Wishfull-star: (¯▿¯)
Later, Ace found himself going somewhere he hadn't before. Well, he had, but maybe it was when Princess Yue took him someplace and he forgot. But, he didn't know where he was heading until he was there. Through a wooden door and into a place with a pond in it, with grass! It was interesting that grass was there, when it was nowhere else.
Ace walked to the pond, but didn't want to get closer for some reason. He stepped back, and walked right into a guard. "What are you doing here?" he asked. "How do you know this is here?" the man demanded. Ace honestly said he wasn't sure, but was leaving anyways. "Don't come back."
"Okay… sorry to intrude, I won't do it again," Ace said with a shameful tone and a pink face, walking swiftly away, embarrassed. Why did he walk there? And how did he get passed all the guards? Were they just not there? It was strange, but he didn't think of it for long. He wandered back home.
"Where'd you go?" Marco asked suspiciously.
"I… don't remember."
"Again?" Marco asked in surprise. Ace nodded, looking grumpy. He had gone somewhere, but forgot. Was it the same place he forgot before? He should ask the princess, since she seemed to know where he went last time, when he forgot. "Ace, maybe you're just not meant to remember. If this is the second time its happened, it may be a waste of time to keep trying," Marco said nicely.
Ace slumped. "You're right. I must be forgetting for a reason. Maybe something to do with my memory loss from the spirit forest," he sighed. Marco sat next to him on the bed, and put his arm around him. "Do you think I chose for this to happen and just don't remember?"
The older was quiet for a moment. "Well, you came back and were a normal human again. That's what you wanted, and you were unharmed. I would assume that was your choice, as it was your dream," he reasoned. Ace did wonder what he had done at the spirit forest, but he probably chose not to remember, or was just not meant to. He shouldn't mess with it anymore, should he? He wouldn't follow his feet again, and would go somewhere else when he noticed himself wandering somewhere he'd never been before. "Wanna play cards?" Ace shrugged. Marco sighed. "Do you want to train?"
Ace's eyes brightened and he nodded. "You know you don't need to base all your happiness on improving."
"You guys are the source of my happiness, though. My… family," Ace said, very quiet at the end, eyes averted. Marco hugged him, and softly said he was already their little brother. He was family, whether he felt it or not. Ace sniffled and nodded, gripping Marco's shirt and enjoying the hug from his first family.
Whoever he was before was not Ace. And Marco and Thatch were Ace's family, not anyone else, no matter if they were once biologically or not.
-x-
Duck, dodge, flip, duck, jab, jab, jab, duck, jump, veer left, veer right, jump, jab, jab, jab, veer right, up, down, duck, jab!
Ace focused, and found all of the waterbenders he was up against were now laying on the icy ground, defeated. Ace was panting, and was in shock before cheers erupted from the crowd behind, watching. He looked down at his success, for the first time ever, actually defeating more than one at a time.
He still couldn't believe it, doubting that this was real, it was a dream. He'd taken down five waterbenders, one being Marco, and then Shanks and Pakku, the two strongest waterbenders in the northern tribe. They were all smiling. Well, Pakku looked impressed, but wasn't smiling. Ace was still stunned, before a smile finally came. He'd done it! He cleared that goal!
Now, maybe he could help others learn, too! He taught himself, or at least went off what somebody somewhere had taught him. So he didn't know how he could help teach anybody else while he was still shy like he was. Still uncertain, even though it was much better, four months after meeting Marco.
The next door neighbor to them baked Ace a cake in celebration. The whole tribe didn't know the business of every single person, but Ace was hard to miss, and he was the only one in the tribe, on the continent, who could do chi blocking. So, hopefully someday soon he could teach new people.
It would be amazing and invigorating to have a purpose and being useful in the way only he could. Only he could do it, he wasn't expendable. His opinion and words would matter. He could say what he wanted, openly, freely. Freedom of speech had always been one of his most appreciated things here.
Maybe in his old life he couldn't talk much, because he was so happy every time he could complain about something and not be reprimanded. Wherever he had been definitely wasn't like here. Ace was day dreaming most of the day, about a future where he was in some way important. Suddenly, he wanted to be known, and be respected. Well, he already was, but in a different, nonpity way.
