Chapter Text
Aang groaned a little as he walked out of the earthbending academy he, Sokka, and Katara found in the town of Gaoling. The Water Tribe siblings, and the flying lemur, Momo, were sitting outside waiting for his free lesson to finish. Katara sees him and asks, “So, how did it go?”
Aang sighed a little as he took off the hat he was wearing, shaking dirt and sand out of it, “yeah…I don’t think he’s the earthbending teacher for me.” He replies, shaking more sand out of his ear. “Bumi said to find someone who waits and listens…he seems all talk.”
Aang’s old friend and current king of Omashu, Bumi, had instructed him that he had to find an earthbender that has mastered what he called neutral jing, which is how a fighter directs their energy. Aang only knew of positive and negative jing, attacking and retreating, but never heard of neutral jing, which involves doing nothing, or more specifically, waiting and listening for the right moment to strike. So far the search has become futile.
“Young man,” a voice called out, it was master Yu, the earthbending instructor the academy was named for, “You forgot to- “ he stopped when he saw Aang without his hat, allowing him to see the light blue airbending arrow tattoo on his forehead, “Oh my goodness…you’re the Avatar!”
Aang gasped as he tried to hide his arrow with his hand, which also had an arrow on it. “Uh…nope, not me, I’m just a regular kid,” he tried to laugh off, but master Yu didn’t look convinced.
“My dear boy you should have told me so.” Master Yu continued with a smile, “I believe that today is both of our lucky days. I happen to represent a family who were good friends with the Avatar and their previous lives.” he then reveals a brooch under his robe. Aang, Katara, and Sokka looked closely at it: it was gold and in the shape of what they recognized to be a flying boar.
“Wait…I’ve seen this before,” Aang said as his mind flashed back to his vision in the swamp: the giggling girl in the white dress had a pet flying boar near her before their little chase.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if you recognized it from a previous life. This is the symbol of the Beifong family.” Master Yu explained.
“The Bei-who?” Sokka asked.
“Beifong, they are one of the richest and most influential families in the Earth Kingdom.” Yu continued, “I am the personal earthbending teacher to their daughter, and I know that they have been hoping to have you visit them, young Avatar.” He finished, turning to Aang.
The three looked at one another at that, Sokka turned to Yu, “Can you give us a moment?” He asked. Yu nodded and the three entered into a huddle, “ok, is anyone else thinking this is fishy? A guy claiming to know a family that knows the Avatar?” He asked with a tone of skepticism.
“It can’t be that much of a stretch, there are families that go back generations, maybe they did know one of Aang’s past lives,” Katara argued, “besides, if they’re as rich as master Yu says, maybe they can be of help to us, we are running a bit low on funds since you bought that purse.”
“That little glass of yours is always half full, isn’t it sis?” Sokka asked rhetorically, “And it’s not a purse, it’s a messenger bag.” He added before turning to the airbender, “Aang, what do you think?”
“I think we should check them out. In my swamp vision, that girl I saw was with a flying boar, this has to be connected to that.” Aang said.
“Seriously? You’re gonna take a chance on a trap just because of your Avatar nonsense?” Sokka asked.
“It’s worked out for me this far,” Aang countered.
Sokka sighed, “Guess I’m outvoted. Fine, but if this blows up in our faces, I get to say ‘I told you so.’”
“Noted,” Katara said with a tone of annoyance.
/////////////
It wasn’t a far walk as the three found themselves facing a rather large door with two guards. Master Yu explained to the guards about Aang and his friends and they allowed them to pass. Aang, Sokka, and Katara looked around in awe at how huge the estate really was. “Well, master Yu was right about one thing,” Sokka began, “these guys are rich!”
The three continued to follow master Yu, as they entered the main house of the estate, Aang first noticed the portraits on the wall, “Is that Avatar Kyoshi?”
Katara and Sokka turned where Aang was looking and saw there was a painting with a couple and in the middle was Avatar Kyoshi, the earthbending Avatar before Aang. “Pretty sure that’s not to scale,” Sokka noted.
