Disclaimer: I do Not own Avatar the Last Air-bender or it's associated properties.

After getting a good night's sleep the Gaang had been able to find a secluded canyon where Toph could start teaching Aang Earth-bending.

Which is where we find our heroes as Aang woke up early he was so excited to start training. He then Air-bent himself high in the air in his excitement.

While Aang hung in the air he said "Today's the day."

Once he landed, Aang walked over to where Sokka was, thinking he was awake as well while saying "Can you believe it? After all that time searching for a teacher, I'm finally going to learn Earth-bending. And this place, it's perfect. Don't you think?" After Sokka didn't reply Aang leaned forward saying "Sokka?"

Sokka just angrily turned his head towards Aang and glared at him while growling making Aang realize his mistake as he said "Oh, you're still sleeping, huh?"

Sokka didn't respond he just angrily tucked himself into his sleeping bag while Aang whispered "Sorry."

Just then the ground began to shake as Dijin and Toph came bursting out of their Earth-tents with Dijin doing his morning stretches while Toph shouted out "Gooooooood Morning, Earth-bending student!"

Aang smiled at the two and said "Good morning, Sifu Toph."

Katara who had woken up from all the commotion heard Aang's statement and said "Hey, you never call me Sifu Katara."

Aang looked at her awkwardly and said "Well, if you think I should."

Sokka fed up with all the noise sat up and growled at the noisy benders while Toph just said "Sorry, sleeping beauty. We'll try and do our Earth-bending as quietly as we can." then as if to ironically prove her point Toph kicked her right heel making an Earth-pillar erupt under Sokka launching him several feet in the air.

Sokka screamed in fright before he landed on the ground in a heap and started grumbling incoherently as he hopped around in his sleeping bag then left to try and sleep more.

After Sokka left Aang walked up to Toph asking "So, what move are you gonna teach me first?" Aang started to mimic Earth-bending moves saying "The Rockalanche, the trembler? Oh, maybe I can learn to make a whirlpool out of land."

Toph placed her hand against Aang's chest making him stop moving as she said "Well, first things first. Take off your shoes."

Aang looked down and saw he was still wearing his boots. Realizing what Toph had in mind he quickly took them off.

Once Aang was ready she said "let's start things off a little simple. This a little trick I like to call... move a rock."

Toph started to walk a few feet away before stomping her foot and raising her forearms creating two boulders while Aang said "Sounds good. Sounds good."

Toph had Aang stand in front of one of the boulders while she stood in front of the other one as she explained her lesson saying "The Key to Earth-bending is your stance. You've got to be steady and strong." Toph then got into a horse stance as she turned her head towards Aang saying "Rock is a stubborn element. If you're going to move it, you've got to be like a rock yourself." Next, she shoved Aang making him lose his balance to prove her point.

Aang straightened himself out as he said "Like a rock, Got it."

Toph replied "Good." she then turned her body sideways as she said "Now, the actual motion of this one is pretty simple."

Next, Toph stomped her left foot forward while thrusting her left fist forward as well sending the boulder in front of her hurtling towards the canyon wall where it shattered on impact.

Toph got into a normal stance as she turned towards Aang and said "Ok, you ready to give it a try?"

Aang just had a determined gaze as he mimicked Toph's stance and said "I'm ready." Next, Aang hardened his eyes before he stomped his left foot and thrusted his left fist forward but instead of Earth-bending the rock, Aang was blown backwards into a nearby wall due to him unconsciously Air-bending.

As Aang groaned on the ground Sokka laughed at him from his new sleeping spot saying "haha! Rock beats Air-bender."

Dijin frowned at Sokka before he waved his right hand downwards making a mountain of dirt fall on top of the Water Tribe warrior burying him up to his neck.

Sokka looked at the pile of dirt and then at Dijin before he shouted saying "Jokes on you Dijin! This is actually quite comfortable." Sokka then nestled into the dirt before he started to snore away.

Dijin just shook his head at his friend while Katara helped Aang up and Toph walked up to them.

Once the blind girl was close enough Katara spoke saying "I don't understand what went wrong. He did it exactly the way you did."

Aang looked at the boulder while saying "maybe there's another way. What if I came at the boulder from another angle?"

