Capítulo 48: New Traditions
A million views. I still can't quite believe that anyone is reading my novels - you know, with my amazing update schedule, constant 'non-chapters' and all that.
Thank you all for that. Really.
Thanks Mr. Mike for continuing to read my work.
Thanks to my two friends who I stole from the comments, Booklovingwriter and LeBlorf. I still hope that I can get you to drink a liter of vodka each.
And MiastriSs, I'm sorry about your tablet. May it rest in peace. I would send you mine, but I think that any package from Russia will be mistaken for a bomb right now... If it is not lost in the Post. This country is a terrible place, but there are good people here.
If I could, I would mention each and every one of you, but unfortunately how my brain works is one of the secrets of the universe. I love you all (those of my readers who have not yet reached the age of eighteen, I have great respect for, but you shouldn't be reading this).
And now to the chapter. All these sentimentalities interfere with the word count.
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Michael was surrounded by his friends and the people of the North, asking him hundreds of questions about his fight. He wasn't sure what counted as a good fighter in this world, but judging by the sparkling eyes of the crowd, he was a damn brilliant one.
To tell the truth, few people could fight Pakku on equal terms, many were simply not skilled enough or experienced enough, sometimes both. So when an unknown Waterbender was able to injure the Master so easily, people exploded with curiosity. Everyone loves an underdog, after all.
Pakku himself looked at the skilled young man with interest and distrust. How can someone be so brilliant at using their element, yet have so little experience in fighting? This question swirled around in his head trying to find an answer, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't think of a plausible enough reason.
'A young master of a noble family who was forbidden to use his abilities? No, that's not it. Who would forbid their child from growing? Even if he was a hindrance to his family, they could train him and then send him to the front like cannon fodder.' Pakku winced. He had seen families do something like this in the past, more than once. 'I'll ask him directly. Even if he lies, it will bring me closer to the answer.'
Michael, not knowing Pakku's thoughts, approached the old man and bowed politely; even if Pakku was a bastard, he was a good fighter.
"Thank you for the spar, Master Pakku. I hope we can do it again in the future."
In front of Pakku stood a young man with too much power on his hands, and he had control to the boot. Give him a couple of years to gain experience, and he will become a truly dangerous person - much more dangerous. Something inside whispered to the old Master to put Michael down before he became a problem for the world, for the remnants of the delicate balance that had been shaken during the war. Strong people have always made waves wherever they are, afer all. Waterbenders even more so.
"Well, I can admit, I'm extremely surprised. A person who has never had a Master has risen to this level on his own, you are extremely skilled, Michael." Pakku gave a short nod, looking over at Aang. "Even so, we've been on equal footing. Traditions have produced far more than one great Master, I can't see how one exception proves that our traditions cause stagnation."
This time, Aang smiled a wide, real smile, happy that the old man was finally beginning to listen to him.
"Tradition is not always a bad thing. I know that we need to respect and protect the paths that our ancestors followed before us, but that doesn't mean that we should close ourselves off from everything new." Slowly waving his hand, Aang pulled a small glob of water out of the air, causing the crowd to gasp in shock. "Thanks to new discoveries and bright minds, we are progressing. This technique of 'creating' water was invented by Michael, and I was able to repeat it only recently, after Katara explained it to me." He nodded to his friend and Katara smiled back.
Pakku and Michael were staring at Aang. One in disbelief that creating water from nothing was possible, and the other because Katara and Aang understood enough from his rants about science to use the technique.
Katara picked up Aang's speech and continued. "Aang has always grasped Waterbending faster than me, we assume that he is influenced by the dormant knowledge of hundreds of his past lives. And if he has such learning difficulties... Well, that means he stumbled upon something that never existed before." Now Katara repeated the trick, but she didn't stop there. The water around her pooled at her feet and rose up her body, collecting on the small of her back.
Throwing her arms out to the side, Katara found herself surrounded by four long tendrills of water that reminded Michael of Doctor Octo. Each of them even had three fingers too!
