Chapter 1: Sparring Ekaj

It had been about a moon since Liberty learned about Shell's past.
Now Liberty was on patrol in the forest - she was with Twister, Miguel, Wyki, Streak, Stone and Ekaj. "Alright, listen up," said Stone, the leader of the patrol. She turned to face the group. "We'll be doing sparring today. You guys need to hone your fighting skills."
"Alright!" exclaimed Wyki eagerly. He turned to Liberty with a smirk. "Looks like we can have a rematch!"
Flashes of the fight Wyki and Liberty had as pups went through Liberty's mind. She had won the match; in fact, she did a lot of play-fighting as a pup with the other young, and always won. So fighting was Liberty's best skill. She gave Wyki an unimpressed look. "Right. You're smaller than me, and somehow you're going to win?"
"He could!" exclaimed Streak. "During the fight with the Firebenders, I managed to take on a bear with Patch and Nzuri, and we made that guy cry for his mommy like he was one of the young!" The cat laughed.
"He ran because Quake had charged him," said Stone dryly. "You kits clinging to him didn't do a thing."
"Anyway," spoke up Miguel, "We're going to partner you guys up. Wyki, you'll be fighting Streak."
"Aw," said Wyki, disappointment on his face, "I wanted to fight Liberty."
"No, you'd probably be too rough, and Liberty has a broken tail," Miguel insisted. "That's why Liberty is paired up with Ekaj; I know he'll go easy on her."
Liberty clenched her teeth at the thought of her broken tail. A tree had fallen onto it a while back, and Tiggerkat - an animal staying at The Bending Tower - had made a cast for her, with flowers on it. It made Liberty incredibly embarrassed to walk around with flowers on her tail, and her tail also still hurt. Luckily, no one gave her looks about the flowers as much anymore, but Liberty hated the fact that it made her stand out.
"Stone, Twister and I will observe," Miguel continued. "Spread out."
Liberty and Ekaj faced each other, a few feet away from where Streak and Wyki were facing off. "I'll try not to hit your tail," said Ekaj.
Duh, that's what you're supposed to do, thought Liberty. But she replied nonetheless. "Thanks."
Twister sat by Liberty, eyes locked on her apprentice. Liberty glanced at the wolf, whose eyes seemed like that of a hawk's: incredibly focused and cold. Twister didn't talk much and was very serious - Liberty shared something in common with her mentor that way. Maybe that's why she became Twister's apprentice.
"Alright then," said Stone, looking at the apprentices with interest in her eyes. "Begi--"
"Hello there," a cold voice said.
Everyone turned to look. A dark-colored wolf with blue eyes came onto the scene. A growl began to rise in Liberty's throat as she realized who it was - "Ash". Not the real Ash; a fake one.
Ash was the leader of The Bending Tower since before Liberty was born. Then one day he left, and a fake one returned in his place. Liberty had learned that this fake Ash was the real one's opposite, which was a side effect of Yin and Yang fighting. However, Liberty and some of her friends were the only ones who knew this; and since she was just an apprentice, no one would believe her. 

"Ash!" exclaimed Miguel. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm here to watch," said Fake-Ash, sitting down.

"Why?" asked Wyki.

"I'm interested in the progress of my apprentices," said Fake-Ash, eyes narrowed. "So I'm here."

"Well, I guess we can't argue with that," Miguel said.

Suspicions ran through Liberty's head, but she just narrowed her eyes and nodded, not being able to find any excuse as to why not. Of all the animals here, only Liberty knew this wasn't the real Ash - well, Fake-Ash knew that too, of course.

"Begin," said Stone.

Liberty began to shut out everything around her and focused on her opponent , Ekaj. This is my talent, she told herself. This is what I've been doing for moons.

Ekaj seemed to be trying to decide what move to make. He looked at Liberty as if sizing her up, and pushed himself forward with his hind legs and leapt for Liberty's chest. She quickly jumped to the side and slammed her body into Ekaj's side, making him stumble - she wasn't strong enough to push down someone as big as Ekaj. But Liberty used the opportunity to swing her front left paw at his legs, making him fall. He turned to face Liberty, attempting to get back up, but Liberty used his own move against him and leapt at his chest, knocking him off-balanced and making him fall again. She jumped towards him in attempts to pin him down, but he kicked at her when she got close and sent her away from him. Liberty got to her paws with a growl.

"Come on, Liberty!" growled Twister's voice. "I know you can do better than that. Don't be hesitant to actually hurt him!"

