Show Me What You've Got (Zula)

[Zuka]

Slowly her hands flowed through the air, gently pushing and pulling the energy around her. Zuka took in deep, clam, steady breaths as her body slowly moved, right foot extending as she shifted her weight and changed position. The calm movements helped her focus and allowed her to clear her mind from unnecessary chatter and thoughts. It was also a nice warm up exercise to training which was why she was doing it at the moment.

Zuka had invited Zula to come to the club in the early morning for a little training session. She had converted the room where the underground casino had been into a large training area complete with training dummies, mats and weapons both practice and real. The area under the club was no longer used so she thought it would be a good use for the space since her apartment wasn’t large enough anymore and since they were underground they wouldn’t be disturbed.

Ever since her and Kenji had returned there hadn’t been much time to test Zula on her new fighting skills and Zuka wanted to see them for herself, get a feel of what Zula learned in the fighting ring. Zuka still had her doubts about Zula going out as The Cinder but she knew Zula was determined…which was why she had set up that meeting between her and Kenji. Zuka knew she ran a risk in doing so but Zuka knew Kenji…and she knew Zula and the only way the two of them would find common ground is if they worked it out on their own, she didn’t want to be the buffer. Also, she wanted Kenji to give Zula his insight (which she knew he would) which would hopefully teach her some things.

It had been a trick but in the end their annoyance with her was worth it.

Zuka swept her arms out and over her head, put her palms together and slowly brought them down to rest in front of her chest when she heard the door on the top of the stairs open. She held her position while she waited for Zula to descend the stairs and finally dropped it when she felt eyes on her. ”I hope you’re ready.” Zuka said causally while straightening up and turning to look at her twin. Kenji might be the brains of this whole thing but Zuka was the fighter and it was time for Zula to show her what she’s got.

[Zula]

It wasn’t easy for Zula to do much practicing. Before she’d had plenty of opportunities to do so, fighting against actual opponents, getting a taste of real action. Since pulling herself from the Triads and the rings, she didn’t really have that anymore. The best she’d managed to do was to practice her forms and some simpler moves in her house, nothing too extreme. She missed the ability to stretch her legs in a way, and to be able to really put some power into her moves.

Zula knew that Zuka probably didn’t have as much faith in her as she hoped. While it was frustrating, Zula had to remind herself she had every right to feel that way. It wasn’t like she had done any fighting beforehand, and she had a lot to learn. Zula had quickly discovered that even if you were considered a firebending master back home, it didn’t mean anything if you had no clue how to actually fight. There had been a learning curve, but she liked to think that she was much better than when she’d started.

She also knew that Zuka was only worried for her own good, and so Zula did her best to understand that. It was why she’d agreed to the training session, in an effort to try and ease Zuka’s nerves. That, and despite their different elements, Zula knew there was always something to learn. It was best to get it from the person who knew fighting best, and that would be her sister.

Zula spent a little while meditating at home, practicing controlling the flames of the candles she set up in front of her. It was one simple exercise that she enjoyed doing, and it sharpened her focus and woke up her mind. Zula liked to be in touch with her element as much as she could, and this exercise always reminded her the nature of fire, and how control of it was just as important. Once she finished that, she made her way to the Blue Dragon.

Seeing it empty and without the usual sounds of the club was odd, to say the least. She didn’t remember a time when it had been this quiet, ever. Zula made her way to the downstairs door, and then descended the stairs. As the room opened up before her, she caught sight of Zuka, clearly having finished an exercise of her own.

“I hope you’re ready.”

“Have I ever not been?” Even when she hadn’t known how to fight, Zula had always been ready to go on the offensive. Foolish really, but hindsight was an incredible thing. The one fact about her that hadn’t changed was that when she was challenged, Zula had a hard time backing down. Family honor and all was still a teaching ingrained into her.

Zula moved farther into the room, and teasingly said to her sister, “Though I’m a little concerned about you. That quiet island might have made you rusty.”

