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	[WP] As it turns out, the Avatar is still being reborn to this day. Unfortunately, if the government finds the Avatar, they’re killed before they liberate society. The handful of Benders left are few and far between. And you, an introverted Earthbender, just froze the liquid in your cup of tea.	"Finnick! Get your lazy earthbending butt up! We need to reinforce these structures those fire-fairies just welded!" That was Mark, he's the master builder here in Rebellion: Block Four (RB4). The last of the four main Rebellion camps still left standing after the witch-hunt was fully endorsed by congress. Here's the issue I have with this rebellion, they have nearly 10,000 times the numbers in an effort to shut us down while we have what? The ability to manipulate one sect of nature? Nothing when compared to firearms, I don't know why there is even a rebellion... It's a lost cause. I know what you're thinking reading this as well, 'then why the hell are you there?' And the answer is actually easy, why does any young-adult male in any situation that puts him at risk? The love of his life... Rose. Waterbender, beautiful, something I can't put words to to be honest. She was in no way a model, but she had this aura around her, something that I gravitate towards. She was wild, almost feral, and amazing. I signed up right when I saw her freeze a whole group of anti-benders in order to save a child. "Finnick, I need you to put serious effort in making sure these are well done and not going to crumble with a single tomahawk missile." My job here? I work as an integrity tester. There were a few earthbenders here, a few worked with the metal to ensure that it was decent enough to withstand some explosions. I am the only one who is titled: Integrity Tester. I somehow had a more in-tune grasp of metal working and earthbending in general that I was placed on the opposite of construction, but destruction. My job was to put immense strain on the infrastructure many firebenders, earthbenders, waterbenders and airbenders put many hours into. I was able to target large grasps of metal and rock at one time and simulate waves and downward forces that would come from explosions. Our shaman, what they call those who specialize in what's behind bending, says that I'm just more adapted to creating havoc which is different than most earthbenders, who focus naturally towards defense. I went to work. We were about a mile below the earth at this point in RB4. I knew how missiles worked because I experienced the variety of them at the governments disposal while in the rebellion. It would ring through the ground like an unnatural wave seeking to flatten everything in it's wake. I had the memory deep in me for every missile I felt in the ground and what it did to the earth around me. I replicated those, all of them. Sirens went off in the halls to alarm those within the construct that they were under attack, but it was just me. Blowing up the earth around the structure in a feign bombing run. It held. "Alright, everyone back to their work. Nothing to see here." Mark was one to really get everyone moving. I sat in a pool of my own sweat unable to stand quite yet. "Hey bud, that was some serious force you put out today. Seriously, go get yourself something to drink and take the rest of the day off. Great job, love watching you work." Mark was cold but at the same time could be an alright guy overall. Almost like he knew what to say in certain situations, even if he didn't mean it. I made my way to the cafeteria. Being the "destructive" earthbender I have a weird reputation where people think I'm a mean person or at best a badass. I get lots of stares and a few people move out of my way. I like that perk to be honest, I don't really like talking. I make it to the cafeteria and I see there is a line at the coffee station, I don't want to wait so I make my way to the tea stand. "Finn! That was awesome! I felt that in my room!" That was Elizabeth, she was an airbender that worked on 'rapid cooling of material' or something. I don't quite remember, all I know is that she is a sweet girl and lost both her parents to the filth that is the government. I grabbed my tea and walked over to the only table that didn't have that many people on it. I was still recuperating from the strain of work when I sat down. I lifted my tea to my mouth and took a long swig, but I thought it to be a little cold. I wanted something warm and this just wasn't it. "Something wrong deary?" The cafeteria ladies were always immediate when they sensed something wrong. All of them were old waterbenders, just doing the best they can in order to help those fighting. Most of them lost their whole family to the rebellion. "No ma'am, just the teas a little cold." "Oh, let me take care of that!" She bent the liquid in the cup out and into the sink near by and pour me a new cup from the steaming kettle she had. "Thanks." "You rest up now Finnick. We are all so grateful you put your heart and soul into your work. " That's another thing, people think of me as hardworking. I've just had to fight all my life so I only know one thing; Survive. And to survive there just wasn't any time to half-ass anything. I grab the tea and delicately put it to my lips in order to not burn myself. Cold. I set the tea down and stared at it for a period of time. It began to freeze. I look around to see if a waterbender was pranking me, but not a soul was around nor paying attention to me. I thought at this time, 'was it me? But that would mean..." and as I thought about it I saw another lady work her way over here to see if I was okay. I put my hand over the cup to try to mask what I had done. I couldn't let anyone know what I was, I couldn't. "Hello there son. You seem off, everything alright?" At this time the lady noticed my hand on my cup. This is it, this is where I get caught. But, I feel a sort of steam on the palm of my hand covering the cup. I remove my hand and the trapped steam rolls out as if nothing had happened. "Oh nothing, I was just... warming my hands up, it gets pretty cold down here." "You don't have to tell me twice! Those airbenders that work in ventilation sure do their job!" She wanders off and I leave to get to my room. I am sweating profusely. Walking along the halls I keep to myself even more so than normal. I don't make eye contact, just b-line it to my room. "Finn you damn idiot! I was trying to balance water when you started your testing! I am so close to being able to make perfect ice sheets!" Shoot, my roommate Chris was in the room. "Hey Chris, I'm sorry but I'm pretty distraught right now, could I have the room?" "Oh. You need to meditate again? No problem man, I'm here if you need to talk." "Thanks man." Most benders meditate often in order to spend time attuning themselves with their nature. I do so almost religiously because then I have a reason that no one should bother me and I don't feel bad about not talking to people. I cross my legs on my mat and reach out to the earth around me. The problem is, I feel like there is more there. Upon this realization I feel a wave of raw emotion take over me. Pain, fear, suffering, unjustness and hope. I receive images all around me. I had little Avatar knowledge at the time but I know that they were able to attune themselves to past avatars in order to gain wisdom. But, the last avatar known was a hundred years ago or so. I received images of the last remaining seconds of poor little children's lives. I felt every stab from a knife used to silence these little Avatars. The looks on their parents faces as they see their child, me in this case, slowly slip away into darkness. I did not see wisdom, I saw pain. Pain inflicted by those who seek to silence us benders. The images and feeling went on for what seemed like hours until finally I reached a point where it was no longer a toddler being strangled by an anti-bending unit. This was a girl, I knew everything about her at that exact moment. She was seventeen, originally thought to just be a waterbender, she found her Avatar powers in the middle of a market. She was touching a carpet when it caught fire, she didn't know she could do such a thing or else she would have never. She was a kind soul, a beautiful young girl just wanting to live peacefully in the world. Then I felt the grasp of a noose around her neck, my neck. Drug away into an ally she was approached by three anti-bending units who saw the whole thing happen. But this wasn't a mercy killing or an execution. They did unspeakable things to this young girl. I wanted to leave the image but something held me back, some unseen force made me witness what was happening. When it was all over I was jolted back into my own reality and slammed my head into the floor, I blacked out. "Finn! Finn! Holy heck dude, are you alright! Did you hit your head?" Chris was freaking out over me. "Yea. Yea Chris I'm fine, just had a scary dream and knocked my head. No big." "Must have been some dream." "Where is the nearest offensive task force sign up sheet?" "Woah, Finn. Are you finally going to go out and fight? They could use you. What changed your mind man?" "I feel obligated to fight for those who have died before me now." "Was it Rose?" The pang shot through my heart like it always did. "No, something else has stirred this raw emotion in me."	For months it has been brewing in me-a tumult of emotions stirred by a single secret. As I sit with my mother,whose expression itself a mixture of confusion,fear,despair and a hint of resigned acceptance;I feel that I need this done now or I will never find the conviction again to have it done. I have known that this "talk" had to happen sometime or the other but I did not realise that it would have to be so soon-much sooner than I had wished for it to happen. But here I am- a shy,physically non-descript 18 year old waiting for his letter for conscription into the Earth Regiment of the Ba Sing Se Army-an army that serves a government bent upon finding and eliminating any threats to the current order by any means possible. And what could be a bigger threat to the current order of authority of The Peacock Dynasty than the Avatar? A being of such power that whole nations seek to destroy it. The irony that the spirit reincarnated as me makes me even want to laugh. Why me? I have tried my best to just blend in-never the best at anything but just good enough. Not too tall,not too short either. Not too athletic but neither very sedentary. Just right,just enough that nobody ever pays me any attention. But it breaks me to see the only person who ever gave me more than just a cursory glance look so broken herself. "Mother,I have to tell you something. Please remain calm. I...",I pause,perhaps involuntarily biding my time,as I grasp my cup of jasmine tea,my favourite,which she prepared knowing I would be leaving soon. But the coldness of the cup startles me enough to look into it just to see it frozen solid. I still can't control it. Was it the sudden chill of the cup that sent a shiver down my spine or was it the crashing thoughts of how I will have to serve with other,more able men who would kill to be known as the "slayer of the Avatar"? Whatever this strange sensation is I quickly come to realise that it just aided me in not having to tell Mother regarding the issue I needed to speak about. I needn't tell her because she now knows without doubt what I meant to say. Because now as she stares at me with awe added to the previous mix of emotion, I know that my eyes are glowing.
	[WP] As it turns out, the Avatar is still being reborn to this day. Unfortunately, if the government finds the Avatar, they’re killed before they liberate society. The handful of Benders left are few and far between. And you, an introverted Earthbender, just froze the liquid in your cup of tea.	When Avatar Korra was questioned as to how she learned to bend the elements so quickly, she replied, “I think it was like a switch flipped. I just knew.” The frozen cup of tea in my hand should’ve been cold, mug included. But my hand was hot. Not a harmful warmth, but comfortable - like a warm breath caressing my skin. Without even trying, I knew. I knew that if I just willed it, flame would erupt from my hand. A certain power began to also fill my lungs, as if reacting to the deep breath I had taken when the tea froze. Dropping my cup of tea, I put one hand over my mouth, and pinched my nose closed with the other. No matter what, I couldn’t let my breath escape - couldn’t airbend no matter the cost. As my cup crashed to the floor, I heard my sister Mary cry, “Hey, you okay?” I couldn’t answer. A few seconds passed before her feet hit the tile floor and started toward the kitchen. Her voice came from around the corner, “Hey, Ella, what happened?” As she turned the corner and saw what I was doing, she froze, horror creeping into her expression. Tears began to drip down my cheeks. “Oh god,” she whispered. The airbenders had been wiped out twice, the first time by the firebenders, and then a second time by the earthbenders. The science of bending had made leaps and bounds after Korra. The realization that benders were becoming stronger with time made the natural phenomenon easier to study. My sister moved, her body likely acting ahead of her mind. With one smooth hand motion, she broke the metal sensors placed in the kitchen - things built to detect airbending, and the avatar as an extension. Breaking them would cause a silent alarm to go off, but we wouldn't be stopped by containment foam. “Breathe!” she said, holding my shoulders. Releasing my mouth and nose, I started panting, each breath creating a light breeze around me. “Mary,” I choked out. “I’m so sorry, I- I’m the avatar. I’m-” She took hold of my arm and pulled me forward. “Come on.” “What-” “We’re running.” “But-” I stopped myself. She knew the risks - what helping the avatar implied. She had likely carried out a few sentences herself as a state bender. With another wave of her hand, she blew apart the wall of our kitchen, revealing that there was already a few mounds of black dirt outside. Still dragging me forward, and without breaking pace, she stamped her foot on the ground, causing the three black mounds to melt. Muffled cries came from within them. Then she stamped again, and the ground bubbled underneath us and erupted forth. With another simple motion of her feet, Mary controlled the earth to carry us forward at high speed. She looked back at me and gave her best smile. “Come on, cheer up.” I couldn’t answer. “We-” She squeezed my hand harder. “There’s supposed to be a White Lotus camp in the north. We just need to get there.” I nodded once, smiling a little for Mary. The power of the avatar was described as the power of God once mastered, able to shape continents with a few simple motions. But you’d be hard pressed to find any masters these days, and even harder pressed to find a bender who hadn’t been forced into the Earth Empire’s military. And as the earth behind us rumbled from the incoming squad of elite benders, I thought of Avatar Aang’s legend. Maybe, just maybe, we could get through this.	For months it has been brewing in me-a tumult of emotions stirred by a single secret. As I sit with my mother,whose expression itself a mixture of confusion,fear,despair and a hint of resigned acceptance;I feel that I need this done now or I will never find the conviction again to have it done. I have known that this "talk" had to happen sometime or the other but I did not realise that it would have to be so soon-much sooner than I had wished for it to happen. But here I am- a shy,physically non-descript 18 year old waiting for his letter for conscription into the Earth Regiment of the Ba Sing Se Army-an army that serves a government bent upon finding and eliminating any threats to the current order by any means possible. And what could be a bigger threat to the current order of authority of The Peacock Dynasty than the Avatar? A being of such power that whole nations seek to destroy it. The irony that the spirit reincarnated as me makes me even want to laugh. Why me? I have tried my best to just blend in-never the best at anything but just good enough. Not too tall,not too short either. Not too athletic but neither very sedentary. Just right,just enough that nobody ever pays me any attention. But it breaks me to see the only person who ever gave me more than just a cursory glance look so broken herself. "Mother,I have to tell you something. Please remain calm. I...",I pause,perhaps involuntarily biding my time,as I grasp my cup of jasmine tea,my favourite,which she prepared knowing I would be leaving soon. But the coldness of the cup startles me enough to look into it just to see it frozen solid. I still can't control it. Was it the sudden chill of the cup that sent a shiver down my spine or was it the crashing thoughts of how I will have to serve with other,more able men who would kill to be known as the "slayer of the Avatar"? Whatever this strange sensation is I quickly come to realise that it just aided me in not having to tell Mother regarding the issue I needed to speak about. I needn't tell her because she now knows without doubt what I meant to say. Because now as she stares at me with awe added to the previous mix of emotion, I know that my eyes are glowing.
