| By Neo Bahamut | Genre | Rating | Reviews | Updates |
| More from Neo Bahamut | Adventure, romance, mystery | PG-13 | See main page | See main page |
Act 1[]
"There didn't seem to be anything strange going on in the Silk District," Roatha commented, having lingered in their team's dressing room with Thiera to discuss their findings.
"Well, we should probably still keep an eye on it," Thiera cautioned as she fixed a single large braid behind her head. "There's a sizeable plaque in headquarters declaring appreciation to Dong's family for their 'generous donations,' which probably explains how he got his job. The money is supposedly from steel contracts, but it could still be Triad-related."
"Just remember," Euryale's voice drifted from outside, offering Ven last minute advice, "Only Thiera can aim for the head. The goal is to knock the other team back a Zone, so you can move up. Try to knock them off the back if you can. Zones are marked by the water grates."
"Is that...the only thing you're worried about?" Roatha asked.
"We have prepared for the match all we could on such short notice. All we can do now is perform to the best of our abilities."
"How can you be so calm about this?"
"I perform surgeries. What's more, I have faced gangsters trying their best to kill me."
"Oh yeah...good point."
"Just remember what I told you: The Dancing Dragons specialize in evasion and wearing down opponents with light attacks. The key will be to hit them with strong attacks from unpredictable angles."
"With an amateur firebender and earthbender...right."
"Good evening, folks!" Shiro Shinobi's completely uninfectious positivity echoed into the corridors. "Tonight we have a special treat for you: Mysterious newcomers, the Aurorean Armadillo Lions, will be facing off against fan favorites, the Jasmine Dancing Dragons, better known as the Dancing Dragons or the Jasmine Dragons!"
"That's our cue," Thiera pointed out, leading Roatha out into the hall where the rest of their friends were gathered, Ven looking almost as sick as Roatha. Euryale gave them a few last words of encouragement they didn't really hear before she and Aroma headed off to join Keter in the sponsors box.
All the while, Shiro Shinobi kept yammering on. "Just a quick formality to get out of the way first: Except for Yánjī, polls say that the up-and-coming delegates are leading against the old Council, with Franz and Tarrlok locked in a particularly fierce competition. Though, probably not as fierce as today's match!" He paused for laughter, but none came. Disappointment evident, he continued, "Anyway...there will be yet another debate and Q&A session for those who want to stay after the match."
"Without further ado," he announced as the team marched into the elevator that would take them up to the hexagonal arena, "Introducing the Aurorean Armadillo Lions!"
There was very little enthusiasm until they saw their sponsor stand in the VIP box, spreading her arms wide. This released a flurry of blue fire wisps, which twirled above the audience majestically before exploding in showers of harmless sparkles. As the crowd went wild, Ven fidgeted with her tied-off hair, Roatha waved awkwardly, and Thiera stoically took her position.
They turned to face the elevator, now rising once again as Shiro Shinobi introduced, "...your favorites and mine, the delightfully-jiving, Jasmine Dancing Dragons!"
The crowd was much quicker to cheer at the comparatively modest burst of glittering green confetti that accompanied the team, reflecting the light from the graceful wheels generated by the team's firebender, a tall, lithe dame with a cascading black ponytail. The team's lone male ducked low, swiping his hands to create a rolling wave that swept the debris away before it reached the ground. Having nothing to bend, the stocky woman in the back merely struck bodybuilding poses.
"The teams toe the starting line—and there's the bell!"
Act 2[]
The Dragon earthbender burst into action, stomping and sending a quick flurry of discs at each foe, giving her teammates time to spring away. Thiera expected this, as it was their most common opening, signified by a shift in their feet just before the match was announced.
She raised a finger, her teammates ducking at her signal, each aiming a shot at the earthbender. She took the attacks' full force with a wobble, but Thiera's innards lurched when she realized their combined power wasn't enough to knock her back even one zone.
"Kaida opens with a classic volley," Shiro narrated, "But the Armadillo Lions expected it! Their dodge-and-counter hits home, but Kaida weathers the assault! Thiera's on the defensive, water arcs whirling all around, but she drops one and changes its target with her other hand, brilliantly bypassing the one second rule!"
"It rakes the spot where Ryoko's foot was a split-second ago," he continued as the fire Dragon dodged, "Roatha's haymaker zipping just over her shoulder!"
Meanwhile, Ven targeted the water Dragon, having no better luck. The earth Dragon proved surprisingly nimble for her size, backflipping while her feet flung a pair of discs, catching Ven in the side.
"Kaida's one-two foot-flip sends Ven skidding back to Zone 2, but she remains determined as Drake turns his attention on her!"
