Chapter 1: The Master Earth-Bender
Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Air-Bender or any characters involved except for Guardian E. Earth
"I'm telling you! We do not need to be worried about taking on any fire lords, or princes, or crazy psychos right now!" Sokka shouted once again
Aang, Katara, and Toph had been ignoring his requests to abandon their plan. They were going to go the Fire Nation and stop Fire lord Ozai before he could use Sozen's comet and destroy the Earth Kingdom.
"I don't think you saying no is going to stop the Fire lord Sokka, but you can try." Aang said, seriously at first before his tone slipped into mocking him
Sokka opened his mouth to say something, then closed it knowing it wouldn't do any good. "I'll go pack my stuff." he said walking away to gather his belongings.
Toph stopped what she was doing and looked deep into the forest around the clearing where they'd been staying. "Something's coming." She said
Aang and Katara followed her gaze and saw a large dust-trail fast approaching.
"What could that be?" Katara asked
"Let's hope it's not that tank thing and Azula again." Aang said remembering the torture they'd been through with that.
"It's not that." Toph replied "The movement is different."
"Then what could it be?" Sokka asked
Trees snapped and fell as the object grew closer
"It doesn't sound too happy. So I don't think it would be a good idea to find out." Aang said hopping on top of Appa "Alright buddy, yip yip."
The other three gathered their belongings and jumped on Appa with Aang. As they began to ascend the approacher finally appeared. It was a young man in a brown jacket and brown pants. He pushed with his feet and leapt high into the air past the group.
"Whoa…" Aang said watching the figure fly past
"Who is it?" Sokka asked unsheathing his sword
"I don't know." Katara replied
The figure landed safely on Appa's back and looked around. He had some fuzz on his head that looked a bit like hair, but more like dirt.
"Hello" he said looking at them
"Who is it?" Toph asked
"My name is Guardian E. Earth, and I wish to assist you." He said bowing
Toph stood up suddenly and walked up to Earth. He lifted his head to her.
"Listen buddy. We already have the Earth Bender position filled." She said poking him in the chest
"Calm down, I didn't mean to cause offense." He said putting his hands up defensively
Katara giggled slightly before signaling Earth that he didn't need to hold his hands up because Toph was blind.
"Hold on Toph." Aang said walking up to Earth "What kind of name is Guardian?" he asked
"That's my last name. Where I'm from we're told to introduce last name, then middle initial, or name, then first name."
"Then what's the E stand for?" Toph asked
"E." He replied shrugging
"Yeah, what does it stand for?" Sokka asked
"E. It stands for E. All Guardians have a middle name like that." Earth explained
"Oh… that's a little… odd." Aang replied
"You grow used to it. Anyway, I overheard you guys talking back there. I wanna know if I can help." Earth offered
"Well like I said, the earth bender spot is filled, so sorry." Toph said angrily
"Hold on Toph." Aang replied putting a hand up. He looked at Earth. "Let me see what you can do."
The group landed Appa in a large mountainous clearing where Toph, Aang, and Earth dismounted and touched the ground. Earth looked from Toph to Aang.
"So what do you want to see?" He asked
"First let's see how well you Bend." Toph said quickly "See that boulder over there?" She asked pointing at a large boulder that was twice the size of Appa "We'll consider taking you with us if you can move that."
Aang was surprised at Toph's challenge "Hold on guys-"
"Alright." Earth said cutting Aang off.
The group looked at him in surprise.
He took a step toward the boulder and breathed in deeply. He released his breath then nodded to himself. He slammed his foot down into the ground and lifted his hands up, the boulder loosed itself almost instantly.
Toph was amazed, there was no vibrations from the boulder as it was ripped from the ground. Aang and the others who could see were amazed at the fact he just pulled it free.
Earth threw his right hand to his left and it began to tremble. He stopped a pile of rocks that had been leaning on the one he'd lifted from falling to the ground with his now free right hand. He lifted all of them into the air and spun them about before throwing them with a twirl and a fling of his arms.
Aang nodded his approval
"That's nice, but I could've done that." She said
"Then what else shall I do?" Earth asked
"Beat me." She replied
Aang looked at her in amazement. "Toph!" he said, he'd had enough of her jealousy.
Earth put his hand out "If I have to beat her to prove my worth, so be it." He said
He and Toph stepped out away from Appa and the others and stared each other down. Toph made the first move with a slam of her foot she brought up a small, dome like structure that trapped Earth's arms and legs. She flicked her wrist right and a large rock flew from the ground at Earth's head. He struggled for a second before forcing a clump of earth to fly out of the ground and slow down the rock's speed so it didn't do much when it hit him. He grunted from exertion as he desperately began to pull Toph's prison apart. Toph held it in place as she tried to make sure he didn't get free, if he did it was all over. Toph kept her hands together, but slammed her right foot sending a wave of dirt at Earth to knock him off balance.
Earth pushed with his legs shooting himself into the air causing the barrier to close back and seal the wave in place. He landed in front of Toph with a slam sending her flying into the air. He slammed his foot out and swung his right hand around a flat, smooth ramp formed and slid Toph down in front of him.
"Can I-" He was interrupted as Toph slammed her fist and a pillar of earth shot between her legs and hit Earth in the face. Earth flew through the air a few feet and landed sprawled on the ground. Toph slammed her fists again and pushed herself onto her feet and resumed her usual stance
Earth pushed himself up and held his head. "Ow…" He groaned
"Enough." Aang said calling off the match "I think Earth has proved himself Toph." He continued
"Oh yeah. He can join." Toph said non-caringly as she threw her wrist back and walked away.
Earth sighed as Aang just stared after her, surprised.