I know this is several months too late. But happy new year's. I apologize for the lateness. It's been a rough time involving the death of some family members. To anyone still reading this, I thank you for your patience.
I haven't had any reviews in a long time so I'm not actually sure how folks are liking this or even how many are reading. While I do have an outline for like the next 13 chapters, if there's something you'd like to see in this story please let me know.
As always, stay safe. May this year be better than what we just went through.
"Gaoling."
Mai raised her eyebrows at the Avatar's unusual response.
"Yeah. That's right. Gaoling. Another boring dump if you ask me."
"Another," asked Alphys. "What are other boring dumps?"
Mai rolled her eyes.
"Should I make a list? Honestly most places are boring dumps if you ask me. At least Azula wasn't- "
She trailed off. Was she seriously missing Azula?
"I don't mind it that way…. Boring…. Just like me…"
"Come on Napstablook! We're traveling the world! Seeing new places! Facing peril at- Well, maybe that bit isn't so fun."
Mai grinned. "I beg to differ. That's without question always more fun. Wouldn't you say Avatar?"
The Avatar didn't respond. He just kept looking in disbelief and despair.
"Avatar? Hello? You off in another world again?"
"You're right. This place is a boring dump. We shouldn't stay here."
That certainly got everyone's confusion.
"I thought you wanted to stop everywhere. See everything. Not that I'm complaining. I've gotten tired of your constant cheeriness."
"But we're low on food. And I think Appa is tired. Surely we could spare a few- "
"No. No. We can't. We have the comet. We have to see the Earth King. WE have work to- "
"Let's stay."
Aang stared at Mai surprised.
"You said this was a boring dump! Why would you want to stay?"
"Beats work."
"Come on! You haven't done any work! You just got here!"
"No. I've been with you for about a week and a half now. And that's right after you kidnapped me against my will. But I still chose to come with you and betray my nation."
Aang made a noise in his throat and looked to Napstablook.
"What do you think?"
"Eh…. I don't know…. They seem like they know what they're doing…."
Aang tried to speak again but gave in.
Weak. Just like his father said.
….
"I uh… I don't think that went well," Alphys stated the obvious as they walked out of the Earthbending academy.
"Gee, you think," Mai scoffed. "You airbenders have been out of touch for far too long. You're never going to fit in anywhere!"
"Yeah…. That sounds like me…. Never fit in anywhere…. Except the ground…."
"See, that's what I'm talking about! You're going to scare everyone off Napa- Napol- What's your name again?"
"Please, lady Mai. Keep your voice down. You're going to make us look weird." Alphys stared around at the people.
"We already look weird. That's my point." Mai sighed. "So far this town has kind of blown."
"Great. So, can we move on?"
Mai stared confused.
"Geez. This is so unlike you. You're usually so much cheerier. What's gotten into you?"
"Can you excuse me for a little bit?"
"Wait. What?"
"Mai, you have some money, right? Can you find a us a place to stay for the night?"
"Hey, hold on! What?"
"I need to check on something. I don't know when I'll be back. I just…. I need to do this. It's a century overdue."
"What are you talking about? What are you- Ah, hell with it. I've had enough orders from Azula. I won't take any from this kid! You! Doc! Here's a few gold coins. Take them to the fanciest hotel in town and get us a 4 bedroom. I'm taking boring here out for some fun."
"Uh… Right. I think. I think I can- "Alphys paused. "Actually no. I don't think I can do it. Can we discuss how to do it again?"
"Give them the money and ask! Geezus! This land really is uncivilized." Come on Nap."
"Nap…"
"Can't get your full name so we're going with that. Let's go have some fun Nap. I think I've earned some."
"I know how to have fun…. Let's find a place to lie down and contemplate the meaningless of our existence…."
"Uh… No." She looked at a nearby poster. "I've got a better idea."
….
He stared. He could hardly believe it. But here it was.
His pitiful house. The same shape. The same garden type. It was mind boggling.
"It's been over one hundred years. How can it still be here?"
He found his feet ignoring all his inner warnings and moving him towards the house. He stopped when he saw a sign posted outside.
THIS IS THE HOME OF THE CURRENT (PREVIOUS?) AVATAR WHO DISAPPEARED AROUND THE START OF THE GREAT WAR. IT WAS HERE WHERE HE LIVED WITH HIS SISTER AND FATHER DR GASTER. A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THIS TOWN AND SKILLED MEDIC. IT WAS HERE THE AVATAR (NAME UNKNOWN) LIVED UNTIL HIS 8TH BIRTHDAY WHEN HE-
He looked away. And looked towards the entrance to see another sign.
TOURS EVERY 4 HOURS. DISCOUNT OFF ON AVATAR DAY! THE DAY WE REMEMBER THE CURSED MASTER OF ALL ELEMENTS WHO-
His eyes widened as he saw the date of this "Avatar Day."
Today!
"Hey kid! What's with the tattoos?"
He whipped around to a long-haired man glowering at him.
"Let me guess. You're not form around here. Are you?"
"Uh… No. Definitely not!"
