Rebound

"Toph?"

Toph turned over in bed. Maybe if she pretended to be asleep…

"Oh come on. You always do this after a binding. I've got something fun." Ohev said enticingly.

She wasn't listening, why did he never take the hint?

"Well, that's fine. I guess you wouldn't want to go anyways. After all, I learned about it from the older boys. And it's a lower class activity, you wouldn't be interested."

Toph cursed that four years meant he knew her buttons so well.

"Plus," Ohev added, it's outside the compound. So we'd have to sneak out."

Really, really well.

OoOoOoOo

Toph wasn't worried. Not at all. Still, Ohev hadn't quite made clear how many people were going to be here. It was as crowded as one of the parties her parents might have; only she couldn't leave. (Her parents were always ready to show off their daughter's amazing sculptures, but they were less eager to show off Toph herself.)

Toph jerked back as someone elbowed her. Not only was it crowded, but no one made any room for her. Granted it was nice to not be treated like a doll, but a little deference would be nice. Toph clutched Ohev's hand. Eventually they managed to find their seats. It was as crowded in the stands as well, and the people smelled awful: sweat and dirt and things Toph couldn't begin to identify. She hated her parent's parties, but at least the guests didn't smell like manure.

Toph leaned over and whispered to Ohev, "When is it starting?"

"It looks like now. I think that's the announcer coming on."

A voice thundered over the crowd, "Welcome, everyone, to the special exception match. To those of you joining us for the first time, let me explain the rules. These are the underground rumbles. Two men enter, but only one leaves upright. This is a fight of earth-on-earth. No weapons or direct contact. Beyond that, anything goes. Fight's end on removal from the ring or knockout.."

"In this corner... the unmovable mountain, the decimating avalanche, the BIG! BAD! HIPPOOO!

The announcer paused, waiting for the cheering to die down. It weird, the way they all rumbled and shouted at once. Every gathering she was used to, people talked quietly, so as not to drown out the other conversations, but here, it was like they wanted to.

"And in this corner, they mysterious mover of earth, the unknown fighter himself, the MASKED EAAAARTHBENNNNDERRRR!"

Toph settled down, waiting for the match to start. Honestly, she was somewhat disappointed. Sports really weren't her thing, since she couldn't see anything. At least she could hear the dialogue in a play. Toph resigned herself to a night of boredom.

And then the match started.

She couldn't see, but she could definitely hear it. The sound of the competition. The grunts as the competitors lifted the earth. The smashes as boulders and rocks were sent flying, crashing to each other. The rumble of the earth shifting.

For a second Toph was six again; stomping the ground to create shockwaves, lifting boulders with ease. It had been four years since her foot were first bound, and she'd thought she'd forgotten, but in a moment it all came back.

This was earthbending. Not the pansy shaping of a few trinkets. Raw, unrestrained power. No delicacy. No working with the earth. Just you against the world, to telling it that it would move, not you.

The crowd roared, and Toph felt herself drawn in. She grabbed Ohev. "What's happening? Quick, tell me what's happening!"

"Well, uh. The Mask is sending a spike towards the Hipp - no wait, they were blocked! Now he's sending a big boulder towards the Mask and-"

A roar came from the crowd. "Oh this doesn't look good for the Hippo," the announcers voice cut through.

"What happened?" Toph demanded. "I thought the Hippo was sending a boulder."

"Well, he was. But the Mask dodged and sent a rock towards the Hippo's leg. It looks like it hit and he's not moving as well."

"Why didn't you say that?"

"Sorry," Ohev said. "It's hard to keep up."

Another roar from the crowd.

Toph cursed her blindness. "Just tell me what's happening. Don't say anything else."

OoOoOoOo

"And that's the end of the match,' the announcer declared. "To those of use joining for the first time, remember: same time, same place every week."

Toph was practically bouncing up and down. "That was the coolest thing ever." The Masked Earthbender had won, but even with an injured leg it had been a near thing. The Hippo's sheer size (according to Ohev, he had to be twice as tall as her father, and nearly time times as wide, but Toph though he was exaggerating) made it nearly impossible to knock him out of the ring. "Come on."

Ohev held her back. "Where are you going?"

"To talk to the wrestlers," Toph responded.

"You can't!"

"Why not?" Toph struggled against his grip.

"We need to get back before anyone realizes we're gone."

"So what? We've got plenty of time."

"Toph! It's already sundown."

Toph stopped. No way, it couldn't be. They had arrived in the afternoon. And the match hadn't been that long… had it? "How do you know? This place is underground."

"I can see the exits. We need to go."

"Pleeeeeasssse?"

