It was surreal and foreign.
The other worldly guest who sat before the Fire Lord, Lady and their daughter had the most peculiar voice. So soft and smooth. As if she could weave silk from just uttering a word.
It was all too perfect... Just three royals entranced by the young, female storyteller.
Xiaolian found the most pleasure whilst listening to the guest.
The female was fully garbed from head-to-toe in fine, colorful cotton fabrics with various patterns misting over the bold colors. Every now and then the royal daughter would spot gold creatures making their way around the small woman's skirts.
Yes, this storyteller was elaborate in the way she dressed and how she spun tales.
"In my land there is a story of a god who secretly desires a goddess." Her accent was a calming thing to hear, the way her kohl lined eyes shifted back and forth from the royals to their daughter was intriguing. With every word spoken, she would raise her hands and move them fluidly as if they were water bound within flesh. Perhaps she was a Water bender?
"It is said that the goddess was hidden away from the world..." This was starting to sound familiar. "Her parents did not approve of the decay and perverse ways of the other beings so in the silent of the night... The young goddess was caged within a paradise."
And Toph flinched at the last sentence that was spoken. She could see her life play out within the darkness of her disability all to clearly.
"Hidden away by the foliage and fruit trees, the young goddess felt no loneliness; for she knew not just how blind and alone she truly was... until one day. Other gods had stumbled their way into the paradise, and sought out the girl for her powers. They had created enough noise and havoc that the other beings heard of her existence."
Xiaolian fidgeted in her mothers arms as she eagerly listened to the woman. The child looked on with curious eyes. and a small smile that only encouraged the storyteller.
Zuko had let his attention waver to his wife and child for a mere second. And though Xiaolian was honest in her interest with the storyteller—Toph looked drained. There was that painful look on her face.
The Fire Lord quickly looked away. He didn't understand the rush of emotions filling his chest. And as quickly as he was distracted, Zuko placed his attention back to the foreigner.
"Then one day, a god of a much darker existence found this young goddess to be the light he yearned for. With each passing day the god sought out for the girl, cloaked in invisibility he took his time to watch her as a father to a child. His heart had softened towards her innocent, and honest heart... And then, he found her near a riverbank, watching her reflection as she slowly touched her face—a frown prominent."
"I can't leave," said the girl to herself. "But if only I had someone here to be with me. To share this paradise." And within a second the girl was grabbed from behind and taken down into the darkness by the god." And the storyteller continued on, her hands dancing around her with life and grace.
But her story fell on deaf ears as the Fire Lady recalled the memory of Zuko's reappearance within her life.
"Toph, it's been awhile." He had smiled at her and she didn't know; she concentrated on his speeding heart . "I have a favor to ask of you, Toph Bei Fong."
She understood then, of what he was asking of her—the beating muscle within her chest almost exploded as happiness coursed through it. It was later that night they shared a very strained, and awkward conversation in the privacy of the moonlit garden. She had tried to entertain him with Earth bending and small jokes she hoped he'd get.
"You know, I don't think I'd be cut out to be your next Fire Lady." Toph threw over her shoulder as she felt for the small vibrations of her koi fish. They flipped their tail fins in the small pond as if to beckon their blind maiden closer.
"I can't bend fire, and I'm too outspoken for you high and mighty type of folk." She smiled when Zuko coughed in embarrassment at how she labeled people so freely. She threw consequences to the wind and laughed like a child.
"Remember that time when I took that so called 'road trip' with you?" Toph said.
"I thought you said field trip? Not road trip." Zuko countered nonchalant.
Toph frowned and flicked her wrist in the Fire Lord's direction. The rock he was currently sitting on started to vibrate and move. Zuko's rump quickly fell to the hard ground as the rock vanished beneath him.
"Didn't your uncle ever teach you not to interrupt a lady, Sparky?" Toph scolded the male as he frowned at her and said under his breath quietly, "Yeah, he did." Zuko slowly got up and rubbed his sore backside.
Toph wasted no time in finishing her story. "I thought you'd get how I felt about you at that time, but obviously. You. Didn't"
The young Earth bender didn't blush too much as she thought back to the days of The War. Her heart ached when she remembered the way he broke off their small connection so easily with his "Yeah. That must have sucked." response.
"I thought to myself, "Oh well, there went my twenty minute confession right out the window! But it's ok, Toph! You don't need anybody except yourself." And Zuko watched the girl intently. He saw her tremble underneath the moon, kneeling down by the pond with her fingers running over the smooth surface.
"I knew instantly when you arrived that I couldn't live without myself or... you." Her confession lingered in the air.
And then he had to ruin it.
And Zuko said. "Things were complicated back then, Toph. I couldn't have been with you."
"You had someone else and who was I to intrude?" Her voice was so small. Silence was about to intervene until— "But things are different now."
Zuko was quick and shameless to say, "Will you marry me?"
"Well, I'm still here, Sparky. Aren't I?" She let herself give a toothy grin.
"Yes, Toph. You are."
"Then yes! I'd love to."
Things... were so much simpler back then. There was no dramatic procession of old farts digging their noses into other people's business like some old lion dog. It was just Toph and Zuko. Zuko and Toph. Basking in the love that was steadily growing.
But...
Over time that love faltered and was crushed by heavy gossip and wavering loyalties. Over time, that love seemed to have vanished as the Fire Lord felt the changes of his people as they waited for their Earth bending Fire Lady to give them hope. A hope in a form of a male heir.
Soon that love became one-sided. Toph wished it was her being embraced by her husband at night and not another woman. Toph wished her daughter could look at her father and not feel unwanted. Toph wished her daughter could be accepted by the Fire nation for her Earth bending. Toph wished that in the future her offspring would not be judged or branded by the world... And in the deepest most haunting darkness of her heart... Toph wished she could see.