Chapter 16:
"I gotta admit, now I'm really glad I bought this bag. It matches the belt perfectly."
"That is a big relief." Katara admitted sarcastically as the four walked through the town, Aang with his usual bamboo hat on his head.
"Because there's nothing better than a guy who's got good fashion sense." Freya mocked.
"If we want to find The Blind Bandit, the Earthbending Academy is a good place to start." Aang believed, now a lot more cheerful than the day before. They walked into the Academy to find the two boys Katara had had a go at, stabbing their hands into pots of dirt.
The two looked up as the four walked in and stopped their stabbing.
"Oh great, you again." one complained. Katara looked at them annoyed, crossing her arms and leaning towards them. The two flinched away in fright.
"Yeah, I didn't think so." Katara believed
"Nicely done." Sokka complimented
"Hey," one pointed at Aang as the two walked towards him. "You're the kid who beat The Blind Bandit."
"We need to talk to her. Do you guys know where she lives?" Aang wondered
"The Blind Bandit's a mystery. She shows up to fight, then disappears." the other said
Aang looked disappointed but Katara put her hand on his shoulder positively.
"Let me handle this." She moved forwards, frightening one of the boys and pointing at his chest. "You're not telling us everything!"
"No no, I swear it's true! No one knows where she goes, or who she really is." He pleaded, his hands up innocently.
"Katara," Freya said smirking and the girl glanced at her before straightening up.
"That's because we're asking about the wrong person." Aang suddenly thought. "In my vision, I saw a girl in a white dress with a pet flying boar. Know anybody like that?" he wondered
"Well, a flying boar is the symbol of the Bei Fong family. They're the richest people in town, probably the whole world." One confessed as the other hid behind him.
"Yeah, but they don't have a daughter." the other said peaking over his shoulder.
"Flying boar is good enough for me." Aang decided and Freya nodded "Let's check it out."
Aang turned to be followed by the Water Tribe members.
"Yeah, you better leave." one grumbled
"Hey, I've got my eye on you." Katara threatened.
"Next time you want to mock someone, better make sure they're not a stronger bender than you." Freya offered before she waved and followed Katara. Sokka walked backwards confidently, grinning.
"Water Tribe."
The four asked around and spent the day trying to find the Bei Fong family's home. It turned out to be easier than they assumed. The estate of the Bei Fong family consisted of a large garden with trees, ponds and many buildings. On the front gate was the symbol of a flying boar and standing below it were two guards.
"That's the flying boar from my vision." Aang admitted as they peaked at the place from a distance. "Come on." they crept down and moved around the estate and towards the wall. Aang jumped easily over the wall, Sokka climbed over and fell to the ground below and the two grabbed Katara as she jumped over. Freya launched herself over with a burst of flames and landed easily on her feet beside the three. The four moved through the garden, peaking around the bushes before the ground began to tremble and suddenly jumped upwards, throwing the four into the air. Aang and Katara fell into bushes, Freya spun around and landed in a crouch and Sokka smashed face first into the ground.
The Blind Bandit was standing at Aang's head and he turned to look at her upside down.
"What are you doing here, twinkle toes?" she demanded.
She was wearing something completely different to the night before, now wearing a dress with light and pale greens and white. Her hair was done up nicely and with more care.
"How did you know it was me?" Aang asked
"Don't answer to twinkle toes. It's not manly!" Sokka snapped
"You're the one whose bag matches his belt." Katara reminded him as she got up.
"She could feel us." Freya believed, answering Aang as she straightened up, standing.
"How did you find me?" she wondered
"Well," Aang airbended himself to his feet to face the girl. "A crazy king told me I had to find an earthbender who listens to the earth. And then I had a vision in a magic swamp and…"
"Aang, you sound crazy." Freya interrupted.
"What Aang is trying to say is, he's the Avatar, and if he doesn't master earthbending soon he won't be able to defeat the Fire Lord." Katara explained
"We saw your bending yesterday, and wondered if you could help us out." Freya admitted
"Not my problem." the girl decided shoving her hand into Katara's face. "Now get out of here or I'll call the guards."
"Look, we all have to do our part to win this war. And yours is to teach Aang earthbending." Sokka believed.
The girl stopped before she suddenly turned around looking worried.