	[WP] As it turns out, the Avatar is still being reborn to this day. Unfortunately, if the government finds the Avatar, they’re killed before they liberate society. The handful of Benders left are few and far between. And you, an introverted Earthbender, just froze the liquid in your cup of tea.	"Where is the Avatar, Rahm?" I gestured to the seat in front of me. "Now, now, calm yourself, Kota. Come, sit down, have a cup of tea." "I'll pass. Now, where are they? We know you're hiding the Avatar!" I sighed. "Are you sure? It's oolong, it's really quite good. I insist, you must have a cup. Now, do you take cream these days? Sugar?" "I just said I don't want any of your stupid tea, Rahm." "Ah, right. Of course. Well, suit yourself." I began to mix the sugar into my cup. "So, how is life? I hear the new government job is going well." "Quit stalling. Tell us where the Avatar is, and we'll let you live." I set the tea down on the table, and looked him in the eye. "Kota, I'm afraid that won't be the case." "What?" Kota gasped as the tea began to freeze in my cup. "You? You're the Avatar?" "Yes, but I am calling on you, in the name of any friendship we once had. Come, join us, join the resistance. Together, we can-" I gasped as I saw the shard of metal, poking through my ribcage. As I fell to the ground, I could hear Kota talking into a radio. "Call off the search. We... we got him." As I felt my blood draining out, I took the rest of the pack of potassium nitrate crystals from my pocket and bent it into the ground as far as I could. "Good luck, Avatar, wherever you are." I whispered to myself. "May this give you the time you need."	For months it has been brewing in me-a tumult of emotions stirred by a single secret. As I sit with my mother,whose expression itself a mixture of confusion,fear,despair and a hint of resigned acceptance;I feel that I need this done now or I will never find the conviction again to have it done. I have known that this "talk" had to happen sometime or the other but I did not realise that it would have to be so soon-much sooner than I had wished for it to happen. But here I am- a shy,physically non-descript 18 year old waiting for his letter for conscription into the Earth Regiment of the Ba Sing Se Army-an army that serves a government bent upon finding and eliminating any threats to the current order by any means possible. And what could be a bigger threat to the current order of authority of The Peacock Dynasty than the Avatar? A being of such power that whole nations seek to destroy it. The irony that the spirit reincarnated as me makes me even want to laugh. Why me? I have tried my best to just blend in-never the best at anything but just good enough. Not too tall,not too short either. Not too athletic but neither very sedentary. Just right,just enough that nobody ever pays me any attention. But it breaks me to see the only person who ever gave me more than just a cursory glance look so broken herself. "Mother,I have to tell you something. Please remain calm. I...",I pause,perhaps involuntarily biding my time,as I grasp my cup of jasmine tea,my favourite,which she prepared knowing I would be leaving soon. But the coldness of the cup startles me enough to look into it just to see it frozen solid. I still can't control it. Was it the sudden chill of the cup that sent a shiver down my spine or was it the crashing thoughts of how I will have to serve with other,more able men who would kill to be known as the "slayer of the Avatar"? Whatever this strange sensation is I quickly come to realise that it just aided me in not having to tell Mother regarding the issue I needed to speak about. I needn't tell her because she now knows without doubt what I meant to say. Because now as she stares at me with awe added to the previous mix of emotion, I know that my eyes are glowing.
	[WP] As it turns out, the Avatar is still being reborn to this day. Unfortunately, if the government finds the Avatar, they’re killed before they liberate society. The handful of Benders left are few and far between. And you, an introverted Earthbender, just froze the liquid in your cup of tea.	No one expected Republic City to take over the world. It was the smallest of the five nations. Barely even had sovereignty. Guess that doesn't matter anymore. The Fire Nation was the first to fall. The President abused his relationship with the Fire Lord in order to assassinate him. With the Fire Nation's advanced weaponry, combined with Republic City's own, the President soon made quick work of the other nations. The entire world was under the flag of The Republic. "Wei Beifong!" A gruff voice bellowed out. My grip tightened on my cup of tea, pretending not to hear. I hated my name. Centuries ago, the Beifong family aided the Avatar. Some ancient texts even spoke of a Beifong that was the close friend of the Avatar that helped form The Republic. But now? Now we betray that name. We spend our lives hunting down Avatar after Avatar. Children barely old enough to bend. And in the between years, we hunt down any bender we can find. Supposedly, if we kill enough of them, the Avatar would be unable reincarnate. And for what? So our family could escape the purge? What a bunch of cowardl- "WEI BEIFONG! YOU ARE TO REPORT TO YOUR SUPERIOR AT ONCE." The man was clearly irritated at this point. Better stop pretending. I stood up, giving him a silent nod left the building, tea in hand. As I headed to the capitol building, my mind wandered once more. Why do we even bother anymore? An avatar hadn't shown up in over two decades. Yet still we kill. Child. Adult. Doesn't matter. If they could bend, they could be the Avatar. As the building appeared in the distance, I took another sip of my tea to try to calm my thoughts. Ice. My blood grew colder than my tea. No. This could not be. I knew full well what this meant. How long was my tea like this? Did anyone notice? I ran. If I am lucky, they won't suspect a Beifong to be the Avatar. This could give me time. But...where will I run to?	Here's my take on someone in the current era who don't even know what the avatar is: I stared at my chai latte for at least five seconds before I could process what happened. Did I order this frozen? No… I didn’t…? I can’t waterbend! I knew that I had earthbending abilities, but had always focused on my studies instead. Best thing my earthbending heritage ever got me was a scholarship to university as a minority; the bending arts became illegal after the Equality Act of 1997. By the time I turned eight, my tutor was fired and I was being told to practice only in secret. I got pretty decent at it but had no real-world (or legal) applications for my abilities. So why, then, was I walking back to my books and laptop with a cup of Starbucks milky-tan ice? It didn’t matter, I decided. Class starts in an hour and I have a paper to finish. That night, however, a swarm of questions buzzed around in my head. Isn’t only the avatar able to bend more than one element? Can some people bend two elements without being the avatar? What is the point of the avatar anyway? Every picture I’ve ever seen of the past 16 avatars, dating back to 1890, were just random children from around the world. That’s it. I don’t see what’s so dangerous about the avatar. I headed across town to ask Marina. She was like me, a secret bender, and unlike me, a complete hippie. Didn’t even have a cell phone. I loved her anyway. At her house I tossed a pebble towards her window, and then guided the stone to softly tap on the glass several times. Small bending like this I considered to be too commonplace to be illegal. Marina appeared at the window, and then again at the door. “Do it again.” She slammed a pint glass down in front of me and bent beer from the bottle into it. (“Saves the carbonation,” she claims every time) “But I… I didn’t try to do it!” I protested. She was mad. “Well you’re gonna try this time.” And she sat down. “If I could figure out how to freeze water as a toddler I’m sure you can figure it out now… If you can do it at all. Still hoping you’re mistaken.” I held the glass of golden beer, tried reach into that same place of energy that I do for earthbending, closed my eyes and… It was frozen. Marina stopped mid-sip and set down her glass. She stared with ever-widening eyes. Like, really wide eyes. She was terrified. “Anna we have to go. Up north. I have family in the Northern Water Tribe” “But what’s the big deal? It’s not like I can do the other two elem—“ “ANNA DON’T YOU UNDERSTAND? THEY KILL THE AVATARS. WE HAVE TO PACK OUR SHIT AND LEAVE.”
	[WP] As it turns out, the Avatar is still being reborn to this day. Unfortunately, if the government finds the Avatar, they’re killed before they liberate society. The handful of Benders left are few and far between. And you, an introverted Earthbender, just froze the liquid in your cup of tea.	Jin sat in the basement of an old warehouse wishing her tea was warmer. Everyone around her looked defeated as yet another raid had taken place in their neighborhood. The officers stormed into homes and rounded up the people to submit them to 'testing'. This time they found an infant who tested positive for waterbending. They stole him away The goal had become to eliminate all benders from society. It started when the surrounding towns and villages of the Earth Kingdom declared their independence from Ba Sing Se. The result of this declaration was a massive civil war that ended in many deaths. In particular, it was the earth benders that were hit hardest with the casualties. They were employed extensively on both sides and by the time the war was over there simply weren't that many left to carry in the ability. As for the airbenders, well there never really have been that many of them since the Hundred Years War; and so many firebenders left the Fire Nation after that War and had children with people from other nations that firebenders simply weren't seen again for generations; water benders have always been a small group and with immigration from the Southern and Northern Water Tribes to The Republic the same thing happened to them as it did the firebenders. Nobody had anticipated that the four nations being so intermingled would result in a dilution of the bending powers. They found that individuals who would have otherwise been capable of bending were now unable because they had bending parents of different elements. Nobody can bend just two elements alone, so they just cancelled each other out. Because of this, it has become very uncommon for someone to have bending capabilities, and the new government in place has taken extensive measures to eliminate the few who can. The logic was much the same as Tarlok's, but far more compelling with so much fewer benders out there. Soon enough the entire council was lead by solely nonbenders. There was no voice for the benders. Returning to the test, though, it was done by exposing the suspected benders to each of the elements and watching what happens. Simply pressing earth against an earth bender like Jin was enough to know what she was capable of. They had a tool that could measure the vibrations of the elements when in proximity to the tested. However minute, they could tell when someone had the ability to bend any of the elements. It was bad enough if they found that they could bend one element, even worse if they found that they could bend more than two. This was assumed, of course. Nobody had encountered an Avatar in 60 years. Stories spread about newborns being found with the abilities of the Avatar and simply disappearing from the hospital in the middle of the night or showing up dead the next morning. Of course, many people wanted to believe that their deceased child was the Avatar, so the story gets tossed around a lot; but there is truth to be told in these tales. Jin was in a basement with other benders watching them practice their ancient and forbidden arts. There were 14 of them, and most were either water and fire benders. There were only two other earth benders on top of Jin. They had a single airbender friend named Tashi but he enjoyed flying his airglider at night too much, and went missing several months ago. Jin held her cup in her hand and stared intently at the tea inside. She could see a layer of dust in it. Probably from all the earthbending, she thought. She looked up at her earthbending kin in the corner practicing rock lunges and thought about the eventual eradication of her people. They were 9 and 17 years old and they both had no parents. Both their parents were earthbending renegades that managed to hide their identities and have children. It was considered a capital offense and their parents died. They spent their lives in hiding with each other's families and we're both very close. She remembered meeting her first earthbender four years ago. He taught her everything she knew. She eventually fell in love with him too, but it would never work out for them. He had been captured and tested positive for earthbending. They sterilized him to prevent him from having children and when he came back he lost much of his will to live. She remembered what he said before he left. "Jin, what's the point?" He had just told her that he was leaving. "You and I can never have children. You need to have children, to carry our legacy as a people. I am no longer good for you. All I can give you now is my earthbending experience, and you already have all of it. I'm sorry about what happened, but I need to go somewhere else to train others in our sacred art." He walked away but she did not pursue him. He already knew how she felt. Jin thought from time to time about having children, but she only wanted them with him. She told him she wasnt have them with anybody else. He could only hope that she would change her mind in the future. He called her selfish for refusing to bear children with another earthbender, but she didn't care. It was her choice. The boy and the girl were summoning earth beneath them with their feet and lunging forward. They would then turn back and lunge in the opposite direction. They repeated this back and forth to get a feel of the earth with their feet. It was an intermediate level skill to be able to bend with your feet and not just your hands, and they were both progressing nicely. Jin's tea was still cold, and the dust was ruining the taste. She made a move to bend the dust from out of her cup and something happened that she did not expect. As she pulled the dust from out her cup the tea itself seemed to cling to the particles. She looked around to see if one of the water benders was messing with her, but they seemed to be occupied elsewhere. She tried harder to remove the particles but every time she did the water held fast to the tiny pieces. She released the particles and lowered her hand. Her hand lowering caused a change in her tea. She felt that familiar pull as her body started to bend. The energy flowed from her hand and outward towards some bendable element. The tea grow dramatically colder and soon tiny fibrils of ice started to form on the surface. Alarmed, she threw her hand back from the cup and bended the tea out of the cup and onto the floor. She screamed. The other benders stopped what they were doing and started to stare. "What are you doing Jin?" A fire bender asked her this. "Is everything okay?" "Ye- yes... I just spilled my tea and it was pretty hot. Sorry." They nodded and she left the room. "I need to go rinse my hands." She walked to the bathroom and stared at herself in the mirror. She then looked down at the sink and at the many water droplets on its surface. She waved her hand over them and acted like she was earth bending. The water droplets started to lift hemselves from the surface and adhere to her hand, moving up her arm. Her eyes widened in terror. She was waterbending	