Avatar: Macai's Journey

Chapter 12: A Test of Unity

After the celebration at Chiko's home, Azula and Ty Lee returned to the Fire Nation. Several months passed as the seasons shifted from fall to winter. Macai has passed his classes with flying colors and is finally starting to feel like he belongs. Macai meets in the cafeteria with his friends Kett, Kanna, and Dade for lunch.

Macai is sitting right of Kanna. Kett is sitting across from him and Dade is across from Kanna. Macai: "So I heard the Winter training is coming. Could you guys explain what that entails?"

Kett: "Well, we don't know 100% because we haven't gone through it yet. There is different training every year, including during the wintertime. But none of it will be like this year, since this is our last year before graduation. The Winter training this time of year takes place in the nearby mountains."

Macai: "Does anyone live out there?"

Dade: "Apparently some crazy nomads do. They are really spiritual and tell a lot of crazy stories."

Macai: "Fire Nation nomads?"

Kett: "No, they are actually former Water Tribe nomads, before we took the land. They aren't benders though."

Dade: "Apparently, all the waterbenders in the mountains were killed."

Macai: "Interesting."

Dade: "Definitely, but now there are also new Fire Nation sages who moved to the mountains. The locals were forced to work with them and help them survive and understand the area. Now recruits are taken to the area as their last stage of training before they become soldiers."

Macai: "Wait, how long has this been happening?"

Kett: "For quite a while, Nyarri has been around for about six decades."

Macai comments, "I would have thought that the water sages would have gotten fed up with the Fire Nation. I can't believe we trusted them this long."

Kanna responds, "Well, it's not like they had much of a choice. They would be killed in a heartbeat if they challenged the might of our nation. They were forced to compromise and they have gotten used to it for years."

Macai nods his head. Kett: "It will be a fun adventure, I'm sure of that."

Macai: "Do you know anything else about it?"

Kett: "Not really, we just train by fighting in the most difficult element."

Two weeks later, Macai is called into a general assembly meeting at his school. Dozens of students from all classes in his grade are present during the assembly. The students are escorted to several dark grey leather seats. They stand in a vast auditorium with light grey walls, caramel brown floors, and a sand-colored ceiling.

The stage is coyote brown and the principal is wearing a dark red uniform with light red stripes. His name is Barye. He has short light brown hair, brown eyes, a bell-curved nose, yellow skin, and is a man of moderate height. His frame is also moderate. He is in his late forties.

Principal Barye: "Students, most of you have been in Nyarri since elementary school. Most of you have heard the stories about the Nyarri Mountains. Legends concern this area since long before the Fire Nation arrived. I want to say that is my honor to represent you all and I have no doubt that your class will bring about an outstanding wave of elite professionals who will remind the entire world why Nyarri is a village of excellence."

The principal continues, "Our military trainees will all be sent in training in the mountains, where each of you will be tasked with surviving in a harsh climate and training in that environment. This will be a good chance for you each and every one of you to prove your valor. As firebenders, the winter is naturally your weakest state. The best warriors learn to adapt with their disadvantages."