Using the rope to pull herself to her feet, she was forced to withstand a volley of water missiles, until Thiera used her own attack to sever the opponent's line of sight, fire bolts streaking from behind her.
"The other Armadillo Lions buy their teammate some time, but Thiera eats a disc to the shoulder, and Roatha joins Ven in Zone 2!"
"Go for the big shot!" Euryale called from the box. On cue, Ven swung onto her hands and pushed off the elastic, twirling high into the air. A clay disc rose with her, which she launched with both feet, just barely catching a cord on her way down.
"What an incredible play!" Shiro cried in the meantime, "Ven's rope-assisted dropkick slams Kaida back to Zone 3, and the Dragons shift focus to Thiera to avoid an improper ring-out!"
"I think you're forgetting someone!" Roatha shouted, using a running jab, and spinning kick, to hurl shots at the fire Dragon.
"Ooh, and a less impressive play as Roatha fails a combo on Ryoko, who nimbly leaps back and strikes him in the chest!"
"Roatha, sneak attacks don't work if you yell them out loud!" Thiera reprimanded just before a handful of shots squeezed between her counters, causing her to stumble back. The floor lights flashed, prompting the Dancing Dragons to sprint forward.
"Kaida and Drake pierce Thiera's defense and she tumbles into Zone 2! The Dragons advance, pressing their attack!"
Ven pulled herself far enough to rest her chest on the barrier and punched out. The firebender dodged her disc, but it wasn't meant for her.
"Ooh, Ven's attack bounces off the ropes and nails Kaida in the knee, that's gotta hurt! Roatha takes the opening and launches her back into Zone 3!"
He pumped his fists. "Hey, I finally hit some--!"
"...He was then fireblasted mid-celebration, flying back to the 3rd Zone as well!"
As Thiera collapsed, Ven finally managed to swing into the ring, her volley forcing the water dragon to backspring several times. Thiera saw her opening and twisted on her back, legs launching a swell that sent the dragon girls careening into each other, dropping them both over the edge.
"There was only one splash!" Thiera warned, stumbling to her feet, as Ven swung a roundhouse blow to the waterbender's side. Sure enough, the fire Dragon flung herself up just long enough to knock Ven into the moat, before falling back off herself.
"It's hard to keep up, folks, even for me—a struggle over ring outs claims Kaida, Ryoko, and Ven, but not before Ven knocks back Drake! The remaining players return to their starting zones with the clock swiftly running out!"
"You strike low, I'll strike high!" the water Lion hissed under her breath. Roatha nodded, but try as they might, they couldn't send the waterbender an attack he couldn't dodge. Even so, the fact that they had more players meant the round was called in their favor.
As the Dragons fished their last player from the canal, the Lions huddled, Ven looking ragged. "The earthbender sustained a leg injury in the last round," Thiera said quickly, "So they'll expect our strategy to focus on their weak link—which you should—but I'm going to feint and strike the members covering for her. It's a risk, but it should pay off."
They nodded, the match resumed, and Thiera started for the earthbender only to spin, striking the others with simultaneous arcs while Kaida winced in pain, all the Dragons' attacks wobbling off-course.
"Thiera feints to cover her teammates, and the Armadillo Lions score an early boon, knocking Kaida back to Zone 2!"
But no amount of strategy would change the fact that they were amateurs up against a professional team. Their foes quickly hurled Thiera back 2 zones, the earth dragon using a desperate kick to hit her in mid-flight, bouncing her into the waters below.
"The Armadillo Lions' MVP waterbender takes a dip! Her poor teammates waste time looking dumbfounded and get pinned down by the Dragons' brutal fury!"
"I can't let it all go to waste!" Ven cried desperately, gripping the ropes they'd been backed into. Foregoing defense entirely, she took beating after beating, a splash knocking her helmet clean off. Despite barely standing, she kept striking, only for the Dragons to whirl aside and retaliate.
"Ven makes a bold stand at the ropes, but just can't score a hit!"
"Roatha, do the thing!" Euryale called out more advice. "Our thing!"
Somehow working out what that meant, Roatha locked his thumbs and flapped his palms, tossing out a flaming bird shape, which streaked across the Dragons' visors.
"Roatha confuses his foes with a firebird in a clever gambit, distracting them long enough for Ven to knock them both into Zone 2! The Armadillo Lions advance into enemy territory!"
The ref answered the other team's questioning gaze, "Not a hit, no rule broken!"
"No matter," Drake huffed, "Cheap tricks like that will only work once!"
Ven still clutched the lines, but Roatha ran to spread them out. As they took aim at Kaida again, knocking her into the drink, Ven herself was unable to keep her grip and fell back into their starting zone. Roatha blasted a disc, only for water to streak through the debris cloud, sending him sprawling.
