Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar.

Chapter 3

Slay the Dragon

Her pulse was thundering in her ears. She could feel her palms getting sweaty as she opened and closed them over and over again. She punched her fists together a few times to occupy them for a moment. Just a few feet away from her another girl was conducting a similar ritual. The other girl was a few years older, but her heart was beginning to race too. Putting on her most confident grin, Toph stepped forward.

"Ladies and gentlemen, here we have our first two combatants for the night!" a man standing between the two girls said. A roar rang out among the crowd that was near deafening. Much louder than any crowd Toph had ever heard before. "Our first contestant in the red and yellow, coming in with a record of three wins and zero losses is Lady Dragon! And her opponent, fighting in her debut match wearing the green and gold: The Blind Bandit!"

Instinctively, one of Toph's fists rose into the air along with her confidence and spirit. Lady Dragon on the other hand just stood there swinging her arms before the referee instructed them to shake hands. Toph put out her fists and Lady Dragon hit the tops of them. Toph's grin did not fade the entire time she walked back to her corner and waited for the signal to start the match. This was going to be a fun night.

When the bell rang, Toph came out ready. Lady Dragon on the other hand seemed a little less enthusiastic. Toph had no idea what this girl's fighting style was, but still felt more than prepared for a fight. Lady Dragon's approach was slow. Almost insultingly so. Toph was just beginning to wonder if her blindness was causing Lady Dragon to hesitate when the girl struck. It was a sudden forward charge, but Toph felt the girl angling towards her right. Immediately Toph shifted towards her left; the place she knew that Lady Dragon would be striking for. Toph's grin fell as she realized only a second too late that it was a trap.

Lady Dragon's fist crashed into the opposite side of her head than Toph had expected. There was not much power behind the blow and Toph found herself instinctively moving to counterattack. A straight punch to the face was what she had in mind, but somehow she felt her arm being pushed down before another jab caught her in the side of the face. Toph could not even recall the last time she had been hit twice so quickly. This girl was not pulling her punches. Toph loved it.

Another flurry of quick strikes began to engulf Toph. Every time she was sure she had caught Lady Dragon it turned out to be another trap. Every opening she thought she had was another trick used to open her defense. If Lady Dragon had been more powerful physically she might have already knocked Toph down a few times. Even when Toph began trying to use leg trapping techniques to slow her down Lady Dragon kept coming. It was time to stop fighting as though she were in one of her martial arts tournaments and start winning. Before Toph could begin her offensive however, the first round came to an end.

The crowd chanted Lady Dragon's name as Toph grabbed a quick drink and spat out the irony taste of the blood in her mouth. She must have split her lip or something because her mouth and face were both fine otherwise. She sprayed her water over her face quickly before turning back to the fight. She could feel Lady Dragon's eyes on her. Toph gave her another confident grin letting her know she was not out of the game yet.

"Time to stop holding back," Toph said to herself and Lady Dragon.

The bell sounded the beginning of the second match. Lady Dragon's approach was much more swift this time now that she had an idea of how Toph fought. She moved from left to right with increasing speed. Toph stood still as a statue, never losing her grin as she placed her palms face up before her and entered her fighting stance. When the first strike came Toph opened herself to it. As it landed on her face, Toph reached for her enemy. Just before Lady Dragon's arm came down upon her own in that familiar trapping movement, Toph pulled back and lashed back out as it brushed past her. Lady Dragon was no slouch though. The second that Toph's hand reached her, she struck it away with her other hand and struck Toph's face again. Rather than allow that to bother her Toph made another attempt at a grab with her other hand. This time when the trapping arm came, Toph grabbed it with her defending hand. Lady Dragon seemed to automatically react by grabbing the hand that held her arm. Now with both hands and arms occupied Toph took her shot. She reached out and grabbed the back of Lady Dragon's neck and pulled her in. Lady Dragon rose her knee to strike at Toph's abdomen, but was met with a stronger core than she had expected. Her now slightly numbed leg went back to the ground with a sensation of hundreds of tiny needles stabbing into it. Toph tightened her grip on her opponent and began to pull her in. It was Toph's turn to raise some knees.

Toph rose one leg after the other, laying knee after knee into Lady Dragon's core. Eventually, Lady Dragon managed to wriggle her way free and push away, but the damage was done. Toph felt her opponent's movements slow to a sluggish pace. Her breathing was unsteady and even her feints were easily read. Toph had already won the fight and she knew it. She knew that the officials knew it too. Better to show these people that she had not come her to play and finish things before the round was over.

