Alright, here is Chapter Six!
I wanted to make clear the meaning of my last chapter as some people didn't get it. I wasn't trying to say that Aang's afraid of storms. What I was trying to say is he's afraid of the chaos they can cause, the damage and pain they very often bring. And I'm not talking just rain storms, I mean the storms of life - war... all those things. So sorry if I didn't make that clear.
...
It was as if the earth shook with thunder. She stood at the mouth of the cave watching the downpore. As lightning flashes across the sky, she braces herself for the impact and it most certainly comes. It rolls and roars more loudly than any before it. Sokka, Toph and Aang simultaneously jolt awake.
"Man, some storm. It's been on and off for a few days now..." stated Toph. Katara nodded, still watching the rain which was finally starting to lessen. Aang walked over to her, watching her every move.
"Katara?" he said softly. She smiled, knowing he was worried about her.
"I'm fine, Aang. I was just thinking."
"You wanna talk about it?" She turned to face him and smiled warmly.
"It's no big deal, forget I said anything..." Aang understood she didn't want to talk. He nodded and looked out at the sky.
"Hey look! It stopped raining!" He ran out and jumped in the air, taking in a long refreshing breath of his natural element. He slowly floated back to earth, touching down gently.
"Alright twinkle toes, time for some training; follow me!" said Toph, as she headed off to train. Aang sighed and quickly followed her. Soon they arrived at a large clearing surrounded by pillars of rock. Toph stopped walking and turned to face Aang.
"Sit," she commanded, pointing at the ground with an irritated expression on her face. Aang obeyed, not wanting to get on her bad side. Toph paced back and forth in front of him, obviously trying to figure something out. Finally she spoke.
"She's more blind than I am!"
"Huh?" Aang responded.
"Katara! She's not seeing the picture clearly."
"What picture?"
"The picture you've been painting for her all along; the picture of your love for her."
"Toph, can we please just focus on earthbending?"
"No, because this is affecting your bending. You've given up without a fight."
"Well, have you ever thought that maybe she knows how I feel and just doesn't feel the same way?"
"That's just it, twinkle toes, She does feel the same way. She just hasn't realized it yet..."
"Toph.."
"No, listen, at this point you could have spelled out ' I love you ' in the fluffy fruit stuff you make and she wouldn't get it. You need to stop being to subtle about it and just tell her face-to-face."
"But.."
"But what, twinkle toes? It's simple!"
"No it's not!" Aang nearly yelled. "I have the fate of the whole world on my shoulders. Everyone is counting on me to end this war. Katara is the only one who seems to understand that. If I tell her how I feel and it ruins our friendship... I'm not sure I could take it..." Toph just stood there, not sure what else there was to say.
"Come on, we have training to do," Toph said after a few seconds of painful silence.
(TIME GAP)
A few hours later they came back to camp, sweaty and tired.
"Oh good, you're back. Lunch is ready," Katara said cheerfully.
"Great! I'm starving!", Aang said as he gladly took a bowl of rice and sat down to eat. Sokka walked over to them, his 'Master Plan' in one hand and a half eaten bowl of rice in the other.
"Alright gaang, here's the plan."
"Let me guess," Toph said sarcastically. "We have to cut out sleep entirely to fit in with your plan..." Sokka scowled and looked at his scroll.
"Hey, that might just work!"
"SOKKA!" They all yelled.
"Fine, fine I'll find another way then..." He walked away grumbling. Toph smiled evilly.
"Katara, I think Aang has something to tell you." Aang coughed and choked on his rice before staring daggers at Toph.
"Really? What is it, Aang?"
"I'm not sure, I don't know what Toph's talking about..."
"You mean you don't want her to know, Aang?"
"I, I don't know what you mean..." Aang shook his head at Toph, trying to signal her to stop talking.
"Aang mastered the rock whirlpool technique we've been working on," said Toph.
"You did? Aang, that's great!" Katara got up and hugged him.
"Oh," said Aang, clearly shocked at what Toph was talking about. "Yeah, I did. It's not a big deal though."
"Well, I'm proud of you!", Katara said smiling.
"Thanks," he replied. Then they all fell silent. Soon they finished eating and went off to do their own thing. Toph sat for a while thinking about Aang and Katara. Suddenly an idea came to her. She jumped up and walked over to Katara who was cleaning up camp.
"Hey sweetness, what's up with you and Aang lately?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, you're always hugging him or kissing his check. Do you like him or are you just teasing him?"
"What?! Neither! He's just a good friend!"
"Mmm-hmm..." Toph hummed.
"Really! I don't like him!"
"I can tell your lying!" Toph said in a sing-song voice.
"I'm not lying!"
"Oh yeah? Then why did you just blush when I asked if you liked him?"
"I don't know! How did you even know that?!"
"Same way I knew you were lying! Now, do you like him or not?!"
"None of your business!!"
"FINE!" Toph turned and walked away smiling. " The seeds planted, Let's see what grows!"
...
All done! Please review and tell me if you liked it... I think it turned out alright. But I want to know what my readers think! Happy August 1st everyone!