Chapter 17

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Word count 4350 words

(Y/n) POV

I skunked against a shop post waiting to see if Sokka was gonna buy this dam bag or not.

"It's pricey... but I really do like it" he studied the large green bag.

"Then you should get it, you deserve something nice" Katara smiled.

"I do, don't I?" He told himself as I gave a bored look to my sister as she gave me the same one, "But no, it's too expensive. I shouldn't"

"Cool, then let's go. We need some more supplies for camp anyways" I exclaimed.

Katara nodded as we both walked away, "Do you think he's gonna but it?" She asked.

"Oh most definitely," I nodded. "And he's gonna regret it five minutes later" We snickered.

Aang caught up with us right as a man ran up to us, "Psst, psst! Hey, you kids love earthbending? You like... throwing rocks? Then check out Master Yu's Earthbending Academy" he slyly gave Aang a flyer before disappearing.

I slowly took it out of his hands, I don't know what it's laced with.

"Hey! There's a coupon on the back! The first lesson is free" I smiled seeing it was safe before giving it back to Aang.

Katara looked at it, "Who knows? This Master Yu could be the earthbending teacher you've been looking for"

"You're right!" Aang jumped for joy.

—————

We sat outside the academy hearing a large smash inside.

I glanced at my siblings sitting between me, "Yeah... I don't think it's going well..."

Soon a trail of students came out followed by my little bro, "Well?" I raised a brow.

He shook his head, "Ehhh, he's not the one"

"I think The Boulder's going to win back the belt at Earth Rumble VI" we overheard a boy tell his friend as they past us.

The other boy grinned, "He's going to have to fight his way through the best earthbenders in the world to get a shot at the champ"

Aang walked over to interrupt them, "Excuse me, but where is this earthbending tournament, exactly?"

"It's on the island of Noneya... 'Noneya' business!" He sarcastically yelled at the Avatar before they laughed walking away.

We walked over as Sokka began to laugh as well, "Oh, I got to remember that one!"

Katara looked forward, "(Y/n)"

I pulled out on of my fans, "Already ahead of you"

She turned to the boys, "We'll be right back"

We both ran to the boys, "Hey strong guys, wait up"

We caught them in an ally and they smirked seeing the two of us. I started to fan myself while my other hand was playing with my hair, "So sorry to bug you~" I winked.

The two looked at each other like they just found an diamond in the ice, "How can we help you?" They puffed up to look more manly.

Katara and I side glanced at each other before smirking.

——

"Bye bye boys" we laughed leaving the boys bruised and frozen to the walls.

"You ready to find an earthbending teacher?" I smiled as we ran back to the boys.

"Because we're going to Earth Rumble VI!" Katara exclaimed.

Aang looked at us with wide eyes, "How'd you get them to tell you?"

The two of us continued to smirk as I fanned myself, Oh... girls have their ways"

—————

That night the gaang and I all made our way inside the underground fight club and sat down.

"Hey, front row seats! I wonder why no one else is sitting here" Aang smiled.

On cue a massive rock smashed into the seats next to us.

"Huh... I guess that's why" my twin and I said in sync.

Then in the center of the ring, the host raised an earthen platform. He quickly brought it back to the level of the rest of the arena before spewing out excitement, "Welcome to Earth Rumble VI! I am your host, Xin Fu!"

Katara sighed, "This is just going to be a bunch of guys chucking rocks at each other, isn't it?"

"That's what I paid for" Sokka smiled as he practically bounced in excitement.

She sighed again before turning to me, "Well at least you understand how foolish and immature this is, right (Y/n)?"

"Get on with the show!" I yelled at the host.

She sighed, "Never mind"

"The rules are simple. Just knock the other guy out of the ring, and you win!" He jumped up to a podium above the ring," Round one: The Boulder vs. The Big Bad Hippo!" We watched as The Boulder raised his arms and turned around to the loving cry's of the audience.

"Listen up, Hippo. You may be big, but you ain't bad! The Boulder's gonna win this in a landslide!" The Boulder told The Hippo.    

"Hippo... mad!"

The fight ended right as it started ending with The Boulder destroying him.

"The Boulder wins!"

Katara nodded, "How about The Boulder? He's got some good moves"

"I don't know. Bumi said I need a teacher who listens to the earth. He's just listening to his big muscles. What do you think (Y/n)?" He asked me.

