"Are you sure?" Katara whispered.
Aang nodded. He understood what Bumi meant about feeling the earth. It was like she could sense every little shift and counteract it.
Aang zoned out for a minute and by the time he refocused the match was over.
The Blind Bandit held up the champion's belt proudly, showing it off to the crowd.
"Is anyone brave enough to challenge our champ?" asked the announcer.
"I am!" Aang said cheerily.
The announcer took one look at Aang and doubled over with laughter. "Good luck, kid."
Aang headed over to the platform, his heart pounding against his ribs. What would he say to her? Would she want to be his earthbending teacher?
He climbed up the stairs to the platform, his palms sweating.
The Blind Bandit cracked her knuckles. "Let's get this over with."
A rock shot out from beneath Aang's feet, but he merely floated in the air for a second before settling down.
The Blind Bandit scrunched up her face. How was he so light on his feet?
She knocked a few more rocks at Aang, surprised when she didn't feel them hit anything. How was he doing this?
Aang was easily dodging all of her attacks, working up the nerve to tell her about his situation.
"I need an earthbending teacher," he said. "And I think it's supposed to be you!"
"How are you doing this, Twinkle Toes?" the Blind Bandit growled, her black hair flying around her face as she attacked.
Aang watched as a rock came flying at him, too fast to dodge. He threw out his hands, feeling the familiar rush of energy from his chi as he airbent the rock away. But, in doing so, he accidentally knocked the Blind Bandit off of the platform.
"Wait!" he called to her, running down the stairs. "Where are you going?"
"Away."
She earthbent a tunnel through the walls of the stadium and closed it behind her.
Aang scratched at the walls, trying to figure out how to get through. "No!"
Katara and Sokka ran up behind him.
"Where'd she go?" Sokka asked.
"She left," Aang said, crestfallen.
Katara put her hand on his shoulder. "We'll find you another teacher."
"No! It has to be her!"
Katara stepped back, surprised. Aang never yelled, especially not at her.
"Sorry, it's just . . . "
"I get it," Katara said.
Aang smiled at her, a faint blush spreading across his face.
"Hey! Are you two going to sit there with sappy looks on your face? Or are you going to try and find the Blind Bandit?" Sokka asked, his words laced with irritation.
Katara was ready to snap at him, but Aang spoke first. "How will we find her?"
Sokka shrugged. "You're the Avatar. Things usually work out for you."
Neither Aang nor Katara could argue with that logic.
--
"We've been walking for two hours," Sokka whined.
Katara shot him a sharp glance.
Aang glanced back to look at the two siblings. He blushed when Katara noticed him staring at her. It wasn't his fault that the lighting made her glow.
The three stopped at the earthbending academy. The two boys from earlier were chatting. They jumped three feet in the air when they saw Katara.
"Back again?" the taller of the two spoke first, the slight shaking in his voice betraying his fear.
Katara took one step forward. The boys stepped back quickly, holding out their hands in surrender. "What do you want?"
"Do you know who the Blind Bandit is?" Aang asked the boys.
They shook their heads. Katara glared at them. "No, we swear we don't know!"
An idea struck Aang. "What family does the Flying Boar belong to?"
"The Beifongs. They live in the northern part of town. But they don't have any kids."
Aang thanked them and walked away.
Team Avatar walked to the northern region of Gaoling, Sokka complaining the entire way.
"Are we there yet?"
"No."
"Now?"
"No!"
"When will we be there?"
"When we stop!"
"When will that be?"
Katara looked ready to explode when Aang announced that they were there.
Massive gates with the sign of the flying boar towered over them.
"Wow," Sokka said, speaking for all of them.
"Hey, there's the Blind Bandit!" Aang exclaimed, pointing to a girl in fancy clothes who had just stepped into view.
Aang jumped, boosted by the wind, and landed on the other side of the gates.
Katara and Sokka followed him, but had to climb over the gate instead of jumping.
"Twinkle Toes?" the girl said. "How'd you find me?"
"I dunno. I just found you."
The Blind Bandit looked skeptical of this but didn't press.
"What do you want from me?"
"I need an earthbending teacher and I think you're supposed to be her."
"Do I get to leave this place?"
Aang nodded.
"I'm in."
Aang was confused. "Really?"
"Yeah."
Aang was taken aback. He hadn't expected it to be that easy.
"I'm Toph," said the Blind Bandit.
"Aang."
Toph earthbent herself and Aang over the gate. Katara and Sokka had just gotten over.
"Seriously!" they yelled.
Aang and Toph laughed. Toph earthbent them over the gate.
"You don't mind flying, right?"
"I don't love it. But if it gets me away from here, I'm in. I owe you, by the way."
"Being my earthbending teacher is all the thanks I need."
"Nah, that's easy. I'll do you another favor. Just name it when you need it."
Aang agreed.
"Well, Avatar, are we leaving, or not?"
Aang jumped on Appa, and Team Avatar and their new addition lifted off.
They were one step closer to saving the world.