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Chapter Ten
Necessity forced Toph to return to the palace. Entering the basement, the princess slid the rock into place. Vibrations told her the place was clear of all but one familiar presence. She navigated around the crates and shelves. Wood hid their holding, though she had been told that the crate contained a varied assortment of ancient junk.
"Where's the cloth prison Pebble?" asked the blind girl. "Hurry up! I wish to take a bath."
"The Boulders felt that the princess is upset."
"Thanks. I would never figure it." Extending her hand out, she waved a hand toward her. "Cloth prison! Now."
Soft fabric fell into hand. Pebbles disappeared for a bit as she got dressed. Servants would probably bug her for putting the dress on improperly, but she was in the mood for agitating people. A couple servants jumped her in the halls. Their heart pounded in their chest.
"Miss Toph," said a servant. "You need to come to the throne room at once. We have guest."
"Who?"
A hand grabbed onto her wrist and dragged her toward the desired location. Answers refused to come. Pebble rushed behind her. Through her feet she sensed the visitor first. She found him in a room surrounded by other people. Tall and broad described him well, but his weight was heavier than she though he should be. There was little fat to speak of so she assumed he wore armor as his guards.
"Who is it?" ordered Toph. "At least tell me the Fire Nation or Earth Kingdom."
"Earth Province, highness."
"Who is it?"
The grand doors leading into the throne room parted. They started walking on the damn green rug. Toph could see the pillars around her, but the cloth muffled her vision. What she could make out that a congregation of earth soldiers stood in front of former Earth King's throne. At the base of the stairs a group of fire soldiers stood. Despite the earth kingdom annexed into the fire nation the two nations kept their fighting units. It helped that the two sides generally have different stances. Earth kingdom strong and solid while Fire Nation more rigid yet ready to move quickly.
Sitting in his throne, Tohp's father spoke to a man standing in front of him.
"Ah, there is my daughter." The servants left the blind sitting in a chair beside her father. It was little more than stump of earth, but that suited Toph. Pebble started up the stairs. "Mr. Boulder," said Lao in a kind yet firm tone, "we have a guest."
"The Boulder apologizes." The muscular earthbender stood in rank with the other soldiers.
"Interesting help," commented the new commoner. Toph could hear the smirk.
"Before we came here," said Toph. Her voice a minor drone. "Mr. Boulder helped me get around at my former estate. Please forgive him." Standing, the blind girl bowed. "As my father stated I'm Toph Beifong."
"I do believe you heard of me. Zhao, the Grand Admiral brought this backwater kingdom under civil rule."
"I've heard of you," said Toph. "During the end of the war you lead raids against the Northern Water Tribe. You were then called in to take command of the forces invading my current home. I must say, it was clearer using the war blimps to assault the city while a group of people snuck in."
"It was nothing. I must say." As the earthbender bent upward a hand stroke her cheeks. She resisted the urge to slam a spike into his tender spot. "You're beauty is that of the moon." Toph plopped down into her seat.
"Father, why have Admiral Zhao honor the use of our presence."
"I have requested his assistance," said the Regent. "To take care of the rebels."
"They have been running around long enough. The Fire Nation have invested much time civilizing this nation. We hope they learn that acceptance is key to getting higher in life, but some people won't let go of the old ways."
"The city garrison is at your command," said the Regent.
"Good. I'll go expect your man. No doubt lax from the war."
With that said the admiral departed. His personal guard parted to let him take the lead. Toph imaged a thousand ways she can bend the earth to crush them. Pillars flattening them seemed too neat for these guys. A smirk formed as she mind eye thrust spikes of earth on the firebender's ass.
"Is there any reason for me to be here?" asked Toph once the heavier footsteps disappeared.
"Admiral Zhao wish to see you," said the Regent. A grimace forced it way onto her face. That man must be several decades her seniors. White hair must be poking out those giant sideburns everyone stated he had.
"I'm going to take a bath," declared Toph.
"Just make sure you're clean by supper."
"Yes father."
Pebble accompanied the world greatest earthbender to the bathing area. Fending off servants, he permitted her to seal off the room. Undressing, the blind girl walked to one of the holes in the floor. It was long and wide enough for a person to slip into. Entering the bath, she sunk to her neck in the mud.
"Something the matter?" Toph asked the air.
A portion of the wall slide open and Quew entered the room.
