Hey guys, I know I've been posting a lot lately, I've just had an extra hour here and there to write this thing. I've loved all the reviews and love I've gotten from this story already! You have no idea how much it pushes me to roll out another chapter for you guys. I have a few other stories in mind, some I've already started to write and some are still in the outline stage, plus I've got the ones I have already started to post on this site, like changing waters and general Aang. So a lot of writing on my part!
Just thought I'd give a quick shout out to those who reviewed for my past chapter, you guys are awesome! :D
70oda: I appreciate the praise for Lo, I liked his character a lot and wished I could have developed him more, but sadly he was only a few chapter character. I also wanted to let you know that your review was what inspired me to add Toph into this story period. I was going to make another O.C. to replace her, but Toph seemed like the character that would make more sense, though I do find her harder to depict, tell me how I did with her during this chapter.
CharlieFibrosis: Thought I'd give you a quick shout out, I know my past chapters haven't been as long as they could be, just with school and other responsibilities, I don't have loads of time to put out on these stories (I'm sure you of all people understand that) I will be trying to put out longer chapters in the future. AKA: This one is nearly 4000 words, I think that's a pretty good number for me. Nice job on your last chapter of your story btw.
Bettsam0731: I appreciate the praise for the story, I've been finding out that as my word count for the story increases, so does my following. (I really appreciate those who were with me in the beginning though)
FlameoInstantNoodles: Your comments are on the bottom of this chapter, so once you're done reading, check out my author's note for you.
P.S. Thanks to both FlameoInstantNoodles and 70oda for contributing to some of the ideas I had for this chapter, see I do use your ideas you put out in the reviews to better my story, so keep them coming!
Onto the story!
Aang quickly fell asleep that night after the meeting. Lo was kind enough to allow Aang to stay in his small home for the duration of his stay. When Aang awoke the next morning, he noticed that it was barely past dawn, but he could already tell that it was going to be a sunny day. Aang was actually excited as he got dressed and made his way down the thin staircase of Lo's house. He was going to meet his earth bending teacher. He had so many questions going through his mind, he could barely contain them: was the earth bender a guy or a girl? What was their teaching style? Would he or she be able to teach him? He quickly pushed these thoughts out of his mind though.
Aang had far more important things to worry about, before he could meet his teacher, he would have to sneak out of the village. He knew that he could easily escape undetected, but he didn't want to take any chances.
Aang was lucky enough to only encounter a few guards on his way out of the city. They barely paid him any notice.
As he made his way into the brush that marked the entrance to the location that he was told to meet the individual, he sighed in relief.
I never knew stealth could be so stressful. Aang thought.
Those thoughts quickly gave way to worry as he started to feel the earth around him slightly shake. It was soon after that he noticed a large hole explode with much force from the earth, revealing a young girl.
She quickly dusted herself off; it was during this time that Aang really got a good look at her. She appeared to look no older than him, maybe 11 or 12. She had jet black hair and pale white skin and she appeared to way no more than 60 pounds. This was a stark contrast to what he believed would be his earth bending teacher, but he kept his emotions intact.
"Do you realize how hard it was to actually find you, I mean, it was feeling around for a darn ant! You're so light on your feet"
"Um... Thanks" Aang said with a nervous chuckle: "I'm Aang; it's nice to meet you..."
"Toph" she finished for him: "The name's Toph."
"So I was told that you're going to be the one to teach me earth ending?" Aang asked. When she finally looked up at him, he noticed something he hadn't caught before: "You're blind?!" Aang said in utter shock.
Toph just took a defensive tone in her voice: "So what if I'm blind? Does it make a difference to you?"
"I'm sorry about that! I really am, I just was shocked that you can earth bend and still be blind like that. I actually think it's pretty cool. Aang said with a look of regret written on his face, though she couldn't see it.
"It's ok Twinkletoes, all is forgiven" Toph said while she walked up to him and strongly punching him in the arm.
"Ouch! If you forgave me, than why did you punch me? And why did you call me that?" Aang finished, now gently nursing his quickly bruising arm.
Toph crossed her arms: "That's how I greet people, and I gave you a nickname because I wanted to."
Aang looked up and noticed that it was already getting close to mid-day. "Let's just start with earth bending already.