"Figures. Listen, if I were you, I'd get a hood or something. We don't look peacefully on stuff like that. Not since the Avatar had his little rampage."
Aang took a deep breath.
"But that was over a hundred years ago, right?"
He raised an eyebrow.
"Oh, so you do know? And you came here like that anyway?"
"No, I… I don't know about any rampage. But I know it's been a century since he disappeared."
"And good riddance. He didn't deserve to live after the pain he caused this town.
Aang took one more look at his old home. Somehow preserved after all these years and nodded to the man.
"Thank you. I'll keep that in mind."
With that he turned and ran from the bewildered man. Away from the past.
He needed to find the others and get out of this city now.
….
"A fight…. You want to see a fight …. That's cool… I guess…."
"Spirits. You take the fun out of everything don't you? Should've left you in the road."
"Road…. Maybe…"
She sighed and looked away from him down the fighting arena. A wide slab of stone in the middle of a mostly empty stadium.
It was an Earthbending tournament between two separate earthbenders. Not equal earthbenders. One was clearly dominating everyone.
"The boulder is supreme!"
Nap- What's his name actually looked down at the fight for a time thinking. At least that's what Mai assumed. Hard to tell.
"That guy… He might make a good teacher for bending…. Or not…. I don't know…."
"Eh, I don't know. He seems a little extreme for that nanny boy. Plus, I don't know. The twerp said he needs someone who…"
She the boulder flung someone else into the side wall and danced around showing off his musculature.
"What did he say again? Someone who mastered neutral Jing?"
"Jing…. Tea…."
Mai snorted.
"If he wanted someone who could make tea, he should've asked my boyfriend's uncle. That guy loved tea more than anything. Nah., I think he was talking about something like someone who… Actually, I don't know. I just don't think he'd get along with that guy."
The audience got even wilder as the announcer came forward into the ring.
"And now ladies and gentlemen! The moment you've been waiting for! The reigning champ more times than I can count! The Blind Bandit!"
Mai at this point was almost ready to leave. She'd seen enough of buff men being pummeled. Even she could only watch that for so long. Then she saw the champion and she sat right back down.
The shortest girl she'd ever seen stepped forward onto the platform. She show not the slightest hint of fear at her physically imposing opponent.
The Boulder scratched his chin.
"The Boulder feels conflicted about fighting a young blind girl."
"Blind? Wait, she's blind?" Mai peered over the edge to get a closer look at the girl's clouded eyes.
"No way! I think she really is!"
"Blind…. Yeah…. Guess that's cool… Still better than being me…."
"Will you shut up? I wanna see this!"
The girl smirked at her opponent.
"Some champion! Scared to fight! I don't blame you! I wouldn't want to fight me either!"
He didn't like that. He took a step forward.
"The boulder is over his conflicted feelings. And now he's going to make you- "
"He didn't get to say what he was going to make her, because the instant his foot touched the ground, it became encased in earth.
"The Boulder is confused about this!"
He took a step to the side with his other foot and the exact same thing happened. With both encased in rock, they were pulled apart in sperate direction, leading to the most painful split ever seen.
"Aaggh! The Boulder will not be disrespected like this! Release him!"
"Ok, if you insist!"
The girl placed her other foot forward and sent another rock flying straight at her competition, sending him crashing into the arena.
"Once again! Your reigning undefeated champion! The Blind Bandit!"
Mai leaned forward captivated.
"Now that's my idea of a teacher! I can't wait to see the Avatar get thrown around by her!"
….
"Alphys! Alphys, we need to go! Right now! Wait, what do you have there?"
"It's uh… A picture book. The adventures of Mew Mew Volume 12!"
Aang's eyes widened.
"Volume 12? Last I read was volume 3!"
"Right! Over a century ago! That's how far the story got before the genocide! But they kept going after all this time! Of course, the original author died. But they found another to keep the story going!"
"Wow that's great! How- Never mind. Alphys, we can talk about this later. We need to find the others and get out of this town now!
"Actually, we don't."
They both jumped and whirled around to find Mai seeming uncharacteristically happy and Napstablook characteristically disinterested.
"You'd better pay that hotel some extra money Doc, because it looks like we're staying here longer!"
"Longer," Aang asked.
"Hotel," Alphys asked.
"Yeah, hotel. You know, where I told you to- What's that you've got in your hand?"
"Oh, it's a book! The latest edition of- "
"I can see that. Where'd you get the money to buy it?" Her eyebrows raised. "Unless you stole it? I'd like to see that."
"Stole it? There was no need. I already had- "Her voice trailed off as Mai's eyelids lowered.
"Tell me, you didn't use the money I specifically told you to- "
"Enough! We don't have time for this! Let's get on Appa and get out of here!"
"Woah. Hold on Baldie. I know I agreed to that earlier but that was before we found you an Earthbending teacher!"
Aang stared unconvinced.
"Hey, don't look at me like that! I'm serious! She's got it all! Spunk! Skill! Neutral Jing! I think."
