Disclaimer: Don't own Avatar: The Last Air-bender nor do I own Fairy Tail. This is not for commercial purposes.
Notes: Talk - Normal speech.
Talk - Flashback.
Talk - Thoughts
Talk - Magic's name
CHAPTER TWO
Aang swung his head to the side to dodge the punch aimed at him. He ducked the next punch still aimed for his head feeling the hand glide over the back of his neck as he swiveled round to retaliate with a sharp kick. A small burst of pressurized air exploded from his heel impacting his opponent pushing him roughly across the hard ground.
He breathed out as the adrenaline wore out from his body and weariness crept in slowly making its presence known. He had being fighting for what felt like hours now and honestly he felt like he couldn't go on anymore. With each passing minutes, he felt closer to his limits while his opponent, Bacchus, continued undeterred by the multiple cuts and bruises that littered his skin. Bacchus got up and quickly approached Aang.
Aang swung his arm around, controlling the air current allowing him to propel himself upwards, his torn robe fluttering in the wind and staff kept diagonally across his back. He took his staff, spun it in the air before swing it down in an arc that delivered a devastating jet of pressurized air towards his opponent. He watched as his opponent fluidly dodged the attack though he was pushed back from the force of the attack. He descended down and rushed towards his opponent.
Although his opponent was bigger and stronger than him, years of training as an air-bender, the natural grace and speed of his people coupled with his experience and advantage over the very air gave him an edge or at least made him more than a match for the drunken falcon.
Blows parried, staff laid forgotten amid the flurry of motion as the two battled it out. Aang jumped up dodging a kick aimed for his solar plexus before delivering a wide kick which sent his opponent skidding some feet back. His opponent ran forward, feinting to his left when Aang aimed an attack to his side. With speed unbefitting of his build, he lashed out at Aang landing a solid hit to the kid's stomach sending him flying back towards the wall.
As he laid on the ground groaning due to the tremendous pain he was in, he distantly heard the gasps from the crowd and the worried shouts from his guild mates, telling him to be strong, to not give up. His opponent stepped into view and raised his foot over his chest intending to end the fight.
Before the foot impacted with his chest, he mustered enough strength to swing his leg in a wide arc expelling air forcefully, sending him crashing into the wall, creating an indentation on the surface of the hard stone, in the process raising himself up. With an air enhance speed, he moved towards the slowly rising drunkard.
Who suddenly aimed a devastating spinning kick to his neck. Aang dropped with inhuman speed and just manage to dodge the attack by balancing on one finger.
"Woah!" Aang exclaimed, rolling away from the following drop kick. He flipped up, rolling briefly, stopping some few feet away.
Bacchus stood up and laughed.
"Alright little man, seems like you won't stay down?" Bacchus slurred even though it was clear he wasn't drunk.
Aang scratched his head in confusion making him laugh louder.
"Do you know? I wanted to make a bet with you at the beginning of the match. I did not since you look weak, " he ignored the glare sent his way. "but since . . . Well, since you are strong enough to keep up with me at least in speed, then, it's fair we have a bet."
Aang narrowed his eyes.
"If I win, you give me that stick." Bacchus wagered.
"What!? . . . No!"
"And if you do win . . . Quatro Cerberus will change their name to . . . Quatro Puppy for the rest of the tournament." he continued as if he didn't hear Aang's denial.
Aang was worried. With the way things were going, he wasn't sure he will win this fight. But he won't lose, not after talking to Wendy . . .
He entered the room Wendy was kept in. He had waited until Elfman and the rest has left the room before entering, so that both of them could talk in private so he could explain himself. He stopped near her bed.
"I know you wanted Elfman to take your place instead of me. I don't know why I wanted to compete, maybe it's so I don't feel like I am weak or I needed some action," he sighed. "I know you are asleep and probably won't hear me but just know that it seems I made a mistake and to correct that, I will not participate. I will let Elfman take my place." he was about to turn away from the lying girl when he was stopped by a hand that gripped his wrist. Turning, he saw the determined expression on the blue haired girl.
"I agree. I initially wanted Elfman to compete in my place but that doesn't mean I won't allow you. I know how it feels to be seen as weak due to your age and size. When I first met Fairy Tail, I wasn't confident in my abilities but as time passed, gradually they taught me to be confident in my powers. So Aang, I believe in you and you should too."
The amount of belief placed in those words won't allow him to lose. For Wendy, he shall surely win.
. . . With his resolve strengthened, he nodded towards his opponent signalling he agreed to the bet. Bacchus agreed and drank his alcohol from his gourd, saying that he will finish the fight now. Once finished drinking, Bacchus crouches into a stance; his knees bent while his hands are diagonally stretched upwards.
If I want to win, Aang thought I must use it.
Bacchus then attacks with incredible speed, landing seven hits in an instant. However, he discovers that what he presumed he hit wasn't actually the kid, it was actually multiple stone walls. He looked up as a figure he recognized as his opponent appeared in the air, making some weird gestures with his hands. Feeling something clamp down on his ankles, he looked down, surprised to see his leg held down by the very earth herself.
Aang, now a few feet in the air away from Bacchus released a large burst of pressurize air at point blank range at his opponent, destroying the surrounding land. He landed softly, groaning as he got on his knees waiting for the dust to clear. It did, exposing the collapsed body of his opponent. He collapsed backwards, his injuries making themselves known in the worst way possible.
As he laid there, vision slowly going black. He barely heard the commentator award Fairy Tail ten points. He shakily gave his cheering teammates a thumbs up before finally losing consciousness.
