Chapter One: Brothers
The earth shook as the rocky pillars rose from the ground, chunks of earth went flying in all directions smashing heavily into the ground. The shudder from the impact sent Sky tumbling across the ground; he stood and wiped the beads of sweat from his face and pushed his hair out of his vision. He squinted through the dust looking for his brother's figure, a mass of earthy mist drifted in obscuring his view. Thud, a boulder landed inches from his front. In a flash he kicked off the rock sending it back where it came from, he flipped in the air and landed on one hand digging it deep into the ground, as he rolled over he flicked his hand back cause the earth to ripple towards his opponent. He heard a thud to his left followed by a groan mixed with a snarl. He saw it just in time, the flames flying through the dust like a flock of fiery birds. He corrected his stance and pulled at the earth forming an rocky barricade between himself and the flames.
"Fine," he thought, "if you want fight like this let's do it" and he focused his breathing and felt the air around himself. He flexed his palm and pulled the air towards himself and pushed it into the dust ahead. He drew back his breath and pushed his hands out clearing the air in front of him.
"Stop air bending this was an earth bending fight." Came his brothers voice now from his right.
"You where the one who fire bended first" Sky replied brushing the dirt from his dark green shirt.
"I got angry and it just happened, it was unintentional." He said again finally coming into view. His fringe covering his eyes, about and inch taller than Sky but with the same built appearance.
"What ever you say Creed," Sky signed as they walked out of the barn and towards the house.
"Your still, upset that I learnt how to fire bend while you where still on the basics of earth bending." Creed sneered while walking up the stone path ahead of Sky.
"We may both have the power and potential to be Avatars but there can only be one that truly masters all the elements.
"Well it seems I have the hang of air, which I might add was said to be the most challenging element for us" Sky said holding back a laugh. He slowed his pace as he felt the air currents shift and he looked to the sky in time to see the sky bison fly past. He forgot his brother and took off for the field; he slammed his foot into the ground pulling a pillar of earth out to propel him into the air. He used the air to direct his landing to the stable roof where he rolled into a crouch; he stood to over look the fields where the sky bison lay. She was as black as night with the markings of the Southern air temple printed across her fur in the brightest blue.
"Akasha, how's my favorite sky bison?" Sky shouted as he ran down the slope to the side of the bison. Akasha gave a loud welcoming rumble as she turned to face Sky.
"Pavana come out here already!" He yelled looking towards the Bison's top. A rustling came from Akasha's saddle. A figure dropped suddenly making Sky jump back in fright.
"BOO!" cried Pavana with a smile. Pavana was an inch or so shorter than Sky but with jet-black hair that reached her shoulders. Her pale blue eyes where stern but playful as she looked into his. "How you doing?" she asked.
"Eh, alright Creed is as competitive as ever but I am dealing with it." He replied.
"Be careful I feel his is getting impatient, he still believes only one of you will master four elements. That kind of mind set is dangerous for the both of your sakes." Pavana signed turning away from Sky contemplating the matter further. She returned her focus to Sky once more and changed the subject. "How has your air bending been going?"
"Great, I am using it in combat it is very useful." Sky replied happily.
"Remember air is not an aggressive element it is used to resolve conflict peacefully not through violence." Said Pavana.
"Yes Master" Sky replied sarcastically as he began walking back towards house. Pavana rolled her eyes and looked to Akasha.
"What are we going to do with him?" She asked leaning ageist the bison. She moaned a reply and Pavana smiled.
"Pavana come on dinners going to get cold." Sky exclaimed from half way up the slope back from the field to the house and stables. Pavana laughed and with a few hand movements was perched upon a ball of air and zooming towards Sky. As she passed him he also reached out for the air and created a ball to sit upon and raced up the steep bank. They both pushed up and flew through the air landing on the roof and ran along towards the house.
Creed was growing impatient his clients where half an hour late and if he wasn't back home in five minutes people would start getting suspicious and he couldn't risk suspicion. He paced the cold rock floor of the cave a mile away from home within the deep forest it was riddled with networks of canals and catacombs. The footsteps awoke him from his restless daydream as two hooded figures approached.
"Your late!" he hissed.
"Sorry for the inconvenience but we were held up." Came a sly male voice from the figure on the right no part of his face was visible but he was much shorter than Creed but there was a feel to his voice that sounded like power.
"I don't care about excused I just want my report." Creed snarled growing even more impatient.
"We have surveyed all over the Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom and found many capable warriors that will fight for you." Came a flat female voice from the left figure. Her tone made it impossible for Creed to judge her attitude so he turned to the man.
"Split up, one goes to the Northern Water Tribe while the other to the South. Find me more recruits and above all find me a water-bending teacher. If my brother can learn the elements out of the order so shall I." He said turning from the hooded figures and walking towards the exit.
"What about the Air Nomads, would you like us to recruit any of them?" The hooded male asked.
Creed did not stop walking or even turn. "No, those spineless pacifists wont take part in any war. We have nothing to gain or fear from them." The two hooded figures turned and walked back the way they came.
