Part 2 - Order
Claire waltzed through the streets of Republic City, the cooking of fresh food clouding the air as she spied the Colosseum in the distance where the Theatre hall used to be.
"Time to enter the Tournament!" she confidently ventured onwards.
As she reached the area where it stood, a massive horde of people surrounded her vision. The sound of chatter drowned out all other noise while the smell of food continued to fill the air.
Claire approached the entrance, where two of the City Guard stood.
"Hello, Miss. Are you here to spectate or participate?"
"Participate!"
"Ah, wait a moment! I recognise you; you're the Avatar!"
She nodded as confusion grew within her.
"Oh, yeah! She is. Apologies, Avatar, but we can't allow you to take part in the Tournament."
"I can't compete in the Tournament? Why not?"
The Guards stared at one another, then back to her, "Well, uh... It's a bit self-explanatory, isn't it? You're the Avatar. You competing in the Tournament would give you an unfair advantage."
She tried to retort his statement, but Kang, Khana, and Ghazi approached her.
"Claire! Are you competing too!?"
But she shook her head, "I'm not allowed since I'm the Avatar."
"Shame. Because we're going to be taking part!"
She hesitantly chuckled, "guess I dodged a boulder there then..."
Kang chuckled and sauntered forward while Ghazi marched behind. However, Khana stood next to Claire, "If you'd like, we can have a duel after all this is over."
She softly scoffed, "Not gonna blast my gut again, are you?"
Khana lightly quivered, "That... nevermind!" she strode in with the others to participate in the Tournament.
Claire sighed, watching her leave before approaching the guards a second time, "Will you be spectating, Avatar?"
"Yeah."
They let her waltz in and up onto the stands, taking in the atmosphere's chatter as she sat and gazed down at the battleground.
Kang, Khana, and Ghazi scanned the Tournament spreadsheet, spotting the names of the Governors and Ty Lee on the board.
"I didn't think the Governors would compete..." Kang said.
The sound of several people approaching echoed throughout the hall, "Well, of course! Who do you think put it together?"
They turned to find the Governors and Ty Lee standing before them, the Governors in vests of their respective colours, navy baggy pants, a white undershirt and brown boots, whilst Ty Lee stood in her Kyoshi Warrior outfit.
"Hou set this up so he can relive his Earth Rumble days," Gao said.
He confidently flexed his biceps for his minimal crowd, "Yep! I was the Champion thirteen times!"
"The Preliminaries seem like they're short on participants... it won't be much of a tournament with only eight people," Khana said.
His proud display turned to dismay, "Jing, you sent out those invitations for the opening day, right?"
"I told you I did!"
The echoes of more people filled the hall, "He even sent them to the White Lotus members!"
The eight turned to discover Tenzin, adorned in a marron shawl and a murky yellow, baggy jumpsuit. Kya in a short sky blue robe and navy blue pants. Ho Tun in a dark green vest and black pants. And Shu in crimson robes. All approaching, followed by Zu in his shredded, unkempt grey Gi and Li in his yellow vest and brown shorts.
"And we're taking part too!"
"We're still short two participants..." Hou muttered, wincing at the thought of having to call off the Tournament.
But another person came running in, surprising Kang and Khana as he came into view, "Joseph! You're taking part too?"
He came running in adorned with a pure white sleeveless shirt and golden wristbands. Light grey pants and black marshal boots covered his lower body.
"Ye better believe it, laddie! Being Stand-In Chief of the Water Tribe was getting quite dull..." his eyebrows swiftly slanted, "Aye... Don't tell Unalaq I said that."
"We're still short one person..." Hou scanned around, hoping anyone else would arrive.
"What about Lin?" Kang asked.
"She's working the security."
"We could always let Claire take part!" Khana said.
Hou shook his head and heavily sighed before turning to her, "Only as a last resort if no one shows up!"
The citizens packed the stands in the Colosseum, but a spot next to Claire remained open until another white-haired woman sat next to her.
"I see you copied my look!"
The woman turned to face the Avatar as her sapphire blue eyes peered at her, "Where do you think you got that look from, Darling?"
Claire jumped in surprise as she discovered her mother Norrak sat next to her, adorned in a Sky-blue robe draping just above her knees with long flowing sleeves, navy blue pants and fluffy brown boots covering her legs. Her white hair brushing against her shoulders.
"Mother! What are you doing here!?"
The two happily hugged.
"Your father's taking part, so I tagged along to cheer him on!"
The two released their embrace and stared at each other, "Dad's participating? Well... this is gonnae be awkward."
The fifteen participants chatted amongst themselves while the Preliminary spots were all filled except for one until the sound of clicking hooves reverberated throughout the hall.
A Guard next to the board pulled out a short-range communicator, "A final participant's shown up? Excellent! Governor Hou was getting nervous," he marked down their name.
"Who is it?" Kang muttered as he peered at where the guard wrote.
The clicking of hooves inched ever closer, a woman dressed in dark grey metal armour covering her torso, a black robe draping to just above her knees, metal gauntlets covering her forearms. Her ashen-white deer-like legs remained bare and Her eyes a blood-red, surrounded by inky blackness. Her black hair flowed down to her back, and her ears elongated into sharp knife-like points.
