This story is becoming one of my favorite ones to write. I am wrapping up Downfall and I hope you all join me for this jaunt, I really have big plans for this story with a lot of fun and elaborate twists in the road. Special thanks to my Co-Writer, Cala who rocks immensely. Okay, this chapter continues with Zuko's training and strengthening their friendship. I hope to see a lot of reviews!

The Sounds of Silence

"The vision that was planted in my brain still remains within the sound of silence"

-Simon and Garfunkel

Somehow, being around a blind person helped me appreciate the stars more. I remembered once having my eyes bandaged and wondering if I would ever see again. I could not imagine dwelling in eternal darkness. Eternal shame and derision was more than enough of a burden.

Toph had been good enough to share some of her food. I had to admit, females were useful enough when they were doing what the Gods intended them to do, taking care of men. Of course, I was wise enough not to mention that to Toph. I had a distinct feeling she'd grind my face into the earth.

I watched her chew methodically. It was amazing that a person who could not even see was able to eat with such refinement. She would have fitted in perfectly back…home in the palace. Yet, she was walking around unescorted like a common peasant. Her clothing definitely suggested a lower class background.

I stared at her, wondering how a cheeky girl who had been ordering me around all day had suddenly learned how to eat in a quiet, dignified fashion, almost like someone at court. "What's wrong, Mopey? You're not eating. Is there something out there?" she asked, putting her plate down and looking out into the forest. I shook my head and put another morsel of food in my mouth.

"There's nothing. I was just watching..." I trailed off, wondering how she knew I was staring at the way she ate her food with poorly concealed shock.
"It's rude to stare, you know." she replied matter-of-factly.

"It's good policy to keep an eye on strangers. I don't know anything about you besides your name and your earthbending ability. How do we know you aren't a threat to us?" I demanded.

I scowled, but Uncle raised his hand for silence. "What my nephew means to say is perhaps you could tell us more about yourself?" he said in a kindly tone.

The girl shrugged. "What is there to know? My name is Toph the Blind Bandit, I'm the greatest Earthbender you'll ever know. I'm your nephew's new teacher as well as your friend."

I rolled my eyes. "Do you have a family or did you spring up from the earth like a weed?" I asked sharply.

Uncle cleared his throat, clearly displeased with my frankness. Before I could give a response, I felt the earth under me push me forward so that I landed sprawling on the floor. "OW!"

Toph looked furious. "I'm not blessed to have an uncle who cleans up after me like you are. If you're that desperate to know, my name is Toph of the Bai Fong clan," she hissed.

Uncle's eyes narrowed. "From Gaoling?" he asked softly as he put down his tea cup on the floor.

Toph nodded bitterly. "Yes. My parents are Lao and Wei. I'm sure you know them quite well."

Uncle nodded. "Indeed. I must confess I did not know they had a radiant daughter."

Toph scowled and crushed a rock with a flick of her fingers. "Most people didn't know. They kept me well hidden."

I stared at my two dinner companions. "Would someone explain to me what is going on?" I demanded.

Uncle nodded. "Our honored guest is the heiress to the Bai Fong family, a noble clan with immense wealth gained through a partnership with Great-grandfather Sozin. The Bai Fong clan provides supplies for the invasion in exchange for cash on the barrel. In fact, I would call them one of our allies. Yet I imagine your family's Fire nation sympathies posed a problem with your traveling companions."

Toph nodded. "Oh yes. They made it quite clear what they thought of me. They called me a number of names and questioned my loyalty. So I gave them a definitely fond farewell," she said with a savage grin. I was glad I was not the companion.

I was disgusted. "So if you had all this money and servants, why did you leave to live like a peasant?" I demanded. "Why would you leave your parents?" All I wanted was to serve Father again and go home. I would give anything to have servants and comfort again.

Toph raised her head. "My parents saw me as weak and helpless. I decided long ago I was not going to let them define me. No one should take abuse from their parents. You create your own road," she said proudly.

