Accidental Avatar 3: Totally Lit

Dance, Water, Dance

After much time spent coaxing a roaring flame, with Sokka and Mangetsu alternating as they shovelled coal into the fire, Sokka had opted to lose his shirt, while Mangetsu had his sleeves tied back. When questioned on it by Sokka, Mangetsu pointed out the intricate burn scars on his arm and said he respected fire too much to expose himself to it.

Admittedly it was a more colorful variation of "I'm not stupid" but that's how Sokka chose to interpret it.

When they had two roaring blazes going, it came to time to add the metal. Sokka held a chisel to the meteorite while the butler hammered, allowing chunks to fall off. Two crucibles were filled with the chunks, and each placed within one of the two forges.

The boys each took up a post near their forge, diligently pumping the bellows.

The others watched quietly as the two worked.

Time passed, and Mangetsu was watching the fires closely, seemingly listening to it. Sokka had fallen asleep next to his furnace but woke when he heard Mangetsu move, and almost in unison, the two began shoveling coal into the hungry flames.

When the crucibles were finally removed, the two began the process of forming their swords. Sokka's was poured into a mold, while Mangetsu's hadn't become molten. His instead was hammered into the desired shape, after much complicated folding and merging, and repeated folding, until his had become a long thin bar.

Piandao hammered in the shape of Sokka's blade, while Mangetsu set about doing the same for his own, a vastly different style of blade taking shape.

While Piandao and Sokka worked on tempering the blade, Mangetsu was patiently applying a clay mixture to his blade, painting unique designs with the clay thicker in places. He then heated his blade until it was cherry-red and doused the blade horizontally into a trough of water.

☯

Mangetsu and Sokka knelt before Piandao, who examined each blade in turn. Their friends sat behind the two, watching curiously.

While Piandao held Sokka's sword, his butler held Mangetsu's.

"Sokka, when you first arrived, you were so unsure," Piandao said. "You even seemed down on yourself. But I saw something in you right away. I saw a heart as strong as a lion turtle and twice as big. And as we trained, it wasn't your skills that impressed me."

He changed his grip on the blade, holding the hilt ready to draw. "No, it certainly wasn't your skills."

Sokka looked down in shame.

"You showed something beyond that," he finally unsheathed it, revealing it's black blade. "Creativity, versatility, intelligence... these are the traits that define a great swordsman. And these are traits that define you."

He sheathed the sword and knelt as he gave it to Sokka. "You told me you didn't know if you were worthy, but I believe that you are more worthy than any man I have ever trained, rivaled only... by you, Mangetsu."

Mangetsu blinked. "Say what?"

Piandao stood, taking Mangetsu's blade from the butler.

"When you arrived with Sokka, you didn't carry any of his uncertainty," Piandao said. "You were confident, if somewhat uncomfortable, with who you were and what your worth was. You were - are - arrogant, self-assured."

Mangetsu cocked an eyebrow at the description yet did not appear offended. In fact, his expression seemed to say "go on" rather calmly.

"You carry yourself with a gentle tranquility, and yet I could see a fire within your heart that would spill forth when we trained," he ran his hand along the scabbard of Mangetsu's sword. "While your skills were no more impressive than Sokka's, you approached your training with a stubborn pride that gave you a tenacity of a tigerdillo."

He unsheathed the blade to reveal it's black, shimmering edge, the effect like dark, running water.

"Yet within that, you conceal a kindness, that sees the world for its beauty and it's horror and do not shy away, yet is in constant conflict with the self. I would see to it that you find that inner solace and accept all parts of your nature to achieve a higher level of skill," he swung the blade in a graceful arc, sheathing it in the same motion, dropping to his knee and holding the blade out for Mangetsu to take.

"When I asked you why I should train you, you challenged me to judge your worth by your actions," he said. "And it is now that I judge you to be a fine pupil, and I hope that you and Sokka will continue to refine your skills and push each other to improve beyond even my wildest dreams."

Mangetsu took the blade, a look of wonder coming into his eyes, while Sokka clutched his blade with an expression of shame.

"I'm sorry, Master," he said. "I am not worthy. I'm not who you think I am. I'm not from the Fire Nation. I'm from the Southern Water Tribe."

The others gawked in silent shock and disbelief, Mogui making confused sputtering noises, while Muteki's mouth opened and closed multiple times, giving him the appearance of a surprised fish.

"I lied so that I could learn swordsmanship from you," Sokka said, holding his sword up for Piandao to take. "I'm sorry."

Piandao closed his eyes, a frown forming on his face as he turned away.

"I'm sorry, too," he said.

He spun around suddenly, his blade in hand as he lunged towards Sokka. Sokka stood quickly to avoid the attack, while Mangetsu swiftly unsheathed his sword and blocked the strike, an understanding passing between the boys as Sokka gripped his sword tightly. The others stood to help, but Sokka held up a hand to stop them.

"No, this is our fight," he said firmly.

"So let's dance," Mangetsu agreed.