"Guards! Guards, help!" The four turned and immediately began to run away from the girl, by the time the guards appeared they had all jumped over the wall.
"Toph, what happened?" one asked as Toph brushed her hair back, making sure it was all still in place.
"I thought I heard someone. I got scared." she said girlishly.
"You know your father doesn't want you wandering the grounds without supervision, Toph." the guards escorted her back towards the buildings as Aang and Freya peaked over the wall.
"What should we do?" Freya wondered thinking
"How about we say hi to her parents?" Aang asked smirking. Freya looked at the boy before following him as he jumped down.
"You want to knock on the door and expect they'll let us in?" she asked
"Why not?" Aang wondered
"Well, people this important to themselves don't usually associate with others." Freya admitted
"Can't hurt to try." Katara shrugged
"Hey, maybe it'll work out for the best." Sokka shrugged and Freya rose an eyebrow.
"Wow, Sokka, being optimistic. There's something new." the boy scowled as the other two laughed.
Aang moved right around to the front door of the estate and the guards stopped them instantly. Aang simply said hello cheerfully and introduced himself. With a couple more words one of the guards moved inside and lead them to the front door where an attendant moved off to inform the head of the house of their arrival.
The four waited before they were invited into the house. They moved in and said hello to the heads of the house, thanking them for their hospitality before they were escorted to the dinning hall.
"This place really is beautiful." Freya admitted as she looked around
"And nicely decorated too." Katara nodded
"Guess that's what happens when you're loaded." Sokka said with no subtleness to his words at all. The two girls rolled their eyes.
Aang, Freya and Katara sat along the side of the table as Mr Bei Fong sat at the head, Toph sat opposite Aang, her mother opposite Freya and Master Yu who'd been at the house when they'd arrived sat opposite Katara. Sokka was given the other end of the table and looked rather important as he sat there.
They ate in silence, Aang, Katara and Freya being respectful while Sokka shovelled food into his mouth like always. Soup was brought out for them all, steaming hot, and placed before them all by an attendant.
"Blow on it. It's too hot for her." Mr Bei Fong ordered as Toph's was put before her. Freya looked confused, if it was fine for them, why was it too hot for Toph?
"Allow me." Aang waved his hand and a small whirl wind of air appeared, moving across the table and spinning above Toph's food. The steam dispersed as it was cooled and everyone clapped at the performance.
"Avatar Aang, it's an honour to have you visit us." Mrs Bei Fong admitted as she picked up her spoon.
"In your opinion, how much longer do you think the war will last?" her husband wondered
"I'd like to defeat the Fire Lord by the end of summer, but," he paused and looked at Toph slyly. "I can't do that without finding an earthbending teacher first." Toph said nothing but scowled slightly.
"Well, Master Yu is the finest teacher in the land. He's been teaching Toph since she was little." Mr Bei Fong admitted, indicating to the man who patted his mouth with his napkin.
"Then she must be a great earthbender, probably good enough to teach someone else." Aang said Toph slipped her foot forwards and Aang suddenly leapt in his chair with an 'ow'. Freya sighed as everyone looked at him confused. Toph simply ate her rice with a calm and tranquil expression on her face.
"Toph is still learning the basics." Master Yu admitted
"Yes, and sadly because of her blindness, I don't think she will ever become a true master." Mr Bei Fong sighed. Aang, Katara and Sokka all shared a surprised look at the man's words while Freya rose an eyebrow.
"Does being blind really restrict her that much?" Freya asked, earning everyone's attention. "I was under the impression sight wasn't necessarily needed for bending. It's just something we've learnt to rely on."
"And what evidence is there of that?" Master Yu questioned her
"Well I for one, I'm a water bender, and I have the ability to feel movement of my element, especially when someone moves through it. It's to do with feeling the ripples and shifts in density in the water. I don't need to be able to see for that." she explained
"That is for water bending however—"
"It doesn't matter which bending style it is." Freya cut off the head of the house. "The principle can work for other bending as well, just in different dynamics. You might even find that because she doesn't have her sight Toph could grasp the concept a lot easier than others."
"She's too small and fragile for that." Mr Bei Fong decided.
"She may be blind but I do not understand how that's makes her any more fragile than me for example." Freya said slightly irritated, but managing to keep it from her voice.