OoOoOoOo

Toph missed when Ohev was still a pushover.

OoOoOoOoO

"Hey, Toph. I know you parents are out of town," Ohev began, "but did they schedule anything for you tomorrow?"

Toph smiled. "You have tickets?"

"Yeah. And guess what? The fight starts at noon this time. So we can actually meet the-"

"What!" Toph grabbed Ohev and began to shake him. "Why didn't you tell me earlier? I need to get ready!"

"Wait!" Ohev called out. "You didn't say if you had anything…."

OoOoOoOo

Toph pushed and shoved against the crowd, but to no avail. After several frustrating minutes, she finally gave up in a huff. While most places in the Earth Kingdom made room for women, the Rumbles were not a place for the weak. Toph couldn't even get close to the wrestlers.

"You alright?"

"Do I look alright? I can't even get close to them."

"Yeah…. Maybe I could try?" he offered.

"Ohev, sometimes I remember why I bother keeping you around." Toph reached into the bag she had been carrying with her the entire night, feeling around until she pulled out two stone figurines. "Go make them sign these."

"…. What are they?" Ohev asked as he took them.

Toph shoulders dropped. "They were supposed to be the wrestlers, or at least what I thought they would look like. That one was the Hippo and that's the Mole. Look, just tell me what's wrong with them and I can fix it." Toph might not be able to see them, but Nu Wa had made her do enough statues that she was sure she could adjust them.

"Oh… Actually, now I can sort of see it. As for what's wrong… well, the Hippo has a lot more fat and a lot less muscle and you missed the hunchback of the mole and… you know what? On second thought, let's keep them as is. I think they'd love them."

"Good, now go get me those autographs."

"Of course, my lady. I shall brave the perils of this crowd of ruffians in pursuit of you trophy." Toph giggled before shooing him off and settling down to wait.

One of the things people got wrong about Toph was the idea that simply because she was blind she wouldn't know they were there unless they told her or touched her. That was stupid. There were so many other ways to tell if a person was there. Body heat, changes in the air as they moved, sound. Sound was a big one. People breathed, shuffled, walked, and Toph didn't know how anyone could have trouble not hearing those. Finally there was smell. Everyone had a smell. Her mother smelled like perfume, Her father like ink and paper, and Ohev like dirt and earth, not that that was bad, Toph liked the smell of earth.

Toph never had trouble telling when someone or something was near, though identifying them was a little harder. But whatever had just walked up to her was big, heavy, and very smelly.

"What are you?" A blast of hot air responded. Right, Ohev had mentioned they used a badger moles to clean the arena. "Not now." The thing didn't move. "Go away, shoo. I'm waiting for someone." Its only response was to lick her across the face with its long, sloppy tongue. "Ugggh. Stop that!" Another lick.

OoOoOoOo

It was quite a wile before Ohev finally returned. "Well, it looks like you've made a friend."

Toph removed her hands from behind the badger mole's ears. "Phhh. This was the only way to keep the stupid thing from covering my face with its slobber. Now, did you get em!"

"Yeah. Wasn't easy, but here they are." Ohev handed the statues over, and Toph ran her hands over them. For a second she was aghast, someone had changed them. But as she gave it more time, she felt that only the base had been modified. It had been expanded in order to fit the signatures; a stupid oversight on her part. Real earthbenders wouldn't be able to fit their signatures into the tiny stone base she had originally made.

OoOoOoOo

Toph smiled cheerfully. "So lesson time right?" Toph clapped her hands together. "What will I be learning today, honored Sifu?"

Nu Wa was not amused. "And just where were you yesterday?"

Toph made the most innocent face possible. "Me? I just got lost in the grounds. I'm blind you know."

"Really? Well then, you'll be pleased to know that I'm going to make sure you don't get lost again. Your parents may be out of town right, but once they get back I think I will inform them of this little oversight."

"What? You can't!"

"I can, and I will. Let this be a reminder, I do not tolerate skipping lessons."

Toph sputtered, "You- you."

"Let us move on to the next lesson, shall we?"

OoOoOoOo

"And they're going to freak," Toph groused. "I'll never be able to get out of the house."

"I thought you said you didn't have anything. You lied to me." He said, his voice like a hurt puppy.

"I'm about to be trapped forever and all you can think about is that?" Toph pointed an accusatory finger. "What kind of friend are you?"

"But… I- I-." Ohev sighed. "So what are you going to do about it?"

"Do about it? My life is ruined! Ruined! What can I do?"

"Well, has she told anyone yet?"

"No….. you want to kill her? That's horrible. Besides, I don't know any assassins."

