Chapter 28.4- And so the Dragons Danced

“I don’t. You’re right. But I did fight the greatest Earthbender in the world, and I beat him. I can already tell you don’t compare. Not yet, at least” I said.

“I’m the greatest earthbender in the world” She asserted.

“From this little shithole of a city? Of course you are, kid. Let’s be honest with ourselves. You haven’t fought the best. You haven’t crushed the rest of the world beneath your feet. Me, I fought the best the world has to offer, and came out not just alive, but victorious. That is what separates the two of us” All the while I spoke, I pinned Lao to his seat, making sure his foolish mouth did not open and remind her that he and his wife were here and that she had a persona to uphold. I wanted. To speak to the real Toph Beifong. The girl that had been tamed by Avatar Aang was just as much a caricature as the one she played here. No, she was just like me. I could feel it. I could feel the ache in her blood. I could hear the drums. I could her her blood cry out to mine.

“I know what I can do, fast heart.” She finally said.

“Care to make a wager then?” Hook, line, sinker.

“What type of wager?” She asked with an eager smile on her face.

“I beat you, and you join my army. You report to me. I take you all around this Kingdom, and we get to see how you stack up against some of the best of the best and if after that, you find yourself victorious, I will personally crown you as the greatest earthbender in the whole world- get you a championship belt.

“And if I win?” She asked. It was clear she didn’t care much for the first possibility. Probably didn’t see it as likely.

“What do you want?”

“You and your people leave Gaoling with no resistance. You leave Dad and Uncle Knvara alone as well.” She spoke, and I inclined my had to show her my agreement. It was an easy deal to arrive at. Why? Because I would not lose. I could not.

“Time and place?” I asked.

I watched the way she turned her eyes to her parents who sat shivering with fear as we spok. Whether it was far of this jew side of their daughter that they’d clearly never seen before, or fear for the blind one they’d loved from birth, or even some unholy combination of both of them.

“Here and now, Fast heart” She said, and I smiled before standing up as well.

“Good to see we think alike. I have heard tell of quite an impressive garden along the lines, and it’s been a short eternity since I last got to see one. We shall cross fists there” I said, as I took her hand and pumped it twice.

A/N: Progress