“Look there’s one of Roku,” Katara alerted, pointing at another portrait containing Aang’s previous past life, the firebending Avatar Roku. This painting had another couple, different from the ones in Kyoshi’s.
“That would be my great-grandparents in that portrait,” a voice called. Everyone turned their attention and spotted a couple approaching, the same ones seen with Roku. Both were wearing fancy silk robes and headpieces, “greetings, welcome to our home. I am Lao, and this is my lovely wife, Poppy.” The man introduced.
“Greetings,” Aang stated before he bowed to them, Katara and Sokka followed, “This is Sokka and Katara, and I’m-”
“The Avatar,” Lao finished for Aang, “yes, the guards told us right away when you arrived.” He then turned to the earthbending master, “Master Yu, thank you for this service.”
“I am always happy to serve you, master Beifong,” Yu said as he bowed to him before making his way out.
“So you really knew my past lives?” Aang asked as he turned to the painting again.
“But of course,” Lao began, “my lineage travels all the way back to Avatar Yangchen,” he gestures a painting of a woman with a blue arrow tattoo like Aang’s and orange and Yellow robes, next to her was a young Earth Kingdom man. “That’s her with My family’s patriarch: Lu Beifong. Lu would later train another man, who would later be the earthbending teacher to Avatar Kuruk,” he walks over to another painting that had the same couple from Kyoshi, now standing with a Water Tribe man in a blue coat and wearing a head-peace made from a polar bear dog. “Ever since Kuruk, the Beifongs have been friends and benefactors to the Avatar, and we wish to extend that hand of friendship to you, Avatar Aang.”
“Well…I’d be honored to call you my friends,” Aang said with a smile.
“Excellent,” Lao exclaimed, “whatever you need, Avatar, we will assist you the best we can.”
“Think we can crash here for a few nights?” Sokka asked, which earned him a smack on the arm and a scolding from Katara, telling him not to be rude.
“Oh, it’s no trouble at all. We would be honored to host the three of you,” Poppy said
“Thank you for your hospitality, Mrs. Beifong.” Aang said with another bow, “so its just the two of you here?”
“Well, yes, if you don’t include the guards and servants,” Lao said with a joking laugh, this made Sokka laugh as well.
“‘If you don’t include the guards and servants’ I gotta remember that one.” Sokka sighed
“And of course there’s our daughter,” Poppy said.
“That’s right,” Katara said, “master Yu mentioned you have a daughter, and that she earthbends”
“That’s correct,” Poppy said, “though she’s still learning the basics. Now where could she be? The servants should have-“ she stopped as she heard footsteps approaching, “ah, here she comes now.”
The three turned and saw one of the servants approach with a girl by their side. Aang’s eyes widened at the sight: she looked around Aang’s age of 13, her dress was white with robes and a shawl of different shades of green, her black hair was held up in a large bun that looked circular, decorated with a simple headband that had flowers on it, and her face was smooth and gently coated with light makeup, and her eyes…Aang noticed right away that they were pail and milky green. She was blind. However, despite that, the girl was very pretty, Aang couldn’t help but blush slightly. He always thought that Katara was pretty, and she was, but this girl…she had a beauty that he couldn’t explain, nor could he compare it.
“This is our daughter, Toph. Toph, this is Avatar Aang,” Lao introduced, “he and his companions will be staying with us for a few days.”
The girl, Toph, bowed gently, performing a curtsey as well, “we are honored to have you here, Avatar Aang.” She said in a sweet voice.
Hearing it made Aang blush more, he cleared his throat a bit as he bowed, “thank you, but the honor is all-“ suddenly Aang felt something under his foot and his balance shifted, he ended up falling to the ground with a thud.
“Oh!” Katara gasped, “are you ok?” She asked helping Aang up.
“Yeah, must have bent over too hard,” Aang said as he dusted himself. As he did he noticed Toph was giving a sly smile, this made tilt his head in confusion.
