Sorry for the delay, but some real life events got in the way. Cala and I are pleased to present you the next chapter of Just the Girl, which has been planned out to be a very long, exciting, and unique story. We would like to thank all our reviewers for cheering us on; we adore each and every one of you. We would also like to congratulate Jesus.Lives for being our hundredth reviewer (and an incredible Zuko/Toph writer herself). We would also like to dedicate this chapter to two people. KissingOff who did an amazing piece of fanart for this piece, we can't thank you enough.

Also in loving and honored memory of Mako, the voice of Iroh who ascended to the spirit world. May your memory be for a blessing! Now without further ado..

Move Along

"Even when your hope is gone
Move along just to make it through"

-All American Rejects

I definitely was pleased by my pupil's progress. He was doing better than I expected for a whiny spoiled prince. I could see him becoming worthy enough for me to expend some actual effort into beating him into submission. He had a lot of talent once I got through to his stone-thick skull. I was not worried; breaking rocks was my specialty.

I wondered what my new pupil looked like. When I walked with him, the vibrations told me he was much taller than I was, around the height of that stupid Sokka. He had a strong frame and he walked with a great deal of sadness. He was right-handed and he smelled better than most people in the outside world did. He seemed to take an active interest in hygiene, something I had never bothered to think about. I liked my feet caked with mud and my toes right on the cold stone.

After a short break to eat with Uncle, it was time to return to combat. I had quickly learned that Zuko had an incredible amount of talent once he believed in himself and learned the task correctly. Now my problem was forcing him to maintain that focus long enough to do anything useful.

I was fixing a grueling obstacle course using Earth-bending for my dear pupil. I made sure to put in extra difficulty where I could, because I knew he would love a challenge.

In the meantime, Zuko was practicing sack throws to improve his stances. He was to throw a bag of rocks from behind him before moving forward and catching it. It was an excellent way to give him strength and balance training. I sat back and listened to the rhythm of his breathing and the potency of his deportment. So far, he was making excellent improvement. I was impressed at how much my training was paying off. It was unfortunate his father thought he was a weakling. All he needed was some lessons pounded into him.

I could feel Uncle's footsteps a few feet away as his weight settled down next to mine on my west side. "I picked some berries and there is enough for two," he said, allowing his sleeve to flap a bit so I could find his hand. "So, how is he doing?"

"Thank you," I answered. "Sparky's making definite improvement. He still has a long way to go though on my special training program." I smirked, enjoying the power I held over a prince. Even if he was a banished one, he was still technically royalty and I still could enjoy bossing him around.

"He is a diamond in the rough. He just needs someone to bring the sparkle back into his eyes," Uncle mused, his heart rhythm indicating how much he cared about this boy. "You are right, I do need him. He is the light of my life. There is so much good in him, so much potential for greatness. It's amazing how sweet exile is when those you love are around you," Uncle mused, as we both munched on the sweet fruit. "As the sages say, either companionship or death."

I already had learned to read Uncle's cryptic remarks. I took some to think while yelling for Zuko to take more weights. His stance was perfect and needed to be challenged further. As soon as I felt his footsteps grow more unsteady, I returned to the conversation. "You are asking why I left Aang and his merry gang of sycophants?" I asked.

Uncle laughed, rumbling deeply in his chest. "Well, I was merely reciting a proverb, but if you wish to talk about it, I consider you a member of the family now. You can see Zuko doesn't open up much and I don't dare delve into Azula's mind. I think I would enjoy listening to you," he said, as his weight shifted as he leaned back against a rock.

"Well, I didn't mention to the gang that my parents supplied the Fire nation. I figured the less they knew the better. Well, boomerang boy found a Fire Nation knife and saw my family crest on it. He said my parents were traitors for supporting the Fire Lord," I muttered sadly.

"And what do you say?" Uncle asked, his tone soft and soothing. I could never speak this way to my own father.

"Well, I don't like my parents supplying weapons but no one has the right to insult them. So I told him to shut up. If he insults my parents, he insults me too. His stupid sister told me to calm down. All I did was demand that the non-bender apologize to me for being such an ass and threaten to beat the stuffing out of him if he didn't," I defended myself.

"How noble of you. So continue, my dear," Uncle mused, as I could hear his fingers stroke his beard.

"He demanded that I acknowledge that my parents are 'Fire nation sympathizers'. So I asked him if his mother had ever traded goods with the Fire Nation and if she had, she was just as much of a collaborator as my parents," I explained. "But when I mentioned his mother, Boomerang Boy's stance got really defensive and so did Sugar Queen's. They got furious and started shouting at me, telling me never to mention their mother again."

Uncle sighed. "The Southern Water Tribe was decimated in an attack a few years ago. It's very possible they might have lost their mother in an attack," he explained.