"That's not what I meant!" he stammered. "I mean, maybe you could convince her not to tell them?"

Toph sighed. "I already tried bribery."

"I meant, like, apologizing."

"Tried that and begging as well and she won't budge." Toph threw her hands in the air. "I had no idea she'd get so angry."

"Is there anything she does like?"

OoOoOoO

"You seem awfully happy to be here," Nu Wa said.

Toph smiled angelically. "Why wouldn't I be happy to learn from my favorite sifu?"

"I'm not changing my mind, that's final," Nu Wa snapped. "And I hate attempts that insult my intelligence."

Toph gasped. "Change your mind? I wouldn't dream of it."

Nu Wa tapped her fingers. "What do you want?"

"I was just wondering if maybe you could show me some more earthbending. I know I'm blind an all, but I was hoping. I could appreciate the art."

Again there was silence. "What are you up to?"

"Nothing, sifu."

"…" Even without sight, Toph could feel the frown. "Very well, would you like some tea?"

"Of course!" Toph kept up her unrelenting assault of good cheer and eagerness.

"As you wish." Nu Wa answered, and the cup clicked down in front of her. Toph paused. Nu Wa hadn't gotten up, and Toph was sure their hadn't been any cups on the table. Tentatively she reached for the cup. It was hot to the touch.

"This is the earthbending tea ceremony. The reason all proper tea sets are made of earth-ceramics. It is one of the most basic arts of a proper ladies earthbending. Normally I would have taught it long before sculpting but…" Nu Wa sighed. "Let us not dwell on what might have been. Since you are so eager to work today, let us see you craft a proper set."

OoOoOo

"Little to the right." Toph moved her fingers. "No, too far, little to the left." Toph again adjusted it. Ohev hmmed. "Okay, now turn it just a little to the left, but don't move it! Just turn it in place."

Ohev began humming again as observed. Toph sighed. "Do I have it now?"

"I think, but you're not holding it perfectly steady."

Toph yelled back, "You try holding something you can't even see perfectly steady five feet from you!"

"No!" Ohev cried. "Now you moved it. All right, this time move the teapot back a little."

Toph sighed, but managed to retain enough self control this time to not move her hand.

OoOoOo

"So what do you think, sifu?" Toph asked as she called the pot to her.

Nu Wa was silent.

Finally, she spoke. "I am… most impressed." Toph bowed. "Just how did you do that?"

"Well, it was all thank to the independent training I did at the beginning of the week."

"That doesn't answer my question at all." Nu Wa voice said icily. "Furthermore, you mean the training you did before I showed you it?"

Toph smiled. "Of course."

"That is a lie so obvious even that servant you like so much wouldn't use it. What do you want?"

Toph made a show of considering Nu Wa's words. "Well, I was thinking, since I wasn't available for lessons because I was working so hard on impressing you, it isn't like I was really missing them."

"And you want me to not tell your parents."

"Wellll…." Toph paused. "Actually I was thinking a little more."

"Don't push your luck."

"I'm not. I'm just asking you to think about my future development."

Nu Wa tapped her fingers again. "Future development?"

"Yes." Toph nodded eagerly. "I do my best work independently, that's how I learn. If you could help me, then I might be able to continue to impress you."

Nu Wa took a sip of tea before responding. "And I assume you have a specific proposition in mind."

"Well, now that you mention it." Toph leaned forward, her smile utterly innocent. "I was thinking you could tell my parents that you need to take me back for private lessons. And then you could let me go independently study."

"I assume you don't want me to tell your parents about the second part."

"Well, if you think it's best." Toph . "I could have one day a week to study with you, to perfect techniques or develop ideas for new ones."

Nu Wa laughed. "Not a chance. Maybe one day a week of 'independent study'. The rest is actual work."

"Two days with you."

Nu Wa tapped her teacup against the table. Toph suspect she was trying to stare her down, but that tactic was utterly ineffective. Finally, she conceded, "…Two days of independent study."

"Deal! But I get to choose the times."

Nu Wa clear her throat one last time. "Let me make something clear, I do not approve of this. I don't know what you're really doing, and somehow I suspect I don't really want to know. I have taught the good, I have taught the great, and I have taught the terrible. But your quick mastery of sculpting was beyond anything I have ever seen. It frustrated me to know such a genius would never be able attain proper mastery of any of the other arts, but you with this step you managed to defy even that.

"I believed it was simple memorization, but the creativity applied is as much the mark of a true genius as natural ability. You have both. However, I am only doing this because I want to see what you can accomplish, and that depends on you accomplishing work. I expect to be impressed. If you continue to show the skill and mastery I believe you have, then all is well. If you do not, then you are either not skilled enough or unwilling to apply yourself, and I have time for neither, do I make myself clear?"