///////
The dinner was both elegant yet simple, the Beifongs cooks provide meals that catered to each of the three’s taste. As Aang enjoyed his soup he noticed a servant bring some soup to Toph, her father instructed to blow on it to cool it off. “Oh, allow me,” Aang offered as he airbent a mini tornado with his hand that effectively cooled down Toph’s meal, everyone but Toph clapped at that.
“Such a considerate gesture, Avatar Aang,” Poppy thanked.
“Oh, I’m always happy to help,” Aang said. He continued to look over Toph, his face went pink again before clearing his throat, “so…Toph…master Yu says you’re an earthbender.”
Toph took in a spoon full of soup before answering, “yes, I am, through I’m not very good.”
“Oh, don’t sell yourself short,” master Yu said, “you might only know your basics, but you are an ideal student.”
“You’re too kind, master Yu,” Toph responded with a smile.
“Though Toph is good, I fear because of her blindness, she will never be a master earthbender.” Lao said with a sigh. Aang noticed that Toph frowned a bit a her father said that, almost like she was annoyed about his view. “what about you, Avatar Aang,” Lao asked, getting Aang’s attention, “I would think your skills in earthbending must be in top form.”
Aang felt a blush of shame cover his cheeks, “well…I wouldn’t say that…” he said with a nervous laugh.
“We were planning to have king Bumi of Omashu be Aang’s earthbending teacher, but…well, those aren’t in the cards right now.” Katara explained, looking a bit down.
“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that,” Poppy said, “I heard what happened in Omashu, such a shame.”
“Well, master Yu is the finest teacher in the land,” Lao said, “I’m sure he’d be honored to teach you.”
“Well his academy was…very nice,” Aang said, trying to sound polite.
Katara decided to speak up to draw attention from Aang, “You know, as his waterbending teacher, I find that Aang works better when he’s training one on one, maybe master Yu can offer private lessons?”
“I can attest that master Yu’s private lessons are very engaging,” Toph said, then added “of course it helps not to have a tight purse string,” before letting out a light giggle, Sokka laughed too as he got her joke, and Katara tried to hold back a giggle, but Aang froze at that moment.
The Avatar knew he heard that laugh before. It was the same laugh from the girl in his swamp vision. In fact, thinking about it now, he couldn’t help but realize that the girl looked almost like Toph. He got glances when trying to find her, but he did remember the white in her dress, the shall, even her hair was in the same bun Toph wore. Aang had very little doubt, Toph was the girl in his vision, but what did it mean? Was Aang fated to meet this girl? And if so, for what reason?
He was brought back to reality when he heard Lao scold Toph gently for the joke she made, she apologized. Aang, having his realization still fresh in his mind, spoke before thinking. “Maybe I can train along with Toph under master Yu” He suggested, this had everyone look at him oddly. Realizing what he said, he blushed as he tried to double back “I mean…since…you know, she’s learning the beginner lessons too, we could…learn together...”
Katara and Sokka looked at Aang with confusion on their faces, as did Lao and Poppy. He blushed more as they stared. Aang tried to find a distraction and took one of the teapots on the table, “This tea is really good,” he said as he refilled his cup and took a sip before smiling.
Suddenly Toph giggled again, “you’re funny.”
This made Aang blush deeper as he said, “um…thanks.”
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
“What was that all about?”
Aang groaned into a pillow, desperate to hide his embarrassment as Sokka and Katara questioned him in one of the guest bedrooms they were staying in. “I don’t know,” he said, answering Katara, “I wasn’t thinking! That girl…Toph…when I look at her I just fumble my words.”
Sokka gave a sly smile, “I know what’s going on here,” he said.
“You do?” Aang and Katara asked at the same time.
“It’s obvious!” Sokka began before he pinched Aang’s cheek, “our little airhead has got himself a crush!” He explained in a teasing tone.
Aang pulled away, “Crush!?”
“Sokka, don’t tease him,” Katara defended, “I think it’s sweet. Toph is a pretty young lady.”
“Guys, I don’t think this is a crush,” Aang said.
