A new day has begun as the warm, yellow sun rises above the South Pole. As the sun washes over the South Pole, people start to wake up and start their day. This is not true for all people of the tribe; there is still one 18 year old boy still fast asleep in his bed.
The door quietly opens, and a mystery figure walks into the young man's room. The figure walks up to the bed, and just watches him for a little bit. Then the figure grabs the animal skin blanket and pulls it off his bed. The person then runs over to the window and pulls the curtains open, so that the sun shines directly on the boys face. Soon the boy begins to stir, and begins to realize who is doing this to him.
"You know Aurora; there are nicer ways to wake up your brother on his birthday." Avan said sitting up rubbing his eyes. "Anyway it's too early to get up."
"Oh please Avan, it's my birthday too. Besides it's Dad that wants you to get up, and meet him down by the ice ridge." Aurora said rolling her eyes at her brother. "Now get dressed, and we'll walk down there together. Today is the day you get your arrows."
"I could have got those years ago; Dad is just holding me back for some reason."
"Avan, just get ready and try not to be so down in the dumps today. Dad really worked hard on this course for you, and I think he knows what he's doing."
"Of course he does, he's the Avatar."
"Quit whining, and get ready." With that Aurora turned, and left his room.
Avan just sat on his bed and looked out the window for a few minutes. Then he got up and started to get dressed. Avan was a very good looking boy. He was muscular, but not too buff. He was over 6 ft tall, and had nice tan skin. His eyes were a calming shade of stormy grey, and he had long shaggy black hair. Most people told him that he looked like his father did when he was younger, only with hair.
Avan put on his coat and then walked out into the meeting area where Aurora was waiting for him. Aurora also had a lot of resemblance to their mother. She had long flowing brown hair, and a grace that was all her own. Bright blue eyes, and tan skin that was flawless. She was around 5'7", and could hold her own on the battle field. As soon as Avan walked into the room, Aurora got up and rushed the two of them out the door.
"Hey watch it!" Avan said as she almost led him right into the door.
"Well you're the one who took too long, now we're late." Aurora said still waking fast.
"How could we be late for something that is specifically designed for me?"
"Well did you take into account that the arrows would take awhile to tattoo on your body?"
"That's what I am looking forward too, a birthday full of pain."
"You're just a big baby. Now get your butt in gear."
The pair rushed through the town, and soon arrived at the ice ridge. The ridge had been transformed into an obstacle course that only an air bending master could complete. As Avan and Aurora looked over the course they notice a couple of things missing, their parents.
"Mom! Dad! We're here!" Aurora yelled out.
For a second it seemed like no one was around to hear her call, and then out of no where a giant flying bison came from the end of the course. As soon as Appa landed, Aang jumped off of him to greet his children. Aang was a bit more ripped then Avan was, but years of saving the world and restoring the peace is a big work out. Aang had again shaved off his hair in honor of Avan's tattoo right of passage, but now he had a mustache, goatee combo. He still had that heart warming smile.
"Morning you two, took you long enough to get here." Aang said, "By the way happy birthday to the two of you."
"Thanks Dad." The twins said in unison.
"Well sleepy head over here wouldn't get out of bed." Aurora said.
"I didn't take that long." Avan said.
"Yeah right," Aurora turn back to her dad. "Hey Dad, Where is Mom?"
"She is waiting for you at the end of the course. Here, take Appa."
Avan watched his sister climb up on Appa and fly off towards where their dad had come from. "I can't even see her anymore, how long is the course?"
"I think your mother and I stopped around a mile and a half just over that hill."
"A mile and a half! Don't you think that's a little long?"
"Monkey-feathers no, not for my son. This will be no trouble for you at all."
"Whatever you say, so when can I start the course?"
"First a little explanation, the first part of the course it will be on foot, more of an evasive and form test. The about half way through the course there will be a glider waiting for you, which I had a friend of mine make especially for you. So the last part will be a flying test. Got it?"
"Got it Dad."
"That's my boy, now are you ready to get started?"
"Ready as I'll ever be."
Aang opened up his own glider, "Ok…ready… go." Aang then jumped up in the air and glided along side Avan, setting off all parts of the course.
Avan ran at full speed using air bending to duck and dodge all the obstacles on the course. Soon he reached the point where his glider was waiting for him. His glider was designed for a new generation of air benders. It came with a holster that is could be folded up into, and was made of almost indestructible material. Avan opened it up, and took off as fast as he could.
Soon he could see his mother and Aurora, so he guessed that was where the end was. Aang was just throwing boulders at him at this point, and Avan was dodging them with ease.
"Come on Dad, you can do better then that." He yelled as he dodged again.
"I think you should be paying attention." Aang yelled back and then turned away from Avan.
