Chapter 59: Struggles Against the Earth
Aang's introduction to Earthbending had not gone quite the way that he had intended. For one thing, Zuko was still mostly bedbound and thus they were stuck here. For another…
He screamed and dived out of the way of the earth column that Toph had launched at him.
He heard her growl in frustration. "Learn to stand your ground, Twinkletoes, before I make you."
Toph stomped up to him and got in his face. "We've been over this a thousand times! The key to Earthbending is—"
"My stance! I know, you keep telling me."
Toph glared. "Don't interrupt me! And I keep telling you because you keep not doing it. Strong and steady stance, now!"
Aang settled into the low, solid stance that Toph had taught him. She said, "Lower."
He went lower. She nodded. "Rock's stubborn, so you gotta be more stubborn to move it. Be like a rock. You're not going to move so the rock has to."
Aang nodded, huffing slightly in frustration. "Like a rock, be like a rock. Okay. Okay, I think I've got it."
Toph nodded. "Okay then, let's take it from the top."
She walked until she was stood about fifteen feet in front of him. She said slowly, "Now, I'm going to throw a rock at you. You're going to stand there and you're going to stop it. You're not going to dive out the way like a flighty Airbender. Right?"
Aang nodded. "Right. I'll be like a rock. Like a rock. Okay. I'm ready. I think."
Toph sighed. Under her breath she muttered, "He's going to move. I know he is."
A little louder she said, "Okay, let's do this."
She raised her fist, pulling up a medium-sized chunk of rock, and then she punched forward and sent it rocketing towards Aang.
Katara approached and asked, "How's it going over here?"
Toph growled in frustration. "In a word, he sucks."
Katara frowned. "Technically, that's two words. And I'm sure he just needs a little time."
Toph shook her head. Aang came over and said, "Maybe there's another way to do it. What if I came at the boulder from a different angle? Or I could—"
Toph stamped her foot, sending tremors through the earth. "No. That right there? That's your problem, Twinkletoes. You're thinking like an Airbender. Your Air-brain is never going to move that rock. There is no different angle, and there is no clever solution; there is no trickity-trick or anything else like it that's going to move that rock.
"You've got to face it head on. Like this."
She stepped up to the rock and smashed her forehead against it, splitting the boulder down the middle.
Toph shook the dust from her hair and began walking away. Katara hurried after the girl while Aang looked dejected.
Katara said, "Listen, I've been training Aang for a little while now. He really responds well to a positive teaching experience; lots of encouragement and praise, kind words. If he's doing something wrong, maybe a gentle nudge in the right direction."
Toph nodded. "Thanks, Katara. A gentle nudge. I'll try that."
"KEEP YOUR KNEES HIGH, TWINKLETOES!" Toph bellowed at Aang as he staggered past with a large boulder on his back.
She began bending the earth up under his feet, forcing his knees higher. He groaned under the weight and tried to keep the rock positioned properly.
He lost his balance though and dropped it to the side with a crash.
Toph put Aang through his paces, throwing everything at him that she could think of.
She blindfolded him and gave him Sokka's club to defend himself with, all while launching columns up out of the ground.
She tried getting him to thrust his fingers into solid rock.
She disappeared under the ground and shot out of it randomly, surprising the Airbender so much that he fell to the floor. She huffed, and propelled him back to his feet.
She tested his stance again and again until it was solid, almost as steady and strong as her own. Almost. She tried to build some strength into his weak little arms.
He succeeded enough to pacify her, but he failed a lot too. She frowned as she 'watched' the Avatar maintain his stance while at the top of twin earth columns that she kept shaking and disrupting.
He'd improved, but was it enough? Had she dug out all of that pesky Air Nomad thinking?
Sokka hid high up in a tree, peering down through the branches. His dinner was out in the open below him.
It was small and brown and kinda fuzzy. If anything, it was adorable. He was positive that it would also prove to be delicious.
He whispered, "You're awfully cute, but unfortunately for you, you're made of meat. Now, just come a bit closer."
He dived from the tree, shrieking and raising his club.
The animal moved.
And he fell in a hole.
"Ungh!" He grunted, trying to move.
The animal came a little closer. He shouted, "Gotcha!" and swung at it with his club.
He missed and slipped deeper into the hole until his arms were pinned to his chest.
"Ow." He said, still eyeing the creature.
He struggled, trying to heave himself out. He didn't move. He was stuck.
He eyed the small animal. "You are one lucky little meat creature."
It wagged its tail at him.
Toph said, "You've been lifting rocks, holding rocks, and just learning to be a rock. Now, we're going to have another go at you stopping a rock."