Aang started to walk around the boulder until Toph grabbed the back of his collar and forced him back into his previous spot as she said "No, that's the problem."

Toph then knocked on Aang's head with her knuckles saying "You keep thinking like an Air-bender but there's no other way or trickyity trick that's gonna move that rock."

she put her hand down and pointed at the rock saying "You have to face it head on." she then turned her whole body so it was facing the boulder before she said "And when I say head on... I mean like this!" she then jumped a few feet in the air before completely crushing the boulder by just simply landing on top of it.

Aang jumped back in surprise saying "Whoa!" while Dijin just whistled impressed.

Toph started to march away but Katara quickly made to go after her to talk.

Once she was close enough Katara grabbed Toph shoulder saying "Toph, I've been training Aang for a while now. He really responds well to a positive teaching experience—lots of encouragement and praise, kind words. If he's doing something wrong, maybe a gentle nudge in the right direction.

Toph placed her hands on her hips saying "Hmmm, a gentle nudge. I'll think I'll try that. Thanks, Katara." Toph then turned towards Dijin's direction and shouted "Hey, Hot rocks! I'm probably gonna need your help, follow me."

Dijin just shrugged his shoulders and made to follow the girl while Aang got a chill down his spine as his memories of and Master Pakku and Dijin's training at the North pole came back to haunt him for some reason.

xxLine Breakxx

10 minutes later...

"KEEP YOUR KNEES HIGH TWINKLE TOES!" shouted Toph as Aang was forced to make his knees go as high as they could lest his feet get stabbed by an Earth-spike erupting from the ground. If that didn't make it bad enough, Aang also had to do this while carrying a huge boulder on his back.

Aang looked up at Toph from her perch and shouted "Do you really have to use spikes!? Is this training or torture?"

Toph just chuckled and said "Hey, don't blame me for the spikes. That was Hot Rocks Idea. I just went along with it."

Aang instantly glared at the Lava-bender who was next to Toph raising and lowering his hands showing he was creating the spikes.

Dijin smirked at the Air-bender below and shouted "You're not keeping your knees up!" Dijin raised his left hand creating a spike which Aang barely dodged.

Toph chuckled at the display before turning towards Dijin saying "This is pretty great. Got any other ideas?"

Aang quickly shouted from down below screaming "NO!"

Dijin and Toph just laughed at the Avatar's misfortune before Dijin said "I'll get back to you when I've got something good."

Toph just continued to laugh and said "I can't wait."

After that Aang considered his training to be absolute torture due to the fact Toph's training was already hard But Dijin just made it ten times worse.

First Toph gave him an exercise where he had to attack a solid stone slab with knife-hand jabs but he just ended up crushing his fingers.

However, Dijin made it worse by creating a moat of Lava behind Aang and every time he failed to stab the stone, Dijin would make the lava move closer towards the panicking Air-bender.

Next, Toph had Aang remain in a horse stance for long periods of time. Then she would dive underground before popping up at random intervals to surprise Aang so she could teach him to remain in his stance no matter what.

Sadly, Aang kept falling out of his horse stance. So, as punishment Dijin would pelt him with rocks while the Air-bender had to get in his stance again and also try to avoid being surprised by Toph.

After that exercise, Toph went through Sokka's stuff and stole his beloved boomerang club while he was sleeping.

Sokka quickly noticed this however, and tried to take his weapon back but Toph simply held her hand against Sokka's face while holding his weapon away from him in her other hand.

Despite Sokka's struggling he couldn't overpower the blind girl so he just pouted while grumbling as he walked away until he could get his weapon back.

Toph grabbed Aang's sash from around his waist and blindfolded him then placed the club in his hand as she said "Ok, now me and Hot Rocks are gonna make some pillars appear and your job is to sense when and where they will come up and smash them with the club, got it?"

Aang nodded his head saying "Got it." as the two Earth-benders went to work creating pillars everywhere.

Aang missed the pillars at first but it didn't take him long to start actually feeling where the pillars would come up and soon enough, he destroyed one of the pillars that was behind him.

Toph just stood to the side with a smirk as she nodded her head while Dijin gave Aang a thumbs up.

Toph's next training Idea involved creating two parallel Earth-walls that were only a few feet apart but at least 20 feet high. Next, she covered herself in thick Rock-armor while drawing a line in the dirt.

