Dragon of the West
Iroh/Toph friendship.
Slightest, barest hint of Tokka and Toko.
She felt the far off form of the huge Drill as it closed in on Ba Sing Se. The massive vibrations moved up through the Great Wall and into her being, telling her that this was definitely not going to be the peaceful entry to the city they had expected. Well, at least I get to see some action before having to go back into the big city with boring rules and confines . . .
As they neared Ba Sing Se, she had begun to realize just how much she would resent going back into a city, reminding her of her parents and their strict social regulations.
But now she could focus on the immediate danger. That drill. The earthquake-that-was-not-an-earthquake.
It reminded her of the other Fire Nation invention that had been used to pursue her and her friends- the one that housed three girls riding mongoose dragons. She had a gut instinct that those same girls would be in this contraption, too. Thinking of them tied a knot in her stomach. But not out of fear of them. A different fear. When they had been chasing them, she had only been with Aang's group for a few days. That was when . . .
That kind old man.
He had poured her tea. That in itself was nice. But he had perhaps done her the greatest favor he could- making her realize that she needed to help her new friends. And accept their help, too.
Spirits, was he alive?
She remembered the intense heat of the flame beating at her face, produced by the guy she guessed to be his nephew, and would later find out was Zuko. She would never admit it to anyone, but fire unnerved her just a bit. She couldn't see it at all.
Several days after their encounter, several days after they had left the old man with an erratic and fragile heartbeat fluttering against the ground, several days after Katara said, "I can help," Toph found out what she meant.
Katara had healing abilities.
In addition to regular waterbending.
At the revelation Toph had to fight the impulse to jump up and strangle the older girl.
Is that why you said that? Why didn't you stay and heal him? Dammit, if I had known there was no way I would've let you leave him like that!
She had been especially rough with Aang during training that day.
Toph was prodded out of her reminiscence by the annoyingly smug voice of General Sung, talking about the drill.
"It is an honor to welcome you to the outer wall young Avatar, but your help is not needed."
Aang's voice matched her own incredulity. "Not needed?"
"Not needed." He repeated. "I have the situation under control. I assure you the Fire Nation cannot penetrate this wall. Many have tried to break through it, but none have succeeded."
"What about the Dragon of the West?" Toph asked bluntly. "He got in." Despite what little her parents had allowed her to learn of the outside world, and her handicap of not being able to read, she knew that Ba Sing Se was the last great stronghold of her country, and she knew a little bit of history. She felt a small surge of resentment at the Fire Nation general who had succeeded in knocking through its great wall, the testament to the work of countless and dedicated earthbenders. What was his name? Iroh?
"Well…uh…technically yes." Sung stuttered. "But he was quickly expunged."
Thank goodness.
"Nevertheless, that is why the city is named Ba Sing Se. It's the impenetrable city. They don't call it Na Sing Se." He joked. "That means penetrable city."
Toph was unamused at his attempt at humor. "Yeah, thanks for the tour, but we still got the drill problem."
.
.
.
.
.
.
Several weeks later, Toph was riding atop Appa, mind spinning frantically.
The general who had breached Ba Sing Se's walls. She hadn't remembered that he was the current Fire Lord's brother.
Iroh.
He was the old man who had been so kind to her.
Zuko was Prince. And he was his uncle.
It had all clicked into place as she rushed with Sokka to warn the Earth King of Azula and the Dai Li's coup. After she had left the man with Aang.
Where exactly did the loyalties lie in this family? And why did Zuko have to be saved from his own sister?
When she felt Katara holding Aang- and sensed only one heartbeat, her own heart nearly stopped.
Katara used the Spirit Oasis water on him.
And thank all the Spirits, it worked.
Toph sat in the creaking wooden-and-leather saddle, the night wind brushing at her skin, giving her goosebumps despite its warmth. She almost didn't have the courage to ask the questions that were eating at her from the inside out. Iroh hadn't come back with them. Could he have had something to do with . . . Did that mean that he . . .
The flames from his nephew came back to her mind.
The lilting, creepy voice of his niece.
Had he helped them . . . kill Aang?
Or did he get injured? . . . Killed?
She grabbed on to Sokka's arm for support as a wave of conflicting nausea passed over her, only made worse by the flying.
"You alright?" He said, returning her grip with his other hand.
"K-Katara," Toph said hoarsely. "W-what happened to Iroh?" She could have just as easily said 'What did Iroh do?' But she wanted to badly to believe he had sided with them.
Katara's voice was hard. "Zuko attacked us with his sister." And then it softened. "But Iroh defended us from the Dai Li."
Toph straightened and her voice cracked as equal parts relief and worry crashed in on her. "So y-you just left him? Left him with the girl who struck Aang with lightning?"
"I don't think Zuko will let her hurt him, Toph." Sokka said softly, giving her arm a reassuring squeeze.
And with that sentence, with that gesture, she no longer remembered the angry flame that had been directed at them, but instead the startled heartbeat, the rigid muscles of the prince as the fire struck. And the frustrated, grief-filled sound he had made as he threw up his hands, kneeling at his uncle's side.
"I'm counting on you, then, Zuko." She whispered. "If you have any shred of dignity, you'll keep him safe." For me.
Author's Note: The "Dragon of the West" line is indeed in "The Drill" episode. Make of it what you will.
