The Mindbender The Mindbender

Summary: How will things change when the Gaang meets a Mindbender? What's her secret ability and why won't she tell anyone? Tokka, Kataang, Postwar 4 years

A/N: Ali (Rika) had a whacked-up dream about this, only it was vampires…so this story's dedicated to her. The Mindbender is based off of her, as another form of dedication. (I really shouldn't be starting another story, but I absolutely LOVE this one.)

ATLA

Chapter 1: New Friend, New Adventure

TOPH

I shivered. It was hard to fathom that I spent nearly 4 years in the South Pole. It was understandable, yes, but still…kind of crazy. I mean, me? Toph Bei Fong? Earthbender? In a place that there's no earth to bend… Yeah, it's a stretch, but I did it.

I did it. I stayed in the South Pole for almost four years. But, finally, we were leaving.

We were headed towards the Fire Nation, a long overdue visit with Zuko. We'd only seen him twice in the past four years. Just before the second time, Mai had brutally dumped him, so when he came to visit at the Pole, he was back to his old, depressed self.

I shoved my bag into Sokka's waiting arms and crawled up Appa's furry side.

"Hey! Don't a get a "Thank You"?" Sokka asked me jokingly.

I thought for a moment then shrugged. "No, I don't think so, ponytail."

Sokka groaned. "Warriors. Wolftail."

KATARA

I glanced at Aang out of the corner of my eye and saw that he was glancing right back. Though Sokka and Toph were now 19 and 16, they refused to stop picking on one another. And they'd managed to maintain their unique friendship, despite Sokka's relationship with Suki.

Aang blew himself atop Appa in a body-surrounding hurricane, and Sokka and I crawled up the side, grasping Appa's white, fluffy hair to help pull us up.

Beside me, Toph stretched her arms and placed her hands back on the saddle, gripping tightly. "So, TwinkleToes, Plan of action?"

Aang looked at her quizzically. "Huh?"

She rolled her visionless eyes. "First stop is…?"

"Oh," Aang's mouth erupted into a wide grin. "Southern Air Temple. I thought we'd show it to you since you've never been there…"

Toph sighed. "Great."

Aang shrugged. "Sorry?"

As Appa lifted off, Sokka and I turned, looking back. We waved to Gran-Gran, Pakku (Or Grampakku as Sokka called him), and our father.

XXXSOKKA

Once we reached the Temple, Aang jumped off of Appa quickly. He began running ahead. "Come on! Let's go show Toph the Avatar Statue Room!"

Aang sped up his running with a little airbending and was gone in a flash.

"Yay," Toph grumbled to herself. "Something else I can't see."

I placed a hand on her shoulder, trying to be a good Best Friend and comfort her. "They're…um, not floating or…anything. You should be able to sense them pretty well…probab-no, you should."

She sighed, blowing at her bangs. "Fine."

As we followed the direction Aang went, Toph slapped me upside the head. "That was probably the most unintelligent thing you've said in a long time."

I squinted with one eye and cocked my head. "Uh, thanks?"
Toph smiled. "Welcome."

XXX

AANG

As I ran into the Statue room, the first thing that I did was…trip. From my spot, now lying on the floor, I looked behind me. There was a girl. A girl in an Air Temple…I tripped over…a girl. A girl…sleeping…in the Temple…

She sat up and began rubbing her side where I'd tripped over her. She scowled at me, eyebrows low, forming a "v". "That hurt. I should kick your butt."

I chucked nervously. "Hello?"

I scratched my head, unsure of what to make of this. "What…what are you doing in an Air Temple?"

She placed her hands on her hips. "I could be asking you the same, Mr."

Ok…now she was really confusing me. I'm the Avatar, the last airbender…of course I'm in an Air Temple.

Sokka came into the room, obviously hearing the conversation. "What's wrong with you?"

Behind him a short figure appeared. Toph. "Yeah, have you been living in a box or something?"

The girl titled her head, eyes full of bewilderment. "Huh?"
Toph enunciated her words, making the vowels long and her constants distinct. "He is the Avatar."

Lastly, Katara entered the room. She crossed, being sure to carefully step over the girl. She offered me a hand up and then scolded Toph. "Try and be a little nice, would ya?"
Toph shook her head bluntly. "Nah." She was never one for listening to Katara anyways.