"I'm sure she's better than you think she is." Aang agreed with Freya, cutting the girl off before she could get into an argument.
Toph however pulled her foot backwards and Aang's chair slid forwards to cause him to face plant into his bowl. Katara and Sokka looked confused as Freya glanced at Toph. Aang lifted his head, his bowl stuck to his face which he pushed up onto his crown. He looked at Toph annoyed and her father looked between the two questionably, but Toph was simply eating her rice and not acknowledging what was happening.
Aang slapped his hands to his eyes to wipe away the soup before he suddenly grinned mischievously. Aang gasped and fake sneezed. All the food on the table suddenly went flying across it towards Mrs Bei Fong and Master Yu, both being splashed with soup. Two bowls hit the wall behind them and one smashed straight into Toph's face. It slid down and fell to the table as the girl had her hands out beside her.
"What's your problem?" she demanded getting to her feet and slamming her hands on the table.
"What's your problem?" Aang returned in the same manner.
"You're both acting like children that's the problem." Freya returned. "Couldn't we have a conversation and eat without the necessity of food being thrown everywhere?" she questioned.
No one spoke and the older girl sighed.
"Well, shall we move to the living room for dessert then?" Mrs Bei Fong offered as she and Master Yu cleaned off all the soup from their faces and clothes.
Dessert was calmer than dinner and the four guests were escorted to a room just after. Appa was moved to just outside the window, which was just big enough for him to poke his head into and have Aang pat his nose.
"Good night, buddy." Sokka was already crashed onto one of the beds as Freya sat meditating and Katara watched the younger boy.
Toph, now in a night dress moved to the doorway and leaned on it's frame with her arms crossed. She caught Freya's attention who heard her come in and looked up.
"Here to throw more food?" she asked, causing the other three to spin around. Aang cried out and took a bending stance ready for the two to begin again but Toph didn't react.
"Relax. Look, I'm sorry about dinner. Let's call a truce, ok?" She decided. Freya looked at Aang who looked surprised before he lowered his stance.
"Only if you tell us why you're parents baby you so much." Freya said frowning in confusion. "Do they not know of you're bending ability?" she wondered
"It's complicated." Toph returned with a shrug. "Come on Twinkle Toes, let's talk." she decided before leaving the room. Aang looked at the three and each of them nodded before he followed the girl out and into the yard.
"I can't believe her parents think she's so frail." Katara believed
"I can't believe she let's them treat her like that." Freya added "I'd never have the patients with being looked down on so much."
"Yeah but you don't have much patients with anything." Sokka responded earning a scowl.
"And out of the two of us, which one can sit still for longer? That requires patients Sokka." she snapped.
"Sorry to intrude," the three looked up to find Mrs Bei Fong at their doorway, smiling. "But have any of you seen Toph?"
"Yeah she's outside with Aang." Freya smiled
"Outside! She shouldn't be out there unsupervised." she worried and called for a guard.
"She's not. She's with Aang." Freya repeated as she got up.
"What? You think the Avatar's not qualified to look after her?" Sokka wondered chuckling at the idea.
"In saying that, if anything is to happen to her, it'd happen while she's with Aang." Freya admitted and the two siblings looked worried before they all ran outside.
They moved around the garden before finally finding a distortion in the ground. There were two shallow dug outs beside one another and a line of pushed up ground like something had tunnelled below it.
"What happened?"
"I recon they've been put into some sort of cage, one that closed below." Freya said as she kneeled beside the gouges in the ground.
"It'd probably have to be made of metal, to stop Toph from bending." Sokka agreed. Stuck into the ground beside the gouges was a knife, and it pierced a piece of paper in which Sokka pulled from the ground.
"Whoever took Aang and Toph left this." he said and Katara took the note.
""If you want to see your daughter again, bring 500 gold pieces to the arena."" she read "It's signed "Xin Fu and The Boulder.""
"I can't believe it." Sokka suddenly grabbed the scroll and ran a few steps before falling to his knees.
"I have The Boulder's autograph!"
"Sokka now is really not the time!" Freya snapped. "We need to get Aang back. And hopefully before Xin Fu has seen wanted poster of Aang. Something tells me collecting money is his thing."
"Master Yu, I need you to help me get my daughter back." Mr Bei Fong said as his wife moved to the gouges in the dirt.