The participants gawked at the woman whilst Joseph's eyes cautiously widened.
"Hmm, I suppose I should've expected that reaction," the odd woman rubbed her ash-white chin and eyed up Joseph, "ah, but you! You're different!"
"Mind explaining what ye're doing here, elf?"
But she scoffed, "Oh, so hostile, but if it eases your worries, I shall explain."
The elf crossed her arms as she observed the combatants, "my name is Ragna; I have lived in the four nations for three decades as a part of the Demon Hunter Society."
Everyone raised a quizzical eyebrow, "Demon Hunter Society?" Khana asked as she scratched her head.
"Demons, more commonly known as 'Dark Spirits' by the lesser creative minds of your world."
She slowly nodded as Ragna took a breath, "But several months ago, I received a message from the Shadowlord. My orders were to find and retrieve the remains of a human known as Masato."
The Boys hopped forward, "There wasn't a whole lot of him left, so I'm afraid you may have come all this way for nothing," Zu said as he defiantly crossed his beefy arms.
Ragna's eyes wondrously widened as she gazed up at his mighty form, but she quickly whiffled her head, "To a Primal human, it would appear that way, but I am sure you know very little about the ways of Shadow-Benders."
She reached into her pocket and pulled out a familiar amulet.
"Hey! Claire and I found that in his lair!"
"This amulet contains the soul and power of the human known as Masato. I must return it to my lord, and from there... I cannot say what will happen."
The Boys worryingly watched her pocket the amulet, "I understand you were his friends, but rest assured you have my word he will return safely, Ro mo bheatha, tha mi a'mionnachadh air."
She placed a fist to her palm and briefly bowed to the boys.
"Are you two sure about this? It all seems very... shady," Zu whispered.
Kang and Li inaudibly muttered before gazing up at him.
"Well... her and this... Shadowlord know what they're doing, right?"
Kang nodded, "If his soul is really trapped in there, then they're the only ones who can help him now."
Zu heavily sighed and unfolded his arms, "I suppose you're right,"
Joseph stood beside The Boys, "That still doesnae explain why ye're participating in the tournament."
"Why else but to fight? I have faced countless demons, but never a good Primal bender," she gazed up at Zu then back to Joseph, "is that a worthy enough explanation, Light-bender?"
He smirked, "If you lot are done, the introduction ceremony's about to begin!" Hou interjected.
"Wait!" Ragna shouted, raising a hand to the air, "one of you... stinks of a demon."
The participants curiously and cautiously stared at each other as Ragna's eyes slithered around them, her gaze fixing on Khana, "You! With the nice hair!"
Khana stepped back, her fists clenched and teeth gritted, "are you implying I'm a demon? It's a new one, but I've heard worse!"
Ragna passively raised her hands, "no, no. Although I could see where you would get the idea,"
She approached her and plucked a jewel from her satchel. The Hunter handed the dim glowing crystal to her, "Hold onto this, and whatever corruption the demon left on you will fade."
Khana took hold of the gem, wrapping it in her palms as her nerves tingled all over and her eyes quizzically flared at the sensation.
Ragna smirked as the Kyoshi Warrior pocketed it inside her gauntlet, and with that out of the way, the sixteen participants made their way out into the Arena.
"Ladies and Gentlemen! Welcome to the first annual Tournament of Glory!" The announcer charismatically shouted and riled up the crowd.
The Sixteen participants marched out onto the field, the afternoon sun illuminating the Arena made of earth, surrounded by a large water ring.
"And here come our combatants for the Tournament! May Glory go to the strongest of these warriors!"
The participants waved to the crowd whilst Claire cheered for them all and Norrak cheered solely for Joseph. The announcer introduced all the participants with their titles, the cheering and aweing of the crowd invigorating their spirits.
"The first battle is between The Goggled Dragon, Kang! And The Governor of Fire, Gao!"
The crowd cheered their names whilst the other participants took their leave.
"Good luck, Gao!" Sheng said.
The Fire-benders stood on opposite sides of the Arena, cracking their necks and loosening their muscles.
"Get ready to fight for Glory!"
"This will hardly be a challenge!"
"Eh, don't let that ego be a downfall of yours!"
"Fight for Glory!"
Gao engaged Kang with a mighty roar of flame, but he merely rolled out of the way, standing back up and watching the fire stream. The Fire struck the wall of the Arena and spread up into the sky. But Kang sat next to it then dipped a fish on a stick inside the Fire.
"He's, uh... cooking... He knows this is a duel, right?"
The stream of Fire ceased as Gao quizzically glared at Kang, watching him stand up with his fish on the stick, "Hey! It's not fully cooked yet!"
But Gao roared and unleashed several fire jabs at him; however, the Goggled Dragon evaded the puffed out jabs and dipped the fish in them.
But as the last jab was fired, he frowned at the burnt, smoking fish, "Oh, great. Now it's overcooked..."