To finish things off she shouted "Do it now, Hot Rocks!"

Dijin replied from on top of the wall saying "You got it, boss!" next, Dijin thrusted his hands down creating a pool of magma behind Aang which made him panic as he looked back at Toph.

Toph just smirked through her armor and said "Ok, Twinkle Toes, here's the deal. Either you push me back past this line." Toph quickly motioned to the line in front of her before she said "Or you're gonna get one monster of a sunburn."

Toph then launched herself at Aang as she slid across the ground at a fast rate.

Aang's eyes widened before he quickly braced himself and held his hands out as Toph collided with him.

Aang was pushed back at first, almost to the point he reached the lava. But he held strong and hardened his gaze as he started to slowly but steadily move Toph back towards the line.

After seeing Aang's progress Toph decided to try his stance training again only a little more extreme.

This time Aang was in his horse stance while standing on two separate pillars that were only big enough to hold his feet. Then on top of that he had to toss a heavy stone ring in the air and catch it with his left hand then his right hand and vice versa.

Toph moved in between the two pillars and punched them both at the same time which made them shake as she shouted "Rock-like!"

However, instead of falling Aang stayed in his stance strong as ever making Toph nod her head impressed.

For Toph's final lesson of the day she brought Aang, Dijin, and Katara to a cliffside where she had some kind of ramp set up.

As she talked to Aang and Katara she had Dijin stand on the top of the ramp while she said "This time, we're going to try something a little different. Instead of moving a rock, we're going to stop a rock." She quickly got in Aang's face saying "Get in your horse stance!"

Aang quickly complied as Toph shouted "Time for the reveal, Hot Rocks!"

Up on the ramp Dijin had a slightly annoyed expression as he thought to himself "Seriously, is that the only name she knows me by?"

Dijin shook away his thoughts away as he created a giant boulder like Toph had told him to do while the girl explained things down below.

Toph started by saying "Hot Rocks up there is going to roll that boulder down at you. If you have the attitude of an Earth-bender, you'll stay in your stance and stop the rock." Toph then placed her right foot forward while placing her left foot behind herself and thrusting her hands out palm first saying "Like this."

Aang just looked up at Dijin and the boulder with a terrified look while Katara walked up to Toph saying "Sorry, Toph, but are you sure this is really the best way to teach Aang Earth-bending?"

Toph brightened up after hearing that and turned towards Aang saying "I'm glad you said something. Actually, there is a better way."

Toph then grabbed Aang's sash again blindfolding him as she said "This way you'll really have to sense the vibrations of the boulder to stop it." Toph turned towards Katara saying "Thank you, Katara."

Aang turned towards the Water-bender as well while sarcastically saying "Yeah, Thanks, Katara."

Katara just had an apologetic smile before Toph shouted "Whenever you're ready, Hot Rocks!"

Dijin complied with the girl and just simply pushed the boulder down the ramp while Aang felt the boulder coming with a nervous expression.

The boulder came speeding down the ramp and just when it was about to make contact with Aang, The Air-bender lost his nerve and jumped upwards using Air-bending to dodge the rock.

The boulder rolled towards a nearby wall where it impacted while Toph started running towards Aang and when she was close enough, Aang took off his blindfold and said "I'm sorry, I guess I just panicked. I don't know what to say."

Toph just grabbed him by his robe collar and shouted "Yeah, you are sorry! You totally blew it!" She roughly let him go making him fall on his backside as she said "You had a perfect stance and perfect form but when it came down to it you didn't have the balls!"

Dijin chose then to show up next to Toph to find out what was going on while Aang just looked at the ground depressed saying "I know. I'm sorry."

Toph just growled and said "Stop being sorry and actually grow a pair! If you don't have what it takes to stop the rock then you can at least give it the pleasure of squashing you instead of jumping out of the way like a giant pussy!"

Toph took a step back and placed her hands on her hips as she said "Now, do you have what it takes to face that rock like an Earth-bender?"

Aang just remained on the ground and looked away ashamed saying "No, I don't think I do."

Katara walked up behind Aang and placed her hands on his shoulders saying "Aang, It's no big deal. You'll take a break and try Earth-bending again when you're ready." she smiled at him then saying "besides, you still have a lot of Water-bending to work on, ok?"