[Zuka]

Zuka looked at her sister and gave the slightest hint of a smirk. Training had been what Zuka had done the most on the island, if she wasn't training by herself then her and Kenji were sparing to keep up their skills in case of a Triad attack. It was one thing Zuka had always been obsessed with, even as a child when they thought she didn't have any bending skills. She had to train to maintain their family honor and while she had grown and left that all behind the drive never left her.

"I guess we'll find out" Zuka said simply and waited for Zula to take position.

Once she had Zuka stood there for a moment before walking to the back wall where she kept the training weapons and pulled two wooden staffs from the rack. Zuka knew Zula was a good firebender, she was considered a master after all but it wasn't all about using your element. Sometimes bending wasn't a option and if you couldn't fight without the use of it then you would be dead.

Zuka walked back to the mat and threw one of the staffs to Zula, holding her own up with each hand grasped firmly on it as she took a fighting stance. "Ready when you are." If Zuka remembered correctly Zula never trained much with weapons in their youth since she had no need to but that could have changed in the time she had been gone so it would be a learning experience for the both of them.

[Zula]

Zula walked over and took her place, sliding into her stance. She waited for Zuka to do the same, however when she moved to the back of the room Zula straightened up and raised an eyebrow. It was only as Zuka tossed her the staff that she realized this was more than simply proving she could handle her bending. Zula caught the staff in one hand, then brought it into both. Clearly they weren’t going to start with what she was most comfortable with, but that was fine. They had a lot to cover.

She spun the staff in her hands a few times to get familiar with the weight. Zula had trained with weapons as a child, before she found out she could bend, and that had been a short amount of time. Afterwards she’d trained in them briefly, mainly to please her mother and get armed combat under her belt, but Zula had never truly enjoyed using them, and dropped it as soon as she could. Even all these years later, it had taken a lot of persuading from Neva to get her to revisit weaponry and add it to her arsenal.

That being said, the staff was something she hadn’t actually used in quite some time. She had tried it briefly when figuring out what she was going to add to her uniform, but ended up deciding against it. As she tossed it around in her hands she tried to think back over everything she knew, pulling it from the depths of her memory. This was going to be tough, but Zula was good at throwing herself into these types of situations.

Finally she stopped spinning the staff and took her stance, holding her weapon out in front of her. She waited a moment, and then Zula darted forwards, bringing the staff down on Zuka’s own. Her sister would have the advantage here, and Zula expected nothing less than her twin’s full effort, so Zula was going to have to take the opportunities she had. She struck once more, then again, and then took two steps back while keeping her staff in front of her. Offense was only good for so long, and she needed to give herself room to go on the defensive for whatever Zuka was about to throw at her.

[Zuka]

When Zula attacked Zuka held up her staff each time her sister swung down at her and blocked them, the loud crack of wood on wood echoing through the room. "Not bad." Zuka told her, it was a good start but there was more than just attacking and now that Zula had stepped back it was Zukas turn.

Zuka spun the staff in her hand once before bringing it up and grasping both hands at the bottom, holding it like a sword. Without hesitation she began her own attack, striking at Zula. First above, then to her side and finally going down and swinging low at her feet.

[Zula]

Zula grasped her staff tight as Zuka launched towards her. She quickly brought the staff up and deflected the first strike, bearing the force of her sister’s attack. Zula tried to watch where her sister was aiming and managed to deflect the next one to her side. However Zuka caught her off guard by swinging low, and Zula leapt it a few seconds too late. It caused her to stumble, nearly falling to one knee, but she caught herself and was back on her feet, looking to Zuka as she straightened up, “You’re quick.”

And good, for that matter. Zula knew she was going to get knocked down at this rate, but she was going to last longer than a couple minutes if she could. Zuka surely had plenty of tricks up her sleeve, so she was just going to have to go for it. Tightening her grip on the staff she lunged, striking high and then flipping the staff in her hands and thrusting it towards Zuka’s chest.