Gao leapt into the air, punching the ground and unleashing a mighty wave of flame. However, Kang skipped over it and threw the fish in his eyes.
The fishy tactics temporarily blinded the Governor as The Goggled Dragon rolled and punched out like a rocket as he launched him back into the ring of water.
"And that's a ring out! Kang will go forward into the Quarter Final!"
Gao pulled himself out of the water, hearing the crowd laugh and cheer whilst Kang stood in a perky posture.
"Your friend has quite the unique fighting style."
Claire sunk into her seat, "Oh, you have no idea..."
The two exited the Arena whilst Jing and Ty Lee began their entrance into the earthen pit.
"That last battle was quite unique! But now we have the Sword and Fansman, Jing! And The... Ever lovely and beautiful woman of the ages, Ty Lee... geez, who submitted that title?"
They stood across from each other, Ty Lee readying her fists as Jing prepared his Fan and Sword.
"I won't be going easy on you, Ty Lee!"
She chuckled, "You never do!"
"Fight for Glory!"
The two engaged, the Kyoshi Warrior striking for his pressure points as he parried with his fan and evaded her attacks with grace.
Her guard dropped for a moment, and Jing readied his blade and lunged forward, but she leapt out of the way, striking his sword arm several times and forcing him to drop the sword as his arm drooped.
"Oh!" She picked up the sword and put it back in his sheath, "There you go!"
"Ah, thank you!" he smiled as the two recommenced their engagement.
Jing fought with one arm and fan, using the force of Ty Lee's attacks to his advantage before landing several blows of his own on her pressure points, making her arm droop to her side.
Her eyes darted from her arm to Jing, her expression becoming ever more miffed by the second.
"Did you think I wasn't learning during all those classes?"
They heartily chuckled and fought with their arms drooped as sweat built on their brow, but Ty Lee broke through his guard, striking the pressure points on his leg and numbing the nerves as he hopped on his able leg.
She confidently smirked and hopped on the spot, "Do you concede, or do you plan on fighting on one leg?"
Jing smiled and took a deep breath, raising his fan and hop-charging at Ty Lee with a mighty cry. But as he got close, she struck his forehead, near enough breaking her wrist as she pulled it back and winced.
Jing looked to the sky, "Thank you, dad!"
The Governor leapt in at Ty Lee, striking out his able leg, but to his dismay, she evaded and struck the pressure points, then gravity eventually took its toll and dragged him to the ground.
"Alright, I concede now..."
"And that's a win for Ty Lee! She'll be going on to the Quarterfinal!"
Every guy in the stands chanted her name.
"Of course, you've got a fan base!"
Ty Lee's chi-blocked arm returned to normal, "Always have!"
She hauled Jing back into the hall whilst Ho Tun and Shu entered the Arena.
"Next up is not just one, but two of The Avatar's very own Elemental masters!"
The Masters stood across from each other, Shu standing with his hands inside his robes' arms whilst Ho tun stood nonchalantly.
"Don't go holding back now, Ho Tun!"
He kicked a boulder up into his hands and grinned at his White Lotus comrade, "Now why would I do that?"
"Fight for Glory!"
Ho Tun hurled the rock, but Shu deftly avoided it, the two waiting for the other to strike as they encircled the Arena.
But circle as they might, Shu struck his foot out, but his rooted stance tugged on his robes and pulled him down, the master stumbling and frantically screaming before falling into the water ring.
The crowd fell silent whilst Ho Tun quizzically gazed at him.
"Uh... Ring out... Ho Tun... moves onto the Quarter Final..."
Shu pulled himself from the water whilst Ho Tun approached to lend a hand, "You see Shu, that's why you don't fight in long robes!"
He pulled the embarrassed master to his feet.
"Duly noted, my friend..."
The two left the Arena whilst Khana and Ghazi entered, standing across from each other.
"And now we have the Fire Lord's very own personal Bodyguard, Khana! Fighting against The Ghazi!"
The crowd cheered and pumped their fists while Khana quizzically looked him up and down, "So... The Ghazi?"
He nodded, "Ghazi is my title; using another would be pointless."
She shrugged as the two withdrew their weapons.
"Fight for Glory!"
Khana slammed her foot and kicked out a boulder, but Ghazi simply roared and smashed his runic hammer through it, crumbling it to dust as a rune of converging arrowheads glowed with a green hue, "I never explained what this hammer can do, did I?"
Khana squeamishly perked up, "No...?"
Ghazi tightly gripped the handle, "then consider this a demonstration!"
He swung it around and slammed it into the ground, shaking the very foundations as the earth beneath them shot up like a shockwave of pillars. However, Khana deftly leapt into the air as the earth raged past, glaring at Ghazi and descending down, swiping at him with her daggers, but he merely tilted his body away from them and leapt back, watching her lunge in for a stab.
He mercilessly swung his hammer at her, catching her torso on the end and hoisting her off the ground atop his weapon, roaring and swinging her around like a rag doll.