Aang turned towards her and said "Yeah, that sounds good." he quickly stood up and followed Katara to go practice Water-bending.

Toph just frowned and shouted "Yeah, Whatever. Go splash around until you feel better." Toph then motioned for Dijin to follow her as she said "Come on, Hot Rocks, I'm hungry let's get some lunch."

Dijin watched the blind girl walk away while he thought to himself "I thought the name was annoying at first, but I gotta admit it's growing on me." he then made to follow Toph as the two walked together and came up with Ideas to further Aang's training.

xxLine Breakxx

When Aang finished his Water-bending training he went to find a nice spot to meditate

When Toph found out what Aang was doing she went to find Dijin and when she found him, he noticed she was carrying Aang's staff so, he asked her "Hey, Toph, any particular reason you have Aang's staff?"

Toph just smirked at the Lava-bender and said "I had a little Idea to get twinkle toes motivated to try Earth-bending again. Want in on it?"

Dijin gave the girl his own smirk before saying "Do you really have to ask?' the two chuckled together before going off to find Aang.

When the two found Aang he was sitting on a flat stone slab meditating so Toph turned towards Dijin and whispered "Ready?"

Dijin just smiled at the girl saying "You bet."

The two then made their presence known as Toph and Dijin plopped themselves down on the slab behind Aang while Toph said "Aang... I found these nuts in your bag. I figured you wouldn't mind if Hot Rocks and I shared them." she then laughed while wiggling a small bag of nuts with Aang's name written on it saying "Besides, even if you did, your too much of a pussy to do anything about it."

The Air-bender just opened his eyes saying "As a matter of fact, I don't mind. I happy to share anything I have."

Dijin smirked then and said "We're glad you feel that way buddy, because Toph and I just found this really great nutcracker." Toph quickly pulled out Aang's staff and gave it a twirl before she smiled and slammed the staff on the ground cracking open a nut she placed there.

Aang just had a nervous look on his face as he watched Toph slam his beloved staff into the ground.

Toph then handed the staff to Dijin who placed some nuts on the ground and slammed the staff on the nuts cracking them open.

Aang looked at the two with an awkward smile as he said "Actually, I'd prefer if you didn't-"

He was cut off by Toph who had grabbed the staff from Dijin and cracked open some nuts again.

Aang tried speaking with a worried expression saying "That's an antique handcrafted by the monks-"

Once again, he was cut off but this time by Dijin who cracked open more nuts.

Aang desperate for them to stop shouted "It's a delicate instrument!"

Toph and Dijin just ate and swallowed their nuts before they got up and Toph said "You know what else is a delicate instrument?"

Toph didn't wait for a reply as she marched off banging Aang's staff against the rocks while Dijin walked next to her.

xxLine Breakxx

After Toph and Dijin left Aang they had stumbled across a hilarious sight.

Apparently, Sokka had been hunting a baby Sabertooth-moose-lion but somehow got stuck in hole.

The little creature was covered in brown fur and it was the size of a small house-cat while its head looked like a moose and its body resembled a cat as well.

Dijin was about to move to help Sokka but Toph placed a hand in front him and then had them hide as she said "Hold on, Hot Rocks this could be a good learning experience for Twinkle Toes."

Dijin raised an eyebrow at the statement before he noticed Aang had shown up and was speaking to Sokka. So, he just listened to Toph and watched the scene unfold from their hiding spot.

Aang ran up to Sokka and said "Sokka, are you ok?"

Aang bent down and started to pull Sokka's arms trying to get him loose but no matter how hard he pulled Sokka wouldn't budge.

As Aang pulled Sokka shouted "Stop, stop! Your gonna pull my arms off and I don't think the rest of me is coming with them."

Aang looked at Sokka's predicament curiously before saying "Hmm, I bet I can Air-bend you out of here." Aang quickly thrusted his hands down sending a huge current of Air through the hole Sokka was stuck in.

Sadly though, Aang's attempt didn't work the only thing it seemed to do was make Sokka's hair stand on end before going back to its normal state.

Sokka gave Aang a dry stare before saying "Seriously, Aang, I know your new at it, But I could use a little Earth-bending here. How about it?"

Aang looked at Sokka sadly before turning his to the side saying "I can't. I can't do it."

