Ozai was sitting in his study and lots of thoughts were running through his head. What happened with his daughter and why were the most important ones.
"Why he had to raise hand against his daughter?"
It was worrying him greatly, but he was also proud of his daughter. Proud that she stood her ground and didn't falter ...even then her bending failed her. Yes, he noticed that, after all he was master firebender. He was proud that she wasn't like that failure son of his, Zuko. When his son faced his rage Zuko did nothing, but begged for mercy laying on ground in surrender. No, his daughter had guts to stand and face him like equal and resist him. And he was also proud of her that she remained cold when her bending failed. Ozai wasn't sure that when his daughter noticed that she couldn't firebend (she was deadly even without her bending), but he was sure that she most likely have breakdown if she noticed it and she should have noticed that already. That could cause some big problems. It was biggest disgrace for master firebender to fail at bending when anyone saw it and even bigger disgrace if one was from royal family. Royals were supposed to be greatest firebenders and failing at it mean that he or she were unfit to rule or be part of family. There always were nobles who acted like vultures if they smelled rotting carcass and failing at bending was clear signal to attack. Ozai was sure that if something like that happened to him he would have run for his life, because ... he reign using fear to control nobles and being greatest firebender in the world. IF somehow some nobles heard that he or his heir couldn't firebend he was sure he would have to face revolt sooner or later, mostly sooner. And being at war it would have disastrous result. His forces were already stretching thin in Earth kingdom with only small part guarding mainland. Internal conflict could make opportunity for Earth kingdom to regroup and take over some if not all Fire Nations assets in Earth kingdoms territory. And if his daughter has serious breakdown it would make thing worse, because it would confirm that she was unfit to be heir of Fire Nation and that he was wrong in first place. Thought that he would have to recall his son's banishment made him feel even sicker. But lucky his daughter was acting cold at her failure in bending – the opposite feeling of warm and fire that burned in every firebenders heart – that mean that she was ok with that and wasn't going to spend time crying and would try to recover as fast as possible. Or at least that's what he thought. He has to keep everything secret. But there was other thing that worried him. His daughter was very clever and her loyalty to him was unquestioned, so the thing that she would do something like call him fool means that there was solid reason to do that but why? Why she had to do that in from of other people? Was she questioning something, but couldn't tell about it loud? What? Was it something he done? Or maybe something he will do? Gah, it was making him crazy the more he thought about it. How something that simple could cause so much ... he didn't had words for that.
And then it hit him. Fire sages told him that his daughter's ailment was spiritual. Maybe she have met some spirit and was told of all the bad Fire Nation did.
"NAH! She was too cleaver for that."
He could admit that some decision like dragon hunt was arrogant and stupid. Fire Lord Sozin used dragons and comet's power to wipe out Air nomads in single strike. And if he had such powerful allies this war would have already been finished with complete Fire Nation victory long time ago.
Or maybe it was future that she saw? There was no word from avatar for hundred years, but that doesn't mean that fool was dead, even if he died he would reincarnate in next element. He probably was gathering army and will strike when Fire Nation was with her pants down.
What if his failure son found avatar and decided to join him. Seeing how his son was weakling he could be used as puppet by the avatar to overthrow his rule. After all if he, Ozai, would have lost what was rightfully his, he would do anything that he could to regain it, Even if that mean that he have to side with biggest enemy of his nation – the Avatar.
He has to look closely what his children's do for now. It could lead to very bad end if he misses something. And the future will show that he has already missed one important detail.
...
After her ... unexpected meeting with "her" father Toph went to find "her" new friend.
"What was her name Sona? Yes, Sonata." And ask for her help to heal burns her so called father inflicted to her and was very surprised to find her nearby. (She must have followed her until that cursed room)
Watertribe was shocked to hear what was happening in nearby room where Firelord dragged his daughter in and later seeing her ladies burned hands.
"Was this how Firelord handled all matter, by simply burning everything?" she knew that he was ruthless and burned his son – everyone gossiped about it, but never expected that he could act same with female. Looks like he was as bad as was described or even worse.
But she had no time to waste thinking how evil fire nation was, her lady (although she may be crazy and evil bitch, as was told to her by some other servants) was in pain and she had to help her. It was her duty or else she would have to face conveniences. She didn't want to anger the princess and by the look on her face, Sonata was sure she will get burned for smallest mistake she would made.
...
After extended healing session, that removed all pain and lasted too long for Toph liking, she decided to explore palace and somehow ended in palace garden. And was stunned by the sight: unlike palace where dominated one color – RED, here was something new. Colors.
The ground is grey, grass and trees – green, water is blue, and flowers can be all kind of colors – those were simple words that Sokka once told Toph when she asked what colors are and it remained only words... until now. Toph knowledge of colors had been supplemented by Sokka - apparently blue was the best color and pink was the opposite. She never knew what colors really were and thought that Snoozles was just making fun of her telling some nonsense that grass was green or water blue when she knew that she could never saw it and prove it. But now she understood that he was right, that stupid moron was right: grass and water does look different. Could it be what separate those entire things and combine them too? Colors? That train of thoughts was interrupted when she remembered what else that funny non bender told her.
She couldn't believe she would miss him, miss how funny he sounded and all those crazy thing he did or she forced for him to do. She couldn't believe she could miss Snoozles... and Sugar queen or Twinkle toes too, but mostly Sokka. He was the one that was fun to be with, and all those crazy adventured they had or the way he said something funny.
"Oh those good old memories."
