Chapter Twenty – Duel for the Nymph Knights
When her eyes cleared, Rosiepuff found herself standing on the frozen lake back in the village, where everyone cheered for their victory. Kai pulled her into a kiss.
"Don't ever go running into the Spirit Realm without me again." Kai requested.
"I'll try to remember." Rosiepuff laughed.
"What was it like in there?" Barb asked.
"Yeah! Tell us about the Spirit Realm!" Riff agreed.
Branch and Rosiepuff exchanged a look. "Eh, nothing too exciting." Branch shrugged.
"Nothing to write home about." Poppy agreed with a laugh.
"But Titan is gone, right?" Trollex asked. "He's gone for good?"
"Yes." Rosiepuff tried to not think about those demons literally ripping Titan to pieces and devouring him. "It's over." That caused another cheer from everyone.
"So we can rest now?" Trollzart requested. "Many of us are still wounded."
"Not to mention half the village is totaled." Smidge pointed out.
"Will we rebuild?" Coral Blush asked.
Kai looked around to everyone, and he glanced to his decimated village. "No. We won't." Everyone stared at him in surprise. But Kai smiled. "I think we've lived in hiding long enough. The world may not be as dangerous as I think it is. In fact, I think we and the world could benefit from us going out there and spreading our kindness and teachings. Peppy? Do you know some places that would welcome bender refugees?"
"I think we can work something out." Peppy agreed.
"Hana Rosa would welcome you, too." Delta Dawn assured.
"Will we have to separate?" Clampers asked, hugging Coral Blush with one arm and Delta Dawn's leg with the other.
"Let's worry about that another time." Rosiepuff looked to the clear skies above. "It's a nice day. Even if we have to resort to camping or sharing the remaining houses, we should take time to heal and rest."
"Agreed." Branch leaned closer to Poppy. "Then we can figure out the baby thing."
"What baby thing?" Peppy and Joy asked.
"Nothing!" Branch and Poppy yelped at once.
There was much laughter, and everyone migrated back to the village. The healers set up shop in the covered banquet area. Every other bender just found a comfortable spot—a bed, a pile of bedding, soft spot of grass—and just lounged with friends. They exchanged stories and jokes, and the struggles of their previous battle did not seem so terrible anymore.
Rosiepuff sat on the grass outside Kai's house, since his patio and the front half of his home had been flattened. She accepted tea from the cart Darnell pulled around the village. She leaned against a rock and looked around at everyone.
"How strange." She murmured to herself. "I haven't the foggiest what the future will bring, and yet I am not concerned in the least." She giggled softly. "Funny how life works, eh Grandpa Thorn?"
"Young lady! You get back here this instant!" Branch panted like he ran a marathon. "How can my grandma keep up with you, but I can't?!"
Indeed, the troll toddler was not even three years old. But she learned to crawl at five months, and then walk at one year. Once that happened, her whole world began to open up, and she used her newfound power to explore. Upon reaching her Terrible Twos, she grew bolder. For example, she currently toddled curiously around the Hall of Warriors with complete disregard for her father's concerns.
Branch finally managed to cut off the child's path and scoop her up. "Now listen here, Ninfea Rose. I'm normally all about letting you roam and experience your surroundings; but not in a place full of weapons."
Ninfea Rose stuck out her tongue.
Branch mimicked the action. "Just come over here. I want to show you something. Someday, when you're older, I'll give you a whole lesson on every weapon in here." Branch carried his daughter to one of the shrines. "This one is for my parents, your grandparents Larch and Stella." He moved to the next one. "This is for the Golden Rose Clan, your great-grandma's family and ours. You're actually named after two of the strongest benders in our clan: the Nymph Queen, whose powers you inherited, and my grandmother. When you're old enough, Grandma will teach you everything you need to know about being a Golden Rose." Branch moved to the last shrine. He sighed. "This is Symphony. She was one of my best friends. I'll have to tell you more stories about her when you're older." Branch gestured to the shrines. "This is our family, Ninfea Rose. Whenever you need guidance, they'll be there."
"We all will." Poppy appeared, kissing her daughter's head. "Come on! Your grandparents are on their way!"
Branch followed her outside and down to the field behind the Troll Tree. He always made a habit of being right there to make sure everyone arrived safely. Sure, the new bender's village—christened Rosaria, despite a blushing Rosiepuff insisting on a name change—was only a day's hike away. Yes, Branch had no doubt that his grandparents would be around for quite some time due to their excellent health. However, he still worried now and then, and he wanted to make absolutely sure there was no need for a doctor.