“That little color on your cheek says otherwise,” Sokka pointed, making Aang blush more.
“No, you don’t get it. She’s the girl in my vision!” Aang said.
This revelation surprised both of the Water Tribe siblings. “From the swamp?” Katara asked, “you certain?”
“I have little doubt, her giggling is the same I heard from that day, she’s even wearing the same dress,” Aang explained.
“Well, that confirms it,” Sokka said, “she’s suppose to be your future girlfriend.”
“What!?” Aang gasped, blushing harder.
“Remember what that Huu guy said?” Sokka asked, “that the people we saw in the swamp were people we lost and LOVED?” Sokka emphasized.
“Sokka, it’s not necessarily romantic love,” Katara argued, “remember, I saw mom in the swamp. If that were the case, I probably would have seen another boy, someone I wouldn’t have recognized, like Aang did.”
Aang sighed a bit, “I don’t think I’m gonna find the answers tonight, maybe we should just turn in for the night,” he said as he looked out the window, the sun finally set and he noticed his sky bison, Appa, resting already, with Momo sleeping on his head.
“Sounds like a plan,” Sokka said as he made his way out, “sleep tight Aang, hope you have sweet dreams about your girlfriend!” He teased in cooing voice before laughing, which earned him a water whip in the rear from Katara.
Katara turned to Aang, “I’m sure the answers will come to you Aang, just try to relax, we can stay as long as we need to here.” She gives Aang a hug before leaving his room, “good night, Aang.”
“Night, Katara,” Aang said as he laid back in his bed.
//////////////
However, Aang was having a hard time falling asleep as his mind wandered back to the vision he saw in the swamp, Toph giggling as she eluded Aang no matter how fast he was. Why couldn’t he stop thinking about Toph like that, why did she appear in the swamp? Was Sokka right about Toph being connected to Aang in a romantic way? He could admit that Toph was pretty, but that didn’t mean he had a crush on the Beifong heiress, did it? His heart did strangely skip a beat when he first saw her, but no, he loved Katara…didn’t he?
Groaning in annoyance, Aang got out of bed, “maybe a little flying will clear my head.” He didn’t want to wake anyone so he climbed out the window and walked over to where Appa was sleeping. He smiled as he watched his sky bison snoozing off into dreamland, he walked over and pat him gently on the head. “At lease you’re able to sleep, buddy,” he said before jumping up to Appa’s saddle. He takes out his staff and uses his airbending to activate its glider form. Once he got in position, he uses his airbending to take off, the gilder carrying his lift as he soars in the night sky, the crisp night air felt good on his face and head, cooling him from the heat all that blushing caused and he was feeling better than before. “Yes! This is just what I needed,” he cheered.
This went on for about 5 minutes before Aang yawned, sleep was calling to him and he started to make his way back to the Beifong estate. That’s when he noticed a figure climbing out of a window and taking off like an arrow shot from a bow. He got curious, was it a robber making off with something expensive? He moves in close to follow the figure, even from his distance, the figure looked small but nimble. Aang moved lower to get a better look and saw upturned dirt after the figure passed buy, they were earthbending to move faster.
Aang trailed the figure into the outskirts of the town, it was a good 5 minutes of flying before Aang saw the figure heading towards a mountain, and at its foot was a cave, one that seemed to glow. There were a small number of people at the cave’s mouth, some leaving and some entering, the stranger that Aang was following stopped just outside before they disappeared in the ground. Not wanting to lose the stranger, he dive bombs down and lands, using a ball of air to cushion his fall.
He looks round, nothing left from the figure except for a tattered green cloak. He looked it over and saw the flying boar symbol on the side, it looked faded, like it’s been used and laundered a bunch of times. If it was a thief, why did they they just only steal this cloak…and why did they leave it behind? The stranger definitely earthbent, and as he looked at the glow of the cave, something told him the stranger was inside. Taking the cloak and wrapping it around himself, he began to make his way inside, he made sure his head was covered under the hood, the last thing he wanted was to let everyone know the Avatar was here.
