Chapter Six: The Need To Train

Aki awoke up from her feverous nap to talking from outside of the room. Ronan and Rinn were outside, discussing something. She groggily got up, her head pounding. She peeked out the door, and saw the two down at the end of the hall. She hid behind the corner to eavesdrop on their conversation.

"I never mentioned this when we first spoke to each other," Rinn said, "There were rumors from the battlefields that a man that was fighting for the Non-Benders could bend more than one element."

Ronan was puzzled. "Then did you think it was me?"

"At first, yes. We were shocked once I was informed of this, but the man's description was that he was at least twenty years older than you are. But then again, it was a rumor. Most soldiers that returned home wounded were most incoherent."

"Then what was your initial reaction when I arrived here?"

"I was shocked of course. The rumor did slip my mind, so the possible danger was not in my mind. I thought some kid was bluffing."

"Well, let's presume that there is a guy who can manage to bend more than one element fighting to the enemy; what could this mean? A guy who can bend fighting for non benders who hate those who can bend."

"Perhaps he believes in their morals that benders are oppressors."

"Yeah, I guess that's a logical reason. But bending more than one element... Only the Avatar can do that, right?"

"Most correct."

"Let's say this isn't a rumor, but fact. Let's say there is a man out there managing to bend the elements. What is going on here?"

"Honestly, I couldn't tell you. I'd be as baffled as you are. Could you possibly find an answer in the Spirit World?"

"Maybe. It's definitely something new. But what is going on currently on with this conflict? Fighting? Solutions?"

"On the diplomatic side: we are at an impasse. There are plenty of non benders living here in harmony with those who can bend. On the front lines, the fighting has slowed down, but if they are starting to mobilize again, and target vulnerable areas, then we need to mobilize our troops once more. I already did give the command after our first meeting."

"That's good."

There was a brief pause.

"So, what of the little girl? Aki was it?"

"Yeah, what about her."

"What will you do with her?"

"...What are you getting at?"

"I mean that you are obviously going to be busy. I know of a great place where we can put her."

"You mean adoption?"

"Er, yes."

"No. She's been through enough. The last thing she really needs is to be handed off."

"But-"

"End of discussion. I know I will be mostly busy, but she stays with me, okay?"

Rinn grimaced. "Okay then. What are your plans with her?"

"I plan on her mastering healing but, " Ronan looked down a let out a breath, "But if there is trouble, and unknown phenomenons going on, then I plan on training her which is actually quite prefect because we both need to master water bending. Do you know a water bending master who can teach us?"

"Of course! This is Republic City after all. Master Jung would happily train you."

"Good. Plan on him training us in a weeks time."

"A week?"

"Yes. I need to catch up on some knowledge while Aki shakes off her fever. Once she does, I'm going to train her with what I know to get her started."

Rinn nodded. "That's understandable. I have books and scrolls delivered from the library to your quarters."

"Thanks. We can talk about this some more later."

"Yes, of course."

The two bowed to each other, and Rinn left, closing the security door behind him.

After a few seconds, Ronan called out, "You can come out of hiding now."

Aki was shocked. She turned the corner to show herself. "How did you know?"

He turned around, and began walking towards her. "I felt your vibrations from your feet as you walked out."

"You did?"

"Yeah. Earth bending trait. I've done it for so long, I can sense little things like that even if the ground I'm standing on isn't earth. Now, come on, you need some rest."

They entered back into the room. Aki stumbled back onto the couch, resting her head. Ronan began brewing tea for the both of them.

"You obviously heard what the plan is for the next week."

"Uh huh."

"So for now, we'll rest up, learn some stuff, then I teach you some of what I know. I find it to be essential due to state of what the world is in right now."

Ronan bowed his head, and closed his eyes, concentrating. He spoke lightly, "What do you think about this Raava?"

She spoke back. "I am not sure. I am just as confused as you are. Only the Avatar has the ability to bend the four elements. If it is true, something is awry."

Ronan looked back up. "It'll be interesting to find out."

Two Days later...

Ronan and Aki were alone in the Pro Bending Arena. They sat in the middle, facing each other, legs crossed, fists together, meditating.

"Keep your mind clear," Ronan said softly, "Empty your thoughts until everything becomes clear."

Aki was struggling to do so. Her mind was racing. The past week turned her whole world upside down that it was impossible to clear her mind. She eventually threw her hands up in the air, letting out a frustrated grunt.

"I can't do it! I just can't!"

Ronan didn't stir. He remained in the some position, still in a calm state of mind.

"It will take time. This is essential to expanding your abilities. If you cannot clear your mind, you will not fully learn or understand what we will cover."

Aki sighed and got back into the position. She let in a deep breath and exhaled.

"Try focusing on a happy memory to forget the misfortunes you have endured. Once you feel that you have, clear your mind of your happy thought, and listen to the calmness of the atmosphere surrounding you."

She thought back to a time when she and her mother watched movers late at night. They only ever managed to own three of them, but that didn't matter. It was the usually the only time they ever really got to spend time with each other. Most days her mother was gone working in another town to make a living.

It was nearly two hours until she managed to clear her mind.