"Jeez, someone's in a rush!" Toph said while smiling. She already knew that teaching Aang was going to be fun.
"Why do you want to learn earth bending right now? I mean, don't you have to master waterbending first?"
"I know, I just thought it could be useful skill to have in this stage of my journey, especially against firebenders. I mean, air pretty much fuels fire." Aang said while rubbing his neck from his nervousness.
"Aren't you heading north for that exact reason, to learn waterbending I mean" Toph pressed as she turned to face him.
"I am, I just need all the skills I can right now to defend myself. I am traveling alone now, so I need every advantage I can get." Aang finished while looking down.
At this Toph just looked confused: "What do you mean traveling alone NOW? Where did your traveling companions go?" She added quickly at the end.
"I screwed up and they left me." Aang said, not willing to give any more information.
"Well for whatever reason, they were wrong to leave you. Enough about the mushy stuff there Twinkletoes, let's get to work." Toph finished.
"How much do you know about earth bending so far?" Toph questioned, but when he didn't answer, she figured he knew nothing.
"I need you to mimic my stance. Can you do that for me?" Toph said while she got into a basic earth bending stance which Aang mimicked almost perfectly.
Toph looked him over, noticing that he had indeed mimicked her form almost perfectly, satisfied with this, she continued: "Know, I need you to feel the earth around you." She said rather frankly.
Aang dropped the stance: "How am I supposed to do that?" Aang asked.
"Did I tell you to move out of that stance?" Toph firmly stated.
Aang looked down, slightly frustrated: "No."
When Aang had gotten the stance right again, she continued: "You know how you feel the breeze of the air around you?" Toph began.
Just then, a small breeze came through the clearing, tickling Aang's face; he smiled ever so slightly, happy to be in touch with his element. "Yah, I feel it."
"Good, feeling earth is just like feeling the air, only it's underneath you." Toph said.
Understanding this, it immediately became quiet as Aang attempted to feel the earth around him. After a few minutes, he began to feel the earth slightly pulsating underneath him, like a small heartbeat. "I can feel it; it's like its beating, or slightly vibrating." Aang said in pure wonder.
Toph smiled: "Exactly, the vibrations come from the movements around you, the best earth benders are the ones who listen and wait."
After much effort at first, Aang proved to be a very capable student in Toph's eyes. Though her teaching methods may have seemed a little unorthodox to Aang at first; excelled in earth ending. During the first day, Toph only built up his strength and stamina, she didn't teach him any forms or stances. At this, Aang had been very confused. On the second and third day of their training, all this stamina training finally made sense to him. Aang quickly figured out that under that tiny body, was a spirit that was strong willed and unbreakable. It shocked Aang on a daily basis at the amount of force that Toph put behind every one of her stances and attacks.
During the second day, Toph had taught Aang how to move small earthen objects as well as to shake the ground. Toph had told him that this was an effective move against non earth benders and earth benders alike. She told him that it can throw your opponents off balance, though when she tried to use Aang as an example, he seemed unfazed.
By the third day, Aang was taught more basic forms and attacks. It was during this day that Aang had the opportunity to learn more about Toph.
"So Toph, I know you are an amazing earth bender, but how did you learn to bend like that? I mean, I haven't seen anyone in your town with that kind of skill."
Toph turned to face him: "I learned from the badger moles" She said simply.
Aang's eyes turned to saucers: "Why did they teach you?"
Toph just shrugged: "I never understood why they didn't, maybe they sensed how alone I truly was."
"Why were you alone?" Aang honestly replied.
"My parents are too busy for me. They thought I was frail because I was born blind. They figured out that I was an earth bender and paid a personal trainer to teach me only the safest basics. They hid me from the world, but I still found my way." Toph finished.
"Do your parents live in the village?" Aang asked, wanting to meet them.
"No, they cozied up to the Fire Nation and where able to keep their wealth and their home. It's right up the mountain." Toph said as she pointed towards the house's general direction.
"Enough about me though, lets here your story." Toph almost demanded.
Aang took a seat and then explained how he came to be stuck in ice for 100 years, missing the extinction of his people and the beginning of the war. He talked about Katara and Sokka, how much they inspired him, how they were his family, he talked about all the places they had been and people they had met. He finished with his betrayal and his friends leaving him. It took Aang a good hour and a half to tell his story and by the time it was finished, Toph was speechless.