"Oh, but the Dragons lose everything they gain just as the match comes to an end, triggering a tie breaker!"
"The Armadillo Lions win the coin toss!" the referee called.
"Listen," Ven gasped from her hands and knees, "I can't sustain a fight like this! It has to be you!"
Nodding gravely, Roatha advanced. "We pick fire!"
"And so the firebenders become the center of attention!" Shiro called as the central platform raised. "Looking at Ven, probably a wise decision on the Armadillo Lions' part!"
She has the height advantage, but if I can knock her off her center of mass... Roatha thought just as the call came to begin.
"Ryoko leaps high, blasting down at Roatha with a brief two-fisted jet! He rolls forward and they land on opposite sides, spinning to face each other! Ryoko's quicker on the draw, blasting him off just as he steps forward, winning the round for the Dancing Dragons!"
"It all comes down to this nail-biting conclusion!" Shiro called as the teams took position for the final round. "Whoever wins this one takes the whole match! Can the surprisingly skilled newcomers stay in the game, or will experience take the day?"
The trio was slowing down immensely, with Ven barely able to stand. Unable to sustain a battle of attrition, they knew their only hope to win was to use all their remaining strength and be very lucky, winning a quick ring-out. So, when the match began, they each took aim and turned on the spot, launching their attacks at different opponents just as they reacted to the feint.
"Going for the aggressive approach, the Armadillo Lions already sweep into the Dragons' territory!"
They kept their attacks up, but the downed firebender pegged Ven from her foot, hurling her back a zone, hand jets keeping her from flying back herself. Spinning from the momentum, she flew into the air, Thiera narrowly dodging attacks from her fists. Roatha imitated Ven, clutching the ropes to stay in the game as he was assaulted by the other members.
"Ryoko becomes a flamethrowing whirligig, lobbing shots all over the ring! Ven says 'hi again' to the starting Zone, but her teammates manage to hold their ground!"
Thiera did her best to weave around the firebender's attacks, lashing out with an unpredictably undulating water shot, just as Ryoko found her footing, that sent her all the way over the edge. Shiro announced the ring out, then that the other Lions joined Ven in the starting zone.
We have more people in the game, Thiera thought, And we won one match already—we only need to resist for approximately 70 seconds!
"The Armadillo Lions throw caution to the wind and focus their all on staying in the game by clutching the water vents with their fingers!" Shiro narrated with a tense, elongated pause before continuing, "...Still holding on, folks...the ref confirms they're using no funny business, just every ounce of strength left in their bodies! Ah, it's almost too painful to watch, like a flock of sitting turtle ducks shot in their backs by a whole squad of Yu Yan Archers!"
Ven wasn't sure if it was the heat on her fingers, the slick surface she was grasping, or the clay discs that slammed heavily into her wrists, but she let go just after he said that.
"Ven tumbles back, but Roatha rolls to catch her! 10 seconds on the clock! He can't hold them both, and they go back to Zone 2—no, 3!"
Realizing their only chance was to stop the ring out, Thiera shot up and, with a defiant howl, hurled a series of water shots from all around her using both fists, though she couldn't see quite where they were going with her visor knocked askew.
"A defiant strike from Thiera sends the Dragons back a Zone!" Shiro called out just as the buzzer sounded. Thiera adjusted her visor, triumphant grin spreading across her face. "...But the ref says her teammates hit the water just before the clock ran out!" She stopped cold, face melting to a mask of horror. "Better luck next season, Armadillo Lions! The winner is the Jasmine Dancing Dragons!"
With the crowd's explosion bearing down on her, she swept off the field as fast as her legs would carry her.
Act 3[]
"I can't believe it..." Roatha said in a hollow voice, "...our first match...."
"We should have known better," Thiera said bitterly through grit teeth as she massaged healing water into her shoulders. She wouldn't be much help to the others until she got herself back into form. "...Than to think a few crash training sessions and a positive attitude would help us beat a professional team."
"I guess, but I don't think that's really helping," he commented with a look at Ven, who was openly weeping into her hands.
The door creaked open, drawing their attention, and Euryale grinned anxiously at them. "Hey guys," she said in a conciliatory tone, "How you holding up?" When they pointed to Ven, she added, "Right, stupid question."
"How can I help my tribe now?!" the sandbender wailed.
"We'll think of something. We may not have won the pot, but you still have some money from this match."
"Keter spent an awful lot on a losing team," Thiera pointed out, "I suppose she must be furious."
"She wasn't happy, but I talked her down as best as I could. She said she might agree to keep us registered for the next season if we show some improvement."
