Tournament: Round 2
By justicar347
Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar the Last Airbender, Sokka would get more screen time if I did.
"That will be a hard act to follow," the announcer shouted to the crowd as the ring was cleared. This included having Princess Azula pried from the ground. Needless to say that was an unpleasant task for all involved.
"It is time to start the second match. From the North gate is Haru of the Earth Kingdom," the announcer told the cheering crowd. Haru walked out on to the platform. Above his raised palm, two stones slowly circled each other. When he stopped at the center of the platform, he curled his hand into a fist and the levitating rocks turned to dust. This enlisted at great roar from his supporters in the crowd.
"From the South gate we have Katara of the Southern Water Tribe," the announcer shouted over the crowd's applauses. Katara strolled across the bridge slowly with a nervous smile and wave. She took a moment to compose herself and started to walk more confidently. Water streamed up behind her from the mote and snaked around her body as she approached the center of the platform.
Katara took up a wide stance with one hand forward and one hand back. The stream of water flowed along her shoulders and mimicked her arms. Haru rooted himself in a firm stance with one arm up in a block, the other at his side. They stared at each other as the tension in the air grew. The announcer broke the tension, "Fight!"
Haru snapped his hand up from his side and a boulder levitated out of the ground in front of him. He went into a spinning back kick and struck the rock with his heel. The rock went flying at Katara. Katara brought her back arm around in and the water followed in a graceful arch. The water deflected the rock to the side.
Katara followed through with a slash of her hand. The water formed a deadly ribbon that flew at Haru. He shot his arms in to the air and a column of stone rose to intercept the attack. The stone protected him, but to after a second it slid into two pieces. It had been cleanly cut all the way through.
Haru brought his palm forward in a hard strike across his chest and a stone spike erupted from the ground at Katara's side. As she side stepped the spike, Haru brought his other palm around in a similar strike. This one grazed Katara's hip before she could get free of its path. Haru continue to raise spikes at her, trying to force her closer to the edge.
Rather than be pushed back, Katara cut the tips off of the spikes before they reached her. With swift slashing motions the water followed her finger tips and cut through the rocks before they could pierce her.
Haru leapt forward and slammed his fist into the ground. A shock wave rippled though the surface of the ring. Katara was not prepared for this and took a hard fall. She watched as Haru stood and punched his fist forward. A wedge of rock formed in the ground and sped at her. She rolled to the side, but was still struck in the side. With a yelp of pain she slid farther back across the floor.
Haru charged forward to deliver a finishing blow. Still on her back, Katara lashed her water whip at Haru's leg. Unable to sidestep the attack, Haru quickly found himself in the same position as his opponent. Katara was already getting to her knees as he fell. She raised her hands above her and column of water lifted out of the mote behind her. She brought her hands down to her right side then swung them around in front of her in a fluid motion. The water flowed down behind her, around her side, and straight at Haru as he tried to stand. The blast of water hit him hard in the chest. As the water soaked him, Katara exhaled and the water froze, leaving him trapped on his back and pinned by the ice.
"Alright, I surrender," Haru said with a sigh. The crowd gave a loud cheer as the announcer confirmed Katara's victory. She stood and gave a wave to the crowd as she straitened her dress. As she turned to head back to her gate she gave a wave of her hand and the ice around Haru melted. Soaked, he stood up with a smirk and started to levitate two rocks above his palm again. He made his way back to his own gate, but called to her over his shoulder, "Good luck with your next match."
