Delta's Trial

Hey guys here's a new chapter i hope you like it. Delta's fight is based off of the fight where Tex fights Maine, Wyoming, and York in season 9 of Red Vs Blue, which i don't own. That is owned by Rooster Teeth and 343 industries owns the Halo franchise. It's still rated T for two minor swear words in the story.

About half way through the trials Chun managed to make her way into the arena and found where here Shen was sitting. Naturally he was right next to the King who about half way up the stands and enjoying the shade of the stadium. As she walked over to them she heard "Shang son of Shen and Chun." She walked faster so she could see her eldest son start his trial.

"Mom where have you been?" asked Lian.

"Oh you know getting things ready for after the trials. Found some places for the King and his retinue to stay while they're here."

"Mom why didn't you ever tell us that you were related to the King?" asked Zhong. Chun froze in her seat and looked over at Shen. No he wouldn't tell anyone that I was royalty. Then she looked at her brother. I bet he probably said something unexpected and that's why everyone has been looking at me differently.

"I don't know I guess I had other things on my mind," replied Chun.

After this conversation Chun looked over at her husband and brother. Both were looking at Shang's trial with an intense gaze. She looked down as well. Shang was having some trouble with hand to hand combat. The warrior he was fighting easily had the edge when it came to size and strength. But Shang was one of the cleverest boys in the group. He managed to figure out the guy's weak points and brought him down with a few quick jabs in some key body areas. Then they moved on to the Square of Confusion, which was the nickname of the last trial given to it by previous initiates and Kang loved it so much because that's what it was really.

Shang had a little trouble at first but when he found his opponent he managed to block his blow with his wooden sword and then counter and knock the sword of his opponent's hand. He then struck him in the back, legs, and finally the head. The crowd cheered and Kang said, "Again." The two took their places and faced off two more times. Shang won both rounds and he was permitted to stand with the others who had passed. Chun noticed that Chan was amongst their ranks but she didn't see Delta. Then she saw him still waiting to be called. He'll be fine when it's turn. She looked back to Shen and her brother, Chung, who were in deep conversation while they checked the initiates occasionally to see who passed.

"How are things outside of our village?" Shen asked.

"Not as good as I hoped they would be," replied the King.

"Why what's been going on?" Shen inquired.

"Since the victory that we had over the firebenders in the East all those years ago, strange things have been happening."

"Like what?" Shen seemed more irritated by Chung's lack of a solid answer.

"For one we've had to cut down the army almost by half since the war ended. A lot of the men had fulfilled their pledges so they had the right to leave and start families of their own. But one of the backlashes of that is that there have been more robbers on the highways and more and more people are afraid to journey on the roads."

"What about the Avatar though? Isn't he supposed to be able to stop things like this?" Shen asked.

Chun and several others looked around at the mention of the Avatar.

"No one has seen him in the Earth Kingdom since he was here for his earthbending training, "replied Chung.

Shen nodded his head. Those who knew how the Avatar worked knew that he or she had to master all four elements and keep the balance within the world.

"Last I've heard he's at the Southern Air temple learning about airbending and maybe even learning how to master the Avatar State," as he finished this, the King asked for more water to be brought and one of the servants brought him some.

"Well it shouldn't be too much longer and he should be able to come and help the Earth Kingdom out right?" Shen said.

"That's the main idea but something seems off about this Avatar," Chung said as he took put his cup down.

"What do you mean?" Shen asked.

"Well, when he was in Omashu, he was very attentive towards mastering the art of earthbending. But he seemed to ignore or decide that the spiritual aspects of being the Avatar were unimportant," Chung replied.

"That's not a good sign for us. Or the world," said Shen.

"No it isn't and I don't know how he's going to respond to the teachings of the Fire Nation or the Air Nomads."

"Chung would your visit and your guesses about the Avatar and his training have anything to do with what you said to Delta before the Trials?" Shen asked.

After hearing Delta's name Chun looked back towards them.

"I wish I could say that I was lying but I'm not. It has a great deal to do with him and his past," replied Chung.

As they were talking Kang called out, in a loud voice, "Delta son of Shen and Chun".