I winced. I wouldn't have used their mother as an example if I knew what might have happened to her. Still, I held my head high. "Then they could have said so instead of shouting about how I was defaming the memory of their mother. So then Twinketoes…that's the Avatar says in this whiny voice that harsh words won't solve this, action will!"

"Well, that sounds like a reasonable response. So what did you do?" Uncle urged as he exhaled loudly.

"I said 'Damn straight' and knocked Boomerang boy into the nearest tree. His sister had the nerve to say I attacked him and demanded that I apologize. I of course refused unless he took back his insults to me."

"Did they call you names?" Uncle asked me as he handed me more berries from his rustling pocket.

" Well, not exactly. They insulted my parents. By insulting them, they insulted me. So I told Aang that if he really were my friend, he'd make them apologize to me. Aang said we should just go swimming in the pond and forget our troubles," I said. I could not believe he thought my anger would go away by a short swim.

"I think he should have offered you all some nice food. That always helps Zuko when he was being cross. A little warmed rhino milk back on his ship and he'd be sleeping like a baby," Uncle said contently, his heart rhythm slowing down happily at fond memories.

"Sorry Uncle, but even your wisdom would not have helped. Anyway, I gave him an ultimatum. I told him that either Boomerang boy apologizes or I leave. He just some pathetic non-bender, I'm the Blind Bandit, his Earth-bending teacher. He refused to make Sokka apologize. So I threw some boulders and left. I was right, wasn't I?"

"You were right to defend your family and your honor. Throwing the boulders may have been a bit childish, Miss Toph, but you got your point across," Uncle said, shifting his weight a bit.

I sighed and mused on his words a bit. "Well, I do feel badly about insulting their dead mother, but they were wrong too. And Aang was the one who suggested using action, right? And he's the Avatar; he should know best. So I was right and they were wrong. Case closed."

Uncle sighed. "Your friends and you had a misunderstanding, Toph. I've lost many friends over the years and I know a silly spat is not worth losing a wonderful relationship over. You hit a raw wound and were too angry to realize it. They hit a sore spot as well and got emotional, too emotional to notice your pain. You left before tempers were cooled."

"So what do you want me to do now? Should I go back and accept their apologies?' I asked, as I shook the pillars, trying to encourage Zuko to be more rock-like. He had to stand firm, no matter how much the world around him quaked. He was getting too comfortable with his stance.

"Well, that is a difficult question, young lady. Do you want me to answer with my heart or with my head?" he asked, as he adjusted his weight worriedly.

"Answer honestly. I prefer honesty," I answered, making sure Zuko was progressing properly. These people were important to me and I would give my all to teach Zuko to defend his uncle.

"Well Toph, my head tells me that you should follow your heart and friendship is not something to take lightly. The Avatar may be mankind's last hope against my brother's tyranny and Zuko's last hope of living to see his next birthday. "

At this, I nodded my head.

"On the other hand, my heart wishes that you should stay with us. My nephew needs you to teach him. Never have I seen such dedication in him than with your teaching. I believe you are the one who will guide him, guide him along farther than I have and help him find his destiny," Uncle said, his voice soft and contemplative. I was silent; somewhat shocked that he had put so much faith in me.

"Things happen for a reason, Toph. Perhaps there is a reason you had that fight with the Avatar and his friends. I believe that everything will work out for the best. Zuko has already progressed so much with your diligence and patience. He is growing right before my eyes," Uncle continued in that same quiet voice. At that moment, I wished with every fiber of my being that I could see Zuko. See him move through the stances. For some reason, I envisioned him Earth Bending rather than Fire bending. He didn't seem like an angry and volatile Firebender. He seemed like a rooted, calm Earth bender.

"Alright, Uncle. I'll stay with you until I feel you will be safe. Besides, Zuko needs me. I couldn't just abandon him. Torturing Aang just isn't as fun," I said, closing my eyes and laying down on the earth. The breeze was warm and I began to feel myself grow drowsy with the heat.

"This is boring! I've done this nearly all morning! Isn't there anything else to your training program?" I heard Zuko whine, letting the bag of rocks fall to the earth. I suddenly was wide-awake.

"Oh, so you think you're some kind of master now, Sparky?" I demanded, standing up and marching over to him. I slammed my foot on the ground and immediately after, I felt his form fall. He groaned a little and I heard him mumble under his breath. "What's that, Prince Mopey? I couldn't hear you!" I taunted, nudging him with my feet. "Come on, get up."

"Can't you see I'm moving? Or feel? Or whatever you do?' Zuko snapped, lifting himself up off the ground and walking away from me, dusting his clothes off. I rolled my eyes and decided not to dignify his remark with comment. Instead I walked over to him and getting into an earth bending stance, I bended the dust off his body. He stopped the furious flapping of his arms and kind of mumbled a thank you as he walked past me.

Humph. Some appreciation.

