Avatar: The Rise of Dual-Bending [IC]

[MaskofSilence]

Without even realizing it, Nira's feet started to move toward the fight. She had just made it to one of the trees' shadows that surrounding the clearing, when a girl arrived by air. She landed hopped down off a dragon and yelled at them, telling them not to fight unless it was necessary. She must be an airbender. Nira thought with a small smirk.

Next thing she knows, their bring "Lee" and the new girl, who she learned was named Nanami, into the fight as well. Another crowd was starting to appear. The thought of chi blockers coming back long gone. Out of everyone though, she was the closest. Sitting down in the shade of the tree, Nira made herself comfortable.

The fight began as punches and kick, some including elements, were thrown. Her eyes watched every single movement, picking on things that she could use in future fights and also making mental notes of strengths and weaknesses. Taking her eyes off the fight for one second, she noticed another person who was observing the fight and taking notes. It was a boy on the boot of Toph's statue. Guess I'm not the only one using this as a learning opportunity. She thought as she turned back to the fight.

[TheDoctor]

Aelos listened to the conversation, taking in every face as the other two joined the battle. He analyzed their body type, their movements as they walked, what they looked at and what they focused on, their attitude. Everything about them was taken into account. Rule number one, Aelos: Know your enemy.

The challenge was placed: a four-way battle. It would certainly be an interesting fight, for he had never seen the girl, whos name was evidently Nanami, or Lee in battle before. However, before the fight happened, he noted Lee assume a drunken boxer stance, which was a bit like Aelos' battle style (with some mantis integrated in). However, the boy- or the man, for he looked only a bit older than Aelos- looked a bit out-of-place in that stance. He's either not very experienced...or he is trying to throw me off. Either way, I must be cautious. If I become reckless at all during this battle, I can easily lose it.

One...

Aelos used his airbending to flip backwards in the air, landing a good distance away. He crouched on the ground as he landed, then stood straight up.

Two...

He put his hands together, closed his eyes, and breathed in. Slowly letting his breath out, he relaxed his body. Rule Two: Tension only slows you down.

and a Three.

His eyes snapped open, an inner passion for combat burning like bright embers in the orange sea of his irises. Rule Three: The first strike is risky. If you do it, then do it quickly. To his left was Lee, to the right Nanami, and in front of him Ienzo. Lemme see this newcomer. With that, he circled his arms and fired a blast of flames directly at Lee. Shooting two more shots in quick succession with his fists, he roundhouse kicked, sending a wave along with his multiple blasts. He resumed a stance with his arms up, shoulders hunched, slightly crouched, as he kept his eye on every opponent.

[valkoordb]

Bumi saw that Aelos was the most experinced by the way he prepared. The other two were all smiles, but Aelos was very intense. Bumi noted that he had been looking at the other two, but not at Bumi himself. 'Going for me eh?' he thought. Before he could prepare though a torent of fire was upon him. "Not good." he said putting his left arm out infront of him ready to block the flames. He did this well due to his fire proof cloth, but he still took the impact from the hits flying back a bit and the heat had practicaly given him an instant sun burn. 'If i weren't an air bender my feet would be above my head right now.' he thought. Bumi recovered his stance quickly and ran at his attacker, arms out behind him. As he came upon his opponent instead of throwing any puches, he slid between his legs, and jumped up behind him, so that the two were back to back. Bumi locked his oppponents arms with his and held tight throwing Aelos between himself and the his two other opponents. "Wow. That was dumb. Threw my left arm out doing that." Bumi resumed his pose, wincing in pain, as his left arm lay limp beside him. 'If I get a second I'll pop it back in place.' Bumi looked at the man he just threw. 'He must train hard because there is no way he ways that much from anything but muscle.'

