The sun, the moon, the dragon - The blind bandit (Patreon)

Daeron Targaryen, Gaoling, Earth Kingdom

"This is a waste of time," Jon said, looking angrily at the trash of earthbending lessons they'd paid for

"It's the first lesson, give it time," Katara said in a forced voice, looking at the frankly stupid exercises of the academy

And for the next painful four hours, Jon watched Aang fail miserably in his first earthbending lesson

"You'll need more classes, I can offer you an annual plan at a good price," said the greedy man, looking at Aang, who to Jon's frustration, seemed interested

"It won't be necessary," Jon said, intervening firmly and with icy eyes, looking directly at the scammer

The aforementioned man, offended by the intrusion, looked at Jon with contempt, at least until he observed the imposing physique of the waterbender, the obvious clothes of Agna Qel'a and the dangerous sword at his waist, so he wisely left the place without saying a single word

Aang sighed and looking at Jon said

"That didn't go very well, I don't think this is what Bumi was referring to," said the avatar in frustration, as they left the academy to eat something

Courtesy of Jon, of course, the avatar team was totally broke

"Don't be discouraged, you haven't mastered water bending yet, there are several advanced techniques you should practice," Jon said firmly

“Or....We can attend this event!”  Sokka said, showing an advertisement, with great emotion

An Earth-bending tournament, close to the city

Jon was going to refuse instantly, assuming that it was entertainment, rather than real fighting

However, Aang and Katara looked excited

“It's a great idea!! Maybe we'll find a talented earth bender!" said Aang full of enthusiasm

Jon doubted it, but sometimes he forgot that Aang was still a boy, being the age, his brother Rickon would have been

Jon thought little about his family, in Westeros, a more than painful issue

Katara, Aang, and Sokka, though talented and powerful, were still children in Jon's eyes

So, with a sigh, and seeing that the three of them looked at him like puppies, he replied

"Okay, we can go, it will be a good distraction" Jon said with a smile

"Yes," shouted the three of them, excited for the earth bending tournament, although Jon did not share the enthusiasm for the show, perhaps he would learn a thing or two from these southern masters

Avatar Aang, The tourney

“This is a fucking insult!” Jon snapped looking down at the "White Wolf" to enter and fight in the show

"Come on Jon, they named a fighter after you! Isn't that great?” Sokka said watching as an earth bender, dressed in water tribe clothes and a blue flag with a white wolf walked towards the arena, to the cheers and shouts of those present

"Apparently your legend is popular in this land Jon" Katara said watching as everyone went crazy at the mention of the White Wolf 

"Gaoling is such an isolated city that it has never felt the scourges of war, this is not a tribute, it is an insult to all the men and women who fought," Jon snapped, really furious, at the same time as the fighting began

The earth bending techniques were pretty, but useless in real combat, designed for spectacle rather than real fighting, after all, why you'd want to spin twice in the air to throw a rock

It didn't make sense

"They're impressive techniques," said Aang, blinded by the unnecessary pirouettes, much to Jon's disappointment 

“It's entertainment Aang, I've seen Lee practice earth bending, they're jerky and firm movements, rough and crude, designed to do the most damage in the shortest amount of time, this... this is not earth bending," Jon said with determination, watching as "The White Wolf" defeated The Boulder, drawing screams and cheers from all over the arena

After several minutes, the presenter raised his hand, silencing the arena, before speaking again

“And now... for the grand finale, "The White Wolf" scourge of the fire nation against the champion, the undefeated, the blind bandit!” roared the man, at the same time that the floor opened and, from the depths, appeared a...

Girl...

A familiar one, remembering that vision

“What the hell is this?” Sokka asked, indignant, before the grand finale

"Silence Sokka," Jon said sternly, silencing the young man, as he stood up

“Do you feel it too, Jon?” Aang asked curiously, watching the young master mock her rival and prepare for the fight

Jon, frowning, replied

"Yes, her spiritual connection is huge, she is powerful, very powerful," Jon said, as he watched the fight with interest

Although, to call it a that would be to be very generous

Two moves were all it took for the champion to defeat the "White Wolf" 

"The winner and still undefeated, the blind bandit!" roared the commentator, while the young teacher raised her title again with a huge smile

“AND NOW!!! IT'S TIME FOR THE CHALLENGE!!”

