-Chapter 5-
"So it say's here this is the final round of the preliminaries for waterbending and firebending." Katara was reading her sheet as they walked into the arena.
"Great so they make it easier for you guys." Toph said sarcastically.
"Well you should have nothing to worry about since you're the 'greatest earthbender in the world.'" Katara said back sarcasm dripping from her voice.
"I am the greatest earthbender in the world and don't you forget it!" She said confidently.
They had reached the Earthbending arena and Toph passed the guy her pamphlet.
"Right over there." He said and pointed to the arena on the left.
"Where?" Toph said and waved her hand across her face.
"Right over there." The guy said and pointed again.
"Do I really have to spell it out for you? I'm blind you dolt!" She said angrily and waved her hand in front of her face again.
"Uh… right it's the one on the left." He said clearly sorry.
"Jeez people are so stupid sometimes." Toph said angrily as she stalked over to her arena.
Her opponent was tall and strong but he had an air of arrogance about him as he leaned casually against the ring talking to a friend.
"You ready?" Toph said as she cracked her knuckles.
"You're just a child!" He exclaimed.
"Thank you captain obvious." Toph said as she hopped into the ring.
"Round four of the tournament begins…" The gong sounded sharply. "Now!!" The announcer screamed over the roar of the combatants already intense battles.
It was clear Toph was going to destroy this guy right from the start. He had started off with sending a few inaccurate shots at her. Toph easily dodged them without the aid of earthbending even though most of them missed. The so Toph-like smile crept onto her face and she sent the rock under his feet flying up, effectively knocking him off his feet and onto his butt.
"What's the matter?" Toph started mockingly. "Little blind girl too much for you?" She said as he stood back up to take another go at it.
"You'll pay for that." He mumbled as he ran forward and tried to hit Toph with yet more basic forms and steps.
"How'd you make it to the third round being so bad?" Toph asked as she sidestepped yet another shot.
"Quit talking just fight me!" He said angrily and hurled a large boulder across the ring.
"As you wish." Toph said and easily blasted him out of the ring with a well aimed rock.
"What a loser." Toph said and blew the bangs off her face. They walked back over to the guy and Katara handed over her pamphlet.
"You're not blind too are you?" He asked cocking an eyebrow, this guy obviously wasn't the brightest guy in town.
"No." Katara said and he pointed over to a waterbending arena eyeing Toph warily.
Katara stepped into the arena and her opponent was a scrawny little kid in a water tribe robe. He turned to face and his eyes widened in surprise.
"Katara?" He asked unhappily.
"Jake." Katara said confirming his question. "Every one was giving Katara a puzzled look.
"He was training with Pakku at the same I was." She said happily but Jacob didn't look all that happy. "What's wrong?" She said concerned at his downcast look.
"Well you were so good last time we fought… Look's like this tournaments over for me." He said sadly and examined his boots.
"Let round 3 begin!" The announcer said as the gong sounded.
Katara went right to the offensive with her water whip. She attempted to snag his leg but he deflected it in time and they struggled over the water that was contorted by his feet.
Katara while still holding the water in place drew more water from the pool in the center of the ring and hit him in the chest with a blast of water. He stumbled backwards and almost lost his balance on the edge of the arena. He waved his arms wildly and lunged back into the battle.
He had sent the water from her previous two attacks flying back at her. Her eyed widened in surprise and she erected a wall of ice from the pond to block it then sent the wall back in his direction. He had no time to react and went spiraling over the edge of the arena.
"Sorry!" She said and ran over to check if he was injured. He had a good bruise forming on the back of his head but other then that he was fine.
"It's fine." He said and got up unsteadily. "I'll see you later." He said and walked out of the ring.