Aang gulped. "Are you sure I'm ready?"
Toph nodded. She barked, "Get in your horse stance!"
He fell into it, settling low with his fists positioned by his hips.
She pointed to the top of a nearby hill. Aang could see a large boulder at the peak. "I'm going to roll that boulder down at you. If you really have the attitude of an Earthbender, you'll stay in your stance and stop the rock."
Katara interrupted, "Sorry, Toph, but are you sure this is really the best way to teach Aang Earthbending?"
Toph nodded. "I'm glad you said something, Katara. Actually there is a better way."
She reached out and pulled Aang's sash from around his waist. She stepped closer and clumsily tied it over his eyes.
As she did she whispered to the Avatar, "Every time she interferes with my teaching, or you going running to her, I'm going to step things up a notch. Understand?"
Aang nodded, fear filling his face. Louder, Toph said, "This way, you'll have to sense the vibrations of the boulder to stop it."
The girl smiled sweetly up at the Waterbender. "Thank you, Katara."
Aang said sarcastically, "Yeah, thanks, Katara."
Katara chuckled sheepishly and stepped out of the way. Toph made her way to the top of the hill.
She yelled, "You ready, Twinkletoes?"
Aang shouted, "No!"
Toph replied, "Good, here it comes!"
She sent the boulder rolling down the hill towards the stationary Avatar.
Aang could hear it coming, faster and closer with each passing second. Katara was biting her nails on the sidelines.
The boulder was right at Aang.
And he moved.
Aang jumped straight over the boulder, letting it roll past him.
Toph stormed down the hill, dust flying up around her. A glare was firmly fixed on her face.
Aang pulled off the blindfold to find the girl right in his face.
He stammered, "I—I guess I just panicked. I don't know what to say."
Toph snapped, "There's nothing to say. You blew it. You had a perfect stance and perfect form, but when it came right down to it, you didn't have the guts."
She pushed him in the chest, shoving him to the ground. He said, "I know. I'm sorry."
"Yeah, you are sorry. If you're not tough enough to stop the rock, then you can at least give it the pleasure of smushing you instead of jumping out of the way like a jelly-boned wimp.
"Now, do you have what it take to face that rock like an Earthbender?"
Aang sighed and looked away from her. "No. I don't think I do."
Katara came over and put her hands on the boy's shoulders. "Aang, it's no big deal. You'll take a break and try Earthbending again when you're ready. Besides, you still have a lot of Waterbending to work on, okay?"
He nodded and climbed to his feet. "Yeah, that sounds good."
Toph said harshly, "Yeah, whatever. Go splash around until you feel better."
Aang and Katara walked away, back towards the lake.
Sokka was still in the hole. "You probably think I deserve this, don't you?"
The small creature had gone to sleep on top of his head.
It woke up and peered sleepily down at him with its big brown eyes.
"Look," he said. "I'm sorry that I hunted you, but that's just the natural order of things. Big things eat smaller things. Nothing personal. This time, it didn't work out that way."
The creature yawned widely and snuggled back down on his head.
He continued, "I admit it, you're cute."
It licked at its paws. "Okay, you convinced me. If I get out of this alive, it's a karmically correct vegetarian existence for me. No meat. Even though meat is so tasty."
It climbed down from his head, kicking him in the face in the process. He watched as it ran away. He sighed and tried struggling again.
He didn't move an inch. He sighed again and stopped.
He was surprised to see the creature return with an apple in its mouth. It stopped in front of him and dropped the apple.
Sokka said, "Hey, it looks like my karma is already paying off."
It nudged the apple closer to him. It stopped halfway between them.
"That's okay. I got it." He said. He struggled some more, trying to free his arms. His actions managed to shake his boomerang loose from its sheath. It fell over his shoulder and clattered down besides the apple.
"Now, come back, boomerang."
Katara and Aang were up their waists in the lake, passing water back and forth between them.
She said, "You know this block you're having is only temporary, right?"
"I don't want to talk about it."
"You do realise that that's the problem, don't you? If you face this issue instead of avoiding it…"
"I know, I know, I know, I know!" he snapped, letting the water drop into the lake. "I get it, alright? I need to face it head-on like a rock. But I just can't do it. I don't know why I can't, but I can't."
Katara tilted her head to the side. She remembered her little conversation with Zuko.
She said, "Aang, if Fire and Water are opposites, then what's the opposite of Air?"
"I guess its Earth."
"That's why it's so hard for you to get this. You're working with your natural opposite. But you'll figure it out. I know you will."
Her hand reached behind her, into the reeds. She snapped one off and threw it at the Avatar.
"Think fast!"