"Good. I can sense that you managed to succeed. You may open your eyes now and come forward." She did so. "During my time in the Spirit World, I've classified the elements. Water is life. All living things require water to survive. Water has the ability to heal. Earth is structure. It's a highly useful element that gives strength to the masses. Air is freedom and change. Air is forever moving, weathering the landscapes. Fire is control and rebirth. This was difficult to classify. Fire was always used for its destructive unpredictability. But from the ashes comes life anew. Yet fire can still be controlled. Which leads me to say that all the elements are essential for living, but each are deadly to their own accord. If you want to win your fight against your foe, you will need to know what their element is capable of doing."

"But I won't be fighting other benders... Will I?"

"I would like to think that you won't, but you never know. You'll need to be prepared for when that time comes. For you, water bending is more powerful against fire and air. You are more vulnerable to earth."

"Why is that?"

"Naturally, water extinguishes fire. And if given enough water, a large mass of air cannot stop a strong blast of water. Earth has enough density to blow through, unless it is ice, then it has the ability to block."

"What about you? You are mainly earth, right?"

"Yes. Because earth is structure, it offers strong defense. Air can slow an earth projectile, or change its course, and a thick wall of ice can block an earth projectile. Fire cannot stop it alone unless they use combustion."

"Combustion?"

"Yes. You have most likely have not witnessed it yet, but there are few people out there who have mastered the art of combustion. When a fire bender creates fire from their fist, they combust their blast. For combustion, oxygen, heat, and fuel needs to be present. Within their body, they already possess heat and fuel. They only thing they require is oxygen which is literally everywhere on the planet. Those who mastered the art of combustion send the energy to their head, and send out a deadly explosive blast from a far distance. They only way to defeat their blast is to hit the mark on their head where they send the blast out from."

Aki was intrigued.

Ronan laughed lightly. "I don't want to wander too far off now. In five days, we will have a water bending master train us."

"You aren't a master at water bending?"

"Nope. Because Korra was a natural master of water, she never had to work on her water bending abilities. She struggled with air bending, which was Aang's natural ability. He struggle with fire bending which was Roku's natural ability and so on. So naturally, I'm a master at earth bending, but no where close with water. I only know some because I reconnected with the past Avatars during my time in the Spirit World. They taught me what they managed. Our time was always short. So I can offer you very little right now, but for now, I want to see what you can do."

He stood up and stretched. Aki did the same. She walked over to the edge of the of the arena, and looked down at the water below. She took a stance, and began making the motions. She managed to get about several liters of water up to her in the shape of a sphere.

"Okay, try to shape it into a streak of water."

She attempted to do so. The orb of water flattened out, then it fell onto the floor, soaking into the ground. She closed her eyes and sighed, embarrassed.

"It's okay. It's only a start. Now try to bend that water out of the ground."

She opened her eyes, and started at the wet spot on the ground. She took her stance again, and began pulling the water out of the ground. It was back in the form of an orb again.

After two hours, she managed to hold the form of water in the shape of a streak.

"Excellent. Now I want you to throw it at me as hard as you can."

"What?" Aki asked in confusion.

"We need to see if you can, plus I need my training too."

"Alright, here it goes."

She quickly extended her arms towards Ronan, releasing the water from her control. The streak of water began to lose its shape slightly. Ronan held out his hands, and managed to grab onto half of the water. The other half splashed him in the face.

"I'm sorry!" Aki yelled worriedly.

Ronan only laughed. "It's alright." He reformed the water back into a streak, and launched it to the outside of the arena.

"Do we continue then?" she asked.

"I think for now we will work on strength and cardio."

"Why?"

"Strength is a big deal for earth and water benders. It allows us to be able to control larger masses of our respective element. Cardio is essential for everyone for obvious reasons, but it increases our stamina, and allows us to fight for a longer period of time. They moment you begin to get winded against an opponent is the second you lose because they now have a advantage over you."

"What do we do?"

"Running, jumping. Anything that keeps your heart rate up."

"Is that what you did?"

"Yeah. That's what I mainly did as a child. I was always on the move. Running around, exploring. Climbing the trees. It was a great time."

"What was after that?"

"That was when I began being taught by Iroh and Toph. Both mentally and physically."

"How long will this take for me?"

"Considering we have time constraints, I'll just have to give you a crash course."

"... Is everything going to be okay?"

Ronan let out a breath. "I sure hope so."

The Next Day...

Ronan woke up before down. He got out of bed, stretched, then put on his clothes. He informed Aki yesterday that they were going to continue training bright and early. He went over to her room, but she wasn't in bed.

"Aki?" he called out, looking around.

Nothing.

She wasn't in the bathroom, and she wasn't in the hallway outside the apartment. As he ran down the hall, he ran into the Vice President: Long Zhong.

"Have you seen Aki?" Ronan asked.

"Actually, yes I have. About twenty minutes ago. I asked her where she was headed/ All she said was that she was going to go train."

"Okay, good. Thanks. I guess she really wants to become a master bender." Ronan ran off to go to the arena.

When he was out of sight, Zhong laughed sinisterly to himself, "Not like it's going to help when the time comes."