At those words, everyone in the stadium fell silent, looking towards the center of the arena

"I OFFER THIS SACK OF GOLD PIECES TO WHOEVER IS ABLE TO DEFEAT THE BLIND BANDIT! RIGHT NOW,”

Aang got excited and looked at Katara

"I'll fight with her so I can talk to her, she's talented, she could be my earth bender master" Aang said excitedly

Katara saw the young monk with a smile, however, Sokka intervened

"Too slow Aang," Sokka said with a smile, pointing to the arena

Jon stood, adjusting his robe and looking straight at the blind bandit

Katara and Aang looked at each other, both interested in the fight

They were only sure of one thing, that the struggle they would see next

It would be spectacular

Toph Beifong, The Arena

This man was different, Toph thought, from the moment he put his feet in the floor

His gait was different, there was firmness, but also fluidity, something she had never felt in her sixteen years of life

And as on all occasions that Toph encountered something unknown, he confronted it with the only defense mechanism she knew

Insulting it

“You don't look very strong, are you sure you'll put up with a girl kicking your ass?” Toph shouted, causing laughter throughout the arena

However, her opponent remained impassive, serene and firm in the face of provocations

Something that spoke of great discipline and confidence in his ability

Both omens for her

"WE HAVE OUR CONTENDER, WITH NOTHING MORE TO SAY, BEGIN," roared the commentator, as he leaped off the platform, leaving Toph and his rival completely alone 

"Your earth bending is exceptional, far superior to anything I've seen before," the stranger said sincerely, at the same time that whispers of annoyance began to be heard in the arena, wishing for the fight to begin

Toph, against her will, couldn't help but blush, it was the first time in her life that someone praised something she was really proud of, not her beauty, or her family

And thanks to her keen sense, she knew that the young man's words were true

"However, you lack experience, as soon as I defeat you, I would like to talk," said his rival, with total confidence in his victory

Toph couldn't help frowning, used to being underestimated

"Do you think you're going to beat me?" said Toph with more bravado than confidence, for some strange reason, being in the presence of the young man was disconcerting

He hadn't told a single lie, from the moment he put his feet in the sand

"I don't think so, I know," he reaffirmed, at the same time that he took a defensive position, so gently that Toph was barely able to feel his movements, increasing the young warrior's caution

And then, it happened...

The entire arena trembled, from the depths of the earth, something, forceful and powerful, emerged with ferocity

The tremors were felt even in all the stands, who began to murmur with emotion, seeing that the fight had begun

Toph frowned and hurried and threw a huge rock at high speed towards the opponent, who for a few moments, seemed not to react

Until the entire arena opened up like an egg, and huge amounts of water began to emerge, the stranger moved fluidly and accurately and the waters obeyed, two tentacles of water intercepted the huge rock, stopping it instantly, much to the surprise of Toph and the rest of the visitors

The stranger then moves his hand and command the water to tore Toph's rock apart, at the same time that, with extreme rapidity, the tentacles were hurled at an incredible speed towards Toph, who quickly lifted a thick earth wall

However, the tentacles of water came together into a single tentacle of great size and power, which began to rotate at great speed, preparing for the impact

The wall didn't stand a chance, Toph watched in disbelief as its thick wall fell in seconds, destroyed by the powerful water bender who, seeing that the young woman's defense had been destroyed, split the tentacle again and began attacking Toph at multiple and strange angles

Something completely different from what Toph was used to, overwhelming her completely

In annoyance, Toph slammed her fists toward the ground, kicking up a huge wave of rock in all directions, giving her a much-needed respite

However, the stranger intercepted his attack with alarming ease, using the water bending he rose into the air, lifting a large amount of water with it, and using it with mastery and dexterity to move throughout the arena, while also hurling dangerous ice spears towards Toph

With her pride wounded, at the ease with which she was being dominated, Toph continued with her attack, rock stakes, moving the ground, Toph tried everything and simply her opponent was better, always one step ahead

The whole arena was excited by the spectacle, the water benders were not common and less as talented as the one in front of them

And then, after several minutes of "fighting" her opponent got tired of playing with her

"Enough," said the talented master, at the same time that he threw himself towards the earth, from his whirlpool of water, crashing against the ground and generating a barrier of ice, which moved at great speed towards Toph, who completely overwhelmed by the fighting, could only raise a weak wall of rock, which was swept away by the enemy ice barrier

The blind bandit was thrown like a sack of potatoes out of the arena, however, about to hit the ground, a pair of tentacles held her by the feet, avoiding a severe blow, but totally humiliated and defeated

A not pleasant sensation

She had been defeated, but this had been the best water bender she had ever seen in her life

And in Toph's view, being defeated by the best was not humiliation, it just meant that she would have to become much stronger 

The tentacle gently placed it on the ground, at the same time that the stadium burst into screams at the magnificent fight they had just seen

The commentator, with obvious pain on his face, declared the contender the winner, at the same time handing over with trembling hands the bag of gold, for defeating her

His rival took it elegantly, but with little interest, ignoring the man's attempts at persuasion and walking calmly, powerfully and with total dominance

Straight to Toph, who could do nothing but lower her gaze and wait for the imminent taunts to come

However...