After leading his village out of the mountains, Kai spoke with Peppy, who led them to a large section of land within the borders of Troll Valley. Here, the benders erected their new home, which was finished only a few weeks before Ninfea Rose was born. (Good thing, too, since everyone wanted to meet her.) Some of the villagers decided to move into town, closer to the Troll Tree, and set up shop. Younger benders and families with young benders—Trollex, Coral Blush, Clampers, Riff, Barb, and Thrash, for example—took up Delta Dawn on her offer for them to go to Hana Rosa. There, the young ones joined a proper bending school to hone their craft.
Rosiepuff never did go back to running her restaurant, though she often visited to see how Moxie handled things. Moxie flourished in the restaurant, and many would claim she was just as good a chef as Rosiepuff. The Golden Rose matriarch now devoted her life to her heritage, and that began with setting up a new location for the Nymph Knights. Rosiepuff often gave lessons and tutoring to benders, but the Nymph Knights were now a fraternity, of sorts, and only the elite could join and follow in the footsteps of Knights before them. Suki remained a Nymph Knight, and long since spoke her intention to stay one. Cooper, however, decided to become an honorary Knight, and he moved back to the Troll Tree. Smidge fell in love with a non-bender from Hana Rosa named Milton; and she, too, stepped down to honorary Knight so she could live closer to him. Rumor has it they would marry soon. In the meantime, the Nymph Knights expanded to include Eclipse, the Element Sisters, Hickory, Dickory, Tresillo, Marimba, and Tambora. Trollex, Barb, and Clampers all claim that they will be joining the ranks as soon as their ready. Until Ninfea Rose—the new Nymph Queen—was old enough to lead them, Rosiepuff stood as their mentor and leader.
While Rosiepuff often visited the Troll Tree just for fun, today was for business. Apollo wanted to join the Nymph Knights as soon as possible. At sixteen, he'd be the youngest to earn the title, provided he passed his final exam today.
"It's today it's today it's today!" Apollo whooped as he ran from the barracks. He and his mother lived in the Troll Tree Palace since they arrived from the old bender village. Peppy remained patient, so to not push Apollo into anything uncomfortable, but the teen already accepted Peppy as his father.
"Now, don't be nervous." Joy said as she, Peppy, Apollo, and Cooper joined Branch, Poppy, and Ninfea Rose.
"Just go in there and knock them dead!" Peppy encouraged.
"You've trained so hard for this. Trust yourself." Joy licked her thumb to clean dirt of Apollo's cheek.
"And whatever you do, don't challenge Rosiepuff to a duel." Peppy warned. "Trust me. Speaking from experience, that will not end well."
"Definitely not." Apollo agreed. "Sifu Rosiepuff is unbeatable."
"She did punch a crazy guy in the face without flinching." Poppy mused.
"I still can't wrap my head around that." Branch laughed. "All that we threw at him, and he was beat by something so simple."
"We never did get answers from Eclipse about some of that Spirit Realm stuff." Poppy noted.
"I doubt we'll get them anytime soon." Joy said. "Eclipse enjoys being an enigma."
Poppy laughed. "True." She looked to her daughter. Ninfea Rose had Eclipse's ears, and the silver flecks in her eyes were most noticeable in the sunlight.
"Ro-Ro!" Ninfea Rose suddenly squealed. "Ro-Ro!" Everyone knew what that meant. As soon as she could talk, Ninfea Rose tried to pronounce Rosiepuff's name but only got so far as Ro-Ro. Sure enough, Rosiepuff appeared over the ridge with Kai and all the Nymph Knights with her. Even Delta Dawn joined the group, with Clampers ever by her side. Branch passed Ninfea Rose to Poppy and ran over to hug his grandmother. There were greetings and a few minutes of catching up until Apollo semi-impatiently asked Rosiepuff if he could take his exam now.
"Yes, Apollo. If you're ready." Rosiepuff confirmed. "You've completed every other trial for becoming a Nymph Knight, showing bravery, compassion, dedication, and great aptitude for bending. Your final exam is a duel. Complete that, and I will either postpone your initiation or deem you worthy of joining us."
"No pressure." Eclipse joked.
"Great!" Apollo said. "I'm ready! Who do I fight?"
"You must choose your opponent." Rosiepuff said. "I have brought the Knights with me, from whom you may choose. Or, if you had someone specific in mind, we should contact them as soon as possible."
Apollo looked around, analyzing his potential opponents. "Actually, I did think about who would give me the most challenge in a fight, and I know who I want to duel: Delta Dawn."
Delta Dawn laughed. "Bring it on, Flame Boy."
"Very well. We will begin the duel in a moment." Rosiepuff guided Delta Dawn away, and Apollo went with his family to talk.