"I…. I admit that sounds good. But it's too risky. This place. They hate the Avatar. If they find out who- "
"Look, do you want to beat the Fire Lord or not?"
"What? Of course, I do! Why even ask?"
"Because we have a chance for you to get a real teacher and get you a step closer to that goal. Isn't that worth the risk?"
Aang didn't respond. Merely contemplated said risk.
"Fine. I'll take a look. But nobody else can know who I am."
"Keep your little secret from the public? That's what I'm talking about! Looks like this visit might be fun after all!"
She turned to Alphys.
"So, what did you end up buying with my money anyway?"
"The adventures of Mew Mew Volume 12!"
"…. I shouldn't have asked."
….
"Oh my." Alphys placed her hand over her mouth. "This is amazing!"
Mai shrugged.
"Not really. You should see my place. It puts this to shame."
"Well, I'm sorry miss Mai, but most of us are not accustomed to such… what's the word? Grounder?"
"Grandeur. Sheesh. Maybe you people do deserve to be conquered with language skills like that."
"Enough." Aang usually didn't barge into these backs and forths, but he didn't have time for it today.
"Let's talk to this girl and see if she'll come with us. Preferably tonight."
"Not likely Avatar," Mai said. "Best case scenario, we get her aid, lie low for the festivities tomorrow and- "
"No! We cannot be anywhere near here tomorrow! It's too dangerous!"
"Well, it's not likely she's gonna want to leave a place like this so- "
"You'd be surprised."
They all jumped and wheeled around. Well, all except for Napstablook who slowly turned about.
"Oh…. Hi… Didn't see you there…."
"Yeah, clearly you didn't. Otherwise, you might have stopped with all the nonsense you said just now about kidnapping me and whatnot."
"What? No, not kidnap! We just want you to come with us and travel the world to teach me Earthbending!"
Mai groaned and intervened.
"I think we should start over. I'm Mai and- "
"I'd love it."
"Sorry?"
"I'd love to come. Anything to get away from this prison."
"Prison? This?" Alphys gestured over to the mansion incredulously. "This is a palace!"
"Not for me," the girl said miserably.
"Toph! There you are! What are you doing out here all by yourself? You could get hurt!"
A long-haired man came rushing out with fear on his face. The girl just seemed annoyed.
"I'm fine father. I know perfectly well what I'm doing."
"Nonsense! You're small and blind and- Wait, who are you?"
Aang pulled the hood further over his head. Mai, sensing that the others had no clue how to respond, she took the initiative.
"Actually sir. We were wondering if you could help us. Surely a man of your status and knowledge could help a couple of lost children out."
She inwardly cringed at his pleased smile. He reminded her too much of her own father.
….
"Oh, no. Toph would not be much of a teacher, I fear. As you can see, she's blind and weak. We don't even let her leave the mansion."
The guests raised their eyebrows and stared at Toph. She glared back at them with a clear warning. Don't tell her parents the truth.
"But she has earth bent some, hasn't she? That makes her better than me."
Toph laughed.
"You're an earthbender who has never earthbent? You're pathetic."
"Toph," her father admonished. "Be nice. That's understandable I suppose if you haven't had a proper teacher. I suppose Toph's teacher could teach you a thing or two. We've had him teaching our daughter the most basic simple moves. All to ensure she can't hurt herself."
Mai wanted to laugh. Fools. If only they knew.
"We'd have to wait until the day after tomorrow, however. As the city's leading innovators, we have a role to play in Anti Avatar day."
Aang's heart began beating fast. Toph stared at him intensely.
"I thought it was called just avatar day."
"It is. But it really is anti-avatar day. It's the day we remember the Avatar's destruction of this city."
Aang could feel his companion's eyes on him. He sank into his chair.
"Most of the rest of the world, outside of the Fire Nation, thinks of the Avatar's disappearance as a tragedy. We consider it a blessing. As terrible as the world is, it would be infinitely worse with him around."
Aang had been silent for some time. Toph's father noticed.
"Something wrong?"
"I… No. Nothing. I'm uh…. I'm sorry to hear that."
"I admit. I wouldn't have guessed this town suffered so at first glance," Mai said finally turning away from Aang. It's impressively built."
"It's taken a long time. Over a hundred years in fact. Though in all honesty- Not to brag mind you."
"Sounds like you're about to brag father."
"Toph! Anyway, in all honesty it wasn't until my family arrived that this city regained any hope. From the ruins we built something better. More perfect. It's taken a long time, but- Well, you've seen the results."
"We have! This city is fantastic! A work of art! And the scrolls- "
One look from Mai made her stop.
"Apologies. We're not used to big cities. I must say. I'm surprised this city hasn't been taken over during the war."
Toph's father shrugged.
"They have no real reason to. Not unless the Avatar himself came by."
He and his wife laughed so hard; they didn't notice the team staring at each other.
"Well, I thank you for your time." Aang rose to his feet. "Since it sounds like you've got your hands full for the next 24 hours, why don't we come back the day after tomorrow?"
"Can they stay?"
Everyone stared at Toph.
"What? They're new to town. And you get a chance to show off your great work."
