?" Toph asked.
Later
Toph and I walk over a bridge over a small brook. As I walked on the bridge, Toph walked along the guardrail.
"Even though I was born blind, I've never had a problem seeing." Toph said.
We reached the end of the bridge and she jumped off the guardrail and landed on the ground.
'I see with earthbending. It's kind of like seeing with my feet. I can feel the vibrations in the earth, and I can see where everything is. You, that tree, even those ants." Toph said.
"That's amazing." I said.
"My parents don't understand. They've always treated me like I was helpless." Toph said.
"Is that why you became The Blind Bandit?"
"Yeah. I wanted to prove them wrong. Ren helped teach me in secret and well…" Toph blushed.
"You two love each other." I said.
"If anyone ever found out…" Toph looked down.
"Then why stay here where you're not happy?" I asked.
"They're my parents. Where else am I supposed to go? And I can't just leave Ren." Toph said.
"You two could come with us." I said.
"Yeah. You guys get to go wherever you want. No one telling you what to do, that's the life. It's just not my life." Toph said before her head turned suddenly as she sensed something amiss. She drops to her knees and places a hand on the ground.
"We're being ambushed." She said as grabbed my arm and began to run. One of the contestants, the gopher man, bursts from the ground and made a stance towards us. We looked up just as two metal cases dropped on top of us.
"I think you kids owe me some money." I heard Xin Fu say.
Pov change: Ren
I was on my way to Yu's academy to meditate when I saw him run towards me.
"Master Yu?" I asked.
"Ren, thank goodness you're here. Toph and the avatar have been kidnapped." He said.
My eyes widened as I began to run to the Bei Fong residence.
Later
I walked into the garden and saw the rest of the people. There were two cage markings in the dirt. A sword was stuck in the earth, pinning a scroll to the ground. Sokka picked up the sword and the scroll with it. He offered it to Katara by holding the end of the sword out to her.
"Whoever took Aang and Toph left this." Sokka said.
Katara took the offered scroll.
"'you want to see your daughter again, bring 500 gold pieces to the arena. It's signed Xin Fu and The Boulder.'" Katara said.
"I can't believe it…" Sokka said.
Sokka suddenly grabs the scroll, runs a few feet and drops to his knees. Sokka holds the scroll up over his head.
"I have the Boulder's autograph!" Sokka cheered.
"Master Yu, I need you to help you get my daughter back." Lao said.
"We're going with you." Katara said.
I plunged my armed into the ground and formed two earth swords.
"I am too." I said.
"Poor Toph. She must be so scared." Her mom said.
I doubt it.
Pov change: Toph
"You think you're so tough, why don't you come up here so I can smack that grin off your face?!" I yelled.
"I'm not smiling." Xin Fu said.
"Toph!" Dad yelled.
"Here's your money. Now let them go." Sokka said.
A few seconds later, I felt the cage come down. The case stopped and the bottom opened and I fell out. I ran over to dad when I also sensed Ren. I turned and ran into him, hugging him.
"I missed you dad." I said, pretending to be confused.
"Uh ms. Bei Fong, I'm bit your father. He's right here." Ren guided me to him. I didn't need to see to know Ren was smirking.
Dad put his hand on my shoulder and guided me away, Master Yu in tow.
"What about Aang?" I heard.
"I think the Fire Nation will pay a hefty price for the Avatar. Now, get out of my ring." I heard.
"Go. I'll be ok." I heard.
Toph, Ren, there're too many of them. We need earthbenders. We need you!" Katara said.
"My daughter is blind. She is blind and tiny and helpless and fragile. She cannot help you." Dad said.
I snapped my hand back from father's.
"Yes, we can." I said.
"No," Ren said, " you can."
I smiled before getting serious.
Pov change: Ren
Yu grabbed me by the collar.
"You are sending a beginner into a fight with seven earthbending masters?!" He asked.
"I'm proving that she can take care of herself." I said.
"Let him go. I beat you all before, and I'll do it again." Toph yelled.
"The Boulder takes issue with that comment." I heard.
We saw the two siblings walk in to join when Toph stopped them.
"Wait. They're mine."
Toph waits a few more moments then stomps the ground causing an explosion of rock and dust. Toph walks into the dust and one by one, the contestants were launched out of the ring.
I saw Katara and Sokka trying to open Aang's case. Sokka hammers at the lock on the front with a rock, while Katara tries to open the bottom with her hands.
"Hit it harder!" Aang said.
"I'm trying!" Sokka said.
I jumped over and reached into the ground and formed small mallet.
"This'll help." I said.
Sokka slammed the mallet into the metal case one more time, breaking the lock. The bottom of the case opens up and Aang emerged, ready for combat. Sokka shook his head and pointed. Aang dropped his combat stance and followed Sokka's finger.
