Gold and Stone, in Questing for Camelot

[Larfleeze]

"Congratulations." Chakravartin said, surprised. If one could just... force past their limitations, that would exceedingly convenient. Or perhaps Aang was special in that regard. Either way, it was progress.

The two Primes practiced for another hour that morning, Aang becoming more proficient with the stone glove, while Chakravartin's maximum range stubbornly refused to expand. "You just need to work past your mental block. Once you feel it- the connection that still exists even at a distance, you'll gain control of it."

"I'm still convinced-"

"Maybe that's your problem. You're convinced it won't work, so you won't put your all into it!" Aang said, "Come on, just one more time."

"Just trying the same thing over and over and expecting different results isn't training, it's insanity." the Saru grumbled.

"Look, maybe you're just not in the right mental space. When I was first learning Earthbending, my mindset just wasn't in the right place. No matter what I tried, I couldn't do it, because I wasn't thinking like earth. I was too used to thinking like air." Aang explained, "It took a crazed saber-toothed mooselion trying to eat Sokka before I could push through." Aang grinned, in realization, "Maybe you need a push! Look, just try it again."

"Fine, fine." Chakravartin said, narrowing his eyes. He redirected the last Palace Hand- the others were still reintegrating from falling out of range earlier, and took a step back, so that the Hand, when it fell, would land at the front of Appa's saddle.

He urged the Hand forward, as close to the edge of his range he could force it, and prepared to take a step back, when Aang swiped at it with his wind. "Catch it!" The airbender ordered, smiling and in full-sifu mode.

Chakravartin's eyes shot wide open, and he jumped for the edge of the saddle, reaching with his mind, trying to get a hold before it-

It fell.

Aang sighed, and sent out another gust of wind-

Only to blink in surprise as the glob of metal barely changed direction.

Both Primes watched as it disappeared into the foliage. They both were at the edge of the railing of Appa's saddle, staring down at the trees. They sat in silence for a few moments.
Aang slowly turned and looked at Chakravartin, a nervous smile spreading over his face, "That, uh, hand. It's a lot heavier than it looks, huh?"

"Well it was made of pretty heavy stuff." Chakravartin said, his voice emotionless.

"Yeah- yeah it was- is! Is. Do you want to-?"

"Just... leave it." Chakravartin sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. Maybe in a few hundred years he would find his true form in the Mental Realm connecting to the body of a new Saru child, born of the earth of Camelot, the next User of the Fist of God. Or maybe the Reincarnation Cycle of blood was as changed and weakened as everything else in the Omniverse. "Why, exactly, did you do that?"

"I thought if you felt it was a do-or-die situation you would push through your limit and be able to pull it back." he explained, which Chakravartin supposed he understood, "I was going to catch the hand with airbending before it fell too far, but it was a lot heavier than I thought it would be. Sorry."

"It's... fine. Fine. It'll grow back. Just give me two days or so."