Okay first I would like to thank HonestPunk10 for that very detailed and lengthy review. I really enjoyed it. And since I couldn't send you a message I will respond to your questions here but I will try to keep it short. First you addressed my descriptions and their length. I am sorry you do not enjoy them, but I put them there to paint a very vivid picture and some people, myself included, like descriptions so while I understand your problem with it, they will stay in. Your next concern was the pacing of the story and you were 100% correct. I did not realize it but the story has been kind of slow, but luckily that will soon change. Once we get through this chapter and chapter 20 things will definitely pick up. I promise that very exciting things are coming so please stick around and I promise you will not be disappointed. Also you didn't quite like the Hana plot all that much. Understandable, and it is a side plot that comes to and end soon. I see your reasoning and think you will like part of this chapter and dislike another part. And I assure you that Hyriu's training will be getting more intense and things will happen because of the Avatar's return. As for the Harry Potter part of the crossover I explain it on my profile and I do hope it does not discourage you from staying with this story as things are about to get very…interesting.

Well I hope you all enjoy this chapter and continue reading.

Chapter 19

Confrontation of Truth

The rest of the week break was not a break for me at all. The next two days for me were spent training, practicing, and sleeping. By the third day when we went back to school, I was almost too exhausted to speak. People noticed this and asked about it. I just told them I had been very busy over the break and didn't get much sleep. Taruk kept a close eye on me and kept asking me things like, "Why are you so tired?" and "What were you doing over the break?" or "Why didn't you get enough sleep?" He was waiting for me to slip up, and as tired as I was, I would slip up if it was just me and him, but Koluk would tell him off, or Mr. Zhen would snap at him.

Hana was also a problem. I was nearly one hundred percent positive she was the person in the library; I just needed to prove it.

I had to have my guard up 24/7 now. I never knew when Taruk, Hana, it someone else could be watching. Tekton took a few days to come out of his shock. At first, he didn't talk to me at practice, and then he became skeptical. Only when he came to Heiwa Valley and saw me practice did he fully believe I was the Anzen.

I saw the Robed Man here and there, always watching me. The woman in my head spoke to me more often, giving me advice. She said she could speak to me more because I was getting more spiritual, and also because the solstice was drawing near. Spiritual energy was always much stronger on the solstice.

As my fourteenth birthday came closer and closer, I got more excited that I was going to be entering my first year of manhood. I would finally be able to participate in the Warrior Games, which was the right of passage every man had to go through. You had to be at least fourteen years old and no older than eighteen to participate. It was how the Water Tribe began shaping its warriors.

We started sword training with Instructor Chen. He now taught two groups of kids. I took sword training with Koluk, Fai, Tekton, and Taruk. I didn't hold back with swordsmanship. I wanted to be good at something, and swordsmanship came naturally to me. Though, it was a bit annoying to always say 'No disrespect intended' every time I unsheathed my sword since I was left-handed.

Lina and I continued out secret training meetings at night. I kept changing the location of where we met because I had a feeling someone was on to us.

One night, we were training in the foothills of the Bei Shui Mountains. The full moon provided plenty of light. My birthday was in two days. She had brought her fans and the scroll she got from the Gambing Palace. We were practicing the moves the scroll showed.

"So, Lina," I said, "You and Fai, huh?

"What? What are you talking about?" Lina asked, blushing so much I could see it in the dim light.

"Come on. I saw you two after the celebration arm in arm. So what's going on between you two?" I asked with a smirk.

"Okay, he asked me out," Lina smiled.

"He asked you out? Whoa, that's great! I'm happy for you," I said, and I meant it. Lina had liked Fai for awhile, so it was about time they went out.

Just then, I heard the sound of crunching snow behind me. I snapped my head around and searched the nearby hills. I saw a flicker of movement disappear behind a mound of snow. In a simple motion, I melted the snow to reveal a crouching figure wearing a hood.

"Hana?" I said confused.

