Chapter 26: Bitter Work
Back in the podracer hangar, most of the racers had left except for Ricky who was being hugged and congratulated by his friends.
"Way a go, Ricky!" Will hugged Ricky.
"Yeah Ricky, way to go." Allen smiled as he walks over and pats Ricky's back.
Will lets go of Ricky and Ricky turned to Saber who is smiling at him. "Good job, Ricky. You really are a lunatic." Saber chuckled.
"Thanks." Ricky laughed. He and Saber hugged each other passionately. They both let go of each other when they both heard Wall-E coming over to them.
"Ricky!" Wall-E said happily as he rolls over to him. Ricky laughed as he kneeled down to Wall-E's level.
"Hey Wall-E, did you saw me?" Ricky asked. Wall-E nodded and Ricky hugged Wall-E. Ben was standing nearby frowning while folding his arms angrily.
After Ricky lets go of Wall-E, Toph ran up to Ricky and yelled, "Ricky!"
Ricky turned to Toph and smiled, "Toph!" The two ran up to each other and they both embraced. Toph hugged Ricky tightly and lovingly.
"You did it, brother. I am so proud. You gave hope to those who had none." Toph said with a smile.
"We owe you everything." Saber added with a smile as she walked over to Ricky and Toph.
Ricky lowered his head to Toph and said, "Thanks Toph. I knew I could win. Anyways, I got some unfinished business to take of." He meant the bet he had with Xin Fu. He lets go of Toph, turns around and leaves.
Ricky knew where to find Xin Fu and sure enough, Ricky was in Azula's private box (Azula left already), paying off what he owed to a fellow officer who gambled with him. After the officer left, Ricky approached. Xin Fu saw him and looked furious.
"You! You swindled me! You were a Templar all along and with your powers, you won the race and made me lose the bet!" Xin Fu bellowed furiously. He then groaned the next part with a miserable grumble, "I lost everything."
"Well, learn from this lesson, Xin Fu. This is what the evils of gambling can do. Whenever you do gamble, eventually you'll lose. That's what my mother use to tell me all the time, and I'm glad I listened to her." Ricky told Xin Fu wisely. He then instructed Xin Fu, "Now then, I would like to free Toph Bei Fong now."
"NEVER! You can't have her! It wasn't a fair bet" Xin Fu yelled at Ricky angrily. Just then, a familiar figure enters the box. It was Rukia.
"Ricky, I now know where Azula is hiding." Rukia said to Ricky. Ricky smirked while Xin Fu widens his eyes in shock.
"Well, would you like to discuss this little disagreement with your superior, Azula, now that my friend know where she is?" Ricky asked Xin Fu sternly, coming up to him. "I'm sure she can settle this."
For the first time since Ricky had met him, Xin Fu grumbled in worry. Although Xin Fu was tough, he knew that no one was tougher than Azula. Xin Fu lowered his head and sighed in defeat. "Go ahead, take the girl." Xin Fu said, now accepting the fact that he had been beaten.
Ricky nodded and he and Rukia left the royal box, knowing that he has succeeded, and leaving Xin Fu to wallow in his own self-pity.
Meanwhile, outside the arena, Will is talking with Katara, Sokka and Kya.
"Thanks for your support, guys." Will nodded to the three.
"Yeah, and congratulations to your friend. We never thought he could be the Templar." Katara said.
"Well, we wish we could stay longer…" Sokka sadly turned to his mother Kya, who is coughing. "But…we really gotta go."
"Ya." Katara agreed sadly. The three turned around and make their leave.
"Wait!" A voice yelled. Katara, Sokka and Kya turned around and sees Ricky, Allen, Saber, Toph, Rukia, Ben and Wall-E coming over to them. Ricky breathes heavily as he stops in front of the three.
"Ricky?" Will asked puzzled.
"What is it?" Sokka asked Ricky.
Ricky looked up and said, "I know how much your mother needs the money. So here." He takes out something from his pocket and holds it up in front of the three. Katara and Sokka looked surprised. It was the 1 million dollar check which Ricky won for coming in first place in the race.
"What? Your million dollar prize check?" Katara said surprised.