"That's sum story you got there Twinkletoes. One thing bugs me, after all that time you spent with Sokka and Katara, how could they just up and leave you like that."
Aang looked down, guilty for his mistakes: "It wasn't their fault, it was my own. We should get back to the village. It's getting late."
Toph and Aang walked in silence for the longest time, until the village lights came into view. "I think you're ready Twinkletoes. You aren't a master, by NO means are you remotely close to that…"
Aang just slumped his shoulders: "You really know how to give a guy confidence, don't you Toph."
Toph to this opportunity to swiftly punch him in the arm, where many other bruises had already formed: "Would you let me finished!"
Aang relented and Toph continued: "You have the potential Aang, with some fine tuning; you could get to be a master. Besides, we need to take back this village already."
Aang immediately agreed with her: "I think you're right Toph. We can ready everybody for tomorrow morning. I did want to ask you something. Would you go with me on the assault team?"
Toph just smiled: "I thought you'd never ask."
Getting the earth benders together early that next morning was harder than Aang had previously believed. Many of them were attempting to squirm out of their responsibilities. When Aang had enough, he faced the group: "The Fire Nation took your town, your lively hoods, and all you do is cower in fear. Fight for your nation, fight for you land, fight for your people!"
The simple words encouraged those who were fearful. With this, Aang and Toph made their way to the Fire Nation base. When they had reached it, Aang was actually shocked at how large it was. "I guess this is it, you ready to bash some Fire Nation heads?"
"Let's go" Toph said as she hopped out of her hiding place and began her attacks, furiously sending large chunks of earth towards frantic and confused soldiers. Aang jumped into the fray and sent his own mix of air and earthen attacks. Though they had forced the soldiers back, they quickly organized themselves and fought back. Large bursts of uncontrolled fire spewed from the cluster of soldiers. Aang was lightly burned on his right arm, but he didn't let it affect him, though he did slightly wince in pain. Aang sent large whirlwinds of air at the men, lifting them off their feet and sending them far away.
Aang assumed by now that soldiers had gone and sent for reinforcements from the town. The town would likely be empty at this point. "Hey Toph, you ready to ramp it up a bit?"
"Sure thing Twinkletoes" Toph said while she trapped three more soldiers up to their heads in earth.
Both Aang and Toph got into earth bending stances, forcing a large wall of earth to come crumbling down on the already weakening building. This was the straw that broke the camel's back for the building, it quickly folded under the intense force that Toph and Aang had thrown at it.
Aang smiled at his work, but quickly snapped back to reality when he felt an earth wall go up behind him: "Snap out of it Twinkletoes, reinforcements are here."
They fought for what seemed like forever, both Aang and Toph received many burns but they continued to fight, avoiding the pain for now and staying strong. When the battle was over, there wasn't much left of the base, except many unconscious soldiers that the towns people would likely deal with.
"That was some nice bending back their Twinkletoes, you learned pretty well." Toph commented.
"You weren't so bad yourself." Aang complimented back.
The pair quickly made their way back to the village, which looked more like a fortress now. It only had a make shift wall up, but Aang knew that they could easily increase it's size and thickness in no time. In better words, they wouldn't have to worry about the Fire Nation any time soon.
As the afternoon was quickly coming to a close, the village's leader met Aang and Toph by the gate: "Young Avatar, how can this village ever repay you for what you have done for us?"
Toph interjected for him: "Some money and supplies would be nice."
"Toph! Nothing's-" Aang was swiftly cut off by the Mayor of the village though.
"Nonsense, it's the least we can do for you! You freed us from the Fire Nation, you gave us hope. Thank you again Avatar!"
Aang graciously accepted the supplies and bid the town's Mayor and Toph goodnight. He was, to say it lightly, exhausted from all the fighting. He knew that he needed to have the burns he had received wrapped, but he would deal with it in the morning. Aang quickly and soundly fell to sleep, falling into dreams about a certain waterbender.
Aang awoke the next morning and had his burns looked at and treated by the town's doctor. He then made his way over to Lo's shop, hoping to be able to wish him a goodbye before he was on his way.