"We're going with you." Katara announced.
"Poor Toph. She must be so scared." Mrs Bei Fong worried.
"Something tells me, scared's not the emotion for Toph." Freya said smirking slightly. "Come on, we better hurry."
"But where is this arena?" Mr Bei Fong wondered.
"Don't worry, we know." Katara said turning back to Sokka.
"Sokka, will you get your ass up here please, we don't have time for this." Freya moved and grabbed the boy by the Pony tail and forced him to his feet and then past Katara who chuckled as Sokka complained about pain.
Mr Bei Fong and Master Yu followed the three water tribe members to the same arena from the night before. They heard Toph's voice before they saw the two of them, both were encased in metal cages and suspended off the ground.
"You think you're so tough, why don't you come up here so I can smack that grin off your face?" she demanded
"I'm not smiling." Xin Fu responded annoyed as he stared up at the two, The Boulder was standing just behind him.
"Toph!" everyone turned as the four stood at the other end of the arena, Sokka with the bag of gold pieces in his hand.
"Here's your money. Now let them go." he demanded. Sokka dropped it onto the floor and Yu used earth bending to kick it over towards the two. Xin Fu leaned down to pick up the bag and check inside. He waved his hand and Toph's cage began to lower towards the ground. The bottom was opened and Toph fell to the floor before she got up and ran towards her father. He placed a hand on her shoulder and the three began to leave.
"What about Aang?" Katara demanded
"I think the Fire Nation will pay a hefty price for the Avatar." Xin Fu held up a wanted poster of Aang and Freya huffed as the siblings looked at her. "Now, get out of my ring."
"I do not think so." Freya declined. Sokka and Katara stood stubbornly with her.
In response a tornado appeared on one side of them exposing the Fire Nation Man. Above from the crystals dropped the spider-monkey masked man. The Hippo broke a boulder, another launched out of the stands before the minor emerged from the ground.
The seven benders stood facing the three and Freya balled her fists as Katara and Sokka looked worried.
"Go. I'll be ok." Aang assured, waving his hand. The siblings backed up but Freya refused to move.
"Freya, remember the last time you tried to take on several benders?" Sokka demanded, grabbing her hand.
"We can't just leave!" Freya demanded but Katara it seemed hadn't given up either. She stopped on the stairs to look for Toph, who was being lead away by her father, her hand in his as Master Yu followed.
"Toph, there's too many of them. We need an earthbender. We need you!" The three stopped and Toph's father looked disapproving.
"My daughter is blind." he almost sounded angry. "She is blind and tiny and helpless and fragile." Toph closed her eyes at her father's words "She cannot help you."
"Yes, I can." she decided strongly, pulling her hand from her father's. The man looked distraught as she walked away from him.
Sokka moved away from Freya as she took her stance but Toph put her hand on the girl's arm to stop her. The group of earth benders were all walking away with The Hippo carrying Aang's cage over his shoulder. Toph stopped them by spiking earth up in their path and they all turned to look at the four.
"Let him go. I beat you all before, and I'll do it again." Toph declared
"The Boulder takes issue with that comment." The Boulder declared before The Hippo threw Aang and his prison away and along the floor. Sokka and Katara moved forwards from behind Toph but the girl rose her hands and stopped them both.
"Wait." The group of benders were running at the four as Toph turned to them slightly "They're mine." she declared, surprising the three slightly.
Toph stomped her foot and rose her hands, it looked as though she was fighting strings pulling her arms down before she stomped her foot and pulled her arms in to her body while bending her knees. Dust erupted from around the girl and the ground pushed up. The benders were thrown backwards as it tunnelled along the entire arena until it was all covered in dust. None of the Earth Benders could be seen. The water tribe members watched as Toph walked into the dust cloud and her father and Master Yu were sitting in the stands watching with shock.
"Come on, let's get Aang out." Freya decided and the three moved over to Aang's prison cage on the edge of the arena and outside all the dust.
The dust cleared first from around The Fire Nation Man who took a stance in preparation before the dust cleared slightly from around him and Toph appeared. He swung his arms when he saw her and slid his foot ever so slightly. Toph smirked as the vibrations of the movement reached her. The girl stepped sideways as a heap of rock was sent tunnelling and flying at her and with a thrust of her palm the man went flying through the air as he was slammed in the stomach. He hit the stands below Mr Bei Fong and Master Yu before falling to the ground.