Len sketched on his notebook, oblivious to the world around him as he wandered through the busy streets. He couldn't seem to get the shadows right. Ba Sing Se wasn't this... flat. Or jagged. Then again, this was his world. His drawing. If Len wanted Ba Sing Se to look like this in his work, he was free to leave it that way. It was the whole point of making art. The creative license to do whatever he wanted. Len frowned. That still wasn't an excuse for shoddy craftsmanship. He didn't need recreate every detail of the view; he just needed to evoke the same feelings he felt when he first saw it, which he was currently failing at with every draft. Len crashed into something hard. A large, burly guard loomed over him, frowning. "Watch where you're going." Len looked away. "S-sorry." "Look at me when you apologize." The guard grabbed Len's head, turned it, and made eye-contact with him. "You just assaulted an officer, kid. Sorry isn't going to cut it. I need... reparations for the armor you just scratched." "N-no, I... I... I..." The guard arched an eyebrow. "Those clothes..." He spat. "Of course. You don't belong to the upper ring." "I... I have permission!" The guard slapped Len. "Know your place, urchin. You don't get to shout at your betters. Now show me your passport!" Len reached for his pocket, tensing his shoulders and widening his eyes. It was empty. He checked his other pocket. Nothing in it either. The guard furrowed his brow. Len started sweating. Where was it? A crowd began to gather around them. Some sneered at Len, others scowled and murmured among themselves. The guard grew more impatient every second. He wouldn't hear Len out or check his story. Heck, if he found out Len was in the upper ring for his Earthbending lessons, he might get into even more trouble. Benders were hated by everyone. Len never understood why, though. It had been this way long before he was born. The fact that he lived in the lower ring only made things worse. He wouldn't get fair treatment. He was the one thing society hated more than a bender, he was a poor bender. No other choice. No one would help him. Len needed to run away. Except he couldn't. His knees were weak and frozen. The guard's increasingly furious glare intimidated Len too much. "That's it." The guard pulled Len by his arm. "You're coming with me." "Len!" shouted a girl. It was Okila, a delicate teenager, the same age as Len, with light-brown skin, green eyes, and jet-black hair tied in a neat bun. She pushed through the crowd, waving a piece of paper and saying: "You left your passport at the dojo!" Len relaxed, staring at the ground. "Thank you." "Let me see that" said the guard. Okila handed him the passport, smiling. The guard scanned it with his eyes, sighed, and handed it back to Len. "You're free to go." He faced the crowd. "This isn't a show, people. Move along!" He frowned at Len. "Scram, kid. Before I change my mind." Len nodded quickly and left as fast as he could. "You need to be more mindful" said Okila, walking next to him. "You got lucky this time. If I hadn't noticed the crowd, you'd probably be in jail right now." "R-right. Sorry." Okila rolled her eyes. "And stop being so apologetic. If you'd been more confident, the guard wouldn't have picked on you." "It wasn't on purpose, okay?" Len pulled out his notebook and focused on his drawing again. "I just forgot." "You never forget your notebook, though." "Because it's important." "And your passport isn't?" "Okila, what do you want from me? I promise I'll make an effort to be less forgetful. Happy?" "Barely. What are you even doing here? I thought you were heading back to the lower ring." "I'm just taking a small detour before leaving." "Really? Where?" "To the Jasmine Dragon." "Ohhh I love it there! Strange. You never struck me as a 'tea-guy'." "Your intuition was correct, tea's just overpriced, boiled water with little to no flavor. I just need to see the view from there again. I've been trying to draw it, but I keep messing it up." Okila frowned. "I'm gonna ignore your comment about tea." She perked up. "Can you show me what you've drawn so far?" "I... I'd rather not." "What? Why?" "It's a messy work in progress. Too embarrassing." "So this is how you repay me for saving your butt..." Okila crossed her arms, raising her chin with indignation. "I should've just let you get jailed." "N-no! It's not that..." Okila pouted. "Fine." Len flipped around his notebook, showing Okila his drawing. "Here." Okila widened her eyes. "This is amazing Len!" Len sighed. "It isn't." "Yes it is!" "You only think that way because you don't know much about drawing. I can't outline the city correctly, it's too... pointy, and don't even get me started on the shadows. Ugh. I hate it." "You're wrong, Len. But I guess that's your problem, not mine." They both fell silent as they continued walking. Len stared at his notebook, but every other minute peeked at Okila with the corner of his eye. Why was she still with him? He wanted to be alone. People drained him, specially those loud and energetic like Okila. But he couldn't just tell her to leave. She'd probably feel offended. And after she'd helped him out, it'd be very ungrateful on his part to do so. Still, it felt weird to hang out with her outside of the dojo. Okila was his Earthbending classmate and granddaughter of their master, Hasho Beifong. He'd in big trouble if he hurt Okila's feelings. The longer they were quiet, the more awkward Len felt. Was he supposed to say something? No, he'd just make the situation worse if he opened his mouth. Like always. Soon enough, they reached two separate, broad stone steps that lead up to the store. A weird guy near the bottom of the staircase sold cabbages with an enthusiastic disposition. He seemed awfully defensive of his produce though, often glaring at anyone who walked too close his cart without his permission. Strange. At the top of the stairs, a neatly paved patio stood in front of the tea shop. It had a large, rectangular fountain with a statue in the center and wooden benches that faced towards the panoramic view over the city, which extended for miles into the horizon. The city walls weren't even visible from this distance! "You stay here," said Okila, "I'm gonna go get us a table." "What? Okila, I can't-" "Don't worry." Oklia smiled, tilting her head a bit. "It's my treat." "But-" "No buts! As friend and classmate, it is my duty to educate you on the beauty of tea. I simply can't associate with someone who doesn't appreciate it." "Fine..." Okila nodded and went into the store. Len then turned towards the city, leaned over the railing, and brought out his notebook. The colorful sunset tinted the view orange, shimmering brightly on the many skyscrapers built of metal. Most of the upper and middle ring was full of buildings like that, but the lower district was still mostly constructed of stone. Len frowned. Of course the drawing was garbage. He'd been drawing a street that didn't exist! And the spires atop the skyscrapers were triangular at the top, but not as pointy as he made them. More importantly, Len managed to spot which shadows he'd gotten wrong, which was... most of them. He'd have to start from scratch again, but at least he knew how to approach it now. "Len!" said Okila from across the patio. "Our tea's ready!" "Be there in a sec'!" Len took one last look at the city and went inside. ------ ------ Continued in a comment below.
	[WP] As it turns out, the Avatar is still being reborn to this day. Unfortunately, if the government finds the Avatar, they’re killed before they liberate society. The handful of Benders left are few and far between. And you, an introverted Earthbender, just froze the liquid in your cup of tea.	Her morning tea was one of the few things that helped her get through the day. The hectic, meeting filled, stress-inducing day. The aroma from the tea was almost as relaxing as drinking it. Except for the part where tea time always coincided with briefing time. A few quick wraps at the door announced the presence of her assistant. "Enter." she called out between sips. "Good morning, General!" her chipper assistant entered with a stack of papers. "How are we this morning?" "Fine fine, what's on the agenda for the day, lieutenant?" "Well there is a briefing in thirty minutes with the other generals about the search for the avatar. They believe they have some leads, but they want everyone's input before proceeding." "Very well. Next?" another sip of tea. The steaming cup was making this more bearable. The lieutenant flipped through the pages on top of his stack. "At fourteen-hundred hours you have to talk to the troops from battalion B. They had a run-in with a band of wild fire benders last week and the Capitan wanted you to show them defense against fire benders. And also to practice offensives with them." A smile came across her face."It's been forever since I've been able to practice firebending with permission. This'll be quite the treat!" The lieutenant smiled. "Very good, ma'am. And one last bit of business..." his voice trailed off. That couldn't be good. "You're ex-husband wants to meet with you today." A shiver went down her spine. But took over her whole body for a moment. The cup of tea that was warming her hands so nicely was now freezing cold. That was odd. She looked down as the last wisp of steam escaped off the top and the cop was now a solid block of ice. Her eyes went wide. Firebending didn't do that.. "Major?" he asked. Taking a step closer. "Are you... Okay?" his jaw went slack. "Is that ice?" She set the cup down and pushed it to the side of her cluttered desk. "This doesn't leave this room. Do you understand? Not a word, and that is an order." The lieutenant just blinked a few times. Seemingly not comprehending what was unfolding before his eyes. "You're the.. Wait but.. Umm. Yes ma'am." The major leaning back in her chair and covered her eyes with her hands. "Is there anything else for today?" "No, that's all for today. But you have to go to that meeting soon. You know, about finding the avatar." he frowned as he realized how ironic that was. She peeped at him from between her fingers. "This is going to be one hell of a day isn't it." "Yes, avatar." he nodded and turned to leave. She groaned and let her head fall to her desk. Frozen tea to start the day. What an omen.	Len sketched on his notebook, oblivious to the world around him as he wandered through the busy streets. He couldn't seem to get the shadows right. Ba Sing Se wasn't this... flat. Or jagged. Then again, this was his world. His drawing. If Len wanted Ba Sing Se to look like this in his work, he was free to leave it that way. It was the whole point of making art. The creative license to do whatever he wanted. Len frowned. That still wasn't an excuse for shoddy craftsmanship. He didn't need recreate every detail of the view; he just needed to evoke the same feelings he felt when he first saw it, which he was currently failing at with every draft. Len crashed into something hard. A large, burly guard loomed over him, frowning. "Watch where you're going." Len looked away. "S-sorry." "Look at me when you apologize." The guard grabbed Len's head, turned it, and made eye-contact with him. "You just assaulted an officer, kid. Sorry isn't going to cut it. I need... reparations for the armor you just scratched." "N-no, I... I... I..." The guard arched an eyebrow. "Those clothes..." He spat. "Of course. You don't belong to the upper ring." "I... I have permission!" The guard slapped Len. "Know your place, urchin. You don't get to shout at your betters. Now show me your passport!" Len reached for his pocket, tensing his shoulders and widening his eyes. It was empty. He checked his other pocket. Nothing in it either. The guard furrowed his brow. Len started sweating. Where was it? A crowd began to gather around them. Some sneered at Len, others scowled and murmured among themselves. The guard grew more impatient every second. He wouldn't hear Len out or check his story. Heck, if he found out Len was in the upper ring for his Earthbending lessons, he might get into even more trouble. Benders were hated by everyone. Len never understood why, though. It had been this way long before he was born. The fact that he lived in the lower ring only made things worse. He wouldn't get fair treatment. He was the one thing society hated more than a bender, he was a poor bender. No other choice. No one would help him. Len needed to run away. Except he couldn't. His knees were weak and frozen. The guard's increasingly furious glare intimidated Len too much. "That's it." The guard pulled Len by his arm. "You're coming with me." "Len!" shouted a girl. It was Okila, a delicate teenager, the same age as Len, with light-brown skin, green eyes, and jet-black hair tied in a neat bun. She pushed through the crowd, waving a piece of paper and saying: "You left your passport at the dojo!" Len relaxed, staring at the ground. "Thank you." "Let me see that" said the guard. Okila handed him the passport, smiling. The guard scanned it with his eyes, sighed, and handed it back to Len. "You're free to go." He faced the crowd. "This isn't a show, people. Move along!" He frowned at Len. "Scram, kid. Before I change my mind." Len nodded quickly and left as fast as he could. "You need to be more mindful" said Okila, walking next to him. "You got lucky this time. If I hadn't noticed the crowd, you'd probably be in jail right now." "R-right. Sorry." Okila rolled her eyes. "And stop being so apologetic. If you'd been more confident, the guard wouldn't have picked on you." "It wasn't on purpose, okay?" Len pulled out his notebook and focused on his drawing again. "I just forgot." "You never forget your notebook, though." "Because it's important." "And your passport isn't?" "Okila, what do you want from me? I promise I'll make an effort to be less forgetful. Happy?" "Barely. What are you even doing here? I thought you were heading back to the lower ring." "I'm just taking a small detour before leaving." "Really? Where?" "To the Jasmine Dragon." "Ohhh I love it there! Strange. You never struck me as a 'tea-guy'." "Your intuition was correct, tea's just overpriced, boiled water with little to no flavor. I just need to see the view from there again. I've been trying to draw it, but I keep messing it up." Okila frowned. "I'm gonna ignore your comment about tea." She perked up. "Can you show me what you've drawn so far?" "I... I'd rather not." "What? Why?" "It's a messy work in progress. Too embarrassing." "So this is how you repay me for saving your butt..." Okila crossed her arms, raising her chin with indignation. "I should've just let you get jailed." "N-no! It's not that..." Okila pouted. "Fine." Len flipped around his notebook, showing Okila his drawing. "Here." Okila widened her eyes. "This is amazing Len!" Len sighed. "It isn't." "Yes it is!" "You only think that way because you don't know much about drawing. I can't outline the city correctly, it's too... pointy, and don't even get me started on the shadows. Ugh. I hate it." "You're wrong, Len. But I guess that's your problem, not mine." They both fell silent as they continued walking. Len stared at his notebook, but every other minute peeked at Okila with the corner of his eye. Why was she still with him? He wanted to be alone. People drained him, specially those loud and energetic like Okila. But he couldn't just tell her to leave. She'd probably feel offended. And after she'd helped him out, it'd be very ungrateful on his part to do so. Still, it felt weird to hang out with her outside of the dojo. Okila was his Earthbending classmate and granddaughter of their master, Hasho Beifong. He'd in big trouble if he hurt Okila's feelings. The longer they were quiet, the more awkward Len felt. Was he supposed to say something? No, he'd just make the situation worse if he opened his mouth. Like always. Soon enough, they reached two separate, broad stone steps that lead up to the store. A weird guy near the bottom of the staircase sold cabbages with an enthusiastic disposition. He seemed awfully defensive of his produce though, often glaring at anyone who walked too close his cart without his permission. Strange. At the top of the stairs, a neatly paved patio stood in front of the tea shop. It had a large, rectangular fountain with a statue in the center and wooden benches that faced towards the panoramic view over the city, which extended for miles into the horizon. The city walls weren't even visible from this distance! "You stay here," said Okila, "I'm gonna go get us a table." "What? Okila, I can't-" "Don't worry." Oklia smiled, tilting her head a bit. "It's my treat." "But-" "No buts! As friend and classmate, it is my duty to educate you on the beauty of tea. I simply can't associate with someone who doesn't appreciate it." "Fine..." Okila nodded and went into the store. Len then turned towards the city, leaned over the railing, and brought out his notebook. The colorful sunset tinted the view orange, shimmering brightly on the many skyscrapers built of metal. Most of the upper and middle ring was full of buildings like that, but the lower district was still mostly constructed of stone. Len frowned. Of course the drawing was garbage. He'd been drawing a street that didn't exist! And the spires atop the skyscrapers were triangular at the top, but not as pointy as he made them. More importantly, Len managed to spot which shadows he'd gotten wrong, which was... most of them. He'd have to start from scratch again, but at least he knew how to approach it now. "Len!" said Okila from across the patio. "Our tea's ready!" "Be there in a sec'!" Len took one last look at the city and went inside. ------ ------ Continued in a comment below.