[Zuka]

You're quick"


"Thanks" Zuka said as she watched her sister as she twirled the staff in her hand as she waited for Zula to move. Her sister struck fast, bringing the staff down on her. Zuka grabbed her staff at both ends and put it up to block the attack but as quick as Zula struck she moved and trusted for Zukas chest. Zuka barely had time to react and she jumped back and to turned to the right to avoid getting stuck in the chest with the butt end of Zula's staff.

"You kept up your training" Zuka commented. Zula was better at this than she thought she would be which meant that she still trained at least somewhat after Zuka left home. Now that she was out of the way Zuka brought her staff down on top of Zulas and pushed down. Once her sister was in the position she wanted Zuka hooked her arm under Zulas and pulled her up and over her shoulders, flipping her to her back on the mat.

[Zula]

"Mother's wishes," Zula answered simply, as it really had been the only reason behind it. Feena's pushing and expectations of her at least paid off in this way, as Zula had retained more than she expected from those lessons. She readied herself for Zuka's next attack and brought her staff up, blocking the strike and holding against her sister's force. Before she could think of what her next move would be, she felt Zuka grab her. The world turned upside down as she flipped, and then she landed on her back one the mat. The sudden impact made her lose her grip on the staff and it rolled out of her hand and out of reach.

Zula blinked a few times, realizing she was now looking up at the ceiling, and then looked over to see her staff. Well, Zuka had definitely won this round, and she wasn't really upset about it, considering she knew she'd lose this one. Zula pushed herself up into a sitting position and looked up at her Zuka, letting it show that she was impressed. "You've clearly learned plenty yourself. I appreciate that you aren't going easy on me, either."

[Zuka]

Zuka laughed and looked down at her sister, putting the staff behind her, resting it across her shoulders and resting her arms on either side. "When I left home I quickly learned that either you fight or you starve." It had been a harsh but good lesson and one that she was glad she had experienced. At Zulas appreciation of her not going easy on her Zuka's smile dropped "I'm not going to go easy on you because neither will they." What was the point in training if you watered down the exercise? The Triads wouldn't go easy on them so they should train like they were fighting for their lives.

Seeing as how Zula had lost her weapon Zuka kicked it away before throwing hers aside as well "I think that's enough of that for now." She held her hand out for Zula and pulled her back to her feet. "I want to see how you fight a real fight." Since Zula had been in the fighting rings she had to have picked up some new tricks and Zuka was eager to see just what those were.

Taking a few steps back Zuka found her spot and waved her arms behind her and brought them forward. Water from two nearby jugs surrounding her hands. "Remember, its not all about bending" Zuka wondered if her sister could improvise and use both bending and non bending techniques in the same battle "now, show me what you learned."

[Zula]

Zula had worried before she’d arrived that her twin would go easy on her simply because she had her doubts with her capabilities. She knew Zuka was tough, and so she was able to put her reservations aside. Her twin could more than handle her, and she wanted Zuka to be hard on her in return. It was the only way she’d be able to get better, and Zula never did have a problem with people pushing her limits.

As Zuka reached down Zula took her hand and got to her feet, watching as her twin moved back to her position. Now this was what Zula had been hoping for. She moved to her starting point, sliding into her stance. “Good, I’ve been waiting to show you.”

It had been the only way Zula thought she’d ever be able to ease at least some of Zuka’s nerves. She knew there was a lot of proving herself involved and it wouldn’t be so simply accepted, but Zula was willing to work for it. Even if she didn’t meet her sister’s standards, that was what training was for. And Zula would do it for as long as it took.

She nodded to Zuka’s reminder, and gathered her focus. Her early mistakes had been believing that bending was all she needed, but as she quickly figured out, relying on just her element was the perfect way to get herself killed. Fighting was more than that, and thankfully she caught onto that lesson before it was too late. A reminder, of course, was always appreciated.

