A Time of Change {ATLA & LOK}

Chapter 2 - The Duel

Talia's P.O.V

I was walking outside when footsteps approached me "You know you can't keep it a secret forever." Tenzin said to me as he passed me.

"I know" I said with my head down and a disappointed look on my face, I sighed I felt bad not telling my family but I just couldn't tell them, everything would change, and I wasn't sure how they would react to me keeping it a secret for so long.

"What secret?!" Kya asked as she snuck up behind me when I wasn't paying attention. She must have overheard us while she was on her way back inside.

"Um.. Nothing" I replied tentatively, what was I meant to say

"Ok?!" She said only partially buying it, her eyebrow raised, her hip coked slightly and her arms crossed in front of her, she was most definitely suspicious, she turned sharply walking back towards inside, I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.

"Tenzin, watch it!" I whisper shouted over to him in a hushed voice as Kya was far enough away. My hands were beside me, slightly behind me and straight.

"Sorry" He said to me apologetically, looking down due to our height difference. I had a thought as I saw his glider in his hands; I wanted to experiment with something.

"Hey, can I borrow your glider" I asked him softly, my face back to neutral, it was quite a random request.

"Sure, you want me to teach you." He asked with a gentle smile holding it out to me.

"Nah" I declined shaking my head slightly I smile up at him "I already know I just want to try something" I explained to him

"Ok, be careful" He said to me, well called to me as I was already running towards the cliff path

"Always am" I replied over my shoulder as I ran being careful that no one saw me or rather where I was going.

***

After a walk down to a shaded area of the beach that is hidden from view I began practising, using the glider as an extension of my self. But this time instead of flying through the air using the glider I tried something new. Flying. Like Guru Laghima. I had to 'let go of my earthly tether and enter the void' as the poem said. And after a few, of many many try's I unlocked weightlessness and I flew, well okay more than many, it had practically taken the whole morning. I meditated, my family were my tether, and I loved them, but they couldn't hold me back. Similar to what dad did when unlocking his Chakra's, he let go of mum, but he still loves her, so I did the same.
After some time experimenting and practising what I already knew I decided to get back, it was so fun to feel truly free.

~~~

When I got back, I decided to go and watch Tenzin training with Dad. When I got there Kya and Tenzin were sparing against each other and Bumi was playing with his fake swords. I decided to watch and see how it would all play out. Kya threw some water whips towards Tenzin and Tenzin jumps out the way. He blew some wind at her and she wobbled a bit. She then sent a wave of water at Tenzin and knocked him over, giving her a chance to freeze him in place, winning the match. I decided that I should go against Tenzin, I figured with all the awesome stuff that they do I might want to consider joining them but at first, I thought it would be best to try without my bending.

"Dad can I go against Tenzin?" I asked sweetly smiling up at him slightly hopeful.

"How? You can't bend." He asked actually concerned looking down at me.

"Trust me dad I'll be fine" I reassured him "Uncle Sokka and Bumi can't bend and they can fight against benders just fine" I told him with a small pout.

With that I stepped out in front of Tenzin and prepared for the spar. "if I get to you within 1 minute I win if you keep me away in that time you win! deal?" I directed to Tenzin smiling happily. Even if I didn't bend, I wanted to learn hand to hand, and how to fight against benders.

"Deal!" He called back, though it sounded slightly apprehensive.

He threw a gust of wind at me and I dodged it, with airbending movements, I saw my dads face as I danced around the wind, he was astonished and extremely impressed, I used airbending motions without airbending to hide my secret. I had watched their training before, and these were simple tactics, that didn't even necessarily normally end up with bending the air. As I was close to a blast of air Tenzin through at me I moved my arms in a stance a waterbender would normally do just to remain balanced in the slight awkward dodge I had to take to avoid the air, I twisted moving my arm and hand when water from the fountain followed... I stood there in shock immediately standing up straight, the water flopping back into the fountain and onto the floor. Everyone stood there including me amazed and unsure what to say.
I mumbled under my breath "how, how's that possible" Tenzin shared the same look. At that point dad came and hugged me on a proud way.

"You're a water bender!" I stood there still in shock; I didn't move. I decided I would question it to myself in the morning and that soon I would have to tell them that I was an airbender first. This was bizarre, this shouldn't be possible.