OoOoOoOo

Again the stupid badger mole was bugging her. What was with this thing? Sighing, Toph consented to giving it another ear rub if it would keep away unexpected licks.

A second set of footsteps approached behind her. By the weight and smell, she'd have been tempted to guess it was a baby badger mole, but the stride was all wrong. A single pounding of feet rather than the multiple footfalls of a four legged animal. "It seems Xioa's taken a liking to you."

"Wait… it's a girl?"

The man laughed. "Yeah, badger mole's ain't like humans. Females just as good as a males."

"Whatever. Why does it keep getting attracted to me?"

"Maybe it wants some kinship, thinks yer like et?"

"I don't smell anything like a badger mole." Not that Toph really had an objection to how badger moles smelled. Not that Toph really had an objection to the smell of dirt that clung to badger moles. It beat the stench of sweat and grime you found on half the Earth Rumble crowd.

"Now I didn' mean it like that. Just that theey's blind too."

OoOoOoOo

Footsteps, lighter than an adult's, but not with the delicate gait of a girl. Not that there were any other girls here, but still the awkward clomp clomp of a growing boy was unmistakable. Toph focused back on her hands; she could hear it, now she needed to feel it.

The footsteps stopped. "Toph…. what are you doing?"

"Keep moving around, I'm trying to learn something."

"Okay?" The footsteps began again. "So is this something Nu Wa had you learning?"

Toph laughed. "No, this is something I came up with on my own. You know how you always have to describe the fights to me?"

"Yeah. It's not a problem though, he added quickly.

Toph frowned. Still nothing. "Yeah, but I want to experience them on my own. Could you jump for a second?" A second later she smiled in delight, she had felt it. "Do it again, keep jumping!" More vibrations.

"Toph?"

"Right, so I was thinking about badger moles. They're blind, but they can 'see' with their feet, feeling the vibrations in the earth. So I was thinking maybe I could do something like that. Only not with my feet obviously, but the badger moles also see with their front paws, and those are like hands, so…."

The jumping stopped. "Toph," Ohev said cautiously, "this is cool, but you really, really don't want to be crawling around the Earth Rumble's floor. Trust me on this."

"The benches are made of stone aren't they?"

OoOoOoOO

"So now The Hippo's on the far side right?"

"Yeah," Ohev confirmed.

Suddenly the ground rumbled with a heavy blow, and the crowd roared in disappointment. "What happened, why did The Hippo fall down?"

"Fire Nation Man closed in and managed to make him lose his balance."

Toph frowned. This wasn't working. She could "see" pretty well when it was just Ohev. Part of it was just lack of experience, making out which bumps meant what was hard, but it was more than that. All the other people in the crowd were a distraction, but the distance was worse. Seated so far away from the action, it was hard to distinguish the events. Both fighters were coming from the same general direction, and both had interference from all the stomping feet and movement of the crowd. Only the Hippo's heavier actions were at all distinguishable.

If only she could get closer. Toph placed her hands on the seat, and began feeling the crowd. Most of it was a constant cacophony of stomping feet, people showing, getting up, falling down (usually drunk) and other movement. Yet if she concentrated… "Ohev, I think there might be some empty seats up front."

Ohev paused. "Yeah, but I don't think we should go down there, they're probably someone else's and they just got up."

"So what, you snooze you lose. It's not like they brought that specific seat is it?"

"Well, no, but I-"

"Then come on."

OoOoOoOoO

"Hey, what are you doing in my seat?" The man was big, smelled worse than a badger mole during summer, and was probably just as ugly. Actually, Toph took that back. It was completely unfair to the badger moles, who were rather fluffy once one got used to them.

"Your seat?" Toph responded, "I'm the one sitting here."

"I got up to go to the bathroom. Now move, you little brat."

"Oh, I see. Sorry about that, sir." Ohev took Toph's hand and began to lead her away.

Toph was considerably less willing to move. With the interference and the actual match coming from different directions, she could actually make it out. "Oh really? I don't see your name on it."

"What?" the man asked, stunned anyone would defy him.

"Toph," Ohev hissed.

"I don't see your name on it!" Toph yelled back.

"Move you little brat!"

"Make me!"

The next thing Toph knew, she was reeling back from a blow to the face.

"Hey!" Ohev shouted, and a second later the man screamed in pain.

"You little brat!" His voice was oddly stilted and high pitched. The two began to scuffle, and Toph gripped the stone bench, trying to make out what was happening.

