Avatar: Blood and Sand

It was supposed to be an exhibition match - A non-lethal duel with live blades.

As part of her birthday celebration, the Crown Princess begged her father to provide gladiatorial entertainment for the Fire Nation nobility attending her party.

Her brother, robbed of his title and his name, had been forced to serve out his days as a gladiator - slavery with the promise of death to the roar of the crowds - a fitting punishment for one who's crimes began with an Agni Kai.

His only consolation - his friend and companion - the Water Tribe barbarian. The two watched each other's backs, trained together, and managed to keep the other's spirits high, despite their dire situation.

As the banished prince rose through the ranks, winning battle after battle on the sands of the arena, his sister's ire grew. The streets of the Fire Nation capital buzzed with talk of his feats and his fame spread as Champion of the Fire Nation, the Red Dragon.

"And who shall fight our champion?" Her father asked as the gladiators were brought in and displayed like pieces of meat to the bloodthirsty crowd.

Many men longed for a chance to prove themselves against the former prince, for it was said that the princess would grant great favor to the gladiator who brought her undefeated brother down.

"That one." She pointed to the dark skinned warrior.

Her father looked unimpressed. "The barbarian's skill is beneath the champion. Are you sure that's what you want?"

She nodded and her father signaled the two forward to receive their weapons - dual blades for the champion, sword and shield for his friend.

The barbarian grinned. "It's an exhibition. So let's give 'em a show."

The princess raised her hand and brought it down, signaling the start of the fight, and the barbarian wasted no time seeking the advantage. The champion knew his friend's tactics, but the speed of the attack caught him off guard. He slipped to the side, but not before the tip of the Water Tribesman's blade sliced a shallow wound in his side.

A wolfish grin spread across the barbarian's tanned face. First blood was his, but the former prince didn't plan on leaving himself open for a second attack. He waited, knowing his friend would make the next move, and he wasn't disappointed.

The big man lunged with a horizontal slash that would have cleaved steel, but the champion was ready. He ducked and stepped inside his friend's defenses, wiping the wolfish grin off his cocky face with a gauntleted fist full of payback.

The Water Tribesman staggered back, mouth bloody, the surprise on his face almost comical. Then his grin came back and the former prince couldn't help but smile.

Steel clanged as sword struck shield and blade struck blade, costing both men their offhand implements. Their battle, like hundreds before in the practice yard, was a dance of give and take, action and reaction, attack and counter. They circled and lunged, dodging and parrying as the onlookers cheered.

The champion's remaining blade caught flesh, cutting a gash across the barbarian's leg and before the sting of the wound had a chance to register, the former prince knocked the sword out of his friend's hand and stepped to his side. He swept out with a foot and took the tribesman's balance, toppling him with a shove to the back of his armor plated shoulder.

His friend crashed to his knees with a grunt and the crunch of steel on the polished wooden floors. The barbarian laughed and raised two fingers, the gladiator's sign of surrender, as the champion touched his blade to the exposed flesh of his shoulder.

Grinning up at the victor, the tanned warrior whispered out of the side of his mouth, "You always win."

"Watch your flank and next time it could be me on the floor."

The Fire Lord raised his hands to quiet the cheering nobles. "And now my daughter shall pass judgment on the fallen."

It was a formality to pass judgment on an exhibition match, as they always ended in life for the defeated man, but when his sister stepped forward the champion's smile faltered. Her friend leaned in and whispered something in her ear, bringing a smile to both young women's faces.

The Crown Princess raised her hand, thumb in the air, and the crowd began their polite applause, but then her thumb dipped and settled, pointing to the floor - death. The guests gasped and whispered, most pleased by the surprise gift of bloodshed at a civilized party, but the champion and his friend were too stunned to react.

The Fire Lord lifted an eyebrow but offered no argument against his daughter's judgment. He turned to his disowned son, and waved his hand. "Proceed."

In a past life, the banished prince would have spoken out against the injustice, but now his words would fall on deaf ears, and he and his friend both knew that.

It wasn't enough for his sister to take his life from him, she had to take everything. She smiled, innocence and venom entwined. "Is there a problem?"

His father frowned. "I said proceed." He nodded to the royal guards and they closed in around the two gladiators, drawing their swords as one.

The champion tensed, preparing to fight but his friend's whispered plea stopped him cold.

"Don't."

For a moment he thought he'd misunderstood, but then his friend met his gaze with blue eyes devoid of the hope they'd clung to for so long.

"They'll kill us both."

The Red Dragon clenched his jaw and shook his head, silently begging his friend not to give up.

"There's no choice."

"There's always a choice."

The Wolf of the South smiled in surrender to his fate. "Not this time, my friend."

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So this is (sort of) =Leona629's request, as payment for buying me a 3 month subscription. At first she said, "You know what I like, surprise me," and then she changed her mind and asked for some Tokka.

After a brief convo with =daughterofthestars we decided to share the load (and stick to what we both do best). She draws romantic Tokka, I draw blood and swords!

To see Leona's ACTUAL request: [link]

This is an idea that's been kicking around in my head since watching episode 10 of Spartacus: Blood and Sand. I decided to write up a little story so the scenario would make sense to everybody.

Avatar and Spartacus belong to other people who are not me.