[Cutekitty150]

Nanami used her bending and pushed herself out of the way so she wouldn't get hit. Looking back at Bumi she glared at him but smiled slightly. With in seconds she was right next to him. She made a fist. Taking her close chance she grabbed the front of his shirt, and used her other hand to punch him in the face. A lot of force was in that punch, which caused a bloody noise. Once again she went after him but remembered to keep an eye out for the others. She stopped than while he was still getting over the punch she kicked him in the most screwed up place( were the sun don't shine). Nanami than turned back to the others. using her bending she flew up in the air and landed a fairly far distance away. Her hand, and foot hurt from the attacks she used, so it was hard to bender her wrist, and fingers.

[Ketsora]

Akane

When Lenny mentioned that she had never seen a dual-bender before, Akane couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, "Well, you're going to run into quite a few of them here at Siang Wang. They're the inventors of the dual-bending training program." She mentioned the fact off-handedly. Plus, if Lenny was to be her roommate, she would probably end up meeting many of the other dual-benders who Akane had befriended over the years.

Suddenly, like a shot, the other girl went on about how she had never seen a firebender practice and then suggested a tour of the Academy, finally settling her attention on the training space around them. Apparently, Lenny was in her seventh year of schooling but only transfered here this year... so she was seventeen, same as her. As Akane considered how she was going to deal with living with such a light personality, she suddenly realized that the girl was an earthbender. She grinned widely at the fact. At least something good will come of this arrangement.

"That dummy's not much use for an earthbender," Akane commented, sending several shards of stone through it, watching as the hard-packed sand poured out, "In fact, a natural earthbender like yourself could probably tear it apart from the inside, since it's made of sand. Those are mostly used by waterbenders and a few archers who have no regard for keeping school property undamaged." She callously regarded the tears she had made in the equipment. The firebender looked up at the girl who was still balancing on the dummy, impressed that she could keep her footing on the thing. That was something else she would require of her roommate: balance lessons.

"You should take a dual-bending aptitude test," Akane went on, "And I could supplement any firebending training if the headmaster thinks that fire would be a good secondary element for you." She could tell that Lenny wouldn't have much patience for watching her firebend, despite her previous statement. It would probably be best not to ruin any more school property for the moment, so Akane performed a jump-kick, summoning flames and added a few quick fist strikes, then looked back to Lenny, "I really don't feel all that up to practicing, since I already finished my lightning training. I think I'd much prefer to give you the grand tour of the school. It's the least I can do as your upperclassman." It was of the utmost importance to make friends with this slightly flighty earthbender, Akane reminded herself, tucking a few strands of black hair behind her ear, so that she would have a chance to search for the Avatar. Besides, the girl wasn't that bad. A little twitch-worthy, sure, but she flashed her roommate a broad smile to cover up her thoughts.

Kesuk

Kesuk seated himself at an empty table at his favorite tea shop, one that held a view of the Siang Wang Academy. The young waterbender had only heard rumours of the types of students that got a coveted invitation to the school, and he placed his chin on the back of his hand. He took a long glance at the building once again, and saw a bolt of blue lightning shimmer over the walls. A fight so soon? Or are they already training the firebenders? The inner workings of the academy interested him much more than they should, and he continued to look on covetously until his tea arrived.

"Back again, Kes?" came a familiar voice. Kesuk rubbed the back of his neck with a laugh, "Yeah, I can't stay away. You make the best tea in the city, Anju." The head waitress of the shop, Anju, had been the reason Kesuk continued to come back and he knew there was no hiding it. Being from the Northern water tribe, Kesuk liked his green tea sort of weak, but with lots of flavor. Earth kingdom tea, especially from Omashu, was thick, strong, and bitter. He never managed to finish a cup, but he smiled for Anju anyway. It was almost a daily ritual of sorts, and she didn't seem to mind it.