The fight was a chaotic mess. Compared to them, even the Hippo was a paragon of grace, restraint and patience. Toph noted with relief that the man didn't seem to know how to use earthbending at all, which put him on even footing with Ohev. The man was bigger, but Ohev made up for it by being faster. The fight was hard to make out, but the constant movement assured her that at least Ohev was still up. Toph shouted for help.

Suddenly, the earth shifted, and all movement stopped. "Hey, both of you knock it off." Toph recognized the voice. It was the announcer, Xin Fu. "Keep the earthfights to the ring."

"This little brat hit me first!" Toph could hear the man struggling. Xin Fu must have trapped them in earth.

"And I'd do it again, you big bully!"

"Sounds like you boys are still plenty mad?" Grunts of agreement. "Well like I said, no earth fights outside the rings. Which is why I'm inviting you both into the ring!"

"What?"

"That's right." Toph heard the crisp noise of Xin Fu flourishing a paper. "Next week is armature night. You boys wanna rumble? Then do it in the ring. Just sign here on the dotted line."

OoOoOoOo

"I can't believe you did that!"

"Did what?" Ohev asked.

"Fought that guy. It was amazing. He had to be at least twice as big as you and you just fought him with no hesitation. And then agreed to fight him again! I didn't know you had it in you."

"Well when he attacked you I….I just lost it. I still want to pound that guy. Attacking a blind girl half his size. Oh, that just makes me-" Ohev slammed his fist into his open palm. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, he only hit me once. What about you?"

"He got me a little but it's nothing."

Toph frowned. "Nothing, let me check." She moved her arms towards his face.

"It's nothing." Ohev struggled against her. "Really."

Toph pressed on, and managed to feel is face. It was wet. "Is this blood?"

"...No."

But even as he denied it, Toph had pulled her hand back. "You idiot! I can smell it."

"I… I didn't want you to worry. It's not really that bad…."

"Idiot. Come on. We need to get you home."

OoOoOoOo

They were about halfway home when Ohev started hyperventilating.

"What's wrong?" Toph asked.

"I just…..I just …. I just agreed to fight that guy!"

"Yeah," confirmed Toph. "We discussed this earlier."

"But did you see- He's huge! He's like three times my size." Toph felt the slight breeze of Ohev waving his arms in panic.

"Again, we discussed that earlier."

"But, but, but I can't fight that guy! He'll pound me to a pulp!"

While Toph was blind, she still had eyes, and was thus capable of rolling them. "Fine, if you want to be a wimp, then just tell the announcer you changed your mind."

Ohev's voice was nearing hysterics. "Are you crazy? That was Xin Fu!"

"I know his name. He says it every time he announces."

Ohev grabbed Toph by the shoulders and turned her to him. Not only did Toph blindness make this completely pointless, but Ohev knew that. If he was panicking this hard…

Toph began to listen.

"You don't understand," Ohev started. "Xin Fu… You're practically royalty in this town, Toph, but I'm a servant boy. And sometimes I talk to the other boy's, right? Xin Fu doesn't just announce the rumbles, he owns them. He owns a lot of stuff. They say that Bei Fong may own everything topside, but Xin Fu owns everything underground."

Ohev swallowed. "Anyways, sometimes he makes contracts, doing people favors or lending them stuff. And if you don't deliver your end…. They say there was one guy who didn't pay, didn't think he needed to. So Xin Fu cut of his arms, then legs, then his… you know... then buried him alive. They never found the body.

Toph said, "If the body was never found, how do they know he was buried alive? And for that matter, if all that was already cut off, I think he would already be dead."

"Toph!" Ohev screamed.

Toph patted him on the back. "Calm down, you're going to be fine."

Ohev let out a deep breath. "Yeah, I just need to fight and lose quickly. It shouldn't be too bad. They don't let people die in the arena. You think you can bring some bandages?"

"You aren't going to lose either."

Ohev hesitated. "Toph, I really appreciate your confidence in me but I'm not that great."

Toph waved her hand dismissively. "And neither is he. That guy had no skill."

"So? He's five times as big as me."

"Last time you said he was three. Besides, this is an Earth Rumble, not a brawl. It's not about size, it's about skill and how you use it. Otherwise the Hippo would never lose a match."

"But I have no skill! I'm a servant, I barely earthbend at all. I probably couldn't even make a decent wall."

Toph put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Which is why I'm going to get you the best teacher in Gaoling."

"Master Yu? I really don't think your parents are going to let you hire him for me."

"No! Me." Ohev was silent for a while. Toph recognized the silence, it was something people did when they didn't want to say what was on their minds. "Out with it," she snapped.