A wicked smile grew across Creeds face, things where falling into place.
Sky and Pavana walked into the dinning room of Sky's house as his mum lay the table with the crockery. She was a tall woman with greying hair. Her face still had its youthful glow. Her hazel eyes looked kindly upon the two as they walked past.
"Hello Pavana, how are you?" She asked her voice as sweet as honey.
"Oh I am grand thanks you, how about you Lillian?" Pavana replied.
"Quite well thank you, our produce is selling great we have huge market in Ba Sing Sei." She said beaming with pride. "Sky would you mind going and finding your brothers dinner is ready now?" She asked as she walked out and towards the kitchen.
"Will do mum," he said walking back to the front door.
"I'll give you a hand Lillian," Pavana said walking into the kitchen.
Sky walked along the path towards the single roomed unit across the property where his older brother Cain lived. He had moved out when the twins had discovered both their bending and there destinies as the Avatar. Sky knocked on the door three times. Slow dragged footsteps responded and a moment later the door opened slowly. Cain stood in the doorway his dark brown eyes painted the usual glare across his face. He had a messy unshaven beard and dark curly hair that was like a mop over his face. He glared down at Sky.
'What do you want Sky?" He moaned.
"Mum want you home for dinner." Sky replied happily.
"I'll be there now, just let me finish a few errands, cause you know some of us non-benders have to work a little harder than you." He spat and slammed the door making the house shake.
Sky sighed as he walked away. There father had been an earth bending legend, Bolin had helped Avatar Korra during the war against Amun and he had hoped his sons would continue to be mighty earth benders. But Cain showed no earth bending talents. When both Sky and Creed showed earth bending talent he became full of joy. He sadly never got to discover their destinies as the Avatar's. Cain had always felt slightly unwanted by his father, as he was not a bender he found comfort in only his mother who was also a non-bender.
Sky returned to the house and headed for Creed's room, as he did he past the window and stopped suddenly as a shadowy figure caught his eye. He looked back but nothing was there. He stared intently out of the window for another few seconds before resuming his walk to his brother's room. As he reached the door hi curled his hand into a knuckle and prepared to knock when he felt the air currents shift and he turned to face Creed.
"Hello Sky." Creed said his voice cold as ice.
"Oh there you are Creed," Sky said nervously "Mum wants you to know that dinner is ready" Sky continued.
"I will be there soon." He replied and moved past Sky to open the door to his room. Sky turned to walk back to the dinning room. "Sky." Creed exclaimed "I want a rematch tomorrow." He said smiling slyly.
"Earth bending only?" Sky asked.
"No" he said. "Fire verses air lets see what's stronger." Creed's smile grew as he saw Sky's reaction.
Sky let the idea linger through his mind, he should really consult with Pavana she would have some insight. But before he could continue the thought.
"Your on" he replied and walked back to the dinning room a little unsettled.
Sky returned to the dinning room where Pavana sat on the left of his mother. She looked at him in confusion.
"Is everything alright Sky?" she asked pushing back her chair to stand. He motioned for her to remain seated.
"I'll talk to you later." He said trying to sound sure of himself. Creed and Cain walked in from opposite sides of the house and looked at each other for a moment before dropping the gaze and moving straight to their seats, Sky join them. Their mother beamed with happiness, her family all together.
"The families not all here mum, you can stop pretending" Creed sighed rolling his eyes.
"Creed, seriously?" Sky sighed as his brother grinned triumphantly. "Mum, he was just being stupid." Sky tried to comfort his mother.
"No its fine Sky, its hard for us all." She replied calming herself down. Sky resumed eating but could not muster the apatite any more.
"I'll eat later" he said rising from the table and walking towards the back door. He heard Pavana's voice from the table, she was coming after him. He opened the door to the lawn and picked up his pace bolting for the barn where Akasha stayed. He slowed as he reached the door and walked in to see the jet-black bison chewing on the hay in the far corner. She moaned as she turned to face him half eaten hay falling from her mouth. Sky took a step towards the bison and felt the air shift he turned to run but Pavana grabbed him first.
"Where are you running off to in such a rush?" She asked pulling him back so hard he fell.
"Can't I get some time to my self?" he moaned getting up and dusting himself off.
"Nope I find great joy in toying with you, now lets get your mind off things and on some airbending practice."
"But its almost pitch black outside" Sky said motioning to the darkening sky.
"It will help you learn to fell the air so that no one can sneak up on you like I just did." She laughed. Pavana walked out of the barn towards the shed they used for training. Sky stayed put. He had to tell her about his fight with Creed tomorrow, he needed the advice. He ran out of the barn and to her side.
"Creed challenged me to a fight tomorrow." He blurted out uncontrollably.
"Well that's good, both of you are fine earth benders." She smiled happily.
"No, he wanted to fight air with fire, see who is stronger." Sky continued slowly waiting for the reply. Pavana stopped her smile gone for a moment. "While I do not agree with this fight I will say this, use the air defensively and. Kick his ass" she said turning to him with a grin on her face. He laughed with her as they walked towards the shed.