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Interviews with the Gaang 2: Toph

After talking to Zuko, I thought it would be wise to talk to the rest of the gang before they moved out of the temple, as Katara had been suggesting. Thus, early the next morning, I found myself observing the end of Toph's earthbending session with Aang. After he left, I sat down opposite Toph in the middle of the large room, surrounded by the relics of an age past.

Myah: So, Toph, I have an obvious first question.

Toph: Wait- I have two rules for this interview. No mushy stuff, and none of what we talk about gets back to the others.

Myah: Well, I'll try. Okay, so how's Aang's training going?

Toph: Good, actually. He's really starting to act- and think –like an earthbender.

Myah: Are you teaching him metalbending as well?

Toph: I'd like to- after all, I won't always be there to bust down doors for him. But he's not ready for that yet. Soon, but not yet.

Myah: What I'd also like to know is how it was for you- having to learn all this on your own.

Toph: Not really- the badgermoles were always there. They understood what I was trying to do, and helped me out a lot. They were my masters. I didn't learn alone. And when I really wanted to challenge myself against other benders, I became the Blind Bandit and entered Earth Rumble.

Myah: How old were you when you won your first belt?

Toph: Ten.

Myah: Wow. An amazing accomplishment for one so young. But weren't you ever tempted to tell your parents the truth- especially on the day you won it?

Toph: No.

Myah: Never?

Toph: Can we move on? I told you, no!

(The earth shook when she stomped her foot at the end of that statement; I thought it best to comply.)

Myah: You seem to be more accepting of Zuko's presence than the others. Can you tell me why?

Toph: Stupid question. So you tell me.

Myah: Well, the obvious answer is that aside from when you surprised him in his sleep, he's never attacked you. So you didn't have any prejudice against him.

Toph: Wow- so you're not as stupid as you seem.

(I laugh, though still a bit hurt.)

Myah: Ouch, Toph. But then again, you'd surely heard about the problems he'd caused. You saw the result of his betrayal at Ba Sing Se. Personally, I always thought that you gave him what you wished your parents had given you: the chance to prove that hewas more than people wanted to see him to be.

(Silence. Toph looks away for a while, and then turns back.)

Toph: I thought I said no mushy stuff.

Myah: Sure, Toph. Let's move on. Were you upset when Sokka and Zuko left you behind when they went to the Boiling rock?

Toph: Huh? No! Why should I be? If they wanted to run off and do some manly bonding, why should I be upset?

Myah: And what about Suki? Do you get along with her?

Toph: Why shouldn't I?

Myah: Well, considering that you have a crush on her boyfri-

Toph: WHAAT?

(The earth rocks; a nearby statue topples over)

Toph: Who said that?

Myah: Actually, you did.

Toph: I don't have a crush on Sokka! I'm not like Aang- to fall for the first pretty face that pays me any attention!

Myah: How did you know- anyway, the way you feel is kind of obvious, Toph. From the way you act around him, and how you're blushing now, and how you blushed when he came back from his sword training-

Toph: I didn't!

Myah: Toph, I have pictures!

Toph: Well you can't exactly show me, can you?

(I'm silent. I stare at her green eyes, at the light green film that covers her pupils and renders her sightless. I don't even notice that my voice has softened when I speak.)

Myah: Toph-

Toph: Before you ask, I was born blind. And no, it didn't make earthbending harder. How could it when I never knew any other way? My bending is my world- literally.

Myah: I still worry, though.

(I put down my stationery, and prepare to break rule number 1- don't get personally involved with your subjects. But then again, this was the gaang. This was Toph. How could I resist?)

Myah: Honestly, Toph. You're one of my favorites among the gaang. I'd hate to see you get hurt, and I'm terrified that you will. I know that you're the most powerful earthbender in the world, but you're still one with a very major weakness. Is that weakness one you can afford to have in the final battle?

(There's silence for a long time.)

Toph: I don't know. I just don't know. But there's nothing I can do about it.

(She smiles faintly, and I want to weep.)

Toph: We'll just have to wait and see.

Toph leaves, and I head in the opposite direction, away from the camp. I wipe tears from my eyes, grieving for the potential loss of the character I'd come to care for; the bender I'd come to respect; the blind twelve year old who' d seen more than I'd ever given her credit for.