Sokka had taken to bashing the front of Aang's cage with a rock while Katara was pulling on the bottom.
"Guys." Freya muttered looking annoyed as she watched them.
"Hit it harder!" Aang demanded
"I'm trying!" Sokka replied
Spider-Monkey crawled along the ground before a rock hit the back of his head. He turned to see Toph through the dust and she smirked before raising her hands.
The man launched himself into the air and he pulled two small round boulders from the ground, which he threw forwards at Toph. She however caught them both and bashed them into the ground on either of side of her before she stomped her heel. A rock shot up and bashed the man and he arced through the air before another hit him and he was bounced across the arena before being thrown from it. He fell and landed on top of the Fire Nation Man who'd just gotten up and was rubbing his head. The two smashed back into the rock.
Rock was pushed up as something went tunnelling through the ground towards Toph. The girl turned her foot and the Minor suddenly appeared from behind her and threw a rock her way. Toph spun around and grabbed the rock to throw back at the minor who was pushed out of the bottom of the arena in return and hit the two already in the rocks.
"Sokka move!" Freya snapped annoyed as the boy was still hitting the cage with the rock. He and Katara did so and Freya balled her fist before it was surrounded by water which hardened into ice. Katara and Sokka watched as the girl drew her fist back and the ice around her fist began to spin before she smashed it into the metal and the bottom of the cage sprang open, allowing Aang to spring out. The boy resumed a bending stance in preparation but Sokka shook his head before pointing at the edge of the dust. The Hippo suddenly shot out swinging a round flat disk of earth before The Boulder came flying out beside him, landing on his back and getting back to his feet.
The two turned to see Toph who had her arms raised and took her stance. The Boulder raged, flexing and The Hippo bashed his chest, his earth disk on his shoulder. Toph's father had his teeth clenched together in worry.
A cry sounded and Toph listened as one of the benders came swinging down towards her on a rope. At the same time The Boulder rose a rock and he and the Hippo ran towards her. Toph stamped her foot and straightened her arms before the disk she was standing on in the arena began to turn. The Hippo and The Boulder rose their earth to throw before they were smashed into by the swinging bender. The three went crashing into the ground in a flurry of dust. Toph smiled before she thrusted her fists and opened them to flare her fingers in order to send the three flying into the previous three standing on the ground.
"I never knew. Your daughter's amazing." Master Yu believed.
Toph rose her hands and she moved them slowly before slamming them towards the ground. In response the dust all blew away, leaving only Xin Fu left on the arena with her, Aang and the water tribe members.
The man simply cracked his neck before he bent his knees, sliding one foot backwards and raised his hands strongly. Toph spat before she smirked and her father rose his hands in anticipation. Toph rose her arms and the two began to circle one another on the arena. They simply stared before Xin Fu rose a rock and sent it flying, he jumped and spun in the air to kick two more after it before he hopped, drew a foot back and kicked a fourth after the first three. It was followed with a spin and three more rising up and being sent flying before one more very large boulder followed the first seven. He paused and waited but Toph rose two triangles, pointed upwards and creating a tent around her in which the boulders all collided with. Toph brought a hand back before one of the triangle protectors went sliding across the ground and Xin fu jumped, spun in the air before he pointed his fingers and dug his hand into the ground. Toph felt the vibrations before she stepped sideways and avoided the rocks that went flying past her face. She then launched her hand at the ground and Xin Fu was sent flying, smashing into the stands between Mr Bei Fong and Master Yu.
Sokka fell backwards in amazement as Aang, Katara and Freya moved off towards the girl grinning.
"She's the greatest earthbender I've ever seen!" Master You declared.
"Good job Toph!" Freya congratulated as she clapped the girl on the back. "And thanks for your help."
"Yeah, we couldn't have done it without you." Katara nodded.
"Yeah thanks."
"That was amazing!" Sokka declared and the other three laughed.
"Well, now I need to face my father." Toph admitted
"Well, he was going to find out about it eventually." Freya believed. "But we should probably see your mother first, for she was rather worried about you." she confessed. Toph nodded.
The journey back to the house was rather awkward and no one spoke. Toph addressed both her parents together at the house once her mother had finished gushing over her kidnapped daughter.