"Good evening, Sifu," said the special forces. "As sharp as ever."
"Stop stalling. What happened?"
"Some of our more… worried citizens attacked the avatar."
"Is he dead?" A bit of hope sneaked into her tone.
"No, he's didn't receive a mark."
"And the citizens?"
"Bloody and bruise though not the fault of the avatar. He evaded and the citizen knocked each other out."
"Of course," huffed Toph.
"Mr. Long is requesting that the Avatar is moved to a safer position and under guard."
"Denied. No way am I leaving the Lone Fang with Twinkle Toes. Go have Twin Hook's freedom fighters put notice. Anyone who tries to bash the Avatar will have to answer to me."
"Yes Sifu."
"Oh, and go tell Lone Fang that Mr. Bush has come to town."
She heard a sharp intake of air. "Admiral Zhao."
"The one and only. He's come to deal with us. Just had a meeting with him not too long ago."
"I'll inform the others at once."
Quew disappeared the way he came. Groaning, the Blind Bandit closed her eye and submerged under the mud. She stayed within her element as long as air allowed her and she sprung back up. Yet the fire in her gut refused to stay out. The heat would have baked the mud into clay.
Servants forced her to leave the cool womb. She allowed them to clean her off with a bucket and sponge. Once dressed, they escorted her to the larger dining area for guest. Servants helped her father into his sit. Zhao joined them a bit later for a meal of roasted duck, vegetables, and cake.
Throughout the meal the Regent and Zhao discussed affairs of the city. A businessman at heart her father focused on the economy. Papers and books left behind helped him explain how her rebels disrupted the flow of commerce all the way to the Fire Nation capital. Toph ate her meal in silence. She was happy to stay out of the conversation.
As soon as supper finished Toph retired to her room. She hoped sleep would bring comfort, but flames followed her in the other world. This time around she found himself deep underground, the room just big enough to stand. Yet the air itself burned her. She touched the walls and tried to earth bend her way out. Yet every time she touched her element it turned to wood.
Growling, the earthbender shot up in bed. She stood and strolled over the window. A warm air blew in her face, but it was cooler. Through vibrations she confirmed that many of the halls were empty, still too early to bother with the morning chores.
Toph threw on a random dress. Years of practice helped to get her hair into a large bun. With her earthbending she took a shortcut to the kitchen to grab a quick bite. She then swung by the servants' quarters. Snoring led her a small room full of furniture.
Walking up to the bed, she reached out and fell for the occupation's head. She found the nose and pinched it. Coughs came from Pebble as he bolted up in body.
"Morning," said Toph.
"Another nightmare," groaned the Boulder.
"I'm going underground. Cover for me."
"The Boulder well tell them I took you shopping."
"Better buy me something of interest."
Down in the basement the Blind Bandit changed into her outing clothing. Walking through the old city's tunnel, the earthbender waved to the ceiling. The stealth units remained as still as the rocks. Strolling up to the Avatar's house, Toph knocked on the stone door. Silence answered her. She slammed a fist against it and the earth crumbled into dust.
"Time to do some earthbending!" shouted the earthbender.
The room remained silence. Despite the beds being made of stone the occupations must be sleeping on mattresses. Toph strolled toward a bed and grabbed for the person. Grabbing a blanket, she went to the other bed. This time she felt a squishy, yet warm sensation. She brought her hand down the mount, across the neck, and up to the face.
Smirking, the earthbender went to the head of bed. With a stomp of her feet the bed threw it occupation onto the ground. Yelping, Miss Squishy scrambled to her feet.
"Toph!" shouted the smoker "What the hell?"
"Payback for sitting on me," said the earthbender. "We're even. Where Tinkle Toes?"
"No clue. My guess is he couldn't sleep."
Toph growled, "Have any idea where he could be?"
"Somewhere secluded where he can alone." The smell of smoke wrinkled Toph's nose. "Try the river. If not there look anywhere nearby. I doubt he'll go too far in the tunnels."
"Care to help me?"
"Nope. I'm only here to keep him alive." That earned Sorte a frown. "What? Want me to teach him earthbending. I can probably throw a rock at his head. Will that help?"
"I'll go look for him."
As suggested the earthbender checked the river. Guards annoyed her by stating they had been free of the avatar all night. Focusing on the earth, she tried using vibrations to find him in the city. Beyond fifty meters it became blurred, but even then she knew the avatar had either left the city, was sitting on something, or hovering in the air. Then she focused on the nearest wall crawler.