Ghazi slammed the hammer and Khana onto the ground, but not before she bent the earth beneath her, sending her plummeting into the ground. He jerked back, calmly scanning the area, and as he did, the ground began shifting, as if a mole moved beneath the earth.
"Found you."
He slammed his hammer down on the shifting earth, but nothing came of it, and as a silence lingered, more dirt behind him moved, and just as before, he rammed his weapon on top of it. The same thing kept on happening, almost like a deadly game of whack-a-badger-mole. And on the tenth smash, Khana launched out of the ground, flying at Ghazi's chainmail, leather-bound chest and vigorously punching his sternum.
Her fists slammed into his chest like bullets from a Gatling gun, and as she ceased, he jerked back, wincing and straightening his posture, "You hit like my grandmother."
"Seriously...?"
"You say that like that wasn't a compliment."
She briefly paused, but in that moment, Ghazi took a one-handed swing at her; however, the Kyoshi warrior forced the earth to snatch his arm, pinning it in place as he tried to pull himself free, but Khana dashed in, fiercely striking his body's pressure points countless times. As her arms tired, she took a step back, watching him finally break away from the earth and stand tall before her.
"Are you quite finished?"
Her Chi-blocking seemingly had no effect on the mighty warrior; nevertheless, with daggers drawn, she fought on, slashing and thrusting whilst Ghazi swung and cleaved; swinging his hammer upwards and tossing Khana into the air. The Kyoshi Warrior smashed onto the ground, grumbling as her opponent loomed over her with his hammer raised to the sky.
The crowd teetered on the edge of their seats as Khana crossed her arms above her head, watching the hammer slam down. The weapon's force almost broke through her resilient guard, the undersides of her forearms a hair's breadth from her face. But with a mighty cry, she forced his hammer away and flipped back up, ready to fight on.
However, Ghazi sheathed his hammer to her surprise, "Acceptable."
Khana lowered her arms and raised her eyebrows, "Come again?"
"Your performance. It was acceptable for a Warrior of Kyoshi," He turned to the announcer box, "Loud man! I have seen enough; allow this Kyoshi Warrior to continue to the next round."
"Uh... sure, Khana moves onto the Quarterfinal!"
The crowd murmured while Claire cheered for her friend.
Ghazi turned to return to the waiting room with Khana in tow, "Why did you forfeit? You could've won."
He scoffed, "There is no glory in fighting for entertainment. I was merely here in the hopes of testing your mettle."
As the two left the Arena, Ragna and Zu stepped into the fray as they friendly glared at each other.
"For the fifth battle of the Preliminaries, we have the Earthen Whirlwind, Zu! And The Demon Hunter, Ragna!"
The crowd cheered and murmured.
"I hope you plan to fight fairly. Aislinn sure didn't when we faced him."
"Don't worry, for you; I shall go easy."
"Fight for Glory!"
Ragna immediately struck her fist out, opening a portal and hopping through it, utterly confusing the bystanders.
"Uh... did she just leave?"
Zu marched out to the centre of the Arena, scanning for her while the air silently surrounded him, but suddenly Ragna dropped out of the sky, her long sword poised to strike as she landed on his shoulders; however, before The Hunter could hit, he grappled her by the waist, the Giant's hands wrapping around her form as he threw her down to the ground, the earth beneath his mighty hands cracking.
"Now tell me, was that a Shadow Realm you just hopped into?"
"Although the proper name is Faileas an t-Saoghail, yes, it is a Shadow Realm!"
"I knew it!" he cried, freeing one of his hands and pumping it into the air.
However, she used his loosened grip to slip out like a snake from The Giant's hands and landed back on her hooves. But Zu grasped the ground, throwing two slabs of earth at her, as a Shadow of The Hunter emerged, standing before him while the slabs passed through it. Ragna instantly switched places with it, appearing before him as the earthen slabs smacked the ground. Although surprised by her trickery, the Giant stood firm as she flipped onto her hands and struck out with her deer-like legs.
However, Zu pinched them between his enormous finger and thumb, "Huh, you really do have deer legs, and here I thought I was seeing things..."
"Yes, they make frolicking through the forests much easier!"
He loudly laughed and freed the Hunter from his mighty grasp as the two engaged once more. Ragna swung her sword out at Zu, but he kicked an obelisk up and trapped her blade in its stony grasp. He slammed his foot on the ground, jutting up a boulder at Ragna, but her body turned to shadow, the boulder phasing through her, and as she shifted, Zu kicked away the obelisk taking her sword with it.
The Hunter returned to normal as she perplexingly stared at Zu and the Earth.
"I may know little about Shadow-Benders, but I at least know when you're in that state, objects pass right through you!"
She chuckled, "Ah! You are smart for someone of your stature."
The Giant scoffed, taking a firm stance and punching a fissure into the earth. But Ragna leapt high into the sky and landed behind him; however, before she could attack, Zu struck his heel up off the floor, launching a small boulder beneath her hooves and briefly crippling the Hunter. He swung around, wrapping her in his beefy arm as earth formed around his arm and the Hunter's body. He mercilessly slammed his earth-clad appendage and Ragna into the ground, shattering it as she groaned and swayed her head, her vision blurring while Zu stood seemingly triumphant.
