Walk The Path

Chapter Two

Aang and Katara walked out of their math class together into the crowded hallway. Both of their smiles faded as they walked and realized they wouldn't be together again until lunch. "So, where are you headed now, Aang?", she inquired. The airbender pulled out his schedule and read it out loud with wide eyes, "Earthbending Mastery. Looks like it's outside!" She was amazed at how this guy, attractive and powerful, could still be so excited by something as small as class outside. "You are just too cute. Well, if you meet Toph, make sure to stay on her good side. See ya at lunch," she said as she reached up to kiss him on the cheek and walk the opposite way. Aang was left in the hall dumbfounded. His cheeks flushed and his body froze on the spot. He thought, no, he knew, he had it bad for this girl. The sound of the bell startled him from his lovesick state. He bended the air around him to speed down the hall and out to the Earthbending field.

Arriving just a second after the bell, Aang did his best to make a good impression with a respectful bow to the teacher. The teacher, Master. Bumi, was immune to this charming effect, stomping into the ground in Aang's direction. Next thing he knew, Aang was knocked off balance by a rock pillar that sprang up underneath his feet. The class erupted into laughter at the young airbender's expense. As Aang bended himself back onto his feet, he felt his first embarrassment of the day. He tried to remain positive, but his face continued to frown at his classmates. "Ah, you know, I thought it would be harder to disarm the Avatar. I guess maybe being on time next class will serve you well," the Earthbender teacher said with a wink. Although Aang had a great relationship with him while he trained a few months ago, Master Bumi was never one to show favoritism or go easy on anyone. While Aang was a prodigy on bending air, water, and fire, he was most challenged by learning to bend earth, which took three times as long as the other elements did. He struggled with earth because of how stubborn it is. Being straightforward clashed against Aang's personality. He tended to evade problems and chose to find unique solutions. Eventually he did master earth but prefers air above all else.

"Yes, sorry, Master Bumi. I will be on time next class. Sorry for the disruption," Aang said with his teeth clenched. "Good! Now we will continue to work on our neutral jing practice. You will pair up and practice the art of waiting and listening before attacking. Aang, since you are a master and an Avatar, I will give you a challenge. Pair up with Toph Beifong!"

The twinkle in Master Bumi's eyes made Aang nervous until he was standing next to his partner. Toph was almost a foot shorter than him, with pale eyes and bangs that fell in front of her face. Her thin frame clothed with a green hoodie, black skinny jeans and no shoes. He reached out his hand for a handshake, "Hi Toph, nice to meet you! My name is A-," suddenly he was interrupted by his classmate. "Yeah, I know who you are and if you couldn't tell, I'm blind!", she yelled while waving her hand across her face. She saw the wheels turning in the goofy kid's mind and saved him the embarrassment, "And yes, I can earthbend! Probably better than you! I'm the best earthbender in the school so let's see what you got!"

Toph bended a boulder and it flew fast towards Aang's face. The airbender yelled and jumped to narrowly escape the path of the boulder. Landing softly on the ground, Toph grew agitated. "Where did you go? Someone's a little light on his feet. Come on, Twinkle Toes, give me a real challenge!" Aang squatted and attempted to knock Toph on the ground with bending a pillar up underneath her feet. Toph swiftly moved out of the way, "Is that all you got? Don't pity me, I'm just as strong as anyone else!" Aang was taken aback by this, "Why would I pity you? You're really good. I'm getting my ass whooped here." A smile crept onto Toph's face as she continued the battle with tiny boulders flying close to Aang's face. The pair went back and forth until it was a draw, with both classmates trapped by the other in rock handcuffs. Toph cackled as she threw her head back, "Oh, this is too good. You're not a bad match up, Twinkle Toes. More of a challenge than this group of wimps." Exhaling a sigh of relief, he released himself from the handcuffs and sat down next to the blind earthbender. "Well, I'm glad to be on your good side. Katara said that's where I should stay," he said with a laugh. "Oh, you've met Sugar Queen? She's one of my best friends. And she warned you? Oh, she knows me so well," Toph smiled. Aang nervously asked, "So, uh, what's with the nicknames? Twinkle Toes? Sugar Queen?" "It's just what I do. You were so light on your feet I could hardly see where you were. And Katara, well, she's as sweet as sugar," she quipped. Aang had so many questions, one being how she could "see", but he felt that too many questions could jeopardize their cordial relationship and decided to save these questions for another time. His heart felt the possibility of having friends returning again. Real friends, who knew he was the Avatar, and did not seem to care at all. He laughed, "Well, thanks for the nickname I guess. Maybe we could spar more outside of school? I don't get to practice earthbending much." Toph grinned and punched him squarely in the arm, "It would be my pleasure to kick your ass, Twinkle Toes." "Ow, Toph, what the hell?", he asked while rubbing his sore arm. "Oh, that's just my way of showing affection. Get used to it." Before the confused airbender could ask anymore questions, the bell rang.