Ch.6 The General's Orders
"I now prononce Lady Toph Bei Fong and General Li Fong as husband and wife." Toph shuddered at the memory. She still couldn't believe Aang had given in. As to her "husband," she had heard of General Fong. And from what she'd heard, she despised him. Soon after she met the group, she was told how the general tried to force Aang into the Avatar State. She wanted to tear his head off when she heard that he'd used Katara as a tool to anger Aang.
She was currently on a train out of Ba Sing Ce, although she had no idea where she was going. She currently stood on metal, but the general was no fool. He ordered no less than four guards accompany her at all times as soon as they got on board. As she stared out the window, wondering where she was being taken, she sensed someone enter her quarters. "What do you want, General Dunderhead?" she asked without turning. The general smiled. "I've heard you're a decent earth bender, darling." Toph whirled to face him.
"I'm the world's greatest earth bender!" she proclaimed angrily. The general did not appear to be impressed. "Have you gone toe to toe with the Avatar State?" he asked arrogantly. Toph hesistated, ever so briefly. "I didn't think so," he said. Toph was not about to let him get the last word. "I didn't have to, but I was his earth bending teacher," she replied. She kept an even tone. "Now, I have a question," she said. The General smiled. "Ask it, my dear," he said.
"Where are you taking me?" Toph demanded. The General laughed. "I thought you'd recognize your own home city of Gaoling. Oh wait, you're blind." Toph began fuming. The general didn't realize it, but it was likely he was talking his way into an extended hospital stay. He enjoyed her anger. "And by the way, since you can't see, you'll never be on par with those of us who can." He'd struck a chord, and he knew it. "I wouldn't be surprised if most of your abilities are fabricated," he continued. Toph composed herself. She'd bide her time, for the moment. Then she had a very scary thought. "Wait you're taking me to Gaoling? My parents live in Gaoling!" There was fear in her voice as she said this.
"Of course. I spoke to your father, and he is having an entire new wing built in his house. Made of wood, of course. We wouldn't want you running off." He enjoyed the look of despair on her face as he said that. "But what about my earth bending school?" she questioned. There was never a time she had ever felt such a mix of anger and fear. "Oh, that," he replied. "It's simple really. You will never teach again. As a matter of fact, as soon as we arrive in Gaoling, my first order of business will be to have your school bulldozed." Toph couldn't believe what she was hearing.
She acted without thinking. The metal flooring of the car became a suit of armor around Toph's body. "Guards, subdue her at once!" Fong ordered, but it was too late for them. Toph knocked all of them out in the space of five seconds. General Fong stood motionless. With no earth to bend, he was screwed. "I'll never allow my school to be destroyed!" Toph yelled. She tore open the wall of the train as though it were paper, and she was off. She could hear him yelling to stop the train as she disappeared.
But where to go? She wanted to check on her school, but Omashu was too far away. As she ran, she realized she was very close to the Fire Nation capital. "Guess it's time to pay Sparky a visit," she said with a laugh. It was best for her to get as far from the Earth Kingdom as possible anyway, since she was sure to be considered a fugitive once the council got word of what she had done. She sped up, realizing the trouble she was in.
Aang had never felt so guilty. He had no intention of abandoning his friends, but he needed time to think. As he flew over Fire Nation territory, there was only one possibility. Could the council strip him of his bending? He seriously doubted it. He'd never heard of such a ritual, and as soon as he could, he planned on asking Roku about it. Soon he was above his destination. The Fire Nation Royal Palace. It's majestic towers seemed to embrace the sky in their glory.
As he was about to knock, the doors to the palace began opening. Zuko was already waiting behind them. "It's been a while, Aang."