Kesuk took a sip of the tea, trained by now not to grimace or even consider spitting it out, "Where's your father?" He raised his eyes cautiously, noticing that he and Anju were alone in the shop. "Dad is sick still. He trusted me to open up today," she admitted, then focused her attention towards Siang Wang, "They're fighting already. Benders. I don't understand you sometimes, you can get so hot-headed and arrogant." Not paying attention, she grabbed for the steaming teapot by the spout instead of the handle, then recoiled. Kesuk gathered the water from the glass by his elbow watching as it began to glow and he moved the water over her hand, healing the burn before it stung. She looked at him curiously, "Sorry. Not all benders, obviously. I've never seen you blow up before."

Kesuk just shrugged, and motioned for Anju to sit beside him. They sat in silence for a few minutes and sipped the tea, while the waterbender watched more lightning and flame lick the top of the walls with their reflection.

"We're looking over the wall," Kesuk decided, turning his head to face the tea waitress beside him. Anju cocked her head to the side, "Do what you want, but I'm staying firmly put. I told you, I don't trust the sorts of students they enlist in that place." The waterbender nodded, and grinned warmly at the girl to his left. He had never really noticed the sentiment in her before, but it made him strangely happy that she was so open with him, despite the fact he was a bender.

Leaving the shop, he created a small water vortex from the runoff in a rather large puddle at the base of the wall. It lifted him just high enough to get a glimpse at the students below, exchanging blows as the fight seemed to get bigger. He touched back down to the ground, and returned to Anju.

"A fight, you were right," he mused to himself, quietly. What do I have to do to get noticed by the headmaster? I could take those hot-blooded fools, I bet, he continued in his head, not even noticing as Anju placed her hand over his as she had been recently.

[Zatory-Master]

Ienzo jumped back as the air blown by the girl went against him. Her name was Nanami. "Hehe this shall be interesting," he said with a smile as Lee had also decided to join in this Battle royale. He looked at the three of them. Lee, Nanami, and Aelos. He started to prepare as lee began to count down, and in those counts Aelos was already at motion. "Shoot!" he shouted as he backflip thinking he was about to attack.

He watched as Nanami also attacked Lee, with Punches and kicks. "she's a pro bender?" as he saw her in pain. This was a perfect oppurtinity for Ienzo. They were not paying attention to him at all. He could attack Lee but the again it would almost seem like a 3 on 1 situation, and noticing that he fought Aelos already he decided to go at the girl. He quickly charged his lightning and shot out a sigle line of lightning at the tree behind Nanami causing one of the branches to fall on her head.

"Nanami! I was thought by a true experienced pro bender so you can say we are both are Probenders in a way," he said with a small chuckle as he ran towards her sending blue fire bullets from his fingers at her. "Remember Its because of me that your in this match!" He jumped in the air and began to spin his body and bending blue fire making him look like a blue comet. "The Ienzo wish comet!" he shouted as he went towards her.

[Cutekitty150]

Nanami used her air to get the branch off her head, the damage was miner but it hurt like hell. He skin was cut open as she started to bleed. " Damn", she jumped back, than created a air shield that surrounded her. With in seconds she had let her air turn into sharp wind currents. She jumped in the air and shot them at him, they could only last for a few minutes at a time than they will disappear. Nanami really started to get pissed, she forgot that Bumi was most likely raging with anger since she hurt him in the worst spot she could think out. Nanami did feel a little bad for what she choice to do in her attack but yet again he needed that to get fired up and let some of his steam escape. She landed on a tree, and attacked Ienzo with fire. She moved her hands around and pushed her arms and wrist forward at Ienzo, a huge blast of fire came shooting out, but on a cooler heat. The air that was blowing from up high had cooled her fire a little, it still was effective but it wouldn't hurt as much as if the fire was on full blast.

[valkoordb]

Bumi took the hit to the face, not able to block the attack from his left without his left arm, and his blood began to pour. He stepped back due to this, leaving himself open for a very cheap shot. "UNNN!" Bumi exclaimed falling down on one knee. 'Thats why I don't fight girls. They... ungh... they don't understand thats an unspoken rule. Don't hit a guy in the groin!' he thought as he stood back up popping his arm back into place, quietly thanking his third opponent for giving him a moments reprive.