He replied thank yous to those who praised him. Tama ran up behind him, and asked if he'd teach her chi blocking. "I helped you get all flexible, after all!" she said. Ace smiled, and said he would try, but it might not be right away. "I'm just sad all my friends can waterbend but I can't do anything," she said sadly.
"You're only six. I don't know when bending comes, but maybe you could have one day. Even if you don't, you could be strong, too," Ace said. "Just have people who support you. I support you, Tama." He finished strongly, and the girl hugged him and then ran off with a smile on her face.
"Look at you, being all big brother. Well, you learned from the best," Thatch said proudly. Ace beamed and agreed with that. "Now, let's go eat some cake. Marco can't have it all." Ace demanded to know if he was eating it. "Probably not. He's too responsible for such a thing. Or maybe he's brooding over you whooping his ass."
Ace said, "Well, he shouldn't be sad because Shanks and Pakku are strong and they went down, too." Ace found himself turning, and stopped. Thatch asked where he was going. "I don't know, nevermind," Ace mumbled, and turned back. Thatch asked if that was the thing that happened when he forgot about it. "Yeah. I think it's happened four times now, and each time I can't remember afterwards."
"Maybe there's someone who can wipe memories and nobody knows because they can't remember, and he's been hiding in secret all this time!" Ace said he hoped not. "I was joking."
"I know!" Ace said with a pout. Thatch just laughed, and they went home to have some cake. Marco was already there, sleeping. Thatch took his shoe off and threw it at his brother obnoxiously. Marco shot up and demanded to know what his problem was.
"If you sleep now you won't go to bed."
"Shut it, you're not my parent!"
"Is someone grumpy because they lost to Ace?"
"No, I'm grumpy because you just threw your shoe at me, you idiot," Marco snapped. "I'm very happy and proud Ace was able to finally perfect it. Well, you'll need more training to stay in the best form. I guess you're not practicing for anything anymore, though," the blonde said, not looking angry at all. More like very proud.
Ace smiled back and nodded. "I'll maintain it. And I want to teach others. Non-benders. It could be useful against the Fire Nation if they can't bend. But I'll just teach, I have no plan on going to fight." Marco and Thatch had bittersweet smiles on. "What's wrong?"
Thatch put the cake on plates, and said, "I just can't believe you're the same person you were as the terrified dragon who couldn't relax around me." Ace blushed and nodded. He'd come so far in only a couple months. He still had much to go, but he could almost see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Marco took his hand, "We're really proud of you, Ace." He smiled shyly and nodded. "I can't imagine the trouble younger chi blockers could get into, though. Just immobilizing friends or bullies. Will be a mess. Maybe there should be an age restriction."
"Heh, that might be a good idea. Thankfully, I gave Tama no time frame for when I would help her learn. I could teach you guys, now, though!" Ace said brightly. "I'd rather train you guys than other people."
"So you can teach us badly?"
"Only as practice."
"I'm in." Ace beamed. Thatch shoved more cake in his mouth, and the three enjoyed the rest of the day inside, around the little fire in the room. It was winter now, really cold here. Ace was used to it, though. He couldn't imagine living somewhere that wasn't freezing like this. Being in so many layers or under a lot of blankets was so cozy and comforting.
The next day, Ace was walking to Roger's place when he stopped and slowly turned to that same path as before. He scowled, and turned right back and headed to his intended destination. There was a class going right now, so he waited outside for it to be over. He would feel uncomfortable working with weapons now that he was used to hand to hand. Well, mostly dodging and just taking advantage of small movements.
When the session was over, Ace hid against he wall since a lot of big guys came out and Ace wasn't the strongest or buffest guy. Though anyone could fake by putting on more layers. Nobody would ever know and would be uncomfortable to ask about that kind of thing. Ace entered the room once they were all gone.
"Ace! How are you?" Roger asked happily. "Haven't seen you much lately."