Sokka just replied irritably "Well, if you can't Earth-bend me out of here, then go get Toph."

Aang kept looking away from Sokka saying "I can't do that either."

Sokka a little upset at that statement said "You can't? Why not!?"

Aang turned his back to Sokka saying "It would just be really... uncomfortable."

Sokka just glared at Aang before sarcastically saying "Uncomfortable? Well, I wouldn't want you to feel unconformable." Sokka then let out a growl of frustration at the Air-bender before saying "Fine, If Toph doesn't work, go get Dijin."

Aang quickly turned back towards Sokka shouting "NO! That's even worse!"

Sokka finally just yelled out in anger as he shouted sarcastically "For spirit's sake Aang, if that's how it is we just might as well stay here while having a heart-to-heart talk!"

Aang not hearing Sokka's sarcasm just took a seat next to the trapped warrior and said "Thanks, Sokka. I really needed someone to talk to."

Sokka just gave Aang a dead-pan stare while the Air-bender spoke saying "This whole Earth-bending thing really has me confused. There's so much pressure. Everyone expects me to get it right away. It puts me in a really awkward position."

Sokka still upset at his situation just sarcastically replied "Awkward position? I think I know the feeling."

Aang again not hearing the sarcasm said "If I try, I fail. But if I don't try, I'm never gonna get it. I feel like I'm trapped between a rock and a hard place."

Sokka again just used sarcasm saying "Hmm, how about that?"

Just then the baby Sabertooth Moose-Lion cub Sokka had been hunting came walking up to the two and nuzzled Aang's hand while Sokka introduced the two saying "Aang this is my friend, Fufu Cuddly Poops. Fufu Cuddly Poops, Aang."

Aang saw the adorable animal and picked him up while saying "Aw. What a cute name for a little baby Sabertooth Moose-Lion cub."

Sokka looked at the animal surprised saying "Really? He looks nothing like a Sabertooth Moose-Lion."

Aang just held the cub while staring at it saying "It's hard to tell before their giant teeth and horns grow in." Aang petted the cubs belly making it purr while he said "What are doing out here, little guy? Did you lose your Mama?"

Just then a huge roar echoed in the area making Sokka scream "Aang, turn around!"

Aang did as Sokka said and his eyes widened in fear due to the fact a fully-grown Sabertooth Moose-Lion was standing right behind him.

Unlike the cub the adult creature had two large pairs of horns that could impale or tear apart anything in their path, it had two large fangs that protruded from its mouth, it had razor sharp claws that were out and ready to tear into anything, and just like the cub it was covered in brown fur with a head of a moose and the body of a cat.

Aang looked at the creature in fear before holding up the baby Moose-Lion and nervously saying "Hey there. We found your cub." Aang then quickly put the baby animal down and it ran straight to its mother.

Aang stood in front of Sokka and held his hands out showing he meant no harm while saying "See? We have no problem with you. We're friendly."

The creature just growled before it swiped its paw against the ground preparing to charge at them.

Sokka seeing what was happening said panickily "Aang, this is bad. You got to get me out of here!"

The Moose-Lion chose then to charge causing Sokka to scream in terror saying "Ahhhhhhh."

Luckily though, Aang acted quickly by clenching his fists and rotating his arms ln a circle which Air-bended a dome around him and Sokka that launched the creature over them while it landed a couple feet away.

Sokka looked at the pissed off creature in fear as he said "This is really bad. Please, Aang! You have to Earth-bend me out. There's no other way!"

Aang realizing there wasn't much else he could do tried to Earth-bend Sokka out. He stomped his right foot while raising his right forearm. But the Earth didn't move. So next, he thrusted his arms diagonally in opposite directions. When that didn't work, he got into horse stance while rotating his arms and then thrusted his hands down palm first before he raised them upwards.

But despite all his attempts the Earth trapping Sokka would not budge and the Moose-Lion was preparing for another charge.

Aang saw this and said in panic "Oh, No." before he Air-bent himself up towards a nearby rock and started to dance like a monkey saying "Yoo-hoo! Look at me!"

Back in Toph and Dijin's hiding spot the two were laughing at Aang's attempt to distract the animal before they focused on what was happening.

The beast had completely ignored Aang and roared before charging at Sokka again.

