Azula
I woke up in my bed dreading the day because the groups had to work together against other groups. Mine is absolutely dreadful, the only person I can stand to be around is Katara. Over the past few weeks we had been growing closer, I'm understanding her better now but she hasn't knocked down all my walls. I haven't knocked all of hers either.
We are the best trained in our group and there is no doubt we will be the last ones standing to fight. I wouldn't admit this anytime soon but I feel Katara and I work better when it's just us, no one else holding us down. I've heard of duos in the league, I think I would prefer that.
The day had come for the battle between the groups, so exciting (eye roll). The sun just peeked through the window and I was officially awake. I got myself ready in our everyday uniforms. They were all black, the pants fit close to my skin but still allowed me to stretch, and the shirt was the same. After I did my hygiene routine in the bathroom and waited for Katara to finally get up and ready.
We have our own practice in the morning, just the two of us. Without our lousy group we get more work and practice in.
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Katara
It was really early but I had gotten used to getting up earlier than usual because of my one on one morning practice with Azula. I heard her moving around and the sun was shining in my face. I wasn't excited for today, we had to go up against other groups and ours wasn't the most pleasant. I got up and saw Azula sitting at her desk already prepared for the day.
"Finally, you're awake. Hurry and get ready, I'm itching to practice," she said while looking at me expectantly then looking at her nails.
Over the past few weeks I believe we've grown closer. She still gives me a couple of commands but it's gotten less and less. We watch each others backs in the field and with our group. For some reason those girls are just ugh. I wonder if Azula and I could just be us and no one else, probably else but one can hope.
I jump down from my bed and started getting ready. Once I come back out of the bathroom she gives me 5 seconds to follow her out the door. I enjoy our morning practices when it's just us, with the other girls we don't get as much practice in and there's always and argument or more bickering. We made it down to the arena, bowed to each other, and got in our fighting stances.
"Ready to lose to a water bender, princess?" I say to her, recently we've started teasing each other with our pasts.
"If you can even get a hit, peasant" she replies back throwing a fire ball at me.
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Third Person
The two girls were sparring until it was time to line up with the rest of the girls. They stood in their rows, each row dedicated to a different group. They were in the second row standing next to each other.
"You all know what today is and we expect your best. The fights will be observed my myself, Imperium, and Caelum," Viribus says pointing to the two women standing next to each other.
"We will not intervene unless necessary. Work with your team, the goal is to defeat the other team together. The matches are won the same as individual ones but instead who have to surrender all together, be all unable to continue, or be called as a draw. Remember, work as a team," she continues.
"Each group with fight twice, one fight has 3 rounds, and once you are done you may go back to your rooms or spend the rest of the day as you must," Viribus finishes and calls the first two groups.
Imperium and Caelum are the other two masters that taught the girls their combat skills. Imperium was strict but cared for the girls even though she didn't always show it. Caelum was always nice and helpful but if needed could be very intimidating. They both called their own two groups, making 3 matches go at once.
Katara and Azula's group wasn't one of the first to be called on so they sat and waited for their turn. They both knew they would win whether it would be as a team or a duo.
It was now their groups turn to fight and the two groups walked to the middle of the arena with Viribus watching them. The groups bowed to each other and got into their fighting stances awaiting for Viribus to give the command for them to begin.
"Initium!" Viribus shouted and the girls wasted no time in attacking the other team.
The two teams were battling each other but it looked more like it was two smaller teams against a bigger one. Somehow Azula and Katara we separated from their group. Their group was split in two but on both sides of the other team. The other three girls from their team took out two of the girls from the other team, but were soon taken out by the other girls. Now it was Katara and Azula against 3 other girls. They worked together taking turns being on offense and defense and eventually defeated the other team. The next round the other group won but the third round was won by Katara and Azula's team.
The girls were all breathing slightly heavy and went back to their seats waiting to be called on again. Viribus had an eyebrow raised when they were finished but still congratulated the girls.
In their next match they lost the first round but won the last two. The same thing happened again, Katara and Azula were separated from their groups and were the last ones standing. Azula and Katara walked to the tricliniaria (cafeteria) and had their lunches. There was a little talking but mostly eating. Then they returned to their rooms and hung out for the rest of the day until they got a knock on their door.
They both stood up in the middle of the room facing the door with the shoulders square and hands behind the back. Viribus walked him and summoned them to follow her to her office. The walk down the hall was silent. Once they got to her office she sat in her chair behind their desk while the two girls sat in the smaller chairs in front of her.
"Do you know why I summoned you both to my office?" Viribus asked the two girls.
"No ma'am, we haven't broken any rules and have kept our manners," Katara replies with her face straight. Azula sat next to her silently agreeing.
"In the battles today you two repeatedly separated from your team, you worked together but not with the others," Viribus started making the girls slightly nervous, but they didn't show it.
"I just want to know why that is," she eyed the two girls in front of her. Azula was the first to reply.
" Its not we did that on purpose, it wasn't intentional. It was good strategy to take on the other team from both sides and surround them so we could have the advantage," she replies with confidence but keeping her face straight.
"Are those the only reasons?" Viribus asked.
"Permission to speak freely?" Katara asked Viribus.
"Granted" she responds.
"I'm not sure how Azula feels about this but I personally believe we work better as a team on our own. We haven't gotten along with the other girls and it never ends up being productive nor helpful," Katara stated with a mix of confidence and nervousness with how her dominus (master) would respond. Viribus raised an eyebrow and turned to Azula.
"Do you agree with what she claims?" She asked.
"I do Viribus. Katara and I know how to fight along side each other and have grown accustomed to each other's fighting styles. I believe we would make a better team as only a duo," Azula responds with confidence in her answer.
"I see, I saw how you two fight with each other and your distance with you group. To be only a duo would mean you two would have to go through tests and prove you are capable of the same things you would be with a group. We don't always have a duo in the league but when we do they are only the best. Do you two believe you can accomplish this?" Viribus asked.
The two girls looked at each other and saw that the other believed they could. They looked back at Viribus and replied with 'yes ma'am' before being dismissed back to their room.
When they got back to their room Azula was very confident that they would be able to past the tests and finally be rid of her dreadful teammates. Katara was confident as well but couldn't help but ask.
"Do you really think we can survive as a duo?" she asked Azula. Azula turned around to look Katara in the eyes.
"Yes I do believe we can. As you said before, we work better as a team on our own," she responds then returning to her language practice at her desk.
This gave Katara more reassurance and too went to her language practice. The tests wouldn't be for 2 days so they had time to practice more together and be prepared. Little did they know they would be one of the best duos the league has ever had.
I'm having so much fun writing this and sorry if the writing is bad. The next chapter is just going to be a little bit about the test. I'm not going to go too much into detail because this isn't a big part in the story I guess. Have a lovely day and stay safe.
- ally