For moment Aang felt last night's tea go to his mouth. He felt dizzy,he was beyond confused. Everyone seemed to be the same way,Sokka who was always talking stood there quiet. Katara mouth was wide open.
Suki was the only one who went over and gave the girl a quick hug,"You have gotten so much prettier!" she said to Toph very sweetly.
The girl smiled a bit.
"Toph? You can't be Toph,you're so...different and all pretty." Katara said awestruck,she felt a bit bad for calling the old Toph ugly. "And you can see!" Katara continued while looking at her face and her eyes,her eyes,pale green yet managed to see everything.
"Ah,yes,I can see everything. I can see you Sweetness,standing there with your mouth wide open." Toph replied. "It's me!" the girl continued. "You know,the blind bandit,The greatest Earthbender of the world! Well not so blind anymore but I'm still waaay better than all the morons out there."
Finally,Sokka who had been standing there for minutes perplexed,said something,"You can't be Toph!"
"It is me ,Snozzles! Or do I need to punch you hard in the face for you to realize that?" the girl smirked. That smirk,that Toph smirk,it was her everyone realized. It was painful to Aang to admit only Toph could make that smirk.
"Toph!" Katara shouted as she ran and leaped to Toph to hug her.
"You are so pretty!" she squealed as she held Toph tight. "Hey,it's okay,Katara,I'm here...yeah we all know that." Toph said trying to push her away but she was helpless to Katara's warm embrace.
"Aang,look at her,hasn't she gotten so pretty?" Katara said happily.
"Yeah she's very pretty," Aang said looking down. He already knew how pretty she could be.
"Toph!" Sokka said approaching her cheerfully,"how you been?" The girl smiled a bit,"Um,I been better,but I'm good." Uyen interrupted as he came into the diner,"Breakfast is served!"
"Are you going to join us to eat or what?" Katara said quickly. "Umm,yeah,I guess I have to." Toph replied.
They all were seated,however Uyen extended the chair next to Aang for Toph. "Ah,thanks." she said quite sincerely.
"So Toph,what are you doing here?" Katara said smiling. "Oh,me? I...I..I came here for Aang's birthday party! Yeah,I did. It was an amazing party,lots of fire whiskey and dancing,real nice." Toph responded somehow fast. "But why are you here so early? And in those robes?" Katara asked again amusingly, while taking a bite of some warm biscuits sat on the table. "Ooh,well it was late,and I just couldn't afford to travel by myself that late at night. So Aang what kind enough to spare me a room...right,Aang?" Toph said gritting her teeth.
Aang,however,was emersed in his thoughts,"NO. IT CAN'T BE HER! TOPH CAN'T BE THE GIRL...I MEAN NO,I DID NOT SLEEP WITH..."
"Aang!"
"What?" he said rather jumpy.
"Weren't you nice enough to let me stay at your palace,house or whatever for the night?" she asked him once more.
"Ah,right." Aang said quickly.
"Oh,that's nice of Aang,always caring for his friends." Katara said smiling. "Oh,yeah he's real nice." Toph added. For a while,everyone was quiet ,except for Sokka who was stuffing himself with whatever he could find.
"So...how come you can see now? I mean what happened?" Katara said trying to break the ice. And really it was the question everyone was dying to ask. Aang wondered that too, but his thoughts were flooded with guilt at the moment.
"Ah,it's a long story. Well my parents met this guru woman or something who was supposed to create miracles. And well she takes me to this weird,swamp place and after saying a bunch of gibberish... I open my eyes and I can see!" Toph said in-matter-of-fact tone, " It was really something out of the ordinary."
Katara looked at Toph concerned, somehow she didn't exactly buy it. She was happy Toph could now seem and seemed much happier now. But still, Katara's intuition told her that Toph was hiding something. Katara didn't want to ask, she figured she'd tell them eventually. But now wasn't the time.
"I don't know how the crazy old lady did it,but hey, she knows her stuff!" she exclaimed as she took a bite of her bread.
Everyone could agree it was the same old Toph,even though her soft,enchanting appearance.