"I'm doing good. Sorry, I just don't come this way much anymore. The yoga classes aren't being done right now. But I was wondering if… well, I'm not good with teaching that much, or anything, but I want for others to benefit from my way of fighting. I'm just not sure how to go about it, or what rules to make or how to pace things.
"But I want to share what I can do for non-benders, or those who aren't good with weapons," Ace finished awkwardly. Roger grinned, and said many people were already asking him if he knew how to do it.
Apparently, they thought Roger had taught him the basics. But that wasn't the case, and he told them that each time. "Maybe I could teach you, too. Then we can teach everyone more easily," Ace suggested. Roger thanked him for his consideration. Ace flushed lightly and nodded. "I also don't know if I should try and teach younger people."
Roger thought for a moment before saying, "Don't teach children, they're bound to misuse it in games or quarrels." Sorry, Tama. You'll have to wait awhile. "I believe everyone who wishes to learn should be able to learn. It sure would be strange if the waterbender tribe all knew chi blocking. Hah, we'd be a force to reckon with!"
Ace nodded in agreement. "So, will you help me teach? We could do it together." Roger agreed to it easily, and the next morning a notice was posted about anyone wishing to enroll. When Ace returned to the poster by the end of the day, there were two hundred signatures there. Crap, that was a lot.
Roger agreed to help him with it! And Shanks did, as well, agreeing to be target practice once they both felt the students were versed enough to actually trying it. Thatch chipped in and the two brothers worked on diagrams of where to hit. Ace didn't remember what they were called or why they were sensitive, so he just put red spots on the intended targets.
That was a really lazy and bad way to teach, but he couldn't find any anatomy books or anything that talked about the flow of chi in the areas Ace had known to hit. Too bad they didn't have a chi blocking book, huh? A handbook. Ace could do that, too! Oh, there was so much to do and he was getting overwhelmed.
"Ace, calm down. Stop overthinking things," Thatch said. Apparently Ace's face showed it all. It had turned red and he started to sweat. Ace took some deep breaths, and said he wasn't sure where to start. "Well, teaching takes prep work, right?" Ace was worried he was unable to do it, but he already said he was going to. What if he was a disappointment?
"Okay, we're done for today," Thatch announced.
"What- why?" Ace demanded.
"Pace yourself, Ace. Doing and thinking of everything you can think of isn't going to help you, it'll just make you more stressed out. You can't jump into something you've never done before and expect to get every aspect perfect. Even Shanks doesn't have his sessions perfect." Ace shrunk down and sighed, nodding. "Even if you didn't teach anybody, you can still help defend us if the Fire Nation ever attacked."
Ace frowned, and said, "As long as it isn't Azula and Ozai, then I think I could do alright. Though those are the only two faces I remember. But I'd rather never encounter any Fire Nation people ever again, so they won't try to take me back or anything." Marco came in at that point, having a bucket of fish to put in the ice block that kept them frozen.
"Its not like anyone here would let you. Everyone loves you, nobody would ever make you return," Marco insisted. Ace nodded, knowing they would fight for him. He was ashamed that he hoped they would. He'd rather die than go back to that prison. If he had to, he'd even flee to that place he didn't remember. He'd go anywhere else.
The next day, Ace was feeling better, and was approached by the chief, which was surprising. Sometimes he spoke with Marco and Thatch, but Ace, not so much. He might be family to Marco and Thatch, but it didn't extend to their claimed family, as well. "Chief, good morning," Ace said formally.
"Good morning, Ace. How are you?"
"Okay," Ace said, not planning to talk of his worry about his new goal. The chief seemed to notice Ace didn't want to talk and continued on his own.
"I saw your match against the waterbenders the other day. It was quite impressive." Ace hid a smile at the praise. "I was hoping you would be Yue's guard."
"Oh," Ace said, not sure how to turn him down. But Arnook explained further.
"It wouldn't interfere with your ability to teach others chi blocking as you wish. Yue actually expressed the desire to help you, thinking of the benefit to our tribe. It would be a two way deal. Yue stays safe and you get added help. Not to mention, Yue knows how to handle large groups of people," Arnook explained.