"But you won it fair and square!" Sokka added.
"I know. But your mother needs it more than I do." Ricky smiled. Katara then took the check.
"Oh my. I don't know what to say. Thank you so much." Katara said dumbfounded.
Kya smiled and walked over to Ricky." Thank you for saving my life Ricky."
Ricky widens his eyes. "What? How do you know my name?"
"Because I know you and your mother very well."
Ricky and Saber gasp. Ricky then said, "You mean…"
"Yes, I'm a Templar too. I did fought in the battle of DC. Yoruichi and I are one of the first Templars and founded the Rebel Templars together. After Yoruichi died, I escaped from the city alive and moved here with my children, hoping to hide ourselves from the Faction." Kya explained.
"Yes, it's true. Our mother was brave back then." Katara nods her head.
"And as for helping me, I'll pay you back by teaching you and your friends some of the Templars' powers. You can use them even without the use of Carsomyrs and ExCaliburs."
"What?!" Toph said surprised.
"You mean…" Allen tried to say.
"Yes. All of you. I'll teach you all a different Templar power to help you all fight against the Faction." Kya said.
"All right! Awesome!" Will yelled happily.
"That's fantastic!" Ben cheered. Kya smiled warmly.
The next day, at an open desert field outside the city, Kya, Toph and Ben are now facing each other while Katara, Sokka, Ricky and the rest of his group sat down on a canyon and watched them. Kya is next to three huge boulders. She gets into her fighting stance while Toph and Ben stood still and watch her.
"This power is called earthbending." Kya then lunges her fist forward at the first boulder and it causes the boulder to shoot off into the distance, slamming into the bottom of the canyon.
"Whoa." Toph and Ben both said surprised. Katara, Sokka, Ricky and his group smiled and clap their hands.
"Now you try. Just take a deep breath and lunge your fist forward."
Toph and Ben closed their eyes tight, take deep breaths, then lunge their fists at the second and third boulders and the boulders shoot off…and head towards Katara, Sokka, Ricky and the others!
"Incoming!" Ricky screamed and he, Katara, Saber, Will, Rukia, Allen, and Wall-E quickly got out of the way.
"Oh boy." Sokka groaned as he watches the boulder coming towards him. The boulder then landed on Sokka's foot. Sokka bit his lip for a moment, then yelled
"YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Next, Katara wraps a necklace around Will's neck. The necklace has a glowing pink amulet. "What's this?" Will asked.
"The Heart of Kandrakar. This necklace is usually won by rookie Templars, fighters who are new to the Templar fighting styles. But it can be won by non-Templars too." Katara explained. She now points to a stalagmite that is in front of them. "Now then, use your sabers and try to shoot that stalagmite."
Will took a deep breath, hold up her sabers and she widnes her eyes in surprise when she notices that her sabers start to glow pink energy. "Awesome!" Will said. She then swings her sabers and the energy lunge towards the stalagmite.
But they missed.
Nearby, Sokka, whose foot is now bandaged, and Rukia are sitting on the ground while drinking Chinese tea. Rukia takes a sip of the tea and said, "Wow, it taste good."
"Yeah. I know." Sokka said. Then Sokka turned his head and sees the pink energy coming towards him! He groaned. "Oh boy." The pink energy hits him and it sends Sokka slamming into the side of the canyon.
Next, Kya is now teaching Allen. Allen is now also wearing a necklace similar to Will's. "Yoruichi and I both called this, the Akuma." Kya then turns her left arm into a huge white claw.
"Wow. That's amazing." Allen said surprised.
"Yup, you try." Kya said as she turns her arm back into normal. Allen nods and he also transforms his left arm into a huge white claw.
"Good." Kya smiled.
Next, Toph and Ben watch Kya quickly shove her hands effortlessly into a rock. It was another form of earthbending. Toph then rubs her hands together, trying to do the same thing. She shoves her hand into the rock, but she ended up hurting her hand and she grunts in pain as she grabs her injured hand tightly.
"Okay, maybe I'll do it later." Ben said nervously as he backs away, not wanting to have the same fate as Toph.