I shrugged, "He's very talented.. but I'm getting a supervillain vibe from him"

"What do you think, Sokka?" Aang asked as Sokka was just cheering at The Boulder.

"Well that answers that then" I sighed as the next match began.

"Next match... The Boulder versus Fire Nation Man!" The host showed a man in a full out Fire Nation uniform, holding a flag.

Honestly it looked like he was trying to be 'the villain' and even though I'm not from that nation, it seemed very disrespectful.

I listened to the swarm of boos he was receiving. It made me sick. We all looked to Sokka who was booing along with them.

"Please, to rise for Fire Nation national anthem!" He put his left hand over his heart; begins to sing, "Fire Lord, my flame burns for thee!" The boos became louder as people began to throw rocks at him.

"Go back to the Fire Nation!" Sokka yelled chucking a rock at him, hitting him square in the face.

I sighed as the match began and watched the Fire Nation man get his ass kicked.

Match after match The Boulder knocked everyone out of the arena.. literally.

The arena became really quiet as the host began to hype up the crowd, "Now, the moment you've all been waiting for. The Boulder versus your champion... the Blind Bandit!"

The spotlight set on a little girl no older than Aang... well Aang's mental age.

She had a green and yellow-ish one piece on with her hair in a high bun cover with a matching headband.

"She can't really be blind. It's just part of her character, right?" Katara scoffed not buying into the story.

"I think she is" Aang told her.

"Same," I nodded turning to her. "Appearances can be deceiving. Don't forget, you didn't know I could bend till a few months ago" I explained before looking back to the arena.

She put her hand to her chin, "Huh. You've got a point there"

I lightly punched her arm, "I always do. Don't forget, I'm the only one with a braincell here" I chuckled.

"Well I don't care what you three think, because I think... SHE'S GOIN DOWN!" Sokka yelled.

I sighed, "I rest my case"

The fight began and The Boulder had some words, "The Boulder feels conflicted about fighting a young blind girl"

"Sounds to me like you're scared, Boulder!" She taunted him.

I let out a snort as The Boulder looked stunned, "The Boulder's over his conflicted feelings, and now he's ready to bury you screen in a rock-alanche!"

"Whenever you're ready, The Pebble!" She mocked him.

"It's on!" He yelled before charging full speed to her.

I watched her footing as she made two rocks appear, catching his legs making them spread. I gave a look of pain as he screamed.

She smirked before simply knocking him out of the arena. All of our eyes widened as we watched the match end immediately.

"Your winner, and still the champion, the Blind Bandit!"

"How did she do that?" Katara gasped.

Aang simply smiled, "She waited... and listened"

The host then walked next to her and held up both the champion belt and a pouch of coins. "To make things a little more interesting, I'm offering up this sack of gold pieces to anyone who can defeat the Blind Bandit! What? No one dares to face her?"

Aang stood up, "I will!"

I sighed knowing this would end with Aang getting hurt, or him revealing he's the Avatar. And I hope it's the first one, because I really don't want another village destroyed because of us today.

It's become a common occurrence.

"Go Aang! Avenge The Boulder!" Sokka yelled as Aang jumped into the ring.

She smirked, "Do people really want to see two little girls fighting out here?"

"Oooh" the audience (including me) gasped.

Aang put his hands up in a conciliatory gesture, "I don't really want to fight you. I want to talk to you"

Sokka started to boo him, "Boo! No talking!"

Before I could move over to my brother Katara beat me to it slapping him first, "Don't boo at him!"

The fight then began as I watched the two move around each other. Aang used his airbending to fly ever so slightly off of the ground. Isn't that cheating?

"Somebody's a little light on his feet! What's your fighting name: the Fancy Dancer?" She scoffed as Aang grinned sheepishly before the Bandit launched another pillar, which lifts him up. "Where'd you go?"

"Please, wait!"

"There you are!" She smirked about to send a bolder at him, but he sent a blast of air knocking her out of the ring.

Aang ran down to her, "Please, listen! I need an earthbending teacher, and I think it's supposed to be you!"

"Whoever you are, just leave me alone" she yelled before disappearing.

We ran up to the podium and Sokka grabbed the belt and coins, "Way to go, champ!"