Aang acted quickly and just when the Moose-Lion was about to Maul Sokka Aang thrusted his fists forward sending a large wave of Air at the beast making it miss Sokka by a few inches.

The creature turned around and began to prep for another charge as Aang glared at the animal with Sokka saying timidly "Please. Don't leave me again."

Aang just kept his gaze on the beast saying "I won't."

The creature let out another roar as it charged again but this time Aang got into a horse stance and stood his ground while the creature got closer.

Then just when the beast was going to attack Aang put his hands together and thrusted his palms out sending a huge wave of Air that launched the Moose-Lion into a nearby wall.

The creature shook itself off before walking away having given up on trying to attack the two.

Aang let out a sigh of relief before he and Sokka heard a pair of hands clapping amusedly.

Aang looked to his right and saw Toph and Dijin sitting on a nearby boulder smiling at him while clapping their hands.

Sokka who noticed the two as well shouted "What are you two doing here?"

Toph just smirked and said "Just enjoying the show."

Aang frowned at the two Earth-benders and said angrily "What? You guys were here the whole time?!"

Dijin just shrugged his shoulders saying "Pretty much."

Aang still angry replied "Why didn't you guys do something?!" Sokka was in trouble. I was in trouble! You guys could have gotten him out and we could have gotten away!"

Toph just held her hands up saying "I guess it just didn't occur to us."

Dijin spoke next saying "Besides, it was a good learning experience for you."

Toph turned towards Dijin while holding up the nuts from earlier saying "You hungry, Hot Rocks?" Toph grabbed Aang's staff which was next to her and was about to smash the nuts.

However, Aang quickly grabbed the staff and glared at the girl saying "Enough! I want my staff back!"

Toph again just smirked before letting the staff go and hopping off the rock saying "Do it now!"

Aang looked at her confused and said "What?"

Toph just kept her smirk saying "Earth-bend, Twinkle Toes. You just stood your ground against a ferocious beast." Toph then pointed at herself saying "And even more impressive, you stood your ground against me. You've got the stuff."

Aang tried to argue saying "But-"

Dijin cut him off by shouting "Just do it!"

Aang quickly did as the two said and got into a Horse stance before stomping his left foot and thrusting his left arm forward which made a boulder in front him get launched into a nearby wall.

Aang looked at his hands in awe while Toph shouted "You did it! Your now an Earth-bender."

Aang just had a huge smile as he said "I can't believe it."

Sokka who was still trapped in the hole spoke up sarcastically saying "Aw. This is a really wonderful touching moment. So could you get me out here so I can give you all a big hug."

Aang smiled and said "Sure thing, Sokka."

Toph quickly put a hand in front of Aang saying "Actually, you better let me do that. Your still pretty new at this and you might accidently crush him."

Sokka replied nervously saying "Yeah, no crushing please."

Toph then walked so she was in front of Sokka before stomping her right foot which made Sokka pop out of the dirt like a cork before she grabbed his hair and dragged him out all the way.

xxLine Breakkxx

After Sokka got loose the quartet made their way back to the campsite where Katara greeted them by running up to the group saying "You found him!" she then hugged her brother before stepping back and asking "What happened? Where have you been?"

Sokka just replied "I went to look for some food and ended up stuck in hole."

Katara looked at her brother weirdly while he said "And you know, the whole time I was stuck in there, I didn't know if I was gonna live or die, it makes a man think about what's really important. I realized-"

Sadly, Sokka's moment of clarity was interrupted by Aang who shouted "Hey, Katara, look at what I can do." Next Aang stomped his left foot and punched his left fist forward Earth-bending the top half a rock formation making separate and fall to the ground.

Katara threw her hands up saying "You did it! I knew you could."

Appa chose then to roar to get some attention which made Aang run over to his furry friend as he said "Appa, Appa, I can Earth-bend now." he turned around so his back was facing the Bison as he said "The key is being completely rooted—physically and mentally unmovable."

However, Appa just Licked Aang with his giant tongue which made him fall on face causing the whole group to laugh.

Once they were done laughing Toph smirked and said "Enjoy this while you can Twinkle Toes. Cause now that you can Earth-bend, Hot Rocks here has given me even more Ideas on how to teach you."

Aang just shouted at the sky screaming in despair "NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" while the group laughed at the Air-benders misfortune.