"ok... *cough* I mean, ok time to get serious." with that Bumi craked his neck extremely loud, and assumed a diffrent stance. He wasn't playing around anymore. His hands were out infront of him slightly bent and his eyes were closed. He was waiting, none of these three had seen his fight with the chiblockers, they didn't know he could bend. Bumi then looked up and saw the girl in the tree. "Is every airbender in the city here?" Bumi asked. He saw both of his opponents were using their bending to shoot ranged blast at eachother. So he decided to screw with them. He watched Aelos as he began to stop the other two's blast of bending, by shooting his own twoards them. Lets see them fight long range while I hold back there attacks. Bumi though very focused kept watch on Aelos still, if he rushed Bumi he was going to use one his own cheap strategies. It was no Kick to the groin, but it was something.

[TheDoctor]

Even though Aelos was thrown by Lee, he could tell that it had caused the man strain, and he heard a faint pop as he was released. Regaining his senses in mid air, he flipped and landed in a low, crouched position. As he took in his surroundings and position, he noticed Lee recieve a hit right in the groin. Flinching as he watched, he chuckled on the inside. Well, there is no such thing as a cheap shot when it comes to combat. You gotta be ready for anything in a fight, guard every part of you at all costs.

Then, suddenly, he watched Ienzo go for Nanami, and Nanami go for Ienzo, while Lee assumed a different stance. His eyes were closed and his hands were in front of him. Be cautious. Your greatest enemy in combat is recklessness. Keeping his focus on Lee while still keeping part of his senses with the other two, Aelos moved his arms in a spiral approaching his chest, brought his feet together, and blasted Lee with a large tunnel of wind. Continuing after the attack, Aelos leapt very high over Lee with his airbending, raining blasts of fire over him as he landed ten feet from Lee on the other side, ending the sequence with a few slashes of his feet, resulting in diagonal blades of fire accelerating towards Lee.

It had all happened in a few seconds, and as he finished, Aelos assumed a different stance. His knees were bent, one arm was in front of him and one was near his chest, a defense stance that enabled him to block or dodge from any angle. He was prepared for close-combat, for when he was young, he had engaged in fights that resulted in hand-to-hand combat. The first ones that he had encountered he had been unprepared for, which had led to his quick defeat. He took that weakness, however, and forged it into a strength through consistent practice and consistent failures. It was incredibly grueling work, for his combat had been made up of only bending up to that point. He had to achieve an entirely different mindset, not to mention a completely different set of movements. If you cannot admit your weaknesses, then you have no right to speak of your strengths. Take your weaknesses and make them your strengths. Aelos was not a very knowledgable man; he hardly even knew how to read. However, due to his past experiences, he was still a wise man, one who had seen many things and learned many things from himself and others in a rather short amount of time. His strength was in combat, his weakness in knowledge.

[Zatory-Master]

Ienzo attack was weakened and eventually cancelled by that of nanami's wind attacks. "Damn, dual benders. she is just like Aelos." he thought as he dodged her attacks and and observed as she seemed to be thinking of Lee. He then watched a little bit of blood trickle down her white hair from the tree branch. "hhmm, seems like I hurt her...but if she continues to fight then so be it." he thoght to himself as he was about to shoot fire."

Aelos and nanami were both blocked by Lee's quick Chiblocking jabs. This made the fight a little fair between nanami and him. Not so much for Aelos against Lee. This was now a very intense match.

"Hey, beautiful, I will make you my main target!" he made a wall of blue fire around her and himself. "Lets dance, this way you won't be distracted by them." He took a stand and began shooting blue fire waves straight at the white haire female. Then running up to her and tapping her with two fingers on her forhead causing her to go off balance. He then stood in a postion waiting for her counter attack. "Come on, beautiful...lets see what your fire can do""