The Duel

Aaron gazed at the distant mountains where the sunset was taking place marking the beginning of nightfall. Aaron's mind was restless with an unknown fear. Every Nation including Earth Nation was at war and the Avatar didn't show up even the whole world was at war.

"Aaron! come down that hill, Master Meng is looking for you." called out a masculine voice that interrupted Aaron's thoughts.

"I am coming right away and you too go Lunatok," yelled Aaron looking down the hill.

"Never mind, I am going and don't forget tomorrow is the Earthbending test, " yelled Lunatok.

"Yeah, I haven't forgotten about it and even I am excited to face some tough pupils of Master Meng," Aaron shouted back as a smile appeared on his face.

Aaron stood up from the place he was sitting and stomped his feet on the rocky surface of the earth and immediately a piece of the earth shifted above and Aaron pushed himself forward to make the piece of land move in the downward direction. He came down the crest of the hill in just a few minutes.

Aaron ran off towards the camp which was situated in the far western part of the city. After reaching the camp, He saw some people sitting on the shifted ground while some others walking outside and inside their stone tents. One thing was common in all of them,  they all had worn the traditional outfit of the Earth Kingdom.

"Where were you, Aaron?" came a soft but scolding voice from Aaron's behind.

Aaron turned around and saw an old man who was in his eighties. The man was wearing the traditional outfit of the Earth Kingdom and had a long wooden stick in his left hand to support him in walking.

"Master Meng! how are you?" addressed Aaron as he bowed down with his one palm curled into a fist while the other palm remained straight.

"It's been so long... I am good Aaron, What about you?" asked Master Meng.

"I am doing great too and tomorrow is the earth bending test, I am really very excited," exclaimed Aaron.

"Look at you... how much you have grown after these many years. I expect great things from you."

"Yeah, Everyone in this camp expects something from me." sighed Aaron.

"So,  how's your Lava bending training taking place?" asked Meng.

"It's going great and Master Kendall is a bit strict at me," replied Aaron.

"It's alright son. You should take some rest. So,  tomorrow you can do good at your earth bending test." suggested Meng.

"Thank you, Master Meng. I would be retiring to my tent soon," told Aaron.

Aaron turned and started walking away to his tent while Master Meng gazed at him with a smile on his face.

"I hope you get ready soon to accept your destiny Avatar Aaron," muttered Meng as Aaron went inside the tent.

Next Day, The Arena, City of Omashu,

Sun rose up high in the sky and its bright rays of light veiled the whole sky in a yellowish Shade. Aaron was wearing his fighting outfit which was a shade of green. He was watching the other matches while waiting for his turn. As decided by fate, Aaron's match was fixed with his best friend Lunatok who would soon become his opponent.

"The winner of this duel is Wong," announced Master Meng.

"Next Duel is between Aaron and Lunatok." again announced Meng.

The Arena at Omashu was made up of sandstone while the middle ground where duels took place was made up of flattened rocks that could be used by Earthbenders to spar. The Arena could hold up to ten thousand people. Although today the Arena was empty, the Earth King, Kwuin himself came to watch the duels held between the future generations of Earthbenders.

Aaron and Lunatok both came in the middle of the Arena and stood on either side facing each other. Both bowed at each other, following the ancient rules of Bending Battles. After that, Both of them got in the ready position and waited for the signal from Master Meng to begin the battle.

"Let the battle begin!" shouted Master Meng, signaling to begin the battle.

Immediately after both got the signal, They vigorously stomped their feet making the boulders float in the air and without wasting a second both of them punched the boulders toward each other. Aaron ducked when a huge boulder came rushing towards his face. He fell down in that process.

"What happened Aaron? I guess someone's gonna lose." teased Lunatok.

Aaron immediately got on his feet and stomped at the ground three times making five boulders come out of the ground and floated in the air. Without wasting much time, Aaron shot all the boulders in one go. Lunatok tried to dodge all the boulders but, in that process, he was hit by a boulder making him fall to his knees.

"Looks like someone's already tired." teased Aaron while laughing loudly.

"Agh... Not yet. I am not going to give up this easily." cried Lunatok between breaths.

Lunatok stood up and drawing an arc with his arms, he threw seven sharp spikes at Aaron. Aaron, on the other hand, snapped his arms upwards and a thick wall made up of rocks stood between the spikes and him. The thick wall easily deflected Lunatok's attack.

Lunatok was continuously hitting the rock wall and pierced it bit by bit.

Aaron, on the other hand, was forced back into a defensive position. Suddenly, he thought of a plan by seeing the boulders behind him and soon rolled out of the thick wall. He stood up and tried to move the bigger boulder of the ground and with much difficulty, he threw it at Lunatok but just as the boulder was about to hit Lunatok, he rolled backward successfully dodging the attack.

Aaron stomped his feet at the ground and three more boulders came up floating.  He punched all the boulders directing it towards Lunatok while Lunatok counter attacked it the same way. Sounds of boulders crashing with each other filled the air.

Suddenly, Aaron touched the boulders which were floating and it started burning as red and orange lava appeared on its surface.

With a sway of his hands, Aaron directed the attack at Lunatok.

"He's using lava bending." said one of the Masters standing at the stands with the Earth King.

"Master Dei can I take that kid under my supervision. I see great potential in him." requested Kwuin.

"Indeed he is one of the brightest but, That could not be possible as he has another destiny to fulfill, " said an old man in a green cloak in an apologetic tone.

"But why, I see him taking my place and look after the welfare of this city and you know that I am the only Monarch left in all of the Earth Kingdom." reasoned Kwuin.

"Great King, it is not possible. He is good but, he has a far greater destiny than ruling this city," said Master Dei.

"But, what could be possibly greater than ruling this city?" argued Kwuin.

"That I am afraid, I cannot tell you right now," said Master Dei softly.

"I see. It's alright. I know what you would have in mind is surely great enough, " said Kwuin after thinking for a moment.

"The winner of this duel is Aaron," announced Master Meng as he looked at the ground.

Everyone turned their eyes where the duel was going on and saw that Lunatok's arms and legs were locked within solid slabs of rock while he was surrounded by burning lava from all the sides. Aaron, on the other hand, did not look that good either as he was hit by several stone slabs in the duel. But, he was standing somehow keeping his balance.

Aaron has not yet celebrated his first victory when he saw two guards around 6 feet tall wearing olive green robes and a flat rounded hat saying something in the ears of the Earth King and face of the King tensed up immediately. Aaron freed Lunatok with the wave of his hands and extinguished lava turning the ground black.

"Aaron and Lunatok, We are attacked by the elite forces of the Earth Kingdom!" cried Master Dei.

"What! how could this be even possible?" asked a shocked Lunatok.

"We don't know yet. But, my informers had just now informed that the Elite forces are on their way to capture the city of Omashu." announced the Earth King.

"You both come with me. I need to have a small talk before I tell you how to escape this place," ordered Master Meng and started walking hurriedly towards his tent while Aaron and Lunatok followed him silently.