"We'll take it," Mai stated. "Beats paying rent. It's a nightmare in this town!"
Aang stared at her dismayed but resigned with sadness as his comrades agreed.
He looked up at Toph. She stared back intensely.
….
"How's the bison?"
"He has a name, Mai."
"It's a terrible name."
He glared at her intensely but sighed and relented.
"He's all fed and ready to go at a moment's notice. Which we might need to do."
"Ah, come on. You're getting a chance to learn proper Earthbending. Which as I recall from you requires learning how to stand still?"
"We don't have time to stand still! Every day, the comet gets closer. I need to take down The Fire Lord! I can't wait here!"
"You can't beat the Fire Lord without all four elements, right?"
"Well… I don't know. Maybe if I just got really good at the elements I know- "
"Not enough. You think Azula's tough to bring down? Ozai's a force of nature. You'll need every advantage you can get."
She stepped closer and placed her hand on the Avatar's shoulder.
"And we both know that's not the reason you wanna skip town. You don't want anyone to know who you really are."
Aang opened his mouth to respond but someone else beat him to it.
"And who would that be?"
Both whipped their heads around to find the blind girl staring at them intently.
Crap.
"A little late to be out of bed, isn't it missy," Mai snarked. "Or do you plan to run off and beat the crap out of some enormous twats? I'm not complaining. I'd totally watch."
The blind girl bared her teeth.
"You better not tell my folks or else- "
"You'll tell them I've got the Avatar working for me? Fine. How about we both learn to keep our mouths shut then. Sounds fine to me."
"Wait, I don't work for you!"
Mai ignored him and strolled up to the eavesdropper.
"So, tell me something kiddo. Why the secret? If I could earthbend like you, I'd show it off to everyone. I reckon you're way better than whoever your dad plans to set us up with. Why hide it?"
Toph grimaced.
"You heard dad. He thinks I'm helpless. He won't let me leave the house. Won't let me do anything on my own. If he heard where I've been and what I've done… Well, I don't want to think about it."
"Can you help me out?"
Toph looked at Aang annoyed.
"I just told you. I can't teach you."
"Not that. I want you to help me get into my house. The cabin at the edge of town."
Both women stared at him.
"Why? You planning to another war?"
"What? No! Don't be ridiculous! I just… I want to see it. I don't know why."
Toph placed her hand to her chin.
"So, you want me to break out and help you raid a major tourist site that is off limits to all non-paying customers?"
"Well, yes."
The girl grinned.
"Well, what are we waiting for?"
….
In the darkness, the cabin seemed to grow in size and menace. Like a great beast preparing to swallow him whole. Drown him in the past.
"Let go of your earthly tether. Enter the Void. Empty and become wind."
For some reason, he was reminded of that quite by Gyatso. It basically meant to let go of all things that hold you down and be free. Things like guilt, hate. Fear.
He'd never been very good at that. And just as he was making progress, they told him he was the Avatar.
"Reminiscing on the past twinkle toes?"
Aang turned and looked at Toph confused.
"Twinkle toes?"
"You're rather light on your feet."
"Uh…. Ok. So, can you earthbend us inside?"
"Who do you think you're talking to?"
She moved her hands about and created a hole. She jumped in and the others followed.
"It's so dark in here. Can't see a thing," Mai groaned.
"Oh no. What a nightmare!"
"Sorry."
They followed the girl through the dark. They had no idea how she knew where she was going.
"Are you sure we're going the right way?"
"Positive. I'm blind. But I see more than you ever will."
Mai and Aang stared at each other. Or at least where they thought they were.
"Isn't that an oxymoron?"
Toph chuckled.
"That's what dad said. But I can truly see. Through the earth. I can feel vibrations and see where everything is. You, the houses, even those ants."
"Damn," Mai whistled. "All I get are darts."
"That's… Amazing. How did you invent that?"
"Doesn't matter. I'm not teaching you, so you don't get to learn my tricks."
They soon reached the edge of the cellar.
"Looks like I'm gonna have to earthbend in. Tourist folks are gonna be pissed." He could sense her smile even in the dark.
Another hole opened in the Earth. This time, the sound of wood peeling apart accompanied the movement of rock.
Toph stepped through onto the stone floor.
"Wow. I'm sensing tons of weird stuff all around. What did you keep down here?"
"That's it," Mai said from behind. "I need a light." She sniffed the air. "And some incense! Has no one cleaned this place?"
Aang conjured up a flame in his palm.
The memories came rushing back as his eyes adjusted to the darkness of the basement.
The chains. The bed. The whip.
It was enough to make even Mai quiver.
"Woah. What gives girl," Toph asked. "Your heart's beating wicked fast all of a sudden. Not like you."
"I…" Mai struggled to find her words. "What the hell is all this?"
Aang smiled grimly.
"Home sweet home."
….
"Napstablook! Why are you lying down on the ground?"
"It's what I do…."
"Well, not anymore. Get up! This floor is worth more than anything in our home! Don't treat it like that!"