—————

We walked out of the arena and Sokka put the belt on acting like he just won.

"I've got to admit, now I'm really glad I bought this bag. It matches the belt, perfectly" he grinned.

I rolled my eyes, "Oh goddie"

"That is a big relief" Katara rolled her eyes as well.

Aang rubbed his chin, "If we want to find the Blind Bandit, the Earthbending Academy is a great place to start"

—————

"Oh great, you again" the two boys Katara and I... 'interrogated' yesterday scoffed seeing us walk into the school.

Katara glared at them as I pulled out a fan to fan myself making them tremble, "Yeah, I didn't think so" she smirked.

I just winked at them.

Sokka smirked at us, "Nicely done" he then high-fived me.

The male student gasped seeing Aang, "Hey! You're that kid who beat the Blind Bandit!"

"We need to talk to her. Do you guys know where she lives?" The Avatar asked.

"The Blind Bandit's a mystery. She shows up to fight, then disappears"

Before Katara could step in, I did. I smiled before grabbing one of the boys by the collar, "You're not telling us everything!"

"No, no, I-I swear it's true. No one knows where she goes, or who she really is" he stuttered.

"That's because we're asking about the wrong person. In my vision, I saw a girl, in a white dress, with a pet flying boar. Know anybody like that?"

"Well, a flying boar is the symbol of the Beifong family. They're the richest people in town. Probably the whole world"

"Yeah, but they don't have a daughter"

"A flying boar is good enough for me. Let's check it out" Aang motioned is to follow him.

"Yeah, you better leave" the boys scoffed under their breath.

"Hey, I got my eye on you" Katara spat leaving.

"Next time I won't hesitate" I winked flipping my hair walking out.

"Water Tribe" Sokka exclaimed doing a cool motion.

—————

Making our way to the Beifong home, I took in the size of this place. It had to be twice the size of our entire Tribe itself.

"Wow" I smiled.

I've always been a fan of large structures as a kid. I distinctly remember reading all the books I could in the council room about the different size structures. It used to blow my mind about how the world count be filled with more things instead of snow.

~~~

I sat in my fishing spot reading an Earth Kingdom book about the walls of Ba Sing Se.

"Hum I could do that" I smiled putting the book down and started to build a mini Ba Sing Se, complete with a little castle for the king.

I used my bending carve into the ice on the ground creating a scale model, "Not bad" I chuckled finishing right before sunset.

"Well that looks nice" I heard a voice above me looking up to see my mother smiling at my work.

"Thanks!" I grinned continuing to work on my masterpiece.

"Can I have a tour?"

I gasped looking up, "Really?" I smiled.

She nodded, "Well I came to get you for dinner but..." she looked up to see there was still sunlight, "We have time"

I continued to smile patting the ground next to me, and she joined me, "So what are you building?"

"Ba Sing Se. I read about it in my book, and it's so cool!" I exclaimed handing her the book, "They have these giant walls to protect themselves from the Fire Nation"

She hummed looking through it until stopping on the map. She looked between the two and raised a brow, "What's this one?" She pointed to the largest structure inside the walls.

"Oh that's our home" I grinned.

She began to chuckle, "But it's bigger than the Earth Kings palace"

"I know. It's because we're more important" I elbowed her.

She nodded in agreement before messing up my hair, "You've got a point there"

"Mom" I chuckled fixing my hair.

She the lent down closer towards the model and gasped, "You even added us?!" Her eyes widened looking at the little family I made out of ice.

"Yup!" I smugly smirked at the family I made. It was at our home in Ba Sing Se, Katara was a master waterbender, Sokka had our tradition warrior uniform on, mom was in between the two with a hand on each of their shoulders and I was upfront with my hands on my hips looking over the city with a crown placed over my long hair.

She raised a brow, "Where's your dad?"

I pointed to the outside of the walls, where he was fishing away from everybody.

She actually laughed at that, "(Y/n)" she chuckled.

"What?" I smirked, "I say it's pretty good"

She shook her head, "(Y/n). You're dad is part of the family, he should be with the family" she told me.

I gave her an 'Are you serious' look and she sighed, "I'm sorry (Y/n). I wish I had a say in this" she put a hand on my shoulder before pulling me in for a hug.

"Why don't you?" I pulled into a stronger hug.

She sighed, "(Y/n)... I'm not part of the council. Girl's aren't allowed to join"

"Why not?" I looked up to her, "Why is our Tribe so dang sexist?"

She shook her head, "It's just the way things are..." she was quite for a moment before changing the subject to a lighter one, "How do you know that word? You're only little?" She chuckled.

I smirked, "I read. I read a lot"

She sighed, "Well you probably are the smartest in the Tribe"I tried to stop her as she began to tickle me making me laugh.

"Mom! Stop!" I burst into giggles.

"Come on my little smarty, even you can't escape the tickle monster!" She exclaimed in a deep voice still tickling me.

I couldn't stop laughing as she continued until a new voice appeared, "Kya. It's past sundown why are you both out-" we looked up to see my father looking at us.

"Hi father" I smiled.

"W-whats this?" He lent down to see my Ba Sing Se.

"It's (Y/n)'s little world. She built it all by herself" she smiled.

He picked up his little figure, "Is this me? Why am I outside the walls?" He raised a brow.

I took it out of his hand, "Yup!" I placed the figure onto the front walls, "You're protecting us. The strongest warrior is always on the front lines" I grinned.

I saw him give me a light smile, "I just came to tell you both that dinner is ready" he held his hand out for mine, and I actually took it getting to my feet.

"Then let's go!" I chuckled as we all walked back to the village.