Description
Interviews with the Gaang 2: Toph

After talking to Zuko, I thought it would be wise to talk to the rest of the gang before they moved out of the temple, as Katara had been suggesting. Thus, early the next morning, I found myself observing the end of Toph's earthbending session with Aang. After he left, I sat down opposite Toph in the middle of the large room, surrounded by the relics of an age past.

Myah: So, Toph, I have an obvious first question.

Toph: Wait- I have two rules for this interview. No mushy stuff, and none of what we talk about gets back to the others.

Myah: Well, I'll try. Okay, so how's Aang's training going?

Toph: Good, actually. He's really starting to act- and think –like an earthbender.

Myah: Are you teaching him metalbending as well?

Toph: I'd like to- after all, I won't always be there to bust down doors for him. But he's not ready for that yet. Soon, but not yet.

Myah: What I'd also like to know is how it was for you- having to learn all this on your own.

Toph: Not really- the badgermoles were always there. They understood what I was trying to do, and helped me out a lot. They were my masters. I didn't learn alone. And when I really wanted to challenge myself against other benders, I became the Blind Bandit and entered Earth Rumble.

Myah: How old were you when you won your first belt?

Toph: Ten.

Myah: Wow. An amazing accomplishment for one so young. But weren't you ever tempted to tell your parents the truth- especially on the day you won it?

Toph: No.

Myah: Never?

Toph: Can we move on? I told you, no!

(The earth shook when she stomped her foot at the end of that statement; I thought it best to comply.)

Myah: You seem to be more accepting of Zuko's presence than the others. Can you tell me why?

Toph: Stupid question. So you tell me.

Myah: Well, the obvious answer is that aside from when you surprised him in his sleep, he's never attacked you. So you didn't have any prejudice against him.

Toph: Wow- so you're not as stupid as you seem.

(I laugh, though still a bit hurt.)

Myah: Ouch, Toph. But then again, you'd surely heard about the problems he'd caused. You saw the result of his betrayal at Ba Sing Se. Personally, I always thought that you gave him what you wished your parents had given you: the chance to prove that hewas more than people wanted to see him to be.

(Silence. Toph looks away for a while, and then turns back.)

Toph: I thought I said no mushy stuff.

Myah: Sure, Toph. Let's move on. Were you upset when Sokka and Zuko left you behind when they went to the Boiling rock?

Toph: Huh? No! Why should I be? If they wanted to run off and do some manly bonding, why should I be upset?

Myah: And what about Suki? Do you get along with her?

Toph: Why shouldn't I?

Myah: Well, considering that you have a crush on her boyfri-

Toph: WHAAT?

(The earth rocks; a nearby statue topples over)

Toph: Who said that?

Myah: Actually, you did.

Toph: I don't have a crush on Sokka! I'm not like Aang- to fall for the first pretty face that pays me any attention!

Myah: How did you know- anyway, the way you feel is kind of obvious, Toph. From the way you act around him, and how you're blushing now, and how you blushed when he came back from his sword training-

Toph: I didn't!

Myah: Toph, I have pictures!

Toph: Well you can't exactly show me, can you?

(I'm silent. I stare at her green eyes, at the light green film that covers her pupils and renders her sightless. I don't even notice that my voice has softened when I speak.)

Myah: Toph-

Toph: Before you ask, I was born blind. And no, it didn't make earthbending harder. How could it when I never knew any other way? My bending is my world- literally.

Myah: I still worry, though.

(I put down my stationery, and prepare to break rule number 1- don't get personally involved with your subjects. But then again, this was the gaang. This was Toph. How could I resist?)

Myah: Honestly, Toph. You're one of my favorites among the gaang. I'd hate to see you get hurt, and I'm terrified that you will. I know that you're the most powerful earthbender in the world, but you're still one with a very major weakness. Is that weakness one you can afford to have in the final battle?

(There's silence for a long time.)

Toph: I don't know. I just don't know. But there's nothing I can do about it.

(She smiles faintly, and I want to weep.)

Toph: We'll just have to wait and see.

Toph leaves, and I head in the opposite direction, away from the camp. I wipe tears from my eyes, grieving for the potential loss of the character I'd come to care for; the bender I'd come to respect; the blind twelve year old who' d seen more than I'd ever given her credit for.