King Bumi watched with a raised eyebrow as Lady Katara entered his throne room once again though this time she had been expected. The surprise was that Princess Azula had been permitted entry but her aid in liberating the Iron Pit had assured him of her character. "Lady Katara, Princess Azula," Bumi said with a slight nod, "The news you sent ahead of your return has gladdened me, the people of Gaoling and Omashu owe you a debt."

"Think nothing of it King Bumi," Azula stepped forward, "The Fire Nation has many wrongs to right and if my help can build bridges between our nations then I will gladly-" King Bumi started laughing, so was Katara. Azula looked at them both, blushing heavily. "What's funny?"

"Think nothing of it, King Bumi," Katara said in an exaggerated Fire Nation accent. Curtseying with a little too much flourish. King Bumi howled with laughter, snorting and cackling with abandon as he slapped the stone arms of his throne and kicked his legs out comically.

"The Fire Nation has many wrongs to right," he joined in. Azula looked at them both with astonishment. How in Agni's name was Katara being so casual with him? He was a King for Agni's sake! King Bumi noticed her expression and eventually stopped laughing. "Forgive me, Princess," he said, an air of joy still in his voice. "I've never been one for the games of the nobility, honeyed words get you nowhere in my court."

"A little heads up would have nice," Azula nudged Katara hard in the ribs but she was still giggling merrily. "I swear you can be so childish."

"Alright let's settle down," Bumi said with a smile then cleared his throat and adopted a slightly more serious manner. "You mentioned in your report that you found a powerful Earthbender in the camp after all?" Katara nodded to him, having written the letter herself, "Is she with you?"

"She's outside your majesty," Katara told him, "We thought it best you were told what to expect."

"And what should I expect, child?"

"The girl is in an awful state," Azula explained, "The soldiers who manned the camp were all sadists who worked under Commander Zhao, the Conqueror of Gaoling."

"Yes, tales of his brutality have reached us here in Omashu," King Bumi grimaced at the girls, "I can't imagine what she's been through."

"The guards were instructed to target her by Zhao," Azula told him. The anger she felt at just telling the King about Zhao's deeds was burning hot. "She is the lost daughter of Lao and Poppy Beifong and has been thought dead for over a year." King Bumi looked shocked.

"Little Toph?" Bumi said with a sudden gasp, "Pardon me but if you're right then you must mean little Toph Beifong. Lao Beifong was a regular to my court and I had the pleasure of meeting his child on one occasion. Her potential is limitless, far greater than my own ever was."

"That's the thing," Katara said uneasily, "She doesn't answer to her old name," Bumi asked what she did answer to so Katara told him.

"Mole," he said back in a grumble, "Such a disgrace for a noble to be treated in such a way but I'd hardly say it was enough to break a girl with as much spunk as she had, I take it there's more to the story?" Katara and Azula told him everything they knew of her treatment. The brands, the burns, the scars and the broken bones that hadn't healed properly. When they told him she was scared too afraid to Earthbend, King Bumi's face contorted in anger and he looked like a completely different person.

"We need you to help her King Bumi," Katara pleaded, "You're the-"

"Bring her to me," Bumi's voice was sombre and calm, "I will look after her."

Mole was led into the throne room by Azula but she and Katara were asked to leave her alone with King Bumi. They were to be shown to the grand guest quarters that were once the bad guest chambers (But recently refurbished). Mole had spent the last ten minutes sitting silently outside. She could feel the guards at the palace entrance staring at her. Her sleeveless tunic put her scars on full display and there was no denying that more than a few of them were shaped like handprints. She wondered what they were thinking.

She entered Bumi's throne room. She recognised it from the time she had come to Omashu with her father during which time King Bumi had made her laugh endlessly for the two days she spent in his palace. They became good friends, so good that she had even told him about her sight ability. He had tried to teach her a new Earthbending trick but they were discovered. Her father had been furious and left the palace not long later.

Even though her father had stopped the lesson she had still managed to learn a thing or two from the kind old King. He saw her potential clearer than anyone else ever had and he was excited to hone it but as always her overprotective father had ruined it for her. It wasn't long after that when she became the Blind Bandit just so she could enjoy her Earthbending.