"You fought very well, you are very talented, not even old man Lee forces me to make an effort like this, you are the most powerful earth bender I know" said a thick and masculine voice, which wreaked havoc on Toph's womanhood, who, for the first time in her life

Was attracted to someone

"Thank you, you're very talented too," Toph said in a shy voice, cursing herself for sounding so weak

"You depend too much on your sense of response, sometimes, attacking first to force certain reactions on your rivals are the key to victory, controlling the battlefield will always be the greatest advantage," the man continued, with evident experience in his voice

Toph took the advice elegantly, she was strong and arrogant, but she was not stupid, if someone who had proven herself superior to her, was giving her advice, she would take it seriously

“THAT WAS INCREDIBLE!!” shouted a high-pitched voice, belonging to an annoying child, about twelve years old perhaps

“Jon you were great!” continued another young woman, who was evidently close to the handsome warrior

Hold on... Jon... water master...

No...

NO...

“Jon? JON EDDARDSON? THE WHITE WOLF?!” Toph asked, completely excited and overwhelmed, at the idea of having her greatest idol in front of her

In surprise, the warrior looked at her and said

"Oh, I didn't know my name sounded in this place, that's right, nice to meet you," he replied

And Toph, against her will, let out the highest, most feminine shriek of her life, an act she would later flatly deny

"I am a great admirer, your deeds and prowess are legendary, even in Ba Zing Ze, the name of the powerful northern water bender sounds, the one who sank a fire nation fleet and forced them to retreat," said the earth bender with emotion

"In fact, there were three fleets, but who counts them?" said another young man, in a casual tone of voice

"Enough, Sokka," Jon said, looking at Toph

"I'm traveling to the Su Wong Desert on personal matters, Aang, my traveling companion, needs an earth bender, are you interested?" Jon asked directly and bluntly

Just the way Toph liked things

With a conflicted look, the earth teacher replied

"We can talk about this later, find the winged pig and you will find me, I will wait for you," said the beautiful young woman quickly, who ran towards one of the walls of the cave, crossing it as if it were water, getting lost among the rocks

“That was... strange," Sokka said

Jon frowned at him, seeing that he had the championship belt on his waist

Sighing, Jon ordered

"Let's go, we have to find this winged pig she mentioned" as he began to walk towards the exit of the arena, ignoring the looks of admiration and lust that were directed towards the

They had work to do

Daeron Targaryen, Beifong State, two days later

"It is an honor for us to receive such distinguished and important guests," said Lord Beifong with evident pleasure in his voice

Jon did his best to avoid rolling his eyes, but he had played politics before, so with calm, elegance and impeccable manners he responded as he should, to the obvious pleasure of both nobles

All the soldiers in the Lord's service looked at him in amazement, as if he were a deity, apparently Jon was more famous than he expected

"The exploits of the White Wolf have reached even our peaceful prefecture, the birth of the Northern Kingdom and the strength of the coalition is all that the noble families of the Earth Kingdom talk about," said the Lady with elegance and softness

Jon nodded and replied

“The impassivity of the Earth King to respond to Ozai's actions has caused the discontent to be more visible, so more and more prefectures and regions are distancing themselves from Ba Zing Ze, many of them joining the coalition”

And consequently, to Jon's sphere of influence

The lord and lady were about to reply, when a soft, delicate, submissive female voice spoke

“Mother, father” a familiar voice for Jon

The young earth bender, out of her battle costume and unkempt hairstyle, dressed in a beautiful, tight green dress, which highlighted her beautiful and slender figure, an elegant hairstyle held by golden needles, embodied pure femininity

Quite different from the warrior he had seen before, she was now a full-fledged noble lady, submissive and accommodating, dressed to dazzle

The Lord's move was obvious, to link his daughter with Jon, who was emerging as one of the most important political players of the four nations, so to have a relationship with him was to have a relationship with Agna Qel'a and the coalition

And apparently, Toph Beifong was included in the menu

Jon looked with calculating eyes at Lord and Lady Beifong, who looked proudly at their daughter and expectantly at Jon, the offer was implied

And now, it was time to play