Zula waited a moment, and then moved, sending two quick bursts of fire her sister’s way, and then moved forwards a few steps. Then she kicked out, sending a larger stream of fire at Zuka.

[Zuka]

With the two burst of fire Zuka sent her own water attacks at them which canceled both attacks out. This was good, the last time the girls had sparred was in their youth so it was a nice chance to show off everything they had learned in the time between.

The fire blast that came next was much larger and stronger than the other two and Zuka had to move quick. Pulling her forearm up in front of her water from the the left jug came with her to act as a shield and as Zuka held her ground she felt her feet move back slightly from the force. Taking her right hand she swung it out to the side and in the direction at Zula, water from the right jug arching out to the side and circling around the fire to get Zula from the side.

[Zula]

The water came at her quickly, and Zula knew there was no blocking her sister’s attack. Instead she dropped down to the ground, the water skimming her hair as she did so, just missing a collision with her body. Zuka wasn't just fast, she knew how to try and get people off guard, and that was where Zula had to pay more attention. She may have learned, but Zuka was a seasoned fighter, and she had seen and done plenty more than her. Zula had to up her game if she was going to stay standing.

As she dropped she rolled forwards, and once she was upright in a crouch she punched out both her fists at the same time, sending another plume of fire Zuka’s way. Once she had done that she leapt back to to her feet, and this time she kicked her leg high. The kick sent a tall arc of fire Zuka’s way in an attempt to knock her off balance or push her back further and give Zula an opening.

[Zuka]

As her sisters first attack came at her Zuka had to drop the water from her one hand and bring it to her shield to try to help reinforce it. Zula's attack was strong and Zuka knew her water was not going to hold up against the full blast of the flames because she could feel it getting smaller. Knowing she had no choice Zuka jumped back, flipping behind her and crouching down in hopes of attacking her sister at her feet but Zula was prepared.

Another plume of flames came at her and Zuka didn't have much time to react. Instead of attacking like she had planned she lost her footing and fell backwards before scooting and then rolling out of the way of the fire. "Don't burn down my club" Zuka said half teasing half seriously as she got back to her feet and swept her hands behind her before pulling them forward; a wave of water rising out of the jugs. Once she had her water Zuka sent the wave rushing toward Zula.

[Zula]

A small, brief laugh escaped from Zula, her eyes flashing in amusement. She wasn't aiming to set the club on fire, though she could see how her attacks could cause that very easily. "I'll be sure to take care of any damages."

As her sister got back to her feet Zula readied herself again, and Zuka's next attack came swiftly. The wave came towards Zula in a powerful surge, wide enough that she had no way of getting around it, or avoiding it for that matter. She braced herself, bringing her hands together with her palms facing outwards, and thrust them forwards, sending fire against the wave as it crashed over her. The force of the wave knocked her backwards and off her feet, but the desired effect was produced: a cloud of steam appeared where the two elements collided.

Zula quickly rose to her feet, the water that had hit her soaked into her clothes and on the ground around her. She lunged forwards, using the precious few moments of steam-cover to try and catch Zuka off guard. She threw a punch, though purposely missed to try and distract Zuka, and then brought up her foot to try and land a kick to her midsection.

[Zuka]

Steam filled the room and Zuka knew what Zula was trying to do. The steam provided great cover for a surprise attack and she had to be ready for it. The temperature and mugginess began to rise in the room making it uncomfortable and harder to focus. Zuka knew she could bend the vapor away but she decided to leave it, to give them a challenge and see if Zula could come at her under cover.

Poising her hands up in a defensive position Zuka listened for a moment and slowly began to move, not wanting to make herself a easy target by standing in one spot. Suddenly, she heard movement and braced herself, moving out of the way of her sisters punch but falling for the trap and moving right into a position where Zulas second attack could collide. Zuka gave a "umph' sound as she was kicked and began to stumble back but as she did she grabbed hold of Zulas foot for leverage and twisted it, hoping to bring her sister off balance and off her feet.