AVATAR LAST AIRBENDER DOES NOT BELONG TO MARTABPC

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Back to the origins

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XVII

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The waterfall was a beautiful sight, with giant boulders sticking out of the half meter thick, 10 meters wide, 28 meters high powerful water curtain, spraying the top of nearby trees. It made the area look like it always rained. Therefore, trees were largely developed, with large trunks and roots sticking out of the soil. Birds and little mammals that were seen only in tropical regions were abundant in the area. Everything seemed abnormally big or large. It was also, if you listened to their teachers, a great place to improve their physical condition, stealth abilities and adaptation capabilities. But, as we all know, there’s no reward without working. And Sokka was just about to figure it out.

“Whoa! This is huge!” Were the words that left the mouth of a Water Tribes boy.

“I couldn’t disagree but we’re not here for sightseeing.” Said his new and, only one until the moment, real master. “Now that we’re here, let the games begin!” And Hasan laughed evilly.

“Why do I feel that we’re in for trouble?” Zuko whispered to his sister.

“I don’t know, but I don’t like the feeling...” Azula whispered back to her brother.

“Now, are you seeing those rocks in the middle of the waterfall?”

His students nodded.

“Good. Now you’ll climb this cliff until you reach the waterfall’s top. Chop. Chop.”

“Climb the waterfall!?” Asked a gaping Sokka.

“Do you think so? ... No! Now go. Chop. Chop. They’re already beginning to climb.”

The teenager ran to the rocky wall and hastily began to climb to the top. Soon, the trio had found his way to the top.

“Now, you jump to the nearest rock, get it? Chop. Chop.”

Sokka stood gaping like a fish again but Zuko quickly complied, followed by Azula and a frightful Sokka. The boy almost slipped on the moss-covered rocks but maintained his balance thanks to wide and erratic arm movements. All of them stood on separate rocks, all of them at a similar height, the nearest to the top. The cold water hit them with the force of boulders, freezing them as they only wearing their new training attire.

“Extend your arms at your sides, parallel to the ground. Now stay.”

“What!! Do you want to kill us?! This is insane!”

“Look Fish-Face... Yeah, Fish-Face. You’re always gaping like a fish when I give you an exercise! Stop complaining. Killing you is the last thing that I want to do but you have to understand that out there are foes much stronger than you or even me and they will not hesitate to kill you. Right Azula? So do the exercise that is given to you. Here you train your strength, endurance and patience. And it’s always more difficult. After you can handle yourselves at this stage, I’ll ask you to climb the waterfall instead of the cliff and make you stand on lower rocks, where the water falls with more strength. Now close your eyes and meditate a little. You’ll do this every morning. The world isn’t fair nor is it easy!”

Hasan got up and left the three of them. Sokka looked at the siblings for some words of comfort. They didn’t even look at him. Hasan was right. He closed his eyes and ignored the protests of his sore muscles. From the branches of a tall tree, a set of eyes watched them with a glint of pride.

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“Are you feeling okay Sokka?”

“Sure, ... Just a bit sore...”

“You’d better be. Or else your sister will kill me. And that is so not in my plans.”

“Will you both shut up!! I’m trying to read here, and so should you!”

Yongwang smiled at the trio antics. While the males talked freely, Azula read the book, or tried to. From what he had seen, the girl had a fiery temper, just like her mother. Zuko approached him.

“Look, why do we have to read this?”

The books he had ordered them to read were about History, and, in Zuko’s opinion, very boring and pretty much useless. Before he could answer, Azula banged her brother on his head with a large book.

“Why do you think so? Knowledge is power! Didn’t Uncle teach you that?”

“Of course, but I’m not really seeing where history is going to help us!”

“You... You... ... Okay, History isn’t the best subject but I bet it has a purpose. We just have to figure out which one. Just like last time.”

“You all just get so... Uncle-like! We’re here to learn how to fight. Not to read books!” He screamed at his team mates.

“Now you’re being unreasonable Zuko.” Interfered Sokka.

“What! Me!!”

“Thinking Dumb-Dumb! That’s the answer. What does it matter to be the best fighter if the opponent has a super strategy!? Remember what Hasan said to Sokka this morning? Do you think I managed to get that high in the council just because of my bending? No! I proved the generals I could beat them at their own game. How? By studying the ancient battles! All the ancients’ strategies are there! Fighting styles and pure culture! Zu-Zu... Think!” She ended the sentence by re-banging him on the head.

Zuko lost consciousness and Sokka shook his head sighing. Azula dropped her book on their teacher’s lap with a frustrated sigh. He handed her a pile with biology books.

‘Me and Zuko... It’s your turn Azula...’

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The boys were exited. Azula was nervous. Nevertheless, she had her reasons. It was time for weaponry lesson. And the only thing she knew was that she sucked at it. She couldn’t really lift a sword in her current status or anything heavier than... well, ...

‘Forget it.’

She had no more time to think before their teacher arrived. And there it was, a sword pointed to her neck.

“You look depressed kid.”

Sokka and Zuko muffled their laughter.