"But it's crazy…" Sokka said with his mouth full, "you look so different and now you can see, wow, it's amazing how people can change over the years. I mean when's the last time we saw you?"
"Um, I think it was before Aang and Katara cancelled their engagement." Toph said abruptly. Katara seemed to hold her breathe for a second there,but let go as she looked over at Aang. Toph's statement had no impact on him, he seemed immersed in his own thinking. But then again that was always Aang, Katara thought as a slight blush went to her face.
Sokka continued as he balanced two turkey legs on each hand,"I don't get how did Suki recognize you?"
"I told you I saw Toph last time,remember?" Suki replied.
"I don't recall you saying anything…" Sokka was saying when Suki gave a quick bang in the head.
"I told you last time! Did I not tell you when I went to visit Kyoshi Island I ran into Toph there? Did I not tell you how pretty she was and how she was not blind anymore? DID I NOT TELL YOU THAT,SOKKA?" Suki said loudly.
"You must of told me over dinner-" Sokka replied weakly.
"Ha, everything's over dinner to you!" Suki said dryly.
"Hey,you can't blame me! Hello, Sokka, Water Tribe Chief,father of two boys and devoted husband, my life's hard! It takes me a while to process non-informational information." Sokka said while he took another bite of his turkey leg.
"WHY YOU-" Suki said grinning her teeth. Katara laughed at Suki's reaction. It seemed Sokka and Suki never stopped going.
One of the maid came in and served Toph some hot soup,"There,your highness." she said. Katara,even Sokka and Suki stared at Toph,"Your highness? I thought they only called you that,Aang" Katara exclaimed.
"Yeah,I've only been here for a day and they're already starting to treat me like Aang. They're so nice" Toph said quickly. Aang had to admit she was a witty and natural liar.
Although everyone was eating and chatting,Aang stood there quiet,lost in his thoughts. He was overally concerned,naturally. He had just had intimacy with Toph,one of his friend. HIS TEACHER! "I know her since I was 12," he thought. He was mentally freaking out,although they had fool everyone so far. HOW LONG WOULD THIS CHARADE LAST? HOW COULD HE HAVE BEEN SO STUPID,SO WRECKLESS...
"Aang is everything alright?" Katara asked. "Ah,yeah,I'm fine. Why shouldn't I be fine?" Aang replied nervously. "Okay,you just seem a little spaced out." Katara said calmly.
"Ha! That's a good one! Aang's always spaced out, he's an airhead,remember,Katara?" Sokka said snickering.
How Aang missed Sokka's puns. He missed that goofball sense of humor of Sokka's. How he wished he could sit there and listen to Sokka's jokes for hours,as stupid as they were.
Everyone seemed to be enjoying the food,especially Sokka. He exclaimed how it was better than anything they had in the South Pole. This remark caused Suki to hit him again.
Katara casually talked about some business concerning the water tribe. Sokka mentioned his duties as Chief and how responsible he was. Suki interrupted him once again and shared a story of when he took the boys on a fishing trip. Apparently what Sokka mistook for a defenseless whale turned out to be a shark. To make the story short,the boys didn't want to go the sea for a month.
"So what do you get last night,Aang?" Katara asked abruptly. "What?" Aang replied almost choking. He felt a hard kick under the table,Toph's green eyes looked at him sharply. "Last night,your birthday party? Presents?" Katara asked again,Aang was acting very odd she thought.
Aang snapped out of his trance and quickly responded almost naturally,"Ah,yes, a got a ton of good presents. I got this really cool golden septer from the royal family and this book from..." As he spoke,the doors of the diner slapped open and in came Mizaki and Ozzy walking quite cheerfully.
"Oh,boy and did get good present from my behalf." Mizaki interrupted him winking slyly. Aang gulped,PLEASE DONT SAY ANY-THING,he thought.
"Hello Mizaki,good morning." Katara said politely. Mizaki smiled, "Good morning,Katara,Suki and Sokko? Sokka?"
"It's Water Tribe chief Sokka,to you!" Sokka said proudly and bit sarcasticly. "Well alright,Mr. Water Tribe chief Sokka." Mizaki said looking away.
