Here's chapter 13. Not very good, if you ask me. I have a new idea for a new fanfic. Just wondering if I should write it.
Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar.
Unexpected encounters
The first thing she felt for was the vibration of the earthbending academy, but what she found, rather near her, were the familiar and detested vibrations of the only people she had even a little fear for in the whole world- her parents. Although, there was another unfamiliar heartbeat always tagging along them. She dove into the earth quickly and let her parents pass on above her. With a skilled clench of her fist, she trapped the follower, dragging him into the underground chamber she was in. "Who are you? What do you want with my... The Bei Fongs?" she demanded while securing her captive's arms and legs just in case he was an Earthbender. "Toph is that you?" "What? No!" "I knew it was you! I thought I saw you just now. I'm Haru. The earthbender with you guys at the western air temple?" "How do I know I can trust you? I can't even recognize your vibrations. You're lying, by the way. I can tell. Unfortunately for you." Toph said smugly, and the person growled. "Now are you going to answer me? Or shall I leave you here to rot, starve or die of dehydration?" Toph wondered aloud in a sing-song voice, and rose herself out of the chamber when she was sure no one was walking on the road above. She set off again, searching for the academy. She found it very soon, by the excessive amount of earthbending being used at a time in such a confined space, which she decided could mean two things- a battle between two bands of earthbenders, or the academy, and went to check it out. Whichever it was, she would be happy to be there, very much in the mood for a battle after the incident with that assailant. Therefore, when she found out it was the academy; she couldn't help feel a little disappointed. Its ok, Toph told herself, I'll get to beat up little children here.
"Who are you? And what do you want?" a mean voice shouted from inside the academy grounds as she stepped a single step into its doors. Another voice echoed the first, only meaner, "Yeah! Get out of here, blindy, little girls get hurt here, especially blind ones!" and the two voices burst out in laughter. Toph had heard lots of different nicknames, but by far this was the worst. She replied, faking terror, "oh I'm so sacred! I'm just a blind girl who wandered onto these grounds unknowingly... A blind girl who is going to beat jerks like you into pulp!" and she unleashed an earthquake that shook the whole campus, making the ground crack as she let out all her fury. When all the ruckus died down, the screams of a certain two boys trapped in earth, like Sokka had been before, when Aang had first tried to learn earthbending, could be heard. Toph left them like that, trapped in the ground under the hot sun and right in the middle of the courtyard of the school, and went to find the head master. She heard the laughter of all the people who walked by the front gate of the academy and had had a glimpse of the two pathetic figures. "Now what would make this a funnier picture would be if Sugar queen were here to send a little rain over them!" she laughed at the thought. As though in reply, the sky rumbled, all humans ran for cover and Toph went in search of the head master once again. She found him with ease; the academy was made of earth entirely, saving Toph time without having to look in the empty rooms. When he saw her enter, he narrowed his eyes and asked her what she wanted. "I want to teach here. You will give me full pay and accommodation. Understood?" she said as she got into her attack pose. "Wait. I know that style; you're Toph Bei Fong, right? The earthbender who taught the Avatar! We are honoured to be in the presence of the most powerful earthbender there is on earth, and the inventor of metal bending, and also a master sandbender. Please sign here... Erm... Print your fingerprint here and you can start work tomorrow first thing in the morning." the head master could not be quicker in accepting any other teacher into the school.
After they settled the procedures, Toph decided to go visit her good friends and teachers- the badgermoles. Then she realised that in order to do so, she had to pass by her parents' house, which she no longer considered her home. Never mind, something as small as that cannot possibly stop the master earth, metal and sandbender that she had become. If they could not accept her for who she was- an adventurous 14 year old who was not weak in any sense, then she would not go back to recieve more discrimination or imprisonment. She was sure she could escape from her parents even if they caught her. So she went on her way, too excited about her reunion to notice everyone stopping to point and stare at her as she whizzed pass them using earthbending. As she slid near her parents' house she felt a pang of fear of being discovered, and decided to go underground to find her old passage into the badgermoles' burrow, where she leant to see with earthbending, and mastered it. She had stumbled across them one day while playing outside, thereafter frequently visiting her masters to learn more. As she got better, she saw better. When she finally mastered, she had created that underground passage leading straight to her room and covered the entrance up with earth, blending it in with the rest of the floor rather easily. She considered that her final assessment, and began to attend the Earth Rumble tournaments soon after hearing it from some earthbenders who had been practising nearby the badgermoles' mounds. She learnt of the location of the tournaments and secretly snuck out to compete, and met destiny there as well. Toph smiled at the memories of their team fighting together, Aang's laughter, Sokka's sarcasm, and of course, Zuko's past, which he wished to forget, like she had. And Katara, her second mother. At least she understood the need to bend, and destiny's calling, unlike Toph's real parents. Then Toph found the start of the old tunnel, and stopped bending.
Following the old and abandoned route that was still vaguely familiar to her, her heart sped up at the memory of an old sentiment-eagerness to learn, and excitement of seeing her old bending masters. Finally, she picked up their vibrations, and ran across the passage towards them. The badgermoles growled at first, not recognising their old pupil, but stopped when they scented and heard her. She had not changed a bit, and they moved closer to her, longing for her attention. Hugging them all, she turned her attention towards the newborns, registering their unique signatures. She stayed for the night, just talking to them as if they understood English, and sometimes used earthbending to illustrate her point, knowing they would feel the earth's moving patterns and understand her. She spoke of her new family, her adventures and learnings, as well as her still buried feelings for Sokka.
"Toph? Is that you?" Toph jumped at the female voice echoing from the distance, which had a name put to it. Mum, her mind told her. She panicked, and tried to hide herself, then decided to just bend a barrier between her and her mother, knowing her mother was not an earthbender. Then, as a safety precaution, she sought out all the metal in the earth around her, bent it towards her, and created a secondary door in front of the sturdy earth wall, in case her mother brought another earthbender with her. And she just sat there and waited. Waited for their vibrations to disappear. And fell asleep.
Ok review please!!!