He sliced up through it with his Waterbending.
She nodded her head at him. "Excellent. You have the reflexes of a Waterbending Master."
He smiled. "Thanks, Katara. Sifu Katara."
He bowed to her. She smiled back and returned the bow.
Aang was meditating at the top of the peak. He could vaguely hear someone stamping towards him.
He sighed lowly. Toph.
He tried to focus on his breathing.
She sat down somewhere behind him. She said, "Aang, I found these nuts in your bag. I figured you wouldn't mind. And besides, even if you did, you're too much of a pushover to do anything about it."
Aang's eyes opened. He frowned slightly but said, "As a matter of fact, I don't mind. I'm happy to share anything I have."
Toph nodded to herself. "You know, I'm really glad you feel that way, because I also have this great new nutcracker."
She brandished Aang's staff with a 'swooshing' sound. That made him turn around.
His face fell when he saw she had his staff. It fell further when he watched her crack open a nut with it.
He said, "Actually, I'd prefer if you didn't—"
She cracked open a second nut. Aang flinched at the sound it made. "That's an antique, handcrafted by the monk—"
SMASH! A third nut cracked. "It's a delicate instrument!"
She remarked, "It's not the only delicate instrument around here."
She scooped up the cracked nuts and popped one in her mouth. She stood up and walked away, letting Aang's staff clatter against rocks as she walked past them.
Aang tried to go back to his meditation. "Om."
He could still hear the sound of wood whacking against stone.
Katara said, "Hey, Aang, have you seen—"
"Meditating here." He said sternly.
She said, "It's important. It's almost sundown and Sokka isn't back yet. I think we should search for him."
Aang sighed but stood up. "We'll find him faster if we split up."
"Okay, Karma Person or Thing, whoever is in charge of this stuff, if I can just get out of this situation alive, I will give up meat and sarcasm, okay? That's all I've got. Ow!"
The creature was tugging at his warrior's wolf tail. "Quit it!"
The creature pulled the band from out of his hair with a snap. His hair fell everywhere.
"Pretty much my entire identity. Meat and sarcasm. Sokka, the meat and sarcasm guy. You can have both, though, if you'll get me out of this. I'll be Sokka the veggies and straight-talking fellow. Deal?"
Aang appeared around a corner. He cried, "AANG! Thank goodness. Have you got any meat?"
"Sokka! Are you okay?" He rushed over and tried to pull the older boy out of the hole.
Sokka said, "Stop, stop! You're gonna pull my fingers off and I don't think the rest of me is coming."
Aang eyed the hole critically. "Hmm. I bet I can Airbend you out of there."
He thrust downwards with his palms, blowing air down into the hole around Sokka.
Air shot up all around Sokka, but the boy didn't move. Except for his hair, which stuck up all over the place.
He opened his mouth to complain when his boomerang came tumbling down, straight onto his skull.
"AH! BOOMERANG!" he yelled. "Seriously, Aang, I know you're new at it, but I could use a little Earthbending here. How about it?"
Aang looked down and away from Sokka. "I can't. I can't do it."
He turned away.
"Well, if you can't Earthbend me out of here, go get Toph."
Aang shook his head. "I can't do that either."
"You can't?" Sokka asked. "Why not?"
Aang shrugged. "It'd just be really… uncomfortable."
"'Uncomfortable.' Well, I wouldn't want you to feel uncomfortable."
Aang smiled. "Thanks, Sokka. This whole Earthbending thing really has me confused."
He sat down besides the trapped Water Tribesman. "There's so much pressure. Everyone expects me to get it right away. It puts me in a really awkward position."
Sokka nodded. "Awkward position, huh? I think I know the feeling."
"If I try, I fail. But if I don't try, I'm never gonna get it. I feel like I'm caught between a rock and a hard place."
"Hmm, how about that?" The creature walked back over and settled itself down between the two of them. Sokka continued, "Aang, this is my friend, Fufu Cuddly Poops. Fufu Cuddly Poops, Aang."
Aang exclaimed, "Aw, what a cute name for a little baby Sabertooth Moose-Lion cub."
Sokka said, "Really? He looks nothing like a Sabertooth Moose-Lion."
Aang nodded and picked up the cub. "It's hard to tell before their giant teeth and horns grow in. What are you doing out here, little guy? Did you lose your mama?"
A deep, rumbling growl echoed all around them. Thudding footsteps approached from behind them.
Aang turned, still holding the infant Sabertooth Moose-Lion.
He watched as a fully-grown Sabertooth Moose-Lion emerged from the trees. It let out another bone-chilling growl and shook it's horned head them. It's long teeth glinted in the setting sun.