Enjoy Earthbending? Mole shook her head. How could she have been so stupid?

"Lady Beifong," King Bumi said from his throne. "My condolences for the loss of your mother and father and for all that you've been through since."

"I deserve worse," Mole said almost immediately. It was like a reflex now. King Bumi looked taken aback but he quickly forced a kind smile.

"Lady Katara and Princess Azula tell me you're having some problems with your Earthbending?" he asked her, "You're losing control sometimes, correct?" Mole nodded, not speaking, so Bumi continued. "I'd like for you to stay in the Palace so we can see if we can help, is that alright?" he offered her.

Mole shook her head, she looked very uncomfortable. "I don't deserve your kindness, your majesty."

"Because of the accident?" Mole nodded again, "Then what if I just want to be nice to you anyway?" He gave her a quizzing look. "A king is commanding you to accept his kindness young lady, do you really want to disobey me and disappoint a good friend?" He tried to sound non-threatening and hoped he succeeded.

To his delight, the side of her lip raised in a small smile. "No King Bumi." She was reminded of how easily King Bumi could brighten anyone's day. When she had come to Omashu she had been miserable. Her life was full of rules and restrictions all because she was blind. But King Bumi didn't treat her like someone who needed to be looked after.

"Good," King Bumi clapped his hands and a servant who had been waiting appeared from seemingly out of nowhere. "See to it that Lady Beifong is bathed and dressed, afterwards she can eat whatever she wants." He smiled down at Toph who easily picked up on his good cheer. "That's an order Lady Beifong."

Mole bowed her head, still smiling slightly. As she was led out of the throne room by the servant she turned back to Bumi. It took her a second to find the words. Her old self would never have admitted this so openly but now she wanted him to know since she had too many unsaid things to regret. Mole stood still, fumbling with the hem of her shirt nervously. "I...I missed you, King Bumi," she said to him, still smiling, "I'm looking forward to-um-to spending time with you again."

"I missed you too dear," Bumi said back warmly, "Now go on, enjoy yourself."

After months without bathing, she had almost forgotten how it felt but when she fully immersed herself in the lukewarm water she let out a long relaxed sigh before moving to lie on her back, allowing herself to float in the overly large bath. Her vision went completely blank again but right now it didn't matter. Even though her fresh wounds stung it was strangely pleasant like she could feel them being cleaned. "This is amazing," Mole said to herself, closing her eyes fully and just letting herself float lazily across the surface. If she had been more aware she might have heard the servant, named Pama, come in with a towel then gasp in shock at the sight of Toph's scarred body. Pama chastised herself for forgetting she shouldn't stare at guests while they bathed but the bright red of some of her scars were incredibly noticeable on her pale skin.

Afterwards, she was guided by the Pama towards a guest room where Bumi's royal tailor had brought some clothes that would fit her. Most of the clothes were befitting of someone of her status, even if she didn't feel like she was befitting of them herself. Pama seemed to be a kind woman and she showed good foresight when it came to Mole's scars. "I trust you would like something long-sleeved, Lady Beifong?" she offered. Mole simply nodded as she sat on a high back chair dressed in a simple hanfu robe.

The tailor hummed merrily as she looked through the selection of clothing before finally handing something to Pama. Mole could sort of make out that they were dresses but the shifting fabric made it hard so she reached out and touched one to get a better idea of it. From what she could feel it was almost identical to the type her mother had her wear back in Gaoling. A pang of sadness threatened to overwhelm her and Mole shook her head.

The servant quickly put it away when she noticed the distress on her charges face. "My apologies Lady Beifong, I didn't mean to upset you," Mole said nothing so Pama began to look for something else. "How about something more casual?" She offered Mole a sleeveless coat that ran down the front and back of her legs while leaving the sides open, giving plenty of room to move freely. For underneath she was offered a green shirt with sleeves that were slightly short and loose-fitting but enough to cover the scars since the worst ones didn't reach past her elbows. A belt held the jacket tightly to her waist and lastly, she was offered a pair of baggy trousers. Mole had already declined sandals after Pama had helped her get dried after her bath.