He quickly rang the small bell at the shop's entrance. Lo's walked out, ready to great his customer. "Oh Aang, I'm so happy you decided to come and say goodbye to me before you left!" He said while coming out the shop entrance, embracing Aang in a friendly hug.
"You'd think I'd actually leave without saying goodbye? I'm hurt" Aang said in a mock hurt tone.
Lo just laughed, he seemed more alive than when Aang had first met him. He was happy that he could help these people from the Fire Nation's cruel oppression. He wanted to make up for the hundred years that he was absent for the world, and he was glad he could start at this village.
"So what are your plans after you leave this village young Avatar?" Lo questioned.
Aang honestly didn't know an answer to that question, he knew his destination, but not the road there: "I know I want to eventually make it up to the North Pole, but I don't exactly know what the stops are going to be in between."
Lo stepped back and pulled out one of his maps from his store front, he examined them momentarily, than turned towards Aang again. "Ok, it might be a little risky, but it would be the quickest route if you went through the Fire Nation. Not the mainland, but some of the coastal islands, their aren't many inhabited ones and the Fire Nation wouldn't expect you'd come so close to their door step."
Aang thought about it for a few minutes, It could be a little risky, but it would keep the Fire Nation on their toes. Aang smiled, knowing his decision: "Ok, I'll head to the Fire Nation once I make it a little further up the coast."
"Good choice Aang, I hope everything goes well for you in your journey, and don't be afraid to drop by your friend Lo's little shop for some good company." Lo finished with a small smile.
"Don't worry, I will Lo" With this, Aang walked towards the gates of the town, being thanked along the way. When he reached the gates and his bison, he was shocked to find a small earthbender already on his bison's saddle. "What do you think your doing?" Aang asked.
"What does it look like, you need someone to look out for you, plus your earthbending could use a little fine tuning. For that matter, it could use a total overhaul."
"So you want to come along?" Aang asked again, making sure he heard right.
"Yah dummy, why would I get on this thing?" Toph said.
Aang shrugged at this, thankful that he wouldn't have to travel completely alone, though he would likely not take her all the way up to the North Pole. He was happy regardless.
With a small smile playing on his lips: "Yip, yip Appa." Aang said as they headed North West, towards the earthkingdom coast, and then onwards to the Fire Nation.
Katara and Sokka:
The long week of walking had been quite taxing on not just their bodies, but their nerves. Katara and Sokka had been at each-other's throats for most of the time, bickering for no real reason. Bato just let it slide though, guessing that this was how they normally functioned. He remembered when he and Hakoda were just like that, fighting and bickering about everything and anything, he did reflect that they had become stronger friends because of the hard times though.
"Ugh! Sokka, you are so unbelievable sometimes!" Katara fumed.
"What?" Sokka asked in complete innocence: "I just thought that women should stay in that kind of role."
"Sokka, why do you taunt your sister like that?" Bato reprimanded.
Sokka just rolled his eyes: "Whatever, let's take a break. I need something to eat."
"You're always hungry!" Katara began: "We'll probably run out of food by the end of the week!"
"Stop being over dramatic, we can head to the town I spotted on the map a few days ago, it runs straight through our route to dad, so that way we don't have to deviate from my schedule." Sokka said proudly.
Katara give an exasperated sigh: "You and that stupid schedule of yours!"
"Hey! The schedule is what gets us to dad in a few weeks from now! Don't judge me woman!" Sokka said, his voice cracking slightly as he did so.
Katara smirked: "Oh, because you're such a man, aren't you."
"Just because my voice cracks, doesn't mean you call all the shots here!" Sokka said, he nervousness increasing along with every new crack of his voice. It was during these moments, that he hated puberty.
Bato had had just enough of their bickering for the day, so he attempted to change the subject: "What's the town's name anyway?"
Sokka examined the map for the town again, we he found it, he spoke again: "Gaoling, the name of the town is Gaoling."
FlameoInstantNoodles: I must confess, you were the one that inspired me to have Toph run away with Aang, originally, I wanted to have Toph stay behind and Aang continue alone, but Toph coming along with Aang could be interesting, though I don't know how long she'll be staying with him though. Message me, need some opinions on ideas that I've had and want to run it by you to see what you think. Thanks!
Read and Review as always guys!