𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐈𝐕𝐀𝐋 ᵃᵗˡᵃ

Chapter Ten: Don't Judge a Girl by Her Blindness

~Aang's POV~

I sighed and leaned against my staff. Sokka moved around the green bag, eyeing it with scrutiny.

"I want it ... but it's really expensive ... but I really want it ..." he muttered.

Beth rolled her eyes. "Then get it. You've been standing there for an hour. I already got my shopping done." She gestured to her new clothes. We'd all decided that her otherworldly clothes made her stand out too much, so she and Katara had disappeared as soon as we got into Gaoling. Beth now wore a dark green tank top, black pants that cinched at the ankles, and a light brown scarf.

"You look just like an Earth Kingdom citizen!" Katara had announced, pleased. "Minus the hair and eyes, that is."

Sokka's shoulders slumped. "Never mind. I'm not getting it."

Katara started to walk away. "Well, okay then." Beth and I followed her.

"Actually, I'm gonna buy it!" Sokka ran back to the shop. Katara, Beth, and I let out a simultaneous groan of annoyance.

"Hey, hey, you there!" A man sidled up to us. "You like earthbending? Go to Master Yu's Earthbending  Academy!" He handed us a flyer and ran off. We stared at the paper.

"Earthbending Academy, huh?" Katara smiled, "Maybe this is the guy that's supposed to teach you!"

Beth grabbed the flyer and turned it over. "It's got a coupon. First lesson's free." She handed the paper back to me. "Whaddaya think?"

I grinned.

*****

"Students, in your stances!" Master Yu called.

The two rows of earthbending students shifted into their stances. I didn't really know what to do, so I just stood there and watched.

"Now, strike!"

The boy in front of me lifted his rock. In the blink of an eye, the rock hit me right in the gut. I flew backward into a tea-pot shaped vase.

Master Yu walked up to me. "Do you want to continue my lessons? I'll move you up to the next level if you pay for the whole year!"

I stared at him through the sand that covered my entire body. Then it shifted and covered my face.

I walked out of the academy, shaking my head. Other kids pushed past me as I stepped down to my friends. They straightened when they saw me.

"So, is he the right guy?" Katara asked immediately.

I shrugged, "I don't think so." I tilted my head to the side and smacked it, causing sand to fall out of my ear. Beth propped her arm on my head.

"Don't worry, kid. We'll find you a teacher." She eyed the two boys that strode past us, cheering about an earthbending tournament. "Maybe those guys know someone."

I grinned and ran after them. "Hey, guys, where's this earthbending tournament you're talking about?"

One of the boys raised an eyebrow. "Oh, you know, it's at Noneya."

"Noneya business!" the other snorted. They walked away laughing. My friends joined me, Sokka laughing his head off. His laughter quickly turned to groans when Beth punched him in the arm.

"What?" he whined, "It was funny!"

Katara touched my shoulder. "Let me and Beth handle this." She smirked at the blonde, who had Sokka in a headlock, noogying him. "This requires a more ... feminine touch. Right, Beth?"