Mole studied the outfit and nodded. It looked fine, not too fancy, so Pama helped Mole dress and once she was done she stood back and admired her charge. "Practical but not too casual," she said with an approving nod, "How do you feel Lady Beifong?"

Mole swung her arms and was happy to note they didn't impede her movement much, if at all. Next, she swung on the balls of her feet and was happy that her legs had the same manoeuvrability. "I like it, it feels great," she said happily. It had been too long since she'd worn such a comfortable outfit. It reminded her of the one she used to wear at Earth Rumble. The tailor left with a short bow and Pama looked back down at Mole.

"I must say you look rather pretty young lady," Pama offered kindly but Mole looked up at her with a glare.

"Stop it!" Mole snapped, suddenly acting like she would have before she became Mole. "Don't lie to me, even if I'm blind I know I'm not pretty." Mole absently fingered the scar over her eye with a glum look and she suddenly felt guilty for losing her temper. "Sorry Pama, I shouldn't have shouted."

"If I might be so bold," Pama then said, ignoring the outburst and apology, "But I take it that you don't know what you look like, right?" Mole nodded gingerly. "Then how do you know you're not pretty?" As she fingered her scar Pama seemed to read Mole's thoughts. She gently moved Mole's hand away from her face and held it in her own. "Scars don't mean a thing," she told her and Mole's hand was moved to the woman's face. The skin on her face was rough as if it was deformed. It took Mole a second to realise it was a burn that covered most of the left side of her face. The other side felt completely normal. Pama let Mole explore her face, not even twitching as her small hands traced the line between her good skin and the scar.

"How?" Mole asked shortly.

"When the Fire Nation took Omashu a small group of soldiers resisted despite the King's orders," she explained, "I was caught in the crossfire." Pama moved Mole's hand away from her face and held it again, this time more tightly. "If someone truly cares for you then it won't matter how you look, just ask my husband and children." Mole looked down at her feet blankly, not sure what to say, so Pama continued.

"Take it from someone who's just seen you naked," she said playfully, "When you grow up I bet you'll have guys lining up just to get to know you, scars and all." Mole's blush deepened and she couldn't help smiling.

Mole bit her bottom lip as she felt tears in her eyes. Nobody had ever told her what she looked like, she had never asked, but now a total stranger was telling her that she was pretty and the best part was she wasn't lying. Mole could tell. It was the first time she'd cried tears of happiness. Mole wrapped her arms around Pama who held her tightly.

She held her like a mother would her children. Mole had missed this feeling...

Her new outfit even felt like her old one when she fought in Earth Rumble. The thought of her days as an Earthbending Champion brought an unexpected jolt of fear, however. Once she wouldn't have thought twice about ripping that arena apart and showing off her skills as an Earthbender but now all she thought of was what could have gone wrong. How could she have been so carefree? At least with King Bumi she might get a handle on her episodes and learn to control her bending completely.

Then she would never need to do it again.

Mole ate a simple lunch of rice since the idea of anything else made her feel queasy. After their little bonding session, Pama stuck around Mole who genuinely felt safe in this woman's company. Afterwards, Pama took her to a room in the Palace that she recognised as the Palace's arena. It was a wide area that seemed to have been carved from the earth itself as everything from the walls to the ceiling was the same earthy brown as the floor. They entered onto a balcony and Mole looked down at King Bumi who had arrived ahead of her.

He seemed to have abandoned his courtly robes, instead opting to go bare-chested with a pair of trousers similar to her own that were tight at the ankles. He was stronger than he looked in the throne room and his hunchback was also completely gone. He was idly twirling a small rock above his open palm.

"Took you long enough," Bumi looked up at Mole, "Here, come down to me." With a stamp of his foot, a flat-topped pillar rose from the ground. Pama lifted Mole and placed her on it.

"Good luck dear," she whispered before Bumi gently lowered her to his level of the arena. Pama remained safely on the balcony and greeted Katara and Azula as they arrived.

"We're here to watch if that's okay?" Katara asked King Bumi after offering Pama a polite bow.

"Sure, just don't come crying to me if a rock hits ya!" he laughed at his idle threat while Katara looked at Azula uneasily.