"It looks like The Demon Hunter's met her match!"
But Ragna outstretched her palm to Zu's feet, opening a portal beneath him. He fell in, briefly shrieking and swinging his hands up, unleashing a shockwave of earth under her and launching her across the ground as the portal closed, reopening out of the arena bounds.
Zu and Ragna landed outside the Arena, the crowd falling silent while the announcer stammered within his booth.
"Uh, double... ring out... I guess it's a tie!"
The crowd murmured, "Hey, Announcer! What happens if there's a tie?"
"I'll have to take that up with Governor Hou! For now, let's move on with our next bout!"
Zu stood up, dusting himself off while Ragna did the same, "That battle was quite lively, Giant."
He chuckled, "Likewise, short stack,"
The two smiled and sauntered off the arena floor whilst Hou and Sheng marched out, standing across from each other.
"And now, making a return from his Earth Rumble days, Thirteen Time Champion! The Glorious Hou Beifong!"
The crowd vigorously cheered for him as he amped himself up, screams and shouts of appraisal flooding the air.
"And The Governor of Water, Sheng!"
"Of course, you get a crowd riled up, and I almost get forgotten about!"
He took a firm stance, "Win a tournament thirteen times in a row, then maybe people will be excited to see you!"
"Fight for Glory!"
Without hesitation, Hou kicked up a massive wave of earth, shaking the foundations of the Colosseum and throwing Sheng off his balance. The Glorious Governor leapt up and stretched out his palm, then chopped the ground, splitting the earth between him and Sheng and dropping him into a hole before quickly clenching his fist, encasing Sheng neck-deep in the earth.
"... I think I should concede."
"And to no surprise, The Glorious Hou Beifong moves onto the Quarterfinal!"
The crowd roared with appraisal as he strutted over and gently launched Sheng out of the earth, the two waltzing out of the Arena whilst Joseph and Li strode out into the fray, their heads held high as they stood across from each other.
"For the penultimate round, we have The Light-bearer, Joseph! And The Man of Four Souls, Li!"
The crowd's excitement rose whilst Norrak jumped up and thrust her fists in the air, "Kick him into the ground, Jo-Jo!"
He scrunched up like a turtle while Claire inched away from her mother, watching her cheer on her father.
Li smirked at his wife, "I don't know you all that well, but do your best!"
"Likewise, laddie!"
"Fight for Glory!"
Li pulled the water up from the ring, blasting it at Joseph as he formed a barrier of light, the torrent fizzling out into steam and clouding his vision. Li swiftly pulled his stick out, whispering into it as his eye twitched.
And as the steam cleared, the now earth-bender flew in with a giant boulder over his head.
"Crafty!" Joseph shouted, unleashing a ball of dazzling light and blinding Gai as his grip loosened on the earth block.
He rolled under him, watching him fall to the ground, and as he fell into range, he formed a small ball of light on the tips of his fingers, clasping his hands together and assaulting his rear, stopping the Earth-Bender mid-air.
The Crowd and Announcer fell silent, "This is an... odd technique."
But as the silence loomed, Gai let out a girlish shriek and clasped his buttocks as it burned with the heat of a hundred suns whilst he sprinted back to the hall.
"An odd way to end a battle, but it seems Joseph is moving onto the Quarterfinal!"
Norrak cheered whilst the crowd giggled, and Joseph exited the Arena. And finally, Kya and Tenzin marched out into the Arena, softly glaring at one another.
"And now for the last round of the Preliminaries, The bender children of Avatar Aang himself, Tenzin and Kya!"
The crowd oohed and cheered as they stood across from each other.
"Time to see just how well Dad taught you!"
"And how well mother taught you!"
"Fight. For. GLORY!"
They formed a pin-wheel of their respective elements and charged at each other, the air and water colliding and dissipating as they deftly floated around one another. Kya landed and gracefully blasted a torrent of water at her brother, but he countered with a howling gust of wind, the elements smashing together and spraying the bystanders.
She pulled the water from the ring, forming a spiral of water around herself and gracefully flicking bullets of ice at him, but the Air-Bender deftly weaved and evaded as he closed the gap between them.
Kya formed the water ring into tendril extensions of her body, striking out at Tenzin, intending to latch onto him. However, he launched himself from the ground and floated over her head, the two gazing at each other as he flew, and as he came into land, he unleashed a howling air blast from his foot as she formed an ice barrier between her and the attack. But the air shattered it and knocked her down.
However, his sister quickly picked herself back up, pulling the water from the ground into razor ice discs circling her form.
Norrak and Claire watched on, "It's like they're trying to kill each other..." Her mother whispered.
"That's a sibling rivalry for you..."
She slashed out at Tenzin from afar, but try as she might, he remained untouchable, weaving and inching ever closer to her. The Air Nomad swept his leg along the ground, striking Kya off-balance before deftly floating up and pushing his hands into the floor, then kicking out a mighty roar of wind at the stumbling sister and throwing her into the water ring.