Next, Katara tosses a plate into the air. She then points at the plate to Will, wanting her to shoot the plate. Will nods and holds up one of her sabers, trying to shoot at the plate. She shot pink energy at it but she misses the plate.
Meanwhile, Sokka, both his head and foot now wrapped in bandages, was sitting next to a tall stalagmite. "Well, I guess nothing or nobody can hurt me if I sit here." He said.
Suddenly, the pink energy which Will shot earlier hits the stalagmite and Sokka watches the stalagmite about to fall onto him. "Maybe not." He groaned as he shook his head.
Yeah, I guess you readers all know what happens to Sokka next…
Next, Kya watches Allen doing chin-ups…while hanging onto a tree branch with only his Akuma arm. Allen grunts in pain as sweat frantically rolled down his face as he does his exercise.
Kya lunges her fist forward at the first boulder and it causes the boulder to shoot off into the distance, slamming into the side of the canyon. She turns to Toph and Ben and gestures them to show her their earthbending skills once more.
Toph and Ben closed their eyes tight and take deep breaths. They are sure that they can do it this time. They then lunge their fists at the second and third boulders and the boulders shoot off into the distance and slamming into the side of the canyon.
Toph and Ben opened their eyes and smiled. They did it! They have earthbend!
Will swings her swords and shot pink energy at a nearby stalagmite. This time, she finally successfully destroys the stalagmite with her new powers. Will smiled at her success while Katara smiled as she clapped her hands.
Finally, Kya stomps her foot onto the ground, causing a nearby boulder to shoot up in the air. Allen quickly swings his Akuma arm and smashes the boulder with it. Allen turned to Kya as he turns his Akuma arm back to normal and smiled. Kya smiled back and two bowed down to each other.
That night, training was over. Everyone gathered around a campfire while having dinner which Toph has cooked for all of them. "Congratulations all of you! You have mastered your new powers." Kya said to Allen, Toph, Ben and Will.
"Yeah! Congratulations you guys!" Ricky said as he lifts his glass of tea.
"To us!" Allen, Toph, Ben and Will said happily as they raised their glasses as well.
"Yeah, way to go." Sokka grumbled in annoyance. His head and foot are still wrapped in bandages. Katara giggled.
"Oh Sokka." She said to her brother.
"Now, let's eat." Saber said happily. She and the others then start eating their noodles and soup which Toph has cooked for all of them. Ricky was about to eat his dinner but he stopped when Kya spoke to him.
"Ricky, can I have a word with you? Kya asked. Ricky looked up at her.
"Er…okay." Ricky nodded. He puts down his bowl and he and Kya walked away from the campfire. They both stopped when they were twenty feet away from the others.
"Ricky, why do you want to go up against the Faction? It's too dangerous." Kya said concerned.
"No Kya. I'm doing this because I want to save my guardian Robert who is captured by the Faction." Ricky replied.
"I see." Kya said. "But your mother Yoruichi, she told me greatly about you and she also says that she cares about you a lot. And your safety. Do you think your mother would be very worried about you right now, that you are going on an extremely dangerous mission?"
"I know." Ricky sighed sadly, thinking about his mother. "But still, the Faction has my guardian Robert. If I don't save him, I'll lose another person who is close to me. And I cannot let that happen." He turned to Kya and said, "Please Kya, I have to do this."
Kya sighed sadly, then nods her head. "Sometimes people have to make sacrifices. Just like your mother, who sacrifice herself during the battle. You are making one right now, trying to save your guardian…and the world." She smiled as she walks over and puts her hand on Ricky's shoulder. "And your mother…would have been so proud of you."
Ricky smiled at this statement. "Thanks Kya." He and Kya then embraced each other.
Meanwhile, back at Azula's hideout, Bowler Hat Guy enters Azula's office and sees Azula filing her nails while sitting on her chair comfortably.
"What is it, ma'am?" Bowler Hat Guy asked. Azula puts away her nail file and turned to Bowler Hat Guy.
"Oh yes, tell the slaves that thanks to the Templar, their workload has been DOUBLED. I want everybody in the city to hate Ricky Blade because of this." Azula smirked evilly.
END OF CHAPTER