~~~

I grinned thinking of that memory. That was probably the happiest day I remember with my parents, both of them at least.

The four of us then jumped over the wall and came face to face with the Blind Bandit.

"What are you doing here, Twinkle Toes?!" She spat at Aang.

Aang gasped, "How did you know it was me?"

I ran over to see that the bandit was now in a fancy dress looking almost helpless unlike this morning.

"Don't answer to Twinkle Toes, it's not manly!" Sokka told him.

I looked at my brother deadpanned, "Are you serious right now?"

"You're the one whose bag matches his belt"

"How did you find me?" The bandit spat.

"Well, 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-"

"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 cut him off.

She rolled her eyes, "Not my problem. Now, get out of here, or I'll call the guards" she began to walk away.

"Look, we all have to do our part to win this war, and yours is to teach Aang earthbending"

I looked at the group, "Guys! Stop forcing her! Give her a second to think"

"Guards! Guards, help!" The bandit shouted.

"Nope!" I yelled grabbing all of them and speeding the hell out of there.

We hopped over the wall and eavesdropped on the bandit to see what she'd say. 

"Toph, what happened?"

Huh I guess that's her name.

"I... thought I heard someone. I got scared" she cried.

"You know your father doesn't want you wandering the grounds without supervision, Toph"

This bitch is acting helpless. Spirits I need her in the group.

I turned to the three and slapped them.

"Ow!"

"What the heck?!"

"You wanna go?!"

I rolled my eyes, "'Your part is to teach Aang earthbending?' Did you all seriously just bombarded her like that?! Spirits I have to do everything here!" I yelled walking to the front gate.

"(Y/n) what are you doing?!" They gasped as I knocked on the door.

"I'm pulling a Katara!" I spat.

"Excuse me?!"

A guard looked over, "Can I help you? If you're trying to get in, don't even try. The Beifong family is-"

"I'm the Souther Dragon and that's the Avatar!" I pointed to Aang, "We came to see Mr. Beifong"

"... one moment"

I smirked at the three as the gate opened, "And that's how it's done"

——————

We all sat around the table as the Beifong family served us dinner. I sat at the head as my family was around me.

A servant gave Toph her soup and her father spoke up, "Blow on it. It's too hot for her"

Aang smiled, "Allow me" he then sent a small tornado at the cup making everyone clapped.

"Avatar Aang, Blue Dragon (Y/n) it's an honor to have you both visit us"

"We heard about your work in saving the Northern Water Tribe, and I must say your bending is extremely powerful Ms. (Y/n)" Mr. Beifong praised me.

Is this recognition? "Thank you Mr. Beifong" I smiled.

He then turned to Aang, "In your opinion, how much longer do think the war will last?"