"He's kidding love," she assured her, "Good luck Little Mole, I know you'll do wonderfully!" Mole didn't look up at Azula, she didn't want her to see her blushing.

Mole turned her attention back on Bumi and watched as he resumed twirling the rock above his palm. At that moment she felt the earth on her bare feet. It felt like it was calling to her, begging her to bend it, but the sheer thought of doing it terrified her. "I can't bend," she simply said to Bumi, "I don't wanna lose control but I don't wanna bend either."

"What kind of Earthbender doesn't Earthbend?" Bumi said idly, still twirling the rock, "You remember the time I tried to teach you some advanced sets when you visited my palace, yes?" Mole nodded. "Did you know that those sets were designed for adults far beyond someone of your apparent skill level? Well, they were but you mastered moves that take most students months to perfect in mere hours."

"I used to be good, I know that," Mole looked down at her feet as she spoke, "But I can't do it, not ever, it's just too scary."

Bumi gave a loud hmph! "It's not your fault you feel this way," he told her, "But when I first met you, you barely left your room in the Palace. You hid from me, likely because your father asked you too."

"Yeah, then you barged in one afternoon pretending to be lost," Mole giggled at the thought. Pama also laughed at the story along with Katara while Azula simply smiled.

"I was lost, the Palace is big and I'm an old man," he howled with laughter and Mole found herself laughing with him. "My point is, you were hidden away from the world but I could tell you were something special just by how easily you moved. You avoided my servants at corners nobody else could have seen them coming from and then I finally caught you Earthbending right here in this arena."

"It was the middle of the night," Mole said with a happy smile, "I thought nobody would notice."

"But I did and boy was I surprised. Your father had tried to convince me you were only on the beginners level but there you were throwing rocks three times your size!" Bumi looked at Mole excitedly, "When I offered to show you the advanced sets the sarcastic little loudmouth who wasn't afraid of anything finally came out." Bumi chuckled merrily to himself, "After Lao took you away I told myself that if I had had children, I would have wanted them to be like you."

"But then the Fire Nation got their claws on you," he grumbled as he spoke, "Took a headstrong, brave and self-assured little girl and turned her into-"

"A killer," Mole finished for him but Bumi shook his head.

"No child," he said sadly, "They turned you into an empty shell, a shadow of the girl whose potential was far greater than mine could ever be." He walked up to Mole and placed a hand on her shoulder. With him this close to her all Mole could smell was dirt but it wasn't unpleasant. "I won't force you to Earthbend but we do need to work on controlling your emotions, I agree with that much."

Mole nodded her understanding. "So how do we do that?"

"Well, what makes you lose control?" Bumi asked her. Mole thought about that for a moment but realised she barely remembered anything in particular about the episodes though one emotion was clear at both times. "Fear," Mole told the King, "Every time it's happened I was afraid but it was worse in the mine because I also got angry."

"Alright," King Bumi walked away from her and Mole wondered what the old man was up to. King Bumi suddenly launched the rock he had been playing with at Mole. The girl was too slow to dodge and was hit in the forehead. Mole fell onto the ground, clutching her head. "Way I see it is what good's an Earthbender who won't Earthbend?" King Bumi shouted, it sounded wrong to hear him do it so angrily. "Perhaps I should put you out of your misery myself?"

Katara made to jump in but it was Pama who grabbed her arm. "She's in no danger Lady Katara," she assured her, "Please trust that King Bumi knows what's he's doing." Katara looked back down at the arena as Bumi readied more rocks to throw.

Mole's first instinct was to fight back but the second it even crossed her mind fear gripped her. Her connection to the earth was as strong as it had always been but at that crucial point when her chi was supposed to grab and pull instead, it did nothing. Like an invisible string had snapped under the pressure. Bumi had caught her offensive movement and braced for an attack but when it didn't come he smiled wickedly.

With unnaturally quick movements for his age, he kicked several smaller rocks at Mole. When she tried to move her body felt sluggish like it was heavy. She looked down at her feet and noticed that her vision was becoming fuzzy. What was going on? Then she noticed she was sinking.