"And that's a ring out! Tenzin moves onto the Quarter Final!"
He strode over to her as the crowd roared, offering her a hand out of the water, but she pushed him away, using the water to carry herself out of the battlefield.
He slanted his gaze and shook his head before leaving the Arena.
"That's all for today, Ladies and Gentlemen! Be sure to come back tomorrow to see our Preliminary victors face off against one another!"
The remaining combatants left to rest for the day ahead, eager to compete in the Quarter Finals.
The Preliminary victors stood within the murky stone halls whilst the stands within the Colosseum were packed with spectators and the preliminaries' defeated combatants, Claire and her mother, Norrak.
The afternoon Sun illuminated the battleground, the crowd murmuring whilst the scent of cooked noodles, meat and vegetables filled the air.
"Welcome Back! To the First annual Tournament of Glory! Our first battle of the day is between The Goggled Dragon, Kang! And The Avatar's Earth Master, Ho Tun!"
Claire inched forward in her seat, getting a splendid view of Kang and Ho Tun stood across and heartily glaring at each other.
Ho Tun cracked his knuckles and rolled his neck, "Do you have any idea why Tenzin, Kya and Katara don't like you?"
Kang nonchalantly stretched his arms out and hesitantly smirked, "Not a clue!"
"Fight for Glory!"
Ho Tun assumed a firm stance, but Kang laid down on the floor and soaked up the rays of the sun.
He quizzically stared at him, "He said fight, not rest!"
He stomped the ground, shooting Kang into the air, but as he flew up, he blasted Fire from his feet and flicked himself around before slashing out his arms and unleashing a cross of Fire.
Ho Tun swiftly erected a wall of earth between him and the Fire, the structure partially crumbling as the Flames collided, and as the firepower ceased, Ho Tun blasted segments of the rock at Kang; however, The Goggled Dragon hopped atop the slabs as they flew, quickly closing the gap between them.
He fired out the final slab, but Kang leapt in front of him, sweeping his legs out from under him and rolling him into the water ring.
"That's a Ring out! Kang moves onto the Semi-Final!"
The crowd murmured and cheered as they watched Kang perkily stand over the master.
"Your friend's nimble for his age..."
But Claire perplexingly stared at her, "His age? I think he's only in his early thirties!"
However, Li leant over to her, "He's actually forty-five."
She sat in silent surprise as she turned her gaze back to Kang, "Wow-."
The two left the Arena whilst Ty Lee and Khana stepped out onto the field of battle, the scent of Fire filling the air as they stood across from each other.
"And now we have the Fire Lord's personal guard, Khana! Against The Ever Lovely and Beautiful Woman of the Ages, Ty Lee... seriously, what a mouthful!"
The crowd went wild for Ty Lee whilst Claire cheered on Khana.
She stretched her arm across her chest, "don't expect me to go easy on you, Khana!"
But she clenched her fist and scowled as quiet anger blinded her eyes.
"Fight for Glory!"
Khana kicked the earth up in front of her and fiercely surfed along with it at Ty Lee, but the Kyoshi Warrior sprinted in at her student, coming close and leaping to the side, aiming for the pressure points on her arms.
But to her surprise, Khana wrapped her arm in the earth, rendering her chi-blocking ineffective as she leapt from the sailing ground and struck her master's pressure points, forcing her arm to droop and numb. Ty lee looked her dead in the eyes, wincing at the sight of the anger and pain toiling within them.
"Khana is... everything alright?"
Her fists clenched, and her teeth gritted, "You've got some nerve asking that!"
Khana bound her arms in the earth, leaving her torso wide open as she swiftly and relentlessly struck her abdomen and sternum, the force piercing through her breastplate. She broke away the stone, finishing by sweeping the leg and punching her into the ground, shattering the earth under the sheer force.
The crowd fell silent as Khana knelt beside her with her fist still ploughed into Ty Lee's face, her eyes slowly returning to lucidity as her breath got caught in her throat.
"Looks like... Ty Lee's down and..." the announcer stammered, "can someone get a medic out there?!"
Li and Claire leapt into the Arena and sprinted over to the two Kyoshi Warriors. The Avatar pried Khana from the ground as he threw himself down to Ty Lee.
Claire looked into her eyes, her limbs quaking at the sight of her master.
"Khana, what in Tui's name was that!?"
She turned her attention to her, her breath ragged as she choked on her words, watching Li run the water along her face and body.
"I... I need to go."
Khana shoved Claire away and sprinted for the hall, tears flowing from her face and onto the sandy stone ground.
Claire knelt beside Li, helping him heal Ty Lee until medics with a stretcher arrived and carried her away.
"What are you gonna do about Khana?" Li asked as they watched them take her away.
"I... don't know."
The two sighed, Claire's head shaking as they returned to the stands; all the while, Joseph, Zu and Ragna stepped into the Arena.
"With the Ty Lee situation handled... I hope... we're now in for a special fight! Due to the tie between Zu and Ragna, the two must team up to take down the Light-bearer, Joseph!"
The crowd oohed and cheered, watching the three stand across from each other.
