Responses to Reviews:
RonaldM40196867: I feel like Iroh's influence, even pre-redemption Iroh, would have made him kinder than, say, Azula (while still being a full and enthusiastic participant in the war, of course.)
Zigzagdoublezee: One against eleven. It was never really in doubt, especially as they entered the fight underestimating her.
As Always, Please Review!
It took Toph ten minutes of fumbling and complaining to, more by luck than anything else, loosen the rope to the point Sokka was able to get his arm free. He twisted around, undid his legs, and then started on Yue. This process was not helped by Azula eventually succeeding in getting Ty Lee out of the ground and beginning to approach them menacingly, but after Toph turned to confront her and a tense standoff ensued, the Fire Nation princess eventually retreated into the forest.
"Thank you," Sokka told her gratefully, savouring his regained freedom. "You're incredible!"
"Thanks," Toph said modestly.
"You said your mother doesn't know?" Yue asked. "Why?"
"It would only make her worry more, if anything," Toph replied sadly.
"Why?" Sokka asked. "I would have thought being able to do what you do would be a comfort to her."
"I don't know either," Toph said.
"How did you do that?" Yue asked. "Some of those shots were very well aimed for a blind girl."
Toph sighed.
"I don't see with my eyes like you do," she said. "I can feel the vibrations you make in the ground."
Yue nodded, and then winced as her arms were freed. She tested them, stretching the muscles which had been immobile for so long, and then went to stand up.
"Where did you learn?" She asked.
"Nobody taught me," Toph replied, as Yue stumbled. "Nobody human, anyway. I ran away, when I was six. I found my way into a cave and encountered badger-moles."
"Badger-moles?" Sokka asked.
"The original earthbenders," Toph said. "They taught humans how to earthbend, according to legend. And they taught me too."
The words of the prophecy floated yet again through Yue's mind. Toph had found her earthbending teacher in an unexpected place, and so must she, apparently. Yet again, she wondered what that meant- hang on.
"It's you," she said suddenly.
Toph blinked, confused.
"What's me?"
"You're the one from the prophecy."
"I am?"
"You are!" Yue said excitedly. "Don't you see? She told me I'd find my earthbending teacher somewhere unexpected, and here you are!"
"Hold on," Toph held her hands up. "You... want me... to be your earthbending teacher."
"That's right!" Yue said.
"Me?" Toph repeated. "But... not some master?"
"Some master didn't just defeat 11 people, including two members of the Fire Nation Royal Family, single-handedly, did they?" Yue told her, smiling. "You did!"
But Toph did not smile back.
"... Sure," she said. She did not sound enthusiastic. "Does that mean I can teach you?"
"Of course it can!"
Yue's excitement was beginning to fade. If Toph didn't seem keen, then she couldn't exactly force her to do anything. But she hadn't encountered anyone who wouldn't jump at the chance of teaching the Avatar before. She frowned.
"Alright," she said. "Let's just get moving then, shall we?"
Soon the two of them had recovered their strength, and together they began making their way back towards the town. Fortunately, the Fire Nation had not made it far before Toph had caught them, and they were not making any effort to catch back up; Toph gave a running commentary as they got further and further away, until at last she lost track of them. But it turned out her vibration sense, or whatever it was had a very long range.
The town came into view at around the same time the sun began to rise, casting their surroundings in a warm glow. The first tradesmen were already trudging down the street, on their way to a new day at work. Otherwise, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. They trudged through the street, retracing their steps back to the house. They must have presented quite a sight. The Avatar, the Prince of the South Pole, and the daughter of a rich and important local family, visibly tired, trudging down the road on the way back to Toph's home.
When they finally arrived and knocked on the door, they were met with a scene of pandemonium, which suddenly froze as everyone turned to look at them. Gembul was in the centre of the garden, with Rinzen in the middle of loading his saddle. Suki and Katara were pacing nearby, holding Sokka and Yue's weapons, as guards and servants rushed around and a visibly distraught Poppy Beifong sat on the grass, alternating between crying and yelling at her employees for letting Toph go.
Nobody moved for a few moments. And then Poppy called her daughter's name and was rushing forwards, embracing her and demanding to know what had happened.
The rest of the Yuad looked similarly relieved as they approached them.
"Where have you been?" Rinzen demanded. "You vanished from your rooms in the middle of the night!"
Yue straightened up. She knew neither Sokka nor herself were going to come out of this story with much dignity, but they deserved to know.
"It's been a long night," she said. "We-"
"They saved me," Toph said. "I was kidnapped and they saved me."
"What?" Poppy demanded, horrified.
"What?" Sokka and Yue asked, shocked as to why Toph was now lying.
"What?" Suki and Katara asked, genuinely curious.
"No," Yue tried to tell Poppy, "That's-"
"It was the Fire Nation," Toph spoke over her. "I was in the garden. I needed a walk. They took me."
"Did they say why?" Poppy asked.
"I guess they were planning to use me to force you to pay them," Toph shrugged.
"It's-"
"Very brave of the Avatar and Prince Sokka to come after them alone, and rescue me," Toph told her mother. "They don't want to worry you, that's all."
"You did?" Poppy looked at them, eyes shining. Yue did not know how to react. "Thank you!"
And suddenly both of them found themselves engulfed in a bear hug.
"Thank you," Poppy told them again, tearfully. "I owe you a greater debt than you'll ever know."
Over her shoulder, both of them glared at Toph, one thought in both their minds.
Why would she lie?