"Hey you!" Toph shouted up into the air. "Lone Fang's dogs. Get down here."
A pair of feet landed beside her. She assumed the person bowed due to the pause.
"Yes, Master Toph."
"Find me the Avatar."
The feet disappeared. Five minutes later they reappeared.
"The Avatar is in the training ground, mediating."
"Thank you and be careful to keep the creep factor down."
She went a hundred feet outside the town and took a left. Glowing crystal attached to the ceiling permitted those with sight to walk the tunnels. She stepped into a large cavern. Its wall was rough and ragged from the tearing of earth from the ground. Near the northern portion of the room a hill pressed against the wall. Fighters used it to get a feel of fighting combats on high ground. At its crest Toph sensed Aang siting with his legs crossed.
"Hey Avatar," shouted the earthbender. "Change of plans. We're learning how to move the earth today!" The statue remained silent.
For a moment Toph readied herself to bend the airbender awake. That little flaming beast in her chest erupted. Whispers in her head demand she go further. Quew told of the problems he caused. Just another list to his ever growing failures.
A fist knocked the thoughts out of her head.
"Okay. I'll just punch him! That should wake him up."
Marching up to the Avatar, she kneeled down and readied a punch. She paused upon hearing a wet sniff. Curiosity had here reach forward and wipe a hand across the cheeks. They were wet.
"Sifu Toph!"
Startled the earthbender backhanded the avatar's face. Standing, she stepped away from the rolling Aang.
"Nice to see you're awake," said Toph.
"I wasn't sleeping," said Aang. The earthbender imagined the airbender rubbing his cheek while standing. "I was in a trance like state."
"Yeah, yeah. You can do that sometime later. Right now, we're learning the greatest bending art in the world."
"But I already master airbending."
Toph flicked the air bender on the head. "Ha! Like that wuss of an element can stand against the earth." They walked to the bottom of the hill. "Alright. You said you had teachers before me."
"I did." For moment the avatar's heartbeat spike, but settle down. The earthbender smirked.
"Alright then. Show me the stance of an earthbender." The avatar slid into the basic stance with ease. "Good." Separating a boulder from the ground, Toph set it front of Aang. "Move it." The avatar did.
Earth beneath the blind girl heaved her up and tossed her across the ground. Her vision flashed away. Slamming into her back, she gritted her teeth. A startled yelp came from the avatar. His heartbeat pounded away at his chest.
"I didn't mean to do that." Aang rushed over and lend a hand. Pushing it away, the teacher stood to her feet.
"Okay." Her facial expression neutral, yet her voice brimming with underling anger. "It's an accident. I give you credit on doing that. Now move the rock. I'll stand over here and observe."
"I'm nodding my head," stated Aang.
Darting back to the boulder, he got back into stance. Both arm thrust out and made contact. Splitting apart, chunks the size of fist scattered across the room. Toph summoned a wall. Earth scattered against it. Based on the uneasy laughter the airbender effects were moot.
The blind girl strolled over to the avatar and gestured him to kneel down. Aang did so. Racking her knuckled on his skull, Toph spoke.
"Twinkle Toes, if you're objective is to slaughter everyone in range you're doing wonders."
Pulling away, the avatar rubbed his head. "I know."
"Good, because we're going to keep at. For whatever reason the earth is rejecting your command. It's a stubborn element. If you're not willing to force you'll will upon…"
"The earth is going keep its ass in place."
A grin sneak in place. "That's right. Make that boulder move and nothing else."
Five hours later Toph retreated to the top of the hill for her own safety. Incredibly, the avatar hit almost every portion of cravens. Stalagmite jabbed the air. Hugh chunks of earth tore from the ceiling. Several times Aang nearly knocked himself out jerking a piece of the earth to his right. Only his fancy footwork kept him alive. Just once he moved the boulder in front of him. Though Toph dismissed it, for another slab of earth had slammed into it.
Chuckling, Toph toyed with the idea of continuing. It amused her to watch her spies scurry across the walls to avoid being skewed. Frustrated grunts escaped the avatar. With a shake of her head the earthbender cupped her hands in front of her mouth.
"That's enough Twinkle Toes! My guys would rather not dig this place out."
The avatar flopped onto his butt. As the blind girl strolled over heavy panting reach her ears. She kneeled beside the avatar.
