He fell to his knees, holding onto the ladder as he reined in his labored breath. It had taken him almost a year but he had finally managed to move the Island. He was so happy he was laughing! As he stared at the Island that was now tied to the mountain with some imated earthbending, and rope.
It was a majestic sight, he thought staring at the Island. The Island itself was a gigantic pillar almost forty miles from bottom to top, while it around thirty from when end of the Island to the other. There were rocks scattered, floating around the Island as if caught in some sort of anti-gravity field.
Lighting skipping in between boulders, and other chunks of the Island that had been ripped from the sea. The bottom of said pillar was glowing a bright blue due to how much electricity had been built up inside of it.
He had yet to figure out why but Clouds had a tendency to build up around the Island like some sort cloak. It was a strange phenomenon and he had expressly learned to manipulate the clouds so that he could direct the island without crashing into the mountains.
He could attest that bending the clouds had been difficult, and even then he wasn't really bending the clouds. He just directing the build up of lightning inside them. Even now he could see the wisps of what would soon be clouds form around the Island. Of course he was much too busy examining the earth ladder, attached to the Island that was around forty feet away from him.
The latter was attached to what he liked to call the control room. He had made it after he discovered how hard it was to direct the Island from the surface. It made use of a small section of the island, by Moving the books that were stored on that level away and removing the shelves he then proceeded to hollow it out, before Placing panes of glass all around it in metal frames, meaning he had a room where he could essentially run from one end to the other just to check if anything was in the way of the Island.
The room itself was positioned in the middle of Pillar shaped floating Island, making it easier to navigate. In the center of the room was what he liked to call a magnetic-center. The room was also at in the middle of the gigantic circular Library the temple held. The magnetic center was where the island Magnetic field was concentrated, and as such made it much easier to move the island if he was within the room.
The latter itself was closer to a set of stone steps than anything, and extended an area where one of the large human sized panes of glass had been, bended into a small sleeve of earth above, the frame and the steps had been bended out from underneath it, and attached to the side of the mountain.
Finally managing to rein in his breathing he stood up and sighed. It was a long hard and tiring process but he had finally managed to reach land, he had finally managed it… after living almost half his life on an Island in the sky he could honestly say he was ecstatic.
Shaking himself out of his revelry, he needed to find a village and food-His stocks having almost run out, in the past four years, despite the excess amount of game, and fruit present on the Island. He had an excess amount of money, due to the metal called Trialium. The metal itself is practically worthless. For the express reason that it requires a master of at least one element, to forge into anything.
Forging it is actually one of the last, trials to be recognized as a master of an element. Once forged the material becomes practically unbreakable, swords and other weapons made of it were almost priceless. However the reason he was so interested was do to the elemental trial.
When forging it for the they are required to make into four, rectangular pieces with the representation of each nation on them, along with a symbol the maker decides. These were called Skill pieces and held the same value of gold pieces.
Most masters only make one set, for the express reason that it was just that difficult to make one, however there are no laws that say they can't make more, or just make a living off of making them.
However due to his rather strange abilities, making these Skill pieces was rather easy, and as such he had a coin purse hidden in his coat full of them, and he could make more since the Island was rich with the material.
He had even made several nails, out of it in hopes it would make any structure built with them, stronger.
Slinging a bag over his shoulder he began to march away. The nearest settlement was a day's walk, and he was hoping to at least talk to someone for the first time in a great while… now that he thought of it, what was the last time he spoke at all?
Perhaps he should practice? The boy mused.
Deciding that was a great Idea he started. "I am …" shit! he forgot he couldn't say his name. Ignoring the obvious disuse visible in his voice, He shrugged-he could improvise should anyone ask. Walking he played with the lighting, having it idly bounce between his palms.
Bending, he mused was just using flowing movements-typically comparable to fighting stances-to manipulate the chi in the body and allow control of elements outside the body. He himself had an entire library listing forms for every element, and had been forced to form new one's for his lightning bending. The reason he had to do this was specifically because the normal, technique involves splitting yin and yang energies and then harnessing the violet energy that is created upon reunion of the energies thus creating lightning. He on the other hand constantly generated lightning, storing it within his body.
When imitating earth bending the lighting was constantly visible within his hands. It was very subtle, and genuinely unnoticeable unless someone was looking, but it was still quite visible. He considered it an improvement though considering it used to flow over both of his arms when he was doing it.
His firebending in comparison was severely behind, partly because he was inhibited due to being outside his home country. But otherwise his improvement had just slowed, and almost stalled entirely. Kicking a stone off the side of the tiny mountain path and down the side of the mountain.
*Hah* he sighed "This walk is going to take a while, isn't it?" He sighed looking over the edge, before an Idea popped into his head. Giving a quick glance around to make sure no one was around-hiding or other wise. Deciding it was clear he channeled the lightning into his feet, and tried to develop a magnetic field with the same signature as the ground.
Holding his hand against the mountain to so he didn't trip, he succeeded, before doing the same to his other foot. Exhilaration coursed through his body gleefully, as he floated above ground something only the strongest of firebender had ever managed, and even airbenders believed to be a myth. He felt his body tip slightly, as he almost lost his balance, thinking quickly he did the same change to his hands.
Hovering off the ground, he turned both hand slightly to the left causing him to twirl to the right. Tensing his muscles, he leaned forward, as he increased the "Push" of the magnetic field causing him to shoot off down the mountain.
