A/N Ok, I'm just going to post this….it's takin' way too long…..to get reviews because fanfiction is getting screwed….. XD
Ok...thanks to a (quote) helpful (endquote) by Rashaka, I changed it bit, but so much that it's changing the story. Again I quote it and say it in a sarcastic tone... XP ALL HAIL SARCASM! (bows)
Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar!
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"The test for getting into the army or scouting will be tomorrow! And for some of you, you aren't even ready to fight sea sponges yet!" The instructor groaned. "I expect all of you to meet back here at 5 a.m sharp! No excuses! Dismissed!"
The class slowly filed out of the elaborate, ice building.
Of the hordes of boys, there stood one girl, very shy looking yes, some might even think she doesn't go to this class, but how they are wrong.
This cheerful, outspoken girl, is actually the best student in the academy. Her name?
Katara.
A very beautiful name, a name that might be more fit for girl like things, like sewing, knitting, making tea, ect, ect, ect. Instead, weaponary and fighting were more her forte.
This was often the reason she was shunned from most girl groups and even friends.
Although it looked like she doesn't get bothered that easily by this sort of things, inside, she was hurt. Deeply.
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"Hey look! It's the tomboy!" A snide, petty girl taunted at Katara.
"Hey tomboy! Are you a girl or a boy? Cause it's pretty hard to tell!" The group laughed as Katara kept her head down and continued past them.
Those were the group of girls that attended the same academy, only they were taking knitting and cooking classes, useless, completely useless.
Knowing that attacking the snide girl would only lead to immaturity and of course, prevented her from taking the test, she kept her cool, blocking out the laughter and taunts from those brats.
She seated herself on a wooden bench next to an ice tower. Opening up her books, she read out the proper techniques of an assassin.
The other girls, getting tired of teasing her, moved on to talking about boys and the dreams of marrying princes.
"I really hope a knight in shining armor would come and sweep me up from my feet!" A girl giggled.
Katara rolled her eyes.
Hopeless amateurs…..
But as uninteresting as it was, she couldn't help but eavesdrop. While pretending to read the topic, "How to properly throw a shuriken", she listened to their conversation.
"I've heard the Earth Kingdom, is declaring their prince is to wed! I really want to go and present myself, but my mother won't let me." The girl scoffed.
Katara let out a scoff also, at the air head comments these girls were making. Them, actually coming in contact with a prince? Or even marrying one? Preposterous.
"You know, I've heard the Fire Nation prince is also good looking!" Another girl giggled.
"I know! Can you say hot?" A girl purred.
Katara gagged a bit on her spit, coughing. Flipping to the second page, "How to properly throw kunai".
"Well, if the war ends, I'm so going to go and wed him!" A girl laughed.
"Yeah right! Not if I get there first!" Then the group started bickering about the so called, "handsome prince."
Katara blew at her hair loops and sighed.
They're more pathetic than I imagined they'd be…..
Snapping her book shut and heading home, she giggled to herself at the stupid, air head girls, bickering over a guy that doesn't even know them and….are forbidden to even get close to him.
Before she realized it, she was right in front of her home. Going through the warm fur that hung on the door way, she was embraced with the warmth of the fireplace, heating up oyster stew.
Gran Gran, stirring the stew, looked up and smiled at her grand daughter.
"Katara! You're home!" The old woman got up and hugged her.
"Hi Gran Gran!" Katara embraced her grandmother dearly.
"So? How was the academy?" Gran Gran returned to the boiling stew, it's smell wafering around the cold air.
"It was ok, I'm taking the test tomorrow." Katara smiled.
"That's great Katara!" Gran Gran exclaimed. "Do well, I know you will pass."
"Thanks Gran Gran." Katara set down her books on the table, careful they were hidden.
Her grandmother actually doesn't know…she takes warrior/assassin classes at the academy, Gran Gran just thinks she learns knitting/cooking.
That's the reason why Katara waits awhile outside before actually stepping inside the house, seeing how Gran Gran will definitely notice the sweat lining her brow.
"Where's Sokka?" Katara asked her grandmother, who was carefully removing the hot stew from the fire.
"He's outside, practicing, as I see it, he doesn't need practice, but will he listen that brother of yours? No."
Katara laughed silently and headed out, finding Sokka practicing his stances.
"Hello Captain." Katara snuck up on him, making him fall.
"Katara! How many times do I have to tell you! Don't sneak up on me!" Soka yelled, picking up his metal club again, shifting through the stances once more.
