Originally published November 12, 2011

Character: Toph

Song: "Speak for Myself" by Aly & A.J.

It seemed to Toph that her parents were really the blind ones.

Toph felt bad for people who could see, and judged others by their appearances. So what if she was small and had gray-green eyes incapable of sight? Looks could be deceiving.

Sometimes she was annoyed at her parents' misapprehension. Other times she felt sorry for them.

Apparently they cared enough to meet with her teacher. But they didn't want to discuss her progress or achievements; they just wanted to set limits.

"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."

"Absolutely not," Master Yu answered. "I'm keeping her at the beginner's level. Basic forms and breathing exercises only."

"Very good," Lao approved.

They talked about her as though she wasn't there. No one asked her for her opinion of her lessons or of herself.

Toph felt like she was invisible. She wondered, slightly amused, if invisibility could come with blindness.

"Avatar Aang, it's an honor to have you visit us," Poppy said warmly.

"In your opinion, how much longer do you think the war will last?" Lao 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."

"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."

Toph knew better than to speak up; but instead, she put her foot on the ground and earthbended a shock wave at Aang, who leapt up in surprise. "Ow!"

Toph smiled and took a bite. That was how she made herself heard.

The adults didn't seem to notice. "Toph is still learning the basics," Yu said.

"Yes, and sadly because of her blindness, I don't think she will ever become a true master," Lao said.

There was a very short pause.

"Oh, I'm sure she's better than you think she is," Aang said loftily.

Great, even the Avatar was talking for her. Toph didn't even care that what he was saying was actually what she wanted to say; what annoyed her was that he was the one saying it, instead of her.

Toph was stubborn, but she didn't want to be a hypocrite. Which was what she was doing, more or less. She hadn't given the Avatar a chance to actually talk to her, to explain what he needed.

She didn't want to be like her parents, and stop listening when she didn't want to hear what was being said. So in the evening she decided to talk to him, and give him a chance.

"I'm sorry about dinner," she told him as they walked through the garden. "Just, when you were talking like that … I couldn't say anything. Maybe you're used to speaking your mind, but I'm not. Even if I tried … they just wouldn't listen to me."

"How do you know?" Aang asked curiously. "Have you ever tried?"

The question made Toph pause. Maybe when she was little she had tried to ask to go outside or try new things; but the answer was always the same, so eventually she stopped. Thinking back, she couldn't remember actually trying to tell her parents that their perception of her was wrong.

Come to think of it, she had never given them reason to think otherwise.

Then maybe … it wasn't entirely their fault that they didn't understand her. Maybe she should have made a greater effort to make herself heard.

But what could she do about that now? She could hardly walk up to them and say, "You've known me my whole life, but you don't know who I really am. I'm not a porcelain doll. I'm strong, and I'm a fighter. Oh, and by the way, I've been crawling through tunnels with badgermoles and sneaking off to fight in Earth Rumbles with really buff guys who would scare you half to death."

Strange, facing earthbending masters seemed so much easier than standing up to her parents.

"Toph there's too many of them. We need an earthbender. We need you!"

As usual, her father spoke for her before she could respond. He sounded angry and indignant. "My daughter is blind. She is blind and tiny and helpless and – fragile. She cannot help you."

Toph pulled her hand away. "Yes," she said defiantly, "I can."

She marched out into the arena, and earthbended a wall to prevent the kidnappers from making off with the Avatar. "Let him go. I beat you all before, and I'll do it again!"

"The Boulder takes issue with that comment."

The Hippo threw the metal cage across the arena. Sokka and Katara moved up to help Toph, but Toph held out her arms, blocking them. "Wait. They're mine." She had to do this herself, without help, in order to prove herself to her parents and teachers.

She smiled as she fought with her old opponents, not because it was fun – although it was – but because she felt proud. But not proud in her usual show-off way. Fighting in the arena for everyone – including her teacher and parents – to see, Toph felt she was finally making a statement, a declaration of who she was and who she wanted to be. See what I can do! she thought childishly.

Toph thought hard about what to say during the trip home.

She tried not to be confrontational or defiant. She tried to be mature and respectful, so they would take her seriously. And most of all, she tried to be honest.

First, she told them the truth. About everything. How she had advanced in earthbending by learning from the badgermoles. How she had been running away and participating in Earth Rumbles for months.

Her parents were silent the whole time. Toph wasn't sure if they were more shocked or angry or disappointed. It made her a little nervous, but it also gave her a chance to finally speak for herself.

When she had finished her story, Toph took a deep breath, and everything she had been keeping inside her came pouring out.

"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. I know you were doing it to protect me, and I appreciate that. But I'm twelve years old, and I've never had a real friend. So … anyway, now that you see who I really am, I hope it doesn't change the way you feel about me."

There. At that moment Toph felt strangely satisfied. Because of Aang, she had finally been able to speak for herself.