Scandals (ZUTARA)

Chapter 14 : Suki ❤︎ | Pro-bending Tryouts Pt 2

Wikipedia : Pro-bending is a popular sport in the world of Avatar that involves two teams of three benders, one from each of the main bending arts besides air-bending . The objective of the sport is to gain as much territory within the ring as possible within three minutes, or, alternatively, to drive the members of the opposing team over the edge of the ring and into the water pit below.

After the first round, those who participated are sent to the changing rooms to freshen up. In the mean time, a few announcements are made.

"I'm so excited for this round," Sokka says, slurping a cup of complimentary. 

"Same," Aang chirps in. "But this game is very restricting. Our friends have to follow a list of rules that are basically impossible to follow. "

Aang is interrupted by Coach Jha. "Can I have everyone's attention?" he requests, an the room goes quiet. "This round is going to very different from the first," he says seriously. "I want to know what these students are able to achieve in terms of their bending? In this round, you we will have a new set of rules.

"No blood-bending, vapor-bending, bone-bending, lava-bending or lightning. Ice is allowed, and longer fire attacks," Coach Jha lists. "Principal White will now announce the participants of round 2. "

Suddenly, there's a huge applause and Principal White enters the ring. I roll my eyes so hard they feel like they're gonna pop out. "Good afternoon ATLA! I will now announce who is playing against who. Match 1: Abelia Sha VS Nulak Sado. Match 2: Toako Yami VS Toph Beifong. Match 3: Princess Azula VS Tova Mang. Match 4: Prince Zuko  VS Katara Hakoda."

"This is not good," Aang whispers. "Katara's going to show him no mercy!"  

"They would make a really cute couple," I suggest sneakily.

"But she hates him!" Aang says.Has he never heard of the 'enemies to lovers' concept? 

"Abelia and Nulak, please enter the ring," Coach Jha instructs. Fully geared, they enter the ring nervously. The match is probably the funniest thing I've seen in my life. Abelia gets knocked of the ring in a second, falling into the water-pit with a frightful scream. Next it's Toako Yami VS Toph. This match ends in seconds: Toph bends the metal on Taoko's helmet so that it covers his eyes and then throws tons of disks at him till he's falls. "TOPH BEIFONG WINS!" Coach Jha announces, and me, Sokka and Aang clap crazy.

Next it's Azula Vs Tova. Azula runs onto the ring and Tova follows energetically. 

"READY?SET?GO!" Coach Jha exclaims. 

 "STAND STILL YOU PEASANT!" Azula barks, blasting strong waves of fire towards Tova's face.  Th green light shows, and Azula is invited into his side of the ring, cornering Tova. Frightened, Tova looks back at the water pit. "Surrender," Azula says. "Surrender and I won't burn you."

"No," Tova snaps.

"No?" Azula asks, surprised. 

"No," Tova confirms, chucking millions of disks at Azula. There are so many that she can't defend. Somehow, Tova gains territory of her side and wins, leaving Azula absolutely speechless. 

"Tova, don't think I won't burn you if I have the opportunity to. If I don't, then it's probably because my Father kicked your lazy Mother out of her ugly studio apartment," she threatens.

"She's so weird," Sokka says as a few teachers drag her out of the ring. "Who black mails someone infront of the entire school?

"For our last match of the day, please welcome Prince Zuko and Katara Hakoda to the ring!" Coach Jha announces.

Katara viscously steps onto the ring, followed by anxious-looking Zuko. When they're facing opposite each-other, he smirks, and Katara immediately freaks. 

"What so funny? The smell of your defeat?" she snaps. I cringe so hard I can't look.

Before Zuko can respond, Coach Jha yells, "READY?SET?GO!" and Kat is sending huge ice crystals towards Zuko. They poke him in the chest, and Zuko winces from the pain. 

After that, he dodges her attacks, but does not attack her in return.

"Zuko, why aren't you fighting?" Coach Jha asks, from below the ring. "I thought you wanted to a challenge?" 

"I do," Zuko replies, avoiding another water whip. "But why did you put me with her?"

"Do you think I'm not a good enough challenge for you?" Katara exclaims furiously. Zuko ignores her.

"Katara is a good student of mine so I thought she would challenge you," Coach Jha explains. "I thought you cared about your..." Coach Jha snarls. "Honour."

Zuko's eyes brighten. "I do."

In an instant, Zuko is o the floor, his palms flat on the ground as he spins his legs. Fire swirls around him dangerously, and as he moves towards Katara, it swirls it becomes lager, scaring her away. Water is nothing compared to his power, and Katara panics, unable to put it out. Unfortunately, Kat falls back into the water pit.

"PRINCE ZUKO WINS!" Coach Jha exclaims. When Zuko gets up, he looks extremely confused. Maybe the word 'honour' really did something to him. 

❤︎

After the try-outs, the fancy ring and water pit are sadly removed from the gym. Zuko, Toph and Katara take a while to get changed back into their normal clothes so me, Sokka and Aang had to wait a while. "You guys did great," I congratulate Zuko and Toph.

"Thank-you," Zuko says shyly, just as Katara comes out of the changing rooms, completely ignoring us. 

"So, do you wanna head back into the gym to find out who's been selected?" I ask and everyone nods.  

As we enter the gym, White is reading from his rotten clipboard. "I will now state why the participant has been chosen to join the elite school team," he begins. "Firstly, Toph Beifong. Toph is able to knock out her opponent in a short amount of time. Also, she can metal-bend. Prince Zuko is able to bend fire with ease and desirable accuracy. He can redirect lightning," Principal White is interrupted by Coach Jha.

"I'll take it from here if that's okay," he says, snatching White's clipboard. "Katara Hakoda. She is fierce, and, unstoppable, unless it's Zuko," Coach Jha teases, and someone laughs. I look around for Katara but she is nowhere to be seen. "Finally, Tova, who has wicked reflexes," Coach Jha finished. "Anyway, if you weren't called out, don't freak. Those who got to round 2 are still on the team, but just won't come with us to competitions. Those who didn't, try-out next year!"

"Next year I won't be here," Sokka scoffs, turning to Aang. "Oh yeah I forgot! I can't try out either-way because I'm a non-bender!"

"Grow up Sokka," Zuko scoffs. "Don't take these things to heart. There are still loads of sports you can do that don't require bending."

Sokka shrinks in his chair as I laugh. I love Zuko.