While Sugar queen was more motherly and caring person which translates to no fun or fun breaker call it whatever you want it, Toph was glad she could always talk with Katara about things boys would never understand, Katara also was compassion, good and cared about her (Toph), the real her, sparing with her was awesome too as teasing her sometime. And there was Aang that loved fun too, but he sometimes was too consumed by being the avatar or doing something stupid trying to get Sugar queens attention.
Those memories make her want to find them, but ... she didn't know where to find them. Snoozles with Sugar queen probably were somewhere in South Pole and Twinkle toes most likely was still frozen in iceberg. That thought send shivers down her spine. She was Fire nation now and that was one big problem. Even if she managed to find them they won't know her. And knowing Sokka's and Katara's opinion about Fire nation her best friend most likely stab her without second thought and even if he didn't his sister would surely do it. And there was chance that if she shows in South Pole she may scare them and they will never find Twinkle toes.
So she had to wait for good opportunity like Sparky's failure in North Pole or something else if she wanted to rejoin her old friends without possibility of having serious body injury and If she behaved and played well she, Toph, may have some chance to get Snoozles believe her, after all Sokka had reputation of being ladies man with ability to attract beautiful and dangerous women like that Kioshi warrior Suki or that crazy acrobat. But Katara could be real problem. While that waterbender had not been strong enough to heft a spear, nor club down tiger seal in a killing blow, hatred for Fire nation, royals and military, burned bright in her hearth and if she had ability and opportunity Katara would do it without hesitation, although she may later regret it her whole life. And there was problem Toph needed plan and a good one, but she wasn't scheming type like Sokka, She was punch first ask questions later type and god know he loved punching something or someone and that someone mostly was Sokka unless you count earthbending. Sokka!? Again!? Why can't I get him out of my head?
All those thoughts that she has to be separated from her friends made her feel depressed so she decided to focus on something entirely different. Color.
"What else Snoozles told me? Ah yes, the sky could be red or yellow but mostly was blue. Let's see if he was right." thought Toph and raised her head to look at the sky and instantly collapsed on ground and she would have hit the ground face first if not that servant girl who caught her.
"Are you all right princess?" asked Sonata.
"The sky! It's so wide ... and beautiful" said Toph after recovery and lied down on grass. That scared watertribe girl. This wasn't what she expected to see or hear. According to stories about Azula that she heard from servant, that girl was as cold and heartless as stone. Nothing could impress her unless it was someone she set on fire and was screaming and begging for mercy, yet this girl that currently was nearby was anything like those stories told. It was as if she was born yesterday and was amazed by anything. The princess even acted like she was interacting with her friend and not lowly slave Sonata currently was. Or was this just one of those so called masks the princess wore trying to get her new prey's trust and then burn her to cinders if she made even smaller mistake. Or maybe all those stories were only meant to scare her and this princess was like princess Yue from her homeland. Only the time will show what the truth is..
The view was stunning: sky was indeed blue or that what Toph thought and so ... endless, and mostly empty with some strange forms moving in it. Was it clouds or birds or maybe both, she didn't know, she just wanted to lie here and stare at sky-blue. She could never imagine anything like that. Toph could have spent the rest of day just by looking in sky and lying on her back on soft grass if not for two old cronies that came looking for her.
"Princess Azula"
"It's time for"
"your training."
"What's up with those two and that weird way they speak?" Thought Toph while rising to greet those persons. "Is something wrong with my eyes or those old ladies look similar like two bit of water?"
"Who are you?" asked Toph clearly confused by seeing two identical women.
"We are your"
"trusted advisors"
"and teachers"
"And two pairs of unneeded eyes to spy on me. Great!"
"I don't remember you so you are no longer my trusted advisors" stated Toph bluntly "but some training may be ok."
Although training was total failure Toph wasn't worried a bit.
...
Somewhere in Earth kingdom girl was sitting alone in her room and crying. She didn't know why she was crying, but tears were dropping from her useless green eyes. Maybe because she was useless blind puppy that couldn't do anything without others help, a total failure and disgrace to family, or maybe because she had family that accepted and loved her despite her being good for nothing. The family that she will make proud to be called Beifong and most importantly, she had mother.
"This will make no good for me to just sit here and cry. I'll have to do something to repay for their goodness." Though girl. When she woke up and discovered that she was blind, her inside instincts screamed that she will be abandoned and kicked out of home for being total failure, but to her big surprise her family accepted her. She didn't know why they would rise such unworthy kid (if she was in their place she would left such failure kid in street to fend for itself and don't shed a single tear for what she did), but she was glad that she had roof above her head and family that loved her. And she would do anything to make them proud to call her daughter.
She slowly stood up and tried to discover her environmental. After several unsuccessful attempts she finally found and hug wall and walked forward counting every step until she found obstacle. She needed to know where she could go or where was something standing. Current obstacle was big, bigger that she and unmovable, but she could feel that some parts of it could be carefully moved. She didn't know what that could be, but her rational mind told her that if it was here it must be for reason and She will need to find out why. The girl put that thing in her "ask mom" list and continued explore room. Next thing she found was hole in wall, no not a hole, but window and something in it was warm and calling for her to get out side. Sun rays where dropping and illuminating her room and warm breeze was asking her to get outside, but she didn't knew that because all she knew was cold endless darkness, until now. So new warmth was very welcoming. She raised her hands toward it and greeted those new strange feelings, feeling how her whole body was becoming warmer like inner fire burned within her. And that beside doors was everything that was in her room, but that just fuelled her curiosity. Azula was ready to try and take everything that the world would offer her, without any thought that she was just crippled little child.