	[WP] As it turns out, the Avatar is still being reborn to this day. Unfortunately, if the government finds the Avatar, they’re killed before they liberate society. The handful of Benders left are few and far between. And you, an introverted Earthbender, just froze the liquid in your cup of tea.	"Bender rights have been in focus this week as Senate votes to pass EARTH1, a bill that would positively define the way benders are treated in society for the first time since the last Blue Moon-" bang You startle out of your zoned observation of the news, dropping your fork. As if it were a helpful golden retriever, the dirt rises from the small basin from the corner of the room and pushes the metal handle back to you, dwindling as if waiting for a confirmation of a job well done. You don't notice, as you turn to your roommate who is still cursing as he recovers from where he ran hip first into the counter. "You believe this shit? All of this EARTH1 coverage has the 'pro bender' bleeding heart Tumblrinas going nuts- fucking idiots haven't even looked past the pretty title and realized the god awfulness of the mandatory Registration-" he pauses and shoots a quick jet of flame underneath the kettle, igniting the gas stove- "and during all this, all speculations of the appearance of the Avatar are hushed quicker than a poor fucker who posted the wrong content on Reddit." You snort softly. "I don't know, maybe this will be a good thing," you pause, noticing the way his shoulders tense, but press on, "I wouldn't mind having to register myself if it means I can finally use my bending in public, to do some good finally, you know?" You try not to be hurt as your roommate turns, his face twisted in derision. "So. What you're saying is that you'd rather be a collared fucking animal, a mark on your back just so you can go out there, and I don't know, rescue someone's cat from a tree or some shit?" Before you can get a word in, he collects his tea and portion of the scrambled eggs and retreats, shaking his head vigorously, sparks flying off his hair, back into his room. Looking at the angrily closed door, you internally sigh. It was a lucky day, the day you found out that your first roommate out of college was a Bender. Some days you felt lucky, that your elements were more or less compatible, and that you had a space to practice and commune with the earth. Other days, you just down right hated his fiery ass. And still others you wonder how your small, very wood-filled flat was not a pile of burnt rubble. "Well Sharon, thanks for the update. We will continue to keep you all posted as more new information arrives! Here's Greg with your 7:30am traffic forecas-" 7:30 am oh fuck me You gather your computer and jacket, with the ever helpful dirt mound pushing keys and were those breath mints? Into your pocket. In your rush you pause to look down at the now small bump of earth- "For the last time I'm not asking Jordan out today or ever, stop pushing the damn mints on me." It ripples slightly, and you feel a little ridiculous as you're essentially trying to convince yourself. The headache from the moment you turned the TV on this morning builds a little more, and you fumble your way grumpily out the door. - The ride to work was an uneventful one. You filled in a few potholes stealthily, but there wasn't much infrastructure along the route that you had a chance to change. You hated your little cubicle on the 12th floor of the shiny stainless steel office you worked in. So far from the ground, with only a little pot with a single, but happy, but lonely flower inside to keep you company. As you clicked on the the umpteenth spread sheet, you absentmindedly swirled the little flower around. "Hey you! What's with that look grumpy face?" Your head throbs. You turn your chair around and are greeted by the infernally grinning mug that is Linda's face. "Just woke up wrong is all- and it's a Monday too." She lunges forward and presses her sharply manicured nails against your arm- "Well honey, I have just the perfect fix for you! Mark's just gotten home from his trip to Hawaii, and he brought back this absolutely amazing pineapple hibiscus tea; it'll cheer you up in no time!" You trudge reluctantly behind her as she leads you through the maze to the break room, fantasizing the entire time about bulging the ground underneath her so she would trip just a little on her ridiculous 5 inch fire engine red heels. But you're fucking 12 floors off any workable dirt, your traitorous mind murmurs. Your pulled out of your thoughts once again by the smell of the fresh tea. Linda is still going on about some office drama that she's caught up in, but where usually you would have paid some semblance of attention out of sheer boredom, today your eyes are suddenly drawn to the liquid swirling in the cup. It's shiny. Like metal. It's pretty, but you had a distinct feeling that whatever fancy crap Linda has put in had diluted it. Absolutely tainted the otherwise pure and smooth water. Water. Your hand reaches out as if drawn by a string, and you delicately touch the tip of your index in the middle of the gently rippling surface. And you fall. Into an ocean. A swirling typhoon, waves battering your very being. Niagara falls, long before it was ever named, its untamed nature echoing the harmony of the earth, the sun, the air through which the Bison had flown. Wild and eternal and fluid in its memories- it engulfs you. And then It Stops And you return to a break room. A break room who's walls had been an un-tasteful blue. A break room who's walls were now coated in ice. You look down at your hand, and the tea you had submerged your finger in. It was beautiful, the way the ice has spread from inside the cup, to the water cooler, and on to the floor. It would have been more beautiful if fucking Linda hadn't been standing there, her mouth agape. It would have been absolutely stunning if Linda's brother wasn't a part of a task force that specialized in hunting in rogue benders. It would have been amazingly awe inspiringly breath taking if you didn't just realize that you were now a fucking Avatar. As hell began to break loose, you stare forlornly at the garishly decorated mug of sub par tea. It had actually smelled pretty good. If only you had gotten to have a taste before becoming damn fugitive. -FIN-? This will probably be buried af but please let me know what you think! I tried to keep this as neutral as possible so that anyone could relate!	Len sketched on his notebook, oblivious to the world around him as he wandered through the busy streets. He couldn't seem to get the shadows right. Ba Sing Se wasn't this... flat. Or jagged. Then again, this was his world. His drawing. If Len wanted Ba Sing Se to look like this in his work, he was free to leave it that way. It was the whole point of making art. The creative license to do whatever he wanted. Len frowned. That still wasn't an excuse for shoddy craftsmanship. He didn't need recreate every detail of the view; he just needed to evoke the same feelings he felt when he first saw it, which he was currently failing at with every draft. Len crashed into something hard. A large, burly guard loomed over him, frowning. "Watch where you're going." Len looked away. "S-sorry." "Look at me when you apologize." The guard grabbed Len's head, turned it, and made eye-contact with him. "You just assaulted an officer, kid. Sorry isn't going to cut it. I need... reparations for the armor you just scratched." "N-no, I... I... I..." The guard arched an eyebrow. "Those clothes..." He spat. "Of course. You don't belong to the upper ring." "I... I have permission!" The guard slapped Len. "Know your place, urchin. You don't get to shout at your betters. Now show me your passport!" Len reached for his pocket, tensing his shoulders and widening his eyes. It was empty. He checked his other pocket. Nothing in it either. The guard furrowed his brow. Len started sweating. Where was it? A crowd began to gather around them. Some sneered at Len, others scowled and murmured among themselves. The guard grew more impatient every second. He wouldn't hear Len out or check his story. Heck, if he found out Len was in the upper ring for his Earthbending lessons, he might get into even more trouble. Benders were hated by everyone. Len never understood why, though. It had been this way long before he was born. The fact that he lived in the lower ring only made things worse. He wouldn't get fair treatment. He was the one thing society hated more than a bender, he was a poor bender. No other choice. No one would help him. Len needed to run away. Except he couldn't. His knees were weak and frozen. The guard's increasingly furious glare intimidated Len too much. "That's it." The guard pulled Len by his arm. "You're coming with me." "Len!" shouted a girl. It was Okila, a delicate teenager, the same age as Len, with light-brown skin, green eyes, and jet-black hair tied in a neat bun. She pushed through the crowd, waving a piece of paper and saying: "You left your passport at the dojo!" Len relaxed, staring at the ground. "Thank you." "Let me see that" said the guard. Okila handed him the passport, smiling. The guard scanned it with his eyes, sighed, and handed it back to Len. "You're free to go." He faced the crowd. "This isn't a show, people. Move along!" He frowned at Len. "Scram, kid. Before I change my mind." Len nodded quickly and left as fast as he could. "You need to be more mindful" said Okila, walking next to him. "You got lucky this time. If I hadn't noticed the crowd, you'd probably be in jail right now." "R-right. Sorry." Okila rolled her eyes. "And stop being so apologetic. If you'd been more confident, the guard wouldn't have picked on you." "It wasn't on purpose, okay?" Len pulled out his notebook and focused on his drawing again. "I just forgot." "You never forget your notebook, though." "Because it's important." "And your passport isn't?" "Okila, what do you want from me? I promise I'll make an effort to be less forgetful. Happy?" "Barely. What are you even doing here? I thought you were heading back to the lower ring." "I'm just taking a small detour before leaving." "Really? Where?" "To the Jasmine Dragon." "Ohhh I love it there! Strange. You never struck me as a 'tea-guy'." "Your intuition was correct, tea's just overpriced, boiled water with little to no flavor. I just need to see the view from there again. I've been trying to draw it, but I keep messing it up." Okila frowned. "I'm gonna ignore your comment about tea." She perked up. "Can you show me what you've drawn so far?" "I... I'd rather not." "What? Why?" "It's a messy work in progress. Too embarrassing." "So this is how you repay me for saving your butt..." Okila crossed her arms, raising her chin with indignation. "I should've just let you get jailed." "N-no! It's not that..." Okila pouted. "Fine." Len flipped around his notebook, showing Okila his drawing. "Here." Okila widened her eyes. "This is amazing Len!" Len sighed. "It isn't." "Yes it is!" "You only think that way because you don't know much about drawing. I can't outline the city correctly, it's too... pointy, and don't even get me started on the shadows. Ugh. I hate it." "You're wrong, Len. But I guess that's your problem, not mine." They both fell silent as they continued walking. Len stared at his notebook, but every other minute peeked at Okila with the corner of his eye. Why was she still with him? He wanted to be alone. People drained him, specially those loud and energetic like Okila. But he couldn't just tell her to leave. She'd probably feel offended. And after she'd helped him out, it'd be very ungrateful on his part to do so. Still, it felt weird to hang out with her outside of the dojo. Okila was his Earthbending classmate and granddaughter of their master, Hasho Beifong. He'd in big trouble if he hurt Okila's feelings. The longer they were quiet, the more awkward Len felt. Was he supposed to say something? No, he'd just make the situation worse if he opened his mouth. Like always. Soon enough, they reached two separate, broad stone steps that lead up to the store. A weird guy near the bottom of the staircase sold cabbages with an enthusiastic disposition. He seemed awfully defensive of his produce though, often glaring at anyone who walked too close his cart without his permission. Strange. At the top of the stairs, a neatly paved patio stood in front of the tea shop. It had a large, rectangular fountain with a statue in the center and wooden benches that faced towards the panoramic view over the city, which extended for miles into the horizon. The city walls weren't even visible from this distance! "You stay here," said Okila, "I'm gonna go get us a table." "What? Okila, I can't-" "Don't worry." Oklia smiled, tilting her head a bit. "It's my treat." "But-" "No buts! As friend and classmate, it is my duty to educate you on the beauty of tea. I simply can't associate with someone who doesn't appreciate it." "Fine..." Okila nodded and went into the store. Len then turned towards the city, leaned over the railing, and brought out his notebook. The colorful sunset tinted the view orange, shimmering brightly on the many skyscrapers built of metal. Most of the upper and middle ring was full of buildings like that, but the lower district was still mostly constructed of stone. Len frowned. Of course the drawing was garbage. He'd been drawing a street that didn't exist! And the spires atop the skyscrapers were triangular at the top, but not as pointy as he made them. More importantly, Len managed to spot which shadows he'd gotten wrong, which was... most of them. He'd have to start from scratch again, but at least he knew how to approach it now. "Len!" said Okila from across the patio. "Our tea's ready!" "Be there in a sec'!" Len took one last look at the city and went inside. ------ ------ Continued in a comment below.