"Don't take this the wrong way, but I really don't think being able to make a nice pot is going to help."

"Not like that you idiot. I mean real earthbending."

"But-"

"You ever heard the expression 'Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach?' Well I defiantly can't." Toph laughed. "You know the badger moles were the original earthbenders, right? I had to make do with a bastardization of some of their techniques. But you… you could actually do them. I haven't studied them completely, but I did enough for a few weeks worth of training." Toph rubbed her hands together. "Trust me Ohev, when I'm done, that guy won't know what hit him."

OoOoOoOo

"Now lift."

Irregular ripples danced underneath her fingertips as Ohev earthbent. Toph could tell straight away his bending was an uneven, jerky affair. Rather than a clean, commanding break, the ground rippled sharply, then teetered with weaker aftershocks as Ohev clumsily ripped earth from earth.

Carefully, Toph slammed her other hand into the ground sending out vibrations. As they returned, she was able to get an idea of Ohev's stance. It wasn't much better than his earthbending! Sloppy. Even with her bound feet, she could probably manage a firmer stance than he was holding.

She sighed. This was going to be more work than she thought.

OoOoOo

Toph carefully felt the latest rock formation Ohev had bent. About the only thing right was the size. Sadly, that was the nicest thing she could say about her friend's work. First, it had taken too long to bend. Even Toph herself could have closed the distance before they were formed. Second, the shape was awful; jagged,awkward and barely more than a lump. As for its durability, when Toph hit the formation it broke in two, electing a groan from Ohev.

Toph sighed. She wasn't being fair, judging it against her earthbending. This was a fight, not at piece of art. The purpose was to hit someone with a blunt set of rocks from the ground and drive them back. As long as it hit the right place and wasn't sharp (drawing blood was against the rules), it would be fine. The things she really needed to work on were making him tougher and faster. If even she could break his rock formations….

OoOoOo

Toph smiled as see felt the tremors. They were still uneven, but now were much stronger and his stance was firm. That was what mattered. "That's great, now hold it."

"Hey, Toph?" Ohev grunted under the strain.

"Yeah?"

"I really appreciate you helping me, but don't you have to have to demonstrate something for Nu Wa soon?"

"Don't worry about it. I've got it more than covered."

OoOoOo

Toph left hand was carefully place on the underside of the stone table, and thus she felt the small, subtle vibration of the cup being moved across. "Toph, would be please refill my cup?"

"I can't. It's already full."

The room was silent, the only sound Nu Wa's tapping fingers. Finally Nu Wa picked up her cup and took a sip. As she set it down, Toph could feel the slight change in vibrations than marked a partially full cup. A few taps from Toph fingers helped confirm the amount in it. Silently, Toph refilled bent the pot over to refill the cup.

Nu Wa got up, and two more cups were set on the table. "Toph, could you refill the blue one, please."

Toph shook her head. "How? I'm blind."

Nu Wa hummed. "I'm perfectly aware the only reason you haven't told me outright how you are doing it is to take more time. Luckily for you, I'm actually interested enough to attempt to solve the little puzzle you've posed for me."

OoOoO

Toph felt the tremor, much bigger than before, and smiled. The rocks had been conjured up quickly, a strike confirmed their strength. Not nearly enough to face one of the professionals, but more than enough to face another amateur. Though really, it had only been a week. And yet in a week she had managed to turn Ohev into something that might be called an earthbender. Toph smiled, a sense of satisfaction more potent than all of Nu Wa's praise running through her.

OoOoOo

Another impact on the arena floor, followed by a softer impact on the ground.

"Let's give a hand to the victor!" There weren't many applauses. Not surprising, considering there wasn't much of an audience. Shocking really, people weren't too interested in seeing a bunch of amateurs duke it out. And amateurs they were; one of the nice things about the lack of people was it was much easier to 'see' the matches. Unfortunately they had to be the saddest things she'd ever observed. Toph was almost convinced she could have taken a few of these guys. Ohev was going to wipe the floor-

Xin Fu spoke up, "All right, will the next two contestants enter the ring?"

Toph smiled. "Ohev, that's you!"

"Yeah, I… I…." Ohev began breathing heavily. "I can't do this!"

"What?"

"I can't do this. All of them are at least twice my size. It's only been a week. There's no way I can do it-"

He was cut off mid-sentence by a hard slap.

"What are you doing?" Toph demanded. "You're just going to give up? What about all our training?"

"It was just a week. I'm not ready."

Some small part of Toph felt hurt at the last statement, but it was overrode by the majority which opted for 'angry' instead. "Idiot! None of these people are ready. Look at them. Do you really think my training was that bad?"