Joseph gazed up at the announcer box and flexed his arms out, "Two on one's a wee bit unfair, don't ye think?"
"You are correct, Light-bearer! But fret not, for we're giving you the chance to pick your partner!"
He peered around and placed a hand to his chin, "I can choose... anyone?"
"Uh, yes, anyone."
He turned to his daughter, "Hey, Claire! Get down here!"
The crowd murmured, her eyes darting around whilst the announcer stammered, "The Avatar? Don't you think that's a little unfair!?"
Joseph pointed to him, "Hey, ye said anyone, and my daughter just happens to be anyone!"
The crowd's murmuring intensified, but Claire stood up, "How about this! I'll just use one of my elements! And no Avatar State!"
The announcer hummed, "Well... that sounds fine by me! The Avatar joins the fray!"
Claire briefly sighed, "I just got back up here too," she leapt into the Arena with a gust of wind and gracefully landed beside Joseph.
Ragna's eyes widened, "Ah! So you're the Avatar!"
She bowed to her whilst Claire turned to her father, "I take it she's an elf?"
He nodded.
"And Demon Hunter. In fact, our society was founded some five hundred years ago after the untimely death of a past life of yours."
She squinted her eyes at her, "Demon Hunter..." she pondered, "Hey! You haven't been to Kyoshi Island recently, have you?"
Ragna raised a bemused eyebrow, thinking to herself as Zu leaned over to her, "Kyoshi Island's to the south, crescent-shaped shoreline, often used by the late Avatar Aang as a Holiday Rendezvous."
She clicked her sharp fingers, "Yes, Demons and Pirates were a common enemy in that area; why do you ask?"
"Well... there was some... odd black mass pulsating with purple steam... and a gigantic... black... octopus? Do you know anything about that?"
Her eyes widened, "it would appear one of our hunters has been sloppy," She clenched her fists before taking a deep breath and smiling, "I thank you for informing me, Avatar."
"If you two are done chatting, it's time to Fight for Glory!"
Zu stomped the ground and punched a boulder up at Claire. But the Avatar deftly leapt over it, bending up the surrounding water and unleashing a water bullet wave at the Giant whilst Joseph fired a pinpoint beam of light at them.
The light refracted off the water, blinding Ragna and Zu as the bullets mercilessly struck his massive form and stung his skin, but he stood fast against the father-daughter duo.
Ragna fled into the Shadow Realm, reappearing before Claire and recklessly striking at the Avatar's gut, but she caught her fist, wryly smirking as the two engaged.
Joseph tried to intervene, but Zu shifted the ground beneath the Light-bearer, pulling him in whilst the Hunter and Avatar fought.
He swung his beefy arms at Joseph, but he effortlessly dodged the slow swinging fists of the Giant, leaping back and conjuring a light sphere, then launching it at the Giant, but he shifted to the side and let it fly past him.
However, Claire noticed its flight away, quickly kicking Ragna away and pulling the surrounding water into the air, then forming a sheen of ice in the light ball's path.
The light bounced off the sheen, sending it back at Zu and striking the Giant's head, knocking him off balance as Joseph flexed his hands to his forehead and let loose a flash of blinding light, making the Giant's eyes tightly shut as he bellowed.
Ragna fled back into the Shadow Realm, but Claire latched on, giving chase through the desaturated space.
The Hunter and Avatar reappeared above Zu, landing beside him as their vibrations surged along the ground. He smirked and smashed his fist into Claire, tossing her back into her seat.
"And the Avatar's ringed out! But Joseph's not down yet!"
Claire's head loosely swung as her vision dazed.
"Oh my! Are you alright, honey!?"
She tried to get control of her swaying head while groaning and moaning, "My head feels like a War drum, and the battle did not go in the Fire Lord's favour."
Ragna and the now unblinded Zu fought against Joseph, the Hunter's blade swinging and slashing at him whilst fists and rocks flew from the Giant.
The relentless assault pushed the evasive Light-bearer to the water ring, teetering on edge, and as Ragna and Zu swung their last strike, he vanished.
The baffled duo scanned around whilst standing before the water ring.
"Yoo-hoo!" Joseph whistled.
The duo turned to realise the light-bearer stood with his light illuminated palm swerving around his form, "Curse his Light-bender trickery!" Ragna grumbled.
He struck out his palms and fired a massive beam of light, blasting the two out of the ring.
"Zu and Ragna have been ringed out again! Unlucky for our duo, but that means Joseph moves onto the Semi-Final!"
Joseph marched over to the duo whilst the crowd cheered.
Zu rubbed his bruised head, "Mind explaining what that was?"
"As yer Hunter friend said, Light-bender trickery!"
He rolled his eyes, and the three took their leave from the Arena whilst Hou and Tenzin entered.
"For the last round of the Quarterfinal, we have The Glorious, Hou Beifong! And The Untouchable, Tenzin!"
The crowd cheered with exhilaration whilst Hou scoffed, You finally picked a proper title?"
"After my battle with Kya, some citizens recommended it; I figured it suited!"