	[WP] As it turns out, the Avatar is still being reborn to this day. Unfortunately, if the government finds the Avatar, they’re killed before they liberate society. The handful of Benders left are few and far between. And you, an introverted Earthbender, just froze the liquid in your cup of tea.	I laughed, holding the cup upside-down. My three-year old self was not aware of what this meant. For me, it was just another trick, just as natural as bending rocks or dirt. I looked up to my mother, smiling- Just to find her staring at the cup. As the cup froze, she froze as well. The good-hearted, cheerful young woman's face was almost as pale as the big marble table we where seated at for breakfast. I had never seen her like this, and I realized I had done something wrong. My smile vanished. Confused and scared, I turned my head to look at my father, just as he dropped his cup. It fell almost as if in slow-motion, and it shattered into thousand pieces on the hard table's surface. But no one even seemed to notice. "Ragin..." Mother had almost no voice. She stared at him. But my father did not say a word, he just brushed tea off his uniform with the back of his hand, then pushed the chair back. "Ragin!" Her voice sounded fierce all of the sudden. My father stood up and grabbed me by my wrist, pulling me to my feet. I cried, more out of fear than out of pain. He took my to my room, shoving me inside. "You- You stay in your room, do you understand?" I nodded and watched him close the door. I just stood there. I did not know what to do. I heard them fight as I stared at my bedroom's door, but they where much louder then usual. While I could usually hear his loud voice, it sounded muffled. It was my mother who was screaming at the top of her lungs, and I could hear every word as I pressed my ear to the door. "You can't possibly... He's our son!" I heard her slap him, and the sound of what must had been his vPhone dropping onto the floor. What followed, I only remember very vaguely. But I never had witnessed such powerful earth-bending to this day. The building was shaking, and my father was screaming in pain. Half of the building was just - gone. My mother hugged me, and I could feel her wet tears against my cheek. Then We ran. We ran to this day. I... I can not express the grief I feel now. She not only saved me, but the revolution would not have been possible without her. She fought. She negotiated. And she tough me everything I know. Far more than just earth-bending. She died far too young. I just wish we could have put her to rest in her home-town, but it is still a long way to peace.	Len sketched on his notebook, oblivious to the world around him as he wandered through the busy streets. He couldn't seem to get the shadows right. Ba Sing Se wasn't this... flat. Or jagged. Then again, this was his world. His drawing. If Len wanted Ba Sing Se to look like this in his work, he was free to leave it that way. It was the whole point of making art. The creative license to do whatever he wanted. Len frowned. That still wasn't an excuse for shoddy craftsmanship. He didn't need recreate every detail of the view; he just needed to evoke the same feelings he felt when he first saw it, which he was currently failing at with every draft. Len crashed into something hard. A large, burly guard loomed over him, frowning. "Watch where you're going." Len looked away. "S-sorry." "Look at me when you apologize." The guard grabbed Len's head, turned it, and made eye-contact with him. "You just assaulted an officer, kid. Sorry isn't going to cut it. I need... reparations for the armor you just scratched." "N-no, I... I... I..." The guard arched an eyebrow. "Those clothes..." He spat. "Of course. You don't belong to the upper ring." "I... I have permission!" The guard slapped Len. "Know your place, urchin. You don't get to shout at your betters. Now show me your passport!" Len reached for his pocket, tensing his shoulders and widening his eyes. It was empty. He checked his other pocket. Nothing in it either. The guard furrowed his brow. Len started sweating. Where was it? A crowd began to gather around them. Some sneered at Len, others scowled and murmured among themselves. The guard grew more impatient every second. He wouldn't hear Len out or check his story. Heck, if he found out Len was in the upper ring for his Earthbending lessons, he might get into even more trouble. Benders were hated by everyone. Len never understood why, though. It had been this way long before he was born. The fact that he lived in the lower ring only made things worse. He wouldn't get fair treatment. He was the one thing society hated more than a bender, he was a poor bender. No other choice. No one would help him. Len needed to run away. Except he couldn't. His knees were weak and frozen. The guard's increasingly furious glare intimidated Len too much. "That's it." The guard pulled Len by his arm. "You're coming with me." "Len!" shouted a girl. It was Okila, a delicate teenager, the same age as Len, with light-brown skin, green eyes, and jet-black hair tied in a neat bun. She pushed through the crowd, waving a piece of paper and saying: "You left your passport at the dojo!" Len relaxed, staring at the ground. "Thank you." "Let me see that" said the guard. Okila handed him the passport, smiling. The guard scanned it with his eyes, sighed, and handed it back to Len. "You're free to go." He faced the crowd. "This isn't a show, people. Move along!" He frowned at Len. "Scram, kid. Before I change my mind." Len nodded quickly and left as fast as he could. "You need to be more mindful" said Okila, walking next to him. "You got lucky this time. If I hadn't noticed the crowd, you'd probably be in jail right now." "R-right. Sorry." Okila rolled her eyes. "And stop being so apologetic. If you'd been more confident, the guard wouldn't have picked on you." "It wasn't on purpose, okay?" Len pulled out his notebook and focused on his drawing again. "I just forgot." "You never forget your notebook, though." "Because it's important." "And your passport isn't?" "Okila, what do you want from me? I promise I'll make an effort to be less forgetful. Happy?" "Barely. What are you even doing here? I thought you were heading back to the lower ring." "I'm just taking a small detour before leaving." "Really? Where?" "To the Jasmine Dragon." "Ohhh I love it there! Strange. You never struck me as a 'tea-guy'." "Your intuition was correct, tea's just overpriced, boiled water with little to no flavor. I just need to see the view from there again. I've been trying to draw it, but I keep messing it up." Okila frowned. "I'm gonna ignore your comment about tea." She perked up. "Can you show me what you've drawn so far?" "I... I'd rather not." "What? Why?" "It's a messy work in progress. Too embarrassing." "So this is how you repay me for saving your butt..." Okila crossed her arms, raising her chin with indignation. "I should've just let you get jailed." "N-no! It's not that..." Okila pouted. "Fine." Len flipped around his notebook, showing Okila his drawing. "Here." Okila widened her eyes. "This is amazing Len!" Len sighed. "It isn't." "Yes it is!" "You only think that way because you don't know much about drawing. I can't outline the city correctly, it's too... pointy, and don't even get me started on the shadows. Ugh. I hate it." "You're wrong, Len. But I guess that's your problem, not mine." They both fell silent as they continued walking. Len stared at his notebook, but every other minute peeked at Okila with the corner of his eye. Why was she still with him? He wanted to be alone. People drained him, specially those loud and energetic like Okila. But he couldn't just tell her to leave. She'd probably feel offended. And after she'd helped him out, it'd be very ungrateful on his part to do so. Still, it felt weird to hang out with her outside of the dojo. Okila was his Earthbending classmate and granddaughter of their master, Hasho Beifong. He'd in big trouble if he hurt Okila's feelings. The longer they were quiet, the more awkward Len felt. Was he supposed to say something? No, he'd just make the situation worse if he opened his mouth. Like always. Soon enough, they reached two separate, broad stone steps that lead up to the store. A weird guy near the bottom of the staircase sold cabbages with an enthusiastic disposition. He seemed awfully defensive of his produce though, often glaring at anyone who walked too close his cart without his permission. Strange. At the top of the stairs, a neatly paved patio stood in front of the tea shop. It had a large, rectangular fountain with a statue in the center and wooden benches that faced towards the panoramic view over the city, which extended for miles into the horizon. The city walls weren't even visible from this distance! "You stay here," said Okila, "I'm gonna go get us a table." "What? Okila, I can't-" "Don't worry." Oklia smiled, tilting her head a bit. "It's my treat." "But-" "No buts! As friend and classmate, it is my duty to educate you on the beauty of tea. I simply can't associate with someone who doesn't appreciate it." "Fine..." Okila nodded and went into the store. Len then turned towards the city, leaned over the railing, and brought out his notebook. The colorful sunset tinted the view orange, shimmering brightly on the many skyscrapers built of metal. Most of the upper and middle ring was full of buildings like that, but the lower district was still mostly constructed of stone. Len frowned. Of course the drawing was garbage. He'd been drawing a street that didn't exist! And the spires atop the skyscrapers were triangular at the top, but not as pointy as he made them. More importantly, Len managed to spot which shadows he'd gotten wrong, which was... most of them. He'd have to start from scratch again, but at least he knew how to approach it now. "Len!" said Okila from across the patio. "Our tea's ready!" "Be there in a sec'!" Len took one last look at the city and went inside. ------ ------ Continued in a comment below.
