Accidental Avatar 3: Totally Lit

To be the best... or something

Sokka and Mangetsu eventually reached the castle, located on top of a large bluff. Sokka reached out, grabbed a knocker and politely tapped it against the enormous door a few times. He waited a moment. The two exchanged glances before repeating the process.

Still nothing.

Frustrated, Sokka grabbed both knockers and banged them loudly and frantically.

A large man suddenly opened the door on the right, scaring Sokka. Mangetsu blinked in surprise, having also been caught off guard by the sudden appearance.

"Can I help you?" the man said apathetically.

The two boys composed themselves before Sokka graciously said: "We have come to train with the Master."

"We?" Mangetsu muttered before Sokka elbowed him in the ribs. "Ow!"

"You should know. The Master turns almost everyone away," the butler responded, holding his hand out. "What did you bring him to prove your worth?"

"Well, uh..." Sokka began to feel around for something to offer.

Mangetsu rolled his eyes. "My award-winning personality?"

"Right," the man shook his head sadly. "Let's get this over with."

He gestured for them to enter and closed the door behind them. He guided the boys through the grounds and the building to a room with tall windows decorated with a rich red carpet. The view of the valley from the window was breathtaking. Rows of lit candles lined the bottom of the windows.

A man, presumably Piandao, sat with his back to the group, looking out one of the windows. He was calmly dipping a calligraphy brush into a pot of ink, carefully holding his sleeve with the other hand.

Mangetsu shoved Sokka forward, shrugging at the glare the taller boy gave him. Sokka cleared his throat and took a deep breath.

"Master, my name is Sokka, and I wish to be instructed in the way of the sword."

"Mangetsu, what he said, I guess," Mangetsu said curtly, receiving an elbow to the gut. "Ow."

"Sokka and Mangetsu? Those are unusual names," Piandao said casually, not turning to face them.

"Oh, uh, really?" Sokka stammered. "Uh, where we come from, The Fire Nation colonies, they're actually pretty common, for Fire Nation colonials."

"Yeah, I know at least three Sokkas," Mangetsu said, with only the barest hint of sarcasm.

That sarcasm earned him another elbow, though this time, he dodged it.

"Let me guess," Piandao said, still writing away. "You've come hundreds of miles from your little village where you're the best swordsman in town. And you think you deserve to learn from the Master."

"Well, actually, I've been all over the world," Sokka said.

"Yep, here we go," Piandao said knowingly.

Mangetsu folded his arms across his chest but otherwise remained silent, watching Piandao with an unreadable expression.

"And I know one thing for sure," Sokka got down on his knees, grabbing Mangetsu's sleeve and pulling him down too.

"Woah!" Mangetsu fell to his knees and glared at Sokka.

"I have a lot to learn," Sokka said.

"You're not doing a very good job of selling yourself," Piandao finally glanced back at them.

"I know," Sokka said solemnly. "Your butler told us that when we met you, we would have to prove our worth. But the truth is... I don't know if I am worthy."

"And you?" Piandao looked over at the blonde, his gaze lingering briefly on the unusual colour.

Mangetsu shrugged. "Worth is subjective. Decide for yourself if you think I have any worth. It doesn't matter what I think."

Piandao bowed his head with a slight smile. "Well then. Let's see if there is any worth in either of you."

He picked up his sword and came to stand before the two kneeling boys, the scabbard striking the floor with a dull "thwack" as he looked down at them.

"I will train you. Both of you."