Napstablook gave her big, cute eyes, but she held her ground. He sighed and stood up.
"There. Doesn't it feel good to stand tall? Stand up for yourself! Have some pride!"
He stared unblinking at her. Not sure what to say.
"Fine. Be like that. But don't tell me this trip hasn't been good for you."
"How has it been good for me…"
"We're seeing the world! The real world! If we had stayed behind, you'd be lying on the floor…"
He gave a bare hint of a smile.
"Like I'm doing here…."
"I… Look that's not the point! At least we're doing something here! You should be happy!"
"The avatar doesn't look happy…."
Alphys bit her lip.
"No. He doesn't. Perfectly understandable given the burden on his shoulders."
"What do you think of him…."
"What do I think?" She bit her lip.
"It's hard to say. We all had our expectations. But to think it'd be a child."
"Do you believe what the rich folks said about him…..."
"You mean about him destroying this town?"
They stared at each other.
"It's unfortunate. But it might mean we have a chance in this war."
Napstablook stared.
"What do you mean…."
"I mean that if the Avatar is willing to kill, he has the initiative to make the hard choices."
Napstablook continued staring.
"That doesn't sound like you…"
"No. I suppose it doesn't." She sighed.
"To tell you the truth, King Asgore and Undyne had some reservations about him. They thought he lacked the strength necessary to lead. He demonstrated too much of the old ways. They thought he was too soft. But if he can do this…" She paused.
"He doesn't sound very happy about it…."
"No," she agreed. "But there's more at stake than happiness. So as crazy as it sounds, I hope it's true. We need a killer. A fighter. More than ever."
"Hello fine guests! How are you enjoying your stay?"
"Carpet's way better than stone to lie on…"
"Uh… yes. We're enjoying it very much Mr. Beifong."
"Strange. I don't see your friends with you. Where might they be?"
"Uh…"
"Oh, just chilling out with the blind girl at- "
"What!?"
Alphys looked at Napstablook frustratingly.
"I screwed up again didn't I…. Typical me…. Feel free to kill me now…. Take your time…. I'll wait…."
….
"My father was a bit of a nut as you can see," Aang explained. "He believed that this world was tainted. Corrupted beyond repair. He kept us inside. Refused to let us leave under any circumstances."
Toph raised an eyebrow but didn't speak.
"If this is some attempt to gain my sympathy- "
"Shh," said Mai. "What do you mean by we?"
"Me and my sister."
"You had a sister?"
"Chara." He smiled sadly. "She was so unlike me. So strong. So willing to stand up to him. Not that it stopped him from doing what he would."
He walked over to a cabinet and opened it. He looked inside and alarm spread across his face.
He pulled out an ancient… Mai stared hard.
"What in spirit's name is that?"
"It's a… syringe I think he called it. Like I said, he was way ahead of his time. He could use this to inject… stuff into the blood. I don't know what it is. But I know what it does."
"And what does it do?"
Aang stared at it in silence for a time. Toph got impatient.
"Uh, hello? Don't hang up on us. You were all eager to talk about your past. So, talk!"
Aang sighed and placed the syringe back in the cupboard.
"Whatever's in this stuff induced… reactions. It forced me into the Avatar state."
"Avatar state?"
"I call upon my past lives. And all their power. Enough power to move mountains. Or raise the ocean."
"Holy shit! That sounds awesome! Why don't you use that all the time?"
"I don't know how to. I didn't even know that's what was happening to me. I had no idea I was the Avatar. All I knew was this strange feeling coming over me and…. Well, it's hard to describe."
"Try me."
Aang struggled to find the right words.
"It's like suddenly, thousands of voices are speaking to you at once. Telling you what to do. Fill you up. And all those voices take your arms. Guide you."
He shuddered. Toph felt his heart beating faster.
"But it also makes it hard to maintain control. I can't stay myself when in it. Not choose who I hurt…."
"Sounds dangerous. Why would your old man want you to use it? And in such confined quarters?"
He looked about in the gloom until his eyes landed on something in the center. A strange orb of sorts.
"He wanted me to power that. I didn't know what it was until I came to the air temple at age 8. And when I visited the one up north. It's what allowed the temples to fly. Kept them in the air."
"How the hell do they work," Mai questioned. "We don't have anything nearly that advanced these days."
"I…" He thought back to his teachings under Gyatso. He couldn't recall what he said about them. Why couldn't he? Oh, that's right. He was still in his emo phase at that time. Insulting his teacher. Getting into fights.
Honestly, he still marveled at Gyatso's patience with him.
"I don't know how it works or where it came from. But it requires a huge amount of strange energy. The kind of energy the Avatar can give off. Or something else gives off. I don't fully understand it."
"But what was he trying to do? Make the whole city fly?"
"Maybe. I guess. I don't know. Nothing he said ever made sense!"
Mai against all her characteristics walked up behind him and patted him on the back.
"Easy there relax. He's not here. He's gone."
Aang nodded.
"Yes. He's gone. And so is my sister. Chara…"
"Chara?" Toph wrinkled her nose. "What kind of name is that?"
