Hardships

Back At It Again

*3 weeks later*

Catra had healed up quickly after the match with Iroh. Within a week, she was already back on her feet pushing past her own limitations and fears which only strengthened her mental and physical abilities. Iroh and her frequently sparred, and to Iroh's relief the feline had improved immensely from before. Catra's reflexes, power, strength, speed and her ability to analyze increased which leveled the playing field between both the mentor and pupil.

Catra smirked, her eyes glowing red as she whirled around with intense speed Iroh couldn't even blink, slamming her left knee into the old man's jaw, bringing her right fist around and slamming it into the man's side sending him flying back towards the woods. Catra dashed across the water's surface towards Iroh, she summoned two clones behind her and extended her arm out and channeling her fire and destructive chakra into the palm of her hand creating a new type of Rasengan as her clones helped mold it to the shape of a cantaloupe and vanished after their job was complete.

Iroh's eyes were as wide as the moon as he watched the feline shoot towards him like a bullet. Something in her changed. Her whole dynamic. Shes way more daring. Shes not scared. Iroh smiled immediately knowing the reason, "Touché kid.. Touché". Before the ball of chakra in Catra's palm slammed into his solar plexus sending him into the mountain that surrounded their training grounds.

Catra landed on her feet, in front of the general a smirk on her face as she placed her hands behind her back, "Good ma-", Iroh sent thousands of kunai surrounded  in fire towards the feline as the man shot towards Catra. Catra chuckled dodging each kunai, a couple slicing the skin of her face and torso but she ignored it grabbing a couple of the knives and sending them back at Iroh in a blaze of fire that shot through her palm.

Iroh smirked, dissipating the fire easily and blocking the kunais thrown at him. Catra and Iroh landed on their feet at the same time, both their chests heaving as sweat dripped off their toned bodies. "Are you ready to put your lightning redirection skills to the test kiddo?", Iroh announced as he slid his right foot behind his left putting his weight in his left foot and shooting the lightning chakra stored in his body through his index and middle finger straight at Catra.

Catra's eyes widened but her body moved quickly, she created a pathway from her fingertip, up the arm to her stomach sending her back a bit before she sent the bolt out the other arm towards Iroh, grunting in pain from the intense and overwhelming power. Catra groaned collapsing to her knees. Iroh nodded approvingly, before moving to the side, dodging the bolt of lightning as it hit a tree behind them. And sent the finishing blow to finish this sparring match, slamming his fist into her torso.

Catra's eyes widened as she felt the wind get knocked out of her. She placed her arm under her to keep her upright and coughed, tears brimming her eyes. Iroh turned around, crouching next to his pupil and putting his hand on her shoulder and asked gently, "You alright? I apologize for that kiddo, I went a little overboard". Catra chuckled breathlessly,  and tapped the hand on her shoulder and panted, " Y-You're good old man. A-Again".

Iroh's eyes widened and he said, "Absolutely not. That's enough for today kid. You've improved tremendously. I think honestly you're equally as powerful as me. Do not taint that by pushing yourself to the point where you cant stand or permanently hurt yourself".

"But-"

"No! This is the end of today's training kid. Wash up and get dressed up. Something classy.".

Catra quirked a brow and asked incredulously, "What the hell? Why?!". Iroh chuckled, standing up cracking his back and lending the girl his hand and saying, " You'll see. Get Adora and your friends too. The more the merrier. Meet me back at the house when you're ready and dressed. ". Catra grabbed his hand and pulled herself up with a grunt and nodded hesitantly.

"I'll see you tonight kiddo, now go to the healing springs and then head on home.", Iroh said turning on his heel waving a dismissing hand over his shoulder leaving Catra alone in her thoughts.

Where the hell could we possibly be going? Catra thought as she walked toward the shore bending down to grab her shirt with a grunt before wrapping it behind her neck and making her way towards the healing springs.

"I guess we'll just have to see when we meet back here again".

To be continued...