Here's the third chapter!

I was a little disappointed by the responses. Only two reviews.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Avatar, because if I did, there would be a fourth season! I own Niella, Tae Xing, and Bo Don.

WORD COUNT: 1726

Toph woke Niella bright and early the next morning. "Come on, lazybones. First day of training, no time to waste!" Niella's response, a sleepy grumble and a pillow flying through the air, evidently wasn't going to cut it. Toph, with a wave of one hand, flipped the mattress upside down and onto the floor, Niella beneath it.

"Okay, okay. I'm up." So much for sleeping in.

One crowded monorail ride later, Niella and Toph were at 'The Royal Earthbending Academy'. While the 'Earthbending' part of it was obvious just by looking – several portions of the wall were cracked – the 'royal' part wasn't. The place looked like it'd seen better days. They were greeted by a smiling old man who introduced himself as Master Yu. "He handles the beginners," Toph explained, "and I teach the more advanced Earthbending students, like the soldiers-in-training for the Earth Kingdom Military – and you, of course."

Niella, feeling a bit of her old high-energy spark coming back, grinned a little. "So where do we start?"

By the end of the day, Niella had come to regret ever saying those words. Toph drilled her relentlessly in various Earthbending techniques, but still Niella couldn't so much as budge a pebble (unless she kicked it). It surprised her how hard Earthbending was. Waterbending had come easily to her; it was as if she was born with all the techniques memorised.

The two of them ended the lesson at around sunset. Instead of heading right back to the house, though, Toph had insisted on stopping at the Jasmine Dragon. Niella wasn't sure what she meant at first, but soon discovered it was a teashop – a big one in the Upper Ring. It seemed like half the population of Ba Sing Se was crammed inside. Toph quickly pulled Niella to the tiny VIP section and sat her down. A slightly chubby old man with a grin on his face and teapot in hand came over.

"Toph. How nice to see you again, my friend," he greeted her kindly, pouring her a cup. "Jin!" he called to a waitress, "Mind making another pot of green tea? We're almost out!" The woman nodded, smiling and waving at Toph for a second before retreating into the back with a tray of empty bowls.

Toph pulled off her helmet and placed it on the table, seemingly glad to be rid of it. "Hey, Iroh. I thought you'd like to meet my newest student – from the Southern Water Tribe." Iroh, noticing Niella for the first time, gave her a short bow.

"It is an honour to finally meet you, Niella. I have heard much about you from Sokka's letters."

"You know my un- Sokka?" Niella asked.

"Of course. I knew the entire little team that won us this war. This teashop was our favourite place to meet in the first few years of peacetime. Fire Lord Zuko just happens to be my nephew. You can't believe how proud I was when he started making his own decisions – instead of following the previous Fire Lord – and became an Avatar Master."

"A what?"

Toph drained her cup and set it down on the table. "An Avatar Master is the term for the Avatar's teacher in one of the bending arts. That makes me an Avatar Master, same with Katara and Zuko. Of course, no one's ever taught two different Avatars before. Which makes us that much cooler, right?"

Supper was a few hours later at Toph's house. Niella rather liked her first possum-chicken meal, although there was something floating in the soup. She fished it out and realised it was a bug that had probably landed in without Toph noticing.

Niella didn't have any more soup after that.

Several weeks passed, and as spring came to a close, Niella's Earthbending was actually starting to improve. Katara had often said she was a fast learner; at least she was honest about that. She could now make gaping holes in the ground with the stomp of a foot, levitate boulders high above her head, even creates spikes up to three stories tall! She got better every day, much to Toph's obvious satisfaction. Niella was rewarded for her quick progress with stories she hadn't even heard from Sokka or Katara; tales about Aang, mostly.

Later, after another rather successful lesson, Toph was drawn aside by one of her other students, so Niella lingered outside. A few people glanced at her curiously, probably wondering what a Water Tribe girl was doing at an Earthbending academy. She paid no attention to them; they would lose interest eventually if she gave them nothing to look at.

"Five hundred gold pieces?" a voice whispered from the alley behind her. Niella peeked around the corner. Two men stood there in the shadows, unaware that she was spying on them. "Even that won't be enough. The Earth King's palace is heavily guarded, you know that. It'll take at least a thousand pieces before I even consider the job." He crossed his arms over his broad chest stubbornly.

"Very well, Xin Fu," the second man said in a deadly serious, businesslike tone, "I will raise your pay to five thousand gold pieces, but you only get half of it until you deliver the princess to me tonight."