This brought their attention back to the arena. They noticed that Delta was the only initiate left.

"How many men do you wish to fight Delta?" asked Kang.

Delta replied in a very calm voice "Three."

There was an audible gasp from the crowd.

Delta knew that people would have reactions about this number mainly because no one had ever fought three men in the trials before. They all knew about his rivalry with Chan but this was beyond that to Delta. He knew that he had always felt different from everyone else. People might call him arrogant in doing this, but that's not how he viewed the situation. He had taken his father's lessons about fighting to heart and when he wasn't busy with farm or house work he was training. He also felt that if he could beat three guys in the trials he may gain a bit more respect from everyone else in the village. He had always felt like he had something to prove to the others, but didn't know what. Maybe it was because he was adopted and he wanted the people to know that he was as much a member of their village as the next man. Whatever happened afterwards, Delta knew things would be different.

Kang looked at him with a somewhat skeptical look, "Well since you are the last initiate I do believe that in accordance with tradition you may choose who you want to fight whether it's someone from your initiate group or some of our other warriors."

"One of the people I'd like to fight is Ming from my group. I'll let you choose the other two fighters," replied Delta.

This seemed to take everyone including Kang by surprise. "Very well," replied Kang.

He walked over to the group of initiated men and told Ming that he was going back in. Ming nodded and glanced my way with an evil look in his eyes.

Then Kang walked over to where Chan and Shang were standing. He talked to both of them and Chan ended up stepping into the arena standing next to Ming. There were murmurs in the crowd at this. Delta thought he knew why Kang had selected Chan. It was probably because he had fought two guys and wanted to see how I would handle fighting one of my biggest rivals. Finally Kang found a warrior Katashi who was not from my group.

Outside of the arena Ji and Ju-Long (members of the King's retinue and very skilled earthbenders) were walking, waiting for the trials to end.

"Hey what was the meeting that you had with the King all about Ji?" Ju-long asked.

"Hmm you know I'm not supposed to talk about stuff like that to you guys," replied Ji.

"Come on help me out here. I'm still getting heat for almost letting his daughter and Akela nearly die in that ambush on the way here," Ju-Long said this with some disgust in his mouth.

"Really you shouldn't have to worry about that too much. We were all tired and a little footsore so you shouldn't feel any shame about not responding quickly."

"Yeah but you weren't the one responsible for his immediate family during that part of the trip," replied Ju-Long.

"Well you can relax the meeting wasn't about you. He wanted to talk about the guys who we may be taking back with us as well as some plans he has for the soldiers living in Omashu and Taku," as he was saying this they noticed some of the soldiers who had traveled with them start running towards the arena.

One of them bumped into Ji.

"Sorry sir," the soldier apologized.

"Wait soldier why is everyone running?" Ji asked.

"It's the last initiate. He's squaring off against Chan, Ming, and one other warrior, we're going to watch. Hey guys wait up!" he said to his friends.

Ju-Long looked at Ji, "Three on one?"

"I've got to see this," Ji replied with more enthusiasm than he expected. No one fought more than two guys in any village trial he'd seen, "Copy right behind you."

As they entered the arena they saw the lone initiate take out his three opponents with one swipe of his quarterstaff.

"Wow he sure doesn't move like a recruit," said Ji with some admiration in his voice.

"No he doesn't," agreed Ju-Long.

They stood next to the King and kept watching the trial. They saw Delta knock two of the guys flat on their back again and then he put one of them in a head lock with the staff. As the other two got back up again, Delta released the other warrior, swung at the other two before they could regain their senses and then knocked the warrior who he had held out with a few quick jabs to his stomach and head. He repeated this with the other two warriors and on the last one he swung the staff so hard at the guy's head that part of the staff broke off because of the amount of force that was used.

Knowing that the round was pretty much over Delta threw the staff aside.

"Begin hand to hand combat," said Kang.

Delta moved towards his opponents with a lot of confidence.

"Okay guys let's just play it smart. Ming how about you flank left and…" Chan trailed off because Ming charged in and Delta punched him right back to them.