The person looked at me and dashed off.

"Hana!" I cried. "Come back."

She continued running. Since she had already seen my powerful bending, I didn't hold back. I swirled some water at her and wrapped it around her ankle and tried to pull her to me. She moved her hands and took control of my water and shot it at Lina. Lina was knocked to the ground with a yelp.

"Lina! Are you alright?" I asked, racing to her side.

"I am alright. Just get her for me," she snarled.

I stood up and swirled water all around Hana. I froze it into an icy prison. She looked around frantically. Then she pulled her hands to her chest and shot them out. The ice prison exploded. I shielded myself with my hands, but I still got some cuts. I looked to see if Lina was alright. She had a few cuts also but was fine. I did a few complicated motions, and the ground pulsed. I was bending the water under my feet. I moved my hands forward, and the ice rippled and cracked from the water moving under it. The ripple moved toward Hana at an alarming speed. Just as Hana reached the top of the ridge, the ripple reached her. Through the ice, burst several tendrils of water all closing in around her. She outstretched her hands and held the water back. She managed to slip between an opening and escape. I let the water fall to the ground.

"Lina, get your things and head home; I'm going after her," I said, and she nodded.

I raced toward the ridge; it was the same ridge where Tekton and I had sat. I saw Hana sliding down it on a piece of ice toward the city. I sent a stream of water, tripping her. As she fell, she sent a cloud of snow up to me. I jumped aside, shocked that she could do something so powerful. I sent another stream of water at her. She redirected it back at me. It knocked me of my feet, and I began sliding down the ridge. I sent a wave of ice at Hana. She blocked. I managed to make a sled out of ice, and I stood up on it, surfing down the hill. Hana and I exchanged a series of water attacks. I still couldn't believe she could be this good. I began to make an ice wall, and I rode on top of it. I zoomed down and in front of her, blocking her path. She looked up at me and clapped her hands in front of herself. She blasted a hole in the wall and slid right through. I collapsed my wall into a pile of snow, and I slid down it. Then, I ran after Hana, shooting water at her. I ran into the city, searching frantically. I climbed to the roof of a house, looking for any signs of movement. I heard rushing water behind me; I turned just in time to see some water coming at me. I had no time to react. It hit me in the chest, and I fell off the roof. I barely had time to use air bending to cushion the fall, but I still hit the ground hard. I laid there for a moment, and tried to get up. Finally, I managed to stand up and hobble home. I had a bad limp and some bruises, but I got home. I didn't try to go upstairs; I just fell asleep in a chair.

The next day at school was horrible. I had a few bruises, cuts, and a bad ankle since I seemed to have landed on my right leg. My friends inquired as to what had happene. I just said bad practice yesterday. I made the decision to confront Hana today; I waited for the right moment to do it. That moment didn't come for most of the day. I had to give credit to Hana; she was good at acting oblivious. I talked to her more often, trying to get anything out of her. At lunch, she sat next to me. Tekton now also ate lunch with us; he and Koluk were becoming good friends, and even Fai was starting to be friends with him.

"So, Hana," I began, "did you sleep well last night?"

I saw Lina look over nervously.

"Oh, yes. I did," she said sweetly. "Thanks for asking. How about you? Did you sleep well?" she asked slyly.

"Well enough," I answered.

"I should expect so, with your 'busy' schedule. I would be exhausted. Am I right?" she said, taking a drink of tea.

"You might be," I said.

The others looked at us, sensing something more to our conversation than what we had said.

Sword training went very well. I was the best in the class, and Instructor Chen had me demonstrate new moves to everyone.

"Hyriu," he said to me when everyone was practicing the new moves, "I am so glad you found something you have a great talent for. You really seem to enjoy swordsmanship. You are a great teacher, and I would not be shocked at all if Chief Arnook or the chief after him would want you to be on the Royal Court some day."

"Instructor Chen, you have a lot of faith in me. Thank you for believing in me," I said and bowed respectfully.