	[WP] As it turns out, the Avatar is still being reborn to this day. Unfortunately, if the government finds the Avatar, they’re killed before they liberate society. The handful of Benders left are few and far between. And you, an introverted Earthbender, just froze the liquid in your cup of tea.	Jin sat in the basement of an old warehouse wishing her tea was warmer. Everyone around her looked defeated as yet another raid had taken place in their neighborhood. The officers stormed into homes and rounded up the people to submit them to 'testing'. This time they found an infant who tested positive for waterbending. They stole him away The goal had become to eliminate all benders from society. It started when the surrounding towns and villages of the Earth Kingdom declared their independence from Ba Sing Se. The result of this declaration was a massive civil war that ended in many deaths. In particular, it was the earth benders that were hit hardest with the casualties. They were employed extensively on both sides and by the time the war was over there simply weren't that many left to carry in the ability. As for the airbenders, well there never really have been that many of them since the Hundred Years War; and so many firebenders left the Fire Nation after that War and had children with people from other nations that firebenders simply weren't seen again for generations; water benders have always been a small group and with immigration from the Southern and Northern Water Tribes to The Republic the same thing happened to them as it did the firebenders. Nobody had anticipated that the four nations being so intermingled would result in a dilution of the bending powers. They found that individuals who would have otherwise been capable of bending were now unable because they had bending parents of different elements. Nobody can bend just two elements alone, so they just cancelled each other out. Because of this, it has become very uncommon for someone to have bending capabilities, and the new government in place has taken extensive measures to eliminate the few who can. The logic was much the same as Tarlok's, but far more compelling with so much fewer benders out there. Soon enough the entire council was lead by solely nonbenders. There was no voice for the benders. Returning to the test, though, it was done by exposing the suspected benders to each of the elements and watching what happens. Simply pressing earth against an earth bender like Jin was enough to know what she was capable of. They had a tool that could measure the vibrations of the elements when in proximity to the tested. However minute, they could tell when someone had the ability to bend any of the elements. It was bad enough if they found that they could bend one element, even worse if they found that they could bend more than two. This was assumed, of course. Nobody had encountered an Avatar in 60 years. Stories spread about newborns being found with the abilities of the Avatar and simply disappearing from the hospital in the middle of the night or showing up dead the next morning. Of course, many people wanted to believe that their deceased child was the Avatar, so the story gets tossed around a lot; but there is truth to be told in these tales. Jin was in a basement with other benders watching them practice their ancient and forbidden arts. There were 14 of them, and most were either water and fire benders. There were only two other earth benders on top of Jin. They had a single airbender friend named Tashi but he enjoyed flying his airglider at night too much, and went missing several months ago. Jin held her cup in her hand and stared intently at the tea inside. She could see a layer of dust in it. Probably from all the earthbending, she thought. She looked up at her earthbending kin in the corner practicing rock lunges and thought about the eventual eradication of her people. They were 9 and 17 years old and they both had no parents. Both their parents were earthbending renegades that managed to hide their identities and have children. It was considered a capital offense and their parents died. They spent their lives in hiding with each other's families and we're both very close. She remembered meeting her first earthbender four years ago. He taught her everything she knew. She eventually fell in love with him too, but it would never work out for them. He had been captured and tested positive for earthbending. They sterilized him to prevent him from having children and when he came back he lost much of his will to live. She remembered what he said before he left. "Jin, what's the point?" He had just told her that he was leaving. "You and I can never have children. You need to have children, to carry our legacy as a people. I am no longer good for you. All I can give you now is my earthbending experience, and you already have all of it. I'm sorry about what happened, but I need to go somewhere else to train others in our sacred art." He walked away but she did not pursue him. He already knew how she felt. Jin thought from time to time about having children, but she only wanted them with him. She told him she wasnt have them with anybody else. He could only hope that she would change her mind in the future. He called her selfish for refusing to bear children with another earthbender, but she didn't care. It was her choice. The boy and the girl were summoning earth beneath them with their feet and lunging forward. They would then turn back and lunge in the opposite direction. They repeated this back and forth to get a feel of the earth with their feet. It was an intermediate level skill to be able to bend with your feet and not just your hands, and they were both progressing nicely. Jin's tea was still cold, and the dust was ruining the taste. She made a move to bend the dust from out of her cup and something happened that she did not expect. As she pulled the dust from out her cup the tea itself seemed to cling to the particles. She looked around to see if one of the water benders was messing with her, but they seemed to be occupied elsewhere. She tried harder to remove the particles but every time she did the water held fast to the tiny pieces. She released the particles and lowered her hand. Her hand lowering caused a change in her tea. She felt that familiar pull as her body started to bend. The energy flowed from her hand and outward towards some bendable element. The tea grow dramatically colder and soon tiny fibrils of ice started to form on the surface. Alarmed, she threw her hand back from the cup and bended the tea out of the cup and onto the floor. She screamed. The other benders stopped what they were doing and started to stare. "What are you doing Jin?" A fire bender asked her this. "Is everything okay?" "Ye- yes... I just spilled my tea and it was pretty hot. Sorry." They nodded and she left the room. "I need to go rinse my hands." She walked to the bathroom and stared at herself in the mirror. She then looked down at the sink and at the many water droplets on its surface. She waved her hand over them and acted like she was earth bending. The water droplets started to lift hemselves from the surface and adhere to her hand, moving up her arm. Her eyes widened in terror. She was waterbending	“You want us to capture her?” “We’re playing a game of paracat and meadow vole here, but every time the vole dies it comes back to life and once it escapes we lose. Forever. And, to be perfectly fucking honest, the emotional toll of killing kids and their entire families every few years is starting to catch up with me.” “Well how do you expect us to capture her? Politely ask the parents if we can indoctrinate their daughter into our authoritarian regime? People don’t like us. They fear us. Every few years there’s another small uprising somewhere, and we have to go kill a few hundred more until people are afraid of dying again.” “...Tell me, Freize, have you ever heard of Lake Laogai?” “No, I can’t say that I have.” “Well... back when... he was around, Ba Sing Se-that is, old Ba Sing Se-wasn’t exactly led by the king. It was pretty similar to what we had going, and they had a strange technique to keep their people under wraps. We don’t know a lot about it today, but what we do know is that when people went through this...conditioning...they could have their memories altered, entire years of their life wiped and replaced.” “Wait, is what you’re proposing to me that we actually just make everyone think they love it here with some weird ancient magic? How are we going to get everyone to let this happen to them? Do we even know how to do this? Would it ever-“ “Just wait for me to finish, okay? Then you can complain as much as you want. I don’t think we could, by any means, keep everyone in the world brainwashed like this. I do, however, think if we can do this to the Avatar-“ “How?! How will we do this hoc-“ “I said wait! Man, just wait for me to finish. R&D central was able to synthesize a drug that can do the same job. It’s expensive, it’s difficult, but we have a working sample and that’s all it will take. We kill the family and friends, take the kid, give her the drug, and then she’s on our leash.” “...Well... what do we do after that?” “After that...? After that, we sit back and watch the show.”
	[WP] As it turns out, the Avatar is still being reborn to this day. Unfortunately, if the government finds the Avatar, they’re killed before they liberate society. The handful of Benders left are few and far between. And you, an introverted Earthbender, just froze the liquid in your cup of tea.	Her morning tea was one of the few things that helped her get through the day. The hectic, meeting filled, stress-inducing day. The aroma from the tea was almost as relaxing as drinking it. Except for the part where tea time always coincided with briefing time. A few quick wraps at the door announced the presence of her assistant. "Enter." she called out between sips. "Good morning, General!" her chipper assistant entered with a stack of papers. "How are we this morning?" "Fine fine, what's on the agenda for the day, lieutenant?" "Well there is a briefing in thirty minutes with the other generals about the search for the avatar. They believe they have some leads, but they want everyone's input before proceeding." "Very well. Next?" another sip of tea. The steaming cup was making this more bearable. The lieutenant flipped through the pages on top of his stack. "At fourteen-hundred hours you have to talk to the troops from battalion B. They had a run-in with a band of wild fire benders last week and the Capitan wanted you to show them defense against fire benders. And also to practice offensives with them." A smile came across her face."It's been forever since I've been able to practice firebending with permission. This'll be quite the treat!" The lieutenant smiled. "Very good, ma'am. And one last bit of business..." his voice trailed off. That couldn't be good. "You're ex-husband wants to meet with you today." A shiver went down her spine. But took over her whole body for a moment. The cup of tea that was warming her hands so nicely was now freezing cold. That was odd. She looked down as the last wisp of steam escaped off the top and the cop was now a solid block of ice. Her eyes went wide. Firebending didn't do that.. "Major?" he asked. Taking a step closer. "Are you... Okay?" his jaw went slack. "Is that ice?" She set the cup down and pushed it to the side of her cluttered desk. "This doesn't leave this room. Do you understand? Not a word, and that is an order." The lieutenant just blinked a few times. Seemingly not comprehending what was unfolding before his eyes. "You're the.. Wait but.. Umm. Yes ma'am." The major leaning back in her chair and covered her eyes with her hands. "Is there anything else for today?" "No, that's all for today. But you have to go to that meeting soon. You know, about finding the avatar." he frowned as he realized how ironic that was. She peeped at him from between her fingers. "This is going to be one hell of a day isn't it." "Yes, avatar." he nodded and turned to leave. She groaned and let her head fall to her desk. Frozen tea to start the day. What an omen.	“You want us to capture her?” “We’re playing a game of paracat and meadow vole here, but every time the vole dies it comes back to life and once it escapes we lose. Forever. And, to be perfectly fucking honest, the emotional toll of killing kids and their entire families every few years is starting to catch up with me.” “Well how do you expect us to capture her? Politely ask the parents if we can indoctrinate their daughter into our authoritarian regime? People don’t like us. They fear us. Every few years there’s another small uprising somewhere, and we have to go kill a few hundred more until people are afraid of dying again.” “...Tell me, Freize, have you ever heard of Lake Laogai?” “No, I can’t say that I have.” “Well... back when... he was around, Ba Sing Se-that is, old Ba Sing Se-wasn’t exactly led by the king. It was pretty similar to what we had going, and they had a strange technique to keep their people under wraps. We don’t know a lot about it today, but what we do know is that when people went through this...conditioning...they could have their memories altered, entire years of their life wiped and replaced.” “Wait, is what you’re proposing to me that we actually just make everyone think they love it here with some weird ancient magic? How are we going to get everyone to let this happen to them? Do we even know how to do this? Would it ever-“ “Just wait for me to finish, okay? Then you can complain as much as you want. I don’t think we could, by any means, keep everyone in the world brainwashed like this. I do, however, think if we can do this to the Avatar-“ “How?! How will we do this hoc-“ “I said wait! Man, just wait for me to finish. R&D central was able to synthesize a drug that can do the same job. It’s expensive, it’s difficult, but we have a working sample and that’s all it will take. We kill the family and friends, take the kid, give her the drug, and then she’s on our leash.” “...Well... what do we do after that?” “After that...? After that, we sit back and watch the show.”