"No. No, that's not what I mean. You taught me more about earthbending than anyone." Ohev voice dropped to a mumble, "I'm just not good enough."

"So you think I'm stupid."

"What?" Ohev protested, "That's not what I-"

"Do you think I just tried to teach you on a lark? For the fun of it? I taught you because I knew you could be great. I believe in you. So do you think I'm stupid?"

"No."

"Then if you don't believe in yourself, believe in me. Because I believe in you."

"I….I…."

"What about Xin Fu?"

"I… I don't know." He paused, continuing his hyperventilating. "I could get out of town. Something."

Toph grabbed his hand. "Please, I don't want you to leave."

OoOoOoO

The match itself was nothing impressive. Ohev dominated it. One quick earth pillar to the gut and his opponent went down, hard.

OoOoOo

"I, I did it."

Toph put her hand on his shoulder. "Don't sound so surprised. I told you."

"Yeah." His voice was filled with relief. "So, time to head home?"

"Don't be silly, you won."

"Yeah?" Ohev asked in confusion.

"It's an elimination tournament." Toph tried and failed to hold back the amusement in her voice. "You advanced to the next round."

"I… did?"

Toph smiled. "Yeah. And if I understood the original announcer right. There are sixty contestants, but you didn't get seeded so you should only have five more matches."

"I… I…"

Toph patted him on the back. "Don't worry, there are at least thirteen more matches 'till the next round starts, so you'll have plenty of time to rest."

OoOoOo

The waiting was an eternity, but the next four matches themselves were over quickly. Most of the contestants were idiots with no sense of how to earthbend. Toph hadn't appreciated how much skill the real rumbler's had until now. Actually, in some ways Ohev's lack of training helped. The few opponents that actually had some training seemed too focused on elaborate, impressive routines over actual combat.

That said, there were a few with actual skill. And the other finalist was one of them. This guy knew what he was doing. He wasn't charging in. And he wasn't wasting time of flashy moves. Just a standard, steady bombardment of stone.

Toph gripped the stone edge of the bench tightly, erratically hoping that it would better help her to observe the match, and, by doing so, reveal a better situation. She had taught Ohev to make walls, but the man simply earthbent them down and resumed his bombardment. "Hey, you stupid bastard!" shouted Toph. "This is Earth Rumble, not stand back and shoot! Fight like a man!"

Unfortunately, not only did the man not listen, but Ohev apparently did and charged forward. "No, not you!" Toph shouted, but she could already feel it was too late, Ohev had committed to his course of action. The man flung more rocks, but Ohev seemed to counter them well enough, or at least he didn't slow down. Once he was within range, Ohev drove a shelf of earth straight towards the man.

And failed.

One problem with Toph current "sight" was that, while she could detect vibration, she was still working out what they meant. She could make out foot movement and the shifts in balance if they were big enough and she really concentrated, but discerning arm movements was far beyond her. The man threw his weight forward, and did something that broke the oncoming earth. She thought he hit back at it, but couldn't be sure.

Regardless, Ohev had thrown his attack and was now unguarded. The man coolly responded with another rock, and Toph could feel the impact as Ohev lost any balance. Two more blows came as Ohev tried to respond. Toph wasn't able to see the rest of the match, she was already up and running towards the arena. She was about halfway there when the Xin Fu called it off.

OoOoOoo

"I'm so sorry." Toph knelt by Ohev's side. She continued, "I was just taunting him. I shouldn't have said anything."

"Toph, it's fine, really." He sat up with a grunt. "I didn't even hear you. I just couldn't keep up the wall-making anymore and had to do something."

"I knew we should have worked on it more –"

"Toph. It's fine. The match was called off. I'm fine."

Toph shifted uneasily. "You don't sound fine."

Ohev gave another small wince. "I'm a little beat up. It's fine, nothing's broke." He pushed his arm forward so she could feel. "Really, it's nothing worse than a nasty fall."

"Glad to hear it, kid." Xin fu appeared out of nowhere. "Wouldn't want anyone getting them permanently injured here. The Earth Rumbles are all about fun."

"Yeah," Ohev agreed apprehensively. "Fun."

Xin Fu bent his knees so he was about level with them. "Hey, miss? Could excuse us for a moment? I'd like to talk to our contestant here. Man-to-man."

Toph took a deep breath. "As a matter of fact-"

"She would be glad to," Ohev cut in. "Right?" His voice had an edge of fear to it.

Toph deflated. "Fine." She headed to the edge of the arena. One advantage of being blind was her other senses seemed to work much better. People never seemed to listen. Which meant that "out of hearing range" for most people wasn't so for Toph.

