Chapter 6

The Announcement

Taruk and I were both shocked. The best water bender in the world was right in front of us.

"So is this a friendly spar?" Pakku asked in a very sarcastic and smug voice, as he seemed to know exactly what was going on, "Because if so, the middle of the street is hardly the place for it. And attacking your opponent from behind, that is just low."

Neither Taruk nor I answered him as we were both still in shock. We just gave him dumb looks.

"Though I do think there is another possibility. It would seem that the two of you just don't get along very well and that your feud has escalated into a water bending fight. That couldn't be it though, because if I remember correctly, the only 'sparing sessions' allowed are the ones instructed by your master. And it does not seem likely that your master instructed you two to spar in the street unsupervised. I guess I will have to report this to Masters Wei and Desu," he said to us a smug smile on his face.

I was over my shock then but I still didn't say anything. I knew what Master Pakku was doing. He was messing with Taruk's mind, trying to unnerve him. Taruk had gotten over his shock too most likely but his face was filled with fear at being reported.

"Well one of you answer me. Don't make it seem like I am talking to myself!" Pakku said getting inpatient.

Taruk tried to say something but it just came out as mumbles.

"No one can hear you mumbling to yourself. You'll have to be louder than that boy!" Pakku snapped.

"I said," Taruk started weakly, "We were just sparing."

"Well than you are wasting your time. Might I ask why you are sparing with Hyriu? To fight him would be like fighting a five-year-old, it's just wrong," Pakku said.

Taruk stuttered but no words came out.

"I on the other hand, I would be a much better sparring partner. A real challenge. I am not so easily beaten. In fact I have not lost a match, sparing or otherwise," Pakku said smiling and taking a water bending stance.

"Oh, uh uh, uhmm," Taruk stuttered, "N, no thanks." He took off running.

"Well, at least he was polite about it," Pakku laughed and I did too.

"So was that really a sparing session?" he asked me already knowing the answer.

"Uh, no," I said, "No it wasn't."

"Good, I didn't think it was but then again Master Desu is a bit, loopy from time to time. The question I do want to know the answer to is 'what your fight was about and why he was covered in fresh cuts. Would know the answer to both those questions Hyriu?" Pakku asked.

"Well he might have deserved it," I said looking away.

"Perhaps he did but that does not excuse you to lose control like that. If a beginner water bender loses control the results are destructive, if you lose your temper, with the type of power you possess the results are catastrophic. You need a level head, not for your own good, but for those around you," Pakku said seriously.

"I know," I said, "Its just he told me to go running to my dead mom. So I-"

"He what?" Pakku shouted, "Well maybe I should have smacked him around a bit to teach him a lesson," Pakku winked at me. I started laughing and he did too, "But the next time that happens you need to tell an adult if you can't ignore him. I know that is not the first choice someone your age would make, but it is true."

"I do ignore him and some of my friends even step up for me but he just keeps coming back for more and eventually I will snap, like I did today," I said.

"Well I have scared him off for the time being but if he is as persistent as you say then he will not be scared for long. I fear he will become a large problem soon," he said.

Just then a loud bell rang out. I recognized it as the bell that signaled everyone to go to the Grand Hall.

"Well I guess we had better go to the Hall then," Pakku said.

"But wait, what about Wei at the Square? And why were you just wondering around? And what about my test?" I asked.

"If you would give me time to answer your questions you would know," he said as we started walking towards the Grand Hall, "I was with Master Wei at the Square. He said he had to tell you something important and he was worried what was keeping you. So I volunteered to go search for you and bring you to him. He said if the bell rang before we met up with him than to just take you to the Hall and meet him there."

"Do you know what he wanted to tell me?" I asked.

"He just said it was something about the announcement Chief Arnook is going to make," Pakku answered.

"Hmm," I thought to myself.

"So Anzen Hyriu, are you ready for your test?" Pakku asked using my title.

"Are you sure you can say that out here?" I said looking around nervously. Anzen was the title Avatar Roku came up with for the Chosen Child. Just as his title was 'Avatar', the child's would be 'Anzen'. He chose anzen because it meant 'safety' as in safety net, because should the world slip through the Avatar's hands and start to fall into Darkness the safety net, or Anzen would be there to catch it.

"Of course it's safe to say it; we're in a deserted street with no one around to hear it. Even if they did hear us, they have no idea what it means. They would have to dig deep into the secret history of the Beifen Legend to even get a guess at it." just then I heard a gasp that came from the alley behind us.

Pakku and I both took a stance and slowly walked into the alley. There were only some boxes and a barrel back there, and no signs of movement.

"Though I guess I should be more careful," Pakku said.

We walked back into the street and continued towards the Hall.