Liberty turned to look at her mentor, but then felt incredible force hit her chest. She found herself on the ground and only just saw Ekaj slamming his paws towards her to pin her to the ground in time to roll out of the way, missing him by what seemed to be a hair.

Liberty sprang up and jumped onto Ekaj's back, digging her paws into his fur and careful not to use her claws, as that was against sparring rules. Ekaj started to crumble, but at last-minute pushed himself back up. He's strong, Liberty commented to herself. Liberty wasn't strong herself, so she never quite used brute force; her fighting style was similar to her mentor's in this way. 

Liberty decided her position was useless, seeing as how she couldn't use her claws. She jumped off and out of the corner of her eye saw Fake-Ash's eyes zoned in on her, looking incredibly interested.

Anger bubbled in Liberty and she turned to face her opponent again, only to find Ekaj had swept his left forepaw into her front paws, forcing her off-balance. He then slammed into her, and she nearly collapsed but forced herself to stay strong. "There you go, Ekaj!" shouted Stone's voice. 

Liberty growled and decided to use her anger to her advantage. She looked at Ekaj's back but instead aimed for his paws, and pushed Ekaj off-balance. She quickly hit his side with as much force as she could muster, and Ekaj actually fell. She was about to have him pinned when something slammed into her, and Liberty fell, caught completely off-guard. She managed to get herself to her paws in time to see her attacker was Wyki.

"What are you doing?!" Liberty demanded with a growl. 

"Ash's orders!" Wyki insisted, diving for Liberty's paws. Liberty managed to spin off the the side before facing Fake-Ash. 

"What is going on?" she snarled.

"A little more respect, if you will," said Fake-Ash coldly. "I want to see how you fight with two opponents."

"That could be interesting," remarked Stone with narrowed eyes. 

"Yes," agreed Twister with her usual serious look. "I'm sure my apprentice can handle it."

Liberty was about to say something in response when she felt something push her. She turned to see the attacker was Wyki. Liberty growled and easily pushed him off and slammed her forepaws into his chest, making him fall. 

Then she saw a flash of gray-and-orange fur, and Ekaj had hit her shoulder. She stumbled but remained steady, and she felt something crash into her from behind. She yelped as it made contact with her tail, sending pain jolting through it, and turned to see it was Wyki. "DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND MY TAIL IS BROKEN?" she roared.

"S-Sorry!" Wyki whimpered.

"Now, don't apologize," insisted Fake-Ash. "If you have an advantage, then use it."

"Really?" Wyki said.

"I don't think that's fair," commented Miguel. 

"Yeah. This is only sparring," agreed Streak.

"We're preparing them for real fights," growled Fake-Ash. "If my opponent had a broken bone, don't you think I'd attack it?"

An eerie silence fell over the group before Fake-Ash broke it. "That being said...continue, you three."

"Wait," Liberty spoke up. "If this is such 'real-fighting', does that mean we're using claws?"

Liberty then wished she hadn't spoken up. She cursed under her breath as she watched Fake-Ash considering the idea. "Of course. Let's see you try with your claws, then. Continue."

That's when Liberty felt piercing pain in her back. Wyki had jumped on and dug his claws into her back. She bit down onto his paw and he yelped and fell off and onto the ground. Liberty used the opportunity to slash her claws across his shoulder. He yelped and jumped back, looking a bit fearful, but Liberty ignored his expression. "You wanted a rematch," said Liberty, "so this is a rematch."

"Come on, Ekaj!" snarled Stone. Liberty turned to see Ekaj was watching hesitantly. "Quit being a wimp and get in there!"

Ekaj jumped for Liberty at his mentor's command. Liberty jumped to the side and clawed at Ekaj's side. He yelped and turned to look at her, and quickly pushed at Liberty's forepaws. As she stumbled he clawed her shoulder, and Liberty felt Wyki claw her side near her underbelly at the same time. Liberty growled and clawed at Ekaj's muzzle, who yelped again - this time louder - and as he did Liberty used her back paws to kick Wyki back, and turned to push Wyki on to the ground. As she did, she found herself on the ground and Ekaj pinning her. She growled and sank her claws into Ekaj's paw. As he flinched and let go for a little bit, Liberty slashed her claws across his chest and he barked in alarm. Liberty kicked him in the stomach and Ekaj backed off. Liberty scampered to her paws and Wyki clawed below her muzzle. Liberty yelped, pain striking her where he had clawed, and Liberty knew that this attack was stronger than Wyki's past ones. She could feel the mark begin to bleed and Wyki gasped. "I-I'm sorry!"