	[WP] As it turns out, the Avatar is still being reborn to this day. Unfortunately, if the government finds the Avatar, they’re killed before they liberate society. The handful of Benders left are few and far between. And you, an introverted Earthbender, just froze the liquid in your cup of tea.	"Bender rights have been in focus this week as Senate votes to pass EARTH1, a bill that would positively define the way benders are treated in society for the first time since the last Blue Moon-" bang You startle out of your zoned observation of the news, dropping your fork. As if it were a helpful golden retriever, the dirt rises from the small basin from the corner of the room and pushes the metal handle back to you, dwindling as if waiting for a confirmation of a job well done. You don't notice, as you turn to your roommate who is still cursing as he recovers from where he ran hip first into the counter. "You believe this shit? All of this EARTH1 coverage has the 'pro bender' bleeding heart Tumblrinas going nuts- fucking idiots haven't even looked past the pretty title and realized the god awfulness of the mandatory Registration-" he pauses and shoots a quick jet of flame underneath the kettle, igniting the gas stove- "and during all this, all speculations of the appearance of the Avatar are hushed quicker than a poor fucker who posted the wrong content on Reddit." You snort softly. "I don't know, maybe this will be a good thing," you pause, noticing the way his shoulders tense, but press on, "I wouldn't mind having to register myself if it means I can finally use my bending in public, to do some good finally, you know?" You try not to be hurt as your roommate turns, his face twisted in derision. "So. What you're saying is that you'd rather be a collared fucking animal, a mark on your back just so you can go out there, and I don't know, rescue someone's cat from a tree or some shit?" Before you can get a word in, he collects his tea and portion of the scrambled eggs and retreats, shaking his head vigorously, sparks flying off his hair, back into his room. Looking at the angrily closed door, you internally sigh. It was a lucky day, the day you found out that your first roommate out of college was a Bender. Some days you felt lucky, that your elements were more or less compatible, and that you had a space to practice and commune with the earth. Other days, you just down right hated his fiery ass. And still others you wonder how your small, very wood-filled flat was not a pile of burnt rubble. "Well Sharon, thanks for the update. We will continue to keep you all posted as more new information arrives! Here's Greg with your 7:30am traffic forecas-" 7:30 am oh fuck me You gather your computer and jacket, with the ever helpful dirt mound pushing keys and were those breath mints? Into your pocket. In your rush you pause to look down at the now small bump of earth- "For the last time I'm not asking Jordan out today or ever, stop pushing the damn mints on me." It ripples slightly, and you feel a little ridiculous as you're essentially trying to convince yourself. The headache from the moment you turned the TV on this morning builds a little more, and you fumble your way grumpily out the door. - The ride to work was an uneventful one. You filled in a few potholes stealthily, but there wasn't much infrastructure along the route that you had a chance to change. You hated your little cubicle on the 12th floor of the shiny stainless steel office you worked in. So far from the ground, with only a little pot with a single, but happy, but lonely flower inside to keep you company. As you clicked on the the umpteenth spread sheet, you absentmindedly swirled the little flower around. "Hey you! What's with that look grumpy face?" Your head throbs. You turn your chair around and are greeted by the infernally grinning mug that is Linda's face. "Just woke up wrong is all- and it's a Monday too." She lunges forward and presses her sharply manicured nails against your arm- "Well honey, I have just the perfect fix for you! Mark's just gotten home from his trip to Hawaii, and he brought back this absolutely amazing pineapple hibiscus tea; it'll cheer you up in no time!" You trudge reluctantly behind her as she leads you through the maze to the break room, fantasizing the entire time about bulging the ground underneath her so she would trip just a little on her ridiculous 5 inch fire engine red heels. But you're fucking 12 floors off any workable dirt, your traitorous mind murmurs. Your pulled out of your thoughts once again by the smell of the fresh tea. Linda is still going on about some office drama that she's caught up in, but where usually you would have paid some semblance of attention out of sheer boredom, today your eyes are suddenly drawn to the liquid swirling in the cup. It's shiny. Like metal. It's pretty, but you had a distinct feeling that whatever fancy crap Linda has put in had diluted it. Absolutely tainted the otherwise pure and smooth water. Water. Your hand reaches out as if drawn by a string, and you delicately touch the tip of your index in the middle of the gently rippling surface. And you fall. Into an ocean. A swirling typhoon, waves battering your very being. Niagara falls, long before it was ever named, its untamed nature echoing the harmony of the earth, the sun, the air through which the Bison had flown. Wild and eternal and fluid in its memories- it engulfs you. And then It Stops And you return to a break room. A break room who's walls had been an un-tasteful blue. A break room who's walls were now coated in ice. You look down at your hand, and the tea you had submerged your finger in. It was beautiful, the way the ice has spread from inside the cup, to the water cooler, and on to the floor. It would have been more beautiful if fucking Linda hadn't been standing there, her mouth agape. It would have been absolutely stunning if Linda's brother wasn't a part of a task force that specialized in hunting in rogue benders. It would have been amazingly awe inspiringly breath taking if you didn't just realize that you were now a fucking Avatar. As hell began to break loose, you stare forlornly at the garishly decorated mug of sub par tea. It had actually smelled pretty good. If only you had gotten to have a taste before becoming damn fugitive. -FIN-? This will probably be buried af but please let me know what you think! I tried to keep this as neutral as possible so that anyone could relate!	“You want us to capture her?” “We’re playing a game of paracat and meadow vole here, but every time the vole dies it comes back to life and once it escapes we lose. Forever. And, to be perfectly fucking honest, the emotional toll of killing kids and their entire families every few years is starting to catch up with me.” “Well how do you expect us to capture her? Politely ask the parents if we can indoctrinate their daughter into our authoritarian regime? People don’t like us. They fear us. Every few years there’s another small uprising somewhere, and we have to go kill a few hundred more until people are afraid of dying again.” “...Tell me, Freize, have you ever heard of Lake Laogai?” “No, I can’t say that I have.” “Well... back when... he was around, Ba Sing Se-that is, old Ba Sing Se-wasn’t exactly led by the king. It was pretty similar to what we had going, and they had a strange technique to keep their people under wraps. We don’t know a lot about it today, but what we do know is that when people went through this...conditioning...they could have their memories altered, entire years of their life wiped and replaced.” “Wait, is what you’re proposing to me that we actually just make everyone think they love it here with some weird ancient magic? How are we going to get everyone to let this happen to them? Do we even know how to do this? Would it ever-“ “Just wait for me to finish, okay? Then you can complain as much as you want. I don’t think we could, by any means, keep everyone in the world brainwashed like this. I do, however, think if we can do this to the Avatar-“ “How?! How will we do this hoc-“ “I said wait! Man, just wait for me to finish. R&D central was able to synthesize a drug that can do the same job. It’s expensive, it’s difficult, but we have a working sample and that’s all it will take. We kill the family and friends, take the kid, give her the drug, and then she’s on our leash.” “...Well... what do we do after that?” “After that...? After that, we sit back and watch the show.”
	[WP] As it turns out, the Avatar is still being reborn to this day. Unfortunately, if the government finds the Avatar, they’re killed before they liberate society. The handful of Benders left are few and far between. And you, an introverted Earthbender, just froze the liquid in your cup of tea.	Jin sat in the basement of an old warehouse wishing her tea was warmer. Everyone around her looked defeated as yet another raid had taken place in their neighborhood. The officers stormed into homes and rounded up the people to submit them to 'testing'. This time they found an infant who tested positive for waterbending. They stole him away The goal had become to eliminate all benders from society. It started when the surrounding towns and villages of the Earth Kingdom declared their independence from Ba Sing Se. The result of this declaration was a massive civil war that ended in many deaths. In particular, it was the earth benders that were hit hardest with the casualties. They were employed extensively on both sides and by the time the war was over there simply weren't that many left to carry in the ability. As for the airbenders, well there never really have been that many of them since the Hundred Years War; and so many firebenders left the Fire Nation after that War and had children with people from other nations that firebenders simply weren't seen again for generations; water benders have always been a small group and with immigration from the Southern and Northern Water Tribes to The Republic the same thing happened to them as it did the firebenders. Nobody had anticipated that the four nations being so intermingled would result in a dilution of the bending powers. They found that individuals who would have otherwise been capable of bending were now unable because they had bending parents of different elements. Nobody can bend just two elements alone, so they just cancelled each other out. Because of this, it has become very uncommon for someone to have bending capabilities, and the new government in place has taken extensive measures to eliminate the few who can. The logic was much the same as Tarlok's, but far more compelling with so much fewer benders out there. Soon enough the entire council was lead by solely nonbenders. There was no voice for the benders. Returning to the test, though, it was done by exposing the suspected benders to each of the elements and watching what happens. Simply pressing earth against an earth bender like Jin was enough to know what she was capable of. They had a tool that could measure the vibrations of the elements when in proximity to the tested. However minute, they could tell when someone had the ability to bend any of the elements. It was bad enough if they found that they could bend one element, even worse if they found that they could bend more than two. This was assumed, of course. Nobody had encountered an Avatar in 60 years. Stories spread about newborns being found with the abilities of the Avatar and simply disappearing from the hospital in the middle of the night or showing up dead the next morning. Of course, many people wanted to believe that their deceased child was the Avatar, so the story gets tossed around a lot; but there is truth to be told in these tales. Jin was in a basement with other benders watching them practice their ancient and forbidden arts. There were 14 of them, and most were either water and fire benders. There were only two other earth benders on top of Jin. They had a single airbender friend named Tashi but he enjoyed flying his airglider at night too much, and went missing several months ago. Jin held her cup in her hand and stared intently at the tea inside. She could see a layer of dust in it. Probably from all the earthbending, she thought. She looked up at her earthbending kin in the corner practicing rock lunges and thought about the eventual eradication of her people. They were 9 and 17 years old and they both had no parents. Both their parents were earthbending renegades that managed to hide their identities and have children. It was considered a capital offense and their parents died. They spent their lives in hiding with each other's families and we're both very close. She remembered meeting her first earthbender four years ago. He taught her everything she knew. She eventually fell in love with him too, but it would never work out for them. He had been captured and tested positive for earthbending. They sterilized him to prevent him from having children and when he came back he lost much of his will to live. She remembered what he said before he left. "Jin, what's the point?" He had just told her that he was leaving. "You and I can never have children. You need to have children, to carry our legacy as a people. I am no longer good for you. All I can give you now is my earthbending experience, and you already have all of it. I'm sorry about what happened, but I need to go somewhere else to train others in our sacred art." He walked away but she did not pursue him. He already knew how she felt. Jin thought from time to time about having children, but she only wanted them with him. She told him she wasnt have them with anybody else. He could only hope that she would change her mind in the future. He called her selfish for refusing to bear children with another earthbender, but she didn't care. It was her choice. The boy and the girl were summoning earth beneath them with their feet and lunging forward. They would then turn back and lunge in the opposite direction. They repeated this back and forth to get a feel of the earth with their feet. It was an intermediate level skill to be able to bend with your feet and not just your hands, and they were both progressing nicely. Jin's tea was still cold, and the dust was ruining the taste. She made a move to bend the dust from out of her cup and something happened that she did not expect. As she pulled the dust from out her cup the tea itself seemed to cling to the particles. She looked around to see if one of the water benders was messing with her, but they seemed to be occupied elsewhere. She tried harder to remove the particles but every time she did the water held fast to the tiny pieces. She released the particles and lowered her hand. Her hand lowering caused a change in her tea. She felt that familiar pull as her body started to bend. The energy flowed from her hand and outward towards some bendable element. The tea grow dramatically colder and soon tiny fibrils of ice started to form on the surface. Alarmed, she threw her hand back from the cup and bended the tea out of the cup and onto the floor. She screamed. The other benders stopped what they were doing and started to stare. "What are you doing Jin?" A fire bender asked her this. "Is everything okay?" "Ye- yes... I just spilled my tea and it was pretty hot. Sorry." They nodded and she left the room. "I need to go rinse my hands." She walked to the bathroom and stared at herself in the mirror. She then looked down at the sink and at the many water droplets on its surface. She waved her hand over them and acted like she was earth bending. The water droplets started to lift hemselves from the surface and adhere to her hand, moving up her arm. Her eyes widened in terror. She was waterbending	A chill fell over the room; more of a tingling electrical shock working through every nerve in my arms, rather than a chill from a cold breeze of a door left ajar. A chill I had only felt once before in my life. "Odd," I think to myself. Placing my newspaper on the warm oak of the coffee table I take my first sip of my morning tea, chamomile. Thought the tea inside is steaming, releasing the soft, warming aroma of the brew, the cup feels cool to the touch. I first blame this on my raynaud's, a trait that many of the few benders left seem to have in common and living in Northeast sure didn't help, but the woods that bordered by home gave me a secluded place to help practice my Earthbending. As I pull the cup to my lips, I close my eyes, expecting to feel the warmth of the steam as the aroma overcame my senses and the tea warmed my core. What happened then changed my life. The tea had frozen solid. "This can't be happening!", my mind screams. I walk through the living room, my pace audible through the echo of the hardwood and vaulted ceiling to the kitchen. As I pass the fireplace, I feel no heat from the fire. I raise my hand to the fire, facing my palm directly into the flames. My reflexes pull my hand back, but the fire trails. As I raise both palms to the fire, I close my eyes, take a deep breath, swallowing my fear of what is happening to me and as i open my eyes, the fire roared, scorching the hardwood a few feet away, and setting my robe ablaze. After I extinguish my robe and pour a fresh cup of tea, my mind starts to race. I think back to my parents; they always knew there was something different about me since I was young. I start to hear my father speaking to me, "Remember Jack, power comes from control; once fear sets in, power can take over."My father was one of the last Firebenders in New York before the AB laws passed. The anti-bending society passed legislation that led to the execution of hundreds of benders. They were seen as a danger to society due to their supernatural abilities. Most people feared the benders, but it wasn't unusual to walk into a bar and see a Waterbender mixing drinks. Though, there were some who abused their power. Airbenders who would (quite literally) take your breath away, Waterbenders who would drown people in their own homes, Earthbenders causing massive rock slides, and Firebenders starting massive wildfires wreaking havoc. After the AB laws passed, benders were taken from their homes and places of work, placed in confinement, and were executed. "You are never to tell anyone of your powers, Jack," my father said, a look of worry on his face that in 16 years I had never seen. Minutes later a fleet of SWAT had arrived. Busting down the door, I watched from the stairs as they took my father. In his eyes I saw fear, and in that moment, he lost control. A bright fire burned, engulfing his hands, beyond his control. I watched as the fire spread from the furniture, to the curtains, and to the walls. Suddenly, a stream of water flows into the room, extinguishing the flames. A figure walks into the room. My mother stands silent, submitting herself. "My mother can't be a bender!" I screamed internally. She always seemed to have a distaste to bending, and made my father promise to not use it in the house, but I had no idea she was a bender herself. "Jack, take care of yourself. We're not going to fight this." The last words my mother ever spoke to me. The SWAT team left with my parents and declared me an emancipated minor. All of my parents' assets would be transferred to me and I could do as I wish. I didn't know where I was going to go, but I knew it was going to be somewhere that my powers could never hurt anyone. Little did I know that in my own little slice of heaven tucked away between the pines of a picturesque landscape is where I would become the Avatar.