"Uncle, when is lunch?" he barked over to the old man. Uncle invited Zuko to come over and eat some of the berries and root vegetables we had gathered earlier that morning.

"These mushrooms are delicious, Zuko. You really must try some," Uncle said. Zuko sat down on the ground next to him and poured himself a glass of tea. I sat down next to uncle as well, and I turned to Mopey's voice.

"So, you thought that training was boring?" I asked quietly, as I debated pelting him with some stones. That always seemed to help the situation.

"Yes! You had me doing the same thing over and over all morning. It wasn't that hard to do, Toph," he snapped as he munched on some berries. I raised an eyebrow at him and kind of chuckled. He had no idea what was coming for him.

"Well, don't worry, Sparky. After this lunch, we're going to the obstacle course." I said as I sipped tea quietly. Now it was Zuko's turn to snort.

"The obstacle course? What's that?" he asked.

"Hell," I answered bluntly. Zuko shifted his weight a little and from that simple movement I sensed that he was afraid. Well, good. He should be. I had to admit that I was proud to see that he wasn't visibly quaking. He was taking fear the way a man should: silent and strong. Twinkle-toes would have wet his pants.

After finishing the rest of our lunch in silence, I stood up and lead Zuko over to where the obstacle course was.

"This is it?" he asked skeptically, looking around us. True there wasn't much here to him, just some rocks, and a few scattered trees. Nevertheless, to me, it was a wellspring of resources to use for Zuko's training.

"Yep, this is it, Mopey. Now get out there and we'll begin." I commanded pointing at the course. I heard him move over to the center of it.

"What are we doing, exactly?" he called over to me. I had to smirk a little at his innocence.

"It's easy, Sparky. I'm going to pelt rocks at you again. Only this time you're not going to have your swords. Or the blindfold. The only condition: You can't move at all. Where you stand is where you'll stay. You can change your direction, but the moment you move your feet you're out. Got it?" I called over to him, summoning some rocks me. He adjusted his stance and I felt him take a large, meditative breath in. He put his hands up in ready position and I took this as my cue to throw the first rock at him.

I launched a few at him and he easily blocked them by throwing larger fireballs at them. I started to throw large boulders at him and I could tell this was a little more of a challenge. Good, this was what he needed.

"You've got it, Sparky! Now let's see if you can handle this!" I said, as I lifted a particularly large boulder over my head and hurled it at him.

"What are you thinking!" he demanded as I felt him begin to back up hurriedly, hands still at the ready but barely up.

"What are you thinking! I told you not to move! You can't run away from things that are bigger than you are! Even if they seem impossible, you don't run away! Now plant those feet and let me see the power of fire bending!" I bellowed, not doing anything to stop the rock.

"There's no way I can stop that! It's huge!" he said, although he had stopped moving. I couldn't tell if it was because he chose to destroy the boulder or if he was just too scared to move.

"Listen, Mopey. I'm not out to kill you. I'd lose my job and Uncle's trust if I did that. But you have to be ready for anything; you said so yourself. Firebitch and her lackeys want you dead and they won't stop at nothing to make sure of that. So you have to fight, even if you're afraid! Fight for your throne! Fight for your honor! Show that bitch what you're made of!" I continued to encourage him. Well, I don't know if encouragement is the right word. I suppose the right word was browbeating. Either way, he did finally raise his hands again and I felt a renewed sense of strength in him.

'I'm going to have to fight this out like a Firebender, not an Earthbender," Zuko called over to me. I felt his stance change and he was resting his weight on the balls of his feet, ready to spring at the right moment. I couldn't track the boulder because it was in the air, but I knew that it was rapidly approaching Zuko because of the added weight on his feet. Finally, I felt him leave the earth completely and give out a loud yell as he unleashed a devastating attack, similar to the one he used to scare away that animal. Shards of the rock were thrown into the earth and I had to admit, I was on my guard. I didn't want to be hit with one of them.

Zuko was panting and sitting on the ground, he head between his knees. I didn't know what to say. All I knew was that I was overjoyed. He had faced his fear. He had faced it and completely demolished it. I could have taken all the credit if I wanted to, but I didn't. I knew that this was all Zuko. He was able to find strength in himself even when he was afraid. Yes, now I could see him truly as a prince. An honorable and strong prince. A prince who had at last proven himself a warrior. I supposed I was just getting a bit light-headed from all the activities. He was just some annoying kid attached to my friend Uncle. "Very nice," I said, praising generously.

Zuko was still panting. "Soon…it will…my…turn," he wheezed, before stopping to catch his breath. "And I am going to give back everything you dished out."

Although I could not see the smirk on his face, I could hear it. He still had some fight in him and I was eager to keep testing his mettle and proving my own. Fire style sounded deadly and useful, just the way I liked anything. "I'm ready when you are."

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Next chapter (which will come faster): An enemy attacks and a plan is formed. More training, more friendship, and more action is on the way!