Shouting gleefully he dodged trees and jumped over rocks as the ground sped by, before the boy knew it he was throwing his arms forward in effort to stop his momentum, as he reached the bottom of the mountain. Giving a joy full chuckle he reversed, the magnetic fields over his hands and feet, only to feel exhaustion bleed into his body. Taking at himself he realized he was covered in sweat and grime but this did nothing to stop his smile.
He had managed to subvert an entire stage of advanced firebending training that most would never even attempt, and he-he had hovered! He a ten year old! Had hovered! His old firebending tutors would sooner swallow hemlock than acknowledge such a thing.
Catching his breath he stood straight-not realizing when he had hunched over in the first place and Ignoring any soreness present. For now he thought-He would have to make sure he hadn't damaged any chi paths later after he finished this hike- he continued on his way to the village.
Ice entered his veins, and eyes dilated slightly as he turned the corner.
The ground was black with scorch marks, trees reduced to ash-coals still hot as four soldiers-two dressed in standard Heavy armor, while the other two remained in light armor one holding a spear while the grasped a sword suggesting they weren't benders-surrounding what looked to be someone in charge, based on the lack of a face plate.
A pile of bodies lay to the side, all of them dressed in earth nation armor.
Movement caught his eyes as saw one soldier with a large chest wound, somewhat sharp features black hair, brown eyes-his skin that had presumably held the slightly dark texture of the earth kingdom, now pale and flaky as he tried to hide his labored breath. The man had likely been mistaken for dead the way he was laid out on top of his fellow soldiers dead bodies. The man held his finger desperately to his mouth, in a clear sign to be quite, while moving his other hand in opposite direction, in a gesture for him to hide.
Snapped from his revelry he followed the soldier suggestion and hid behind a tree-fear pumping through his veins, as he forced himself into logical thought.
One earth kingdom soldier was bleeding out 'He's earth kingdom' some part of his mind whispered 'they are the enemy!' only to be squashed by another 'he is alive! He is human! And he has a right to live!' the other voice returned 'So do the fire-nation soldiers!' He quieted the thoughts violently, as he stared at his shaky hands.
They had a right to live-so he wouldn't kill them only knock them out. Yes just knock them out.
Okay he had one sword-the jian styled sword- which he taken since he was much farther ahead than with the Long sword. Looking through his shoulder bag he looked to see if their as anything that could be used to help.
He had an extra change of clothes, four flasks, a small dagger made from the purple steel called firmite that his uncle had given him, and pack of the trialium nails he had made earlier, a pouch filled with fire-nation money, a sewing kit, and some cable he had been using for bending practice.
With a sigh he could here some part of his rebellious mind scream 'This is going to suck!'
If he remembered correctly soldier in the army tended to either replace the bottoms of their steel shoes with leather, or in the cases of fire-benders cut out small circular holes in the center of them so they didn't have to put in the extra effort to materialize the fire away from their skin.
Taking a deep breath he set to work.
Moving his fingers in a spiral motion he opened ten tunnels and put a nail in each one-having forced as much electricity as possible into each nail, and generating a magnetic connection with each. Static bounced around his palm as he Directed the nails into position, and doing his best guess to make sure they were face up, he took a deep breath. Pushing down any stray thoughts he focused on the adrenaline blasting through his body. before he yanked his fist up, hard. The nails following his command as they shot up through the dirt and into the soft cushy flesh of the fire nation soldiers feet.
Lightning coursing through their bodies, their muscles forcibly tensed as lighting jumped from their bodies and into their armor putting on what would have been a fantastic light show in any other situation. Four of the soldier's fell to ground in a crumpled heap, smoke coming from armor, as one groaned in pain.
The only one awake stood still for an entire second, before his eyes widened in surprise as the boy jumped from behind the tree, running up while the soldier was still too stunned to move. He was only feet away when the soldier, regained his senses, and raised his weapon- a sword.
The boy heard nothing- and thought nothing as his heart beat tore through his mind and adrenaline burned through his blood.
Swinging his sword crackling with electricity, as went for a downward strike, blocked by the soldier's sword, the smell of Ozone filled the air as he continued for a crotch shot with the hilt of the blade while the soldier remained stunned from the mass amount of electricity that had been transferred into his body through his sword. The man dropped unconscious as he took another breath.
The sound of footsteps, caused him to whirl around blood booming in his ears as he found the leader of the four soldiers, he first held back and a flicker of flame being his only warning of the stream he was prepared to release. He froze, as time came to a halt. He wasn't fast enough and the general knew it as his eyes flared with glee. Intent to maim the boy, as much as possible before he killed him glowing heartlessly from within his coal black eyes.
Blood pumped through his veins, his heart pounding as his body reacted out of muscle memory. The benefit of years of training, did nothing however as the man suddenly gasped in pain. A skewer of earth ripped through the man's ankle, the result wiped over the generals features, pain over taking him.
It gave him enough time.
His left hand shot forward twisting what would have been a stream of fire, dousing the flames as his right hand pulled the sword forward in a reverse grip in an upwards slash-flaying the man's chest, blood gushing out from the wound.
Terror overtook the man's features, as he instinctively twisted the sword with his control of magnetism returning the weapon to a more familiar grip as blood trailed after the blade filling the air with scent of iron. the blade cutting through the air in a returning motion, as blood filled the air.
And the man's head tumbled to the ground.