"Gotcha," King Bumi said with a wicked smile. The dirt underneath had become loose, almost like sand, and Mole was sinking fast. The rocks he had thrown were a distraction and now she was stuck, caught in his trap.

Katara lunged forward again but Azula grabbed her arm while Pama kept hold of the other. "Come on, this is too far Azula!"

"Goodness you're as impulsive as an infant sometimes!" Katara glared at Azula who simply smiled back. "Don't look so sour love, infants are cute aren't they?"

"Shut up," Katara said back and looked down at the fight while Azula and Pama held her still. "I'm not an infant," she said with a pout. Azula glanced at her sideways, trying very hard not to laugh.

Fear and confusion gripped Mole and she began to struggle to climb out but Bumi kept swirling his hands in a circular motion above his head which kept her encased in the loose dirt.

Pathetic

Can't even save your own life

Just give up

Mole's mouth went under but as she breathed through her nose all she did was inhale more dirt. Her lungs burned for air and everything was going black.

The world will finally be rid of you

Nobody will miss you

Murderer

Murderer

Murderer

Everything went black...

Mole gasped for air but found it difficult. Someone turned her over and began to hit her back until she coughed up dark globs of dirt. "What were you thinking?" Katara was shouting as she helped Mole, "She could have died!"

"I had everything under control," King Bumi said back as he stood over them with his arms folded, "I just had to see how bad it was."

"So you attacked her?" King Bumi just shrugged at Katara then nodded.

Mole got to her feet and tried to focus. The room came back into view moments later but there was something different. Cracks had appeared along the walls with an especially large one splitting the room in two. Mole was standing in the centre of it right where she had gone under.

"Did...did I do that?" Mole asked Bumi who nodded again. Pama was now beside her, clasping Mole's shoulder tightly. Once again she marvelled at just how motherly her every touch felt.

"Indeed you did young lady," Bumi told her, "I was about to pull you out but before I could, you bust out yourself. You nearly ripped the entire room in half but I managed to keep it together." He looked around at the cracked walls and floor nervously. "Most of it anyway." Mole began a flurry of apologies but was silenced when Bumi raised a hand. "This wasn't your fault," he said kindly but sternly, "I should be the one apologising for attacking you the way I did but when you told me that fear triggered the episodes I had to see for myself how bad you were."

Mole stared glumly into nothingness. "Are you okay?" Katara asked her. Mole shook her head, "Why don't we take a break for today?" Katara looked at King Bumi who nodded.

"We'll work on it more tomorrow," Bumi told them, "If you think you can?"

"I need to control it," Mole said in agreement, "Once I'm safe I'll never have to worry about Earthbending again."

"Of course Lady Beifong," Bumi said sombrely, "If that's what you want."

Later that evening Mole was encouraged to join Bumi for dinner along with Azula and Katara. Being a servant, Pama wasn't permitted to join them but Mole would have been happier sitting in a room with the kind servant just eating a bowl of hot rice. Katara and Azula were great but Pama was a mother and Mole knew, deep down, that was what she was missing. She distracted herself from the depressing thought by sniffing the air and smelling the food on offer.

Due to the food shortage in Omashu, the spread wasn't as grand as it usually was when King Bumi entertained guests in his Palace but to Mole, it was just so much food. She could smell how tasty it was but when she reached over to pick up a Turtle-duck Dumpling her hand stopped just short of grabbing it. Katara looked over and raised an eyebrow at Mole. "Having trouble finding something?" she asked kindly, "Need a hand?"

Mole shook her head and moved her hand away.

Too good for you!

"Shut up," she said when the voice spoke and absently smacked the side of her head though she didn't realise she had done it. Katara looked at Azula and they both exchanged a worried glance. Mole simply pulled her bowl of rice over and began to pick up clumps of it by hand.

"Mole," Azula said as she watched her eat, "Chopsticks?" Katara looked at Azula with an amused smile. Azula was such a fusspot when it came to table manners. Mole felt around for her chopsticks and fumbled with them. She could swear she knew how to use them once but it was like she was using someone else's hands. Sure she had some slightly crooked fingers but surely they weren't that bad? She gave up and put them back down, returning to eating with her hands. Azula visibly twitched when she saw her do it again.