She took a step back at Mai's glare.
"Sorry."
Mai questioned whether she should continue with the questions. But she'd gotten this far. She might as well learn all she could about this strange boy.
"What happened to your sister?"
Aang took a deep breath.
"She was always stronger than me. Always willing to stand up for me. For all the good it did her. I dared not stand against my father. But she was another story. Such bravery." He looked at Toph.
"You might've liked her. Might've. Hard to say with you."
"Any girl who could kick ass is fine with me." Toph grinned. "So why isn't she here?"
Aang looked away. His shoulders shook.
"She died. She died for me. And in a fit of rage I- "
"Destroyed the town."
"I didn't even know what I was doing. I still didn't know what the Avatar State really was. I just lost control for one second and…."
"Damn. So, you weren't always a wuss." Toph stared trying to imagine this soft-spoken boy taking down a whole town by himself.
"It was both horrifying… And spectacular. All the elements were at my disposal. Thousands of voices speaking in unison. The – "
"Wait. You could bend all the elements? Then why do you need me?"
"I can't do it outside the state. It's not even me really bending."
"So, you have this awesome power that lets you move mountains and bend all the elements. Why not just use that all the time?"
"I don't know how. It just tends to happen whenever I lose control. When I get mad or- "
Toph smashed down on his foot.
"Ow! What the hell?"
"Trying to help you out! You're welcome! So, any luck?"
"No. So at least I know that doesn't set me off. Thanks for that I guess."
"I can't believe I'm saying this but that was pretty harsh. Right after he told his whole sob story too!" Mai shook her head.
"Well, I'm sorry to have troubled you with that." He now sounded more annoyed than sad. "Spirits know why I came down here at all."
"A good question. Why did you come here?"
"I…." He seemed lost again. He looked around as if trying to remember where he was.
"I want to take a look around. I don't know why. Why don't you go wait outside. I'll see you soon enough."
"Sounds fine with me. Come on…. Don't have a nickname for you yet. Don't worry. I'll think of something. Let's give Twinkle toes some time alone."
"Aang. Are you sure about this?"
"I'm sure. Thank you for hearing me out. Just go. Please. Leave me with the ghosts."
….
"So, what do you think?"
Toph remained silent for a time pondering an answer to that question.
"We have more in common than I thought. I admit I'm surprised. He's a lot different than how I'd expect someone in his position to turn out. A lot wimpier."
Mai nearly chuckled but against all odds held it in. She needed to show some respect for the airbender to get this girl on her side.
"Look. He's got a lot on his plate. The fate of the world and all that so- "
"So, I should give up everything here and… What, exactly?"
"Uh... Travel the world with us? Fight Fire Nation Soldiers? Raise Hell?"
Toph paused in contemplation.
"I admit. That does sound fun. But what would my folks think?"
"Since when do you care about what your folks think? You run off and kick Earthbender ass all the time!"
"That's different. You're asking me to leave them permanently. That's like…. Actually, sounds pretty great honestly. But still…. Wouldn't they feel pretty…. You know…."
"Shitty? They might. But it's your life, you know? Doesn't it matter what you want?"
"Quite to the contrary. It's about what she needs."
They both jumped as Toph's father came out of a nearby cabin with half a dozen men. His expression was to put it mildly, not pleased.
"Damn wooden floors," Toph muttered. "Couldn't feel them coming."
….
A waist height gate separated the basement from the rest of the house. A sign hung above it saying, "No Entry."
Aang simply jumped over the gate and stepped into the poor excuse for a living room. His father never had much use for it. All he needed was downstairs. All his shiny toys and obsessions.
He saw the pitifully small table around which he and his sister used to sit.
Tense was the only way he know how to describe it. Sitting there eating silently. His father would stare stoically yet somehow with disappointment evident all over his face.
He himself kept his face down. Never spoke up unless asked a direct question. No desire to bring his father's wrath to the surface. Meek. Cowardly. Good boy.
His sister never bothered to hide anything. Anger and hate was all over her face. Hate towards the repulsive man. Hate towards his insane dreams. His mad ramblings of a world above even the air nomads.
Now and then, he recalled her having enough. No longer able to put up with him, she would lunge across the table. For what little good it did. When it came to both airbending and muscle mass, he had them beat.
On the few occasions they were actually allowed to leave the house (Always under supervision of course) life somehow felt worse. As their father had built the whole bloody town practically by himself, he got the benefit of the doubt. All the smiling fools talked about how lucky they must be to have a father like him! How fortunate to be under his constant vigilant eye!
And the other kids always wondered why he was constantly angry.
Looking back on it all, one of the things that most surprised him about his time with the nomads, at least at first, was how open he'd been with his anger. Anytime a nomad brat gave him shit, he'd beat him to within an inch of his life.
He'd never shown such honesty with his emotions in this place. Too much fear.
No. Not fear. Fear at first. Then it became complacency. Acceptance. Weakness.
That's it. Weakness. That's what drove him. What made him angry. What made him who he was.
He'd always been weak. Fragile. Not like his sister.
