A/N: I do not own ATLA, Bryke does.

Now please read and review my first ATLA fanfic :)

Introduction

Rumors had been spreading throughout covert earth kingdom channels about a talented earthbender boy on the remote Eastern Peninsula. According to these rumors, (quite possibly facts, considering their sources), this boy was indeed special in ways unimagined.

Sixteen and bored, Toph decided to see what all the fuss was about. Anyway, this boy sounded interesting to her on a personal level. However, first she had to figure something out.

In the now bustling Eastern Air Temple, the young Avatar sat meditating. He had a large room near the ledge, and he had discovered a small cave right next to the balcony. So there he hid, taking a moment to breathe.

Unfortunately, fate seemed to have other ideas. As soon as the monk had begun to settle into his meditative state, someone crashed through the wall of his cave. Rock closing like a door behind her, a short young woman walked up to him and punched him in the shoulder. Annoyed by the interruption, Aang pretended not to notice. This just cost him another, harder punch. After several more, he decided ignoring his earthbending teacher was rather painful and got up to face her.

This girl didn't meet his eyes, but not for fear of the Avatar. Her own green eyes were misty, as if veiled. To any observant person her blindness was obvious. Also, there was another fact most people would see instantly: even covered in dirt, this girl was quite pretty. There was black hair in her face, but the rest of her hair was tied back in a neat, thick braid that fell past her waist. Green and gold silk clothes only emphasized her curvy figure. The dirt emphasized the fact that she didn't care about appearances.

However, the Avatar didn't notice any of these things. He was too busy being yelled at by Toph. Apparently she had come for a reason.

"Yes, you heard me right Twinkletoes. I want you to teach me to read," she repeated.

"How exactly?" her former pupil retorted. He had grown more assertive in the years since the end of the war, and was now confident enough to at least try standing his ground against Toph.

"We'll use earthbending, of course," she replied as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Okay then, I guess that would work. But why do you suddenly want to read, Toph?" Aang asked, giving up on the argument.

"Maybe I'll tell you later. Maybe I won't. Now let's go!" was the elusive reply.

Xin just had time to see the woman with the long black hair before she started to bend rocks at him. Surprised, he was hit by the first and knocked to the ground. However, he quickly regained his footing and sent his own boulder the woman's way. Quickly, with odd and flowing movements, he earthbended a message into the stony ground.

"Why are you attacking me? Who are you?" read the desperate characters.

"I'm Lady Toph Bei Fong, The Blind Bandit, the first metalbender, friend and teacher of the Avatar. I've heard a lot about you, (I tend to hear a lot), so I've come here to teach you," announced the young woman grandly.

The mute boy's jaw dropped.