"Alright," Azula stood up quickly and moved around the table, sitting in a chair beside the girl. Mole watched her pick up the chopsticks she had discarded before picking up her rice bowl as well. Azula then offered some rice to Mole. "Open your mouth." She recoiled slightly when Mole gasped at the request.

Dinner time little Mole

Don't hurt her feelings

Tau's voice rang in her head and suddenly all she could taste was wet dirt and feel the wriggling of live worms on her tongue. She recoiled from Azula before getting up and running away. Azula called out to her but it fell on deaf ears. Her scars began to hurt again, like when she had freaked out on the journey to Omashu.

The taste in her mouth wouldn't go away, it was making her sick. Why couldn't she breathe? Mole found herself in the Throne Room now, had she been trying to run away from the Palace? Before she could find out she fell to her knees as her stomach began to cramp and her throat muscles relaxed. She vomited on the floor and fell to her side. As she lay there she could feel movement beside her. Small things all moving in unison. Hundreds of tiny worms. Fear gripped her. This couldn't be real, could it? Did they grow inside her?

Disgusting rodent!

Ungrateful wretch!

The voices mingled with the pain and nausea made her feel dizzy. She was afraid. Then she felt herself losing control. That horrible feeling she had come to recognise right before the shaking started but through it, she could make out hurried footsteps. "There she is!" came Katara's voice, tinged with fear and concern.

"All I did was try to feed her rice?" Azula sounded like she was panicking like she had done something wrong. "What in Agni's name set her off?" Katara put her arm around Azula, trying to calm her down.

"Step aside ladies," King Bumi pushed past them and moved to stand over Mole. "Focus on my voice Lady Beifong. You're not in any danger child, do you understand me?"

"They-they're everywhere," she ranted, almost too fast to make out, "They came out of me!"

"What did?" King Bumi looked around but all he saw was a child lying in a puddle of her own bile mixed with clumps of undigested rice.

"The worms," Mole said back, she rolled onto her front and pushed herself up slightly, watching as the clew of worms seemed to grow outwards. She threw herself back and tried to move away only to back up right into King Bumi who looked down at her with concern.

"There's nothing there Lady Beifong," he said slowly. The shaking was getting worse but King Bumi was doing his best to counter whatever damage the traumatised girl was doing. Even so, cracks were forming around the room, in the pillars, in the walls and on the floor. This was taxing even for him.

Mole wasn't calming down. "I have an idea!" Katara came down beside Mole and took the girl's hand, placing it on her chest and then doing the same to Mole. "Copy how I breathe," she told the girl, "In...and out." By copying how Katara was breathing Mole managed to find a normal rhythm and soon she was starting to calm down.

The shaking eventually stopped and the worms had all disappeared. Katara looked over at Mole with relief and pride in her eyes. "You did it," she said to her, "You stopped yourself before anything bad happened."

Mole found herself smiling. "I did, didn't I?" she took a steadying breath and stood up, feeling the cold wetness of her vomit on her shirt. "I think I need another bath."

"I think we could all use a good soak," Azula approached Mole and Katara, placing her arms around them both.

"I'm sorry," Mole turned to look at King Bumi, "I-"

"A Throne Room is still just a room young lady," King Bumi said let out a sigh of relief, shuffling his shoulders so that the bones popped loudly. "But I think congratulations are in order, Lady Beifong," he then said happily, "You've just taken the first step to regaining control."

Azula sat with Mole in the dining hall after bathing among the largely uneaten dinner they had abandoned earlier. They stared at one another, or rather one stared and the other just looked blankly, and there was a tension in the room. Azula held up a pair of chopsticks and a bowl of rice. "Hold it like this," she said sternly and clacked the two chopsticks together, "Now you try."

Mole took the chopsticks and held them, one in each hand. The unsure look on her face made Azula smile despite herself. "You really are a hopeless Little Mole, aren't you?" Azula took back the chopsticks and held a clump of rice at Mole's mouth. "Open wide," she offered before saying, "Don't get used to this, you'll keep practising with chopsticks until your fingers bleed if necessary!"

Mole smiled and opened her mouth, accepting the clump of rice.

It tasted wonderful...