The girl stood up. She was wearing a loose mud-green tunic layered over dirt-brown baggy pants. Refugee clothes…wonder why she still had them…

She sauntered around the room, looking each of us in the eye. Finally, she stopped in front of Sokka. She let her eyes drift down him and back up again.

She stared into his eyes for a moment and Sokka awkwardly shifted from one foot to the other.

Then she spoke. "Hmm, You're…Sokka?"

Sokka puffed his chest out immediately. "Yes, I am. Boomerang and Sword Master and friend of the Avatar. That's me! War hero, life saver…worldsaver!"

Toph gave an uncomfortable blush when he said "life saver". When he finished, she turned to the girl. "Excuse his ego."

Then she poked Sokka in the arm, "Just throwin' this one out there, Ponytail, I don't think she knew you from your 'accomplishments'. I mean, she didn't even know that Aang's the Avatar…how would she know who you are?"

"Because…" Sokka's voice got small. "I'm…more popular than… Aang?"

"Right, because that makes a lot of sense."

The light bulb in Sokka's head went off, slower than usual. He must've been having one of those days. He looked at the girl, trying to appear fierce and intimidating. "Who are you and how do you know my name?"

"Oh, I'm Rielle." She said matter-of-factly. She ran her fingers through her hair and gracefully turned on her heels. She wandered back to her sleeping bag and began to reach for something but Sokka gripped her arm and pulled her back up. He gritted his teeth. "How. Do you know. Who we are."
The girl, Rielle, began to wince in pain and I realized that Sokka had gone there. His "I'm going to protect us at all costs" attitude, and that also meant that this girl was in serious danger.

I ran over to them and pried Sokka's hand off of Rielle's arm. Before I got there his knuckles had began to turn white and when he hand lifted a print mark was left.

She rubbed her arm and scowled at Sokka the same way she had scowled at me. "You're a dipstick. It's one of my bending abilities."

I raised an eyebrow, "Are you an …earthbender?"

Her clothing appeared to be from the Earth Kingdom, but surprising, she shook her head. "I am from the earth kingdom, but I'm not an element bender…"

A quick glance around the room and you would've seen dumbfounded looks on each of our faces.

"Wh-wha-you-…Huh?" Sokka sputtered, arms going limp.

"I'm a mindbender…"

This interested me. "How come I've never heard of it?"
"Well, I made up the name myself!" She smiled proudly, "But… I have the ability to read and control thoughts."

XX Brief change to 3rd person XX

Thoughts of another ability came to mind, and so did what it had caused. The pain it stirred, the trouble the ability had made… It was too much, they shouldn't know.

AANG

Sokka seemed to ponder this a moment, then beamed at her evilly. "Let's see…and do you have any other abilities?"

Rielle hesitated for a moment and then stammered, "N-no. Not that I know of."

Suddenly a felt a small pebble hit me on the back of my head. I rubbed the spot and then remembered. Remembered to almost four years ago when Toph and I had made up the code. She wanted me to leave. Leave and take Sokka and Katara with me. Why, I didn't know. But now that Toph had some earth to bend, it'd be best that I do what she asks.

I grabbed Sokka's hand and gave his body a yank. "Let's go play some airball!"

Sokka looked at me as if I were stupid. "Why would I do that?"

"To…" I thought. "To remember the old days."

Sure, that sounded good enough.

Sokka groaned and obliged as I led him out of the room.

TOPH

Katara took a doubtful step towards the doorway, then stopped. She turned back to face Rielle and I and took a backwards step towards the door. "Do you mind if I-?"

Beside me, Rielle sat down on top of her sleeping bag and I shook my head. "No. Go. You should be there if Aang hurts Sokka, otherwise he'll be whining for weeks about his "boo-boo"."

Katara giggled. "You're right." She sprinted after them, but called back, "Thanks Toph!"

I sat on the sleeping bag along side Rielle and faced her. I looked her squarely in the eye…or where I figured her eyes would be, and half-smiled. "So, why'd you lie?"

XX

A/N: Soooo, What is Rielle's secret ability and what's so awful that she can't tell anyone? (That's something I know and you don't! HA Ha. (Sorry that twas mean.))

Reviews are appreciated. (All reviews do get a thank-you and a personal message.) Do you like the direction I'm headed with this new story? (Yo nesicito aprender--I need to learn.)

-Mandi (Toruh)

Dedicated to AliBee (Rika)