Ace actually thought it was a good deal. "I'll be glad to be her guard in this deal. I really appreciate any help. Thank you very much for allowing me to stay here."
Arnook smiled and said, "You aren't staying here, you belong here. I can bring you to Yue, now, if you'd like. I'll tell Marco and Thatch for you." Ace nodded, and he followed Arnook to the palace. He was brought inside, where he hadn't been before, and found Yue at a desk with a brush in her hand. Ace didn't know she painted. "Yue, Ace is here."
The princess looked up and smiled brightly at Ace, who bowed. "It's good to see you again, Ace." Ace returned the favor, and Arnook left. Ace stood a bit awkwardly for a moment before the princess rescued him. "You may sit down. We're in the confines of my home at the moment. I think there is no danger right now," she said kindly.
Ace nodded and sat at the wall. "You may sit on the chaise there." He didn't know how familiar to be with her, but he sat down and was quiet for a bit, before he asked a question. Well, first he asked if he could ask a question. "Of course."
"What is that place? I'm drawn to it, but every time I find myself there, I forget where I actually just went. I'll find myself walking away from somewhere I don't remember being," Ace said, sounding a bit embarrassed. Yue said he wasn't meant to know, if that were the case. "Is it someplace bad?"
"Definitely not. It's a beautiful place that you shouldn't feel guilty of visiting. Do you ever run into guards?" Ace said he wasn't sure, because he couldn't remember that, either. But he was very glad that it wasn't some place bad. Not that he knew what "bad" entitled. She asked him if he remembered about her and the moon. He shook his head. "We had a conversation there. In the pond in that place, there are two spirits, the spirits of the moon and ocean, swimming forever together.
"I was blessed by the moon spirit, that gave me life as a sick baby," Yue explained. Ace then looked dazed, and the princess asked if he was alright.
"What were we just talking about?" he wondered. "I forgot stuff again, didn't I?"
"It was nothing overly important," she said in understanding. Ace smiled at her, and told her, as he had months ago, that she was a wonderful princess. "Thank you," she said with a smile, too. Then she went back to painting, and Ace wasn't too relaxed. He was a guard, he should be alert. When there was a knocking on the door, Ace asked if he should answer it as her guard. "Go ahead."
Ace walked to the door and asked who it was. "Hahn," the grumpy voice said. Ace looked to Yue, who nodded, and Ace opened the door. "What are you doing here?" he asked sourly. Had Ace done something to him? He hadn't ever actually seen this man, so he didn't know who he was. Ace said he was Yue's guard for now. "You think you're hot stuff for being a chi blocker?"
Well, this wasn't going well already. "I mean, I think I've done well. I want to teach others how to, also. Roger and I will work together for-"
"Who cares?" Wow, he was obnoxious. Yue looked embarrassed at his behavior. She asked if he needed something. "I want to have lunch with you." Ace looked to the princess, who said she was painting. "But… why?"
Ace frowned, wondering why this guy was such a jerk. Yue said she would continue to paint, and was not hungry. When he looked like he was going to protest, Ace stepped in. She made him feel more comfortable, he would return the favor. "The princess said she wants to paint and is not hungry right now."
"Who put you in charge?"
"Princess Yue is in charge. I'm her guard right now, and she wants to continue painting, so I'll have her do just that," Ace replied, surprisingly smoothly. Hahn looked sour before he slammed the door closed and left. Ace sighed, and Yue looked frustrated. "I'm sorry if I was too forward-"
She quickly said it wasn't him she was frustrated with. "I am to marry him."
"I'm sorry- oh, that was so out of place, I'm sorry," Ace flustered, feeling he'd completely stepped over the line. He didn't like working for her. He didn't like not being able to have his opinion heard. Hopefully this was just temporary. She chuckled and said it was fine, she was not offended.
"He is not always that way. Mostly when I am around other men - even guards. Though I am betrothed to him, he does not seem to trust me to be faithful to him," she explained simply. "If it will make my people stronger, than I am glad to wed him." Ace nodded, and didn't dare say anything more offensive.
