Toph was ready. This princess of those beings was going to hear it. And she was going to hear it good! In fact, she would yell so much that she would deafen them. And when they were weak, she would attack.
Toph had planned it all up, while flying on that devilish chariot. It was very unlikely that the princess’ place was in a place without stone or dirt or anything she could use to attack, that was the main strength of earth, it was pretty much everywhere, after all. So, whenever she got there, and she was released (for it would be unlikely that they would make her talk while she was stuck in place) she’d attack.
She could feel the creature they called princess, it was much taller than the others and possessed both a horn and wings. So she could fly and attack, much like the one that had been holding her. But Toph Beifong was no coward, perhaps a little bit foolish, but not much. She sensed everyone in the room, besides those six beings, and the princess, there were also a couple of those male bulkier ones, that could be a problem, or not.
The floor was smooth stone, stone that had been worked. It was an expensive handcraft and she almost felt sorry to destroy it. Almost. She assumed her basic position and then she prepared a boulder. She didn’t stood a chance, as soon as that blasted other being with horns and wings saw her lift it, just inches above the ground, she was on the floor. And all she could do was scream words she had learned while at war.
Those were earth kingdom and water tribe slurs, so they didn’t mean anything to the ponies who were watching this. But by the tone of it, the ponies knew that whatever was coming out of Toph’s mouth wasn’t a good thing.
The princess of the sun looked at the scene from above the height she had. She made a thoughtful “mmm”, as she looked at the scene. Toph on the ground without being able to move a single limb, and twilight restraining her with magic. All the other ponies looking around, some uncomfortable (like Fluttershy) some just plain not caring, or at least, pretending not to (like Rainbow Dash). After Toph ran out of things to say, having exhausted every single slur, insult , and bad word she knew. The princess approached her. And though Toph couldn’t see a thing, she could feel the presence of the being, so close to her, as the distance began to dimish from meters to centimeters Toph felt utterly hopeless. If only she could get to move her limbs, then she might have a shot at this, but, as it stood, it was like she was being bloodbended for all it mattered. The taller of the creatures stared at her, circling her, and examining her, looking at her bare feet and hands, taking particular attention to the toes and fingers, all the while doing a not too dignified “mmm”. Toph deduced she was thinking hard, whether it was about how she would be killed, or just about how peculiar Toph was, she didn’t know. Toph had to admit it, she was scared, it was hardly a fair fight if they restrained her.
After what seemed like hours but were, in fact, only a couple of minutes. The princess made a decision, she asked Twilight if she could please lower the “human”.
“Are you sure? With all due respect, she has proven to be a threat more than once, while, in fact, she was ready to attack if I hadn’t stopped her!”
Celestia looked at Twilight, and in that look, one that had seen a lot of things in over a 1000 years, Twilight found herself lost, and she felt tiny and minuscule, even if she was a princess too.
Twilight sighed, she hated when her plans were ruined and somehow didn’t come through. But she held the worst of her attitude, for she deeply respected the princess.
As a small act of pettiness, Twilight dropped Toph, onto the cold ground, but she didn’t gently land her on the floor, no, she let her fall, a full 5 feet, butt first.
“Now there, what is this oh so peculiar creature’s name?”
The six ponies looked at the princess, blinking, the truth was, even if they had spent the afternoon and traveled with the human, none of them had actually bothered to learn the creature’s name, not for malice (well mostly) but because no one had bothered to ask. Of course a rational creature would have a name. What were they thinking?
Celestia looked at the blinking and the 12 pair of eyes looking down, and she realized what had happened.
“I see...”
The deception was hearable in her voice. Twilight felt worse than everyone else, she had failed the princess, and all because she hadn’t bothered to learn the name of some creature that had showed up! She started hyperventilating, her mane disheveling, her eyes twitching. Toph could feel the creature’s change of mood. But she said nothing, she was getting a smug satisfaction in hearing those beings that had (for the most part) mistreated her, getting almost a lecture.
“Calm down, Twilight, it wasn’t your fault! It’s all the fault of this....human, that appeared and disrupted everything!” Rainbow told her, and Twilight didn’t calm a bit, whenever she got in that state she had to tire it out or be told by the princess that she did well.
“Actually, Twilight, it was your fault, you let prejudice get in the way of the lessons you’ve learned over the years in Ponyville, when a creature that was helpless appeared, I expected you to react with kindness, generosity, hospitality, and honesty, instead, you mistreated a scared creature, that is not only blind, but also a child. I’m very disappointed in you.”
Twilight lowered her head in shame, her eyes twitching even more, but now threatening to tear up. It was true, she hadn’t treated the creature with the friendship she needed. And for that she was sorry.
“WHOAH WHOAH WHOAH! This isn’t just any mere child! This creature has magical powers! She can bend the elements, and she used it to attack me! That’s why twi restrained her!” Rainbow’s tone became a tad softer, after realizing she was screaming with the supreme ruler, who had the power to send her to the moon. “I think she still has her share part of the fault! It’s not just our fault! Herm...with all due respect, of course.”
Toph, who was at the moment rubbing her sore wrists, had a huge grin on her face.
“I see...well, even so, I expected you 6, as the bearers of the elements, to know better, but I am not being entirely fair, and for that, I am sorry, after all, everyone makes mistakes, we just have to make due to accept them and correct them, learn from the past, and live a better future, but now, I’ve heard your version via letter, why don’t we let the human talk?”
Toph looked at the princess, she wasn’t as bad as the other beings. At least she was treating her with a little bit of dignity.
“Why don’t you start by telling us your name, little one?”
Toph rubbed her hands against one another.
“My name is Toph Beifong....”