"You never answered my question," Pakku said, "Are you ready for the test?"

"Well…" I started to say but I was distracted by what I saw in the sky. Pakku looked to see what I was looking at.

In the sky I saw what looked like large birds flying from the mountains. I feared I was having another vision. Then I almost laughed at my sudden stupidity, they were not birds, but air benders on gliders. I even saw some sky bison.

"Well it appears even the Air Nomads were asked to come," Pakku said.

We continued toward the Grand Hall, other people joined us and many were in awe of Master Pakku. We arrived at the Hall and there was a huge crowd of people gathered at its entrance. I found Hiko and said bye to Pakku. Master Wei spotted me through the crowd and made his way to me.

"Ah, Hyriu," he started to say when an older looking man came over and told him Chief Arnook was looking for him and they walked off.

A group of air benders landed by Hiko and me. I spotted my air bending master, Sonam and my friend Lamara. They walked over to us.

"Master Sonam," I said and bowed respectfully, "Lamara, it's great to see you both.

"It is good to see you as well, and your brother," Sonam said. He was tall and slender. His shoulders were not very broad; he had a strong jaw and a round face. His head was shaved with a blue arrow tattooed on it. He had a bit of a deep voice that did not really fit his appearance, but it was filled with wisdom. His eyes were a light grey, like the clouds starting to pass over the Bei Shui Mountains in the distance. He was not tan, but also not pale, like all the other nomads from the Shui Air Temple.

"Yeah," Lamara said, "how have you been Hiko?" He blushed; we all knew he had a crush on her. Lamara was my height and she was thin. She had black hair, in the front her hair came to her jaw and got shorter towards the back. She also had bangs that came just above her eyebrow. She had dark grey eyes.

We made our way inside and sat down around the middle to the left side, if you were facing the Court. I saw Chief Arnook at the head seat, Princess Yue at his right, Master Pakku at his left. All of the healers from the court and Hydronia were at Chief Arnook's right following by rank, the greatest healer Yugoda sat right next to Princess Yue. On Chief Arnook's left the water bending masters followed in the same fashion as the healers. After the water bending masters were the warriors. I saw Master Wei up there as well as Master Desu and Instructor Chen.

"Now, you're all probably wondering what I am even doing here in Hydronia with the whole Royal Court," Chief Arnook began, " Many of you have also noticed that I asked the Air Nomads to attend this meeting. It is because I have a very generous gift for four lucky children. Three will be of the Water Tribe and one will be an Air Nomad, but we'll get back to that later. In exactly two weeks I will have a large celebration in honor of someone very important. I will reveal who that someone is at the celebration. Hydronia's very own young water benders will perform there along with Master Pakku. Now back to the four children. First, I will tell you what gift I will give them. The children will spend the rest of the day with the entire Royal Court," there were cheers and applause from the crowd, "But wait," the Chief continued, "I haven't told you where the children will spend the day with us. Inside the spectacular and grandness of the Gambing Palace," gasps were heard through out the Hall, "Master Pakku will also give them a special performance of his best water bending, with a surprise guest. And each child will be allowed to take two items of their choice with them when they leave."

The crowd was going completely insane. Chief Arnook clapped his hands and two large jars were brought out by four people. One was painted in shades of yellow and orange, the other was painted in shades of blue. Chief Arnook walked over to the jars.

"Now to choose the children, in each jar are the names of the children between the ages of 10 and 18. As is our custom I will choose the air bender child first," he reached into the yellow and orange jar and pulled out a piece of paper, "The lucky air bender child is, Lamara of the Shui Temple!"

Lamara squealed with delight, she walked up the stage as the crowd burst into applause. Chief Arnook motioned for her to stand next to him and she did. He reached into the blue jar and with some trouble, he pulled out three slips of paper.

"The three lucky Water Tribe children are, Koluk Yonggan," Koluk joined Lamara on stage with a smile, "Lina Zhanshi," Lina ran up on stage with a huge grin, "And finally the last child is, Hyriu Jingshen."

The crowd was still clapping and cheering as I slowly stood up in shock. I walked to the stage; my friends greeted me with grins. I smiled back, but I knew what was really going on. They were all about to see my water bending test, which would be at the Gambing Palace. I was the surprise guest to put on a show with Master Pakku. I was scared, I had to fight Master Pakku in front of my friends, I had to win now. I tried to keep a smile on my face but I was just too worried about the test. Chief Arnook was congratulating us and the crowd cheered. I saw Taruk in the crowed his face was filled with disappointment, anger and hatred. I smiled because at least I could brag to him about this but I remembered what Master Pakku said about him becoming a problem as I listened to the cheers of the crowd start to fade into complete silence.