I found myself torn between thinking her a fool and envying her independence. I said nothing for the rest of the night, not knowing what to say in response. I just stared into the fire while Uncle recounted a tale of battle to the enthralled Toph. I had heard the story too many times and I just wanted to be left alone.

Finally, Uncle yawned and bid us both good night. Toph erected a large earth house for us and rolled over to fall asleep, leaving me alone to my thoughts. I pondered the sightless creature sleeping on the other side of the mountain that was my beloved uncle.

I had to admit, I was not entirely fond of having Little Miss Toph joining us. I was a grown man and I had no business taking orders from a female child. It was beneath my dignity. Besides, I never liked pushy females very much. Women should be quiet and dignified, like Mother had been. I had very little patience for hoydens like certain people whose names need not be mention. For all I knew, she could be a spy sent by my dear sister in order to further her life-long ambition of being an only child.

I comforted myself with the notion that Uncle seemed to trust her. As much as I knew my uncle's wisdom far exceeded my own, I still felt naturally protective of him. He was all I had. After watching Azula strike him down, my greatest fear was failing him again. If I did, I'd throw myself into the next canyon and be done with it.

I was still filled with a bit of happiness, a rare commodity when living dirt poor in exile. I had finally bent a small amount of lightning today. It may have been a mere accident, but I had to admit that it was possible Toph's coaching had paid off. I also had to admit I did not hate her, despite her prodigy-like power. She was handicapped to the world and had fought to get over it. I could respect that. Now if only she would behave more meekly, I might actually move to tolerate her.

I closed my eyes and tried to find that sense of peace Toph had given me today. It had come so easily when she had guided me there. What was that old saying? The blind leading the blind? All I could think about was the palaces, the power and the pride that should be mine.

It only seemed like a few moments that I had closed my eyes when I heard a rumbling sound akin to a herd of rhinos in mating season. "GOOD MORNING, MOPEY," came an overly cheery voice, viciously rousing me from sleep.

I opened one eye and saw the ghostly lidded eyes of my new…crew member, looking slightly past me. The ground beneath me began to shake like a ship in the middle of a storm. "Come on, Mopey. Its dawn, perfect time to start your training."

I glared at her with my most regal sneer, the one that made my former crew members scurry away. It took a second before I realized she could not see my sneer, which diminished its ability to scare her away. I had a feeling even if she could see it, she wouldn't have flinched.

"I don't feel moving! On your feet," I was sternly scolded by the blind thorn in my side. Suddenly, I felt a kick in the back by the earth as I was tossed into the air like a bushel of hay. Only my balance kept me from landing in a heap. I was starting to really hate females younger than me. "Much better!"

Uncle turned over to his side and gave an exaggerated snore. "Old men…need their slumber. Would you kindly give me another few hours?" he mumbled sleepily, looking far too innocent for the deadly bender I knew him to be. Behold the Dragon of the West, Prince of the Fire Nation, now an outlaw sleeping comfortably in the dirt. If I didn't love him so much, I'd call him crazy. Actually, I always called him crazy and maybe that was why I loved him so much. You had to be crazy to follow an unwanted outcast into exile and still keep up hope.

I expected Miss Tough-talk to throw a hissyfit, like Azula did when she didn't get her way. To my surprise, Toph smiled gently. "Of course, we'll move a bit away. You get some rest, Uncle."

"Uncle?" I queried. The only people allowed to call him uncle were the person trying to protect him and the person trying to kill him. I had one sister. I did not need two!

"Yeah. Just think of me as a member of the family, Sparky," I was told sweetly as those vacant eyes stared through me. Oh joy, just what I always wanted.

"Now enough talk. I'm planning a program of grueling mental and physical labor guaranteed to make a warrior out of you. That or kill you. Whatever comes first. Let's start with a practice match so I have a better view of your mistakes."

I stared at the diminutive child who dared give me orders. "My pleasure," I said, eager to teach her a lesson. Something inside me reminded me that this girl was on the same level as Azula. I had as much chance of defeating her as I had of being Fire Lord, but I had a belief that I could fight my rotten luck and one day, overcome it.