Hou twirled his moustache and took a firm stance against the Air Nomad, "You won't be untouchable for long."
"Fight. For. GLORY!"
Tenzin immediately released a howling gale. However, Hou raised an earthen wall, shielding himself from the oncoming storm before perking his head out with a cheeky grin plastered over his face, "If I knew it was going to be this breezy, I would've packed my fluffy coat!"
The Air Nomad unleashed several heavy air slashes at Hou. However, The Glorious Governor used the earth beneath him to slide back and forth between the air, leaping over them whilst Tenzin attempted to close the gap.
He flipped onto his hands and unleashed a blast of air from his feet, but Hou assumed a firm stance, taking the gale head-on and stomping his foot on the ground, then flexing his arms as the gust lightly deafened his ears.
He split the ground beneath Tenzin, forcing the Air Nomad to fall into the Hou-made gorge; however, he swiftly launched himself from it and flew into the air, then flipped around to face his opponent.
But Hou scooted along the ground, launching himself up and shattering the ground as he flew up to Tenzin, then grasped his leg and plummeted back down, slamming him into the earth and embedding him partway in it.
However, the smashing landing sent a tremor up Hou's legs, making him wince in pain, "Curse you, old age..."
Despite the pain, he kept Tenzin restrained, and try as he might, he could not break free from his earthy grasp.
"I guess I concede..."
"And Hou Beifong moves onto the Semi-Final!"
The crowd cheered as Hou broke the earth away from Tenzin and helped him up from the ground, "You fought well!" he smiled.
"And you!"
The two ventured out of the Arena, "Be sure to come back tomorrow for the Semi-Final, folks!"
The crowd dispersed whilst Claire and the others ventured down into the hall where Kang, Joseph and Hou stood together.
"Tomorrow's going to be an interesting battle... my husband fighting against one of my daughter's friends."
"Donnae, worry, he'll live!" He heartily laughed and patted Kang's back.
Claire nervously scanned around, "yeah, yeah, interesting battle. Where's Khana?"
Kang pinched his chin and observed the hall, "she went running for the exit... I doubt she's still here after today's... spectacle."
"Damn it..." she growled as she sprinted faster than the winds themselves for the exit.
Claire ran through the entire city, shouting for Khana loud enough for half the world to hear, but her calls garnered no response. She wearily strode along the moonlit beaches of Republic City, her head perking up to find Unalaq marching toward her.
"Claire... was it by chance you causing all that racket?"
She heavily sighed as the two stood at arm's length, "yeah... sorry, it's just... my friend, she's missing, and I don't know where she'd go."
Unalaq hummed and cupped his jaw in his right hand, "do you have a home base here in the city?"
She nodded, "yeah... but she isn't there."
He quizzically tapped his chin, "this friend of yours... is she a red-headed Kyoshi Warrior?"
Claire's eyes joyfully flared, "do you know where she is!?"
"One of our soldiers reported someone running along the beaches for the memorial spire during their patrol."
She quickly twisted around, ready to gun it for the spire, but she rooted herself in her stance, "... why are soldiers patrolling the beach?"
"In case Talos or any other... suspicious figures are seen lurking near the camp."
Claire affirmatively hummed and blasted off for the tower, blowing sand up in Unalaq's face and lifting part of his cloak as a melancholic smile broke over him, "she hasn't changed a bit..."
She raced across the water separating the tower and the mainland, feverishly sprinting into the inner sanctum to find Khana sitting huddled up on the cold floor.
"Khana..."
Her words made her flinch as the sound of a clattering dagger pierced through the air, and her head slowly turned to look over her shoulder, "hey... Claire."
She turned her dismal gaze back to the ground and buried her face in her arms. Claire strode in and sat next to her, softly placing a hand on her Pauldron.
"Can I ask... what happened out there to make you so... ferocious?"
But she shook her head and quietly sobbed into her sleeve, "I... don't want to talk about it."
Claire sighed as her arm slid off her shoulder, "is there anything I can do? Pass a message onto Ty Lee, perhaps?"
Khana's fingers dug into her robed arms, her nails nearly piercing through her gloves, "a message about what!?" Her head fiercely swung out, "do you think she's going to accept an apology from me after what I did!?"
She lunged up to her feet, "I could've killed her! All because I lost control over..."
Claire slowly stood up, her hands passively raised, "Whatever's eating you up inside made you lose control, right?"
Khana clenched her fists as tears rolled down her face and her gaze averted to the ground, "Yeah... I'm just an abomination who lost control over itself."
"Hey, I didn't say that."
"What difference does it make!? I'm nothing more than a freak, a monster who took her anger out on one of the only people who kept me going!"
Claire fell silent whilst her friend stood quaking with rage, regret and sorrow.
Khana shut her eyes tight and turned away from her, "Please... just... leave me alone."
She let out a defeated sigh, "if that's what you really want... I'll go..." she marched for the exit, placing her hand on the doorway and gazing over her shoulder, "Just know that I'm here if you ever need someone, okay?"
Khana gritted her teeth as Claire turned for the exit, making her way back to Kang's lab for the night.