Disclaimer: I don't Harry Potter, Avatar: the last Airbender or any other references mentioned in this fanfic.

Chapter 4

"*munch munch* More. *munch munch* More-"

"You know, most people wait until their at least seated before they begin to gorge themselves on snacks," Zal said absentmindedly as he summoned another popcorn bag and handed it to the extended hand of his student.

"I'm not most people, I'm a princess," Azula stated very clearly as she continued to shovel handful of the salty and buttery treat in her mouth.

The priest rolled his eyes, since that was her basic comeback for everything. As they took their seats he reached over to take a handful of popcorn but stopped as he felt something clamp down on his finger. Looking over to his side he saw that Azula was currently gripping his fingers as she glared at him, a glare that he was quick to match. They stared at each other until finally Azula gave up on stopping him and reluctantly handed him a small handful of popcorn.

"Tch. Little brat," he said before slowly eating his spoils.

The lights suddenly went out around the large circus tent, indicating that the show was going to start.

Azula eagerly scanned the following acts for her childhood friend, while Zal halfheartedly paid attention to whenever she would recount another story of her friend.

She continued to scan the performance until she saw her, "There she is," she said as she elbowed her teacher in the side.

Zal choked slightly as he had been drinking from his hidden flask, having started when they had brought out the platypus-bears.

Scanning the stage, he saw that a group of clowns wearing white face paint had made their entrance. The smallest of the clowns was a twelve-year-old with long brown hair and juggling bowling pins on a unicycle.

"So she is," Zal responded with a snort as he saw the little clown dressed in a pink costume run around the stage doing different gymnastic moves, getting a loud round of applause from the audience. Once she was done, they all left and Azula got up from her seat.

"Where are you going? There is still some time left before it ends," he said as he saw that the next was a knife throwing act, the only difference was that it was a woman throwing the knives and a small skinny man strapped to a spinning table.

"Don't care, I didn't come for them. Let's go Zal," the temperamental girl stated as she began to make her way out of the tent.

Zal stood up too and grudgingly made his way to the exit, but not before stopping at the tent flap and without looking back, snapped his fingers. A malicious smile soon appeared on his face as he heard the horrified gasps of the audience behind. Now in a much better mood, he strolled out of the tent with a spring in his step.

He found Azula a second later as she sneaked her way inside the changing room for the clowns.

Scanning the room he say a variety of mirrors and different makeup tools scattered around, hangers with different clown costumes to the side.

"I've seen better," he commented as he watched Azula take off her mask returning her to her normal appearance. She hid the mask in one of her long sleeves and began to rummage around inside looking for what she wanted. The sleeves had, and bottomless bag built in as curtesy from him, allowing her to hide a multitude of things.

"Ah, here it is," the twelve-year-old exclaimed as she took out a bundle of pink flowers and a round red box.

"So then, excited to meet your friend, Azula?"

"No, but it never hurts to remind them of your friendship."

"Oh? Friendship is it? You sure this doesn't have to do with that fight you had with Mai a while ago?"

"How do you kn-?"

"I little bird told me," Zal said as he shrugged his shoulders just as the entrance of the tent was opened behind him, and the girl in question entered as she was followed by mob of girls.

It wasn't until they were half way past he entrances that they noticed the two strangers in there dressing room. "Who are you? What are you doing in here?" spoke the eldest of the girls.

Turning around Zal put on a charming smile and got into his priest persona, "Hello my child, don't mind me I was just getting out, I just came to drop off a friend of Ty Lee's." He said as he moved to the side letting them see Azula with flowers and a box.

Azula was expecting for them to drop to their knees as soon as they saw her, but was instead sadly disappointed when they didn't look at her, too busy drooling all over Zal's appearance. They all got glassy eyes as they scanned his body and face, most breaking into a blush.

Seeing as Azula was no doubt getting angry, he decided to give her some privacy. "I don't suppose one of you girls can show me around. I would be happy to bless this circus." Immediately hands rose up and they began to talk over each other.

"Oh me! I'll do it."

"No, choose me!"

"Father, please bless my tent."

"No way! Father come bless my bed!"

Zal raised a hand to let quite them down as he began to lead them out, "Why don't we all go together and leave Ty Lee with her friend."

He then led the crowed of giggling girls out of the tent.

Azula just glared at the entrance since this was not the first time she witnessed her Master's ability to charm women.

"Ah Father! Thank goodness you are here! There has been an accident, please come this way," a male voice from outside suddenly said.

"Huh? What no-"

She heard Zal's protest go unanswered as he appeared to be dragged further away.

Azula finally turned back to her friend Ty Lee, and what she saw left her sorely disappointed. Ty Lee had a vacant look in her eyes as she stared at the entrance with a blush and a line of drool from her mouth.