"Good morning,Toph." Mizaki said smiling at her.
"Hi." she replied dryly.
"How do you know,Toph?" Katara asked curiously.
"You guys know her?" Mizaki asked surprised.
"Toph,remember the blind girl who traveled with us and taught me Earthbending I told you about? Yeah,that's Toph here. The Toph girl you met in your trip a few days ago..." Aang said hysterically.
"You know her?" Mizaki asked.
Both Aang and Toph nodded.
"Awkward." Mizaki said in shock.
"Very awkward." Ozzy repeated.
"So yeah..." Toph was saying,"Can I have more toast?"
"Alright,guys thanks for coming!" Aang was saying as he excused everybody out the door.
"Thank YOU,Aang for the food and drinks!" Sokka said cheerfully,"I only wish Suki could cook that good..." he managed to mumble.
"What did you say,honey?" Suki said pinching Sokka.
"Nothing,love of my life!" Sokka said planting her a big kiss and hugging her.
Katara smiled at them," Thanks for everything,Aang." she said giving Aang a quick hug. He blushed and he could almost feel the butterflies in the stomach.
"Well,I'll be seeing you pretty soon in today's meeting and you'll be going to the Red Dragon Festival,right?" Katara said while she made her way through the door.
"Ah,yeah,I'll be there. I kinda have to be there,you know?" Aang said brushing off the butterflies.
"And how about you,Toph?" Katara asked.
"Well...Yeah,you know. I got to get back to my parents and stuff. I mean Aang was soo nice enough to let me stay in his house whatever for the night..." she replied.
"I don't think she'll make..." Aang was saying when another sharp kick interrupted.
" I'll be there." Toph concluded smiling.
Katara smiled,"Well,I'll be seeing you,too! I really want to talk to you more,Toph."
"I'll see you both soon! Bye!" she finally said happily.
"Bye!" Toph and Aang said in unison.
And without hestation Aang closed the door.
"Okay,so who are you really?" Aang asked the girl who had accompanied him last night.
"What?" the girl asked annoyingly.
"They might have bought the whole swamp 'magic' story but I'm not!" Aang said sharply.
"You must of gone completely stupid in these past couples of years or all the air has gone to your head." she replied.
"Look, if you're here for the money, I got some, but what happened to the real Toph Bei Fong?" Aang said in a serious tone.
"I'm Toph,you idiot!" she replied angrily.
"No,you're not." he said.
"Yes,I am." she said again.
"No,you're not." he replied in disbelief.
"Wow, nothing gets past you, Avatar Aang. But do you really want to argue with me?" she said. "You know, I'm very good at making my point." She added.
All of the sudden the earth under Aang's feet started shaking. He lost his balance fell to the floor. His face hit the ground quite hard. The girl let out a loud snort,"Stil too light on your feet,huh,twinkletoes!"
"Oh Spirits, YOU ARE TOPH!" Aang yelled as he picked himself up from the floor.
"No,really?" Toph replied sarcastically.
"But,I don't understand,how,WHY?' Aang was saying.
"Welcome to my world! That makes two of us!" she said tossing her arms up in the air.
"Wait,HOW? I mean why..." 'Did you sleep with me?' he wanted to say. But no,he was a bit too shy to say such a thing to her,afterall she was Toph...now anyway.
"Why DID YOU MESS WITH ME?" he finally blurted out.
"Wait a minute,hold your horses,YOU MESSED AROUND WITH ME." Toph replied boldly.
"What ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? YOU KNEW IT WAS ME!" Aang said loudly. "I mean you're not even blind now,so you can't use that as an excuse!" he added angrily.
Toph seemed to quiet down a little,"Well,I knew it was you! From the moment I heard your footsteps. Twinkletoes! I thought. And you can't really blame me for everything that happened! I mean it was just another day,I was walking around the town,minding my own business when all of the sudden and guy shows up at my house,telling my parent that I'm that most beautiful girl he's ever seen and he wanted me for his master,blah blah. And how it would be the highest honor ever,blah blah blah. My parents bought it,anyhow. And yep,I was shipped and packed over here. Am I still not the victim here?"