She never gave in. Never. Strong. Determined. To the very end.
Just like that little blind girl outside.
If he'd been like her, she'd still be alive. Still be whole.
If only he had determination!
The anger came again. The uncontrollable anger.
It felt good. All those voices. Letting go.
It's what she would have done.
….
"Let me go!"
"Let you go? Let you run off and get yourself hurt? Unacceptable!"
"She's not your doll! She's free to do as she wishes!"
"You shut your mouth girl! I want you and your friends out, now!"
"Mr. Beifong," Alphys started.
"No.! My daughter is tiny and weak and helpless! She is not going anywhere! And nothing will change that!"
As if in response, the cabin exploded. A great gust of wind knocked them all back. Toph Conjured up a stone wall to keep them from going any further back.
"What the hell was that!? That was sick! Do it again!"
"I think your wish is about to be granted kid."
The Avatar rose from the wreckage. His eyes glowed, filled with rage. A sphere of air surrounded him.
Everyone stared in awe. Except Toph who couldn't stare at anything.
"What's going on? This is wicked!"
"Indeed, it is," Toph's father exclaimed in shock. That boy…. It's the Avatar!"
"Yeah…. I guess he really is…. Go ahead all of you…. I'll sacrifice myself in your name…."
No one paid attention to Napstablook's bizarre statement as the ground begun to shake.
"Woah," Toph put her hands out. "This town…. This whole frigging town…. The ground underneath…. it's coming apart from the earth!"
"How do you know that" asked her father.
"Earthbending, genius," shouted Mai.
"Uh…." Alphys pointed to the surroundings. Do those mountains seem to be shrinking?"
Everyone stared off into the distance. True to the doctor's observation, the mountains on the horizon appeared smaller.
"They're not shrinking," Mai said in shock. "We're rising."
"She's right," Toph said. "I can't feel the town's surroundings anymore. We're in the goddamn air!"
Her parents clutched each other. Clearly, they had no idea what to do.
Useless as always, she thought. She really didn't want to wind up like them.
So don't, her inner child yelled. Act!
"The Avatar's causing all this right? So, if we hit him this should stop right?"
Alphys stared concerned.
"Well theoretically yes. But if you do that- "
Sadly, for her, Toph was blind. Not that she'd stop even if she could see.
"Any of you got good aim? I need someone to point him out."
Mai paused for a moment contemplating whether she should hit her current friend in the chest as Toph seemed intended to do.
Then she heard the screams across town. People panicking. Running in terror. Toph's parents included.
It would have proved entertaining if her own life hadn't been in danger.
"Cowards," shouted Toph. Stand and fight! Like Earthbenders!"
"Right." Mai took the blind girl's hand and pointed it in Aang's direction.
Toph took a deep breath. She moved her feet apart. Then she raised one foot in the air and stomped down.
A boulder rose from the ground. Bigger than any human.
"Keep my hand pointed in his direction."
More screams rose from around the city. The ground grew even more unstable. Alphys stared around transfixed.
"This…. It's just like the temples. It's incredible!"
She held her hands out to her side. Napstablook simply lay on his back.
"Easier to lay down… Let gravity do the work…"
"Forget gravity! This defies gravity!"
She ran to the edge and looked down. The ground grew further and further away.
"This is it! This is what I've been missing. A strong enough power source. The power of the Avatar!"
She leaned over the edge and let the wind rustle her hair.
"Is this how our ancestors felt? How wonderful! I want to stay up here forever!"
"Sorry twinkletoes."
She turned back with wide eyes.
"Wait, don- "
Toph pushed forward, directing the boulder towards her target. The Avatar.
Alphys rushed forward.
"Stop! You don't understand!"
Too late. The boulder went slam into the Avatar's chest. His eyes stopped glowing. His hands lowered.
The city dropped.
The screams grew even louder.
….
She pushed her hands out to the side, causing the rock wall she'd formed around them to dissipate.
She felt the other rich girl and her friends walk off. Behind her, she felt her parent's hearts beating off the chart, along with the guards.
It actually excited her. Let them see who she really was.
"Toph. Toph, how…"
"I always could. If you'd only bothered to look."
She began to walk. She could once again feel the whole earth beneath her for miles around.
"Hey wimps! He's under that rubble there! Move aside!"
"Uh, Miss Mai." Alphys tapped Mai's shoulder. "I think she's talking to us."
"Us, wimps?"
"I said move!"
They complied (Finally!) and she pulled aside the wreckage of the cabin. Buried underneath lay the cause of their town's second destruction.
Toph felt her parents come up from slowly behind her.
"The Avatar the real avatar. After a century, he has returned to wreak havoc upon our lives again!"
"Wait," Alphys held her hands up. "I think this is a misunderstanding…"
"Misunderstanding? What the hell's going on?"
"What just happened? I thought we were dead!"
"Mr. Beifong! Did you do this? I knew you'd- "
"Friends! My dear friends! Your anger is justified. But not towards me!" Toph's father gestured towards the unconscious avatar.
"You, see? You see what the spirits have sent us? The avatar himself!"