To my utmost surprise, Toph smiled happily at my acceptance. Her blank eyes frankly sparkled with pleasure at the idea of sparring me. "Come on, princey. Show me what you royalty are made of," she said, an eager smile on her face.

I assumed my usual fighting position and shot a fireball at her. She instantly blocked it with a wall of earth. Her face had lost the smile and had become sublime. She seemed perfectly at ease with her element. I had always wrestled with mine. "Come on, you can do better than that. I'm bored," she catcalled.

I felt myself beginning to lose my temper. I landed one of my most devastating fire-kicks at her, trying to knock her down. Each time I struck, she had already blocked it. It was strange, her hands open and ready to receive every blow. I threw walls of flame at her and she elegantly stepped aside, her body moving perfectly in rhythm. Even as I moved around, trying to vary my position, she moved with me. The ground under me shifted rapidly and I was tossed across the landscape.

"All right, I think I have what I need to start you on my program. I can see all your flaws. We have a long way to go before you are worthy of fighting," the earth girl said, methodically stroking her chin.

"How dare you?" I demanded, furious at the girl. I debated throwing something at her. I knew she would block it but it would make me feel better.

"Quiet. I want to hear sound of pain, not whining. Now, the first step on my program is working on the problems in your current form. You are going to learn much stronger stances."

"What? My stances are fine!" I protested. All right, so Uncle was constantly yelling at me to work on them, Toph did not have to now that.

"Listen up, Mopey, you need to change your tactics. Your sister knows exactly how you fight. She knows your own moves better than you. So get with the program and evolve to a different style. You'll have the element of surprise and might have a chance of grinding her under your heel." She flicked a stone chip at me for emphasis. I had to admit the girl had a point there and so I said nothing.

"Second, Sister Sadist is smaller and lighter than you, so she's going to be faster. She will therefore use her speed and agility against you. Do not let her keep an advantage. From your walk, I can tell you are most likely taller and more muscular. Think of it this way, she's the wind, you are the mountain. You are going to learn to stand your ground and work on defensive maneuvers to redirect her energy back at her."

I rolled my eyes. This sounded logical but crazy. Story of my life. "And how is defending me going to help me stop my psychopathic sister?" I drawled.

"Patience, Mopey, keep your shirt on," Toph said irritably as she cocked her head in thought.

"Why would I take my shirt off? I haven't challenged you to an Agni Kai yet," I snapped cantankerously, as I stretched a sore muscle.

"Yes, that's another thing. You rely too much on emotion instead of logic. As yesterday's lesson proved, you are still listening to the doubt in your head. You are not putting everything into every move and that's why you suck so much."

"I'm beginning to change my mind about the Agni Kai!" I hissed, really starting to lose my temper.

"Mopey, I can kill you where you stand. Stop threatening me and notice that," she smirked, pointing to the boulders loaming menacingly above my head. I hated when she did that.

"You see, you have to learn how to distance yourself from the fight. Instead of blindly charging forward like a fool, you have to listen, hear and observe your opponent. You must wait for the perfect moment and then strike. The idiotic attacks end here."

"Shut up," I ordered in a clipped, yet menacing voice. I had had all I could take from this arrogant female. I glared death at her, my fists forming blades of fire.

Toph didn't even look phased. "Listen, Mopey. Tantrums aren't going to protect your uncle or get you back on the throne. So suck it up and begin your training, if you think you are capable of it," she retorted, her hands folded irritably.

"Why should I listen to a little girl?" I seethed angrily, glaring at her with all my considerable wrath. She could not see my glare but it made me feel better.

"Because I could kick your butt without much effort and I'm trying to help you change that. Now do you want to sulk or do you want to work?" she retorted, removing her sash from her waist. "Tell me when you are done acting like an idiot and are ready to put on the blindfold."