He chuckled, "Yes, you will definitely be hearing me cheer for you in the Warrior Games. You are of age this year, correct?"

"Yes, my birthday is tomorrow in fact," I said.

"Oh, yes of course, on the solstice and the same as Koluk's, how could I forget? But I want you to remember something while you participate: it isn't about winning. It is about sharpening your warrior skills. That is the whole part of the games because friendly, or perhaps unfriendly," he glanced at Taruk, "competition is one of the best motivators."

"I will remember that. Thank you," I said. "But perhaps you should tell someone else that," I said and looked at Fai practicing with his sword as it flew out of his hands.

"Yes, perhaps I should," Chen said.

At water bending practice, Taruk regarded me with a wary look, mixed with anger and maybe even a little bit of fear. I had no idea what I did to mess with him that much. I made the choice to confront Hana about the truth after practice.

Tekton acted roughly the same since he learned my secret. The only difference was every time we learned a new move or formation he would always ask if I already knew how to do it, which my reply was always 'yes.'

As soon as practice ended, I rushed to the stands and saw Hana. I pushed through the crowd to get to her.

When I reached her, I said, "Come on. We need to talk."

"Okay," she said, a little startled.

We stayed in the stands until everyone was gone.

"So, what do you want to talk about?" she asked innocently.

"We both know what I want to talk about," I stated seriously.

Her face was hard to read, but she gulped, "Really? You'll have to fill me in."

"Come on, Hana, out with it. I know that you know," I said.

"Um, know what? You really do need to be a bit more specific," her tone went from sweet to mocking.

Fine, if she wanted me to say it, then I would, "Alright, I know that you followed me to the palace the day of the tour. I know that you went into the palace and saw me for who I am. I know you over heard me and Pakku talking. I know you were in Heiwa Valley the day of the celebration, and I know you were spying on me last night."

She looked confused, "Okay, Anzen Hyriu, I admit to all of those things, except for spying on you last night. I didn't need to follow you anymore after Mr. Hui told me what 'Anzen' meant. The only reason I went to Heiwa Valley was because I wanted to see your performance, and I wanted to see how you were around the air benders."

"But, I saw someone wearing a cloak watching Lina and me. I water bended at you, but you escaped using very good water bending," I said quickly.

"That wasn't me. I am a good healer but not a good water bender. You should know that since I couldn't even melt the ice all the way in the Gambing Library," she explained.

"Well, I thought you must have been practicing since that was a month ago; I thought you had gotten better. But I guess no one could become that good in only a month," I said.

"Well, now that I know who you are, do you think I could come to Heiwa Valley with you?" she asked with genuine excitement.

I remembered our date and how fun it had been, "Sure, I guess you can come."

"Oh, and don't worry, I won't be all annoying or anything like I was the first day after our date," she said with a smile. "I was annoying on purpose."

"Really, why?" I asked confused.

"Because I knew if I was really annoying that when I sat away from you in Myths and Legends class, you wouldn't want to sit next to me. If I had been fun, then you would have sat next to me, and I didn't want to be near you when I asked Mr. Hui about the Anzen. I didn't know what your reaction would be," she said with a smile.

"That's ingenious," I said. "You are a very good strategist."

"Thank you, but I already knew that," she laughed.

I laughed also. "Wait, when you overheard Pakku and me talking and we heard you gasp, where did you go? We looked in the alley but didn't see anyone."

"Simple, I hid in the barrel," she said.

We continued talking as we headed toward the valley. I filled her in on everything she didn't know. I tried as hard as I could to distract myself with my explanations, but I couldn't get one question out of my head: if that wasn't Hana last night, then who was it?

Well another unanswered question. As always read on and please follow, favorite, or even leave a review. It doesn't have to be as long and detailed as HonestPunk10's was, just really any little sentence will be appreciated. Stay tunned for Chapter 20: A Solstice Birthday. :D