A/N: So here is the third chapter for Tale of Two Avatar's. For those readers who also read Brothers of the Flame, the next chapter will be finished in the next week or so. So hope you guys like this chapter, and please review.
Noatak was excited. Today was the day he was to have his final Air bending exam to be named an Air bending master, while his brother Azulon was to be named a Fire bending master if he were to be pass the exam. Master Tenzin had, surprisingly, told the twins they were to do their exams at the same time, a fight between the two using all they had learnt during their training was to be their exam. The only limitations were to be Fire and Air bending only, so as to ensure they could pass successfully.
The door to his room opened, and he looked up to see his mother walk in, a broad smile on her face. He rose quickly from his bed and crossed the room in three quick strides, pulling his beloved mother into a hug, breathing in the familiar, calming scents of his favorite parent. She hugged him back lovingly, knowing the stress he was under at the moment, pushing him to arm's length to look over her son.
His bright, emerald green eyes gave away all of the worry he had for what was to come, whether for him or his brother, Senna could only guess. His raven black hair was cut short, long enough to be styled, but not too long to interfere with his training, but it only reached his ears, and was tied back to keep it out of his eyes. He had grown to have a physique much like his fathers, though on a slightly smaller body. Through the blood adoption, he had gained many physical similarities to his adopted parents, having gained the small, defined nose of Senna, the defined, chiseled jaw of Tonraq and the large, round eyes of both parents.
Taking a deep, calming breath he looked deeply into his mother's eyes, smiling warmly at her when he had calmed considerably, though the worry was still evident in his eyes.
"Hey Mum, how are you? How's little Jemma going? I'm sure she is a real handful, isn't she?" Noatak asked his mother, avoiding talking about the exam. He already knew he had passed, it was more of a formality than anything else, though he was worried that he would hurt his only brother, the only one who really knew him. He dragged the chair in front of his desk next to his bed, plonked himself down, and motioned for his mother to sit on the bed.
"Thank you, Noatak" she said, sitting on the bed with a bit more grace than her son had. "And yes, I am quite alright, thank you. Katara says you may have another brother by the end of the year." She smiled as Noatak congratulated her for the news. "And your sister is doing just fine too, thanks. She can be a little monster sometimes, she reminds me of your brother a lot actually." She smiled as she said this, reliving the memories. "Though she has shown signs of being able to bend water, so we're quite excited with that."
After the exciting announcement of getting a new brother, Noatak and Senna talked for the next hour about things that had happened over the past six months, since they had last seen each other, until Noatak was called out for the exam. They quietly said their good byes, separated when they reached a junction, and followed their respective guides. Getting to the locker room, Noatak quickly and efficiently changed into his combat armor, and made his way to the open air arena of the compound, seeing his brother, Azulon, making his way to him from the other side. Tenzin stood to the side on Noatak's side of the arena, dressed in the finest Air nation robes, and he could see Master Zuko on the other side of the arena giving some words of advice to Azulon.
"Remember, Noatak" Tenzin said to him in his usual monotone voice when he got close enough. "Remain calm, do not let him play with your emotions, and most of all, remember to move like the leaf in the wind."
"Thank you, Master Tenzin" Noatak said warmly, putting fist to palm and bowing low. "Thank you for the training, I will make sure it will be put to good use."
"No worries my boy" Tenzin said warmly, placing an assuring hand on Noatak's shoulder, squeezing it lightly. "I'm sure you will do quite well with what you have learnt, Noatak. Now, go and complete your exam, and then we can celebrate."
Bowing again, Noatak turned towards the center of the arena, walking calmly towards the center, where General Lee stood, arms crossed over his broad chest, salt and pepper hair standing out against his pale skin. He wore thick, heavy furs in the colors of the White Lotus, warding off the cold, with a puzzled look towards the twins with the thin clothes they wore under the padding. Noatak's eyes moved from the burly general, to his twin brother, bright, emerald eyes meeting dark, sapphire ones, both boys calming considerably when their eyes met.