But Pakku saw something else. He saw a woman who invented a new technique that, with a couple of improvements, would be an excellent tool for defense and offense. Pakku had seen enough strong women in his lifetime, but none of them came from the Northern Tribe. But whose fault was that?
"... I see." He muttered. "I didn't expect that at my age someone could teach me something new." Pakku chuckled, which caused more shock to his students than creating water out of thin air. Pakku never laughs!
"None of us can be too old to learn new things, Master Pakku." Michael said with a wise smile, terrifyingly reminding Pakk of his very wise friend from the White Lotus.
"Have you been talking to Iroh?" Pakku asked before he could stop himself.
Michael just nodded, not removing the smile from his face. "He's a good man. I aspire to be just like him one day." After thinking for a moment, he added. "But most likely without tea, I'm not arrogant enough to believe that I can brew tea as good as he does."
No one could match Iroh's tea brewing technique.
"Hmm, I guess I'll have to talk to a couple of old friends." Pakku scratched his beard and Michael nodded in understanding.
Aang, seeing that they had finished diverting the conversation, continued. "I think it's better for the North if you change your traditions. Let everyone learn the arts that they like. There will be no end to those who want to learn both Waterbending and Healing."
Michael, Aang and Katara bowed goodbye to Pakku and left, talking about something of their own. Sokka had long since gone on a date with Yue, disappearing from the sight of her personal guards.
The Old Master remained standing on the dilapidated "arena" and sighed heavily. "And now someone needs to fix all of that." Looking around, he noticed that not a single Waterbender remained around other than him. "Of course." He sighed and set to work.
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Sona was the most ordinary Northern Tribe girl of eighteen years old. She had dark hair and bright blue eyes. She, like many in the world, was a Non-Bender, and calmly accepted this fact many years ago. But seeing the battle between Master Pakku and the Avatar's friend Michael, she couldn't help but frown.
"Michael, huh? I didn't see him at yesterday's celebration." She told her friend.
Maya nodded in response. "So am I. Maybe he was too tired to celebrate? I heard the Avatar flew here for two days without a break." The girl's face broke into a teasing smile. "Why such interest? Would you like to run away with the mysterious Waterbender? Oh, I already see this romantic story!" Sona rolled her eyes and continued to stare at Michael's back as if trying to solve a particularly difficult puzzle.
"... I do not remember him." She muttered to herself. And with a confident step she followed him.
"Huh? Sona?" Maya was surprised at her friend's determination and ran after her. "Wait for me!"
Michael, hearing a scream behind him, turned around and saw a girl unfamiliar to him walking confidently in his direction - another one running slighty behind her. Right now, she could be photographed and inserted right above the description of the phrase "A woman on a mission" in the dictionary.
Aang and Katara stopped when they saw that Michael had fallen behind them, but he only waved them off and motioned for them to move on.
Sona came face to face with Michael and even looking up at him managed to look as menacing as possible.
"Who are you?" She demanded and crossed her arms over her chest.
Michael blinked a couple of times, trying to understand where such an unexpected question came from. "Last time I checked, I was Michael, but you can call me Mick. No one ever does, but still." He replied, still not fully understanding what was going on. Maya finally caught up with Sona and looked at her and Michael in confusion.
"You're not from here." She muttered and stepped closer to Michael. "I'm sure of it. You're not even from the Elemental Nations."
Michael slowly tilted his head to the side like a robot and was about to answer, but Maya beat him to it. "Um, guys? What language are you speaking?"
Sona grinned and Michael looked like he was stuck by lightning again. His eyes narrowed and he stared at Sona, waiting for her response.
"French." She answered and Michael felt that his life had just become more difficult.
"Блять."
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A/N:
I want to say something about possible reincarnators in future worlds and about Sona. None of them will be the typical "I was reborn with wishes" like Michael. If I decide to add someone else for reasons™, they won't have any overpowered abilities.
Sona here is just a gal who died and got reborn in another world because she believes in- ah, I'll tell you in the next chapter.
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