Liberty growled and scratched Wyki's ear. He shrieked and Liberty clawed his chest and then slashed at his left forepaw. Wyki cried out and backed up. "Stop! Stop!" he yelled, face screwed up in pain. "I don't wanna fight anymore!" he cried.

"Okay," said Miguel, coming forward to his apprentice. "It's okay, you'll be fine. We just need to run you to Nightingale." He shot a look at Liberty, and Liberty felt anger bubbling up inside her. This isn't completely my fault, if that's what you're thinking, she thought with a growl as Miguel and Wyki left, Streak following.

"You two, keep going," insisted Stone.

"Really?" Ekaj said, looking worried.

"Of course. I want to see who will win in this. It's a perfect match - you both seem to be equal when it comes to fighting, but in different styles," Stone explained with her eyes narrowed. "Ekaj uses his brute strength, whereas Liberty uses speed. I myself would like to see which strategy is the winner. Begin."

Liberty didn't hesitate; she wanted to get this over with. Blood still dripping from Wyki's attack, she darted at Ekaj, who dodged and spun around, scoring claw marks on Liberty's back. She gave a slight bark of alarm and then turned and lunged again. Ekaj didn't get out of the way this time, causing Liberty to claw his leg, causing a red mark to appear on it and blood to begin to come out. Ekaj slammed into Liberty's front and Liberty felt herself get a bit woozy as she stumbled back; Ekaj had hit her hard. She could just barely see Ekaj landing his claws onto her shoulder and sharp pain went through her shoulder. She stumbled again and fought to remain steady, her vision getting dark. No, no, no, no, no, she told herself. 

"Liberty! Quit looking dazed and attack!" Twister shouted.

Liberty turned to face Ekaj, whose face betrayed nothing as to what his thoughts were about this. Panting, Liberty lunged again and clawed at Ekaj's shoulder. To her surprise, he stumbled back. Liberty then slammed into him with as much force as she could muster, and he fell. 

Liberty pinned him.

"My apprentice wins," said Twister.

"Come on Ekaj!" Stone exclaimed. "There's no way you were defeated so easily. She's smaller than you!"

Liberty backed off of him, ignoring the mentors' comments, and Ekaj got to his paws. "I think we both may need to go see Nightingale," he said with a weak smile. 

"Fine," growled Stone. 

"Before you do," spoke up Fake-Ash. Libert had forgotten he was standing there. "May I speak to Liberty?"

Liberty felt nervous, but Twister shrugged. "Why not," she muttered.

Fake-Ash walked a bit from the group and Liberty had no choice but to follow. Once out of the others' earshot, he turned to her. "That was very good fighting, Liberty. Especially for someone your age."

"...Thanks," Liberty replied, panting. She felt an incredible urge to leave; she still felt woozy, and was bleeding from some areas. Overall she felt weak. She hated the feeling.

"Although Ekaj outmatched you with his size and strength, you seemed to hang in there. Until the end, at least. There was weakness when he hit your front," Fake-Ash commented.

Liberty felt annoyance. Where was Fake-Ash going with this? And of course there was weakness at that point, as much as Liberty hated to admit it. Did Fake-Ash think she could be perfect at this?

"But overall, you're pretty good, as I said," he continued. "How would you like to be a full Bender?"

Liberty froze. No way she could become a full Bender yet; she was way too young, and inexperienced. Plus she hadn't had her test yet.

But an idea was forming in Liberty's head.

And what harm was there in becoming a full Bender?

"...Sure," said Liberty.

A smile came onto Fake-Ash's face; not full of warmth, but satisfaction, more like. "Excellent. I am done with you now."

Liberty nodded and turned and headed back to the others, where they had been waiting for them. Upon Liberty's arrival they began to walk back. "Are you okay?" Ekaj asked Liberty. "I think I hit you a bit hard back there."

"I'm fine," she muttered.

"Listen," said Ekaj. "I'm sorry for, uh...giving you any of those injuries. I don't know why Ash wanted us to do that..."

"Me neither," lied Liberty.

"Look, I went easy on you in the end though," Ekaj admitted. "I could tell...there was this look in your eyes...you wanted to win."

"...Thanks," said Liberty halfheartedly.

Author's Note:

I had to actually get my dog to stand in front of me and I had to get down on all fours to fight him in order to know how the scene would go. xD

Anyway, go check out my new story blog! I think it'll be a good story, plus sign-ups are available! Click here to see it.