As Aang entered the cave, he faced a man standing guard, he looked down at Aang and he gave a nervous smiled, “good evening to you, nice night huh?” He asked
The man glared, “entry cost 5 silver pieces,” he explained , holding his hand out.
Aang swallowed as he started to search is pockets, he felt something in the cloak and pulled out a single gold piece, it must have been left in the cloak, meaning that it might be the Beifong's money. “I shouldn’t…”Aang said aloud, “but on the other hand, they did said that they’d help whenever I need it.” He smiled before handing the coin to the man, “keep the change,” he said before passing him.
As Aang entered the cave, he heard the sounds of cheering and stones crashing into each other. The deeper he got, the louder the sounds got, he reached the end and gasped. The entire mountain, or a rather large part of it, was hollowed out and made into an amphitheater. There were seats filled with spectators watching the arena below: a raised rectangular platform with a huge fighting ring, and on it were two men earthbending at one another. Aang soon realized that this must be some sort of earthbending tournament, a rather wild and unruly one at that. There were cheers as the lean and muscular man, with a small beard and his hair in a small bun, sent a final strike at his opponent, sending him flying off the ring. Aang took a seat, he put his glider-staff down and watched, wondering why that mysterious figure would be here.
“Another round of applause for the Bolder and his 5th win tonight!” A man announced, gesturing the earthbender still standing. This man seemed to be the master of ceremonies of this event.
The man, named the Bolder apparently, flexed for the crowd, making the Audience cheer for him. “The Bolder thanks you for your cheers!” He said, referring to himself in the third person.
“And now…ladies and gentlemen…it’s time for the main event, are you ready, Bolder?” The MC asked.
“The Bolder was born ready, Xin Fu!” He called out.
“Very well,” Xin Fu began as a figure approached the ring, wearing a green cape and carrying a giant belt with the Earth Kingdom symbol, “now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for. The Bolder will now face the one…the only…your champion…THE BLIND BANDIT!”
Everyone cheered loudly when the figure raised the belt on high and Aang gasped. The Blind Bandit was none other than Toph Beifong, her hair still recognizable in its bun, only now she wore it with a Green and gold headband with little puffballs on the sides, she now wore green shorts and a shirt, covered by a beige tunic, she had cuffs in her wrist and ankles, and like many of the earthbenders there, she shad no shoes, only her bare feet. As the assistants took the belt she was carrying and the cape she wore, Aang bolted from his seat, “oh no, what’s she doing here? Was she kidnapped? I gotta get her out of there!”
Aang got up and started to move down closer to the ring when an usher grabbed his shoulder, “whoa there, buddy, where do you think you’re going?”
“You don’t understand, that’s my friend down there!” Aang said as he struggled to pull away, “she’s gonna get hurt!”
“Get hurt? The Blind Bandit has been champion for nearly a year now.” The usher said, making Aang stop.
“What?” Aang asked in surprise.
“Just watch.” The usher said as he sat Aang down, having him watch.
“The Boulder feels conflicted about fighting a young blind girl.” The Bolder said looking down on her.
Toph wasn’t facing him but she pointed at his direction and said, “Sounds to me like you're scared, Boulder!“ while getting in a mockingly scared position.
Bolder was stunned at this reaction and glared, “The Boulder's over his conflicted feelings, and now he's ready to bury you...in a rock-alanche!“ he threatened, making a crushing gesture with his hands.
Toph didn’t look fazed as she pointed, “whenever you’re ready…the Pebble!” Before taunting him by throwing her head back and laughing.
Aang watched in awe, Toph didn’t seem afraid one bit. The two faced one another, Bolder looked nervous as Toph was still. Bolder made the first move as he took a few steps towards her, Aang watched as the moment the Bolder moved, Toph got into a stance he had never seen before, her hands were out and her right foot kicked down, sending a trail of raised earth towards the Bolder, Aang followed the trail, mouth agape as it traveled smartly right where Bolder was about to step, causing him to slip and end up in a painful split, Aang winced a bit and watch as Toph took a few steps forward, her right hand performing a chopping motion as pillars of earth popped and struck the Bolder, propelling him out of the ring and into the wall.