Aang gave her a silent stare. Toph continued looking around the mansion,"I was blindfolded all the way,I felt like I was blind again inclusively. I was unfolded until arrived at your room,I didn't even know you resided in such a fancy place!"
"Wow,you sure,don't waste time,Twinkletoes,this looks like a palace!" she exclaimed.
"Anyway," Toph said,"I was dressed into these luxurious clothes and then I was told to wait there. And I was actually planning on escaping or earthbending my way out. Or, in worst case scenario, permanently injuring the idiot who wanted to make me his wife. But then you showed up and then,I was just in shock of actually SEEING YOU. You know,you all bald with your robes and gray eyes,it was a bit overwhelming..."
Aang remembered she had said,"You're beautiful."
"Anyway,one thing let to another and that's how I ended up here. It's not something I'm proud of,but hey it happens." she concluded seating herself in the couch.
"That's it? 'Hey it happens'?" Aang said wildly. He was almost yelling. "And you just sit there all relaxed?" Aang yelled. "Yup." Toph answered quickly. "Are you not worried at all of the recupercusions, if someone found out. If Sokka,Suki or even,Katara found out?" Aang continued yelling.
"Nope" she answered dryly. "The thing is I never worry." Toph said giving him a half smile.
Aang couldn't help and notice how majestic she was,her long sleek black hair and in her seagreen robes. She would only be so breathtaking if he wasn't so furious. Even seductive,if she had wished to,she could of made him repeat the same mistake from last night... Thank heavens,it was Toph,her normal self.
They were interrupted by Mizaki who came in rushing with Ozzy,"So she's your friend?" Mizaki asked Aang. "Yep." Aang said bitterly. "I'm sorry,Aang,I had no idea!" Mizaki apologized.
"Well,now you know! Is there any possibility you can undo this whole arrangement please?" Aang pleaded.
"I'm afraid not." Mizaki said slowly.
"WHY NOT?" both Toph and Aang asked.
"Well, if you wanted a refund you should of thought about that 16 hours ago." Mizaki said naturally.
Aang shaked his hand,"What do you mean by that?"
"It means," Ozzy interrupted,"that you can't return the lady to her parents now,in these conditions..."
"Oh,great," Toph said rolling her eyes. "Deflowerment, big woop" she added.
"Yes,and by the way,Aang it's not like you can do nothing much either." Mizaki stated.
Aang looked down,"No,I cannot."
"What does he mean?" Toph asked curiously.
"In the Monk rules,once a monk commits to get married or to a woman he commits for life." Mizaki said as he poured himself some tea.
"So basically," Aang continued,"if I want to get marry or have sex,I can only do that with one woman. It means I can only have intimacy with you,if I violate that rule then I am no longer a monk. Promiscousity is not tolerated."
"So,it's not so much my fault either,you slept with a total stranger. At least I slept with my friend," Toph said sarcastically. Aang gave her a sharp stare, she was really starting to get on his nerves .
"And you knew there were consequences. I mean were you really planning to spend the rest of your life with someone you just met?" Toph added humorously.
"It was a different situation,okay?" Aang responded angrily.
They both stared silently at each other,Aang could tell Toph had already some repressed feelings against him. And he had some repressed feelings against her,too. Something also told him,she might attempt to kill him,but that was just an idea.
Mizaki drank some tea,"Oh cheer up,lads! You guys were friends,right? Then you guys shouldn't have trouble being married! It's all about politics and agreements."
Mizaki bit his lip and added,"No love required,trust me."
TA-DAH! I hope you guys liked it and I hope it explained a little more for you guys! I know several of you messaged me because you were confused with the story so far. Anyway, I hope these definitely made the waters a bit less murky, and yes there's more to Toph's eyesight. And yes there is a magical swamp. HMM.
Haha, anyways, if you have anymore questions or comments, don't be afraid to mssg me! 3
I love if you leave reviews of any sort! It's been wonderful so far, hope you spread the word about my story!
-Alex