Niella stifled a gasp. These guys were plotting to kidnap Tae Xing! "Very well, Long Feng. The princess will be in your custody by sunrise." Xin Fu gave his companion a short bow, then turned and began walking brusquely towards Niella's hiding place.

Niella, thinking quickly, Earthbended a hole in the road and jumped in, sealing the gap behind her just as Xin Fu rounded the corner. She waited, hoping he hadn't noticed her. Suddenly, Niella was vaulted out of her hiding place. Taken by surprise, she lost her balance and landed flat on her face. Opening one eye, she found herself nose-to-toe with a black boot missing its sole. Toph's face came into view as she looked upward.

"What, exactly, were you doing in the ground, Niella?" Toph seemed curious, even amused. "I can't be such a bad teacher that you want to hide from me."

Niella stood up shakily, dusting herself off. "I was listening in on some thugs, they called each other Long Feng and Xin Fu. They're planning to capture Princess Tae Xing tonight!"

Toph grabbed her by the arm and pulled her down the street. "Quickly!" she cried, "We have to warn the Earth King!" The pair ran to the monorail station as fast as they could, not even stopping when a produce cart appeared in their path. Toph simply Earthbended it out of the way, ignoring the elderly vendor's cry.

"MY CABBAGES! Why me?!"

One monorail ride later – a ride too slow for their liking this time – Toph and Niella found themselves at the gates of the Earth Kingdom palace. One guard was refusing to let them in.

"I'm sorry, ladies, but his majesty is having an important meeting with several other dignitaries. I'm afraid you'll have to wait until he is finished."

Toph, never one to take no for an answer, got right up in his face. "Listen, Bo Don. I have urgent news for the Earth King that cannot wait. So if you know what's good for you, you'll move aside and let us through. Remember what happened last time?" Bo Don gulped and immediately stepped to the side. Toph and Niella rushed past him and through the hallways. "The Earth King is just a couple doors down," Toph said between breaths. They rounded a corner, and, without hesitation, pushed open an ornate double door.

The hum of chatter within the room quickly died out as Toph and Niella entered, the latter dropping to her knees in exhaustion. Several elderly and middle-aged men and women, in fancy robes of scarlet, emerald, or navy, stood around a large floor-map, most of them scandalized by the interruption. Tae Xing and her father sat on two of the three thrones on the opposite end of the room, the other being occupied by Fu Kun. Niella saw the princess awakening with a start; she'd been leaning on the armrest, her arms being used as a pillow.

Toph bowed respectfully to the king. "Your Highness," she said formally, "I am dreadfully sorry to interrupt, but I have urgent news. News that, unfortunately, cannot wait, with the safety of the royal court in mind." Many of the dignitaries whispered to each other, curious.

The Earth King, shocked at first, gave Toph a serious look before nodding. "This meeting will be adjourned until further notice," he announced, "General, we will discuss this in private. Fu Kun, Tae Xing?" He turned to his now-awake daughter. "Do you mind?" Tae Xing shrugged, stretched, and started to get up from her seat, as her brother did the same.

"Actually," Toph said, "It would be better if the princess were to hear this, as it mainly concerns her safety. Chief Sokka and Fire Lord Zuko should stay, too." Niella turned to see two younger men – well, younger than most of their company – break off from the group converging towards the door. One was indeed the Fire Lord, the other was her own 'Uncle' Sokka. Niella avoided Sokka's sad gaze as he and Zuko came to stand beside her and Toph. She was still angry at him, Katara, Suki, and Ty Lee for lying to her.

"Niella," Toph requested, "Tell them what you overheard by the Academy." Okay, so it was more like a command than a request, but Niella obliged. As soon as she mentioned Long Feng, a collective gasp was heard. Only Tae Xing didn't seem to recognise the name.

The Earth King rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "If Long Feng is involved in this, then this issue is most definitely top priority. Chief, Fire Lord, I request your assistance in this matter. General Toph, I want you, the Avatar, and all the most skilled Earthbenders and warriors you can find guarding Tae Xing day and night. Avatar Niella will move into her room until the danger has passed. Is that clear?" Everyone nodded, with one exception – Tae Xing herself.

"But I don't want that peasant sleeping in my room!" the princess whined, "I won't do it! Not in a million years!"

"Tae Xing!" her father cut her off, "This is for your own safety. You will be watched twenty-four-seven, be it in the palace or at General Toph's home. It's your choice." Tae Xing was silent, crossing her arms and pouting.

Ooh, things are getting interesting! I couldn't resist adding Cabbage Man, I love him! Tae Xing's being a bit of a brat, isn't she? Don't worry, she's a dynamic character.