"Well, great work on the interior design. This place needed a makeover."
"I couldn't do it," stated the avatar.
"That's pretty obvious. Strange, most of time people have trouble moving the rock. First time I felt someone move everything but it." Silence answered. Toph can imagine the airbender curling up into a ball. She punched him in the arm. "It's about time for the troops to begin training. Best not to give them an easy target."
"Okay." Standing, the avatar started for the exit. Toph strolled beside him.
"Are you normally up early in the morning?" asked the earthbender.
"Yeah, I can survive on little sleep." His heart rate and voice told another story, but Toph allowed the fantasy to continue.
"Want to make our training at about this hour? It will help keep attack incidents down."
"You heard?" Toph huffed.
"Leader of rebels."
"Right."
"And Lone Fang is keeping tabs on you."
"No surprise there." His voice was a bit too calm for Toph's favor.
"Pardon."
"Nothing!" The avatar probably had a cheesy smile on his face, hands waving in front of his hands as if to dispel something. "I mean, I'm assuming people will be watching. I mean, I caused an incident in town. Need to avoid that."
"Right." Toph gave a slight nod. "Well, I got things I need to do. We're keeping training at the same hour. Be late and we'll start practicing how to escape a tomb of earth with just our pinkies."
"Sound good to me." With that said the avatar sprinted off, leaving the earthbender as curious as ever.
"Those memories are becoming a problem." Sitting at the table, Aang worked on the wings of his staff. Sprawled on her stomach, Sorte read through a scroll she picked up at the local library.
"Really?" said the spirit. "Odd. Ten years old and copied and pasted. You shouldn't be feeling any effects of your former life."
"Copy and paste?"
"A phase I ran across during my travel. So how your morning sessions with Toph."
"Interesting. Still moving everything but the boulder in front of me." Placing a hand against his forehead, he tried to shake a stranger's memories from his head. "It's odd. My former life shows me how it can done yet the rocks refused to act in the same way."
"That's because he learned and not you." Sitting up, Sorte placed the scroll down. She took a seat at the table. Reaching across, she poked the avatar on the head. "Don't droll on about somebody else's achievements. Focus on the now." The spirit leaned back. "So, is the staff ready?"
Grinning, the avatar snapped the wings closed. With a click of a button they spring open. Dark blue wings were a compliment with the brown wood. Closing the wings once more, the avatar glanced to the ceiling.
"I can't wait to get up there. Maybe we can recruit Appa's help."'
"Another time," said Sorte. Standing, she walked over to the dresser and scooped up her blade. She slid it into place. "This is a stealth mission. Appa would be spotted a mile away." That got a groan. "After we're done we can see him. Now let's meet up with the others. Best not keep the bosses waiting."
Sorte and Toph entered the tunnels. They kept walking until they met several squads of people. Toph, a tall man wearing a cone hat, and one of Dai Li agents stood in front of crowd. Everyone there had most of their body covered. Though Jet's squad wore a cloth mask that covered everything but the eyes. Leather armor protected the chest while arm straps waited for archers' string to strike.
"Greeting Avatar," said the Dai Li with a bow. "I hope you're ready."
"He is," said Sorte. Smoking on a cigar, she blew out a ring of smoke. "So how is this going to work?"
The agent drew pieces of paper from his sleeves. Aang, Toph, and Cone Man retrieved them. Ink detailed the map of the city. Dotted lines crossed the top of the map.
"These are the patrol route of the blimps," said the Dai Li agent. "There are six which patrol the skies. Our primary object is to destroy them or render them useless for the next few months. Three dozen people manned the craft. Any benders are most likely to be Fire Nation. Ideally, the avatar or Sorte,"- he gave the woman a curious expression- ", will damage the most in the skies."
"That where we come in," said Toph. The agent nodded.
"Once the blimps are down people will rush in to figure out what's going on. Toph's team must do as much damage as possible." He glanced to the cone man. "Longshot here and his archers will provide cover. Kill any soldiers. Try to avoid civilian casualty." That earned a silent nod from Long Shot.
"You said primary," said Aang. "Does that mean there's something else?"
"Yes. We wish to capture one of the blimp's crew if possible."
"To interrogate," stated the avatar. The idea somehow sounded appalling to him.
"That's correct. Of course, our main objective is to take out the blimps. Please do that Avatar. This plan can only succeed with your cooperation."
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