"Or you can just run in and get immobilized first. Katashi how about you flank right…" as he was speaking Katashi ran towards Delta and got punched back as well.

"What's the deal am I the only one on this team who knows how to talk?" Chan asked his downed group.

"I don't think talking's your problem," Delta had walked up to him during his small rant.

"Oh no," Chan he tried to punch Delta but he was too late.

Delta punched him in the gut and Chan went backwards. Then Delta kicked Katashi in the face and delivered a few quick punches to Ming's face and chest. He blocked Ming's counter blows and grabbed his arm. As he did this he threw Ming over his shoulder and kicked him towards Katashi and that put both of them down. Then he moved towards Chan who blocked his first few punches but then got hit in the face and Delta used his elbows to knock Chan a little off balance and then he punched him in the stomach which brought him down to the ground.

"Okay now that was impressive," remarked Ju-Long who had never seen anything like that.

Chan, Ming and Katashi got back up.

"Okay guys that obviously didn't work very well how about we stay in formation and… damn it why did I volunteer for this crap?" Chan said as both Ming and Katashi went in again without listening to him.

Delta blocked a punch from Ming then kicked him in the stomach. He then punched Katashi in the face which sent him flying. Finally Chan closed in with him trying to hit him with punches but Delta blocked every one and then he kicked his legs out from under him. He did the same thing to Ming.

Then Delta rolled onto his back and kicked both of his feet into Chan's abdomen. Turning this move into a roll he got back up and punched Ming in the chest. Then he moved over to Katashi and putting his arm through Katashi's arm rolled over his back and punched him in his side. Then he kicked Chan in the shoulder and that threw his balance off. Now he was between all three of the warriors. He kept his balance and blocked punches sent at him and gave punches as well. Then Ming accidentally hit Katashi in the head with a punch that Delta blocked. After which Delta punched Katashi in the head and at the same time kicked Ming in the face. He then ran over to Chan and put one foot on his left leg and kicked him in the face, ending the second trial.

"Now the third and final trial for the evening," announced Kang.

He then made the Square of Confusion rise out from the ground. Some of the warriors in the stands were talking about the last trial.

"I hate those wooden swords," commented Ju-Long.

"Stings like a spider bee," replied one of the other warriors.

They stopped talking to look at the trial get underway.

"Ming. Hey Ming, look I'm going to go left how about… or you do whatever you want go out and get killed break great teamwork guys," both Ming and Katashi had run out to find Delta who found them first and disarmed them and knocked them down with his sword.

"It's going to be a long trial," Chan sighed.

He kept moving through the maze hoping to find Delta. But Delta kept running rings around him confusing him. As he rounded a corner Delta surprised him and kneed him in the stomach and then hit him in the head with his sword. Quite a few rounds went by and none of them could find or bring him down. During one encounter both Ming and Katashi were down as usual.

Chan was hiding next to a pillar and was whispering to Ming, "Hey Ming can you see him?"

Suddenly he felt a wooden point behind his head, "Uh you know what never mind man I think I know where he is." Then Delta hit him again.

Another time they were all on the ground looking for him and they didn't realize that he was on one of the squares watching them. Then he went and jumped off the block and hit Katashi in the arm with his sword. After which he dodged swings from Chan and ducked under one from Ming, rolled and jumped off one of the pillars and punched Ming in the shoulder. Ming then knocked the sword out of Delta's hand causing it to go right up in the air.

The crowd gasped during this one because they thought Delta might get hit. But Delta dodged every one of Ming's blows and caught his sword and hit Ming when he didn't expect it. This knocked Ming down for good. Then Chan came swinging at him and Delta kicked Ming's body beneath him which Chan jumped over to avoid tripping himself. Chan then knocked Delta's sword to the ground and tried to swing his but realized that they were too close. Meanwhile Delta kicked his sword up into Chan's face which momentarily stunned him. Delta then took Chan's sword and hit him five or six times in the stomach and kicked him which threw him on his back. Delta struck Katashi in the face while he walked by him.

"After seven rounds the score is seven to zero in favor of Delta," announced Kang.