"Is that aimed at me?!" Roatha asked, noting the direction she was looking in. He rose, balling his fist and pointing an accusing finger at her. "I told you those 'basic exercises' you had me doing weren't going to help! I needed bending practice, and you had me breathing and running on a treadmill!"
Thiera stood to form a united front, but needn't have bothered as Euryale just sighed, "You're right. I'm sorry. I should have done better to get you guys ready. But I promise you, I will find a way to fix this."
Looking at Ven, he strode across the room to hiss in the officer's ear, "How? You can't just make that kind of money appear out of thin air!"
"I have no choice," Euryale relented, "I have to cash in that favor for Keter."
"You mean spying on Franz?" Thiera asked.
"I won't do anything illegal. I'll use the best of my detective talents, and if I don't find any dirty dealings, Ms. Keter can't complain." Ignoring the Healer's scoff, she continued, "I can't take money for it, that's a conflict of interest, but it's a special private investigation, so if you guys help, you're well within your rights to demand a fee."
"Pro-Benders to private investigators seems like a pretty abrupt pivot," Roatha commented.
"It's only a temporary measure," Euryale assured, pounding a determined fist into her palm. "I still believe you guys can make it! This just wasn't your season."
Ven turned, tears streaming down her face. "But I don't know how to solve crimes! How am I supposed to earn my keep, much less extra money to send to my tribe?!"
"Well, you said you were a hunter, so you must have experience tracking."
"Animals in the desert, not people in the city!"
"Sometimes they can be more similar than you'd think," Euryale joked dryly. "We'll see how your skills carry over. Besides, technically you already have a job, as my sandbending teacher."
"That is in exchange for earthbending lessons!"
"Well, just help around the apartment then, I don't know. Maybe take up some odd jobs, if you have the time."
After a few more minutes of arguing, the party shambled out into the streets. They assured Euryale they could get home, just before she took the cruiser off to "keep watch on Franz's neighborhood." But mostly, the quartet just wandered around in a morose silence.
"I'm...really sorry I wasn't more help," Roatha said after a while.
"Don't be. It's not your fault," Ven admitted.
"Does anyone else hear that sound?" Aroma asked, mostly to break up the uncomfortable tension. By this point, they wandered down a dark road, and the night was eerily silent. Except for a swiftly building roar.
"That's a car engine!" Thiera screeched as Roatha whipped around, igniting his bending.
Sure enough, the dark silhouette of a car rocketed toward them, hidden by a lack of headlights. They ran all-out, but clearly weren't reaching the end of the alley before it caught up, so Ven turned back and anchored her feet.
"What are you doing?!" Aroma cried, just as the sandbender punched forward, plunging a rock spike into the grill. It tore apart on impact, shards of debris ripping through her uniform, but the car swerved out of control, skidding into the wall. Sparks flew as it wedged in place, Thiera yanking the sandbender to safety with a last second water whip.
Roatha advanced to check who was driving, but quickly jerked back as a trail of stalagmites shot toward him.
"Forget about them, just run!" Thiera called, and they broke into their 2nd sprint of the night. A wall shot up to block their escape but crumbled before the combined strength of their bending.
They shot down random turns, taking alley after alley, before finally bursting through a restaurant door. Hurriedly explaining themselves, the owner didn't quite get the words, but believed their aura of absolute terror and allowed them to use the phone.
They finally managed to drag Euryale back about an hour later, but when they took her to the site, the alley was pristine.
"They were earthbenders," Thiera cried, thinking quickly, "They could've hidden the evidence underground, like that scene in The Boy in the Iceberg!"
Euryale stomped, but only shook her head. "There's an old Purist tunnel down there, but there's no car. No way they could get it out of there if it was totaled."
"Metalbenders could!" Thiera pressed. "With enough of them, they could simply levitate the car as they made their escape!"
"Really, Thiera, who would have that many metalbenders?"
"Are you saying you don't believe us!?" everyone yelled at once, prompting her to raise her hands in a placating gesture.
"I'm sure you were the victims of an attempted hit-and-run, I'm just saying, maybe you mistook some of the details while you were fleeing."
"I guess that's true," Aroma conceded, finger on her chin, "I didn't exactly stop to stare at it."
"We were attacked by metalbenders!" Thiera insisted, stamping her foot.
"Before you just said they were earthbenders," Euryale pointed out. "Did you actually see them metalbend?"
"Well, no, but—"
"Then how can you be sure they were metalbenders?"
Thiera bit her lip in frustration. "...Fair enough."
The officer put a hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry, we'll get to the bottom of this too. Come on, it's time to go home. We'll take the extra trip to drop Roatha off, just to make sure everyone is safe."
See more
For the collective works of the author, go here.