"Dad, I know it's hard for you to see me this way, but the obedient little helpless blind girl that you think I am just isn't me." Aang, Katara, Freya and Sokka sat behind her as she stood facing both her parents. She smiled "I love fighting. I love being an earthbender. And I'm really, really good at it. I know I've kept my life secret from you, but you were keeping me secret from the whole world. You were doing it to protect me. But I'm twelve years old and I've never had a real friend." Toph frowned and the four shared a look behind her. "So now that you see who I really am, I hope it doesn't change the way you feel about me."
"Of course it doesn't change the way I feel about you, Toph. It's made me realise something." Her Father admitted
"It has?" Toph asked hopefully.
"Yes. I've let you have far too much freedom. From now on, you will be cared for and guarded 24 hours a day." he suddenly declared
"But dad!" Toph argued
"We are doing this for your own good, Toph." her mother agreed
"You just saw her take out about seven pro benders much older than her and think she needs protection?" Freya asked standing up "How can you isolate a girl who can beat up all of her guards single handedly?"
"Freya," Katara mumbled
"I may be speaking out of turn but there's no justification behind it. All you're going to do is drive Toph away. The more you restrict her, the more rebellious she's going to want to be." Freya warned.
Mr Bei Fong looked at her before he closed his eyes.
"Please escort the Avatar and his friends out." Mr Bei Fong got to his feet and pointed to the door. Freya huffed and was first to move for the door as the three got up behind her and followed her out. "They are no longer welcome here."
"I'm sorry, Toph." Aang said
"I'm sorry, too. Goodbye, Aang." Toph replied. A tear rolled down her cheek as they left the room, a guard following them.
The group grabbed Appa and moved off away from the estate and up the mountains. Aang stood staring at the house frowning while Freya looked more than irritated.
"Don't worry. We'll find you a teacher." Katara assured as she approached Aang. "There are plenty of amazing earthbenders out there."
"Not like her."
"How many benders know how to feel and listen to their element Katara?" Freya asked
"You do?" she said
"Yeah and how many more have you met. So far that's one water bender and one Earthbender. Aang's the only airbender and I haven't seen him learn how to do so with the air. And fire…" she stopped thinking. I haven't really mastered that yet… "Fire benders fuel their fire with anger, I can tell you they don't feel heat signatures." she said.
Sokka sat within Appa's saddle shining the championship belt he was yet to remove from his waist. Momo was still sitting within his bag at his side as the two approached Freya standing beside Appa. She patted Aang's shoulder and he gave her a slight smile as Katara climbed up the giant bison.
Aang hovered his way up the top and took the reins as Freya jumped after him. The girl stopped however as they heard huffing. Aang turned as she stood up and suddenly someone came running towards them.
It was Toph!
"Toph! What are you doing here?" Aang questioned surprised. The girl approached the side of Appa, wearing the same training gear she had at Earth Rumble 6.
"My dad changed his mind. He said I was free to travel the world."
"He changed his mind…?" Freya said raising an eyebrow. Sokka and Katara shared a look as well.
"Well, we'd better get out of here — before your dad changes his mind again." Sokka said
"Good idea." Toph agreed
"Or before he sends someone after you for running away." Freya said smirking slightly. The two shot her a look and she only shrugged, not caring
"You're gonna be a great teacher, Toph." Aang believed
"Speaking of which," Toph began slyly "I want to show you something."
"Okay." Aang jumped down and touched the ground only for Toph to bash her heal into the ground and send Aang flying into the air, where he landed in a tree.
"Now we're even." she decided as Freya laughed. "Um, I'll take the belt back." Toph decided, raising her hand for it.
Sokka unhooked the belt and dropped it towards Toph, the girl who couldn't see it coming, was hit on the head by the metal and knocked to the ground in a heap.
"Ow!" Toph complained
"Sorry." Sokka called.
Aang who was hanging by one leg in the tree fell and landed on the ground with an oof.
"Well, shall we get going. I think we should get going right away so Toph can get started in beating Aang around." Freya decided smirking
There were four agrees to follow and Toph climbed her way into the saddle on Appa's back before Aang lifted himself back to the reins and flicked them with a yip-yip. Appa launched up and Toph sat with a tranquil look on her face as the wind went through her hair.