"-Y Le-. Ty Lee!"

"Huh?" the confused girl said as she looked at the direction of the voice and saw the upset form of her childhood friend tapping her shoe on the floor while crossing her arms.

"Azula? What are you doing here?" she asked cautiously.

"I good, you finally noticed me. I was afraid you might start to lose more braincells the longer you drooled over my master," she said to the other twelve-year-old.

Ty Lee completely ignored the insult and took the information that seemed most important. "Your master you say. Any chance I could meet him later?" she asked as she threw another look at the entrance of the tent.

"…I'll pretend the last couple of minutes of didn't happen."

"He was hot! How could I not notice him! What's his name again," the bubbly girl declared as she looked at her friend, before noticing the presents in her hands, "Aww, Azula you got me flowers and a present."

"Yes, well I said that I would be there for your first debut," Azula waved her off as she handed her the presents which Ty Lee eagerly took.

Placing the flowers on a makeup table she opened the box and inside she found it filled with different bits-sized pieced of expensive chocolates. She let out a squeal of delight as she turned around and gave the young princess a bone crushing hug. She was even more shocked when her friend not only didn't throw her away, but accepted the hug even reciprocating it slightly.

"…Alright that's enough touchy feely things for a while," Azula said as she pulled herself from Ty Lee's iron clad embrace.

Taking a closer look at her friend, Ty Lee could see that she had changed over the years. She was calmer than before and dressed more elegantly. She was also happy to note that the color of her aura was much brighter than before.

"Wow, Azula you changed," she said astonished.

The girl in question raised an elegant eyebrow, "I hope you mean I changed for the better?"

"Huh- Oh yes! I mean, back then you were kinda- Not that there wasn't anything wrong with that. But- You! With the fire-" taking a deep breath the young acrobat calmed herself when she saw the smile on her friends face, "It's good to see you again Azula. I missed you."

"I missed you as well Ty Lee. No why don't you catch me up on what you have been doing all of these years."

"Okay! … Sooooo, any chance I can meet this Master of yours later?"

"…"

(Scene change)

"Did you enjoy yourself Azula," Zal asked as he lead his young charge to her bedroom that was only a few doors away from his own at the church. She had long since moved out of the palace to live there, Ozai had agreed as it meant that she could practice her firebending more.

Opening her door, Azula steped into her magically expanded chambers which was many times larger than her previous room. It was decorated in a very princess like manner, meaning everything was either gold encrusted or made from the finest materials. Going into a side door she changed into her nightgown and got ready for bed.

Zal began to pick up the various things on the floor, such as training scrolls, practice weapons, a Zuko voodoo doll, cursed killer plushie and other things. He stopped to pick up a photo of Zal and nine-year old Azula standing on a mountain of groaning bodies, smiling at the camera with him putting rabbit ears on her head.

"It was fine, she's still as cheerful as I remember," she said as she put on hair curlers, and hopped on the bed. "It looks like she developed a crush on you. Wouldn't stop asking about you. (Yawn)"

"Haha. A preteen crush, how adorable. Tell her I'll consider it when she gets much older," he said with a chuckle. It was no secret that Zal had a large fan club ranging from the ages of preteen to senile.

"As if. No way am I letting you seduce her Zal, bad enough that you have every nun smitten with you. Act your own age old man, and die," she huffed as she got underneath the covers. Little lifelike dragon toys flew from their perch and landed on the foot of her bed as they got comfortable, throwing small puffs of fire in the air.

"…Zal, can I ask you something?"

"You just did. But I'm feeling generous, so I'll give you another chance."

"You said that you are able to take someone's bending away right?"

"I have said that, yes."

"Can you also give bending to someone?"

"What brought this on? Why the sudden interest?" he paused his tidying to look at her.

"It's just that I think Ty Lee will be much more useful if she could firebend. She's been practicing chi blocking. When I rise to power I want her to be at my side," she said as she explained it in a logical manner.

"While it is within my realm of power, you know the rules. I can only give you so many advantages, the rest will be up to you," he explained as he stood at the foot of her bed.

"Does this mean you won't do it?" Azula asked disappointed that she couldn't have a friend that could firebend like her.

"…I'll think about it. But just so you know, if I decided to go through with it, I have to give you a disadvantage to level the playing field," he said seriously, the whole point of making her train was to prepare her to face all the challenges that life would throw at her, he couldn't hold her hand her entire life after all.

"Okay."

"Do you trust her," he asked curiously.

"…I trust her the most after you," she said honestly.

"Very well, good night, get some rest Azula. We will be having a busy day tomorrow."

"What are we going to do tomorrow?"

"The same thing we always do. Try to take over the world," he chuckled, as he headed to the door and turned off the lights.