Aang smirked, "I'd like to defeat the Fire Lord by the end of summer, but I can't do that without finding an earthbending teacher first"

Beifong chuckled, "Well, Master Yu is the finest teacher in the land. He's been teaching Toph since she was little"

"Then she must be a great earthbender! Probably good enough to teach someone els- Ow!" Aang cried making me raise a brow.

"You good Aang?" I asked slurping my soup. Oh spirits it tasted so good.

"Yup"

"Toph is still learning the basics" we were told.

"Yes, and sadly, because of her blindness, I don't think she will ever become a true master" Toph's father told us.

"Oh, I'm sure she's better than you think she is" Aang smirked before his face fell into the soup.

Everybody including me stopped eating as Aang rubbed some soup out of his eyes and sneezes, sending the food flying at the Beifong family and me.

Toph snapped, "What's your problem?!"

Aang did as well, "What's your problem?"

The Beifong's wipe their faces with napkins, "Well, shall we move to the living room for desert, then?" Mrs. Beifong exclaimed.

——————

We all set up our room for the night and Aang went out for a walk.

After about two hours of no noise I knew something was up. I made my way outside to see two large holes in the dirt.

"Guards!!" I screamed.

They took Aang! They took Aang!

—————

Apparently they also took Toph so this was just great!

"Was it Zuko?" Katara asked me.

"No. If it was they'd kidnapped me as well" I scrunched my face as Sokka ran over.

"Whoever took Aang and Toph left this" he gave Katara the letter.

"'If you want to see your daughter again, bring five hundred gold pieces to the arena.' It's signed Xin Fu and The Boulder" she exclaimed.

"I can't believe it... I have The Boulder's autograph!" Sokka squealed so I hit the back of his head.

"Master Yu, I need you to help me get my daughter back"

"We're going with you" I told them.

"Poor Toph, she must be so scared..." her mother cried.

For some reason I don't think she was....

————

We ran inside the arena and saw the two up in the air inside little metal cages.

"Aang metal bend out!" I yelled to him.

"That's not a thing!" Toph yelled at me.

"Well how should I know that?!" I yelled back at her.

"When I get down there I'm gonna personally slap you smarty-pants!" She yelled at me.

"Oh it's on pebble!"

Katara put a hand over my mouth as Sokka gave them the money, "Here's your money. Now let them go"

They let Toph go as I felt a the ground underneath me sink causing me to fall on my face.

Everything became spotty as I saw Toph looking smug, "I told you I'd do that Princess"

"Oh... it's on" I pointed before passing out.

—————

So we got Aang back! I was asleep the entire time but we still got him back!

Apparently Toph beat the shit out of everyone so she has gained some respect from me.

We all stood around as she confessed her secret fighting club life to her parents.

"Dad, I know it's probably hard for you to see me this way. But the obedient little helpless blind girl that you think I am just isn't me. 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. So, now that you see who I really am, I hope it doesn't change the way you feel about me" she monologued.

"Of course it doesn't change the way I feel about you, Toph. It's made me realize something"

She smiled, "It has?"

"Yes. I've let you had far too much freedom. From now on you'll be cared for and guarded twenty-four hours a day"

"But, Dad!"

"We're doing this for your own good, Toph" her mother told her making me gasp.

~~~

"We're doing this for your own good, (Y/n)" the council told me as I cried.

~~~

"Please escort the Avatar and his friends out. They are no longer welcome here"

I tried to stay but the guards grip was to strong to keep me in place.

"I'm sorry, Toph" Aang apologized as we all were escorted out.

"I'm sorry too. Goodbye, Aang" she cried.

————

We all began to mount Appa, looking for a new location to find/ and probably destroy.

"Don't worry, we'll find you a teacher. There are plenty of amazing earthbenders out there" Katara tried to cheer him up.

"Not like her"

I sighed, "I know"

As we were about to Yip off we saw a familiar figure run towards us, "Toph! What are you doing here?" Aang gasped.

"My dad changed his mind. He said I was free to travel the world" she lied.

I smirked understanding what she was doing, "Well then we should get out of here, before your dad changes his mind again"

"Good idea Princess"

Aang jumped off Appa, "You're going to be a great teacher, Toph"

"Speaking of which, I want to show you something"

"Okay"

She bended up a rock, sending him into the air and landing in a tree.

"Now we're even. Um, I'll take the belt back"

Oh I already know we're gonna get along.

•••