"So, kid. Do you know why I held this little tournament?"

"… no?" Ohev offered.

"Well, it wasn't for the crowds to come, that's for sure." Xin Fu laughed. He lowered his voice somewhat. "You see, the rumbles are getting a little boring, a little standard. Everyone knows the participants. So, I'm looking for some new blood."

"And this tournament was to find someone." Ohev paused. "But I didn't win."

"You know, you're a pretty smart kid. But see, that guy? That guy's good, but he's not a rumbler. I suspect he's a former soldier, but he just doesn't get the rumbles. The rumbles are about both the fight and the show. Your girl knew what it was about; not boring rock throwing, people here want action, they want entertainment." Xin Fu took a breath. "But, you. You had it. Style, spunk, pizzazz. You actually fought to win. And that's why I'm making you an offer. To be the latest earth rumbler."

"I really don't think I'm rumbler material."

"Kid, I saw the way you fought a week ago, and I saw the way you fought now. You put some real effort into it, but I can see the improvement, just keep that up, and you'll be fine. Plus, and this is the best part, you're young enough no one will expect you to be good, just give it a good effort and you'll be fine. The Earth Rumbles are about ring-outs, not beating people to a bloody pulp. Can't have another fight if my best rumblers get sent to the hospital every time, can I?"

"I… I'm flattered, but-"

"Come on. I haven't even told you about the pay. It's five silver a match." Toph rolled her eyes. What a sham. He had to be making at least fifty times that per match, who would possibly accept such a utterly bullshit amount?

"Really?" Ohev's voice dripped with excitement. "That's more than my parents make in a month- I mean…"

"Don't worry, kid. I know plenty of people who come down here and don't want people knowing. The only thing I'm interested in is the Rumbles, and I won't trouble you with anything else. "

"Look… I."

"Still ain't interested? Eh."

"No, no!" Ohev quickly insisted. "That's not it."

"Well if you don't want to, I'm not going to force you. The rumbles are about fun and challenge. Nothing ruins that more than a participant who doesn't want to be there, so feel free to say no and stick to the stands. I think you could be great, but if you don't want to that's fine."

"Thanks, I really don't-"

"However. There is one other reason you might want to." Xin Fu's voice had the tone of a man dangling a bit of bacon over a hungry catdog.

"Huh?" Ohev asked.

"Well. I'm just speculating here," Xin Fu said. "But I'd bet that…" He paused, and then lowered his voice to a whisper. Toph leaned forward, but still couldn't catch what it was.

Ohev asked, "Do you really think so?"

"You should know better than me. But if you're not interested…"

"Well, maybe….."

"Now, tell you what, why don't you think about my offer? I'll see you at the next match and you can give your answer to me then."

OoOoOoO

Ohev didn't feel like talking about the conversation immediately afterward, and Toph didn't feel like bringing it up. It wasn't until they were walking back to the mansion that Ohev finally brought it up. "Hey, Toph, how do you feel about the rumbles? And the rumblers?"

Toph shrugged. "You know I love them both. We wouldn't go to every match otherwise."

"Yeah, well it just-"

"Xin Fu offered you a place?"

The silence was palpable.

"Good hearing, remember?" Toph added.

"You... you heard it all?"

"Well, at the end he whispered something, but other than that, yeah." Toph paused. "What did he whisper?"

"No- nothing," Ohev insisted.

Now Toph was interested. "You're a terrible liar." She leaned forward. "Tell me."

"No! Look, forget about that. What do you think? About the offer."

Toph sighed. "Fine. Well, first I think the pay's way too low. If you get in, you should negotiate for better." Toph help up her hand. "But that's not all your interested in. Well, I think the rumbles are awesome. But when that last match happened." Toph gulped, the memory replaying in her mind. "I was so worried you might have been seriously hurt. I don't want that.

If it were me, the risk would be worth it. The glory, the rumble. I'd do it in a heartbeat, even if it was risky." Toph took a breath. "But I can't make that decision. You're going to be the one in the ring. You're the one with the danger and the glory. If you do, I'll support you, but honestly, you need to make your own decision. It's your choice, not mine."

They walked in silence for quite a while. "I think - I think I'll say yes."

Toph clapped her hands. "Then I'm going to need to work on new training."

"New training?" Ohev's voice had the edge of worry to it.

"Yeah. What I showed you may have been enough for beginners, but in order to get you ready, we're going to have to take it to the next level."

"But we have a month before the decision is even given, and probably longer 'till I start…."

"I know, that should be just enough time to get you into shape if we hurry." Toph rubbed her hands together. "Don't worry, I've got lots of ideas."