"Wait. Sing for me Zal," Azula requested before he could leave.

Hand still on the doorknob, the aged immortal sighed as he turned around, with a wave of his hand an old wooden guitar flew from somewhere in the room. 'She must still be upset over Ozai,' he thought to himself.

Plucking a few strings, he tuned the guitar and sat at the foot of her bed, letting only the moonlight light the room.

He then began to play one of her favorite lullabies, Sweet Child O' Mine by Guns N' Roses, and let himself get lost in the memories.

She's got a smile it seems to me

Reminds me of childhood memories

[Zal holding a smiling baby Azula in his arms]

Where everything

Was as fresh as the bright blue sky

[Ten-year old Azula flying a dragon kite in the park as the rest of the children were crying over there burning kites. Zal smiling in the background with two ice-cream cones.]

Now and then when I see her face

She takes me away to that special place

And If I'd stare to long

I'd probably break down and cry

[Stopping a one-year old Azula from falling into a pond, while under an invisibility spell.]

Whoa, oh, whoa

Sweet child o' mine

Whoa, oh, oh, oh

Sweet love of mine

[Reading her a bed time story from a book labeled 'Dictator and Tyrants of the World: The pop-up edition.' A little paper Hitler and Stalin popping out]

She's got eyes of the bluest skies

As if they thought of rain

I hate to look into those eyes

And see an ounce of pain

[Azula and Zal in pirate costumes as they stood on the deck of a pirate ship. Zal demonstrating the proper way to whip someone by using the capture captain that was tidied to the mast of the ship. He then handled the whip to Azula and watched as she drew it back and the pirate cried out in pain, getting an approving nod from him.]

Her hair reminds me of a warm safe place

Where as a child I'd hide

And pray for the thunder

And the rain

To quietly pass me by

[Zal stared as thunderstorm outside caused a sleeping Azula to toss and turn. He opened the window and magically dispersed the thunderclouds before tucking her in again.]

Whoa, oh, whoa

Sweet child o' mine

Whoa, oh, oh, oh

Sweet love of mine

"ZZZzzzzzzzzz"

"Good night little princess. You'll grow up to become a fine and strong woman someday," he said as he got off the bed and exited the room, magically getting rid of the guitar.

"Now then, let's see what I can do about your request," the dark-haired man said as he made a duplicate of himself and they both grinned at each other before disappearing in a soundless pop.

(Scene change)

Ty Lee was practicing her katas under the moonlight, a small amount of sweat on her brow.

Deciding to take a break, she went to the water jug she had placed on a nearby crate.

She was happy that Azula seemed to have finally found some joy in her life. The hunky priest that her friend had for a tutor, was also a something that was on her mind. His aura had been so mesmerizing in her eyes, a sea of colors always changing and shifting around, hypnotizing her with the rhythmic dancing of emotions.

"That was good, you are very skilled for someone your age," Zal said as he stepped out of the shadows.

"You're Father Cross!" she said, before blushing, suddenly very aware of her sweaty appearance.

"You are correct, and I must say you have much talent. A shame you weren't born a firebender," he said.

"Not really, bending fire has never really appealed to me," she said as she tried to calm her nerves, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

"I suppose not, you wish to be seen as someone unique after all. But no point lamenting the past," he said shrugging his shoulder before reaching into his coat and taking out two scrolls. He tossed them to the pink clothed girl, "Here. I noticed some holes in your style. This airbending scroll has some moves that you can use to fix them. The other has some advanced chi techniques."

"Wha-" she said as she glanced down at the scrolls in her hands.

When she looked up again she noticed that he was no longer there, and instead a pink rose with a note tied to it was left in his place.

Picking the note, she read it.

Ask me in a few years :)

Looking at the note she looked at the sky with a comically determined expression, "Wait for me future husband." The moon briefly showing his smiling face on its surface to her.

(Scene change)

Toph stood on guard as she appeared in a sunny tropical island, her last memories were of her going to bed in her nightclothes. The strangest thing was that she was able to see her surroundings without the use of the new snake shaped ring she had found.

Clapping made her turn around to the source and by instinct she tried to send a boulder in that direction, only to find that she was unable to bend the earth. She was still able to see the person in question however, he was the first person that she had seen without the use of her bending in fact.

"Congratulations are in order, little Toph. You are the first person to have found one of my treasures," Zal responded letting his natural red hair flow freely in the breeze. "I won't bother trying to bend my dear, this is just a dream after all."

Toph growled, "You mean the ring used to be yours. It's mine now. I'm not giving it to you without a fight."

"Hahahahaha, you certainly are a 'tough' little thing," he laughed at his own joke. "But you misunderstand girl. The ring is yours, I care not what you do with it."