I grabbed the cloth, determined to show the brat I could match anything she could throw at me. "Stop your yapping!" I told her sternly as I blindfolded myself. There, the sunshine had been blotted from my eyes. "I can't see, are you happy now?"

"You are blind without the cloth, Mopey. You let people define you and can't see yourself or others properly. Try growing a spine and taking a stand. It's good for you," I heard her voice. I would have thrown something at her but I had no idea where she was. I began to shift my feet around, as my loss of vision left me bewildered.

"I can't see, and your talking isn't helping. Were you sent specifically to torment me or are you just part of the group?" I hissed angrily.

"Stop whining. I don't hear effort. Now, close your mouth and open your eyes," the pest directed me. "You rely too much on your sight. Work on your other senses! Tell me what you feel?"

"Annoyed. Very annoyed." I muttered as I tried to orient myself without my vision. I felt a rock hit my side. "OW"

"Don't be a smart mouth, Mopey. We are working on your sense of touch. Now tell me what you feel," she snapped angrily.

I felt blind and helpless, neither feeling finding nor favor in my eyes. "Ugh, how do you live like this?" I muttered to myself, stumbling around like an idiot.
"It's easier than it looks Mopey. I'm blind and younger than you and I can still fight better than you, never mind walk around, she scoffed. "I've had to live like this my entire life, I've had practice. You haven't. So have patience, it will take a few minutes."

"Yes, but you've had people guiding you along the way the whole time. Holding your hand, telling you where to step, where to stop, where to turn. I'm completely without help," I said, turning around in circle again, trying to collect my bearings.

"You think I've had it easy? Think again, Mopey. The only thing I've ever been physically guided to do was walk, and that was when I was a baby. Everything else I've taught myself or told to me. I have never depended on anyone else and you shouldn't either. So shut up and start observing," my taskmaster snapped.

I had to admit, as much as the little brat annoyed me, I admired her spirit. She had been born deformed and completely defied expectations of others. I supposed if a blind person could learn to fight, I could learn to beat Azula. Perhaps anything was possible. "I feel the earth underneath my feet. I feel the sun's warmth on…my left side," I mused, half to myself.

"Good. Now you are showing some brains. Tell me more. What can you tell me about the earth," she continued, her tone warming up considerably. "Describe it."

"The earth seems hard packed, with twigs and leaves crunching underneath my feet, which gives way when I move. There is a slight wind coming from my left hand's side. And what does this matter?" I demanded.
"Well, this place is perfect for you to start a brush fire and limit the ability of an earth bender. If you were observant enough, you'd know that."

I remembered a distant lesson, Great Grandfather Sozin had used brush fires in the battle of Hun Twee to burn the defenses to a crisp. It had always been Azula's favorite story, she had always neglected to mention that Sozin had sacrificed a whole troop of non-bending soldiers, who got trapped when the fires grew too big. Still, it had taught the lesson well enough. I suppose…Toph might make logical sense. "I see."

"I'll tell you when you are able to truly see. Till then, back to work. Listen to the sounds and tell me what you hear," Toph said. I wondered how she lived every day in darkness, never seeing the blue sky or the sun.

"I hear you yelling orders at me," I muttered, as I took a deep breath and started concentrating. "I hear…birds."

"How many?" she pressed. My pride protested the obedience to a mere child. Azula and Father would think me a weakling and a failure, being taught by an outlander half my size who lacked the ability to see.

"I can't hear any birds," I mumbled, feeling even more ashamed of myself. I was an embarrassment to everyone. Unconsciously, I drew back into myself, my muscles tightening up more than they already were.

"Your stance is shifting. I can feel weakness. Are you a prince or a porcupine? Widen that stance and tell me how many birds you hear!"

I took a deep breath and tried a meditation trick Uncle had taught me. I concentrated on an image of a flame and fed all my thoughts to it. There was nothing but the flame. There was no fire lord, no princess, no prince. There was only the flame. Yet, it did not work! Flames reminded of Father and failure!