"Yeah in favor is the right phrase Kang," muttered Chan under his breath.

As he turned back to the maze he noticed both Ming and Katashi giving each other real swords.

"Hey what the hell are you guys up to?" he asked, as usual no reply from either of them.

Then they unsheathed their swords and started running and swinging with precision at Delta. Chan stood by in horror as he saw this. Meanwhile over on the sidelines Shang noticed this, "Are they using real swords during the Trials?"

"Looks like it," replied one of the initiates.

"But that's against tradition he could be killed," Shang said angrily, "Someone should tell the King or my father."

"Your father?" asked one of the initiates, "Who do you think approved of the swords in this final round?"

"Watch your mouth man," replied Shang heatedly.

Shang saw the two guys with swords move in on Delta. One of them swung at him but he dodged it and swung his wooden sword at Katashi and barely missed hitting Chan who ducked quickly. Delta was behind a pillar when Chan came around from behind.

"Look out," he called and Delta turned and pointed his sword at him, "Hey I'm trying to help," Chan replied.

"I don't need your help, never abandon your team."

As Delta was speaking Katashi gave Ming a knife and then he got up on the pillar that Delta was under. He kicked Chan back and then threw Katashi onto the ground as he jumped down from the pillar. Ming tried hitting him but Delta blocked him and then kicked him in the side. He then ran towards Ming who swung at him again but Delta ducked and used his sword to hit the knife out of Ming's hand and that caused Ming to pause and hold his hand for a bit. Then Katashi came at him with his sword and he managed to cut through a bit of Delta's tunic. This enraged Delta and he ran forward, disarmed Katashi and hit him numerous times in the stomach and when Katashi was about to fall to the ground Delta grabbed his head and smashed it against one of the pillars. After that he and Chan were standing around when Ming ran towards both of them. He tackled Delta into Chan and this threw both of them back. Delta recovered quickly and hit Ming in the stomach and head with his wooden sword and then kicked him backwards so that he ended up in front of a pillar.

As Ming was going down he threw the knife towards Chan. Time seemed to slow as Delta saw the knife leave Ming's hand. Summoning up the energy in his body Delta drew on all the moisture in the arena and pulled it towards Chan and turned it into a solid wall so that he would be safe. The knife lodged itself into the ice.

Delta walked slowly to the knife, knowing that his life was about to change. He pulled the knife from the ice ignoring the noise from the crowd and walked towards Ming, who was lying on the ground.

He hauled Ming up and said to him, "If I ever see you do something like that again to one of my friends, then you will wish that you had tied a stone around your neck and throw yourself into the ocean."

Delta walked back to where Chan was lying. He seemed to have a blank look in his eye as he stared at the wall of ice in front of him.

"Chan. Chan, are you alright?" Delta asked him.

Chan seemed to come back to reality, "Yeah I'm fine."

But by the tone of his voice Delta knew he was lying. He offered his hand and Chan grasped it.

"How did you do that?" Chan asked uneasily, as if he wasn't sure he wanted to know.

"Isn't it obvious? I bent the water in the arena to save a friend of mine." Delta answered.

"But how…" Chan's question trailed off.

"It's a long story which I think my whole family may want to hear." Delta replied.

Then they noticed the pillars weren't up any more. They also saw Kang looking at Delta in, confusion, admiration, whatever he was thinking he seemed dumfounded as everyone else in the stands.

"Come on let's get back to my house and clean up," Delta said and started walking towards the exit to the arena.

Just then Shang ran up towards them and started asking questions but Delta would only tell him to wait for their families to arrive at the home so he wouldn't have to repeat his story.

"Fascinating," Chung said.

"What's fascinating?" asked Shen and Chun together.

"I knew there was something special about Delta, I just didn't know what kind of person he was until today," replied Chung, "Now you and Chan's family should go to your home and hear Delta's story. Send word to me when he has said his bit and you have asked your questions about him."

Chung nodded towards Shen and Chan's family. They bowed and left quickly.

Reviews are welcome. I don't know when I'll get another chance to write the next chapter but expect a post either on the weekends or on Mondays.