Toph went on the offensive. She fired blow after blow at Lady Dragon who now barely had the strength to block and divert her punches much less the energy to trap them. One little opening, one slip was all Toph was going to need. When it came, she was more than ready for it. Lady Dragon pushed one punch aside and then another in large arching circles leaving her left side completely unguarded. Toph zeroed in and felt Lady Dragon's record become three wins and one loss as her fist crashed into her opponent's ribs. Another swing to Lady Dragon's face and Toph knew she was down and out. No way she was getting back up.

If the crowd was surprised they seemed to show it only by screaming louder. Toph stood grinning in the center of the mat as the official rose her hand. She turned to the now standing Lady Dragon and gave a grinning nod before extending her fist. Lady Dragon punched it weakly, but respectfully. Even though the adrenalin was fading and her head was beginning to ache, Toph was loving every bit of it.

* - * - * - * - *

"What happened to you?" Leila asked. "You look like you got into a fight with a pitching machine."

"You should see the pitching machine," Toph smirked as she punched away at the bag in the Martial Arts Club's new room. Apparently her father had made another donation to the school this year in the hopes of expanding Toph's club. "How's it feel to be captain?"

"Not much different from last year considering how often you didn't show up," Leila laughed. "You disappointed a few people with the announcement though."

"They'll get over it. Any promising new recruits?"

"Still too early to tell," Leila admitted. "This is only the second since club activities began this year. I still don't see why they wait a full three weeks after school starts. Even first years know their way around pretty well by the second week."

Toph nodded in agreement as she continued to hit the bag. Last night's events were still playing in her mind as she smiled. The fight with Lady Dragon had been her toughest real competition she could remember. If there were more fights like that ahead, then she was going to have to kick up her workout a bit.

"I need about three people," Toph said.

"What for?" Leila asked.

"I need to spar and one person just isn't good enough."

"So you're going to take on three?"

"Got a better idea?"

"Not really, but I did want you to meet someone," Leila replied. "Come on, she's not gonna bite you."

A very timid girl stepped forward from behind Leila. Toph's first impression was that she was incredibly meek and submissive. She was right.

"I'm Anji," the girl said. "Nice to meet you."

"Get to the point, girly," Toph ordered. "What do you want?"

"Nothing!" the girl said quickly before ducking away again. Toph felt her practically run over to the benches as Leila said something. Toph did not pay much attention until she felt Leila moving over to the club members she had left stretching.

Toph did not really think that there were three skilled enough people in the club to be a real challenge, but she had to make due with what was available. To her surprise many of the first years were more eager to spar with her than she would have given credit. In no time at all she stood out on one of the new mats surrounded by three young opponents.

At least they were smart enough to surround me, she thought.

Honestly it was all too easy. Two of them struck simultaneously from either side. Two punches that were easy enough to side step and duck under. Whether it was fear or wit that made the third opponent hesitate Toph did not know, but he came in quickly behind them and tried to land a kick in her face as she crouched. She grabbed his foot with one hand and his leg with the other before swinging him around and crashing him into her other two foes. They fell quickly but turned their awe filled eyes on her with cheers.

"This sucks," she murmured.

"Picking on new kids? That's not a great way to keep your club numbers up."

"Twinkle Toes!" Toph shouted as she threw her arms around him. "Just who I needed to hear!"

"Who's that?" she heard Anji asking someone.

"That's Aang," Leila's voice answered. "He's been Toph's boyfriend for forever."

"What can I do for you, short stuff?"

"You always know just what to say, don't you?" Toph grinned as she pushed him. "Let's go!"

Not needing anymore of an explanation than that, Aang's feet shifted into a balanced stance and his hands floated up into position. Ba Gua was not something Toph expected to encounter in her new line of work, but Twinkle Toes was the best sparring partner she could ever ask for. His unbelievable ability to learn other martial arts so swiftly was a marvel and if she could fight him on a regular basis it might help her to adjust to sudden changes more easily.

"Stop holding back, Twinkle Toes," Toph said as she tried to break his defense. "You afraid to hit me?"

"Kind of," he admitted. "I don't remember seeing those bruises last night at dinner."

"Don't worry about it," she grinned as she hit him square in the chest. "You wouldn't hit my face if your life depended on it."