"Jeez, sorry!" Katara pouted.
"Fine, sorry, so? How was class?" Sokka asked.
"Fine, just learned some cooking, sewing, you know girl stuff." Katara grinned, trying to keep a low profile.
"Oh….that's nice, I heard your exam's tomorrow, good luck." Sokka said, continuing his stances.
"Thanks Sokka." Katara said, wishing she could tell someone of her secret life of attending weaponry class.
She shuffled away, leaving Sokka to fall and curse under his breath, and then continuing the process over and over.
Katara walked past Gran Gran and asked her if she could turn in early tonight.
"Sure honey, whatever you want." Gran Gran replied, pouring in more stew in the polished stone bowls.
Katara smiled and walked into her room, anxiously waiting for the full moon to rise.
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Once the last of the candles were turned off, Katara slunk out of bed, careful not to slip or cause the tiniest of sounds.
Letting out a deep breath once outside, she crunched through the snow, running towards her secret area. In the outskirts of town, was the perfect spot for practicing.
She took out the book and practiced the basics, how to throw. Katara took out a kunai from her side pack and twirled it, careful not to drop it.
Next, she threw the kunai towards a rotten tree trunk, hearing it crunch into the rough, dry trunk, she took out shuriken and threw it towards the same trunk, satisfied at her accuracy.
She sighed and bended the water from the slushy snow, marveling at the glinting water, reflecting off the moon's radiance.
Smiling, she whipped the top part of the tree, slicing off a segment.
After several hours, she decided that was enough for tonight. Katara packed in her stuff and headed back towards the house, carefully sneaking towards her room.
She finally reached her room, setting down her weapons and books, she plopped into the mesh of furs and sheets.
I'm ready for tomorrow….
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"Welcome students!" The instructor shouted over the tons of chattering students.
"Now, I must inform you, the majority of you will not pass! To be more exact, 77 of you will not pass!"
A chorus of "awws" and "come on" raced through the crowds.
"Now that's settled, we'll now begin! Jiong and Ping! The one who loses, will not pass. Begin!"
The two boys grunted as they continued blow after blow, soon tiring each other out. Soon the victor was discovered.
"Jiong, you pass."
Jiong grinned and jumped up into the air, laughing.
"Next, Katara and Gan."
Katara gulped and looked at the tough looking boy. Slowly, she stood up and walked up towards the mini stadium.
"I won't hold back…" Gan said, bowing.
"I won't either…" Katara replied, bowing as well.
"Begin!"
As soon as those words popped out of the instructor's mouth, Gan pelted Katara with a barrage of blows. Katara grunted as she was thrown back onto the cold ice.
"You get her Gan!"
"Yeah! Show her who's boss!"
Cheers erupted from the stadium, supporting Gan. Katara groaned as she got up and faced him once more.
As soon as she got up, he sent out a barrage of blows once more.
Falling to the ground, she felt the bitter taste of blood on her lips. Struggling, she got up once more.
"You should just give up, it'll cause you less pain…" Gan said, smirking.
"No…I won't." Katara panted, taking out a kunai, throwing it swiftly towards him.
He easily dodged it and the kunai pierced through the cold ice floor. Katara growled and let out a battle cry, running swiftly towards him. Before she could kick him, he grabbed her ankle and stopped her from kicking off his head.
"I warned you…" Gan smirked and threw her back. Katara, managing to keep her balance, stumbled.
Narrowing her eyes, she charged at him once more.
I didn't come all this way to lose to him!
Swiftly, she ducked and sweep kicked him, letting him fall flat on the ground.
"Come on Gan! Get up!" The boys shouted.
Gan growled and stood up, aiming a punch at her head.
Katara quickly dodged and jabbed him in to stomach, making him stumble back in pain.
She smirked and brought up her arms, bring up water towards herself.
"Gan!" The boys shouted in frustration.
Gan slowly stood up, only to be barraged by ice and water.
Katara continued, blow after blow, sending out her waves of ice swiftly.
After her barrage, she panted and looked at the unconscious boy.
"Katara, you pass. Great job." The instructor smiled at her.
"Thank…..you…." Katara panted as she bowed towards the instructor and staggered down the stairs.
Feeling the adrenaline of the win, she laughed as she jumped up into the air, throwing her arms into the air.
A/N Ok, I know… "Where's the Zutara?"
Don't worry! It'll get there! Jeez!
R&R!