Xin Fu called out, “your winner…and still champion…THE BLIND BANDIT!” Toph smiled and threw a fist in the air in victory, the crowd went wild and Aang was speechless.
The usher smiled, “told you kid, she’s fine. I gotta say though, I’ve been earthbending for years and I’ve never seen anyone move like she does. Makes you wonder though, how does she do that?”
Aang’s eyes widened as he reached an epiphany, “she waited…and listened.” This is what Bumi was talking about, if anyone had mastered neutral jing, it was Toph, that’s why he received that vision: Toph was destined to be Aang’s earthbending teacher.
////////////
Toph Beifong was having the time of her life, she loved earthbending and she loved kicking the crap out of these guys, no matter what they did, she always came out on top, she had no doubt in her mind: she is the greatest earthbender in the world. Sneaking out of her parents house was tricky, but it was worth it every time.
As she stood victorious, she felt Xin Fu land near her, here it comes, his wager to spice things up. “To make things a little more interesting, I'm offering up this sack of gold pieces,” he states, holding a leather pouch filled with gold, “to anyone who can defeat the Blind Bandit!”
The arena went quiet, Toph heard murmurs, the audience felt tempted but did not dare try to take her on. “What?” Xin Fu asks dramatically, “will no one dare face her?” Toph smirked, her title will remain, no one would be stupid enough to-
“I WILL!” A voice cried out and there were gasp and murmurs, Toph’s eyes widened as she recognized the voice, it can’t be. She then felt it, the same vibrations from this afternoon, it was him…the Avatar. What was he doing here? How did he find out about this? Would he rat her out?
She felt him approach and face her, out of all the murmurs from the crowd, she hadn’t heard anyone say the word “Avatar,” which told her that he was disguising himself. She couldn’t see it but she heard the sound of thick fabric and it carried a familiar scent, Aang was wearing the cloak she discarded, he must have followed her, but why?
As Xin Fu jumped off the ring, Toph kept her composure as Aang faced her, “Do people really want to see two little girls fighting out here?“ she taunted, earning an “oooh…!” From the crowd.
“I don’t really want to fight you, Toph,” she heard Aang say in a low voice, making her glare, the last thing she wanted was her identity to be outed. “I want to talk to you,” Aang finished before taking a step towards her. So, he wants to talk does he? Well he can talk to the dirt, she steps down and sends a pillar under Aang, sending him flying.
She gets into position and waits for him to come down…which took longer than usual before she felt his vibrations, she turned to where she felt it, “well…pretty light on your feet, aren’t you, Twinkle Toes?” She could feel heat radiating from his cheeks even from this distance, Toph had a suspicion since he arrived that Aang developed a crush on her, he seemed so awkward at dinner. She sends another pillar under Aang and sent him flying again. “Where did you go…?” She muttered, Aang is taking a long time to touch the ground, she had a suspicion that he was using his airbending to soften his fall…that would also explain how he’s so light footed.
“Please wait.”
“There you are,” she said, finally feeling him, she raises a bolder and launch it in his direction, she felt Aang jump and shoot his hands out before she felt a force push her back. He was definitely using airbending, thankfully she saw this coming and dug her hands in the ground, keeping her inches away from the arena border and still in the match.
She heard gasps and whispers, "this new fighter nearly knocked her out!" "no one lasted this long against the Blind Bandit."
She lowered her eyes in a glare before getting back to her feet, “alright, no more little miss nice girl.” She then raised a collection of small stones, bringing them together in a barrier form, she began punching as she sent pieces of rock towards the Avatar in quick session.
She heard Aang let out cries of panic as he started ducking and dodging each rock that came his way, she felt him jumping and flipping around like a chicken-pig with its head cut off. “Ah! Please! I! Just! Wanna! Talk! To! You!” He shouted between blows, this made the crowd laugh at his antics, which seemed to make Toph even more angry.