"Then why did you drag me to this place," the small earthbender questioned the man.

"Just to warn you. As you probably already now, the ring holds amazing power. It is actually a set of four. Anyways be very careful on who you tell this information, as there are some people in the world that will stop at nothing to obtain one of my treasures. Knowing this, do you still wish to keep it?"
"…Yes. For the first time in my life I can finally see. I can now see things that I've only ever imaged before. I wouldn't give that up for the world," she said seriously as her usual milky green eyes were no longer blind, and instead a rich emerald green like freshly cut gems.

"Very well." Snapping his fingers, the scenery around them was replaced with the inside of a large mansion.

Toph stared at all of the things in wonder, seeing everything for the first time. "What is this place," she said as she touched one of the sofas.

"My gift to you. In this house you will find everything you will need to bring out your true potential. There is a training room to practice earthbending. A library with training scrolls. With some luck and practice you might even be able to begin bending metal and lava. The pantry will always be full and if you ever feel like having something special, just click the picture in kitchen's cookbook and it will appear. You will be able to see so long as you are within this mansion, even if you aren't wearing the ring," Zal said as he showed her around the futuristic wizarding tent, one of the more advanced models of his time.

Toph was looking at everything like a curious squirrel, before she looked at him, "I can't read."

Zal waved her off and got out a green snake bracelet, "Once you wake up you will have the knowledge. Now take this key, with it you will be the only one able to enter here, the directions to this place will also be put in your head when you wake up."

"Wait! You still haven't explained to me who you are," she said as she stopped in her tracks.

Letting out a sigh, Zal snapped his fingers and they were once more in a different location, this time in the astral heavens were Azula met him for the first time.

"Whoa! Where are we?" she questioned as she saw the beautiful scene of the vast cosmos in front of her only to see him walk off the edge of the stone floor, "Hey wait!"

She ran to the edge of the floor but couldn't even see his falling form.

It was just as she was thinking that he had killed himself that she felt something behind her.

Zal was in his staring at her in his gigantic rainbow-colored snake form, extending his white wings to their full length and coiling his body around galaxies, showing her his full glory.

"I am the spirit Quetzalcoatl," he said without opening his mouth, instead speaking to her telepathically. Toph stood open mothed at his enormous form unable to form words. "Fear not young one, for I mean you no harm."

"…"

"… I see great things in your future little earthbender. Know that should you unit all four treasures I will cure you of your blindness permanently."

"…"

"Now, WAKE UP!" he roared making the girl scream.

(Scene change)

"WAaaaa!" Toph screamed as she sat up from bed. Quickly she stuck her hand underneath her pillow and took out the ring. She quickly put it on and light once again appeared in her vision. It was then that she noticed the strange green snake bracelet from her dream on her right wrist.

"So, it wasn't just a dream," she asked herself as she absentmindedly started to rub her ring. Then she stopped, and a determined expression appeared on her face.

A/N: Everything is heating up. Toph will be even more powerful, at least to give Azula a decent challenge. Ty Lee will be learning Airbending, but not until she joins Azula. Also, only Father Zal is cool enough to pull out an electric guitar mid sermon, and begin playing some classic rock like AC/DC, with the choir singing along ;D

Church of the Sun Snake: have free chocolate and alcohol while the local priest plays songs from AC/DC and Guns n' Roses. Join now.

The search for the rest of the treasures will also be something that Toph will dedicate most of her time in doing. Unlike the rest of Team Avatar, Toph was the only one that didn't join because of some righteous noble goal, she just went with them because she wanted to escape her trapped life, so I felt she needed a better goal. Meet Toph Treasure Hunter Extraordinaire.

Ty Lee will also be taught how to airbend by Zal later on, since I never saw her as much of a firebender.

I might write one more chapter having to do with Zal training Azula before I jump into the actual start of the series.

Side NOTE: I have recently started writing a story from one of the challenges posted by joe63129

It will basically be a Legend of Korra fanfic, where Lin Beifong had a son.

Her son will be a metal bender but will use his wits and various self-made gadgets to fight benders, almost like the chi blockers.

His main goal, will be to get rid of his bending abilities, as they are too powerful for him to control and cause him bodily harm whenever he does use them. Example: trying to move a 1 pound rock a couple inches, but instead destroying the stone building next to it.

At the moment of his birth he will be implanted with future technological knowledge (mental blueprints) but doesn't know where it come from. This gift will cause him to sometimes question his own identity as a result.

So, he will be almost like batman, using tools, weapons, and martial arts to take down people with supernatural abilities.

Also, as a result of being Lin's son, he won't exactly be all to pleased by what Korra does most of the time, and only grudgingly respects her half the time, before picking fights in the remained time.

I will be posting the intro soon.