‘The Universe hates me...’

A sword flew through the air and Sokka’s and Zuko’s hair were a bit shorter. Their laughter died instantaneously.

‘Thank you Universe!’

“Now that I got your undivided attention...”

Zayna took a multitude of blades from her baggy jacket and snickered evilly. To the kids, she suddenly cooked bigger and ‘very much more’ evil.

‘I knew it...’

“Let’s see how good you are and blocking, ... and dodging. Time to run...” She sang the last words with an evil glint n the eyes.

And the chase was on. They immediately split up, all of them running the fast they could. It didn’t really help. Blades flew at them at incredible speeds, forcing them to stop twist and turn in the most awkward ways to evade the metal objects.

‘Okay. Let’s see. Zuko uses base movements to evade them. Azula is airborne and knows how to use that situation. Sokka is... Orthodox. Everyone has strong points and flaws. Perfect.’ “Okay. That’s enough.”

They fell to the ground panting. She smirked.

“Now that you’re ready to start... Let’s have a talk.”

They looked at her with a mix of relief, dread and confusion.

“I want to know exactly what your experiences with weapons are.”

“Me first! I’m Sokka and I work with Water Tribes’ traditional weapons! Club, I don’t really know the name of that kind of sword..., spear and boomerang!”

“It’s a short-one-sided-blade-sword. Next!”

“I’m Zuko, I trained with the base Fire Nation military weapons and I specialize in dual broadswords.”

“Better. Next!”

“I’m Azula... I... don’t really have much experience... but... Mai taught me how to throw stars and wield small blades... Um... That’s it.”

‘Agni damn it, she freaking out...’ “It’s called shuriken. And... Calm. Down. You’re annoying me. I don’t bite. Much.”

The girl cringed.

“Sooooooo... First. I’ve watched you fight and I can tell you this. I’ll teach you new styles but I’ll teach you based on your natural abilities. Sokka, you fight with a style I’ve never seen and manage to get yourself in the weirdest positions. You’re like water. Zuko. You have a strong gravity centre and a rigid style. Earth for you. Azula. Now you are airborne. Big jumps and an awesome balance. Air-like. Got it? Longmen, Hasan and I will work together to develop your different styles but I can say this right now. Sokka, steam. Zuko, magma. Azula, heat.”

“What...!?”

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He was bored...

‘Damn...’

It wasn’t his fault he wasn’t a super-hyper-mega-cool-bender! It was Fate’s fault! Gentle hands pressed his knees against the floor.

“Auch!”

Ty Lee hands were gentle, but flexibility exercises did hurt.

“You’re thinking too much.”

“How would you know that?”

“Your muscles tensed up a lot. You know, you could really catch on this. Your muscles aren’t overly developed and that’s good for flexibility. Plus...” She was cut by Sokka.

“I get it. You really are good. It’s just... I feel a little abandoned. They’re with their bending teacher and him here stuck with you!”

She pouted.

“Is it that bad?”

A tear rolled down her face.

“Ah... No!! No! It’s just my legs hurt, I’m not so good at this and I feel useless. If only I was a bender...”

He sighed.

“You don’t need to.”

This statement caught him off guard and he stood gaping like a fish during some time. Then, he regained his senses and laughed. Laughed like he hadn’t in a good time.

“You’ve got to be kidding me! Ah! What can a bendingless guy do against a powerful bender? Run for his life!” He said between laughs.

Suddenly, he felt quick and powerful jabs in his torso and before he could react, he was lying on the floor, paralyzed.

“Please Sokka, tell me you didn’t mean that. I’m a bender too and you know what I can do. I can make any bender bend and break under my fighting style. And don’t say you’re useless because you’re not.” Her voice sounded hurt.

“Sorry, I... I overreacted. You’re pretty powerful with those moves. I mean, you took down Katara.”

Ty Lee blushed.

“If you want, I’ll teach you the basic and if you catch on fast, I’ll teach you real moves...”

“Realy!? Ty Lee you’re the best! And, I can make any bender bend and break under my fighting style. Cool...”

Ty Lee had never blushed more in her life.

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“Sir. The Avatar and his teachers entered the city.” Said one.

“I see. The bison?” Said a second.

“Restrained and calm. The drugs are being quite effective.” Said a third.

“Is the Avatar aware of the bison’s presence?” Asked the second

“He has expressed the will to search for his bison.” Said the third.

“Quite aggressively.” Completed the first.

“Is the Avatar followed by two children of seven and five years old?” Asked the second.

“No.” Said the first.

“The Avatar and his earthbending teacher are the youngest.” Completed the third.

“Both twelve years old.” Continued the first.

“Your orders sir.” Asked both of them.

“Is the trap ready?” Asked the second.

“Yes sir.” Both replied.

“Then proceed with the plan.” Ordered Long Feng.

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-Yongwang: In Korean mythology, the benevolent Dragon King of the seas, but not necessarily a dragon (usually an old human)

-Hasan: Arabic male name meaning good, proper

-Zayna: Arabic female name meaning beauty, grace

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