“That’s it! I’m ending this right now!” Toph shouts as she jumps and slams her feet and fist down, cracking the arena and sending rocks and dirt everywhere, Aang couldn’t dodge them all and was soon overpowered. Toph got up and held her hands out as the arena shook, the rocks shifted and realigned on the ring, Aang groaned as she felt him get back up, only to jump a little in pain, Toph could sense that she did damage to his right leg, it was of kilter, but it wasn’t broken, rather sprained.
She smiled as she began to walk up to him, Aang tried to run but fell down, he couldn’t stand on the leg, he tried to back up but Toph was already closing in, she lifted a barrier to trap Aang in place. “So, Twinkle Toes,” she began, pointing in his direction, “any last words before I send you flying home to mommy?” She asked before laughing in a mocking tone, but her laughter was cut off as she felt something grab her hand, and the audience gasped.
“That was the most incredible earthbending I’ve ever seen in my life!” Aang began as he held Toph’s hand in his own in an embrace of affection, she even felt him go on his knees. “You’re the one I’ve been looking for all this time: the master of neutral jing, the vision I received lead me to you.” His voice was shaking a bit, like he was on the verge of tears, “Our meeting was no coincidence…it was destiny! I beg of you, teach me your ways, I promise that I’ll-“
Whatever else Aang was saying got drowned out as the only sound she was hearing was her own heartbeat, which was getting faster and faster, her eyes widened in shock. Being born blind, Toph lived a sheltered life: she wasn’t allowed to leave her home and she never interacted with anyone her own age. Now here she was, her hand being held for the first time…in such an embrace…by a boy her age…who was going on about destiny and devotion like a star struck lover. It was too much for her…and thus she blacked out.
///////////////
Aang knew that he had no hope of beating Toph, so when she moved in close, ready for a final attack, he switched tactics. If he made Toph understand why he needed her, maybe that would be enough for her to stop. So when he pointed at him, he acted fast, taking her hand in both of his, he started pouring his heart and soul to her, complementing her earthbending, flattering her by calling her a master, telling her that destiny had brought them together. He might have been pouring it on a little thick, and he was sure he was close to letting loose some tears, but this was his only shot to get her to listen.
However, his plans fell through the cracks as Toph suddenly rolled her eyes and went down on the ground. Aang looked down in shock, “Toph?” He asked suddenly. He went to check on her but another man approached, it was the master of ceremonies Xin Fu.
Xin Fu placed a hand to her neck to check her pulse, “she…she’s fainted! She’s out cold!” There were sounds of gasps in the audience, Aang looked around and saw people in the crowds, and some of the other contestants, including the Bolder, looking on in shock. Before Aang could say anything, Xin Fu grabs his wrist and holds it up high as he shouts “WINNER! BY TECHNICAL KNOCKOUT!”
The crowd let out a mix of both cheers and boos, Aang couldn’t believe it, he made Toph faint! This was really bad, he didn’t know the first thing about healing and Katara was insisting he’d learn it. His thoughts were interrupted as the two assistants from before started giving Aang the belt Toph had, wrapping it around his thin waist under his cloak, before giving him the leather pouch containing a large amount of gold pieces. “Congratulations kid, maybe we can make a champ out of you yet.” Xin Fu said with a reluctance smile as Aang clipped the pouch to his belt.
Aang looked back at Toph, who was still down, a couple of medics were approaching to get her still unconscious form out. “Uh…thanks for the offer,” he said as he got up, his leg still sprained from, the fight, “but it’s past our bedtime, see ya!” Deciding to forget about hiding, he pulled the cloak off and performed his air scooter. Riding the ball of air on his good leg, he rushed toward Toph, picked her up and carried her as he zipped past the shocked crowd, picking up his staff before leaving the arena.
Xin Fu looked on in shock as the Bolder walked next to him, “maybe it’s the head injury hurting the Bolder, but did that kid ride off on a ball of air?”