Aang stared at the enraged Moose-Lion. "Hey there." he said with forced cheer. "We found your cub."
The large animal continued to growl and snarl. Aang gently placed the cub on the ground and it ran towards its mother, going under her legs and into the bushes behind.
"See?" Aang said. "We have no problem with you. We're friendly."
It growled again. It shook its large horns back and forth. It lowered them towards the ground.
Sokka said, "Aang, this is bad. You've gotta get me out of here."
The Moose-Lion charged with a bellowing roar.
"AAH!" Sokka screamed.
Aang used Airbending to lift the beast up and over them, letting it charge past. It's claws brushed the tips of Sokka's hair.
It quickly turned back around, still snarling in fury.
"This is really bad." Sokka said, eyes wide. "Please, Aang! You have to Earthbend me outta here. There's no other way."
Aang nodded and began trying to open the hole around Sokka. He thrust his fist towards it. He kicked at it. Nothing happened.
"Hyah! Hyah!" He yelled, hoping that would help in some inexplicable way.
The Moose-Lion roared again and began pawing at the ground.
"Oh no." Aang said. He leapt up onto a nearby column of earth, out of the creature's path.
He shouted, "Yoo-hoo! Look at me!"
He tried to redirect the beast's attention away from the stuck Sokka. The Moose-Lion looked back and forth between the trapped Water Tribesman and the dancing Airbender.
It settled on Sokka.
It roared and charged, mouth agape and revealing every one of its teeth.
Aang dived down and used Airbending to knock it off-course, away from Sokka. It span around with a roar.
Sokka said, "Please, don't leave me again."
"I won't." Aang promised. He placed himself between his friend and the Moose-Lion.
Once more it charged, heading straight for them with lowered horns. Aang blasted it back off its feet with a huge gust of wind.
The Moose-Lion staggered to its feet, shaking its head as it stunned. It eyed the two before slinking off into the trees.
The two boys heard clapping. Aang turned.
He saw Toph sitting cross-legged on top of a rock, his glider across her knees.
Sokka exclaimed, "What are you doing here?"
She shrugged. "Just enjoying the show."
Aang said, "What? You were there the whole time?"
She nodded. "Pretty much."
"Why didn't you do something? Sokka was in trouble. I was in trouble! You could have gotten him out and helped us get away."
She shrugged again. "I guess it just didn't occur to me."
She pulled a nut out of her pocket and dropped it casually to the ground. She picked up Aang's staff and positioned it above the nut.
Aang caught the end of it. "Enough." He snapped. "I want my staff back."
She let it go and stood up. "Do it now."
"What?" he said.
"Earthbend, Twinkletoes. You just stood your ground against a crazy beast. And, even more impressive, you stood your ground against me. You've got the stuff."
"But—"
"DO IT!" She barked.
He stamped his foot down and thrust out at a nearby boulder. It shot forward, crashing against the cliff-face.
"You did it!" Toph exclaimed. "You're an Earthbender."
Aang smiled widely. "I can't believe it."
A voice behind them said, "Aw, this is really a wonderful, touching moment. So, could you get me out of here so I can give you both big, snuggly hug?"
"No problem, Sokka." Aang said, turning around.
Toph stopped him. "Actually, you should probably let me do that. You're still a little new to this. You might accidentally crush him."
Sokka smiled, nodding. "Yeah, no crushing, please."
Toph stamped her foot down and Sokka shot up and out of the hole that he'd spent his day in.
They walked back towards the cave they'd been calling home since Zuko's injury. Aang had Sokka's arm over his shoulder and was helping the older boy walk.
Katara came rushing over. "You found him!"
Zuko stood at the mouth of the cave, leaning on the staff Sokka gave him, and looking out towards them with his single, golden eye squinted in the fading light.
She hugged her brother. He said, "The whole time that I was in that hole, not knowing if I would live or die, it makes a man think about what's really important. I realised—"
Aang yelled, "Hey, Katara, look what I can do!"
He thrust his fist towards a boulder, breaking it in two.
"You did it!" She yelled, ignoring her brother completely. "I knew you would."
She whispered to Toph, "You tried the positive reinforcement, didn't you?"
Toph smirked. "Yup. Worked wonders."
Aang rushed over to Appa, telling him about his newfound Earthbending.
Zuko stumped over towards where Sokka was sulking. He asked quietly, "Long day?"
Sokka nodded. Zuko said, "Come on, Katara put some stew on. You must be hungry."
Sokka sighed. "You so get me."
Zuko allowed the other boy to lean on him and they hobbled back towards the cave while Katara and Toph watched Aang Earthbending.