I concentrated on the smell of Ginseng tea. Uncle had always drank it after Lu-Ten died. When I smelled it, I know I was safe. I know that I had support and love, no matter what happened. It seemed to calm the storm in my mind enough for me to concentrate. "Three…no, four birds."

"Actually, it's five, but I'll accept this as your first try. Next time, I expect better. Now keep going. What else do you feel and hear?" I concentrated her voice. It grew less annoying as it became my guide in the darkness.

"I hear the wind…" I mumbled, still feeling foolish. "It's a light breeze, coming from my right hand across my left."

"All right. You are starting to get the hang of this. Now let's kick it up a notch. Do you have a staff or something?" Toph asked, sounding very pleased.

"I use swords," I informed her primly. I was very proud of my skill with the blade, even though my family always believed swords were a lesser proficiency to bending.

"Only non-benders use weapons. I suppose you barely can fire bend, so you need to rely on more… inferior skills," my younger sister would say sweetly, as she would demonstrate the easy way fire seemed to dance at her command. I therefore had been forced to practice in secret to avoid her scorn and Father's disappointment.

"Then take out your swords. We'll see if you have the skills to use them," the girl informed me with a challenge in her voice. "I'll be lobbing rocks at you. You will block them blindfolded; use the listening skills you practiced. The bruising will help the lessons sink in."

"Have you gone crazy?" I asked. A stone hitting my side was the only response. "Stop that!" Another barrage of stones hit my side, like the beating of a drum, with me as the instrument of pain.

"If you want to stop the pain, defend yourself," I heard my new female tormentor say, with a mocking tone to her voice. With a twist of my hands and a scything sound, I had my weapons ready. "That's better!"

Another volley of rocks hit me. They came at me from all directions, like the traumas in my life. Being born a weakling, losing Lu-Ten, losing Mother, losing my home, losing my only chance to go home, it all came like the hailstorm of stones pelting me like some adulterous wife. My body was becoming as battered as my mind. I urged myself to concentrate. Yet, the thudding of the stones just made me angrier and less able to focus.

I could feel myself knock a few stones away, but not enough to keep away the bruising punishment. I wanted to remove the blindfold, but my hands held swords. If I dropped them, I'd be completely defenseless. I could ask Toph to stop, but I'd lose my pride. With everything else taken from me, I had to protect my self-esteem with all my might.

"Fight back, Zuko." I heard Toph's voice detonate through my head like fireworks. "You can do it. Don't let me down." I could see my friend's green eyes in my mind. They were clouded and blank and sightless, but saw everything. There was a comforting emptiness in her powerful blank stare, a sense that she only saw the good in me. The feeling of complete peace settled over me. That feeling of confidence radiated through me, like sunlight after a fierce storm.

Every sound seem magnified. I could hear the roar of the wind in my ears, I could track the movements of the stones. Taking a deep breath, I raised my swords and whirled around. I concentrated on the heat in the air, feeling the changes as the stones approached. With that empty concentration, I was feeling sublime. As the stones approached, I managed to shove them away. "You're doing it!" Her voice was a light in the darkness.

"Of course I can," I answered. Yes, my mind was clear now. At last, I could see everything. It was almost like a dance. I could feel the stones coming, but I was not afraid. I almost looked forward to each approach. I smiled as I felt the hard enemy being driven back.

The tempo of the onslaught grew faster as did the tempo of my blocking. I whirled out of the way of a stone flying at my head and blocked another headed for my chest. "I'm ready for more," I said when I felt no rock approaching. I was ready for anything!

"Zuko, remove your blindfold." I was directed by my teacher's soft voice. I instantly obeyed, waiting for my next task. When I removed it, I was shocked to see the damage I had inflicted. Stones were imbedded into the ground, into the trunks of trees. Broken limbs dangled by a few strands of bark. Some had been completely knocked off, leaving gaping holes in the canopy. I turned to Toph and I saw my teacher bowing slightly to me, her smile wide with approval. "Well done."

I returned the bow respectfully, knowing in my heart that she could see it.

AN-Keep on reading, reviewing and enjoying!