"Before we begin, I shall announce the rules of the exam" General Lee announced to the gathered crowd of family and White Lotus soldiers. "Noatak is to use only Air Bending, while Azulon is to use only Fire Bending. This is due to the exam being for the previously stated elements for the respective person. Though you are to pass your exam using everything you have learnt over the past year, I do not want any irreparable damage caused to the two of you. The most I want to see is a couple of broken bones. If you wish to surrender, simply send up a bolt of lightning, and the battle will end immediately. And I will say this now, this is not an Agni Kai, so no permanently scaring the loser. Now, the opponents will bow, and return to their ends of the arena." The twins bowed to each other, turned on their heel, and quietly walked to opposite ends of the arena. General Lee marched to the edge of the arena, standing directly opposite the center of the arena. The twins had made it to their ends of the arena, turned and had taken starting position of their styles of combat.
The twins eyed each other warily, eyes narrowing. For the next hour, they were no longer brothers, they were enemies.
"Begin" Lee shouted, voice carrying clearly across the arena and surrounding stands.
Without hesitation, Azulon fired first, like a typical Fire Bender, a plume of sickly green flames shooting from his fist, barreling towards Noatak. Calmly, Noatak twisted to the side, avoiding the plume and extinguishing it with a blast of air from and open palm. Another plume was sent his way, where he jumped over it, sending a blast of frigid cold air towards the flames, propelling him further in the air and extinguishing the flames as he went. He landed deftly on the ground, rolling so as to not break any bones, twisting his legs as he rose to send a wave of air towards his brother, who jumped over the wave, quickly propelling himself further with jets of flames from his feet.
When he landed though, Azulon was immediately on the defensive, jumping and flipping, rolling and side-stepping blasts of air sent in powerful volleys towards him from Noatak. Forming twin daggers of flames, he charged his brother, dodging the now frenzied blasts as he got closer, jumping so as to catch his brother off guard. Without warning, however, Noatak crouched low to the ground as Azulon leapt over him, blasting him with air, sending him flying across the arena to land in a pile at Tenzin's feet. Returning to his full height, Noatak adopted the first position of his very own Burning Blades technique, but waited for Azulon to return to his feet before he made his move.
Punching the ground in frustration, Azulon got up from the ground, breathing in heavily, attempting to calm his frustrations. It didn't work, however, and when he turned to his brother, the frustration was clearly evident on his face. Closing his eyes, he inhaled deeply, mingling his chi with the breath in his lungs, warming him considerably. Holding the breath until it hurt, he opened his eyes, cupped his hands around his mouth and released the breath.
Smirking at his brothers tactic, Noatak quickly shifted his form a full 180 degrees, moving from Burning Blades to Frozen Fang, open palms resting steadily at his waist, right foot in front of his left, as the temperature of the air around him dropped considerably, even for the south pole. Waiting till the last minute for the Dragons Breath reached him, he moved quickly, short sharp jabs of his hands, steady kicks and jabs from his knees sent blasts of air colder than the ice beneath his feet towards the continuous plume of green flames making its way towards him. The blasts of air quickly dispelled the plume into thin, harmless embers that floated across the arena. The blasts of air continued to be sent towards Azulon, but he was quick to evade the oncoming assault, dodging each blast effectively, as if reading his brothers mind. He was quick to notice the change in temperature of the blasts, going from freezing cold to boiling hot, melting gouges and holes into the ice. Quickly changing tactic, Azulon used a modified lightning conductor technique that could be used while moving, sending quick, short jabs of lightning towards his brother in the same sickly green as his flames.
Noticing the lightning, Noatak ceased his onslaught and launched himself into the air with a blast of air from his feet. As he reached the peak of his jump, he formed a ball of air underneath, landing perfectly on the ground and moving quickly and efficiently around the arena to avoid the bolts of searing lightning. Azulon was quick to notice the movement, and returned to using pure flames to batter his opponent, getting more and more frustrated at his brother through his sloppy movements. This caused Azulon's attacks to become more and more explosive in nature, causing more damage to the arena.
Noticing his brother getting more and more destructive, Noatak moved to his Whirling Winds technique, twisting his arms and body in a similar style to that of Water Benders, but less controlled to water. Still circling his brother on the ball of air, the winds in the arena began to pick up until the area he was circling started to coalesce into a miniature tornado, growing in intensity with every revolution of the arena. Getting more and more frustrated, Azulon tried to blast his way out of the tornado using his bending, but made it worse when the flames fused with the tornado, increasing the intensity of the heat Azulon knew was being made by Noatak. Resigning to the fact that he was still going to be a Master Fire Bender, he fired a bolt of lightning into the air, signaling his surrender.