Gasps spread through the crowd. People crowded around each other trying to get a glimpse.
"Napstablook." Alphys nugged her friends' shoulder. "We need to help. Wait, where's Lady Mai?"
"Huh…. Oh, she took off… Said we should go…. But you know… I'm not worth the effort…."
"What? You let her leave!? We can't…."
"Seize them! Seize them all!"
The airbenders looked towards toph for help, but she seemed just as lost. Turn against her father or against the kid who had (accidently) destroyed their town for a second time.
They were on their own.
"Napstablook, grab the avatar! We have no choice, we must fight!"
With shaky hands, she punched forward with bursts of air, knocking several villagers back.
"They're all airbenders!? Is this some sort of revenge? A punishment from the spirits?"
"Please everyone, stop! We're all on the same side!"
"Same side!" Toph's father stepped forward with rage in his eyes and gestured to their surroundings.
"You have a strange way of showing that! If this is how you treat those on your side, then I shudder how to think you treat enemies! I have no desire to work with you any longer! Seize them!"
"Nap! Grab the avatar!"
Alphys continued launching bursts of wind at the approaching angry townsfolk. Napstablook dragged the unconscious Avatar.
"The boulder will avenge this town! No one surpasses him in or outside the arena!"
He raised a foot and raised a large stone from the earth. However, Alphys was too quick, and blasted him off his feet.
Not just him either. No matter their numbers, none of them were prepared for the quickness and evasion airbenders were capable of.
"Ms. Beifong," Alphys shouted. "Please help us!"
"No Toph!" Her father placed her hand on her shoulder. "Stay loyal to your family!"
Toph could feel it all. The chaos around her. But she couldn't decide what to do. Her own logic of holding firm and staying her course was working against her.
"Please stop this," Alphys cried out. "This has to end now!"
"I totally agree!"
From beneath the airbender's feet rose long vines lined with thorns. They curled around the airbender's bodies, digging into their skin. Aang remained unconscious. Alphys screamed in pain. Napstablook…. Not so much.
"Hurts I know…. But I kind of deserve it… Don't tell me… I know…."
"Howdy folks! Happy Avatar's day! I gotta say, you've planned quite the festivities this year! A fight! A wrecked town! Everything! What's the occasion? Marking a hundred years of pointless bloodshed?"
"No great flower! Marking the return of the destroyer!"
"Destroyer? These three? Well, they certainly seem to have given you quite the bruising! But maybe that says more about you- Than. It. Does- "
The flower's voice trailed off. A sadistic smirk crossed his face. The kind that spelled terror for this town. Toph couldn't feel him the way she could other beings. But as someone who'd been on the receiving end of his "games" She knew enough about his voice to tell when he was grinning.
"I gotta say folks, today's your lucky day! Since you were kind enough to give me the worst person in the world, I'm gonna take my hate out on him!"
The flower looked around the crowd. Everyone shuddered. Inwardly they prayed to the spirits that they would be spared the flower's wrath.
A little ironic since they were praying for the spirits to spare them from a spirit's wrath.
"Everyone gather into the assembly area! We've got a show for you! The end of the Avatar!"
….
Mai ran faster than she ever had. And she'd run plenty of times. Usually when Azula came looking to play.
But this was a different kind of fear. A much more primal kind. The kind from the unknown. From seeing ancient things beyond the ability of mortal minds to comprehend.
For the first time, she had truly seen the avatar. The real avatar. The force of nature that had long haunted the dreams of the fire nation for over a century.
Who would have thought that little kid had it in him? She really had no idea what she was getting herself into when she agreed to follow this kid.
What could she do? She was an outcast. She had abandoned the fire nation. Her family. All for a chance at fun. Where could she go?
North maybe? Apparently, T\that's where Zuko was. Unless the airbenders were lying.
No. Whatever else they were, they weren't liars. She knew liars. She'd spent her whole life with one. Zuko was north.
But could she even make her way there? How would she cross the desert?
"You! Stop!"
Fire Nation soldiers. Credit to Ozai. He was already moving on from Omashu. No respite for them.
"Wait. That clothing. Are you!?"
"Please help me! My name is Mai! Daughter of lord Ukano and friend of Princess Azula!"
"Lady Mai? Ah yes! Niece of the warden of Boiling Rock as well, correct? What are you doing out here?"
"I… The avatar kidnapped me! I just barely escaped! He's held me all this time! Trying to get information concerning the princess out of me!"
They looked her over. Their eyes wide at the damage oof her clothing and her scars. Guess it was a good thing she'd been in a dropping city after all.
"Spirits. Look at what he did to you! Where is the tyrant?"
"I…"
Did she dare give them his identity? She'd left sure but-
"Wait. Lady Mai. That flying city. That was Gaoling right? Did he have something with that?"
She just stared. Fortunately, they seemed to accept it.
"You're in shock. Perfectly understandable. Come with us, lady Mai. Princess Azula is in a camp not far from here. She'll be delighted to see you."
Suddenly Mai wished she'd died in the sky.