"Why Delta Dawn?" Poppy asked her brother.
"Because she's the greatest earth-bender in the country, maybe the world." Apollo explained. "She turned her disability into her greatest strength, and very few have beaten her in battle. I want a challenge. I need to prove myself if I want to be a Nymph Knight."
"A good choice, then." Peppy said. "Whatever you do, don't stress about this. There will be plenty of real fights where you have to battle for your life."
"Hopefully not as many as you say." Joy chastised.
"My point is this is an exhibition of skill." Peppy said. "Delta Dawn is not going to kill you."
"But it may feel that way." Branch laughed, even when Poppy punched his arm.
"Well, wish me luck, Ninfea!" Apollo shrugged.
"Appa!" Ninfea Rose cheered.
"We really need to work on my name pronunciation." Apollo chuckled.
Delta Dawn and Apollo faced each other on the battleground, outlined by a ring of spectators who could keep stray attacks from hitting anything or anyone important.
"Benders, at the ready!" Rosiepuff called.
"You got this, Apollo!" Poppy cheered.
"Knock his block off, Delta!" Dickory called.
"Duel!" Rosiepuff ordered.
Apollo fired first, but a rock shield defended Delta Dawn from his fireball. Delta Dawn then launched the rock shield, and Apollo jumped to one side to avoid being crushed. He threw more fire, and Delta Dawn used more rocks to protect herself. She then shifted the dirt at Apollo's feet and caused him to trip. He jumped up before she could sink him into the ground. Apollo reminded himself to breathe, and he ran for Delta Dawn. He leaped off the rocks she sent in his path, and he jumped into the air and aimed a kick for her head. Delta Dawn moved aside. The audience cheered for the benders while simultaneously watching for stray fireballs, boulders, and bolts of lightning. However, the cheers of excitement and anticipation became wide eyes and dropped jaws of awe (with the exception of Dickory, who just looked bored). A full ten minutes passed, but neither opponent would fall. A typical battle between two people might like five minutes, tops, especially since Delta Dawn was arguably more skilled than Apollo. The duelers each panted heavily. Their attacks only waned a little in strength, due to either sheer will or complete stubbornness.
Apollo leaned on his knees, practically wheezing. He looked to Delta Dawn, with curls all frizzy and her brow glistening with sweat. Apollo took a deep breath, held it for a second, and then slowly exhaled.
"Ready for another round?" Delta Dawn laughed.
Apollo barked out a laugh himself. "As if."
Delta Dawn paused. "Come again?"
Apollo stretched his back. "I think I'm done. I'm tired, you're tired. We're clearly not getting anywhere with this fight. But you were great. You fought really well, and I just don't want to keep doing this since we don't seem to be getting anywhere." Apollo turned to Rosiepuff and bowed to her. "We can reschedule the duel. Maybe I'm not ready to be a Nymph Knight."
Rosiepuff approached him with a smile. "Your actions have proven otherwise. Apollo, you have shown wisdom, trying to stop a fight. In the past, you demonstrated you would rather prevent a fight than engage in one. It is a great quality for a warrior to know when the proper time is to fight, and which battles deserve the most attention. However, there will come times as a Nymph Knight when you must finish the battle, regardless of your feelings. You'll pick up on that during your training."
Apollo stared at her. "You mean…."
"Welcome, Apollo, to the Nymph Knights." Rosiepuff confirmed. Almost immediately, Apollo was swarmed by the other Knights to congratulate him. Joy, Peppy, and Poppy enveloped him a group hug.
Branch laughed as Apollo realized it was all actually happening, and the teen laughed and whooped and cheered for himself. Branch held Ninfea Rose on his shoulder. "Keep an eye on that one, Ninfea Rose. He may be your uncle, but you're going to be in charge of him someday, and he's a real troublemaker."
Ninfea Rose giggled. Her family would tell her for years to come how she was destined to be the Nymph Queen and lead the Nymph Knights. She didn't understand it at the moment. In the future, yes, she would step into her role and practice the Golden Rose Clan doctrine with all her heart. Right now, she only knew that she could do fun tricks with fire, air, water, and earth.
For now, that was all Ninfea Rose needed to be happy.
A/N: And that completes the trilogy! And the winner of the poll is The Power of Friendship! Sounds like a lot of you want to see a story about the kids, which is awesome.
I will be starting work on that story, but I don't plan to publish until I have several chapters (or maybe the entire story) done. Keep an eye out for it!
Also, you may see some changes on my profile page. While I appreciate any concern, there is no need to panic. I am simply trying to take care of myself.
Sending cupcakes and rainbows your way, now go make this a happy day!