Noticing the bolt of lightning, Noatak immediately canceled the Whirling Winds technique, slowing his movements around the arena until he came to a full stop in front of Tenzin, canceling the ball of air under his feet and landing on the ground gracefully. Tenzin bowed deeply to Noatak, fists brought together at his chest in recognition of his equal. When he straightened to his full height, he said loudly "Noatak, of the Southern Water Tribe, you are hereby recognized as an Air Bending Master" to the applause of all those in the arena.
Noatak returned the bow to his former Air Bending instructor, using the same hand position as Tenzin had. "Thank you, Master Tenzin, for such an honorary title such as this" Noatak returned formally, after straightening back up from the bow.
Zuko called out from his side of the arena, where Azulon had returned to. "Though you surrendered in the fight, this exam was merely a formality to gauge your retention of our teachings. I hereby recognize you, Azulon, of the Southern Water Tribe, as a Fire Bending Master" he said, bowing low, fists together below his chest.
-Line-Break-
The next day, Noatak, Azulon and their friends and family were celebrating their ascension to yet another bending master. Senna had gone all out in preparing meals that were a mixture of delicacies from all four nations, including both salmon and trout, and prawns and crab from the Northern and Southern water tribes, large bowls of noodles topped by cooked and seasoned pork from the Fire Nation, platters of beef and chicken slowly cooked over fires that brought out the delicate flavors and textures of the meats from the Earth Kingdom, and large salads of both steamed and fresh vegetables and bowls of fruit salads from the Air Temples. All in all, it was a feast fit for kings.
The celebrations had started an hour before nightfall, lasting long into the night, and far into the early morning. By the time desert had come around, many of the White Lotus Guards were drunk from celebrations, with those closest to the twins, along with those guards with shifts, had remained sober, Senna had baked a large, triple decker cake, with thick, chocolate icing and designs along the rim of the cake in the images of air and fire, white designs for air, with green for the flames, showing the odd coloration of Azulon's flames. Senna had done the flames in purple when Noatak had mastered fire too.
After the cake had been cut up and passed around, Tenzin rose from his seat to address the celebrating family and friends before him. Clearing his throat to get the attention of the group, all eyes lay on him, waiting for what he was to say.
"First of all, I would like to congratulate Noatak and Azulon for their successful passing of their mastery exam" Tenzin began, earning cheers from the group. Waiting until the cheering died down, Tenzin continued. "However, I have received news from the High Council in Republic city, and I must return as soon as is possible to help settle the problem. Due to the circumstances of the summons, I have asked Pema and the kids to remain here at the South Pole for their own safety."
Everyone looked shocked at the announcement from Tenzin, but Tonraq was the first to regain the use of his voice. "But, what about Azulon's Air Bending training? And what about Noatak's Earth Bending? He stills needs a master to teach him."
"Yes, well, despite the circumstances, their training is the topmost priority" Tenzin continued after a moment of thought. "Which is why I am still here. I wish to ask you to allow Noatak and Azulon to come with me to Republic City, because despite the problems, their training is what matters the most at the moment. I have organized with an old friend of mine to help train Noatak, and she has agreed to train him if he comes to the city. Before you ask, they will remain on Air Temple Island where a platoon of White Lotus soldiers, the best of the best mind you, will be staying as protection on the island. Are there any questions?"
Tonraq and Senna turned to their oldest sons, both of whom had shocked looks on their faces, but were slowly starting to smile. They nodded simultaneously, and said in their weird twin-speak "Yes we'll go. At least, if mum and dad let us go?"
Tonraq and Senna gave their approval, and hurriedly sent their sons off to their rooms to relax and get ready in the morning. Turning to Tenzin, Senna asked with a worried, motherly tone to her voice "What exactly is happening in Republic City to call for such haste?"
"From what I have been told" Tenzin started, heaving a sigh. "There have been anti-bending riots all across the city. But, again, they will have the greatest protection we can provide for them. Only time will tell what is to happen."
With that the three adults left for bed, worry settling heavily in the hearts of the three.
Noon the next day was when Tenzin and the twins left for Republic City, though after much complaining, and a few valid points, Jinora had been allowed to tag along to help in training Azulon. With the wind whipping in their hair as they flew further and further north, they could only just hide their excitement for what was to come.