The Hippo ran out of the dusk cloud swinging one of the Earth Kingdom stone circles with the square center. He stops as The Boulder gets flung out of the cloud and lands beside the Hippo. He gets up as Toph emerges from the cloud. She now stands on the large stone circle that dominates the center of the arena. She moved forward with her arms bent at the elbows, her hands help up in front of her.
The Boulder makes some intimidating noises and the Hippo beats his chest as she advances. As the Hippo and The Boulder begin to rush her the painted face man swings towards his target.
Toph makes several jerky motions and the whole stone circle begins to turn. The painted man swings back into the picture and slams into the Hippo and The Boulder just as they are about to strike her. The three were quickly shot out of the ring.
Toph stands in front of the sizeable dust cloud, the others on the side of the arena to her right. She stood one swift motion and the cloud is blown away to reveal a single opponent left, Xin Fu.
Xin Fu cracks his neck in preparation for the duel. He takes up a bending stance, then cut to Toph who spits. A quick shot of her father and Yu is replaced by an overhead shot of the two circling around each other. In quick succession he launches a single boulder, a double, a single, a triple and a final single rock at her.
Just before the first of the rocks hits, Toph raises two triangular sheets of rock in front of her as a shield. The rocks bounce off her shield. After the last one strikes, she launches one of the two shields at her opponent. It misses as he launches himself into the air to avoid it. As he spins in mid air. His hand begins to delve into the earth beneath him as he spins. He scoops a chunk of earth out of the floor of the arena and throws it at her. She dodges and it passes by her face. Toph began to return fire. Xin Fu was terrified as he was then ejected from the ring. He was blasted out of the ring and lands in between Lao and Yu in the stands. He then falls into the pit below.
While the avatar and his friends were cheering, I ran up to Toph.
"Good job." I smiled.
She hugged me tightly.
Later
Pov change: Toph
I stood before my parents, Aang and the other two behind me and Satosh as well.
"Dad, I know it's hard for you to see me this way, but the obedient little helpless blind girl that you think I am just isn't me. I love fighting. I love being an earthbender. And I'm really, really good at it. I know I've kept my life secret from you, but you were keeping me secret from the whole world. You were doing it to protect me. But I'm twelve years old and I've never had a real friend, except for Ren. And he's more than a friend… I love him. So now that you see who I really am, I hope it doesn't change the way you feel about me."
"Of course it doesn't change the way I feel about you, Toph. It's made me realize something." Dad said.
"It has?" I asked.
"Yes. I've let you have far too much freedom. From now on, you will be cared for and guarded 24 hours a day." Dad said. "As for Ren, he is to never return to these grounds."
"But dad!" I said.
"We are doing this for your own good, Toph." Mom said.
"Please escort Ren, the Avatar and his friends out. They are no longer welcome here." Dad said.
I began to tear up.
"I'm sorry, Toph." Aang said.
"I'm sorry, too. Goodbye, Aang."
"I love you Toph." Ren said.
"I love you too…' I said as a tear fell down my cheek.
Pov change: Aang
We were getting ready to depart when Katara walked up to me.
"Don't worry. We'll find you a teacher. There are plenty of amazing earthbenders out there." Katara said.
"Not like her. Not like either of them." I said./
We heard someone and saw Toph and Ren running towards us.
"Toph! Ren! What are you doing here?" I asked.
"My dad changed his mind. He said I was free to travel the world. And I couldn't just leave my boyfriend behind." Toph said.
"Well, we'd better get out of here - before your dad changes his mind again." Katara said.
"Good idea." Toph said.
"You're gonna be a great teacher, Toph." I said.
"Speaking of which, I want to show you something." Toph said.
"Okay." I said.
I airbent myself out of Appa's driver's seat. As I landed in front of Toph, she taps the ground with her foot and a rock erupts from the ground, throwing me into a tree.
"Now we're even." Toph said. "Um, I'll take the belt back."
Sokka unhooked the belt and dropped it on her. It hit her on the head and lays her out flat in a heap.
"Ow!" Toph said.
"Sorry." Sokka said.
Pov change: Lao
"I know you two are very different...but I believe you have a common interest." I said to Xin Fu and Master Yu.
The servant opened the box to reveal gold coins. Xin Fu looks at them with happiness, Master Yu with astonishment.
"The Avatar has kidnapped my daughter with help from that boy Ren. I want you to do whatever it takes to bring her back home. And bring me his head."
Both of them bow.
Pov change: Ren
I sat next to Toph as she looked at the city as we left. I placed my hand on her shoulder and she smiled, leaning back against me as we fell asleep.