"Very true," he smiled. His stance suddenly widened and his legs whipped around quickly striking at her own. He was faster than she could keep up with and found herself losing her footing. He was the only one she knew that could force her off balance like it was child's play. It was both infuriating and encouraging at the same time. Just before she fell back she felt his arm slide around her waist and his forehead press against hers.

"Who said I needed catching?" Toph asked.

"You and Azula are always telling me that I need to take advantage of openings."

"Very smooth, but the match isn't over," Toph smirked as she kicked his legs out from underneath him. He toppled forward right on top of her and they both landed on the mat laughing.

"So what kind of secret are you keeping from me?" Aang whispered with a smile.

"Just trying something new," Toph told him. "Don't worry too much, okay?"

"Nice ink, Aang!" Leila called as she clapped.

"Thanks," he blushed as he and Toph rose to their feet.

"And ear piercings too? You rebel you."

"Toph got 'em for me," he said proudly. "Good to see you, Leila. How's Teo been?"

"He's doing all right. He seems to have less and less free time these days though. Told me he has something big in the works but he won't tell me what it is yet."

"Good to hear he's keeping busy," Aang smiled. "Who's the little one behind you?"

"I'm Anji," the shy girl said. Toph could feel her heart rate increase as Aang spoke with her. Why did he have to be such a ladies man?

"Speaking of Anji, why don't you go ahead and ask her?" Leila prompted.

"Ask me what?" Toph asked in her firm tone.

"Well . . I was wondering if you wouldn't mind . . I mean if you're not too busy . . If you might be willing to . . ."

"Spit it out already!"

"Would you please teach me martial arts?"

"That's all?" Toph asked. "Sorry kid, but I don't have time to babysit anyone right now. I've got my own training to focus on."

"Ah c'mon, Toph," Aang elbowed her. "Someone's asking you for help."

"No, it's okay. I didn't really think she'd want to anyway."

"Hey! Anji!"

A tall boy stood in the doorway of the Martial Arts Club glaring over at Toph and her friends.

"Who's the goon?" Leila asked.

"Anji, get over here!" he ordered as he walked towards them from the door. "I thought I told you I wanted you to see me practice for the football team. What are you doing here?"

"I was just looking around, Hide," Anji said meekly. "This club looks kind of fun."

"Fun?" Hide said. "Why would you want to be here when the real fun is watching me out on the field?"

"I was thinking about trying something new," Anji replied even more quietly.

"You don't wanna do this," Hide said as he grabbed her wrist. "Come on. We're leaving."

Before even Aang could react to this behavior, Toph reached out and grabbed Hide's wrist. She could feel him tense under her grip, but he did not try to attack her.

"You know, it's very rude to interrupt someone while they're having a conversation," Toph said. "If she feels like it, then Anji will be down to the football field in a little while. Why don't you go and wait for her?"

Shifting his eyes from Toph to Aang and then Leila, Hide seemed to think it would be a good idea to take this advice. He gave them all a quick scowl before turning to Anji.

"I will see you at the field later."

It sure did not sound like a question or request to Toph. Anji simply nodded softly without looking at him. When Hide finally left Toph turned her attention to Anji with a look of absolute rage.

"You've got to be kidding me!" she roared. "You just rolled over when he came in and treated you like his property! Let me guess, he's your boyfriend right? I can't stand people like you!"

Anji's head sank lower as Toph's words cut into her.

"Toph, let up a little," Leila said.

"Yeah right! Next time that punk grabs you like that I want you to do this," Toph ordered as she made Anji grab her wrist. "Grab him back right here and then let him have one of these!" Toph rotated her arm to where she could grab Anji's wrist and then thrust her arm right at Anji's chest, stopping just short of hitting her. "You're a person, not a dog. Don't let him treat you like one."

"Thank you," Anji said. "You're so lucky to have someone like Aang."

"I'm not lucky," Toph said. "I just didn't settle for the first guy who paid any attention to me."

Anji nodded again before turning for the door. Toph knew that she was going to the football field, but did not try to stop her.

"Way to encourage her, Toph," Leila groaned. "She was asking for your help."

"And I gave it to her," Toph replied. "She's gotta decide what to do next. She comes back, I might help. In the meantime let's get back to it, Twinkle Toes."

A/N: Sorry for the wait. Please check out my profile and give me a hand.