"Where is he going?" Avan wondered, Then he found out when he turned back to see his mother and sister bending the biggest wave Avan had ever seen. It was too late to dodge like his dad did; all he could do was climb as fast as he could on his glider.
He kept climbing and climbing, but soon he realized that he would not be able to reach to top of the wave before it hit. So he did the only thing he could think of at the time. He shot off the biggest air blast he could without losing balance of the glider and blasted it at the wave. The wave parted only slightly, but there was no time for second guessing.
Avan plunged into the wave; as soon as he entered the hole in the wave it began to close around him. The wave closed on top of him, but Avan still had enough momentum to make it through the wave and still keep his glider flying.
The wave was the final part of the test, and Avan landed his glider only a few yards away from his mother and sister. He was catching his breath and trying to dry himself off, but failing miserably. Aang landed right next to him, and Katara and Aurora came running over too them.
"So…how did…I do?" Avan asked his father still a little winded.
"Well you were doing well until that wave." Aang said looking at the course again.
"You mean I didn't pass because of that wave?"
"No, I mean you did pass because of the wave. It's all about quick thinking and fast reflexes, and you passed with flying colors. You're getting your arrows."
"Great job Avan." Katara said giving him hug.
"Thanks Mom, but could you do something about the water, I think I am about to get frostbite."
"Sure, no problem sweetie." She said while bending the water out of his cloths.
"Now let's go home and get started on those arrows; I bet I could get them done by noon. I am warning you that it does hurt, so be prepared." Aang said.
The four of them walked back to their home, and began the long process of giving Avan his arrows. First they needed to shave his hair; which Avan put up much protest too. Then Aang started the tattoo, and did it as pain free as he could. Avan winced in pain every now and again, but for the most part he kept his composure like a true warrior.
After what seemed like forever for Avan, Aang completed the arrows. Katara then handed him a mirror to look at them.
"So how do you like them?" Aang asked cleaning up the supplies.
"Why are there two colors of blue?" Avan asked.
Aang had done Avan's tattoos with the original light blue, and then had outlined it in a darker blue.
"I thought the tradition could use a revamp, now your arrows are your own."
"Thanks Dad." Now all Avan could focus on was the pain.
"Well I guess we should let you and your sister enjoy your birthday, just remember to head to Grandpa's house at sun down." Katara said.
"Thanks Mom and Dad," Aurora said then turned and grabbed Avan by the wrist, "We'll see you later."
With that Aurora dragged Avan out of their house, and a few blocks to the fountain in the middle of the town.
"Why did we come here?" Avan asked.
"I know those tattoos must hurt so I thought I help you out." Aurora said dipping her hands in the fountain and bending water around them. Then she placed them on Avan's newly shaven head, and healed his pain.
"Thanks, but now all I can focus on is how cold my head is now."
"Do you ever stop whinning?" Aurora joked and splashed him with water.
"Hey, stop that I was just kidding." Avan said blocking her slashes.
The two were just laughing and sitting near the fountain, but then their cousin and his friend came up to them.
"Hey you two, happy birthday." Koda said. Koda looked more like his mother then his father, but he did have characteristics that were distinctly Sokka like his strong chin and his sense of humor.
"Thanks Koda." Avan said then just frowned at Koda friend.
"Hey there Aurora." Rhett said. Rhett and the twins never really got along with each other, because he always tries to hit on Aurora.
"Ugh hi Rhett." Aurora said not even looking at him.
"Well now that you're of age, would you like to be my arm candy?"
"Is there second option?'
"Now listen Aurora, I've given you chance after chance to be with me."
"I thought you'd get the hint by now."
"Well you think your all high and mighty; no one is going to want you."
"Dude back off." Avan said jumping in between them.
"Now baldy is going to stop me? Don't make me laugh, you're an outcast."
"Rhett those are my cousins don't talk that way to them." Koda said.
"No Koda, I am sick of this little bitch speaking to me like that. She'll never do better than me."
"That's it, you stop talking to her like that. She deserves a guy ten times, no a hundred times better than you." Avan said.
"Oh yeah, who is going to make me stop?"
"I am!" Avan said clenching his fists.
"Don't make me laugh."
"I am serious; I challenge you to a bending battle."
"Ok right now, let's go to the ridge."
"I am game."
"You're about to be broken."
"Whatever are you coming?"
"Right behind you."
Aurora ran up to catch Avan, "Avan, are you sure you want to do this? Rhett was first in his year in water bending and second only to Koda in hand to hand combat."
"Yes, he needs to know that he can't speak that way to you or any other girl. He's just a jerk."
"Yeah he is, but I don't want you to get hurt because of me."
"Don't worry Aurora, just believe in me."
"I do, Avan."
"Thanks Aurora."
Hey everyone,
I am back, and so are the twins. Stick around to see the fight between Avan and Rhett, I am sure you will enjoy it. Please comment.