	[WP] As it turns out, the Avatar is still being reborn to this day. Unfortunately, if the government finds the Avatar, they’re killed before they liberate society. The handful of Benders left are few and far between. And you, an introverted Earthbender, just froze the liquid in your cup of tea.	Her morning tea was one of the few things that helped her get through the day. The hectic, meeting filled, stress-inducing day. The aroma from the tea was almost as relaxing as drinking it. Except for the part where tea time always coincided with briefing time. A few quick wraps at the door announced the presence of her assistant. "Enter." she called out between sips. "Good morning, General!" her chipper assistant entered with a stack of papers. "How are we this morning?" "Fine fine, what's on the agenda for the day, lieutenant?" "Well there is a briefing in thirty minutes with the other generals about the search for the avatar. They believe they have some leads, but they want everyone's input before proceeding." "Very well. Next?" another sip of tea. The steaming cup was making this more bearable. The lieutenant flipped through the pages on top of his stack. "At fourteen-hundred hours you have to talk to the troops from battalion B. They had a run-in with a band of wild fire benders last week and the Capitan wanted you to show them defense against fire benders. And also to practice offensives with them." A smile came across her face."It's been forever since I've been able to practice firebending with permission. This'll be quite the treat!" The lieutenant smiled. "Very good, ma'am. And one last bit of business..." his voice trailed off. That couldn't be good. "You're ex-husband wants to meet with you today." A shiver went down her spine. But took over her whole body for a moment. The cup of tea that was warming her hands so nicely was now freezing cold. That was odd. She looked down as the last wisp of steam escaped off the top and the cop was now a solid block of ice. Her eyes went wide. Firebending didn't do that.. "Major?" he asked. Taking a step closer. "Are you... Okay?" his jaw went slack. "Is that ice?" She set the cup down and pushed it to the side of her cluttered desk. "This doesn't leave this room. Do you understand? Not a word, and that is an order." The lieutenant just blinked a few times. Seemingly not comprehending what was unfolding before his eyes. "You're the.. Wait but.. Umm. Yes ma'am." The major leaning back in her chair and covered her eyes with her hands. "Is there anything else for today?" "No, that's all for today. But you have to go to that meeting soon. You know, about finding the avatar." he frowned as he realized how ironic that was. She peeped at him from between her fingers. "This is going to be one hell of a day isn't it." "Yes, avatar." he nodded and turned to leave. She groaned and let her head fall to her desk. Frozen tea to start the day. What an omen.	A chill fell over the room; more of a tingling electrical shock working through every nerve in my arms, rather than a chill from a cold breeze of a door left ajar. A chill I had only felt once before in my life. "Odd," I think to myself. Placing my newspaper on the warm oak of the coffee table I take my first sip of my morning tea, chamomile. Thought the tea inside is steaming, releasing the soft, warming aroma of the brew, the cup feels cool to the touch. I first blame this on my raynaud's, a trait that many of the few benders left seem to have in common and living in Northeast sure didn't help, but the woods that bordered by home gave me a secluded place to help practice my Earthbending. As I pull the cup to my lips, I close my eyes, expecting to feel the warmth of the steam as the aroma overcame my senses and the tea warmed my core. What happened then changed my life. The tea had frozen solid. "This can't be happening!", my mind screams. I walk through the living room, my pace audible through the echo of the hardwood and vaulted ceiling to the kitchen. As I pass the fireplace, I feel no heat from the fire. I raise my hand to the fire, facing my palm directly into the flames. My reflexes pull my hand back, but the fire trails. As I raise both palms to the fire, I close my eyes, take a deep breath, swallowing my fear of what is happening to me and as i open my eyes, the fire roared, scorching the hardwood a few feet away, and setting my robe ablaze. After I extinguish my robe and pour a fresh cup of tea, my mind starts to race. I think back to my parents; they always knew there was something different about me since I was young. I start to hear my father speaking to me, "Remember Jack, power comes from control; once fear sets in, power can take over."My father was one of the last Firebenders in New York before the AB laws passed. The anti-bending society passed legislation that led to the execution of hundreds of benders. They were seen as a danger to society due to their supernatural abilities. Most people feared the benders, but it wasn't unusual to walk into a bar and see a Waterbender mixing drinks. Though, there were some who abused their power. Airbenders who would (quite literally) take your breath away, Waterbenders who would drown people in their own homes, Earthbenders causing massive rock slides, and Firebenders starting massive wildfires wreaking havoc. After the AB laws passed, benders were taken from their homes and places of work, placed in confinement, and were executed. "You are never to tell anyone of your powers, Jack," my father said, a look of worry on his face that in 16 years I had never seen. Minutes later a fleet of SWAT had arrived. Busting down the door, I watched from the stairs as they took my father. In his eyes I saw fear, and in that moment, he lost control. A bright fire burned, engulfing his hands, beyond his control. I watched as the fire spread from the furniture, to the curtains, and to the walls. Suddenly, a stream of water flows into the room, extinguishing the flames. A figure walks into the room. My mother stands silent, submitting herself. "My mother can't be a bender!" I screamed internally. She always seemed to have a distaste to bending, and made my father promise to not use it in the house, but I had no idea she was a bender herself. "Jack, take care of yourself. We're not going to fight this." The last words my mother ever spoke to me. The SWAT team left with my parents and declared me an emancipated minor. All of my parents' assets would be transferred to me and I could do as I wish. I didn't know where I was going to go, but I knew it was going to be somewhere that my powers could never hurt anyone. Little did I know that in my own little slice of heaven tucked away between the pines of a picturesque landscape is where I would become the Avatar.
	[WP] As it turns out, the Avatar is still being reborn to this day. Unfortunately, if the government finds the Avatar, they’re killed before they liberate society. The handful of Benders left are few and far between. And you, an introverted Earthbender, just froze the liquid in your cup of tea.	"Bender rights have been in focus this week as Senate votes to pass EARTH1, a bill that would positively define the way benders are treated in society for the first time since the last Blue Moon-" bang You startle out of your zoned observation of the news, dropping your fork. As if it were a helpful golden retriever, the dirt rises from the small basin from the corner of the room and pushes the metal handle back to you, dwindling as if waiting for a confirmation of a job well done. You don't notice, as you turn to your roommate who is still cursing as he recovers from where he ran hip first into the counter. "You believe this shit? All of this EARTH1 coverage has the 'pro bender' bleeding heart Tumblrinas going nuts- fucking idiots haven't even looked past the pretty title and realized the god awfulness of the mandatory Registration-" he pauses and shoots a quick jet of flame underneath the kettle, igniting the gas stove- "and during all this, all speculations of the appearance of the Avatar are hushed quicker than a poor fucker who posted the wrong content on Reddit." You snort softly. "I don't know, maybe this will be a good thing," you pause, noticing the way his shoulders tense, but press on, "I wouldn't mind having to register myself if it means I can finally use my bending in public, to do some good finally, you know?" You try not to be hurt as your roommate turns, his face twisted in derision. "So. What you're saying is that you'd rather be a collared fucking animal, a mark on your back just so you can go out there, and I don't know, rescue someone's cat from a tree or some shit?" Before you can get a word in, he collects his tea and portion of the scrambled eggs and retreats, shaking his head vigorously, sparks flying off his hair, back into his room. Looking at the angrily closed door, you internally sigh. It was a lucky day, the day you found out that your first roommate out of college was a Bender. Some days you felt lucky, that your elements were more or less compatible, and that you had a space to practice and commune with the earth. Other days, you just down right hated his fiery ass. And still others you wonder how your small, very wood-filled flat was not a pile of burnt rubble. "Well Sharon, thanks for the update. We will continue to keep you all posted as more new information arrives! Here's Greg with your 7:30am traffic forecas-" 7:30 am oh fuck me You gather your computer and jacket, with the ever helpful dirt mound pushing keys and were those breath mints? Into your pocket. In your rush you pause to look down at the now small bump of earth- "For the last time I'm not asking Jordan out today or ever, stop pushing the damn mints on me." It ripples slightly, and you feel a little ridiculous as you're essentially trying to convince yourself. The headache from the moment you turned the TV on this morning builds a little more, and you fumble your way grumpily out the door. - The ride to work was an uneventful one. You filled in a few potholes stealthily, but there wasn't much infrastructure along the route that you had a chance to change. You hated your little cubicle on the 12th floor of the shiny stainless steel office you worked in. So far from the ground, with only a little pot with a single, but happy, but lonely flower inside to keep you company. As you clicked on the the umpteenth spread sheet, you absentmindedly swirled the little flower around. "Hey you! What's with that look grumpy face?" Your head throbs. You turn your chair around and are greeted by the infernally grinning mug that is Linda's face. "Just woke up wrong is all- and it's a Monday too." She lunges forward and presses her sharply manicured nails against your arm- "Well honey, I have just the perfect fix for you! Mark's just gotten home from his trip to Hawaii, and he brought back this absolutely amazing pineapple hibiscus tea; it'll cheer you up in no time!" You trudge reluctantly behind her as she leads you through the maze to the break room, fantasizing the entire time about bulging the ground underneath her so she would trip just a little on her ridiculous 5 inch fire engine red heels. But you're fucking 12 floors off any workable dirt, your traitorous mind murmurs. Your pulled out of your thoughts once again by the smell of the fresh tea. Linda is still going on about some office drama that she's caught up in, but where usually you would have paid some semblance of attention out of sheer boredom, today your eyes are suddenly drawn to the liquid swirling in the cup. It's shiny. Like metal. It's pretty, but you had a distinct feeling that whatever fancy crap Linda has put in had diluted it. Absolutely tainted the otherwise pure and smooth water. Water. Your hand reaches out as if drawn by a string, and you delicately touch the tip of your index in the middle of the gently rippling surface. And you fall. Into an ocean. A swirling typhoon, waves battering your very being. Niagara falls, long before it was ever named, its untamed nature echoing the harmony of the earth, the sun, the air through which the Bison had flown. Wild and eternal and fluid in its memories- it engulfs you. And then It Stops And you return to a break room. A break room who's walls had been an un-tasteful blue. A break room who's walls were now coated in ice. You look down at your hand, and the tea you had submerged your finger in. It was beautiful, the way the ice has spread from inside the cup, to the water cooler, and on to the floor. It would have been more beautiful if fucking Linda hadn't been standing there, her mouth agape. It would have been absolutely stunning if Linda's brother wasn't a part of a task force that specialized in hunting in rogue benders. It would have been amazingly awe inspiringly breath taking if you didn't just realize that you were now a fucking Avatar. As hell began to break loose, you stare forlornly at the garishly decorated mug of sub par tea. It had actually smelled pretty good. If only you had gotten to have a taste before becoming damn fugitive. -FIN-? This will probably be buried af but please let me know what you think! I tried to keep this as neutral as possible so that anyone could relate!	A chill fell over the room; more of a tingling electrical shock working through every nerve in my arms, rather than a chill from a cold breeze of a door left ajar. A chill I had only felt once before in my life. "Odd," I think to myself. Placing my newspaper on the warm oak of the coffee table I take my first sip of my morning tea, chamomile. Thought the tea inside is steaming, releasing the soft, warming aroma of the brew, the cup feels cool to the touch. I first blame this on my raynaud's, a trait that many of the few benders left seem to have in common and living in Northeast sure didn't help, but the woods that bordered by home gave me a secluded place to help practice my Earthbending. As I pull the cup to my lips, I close my eyes, expecting to feel the warmth of the steam as the aroma overcame my senses and the tea warmed my core. What happened then changed my life. The tea had frozen solid. "This can't be happening!", my mind screams. I walk through the living room, my pace audible through the echo of the hardwood and vaulted ceiling to the kitchen. As I pass the fireplace, I feel no heat from the fire. I raise my hand to the fire, facing my palm directly into the flames. My reflexes pull my hand back, but the fire trails. As I raise both palms to the fire, I close my eyes, take a deep breath, swallowing my fear of what is happening to me and as i open my eyes, the fire roared, scorching the hardwood a few feet away, and setting my robe ablaze. After I extinguish my robe and pour a fresh cup of tea, my mind starts to race. I think back to my parents; they always knew there was something different about me since I was young. I start to hear my father speaking to me, "Remember Jack, power comes from control; once fear sets in, power can take over."My father was one of the last Firebenders in New York before the AB laws passed. The anti-bending society passed legislation that led to the execution of hundreds of benders. They were seen as a danger to society due to their supernatural abilities. Most people feared the benders, but it wasn't unusual to walk into a bar and see a Waterbender mixing drinks. Though, there were some who abused their power. Airbenders who would (quite literally) take your breath away, Waterbenders who would drown people in their own homes, Earthbenders causing massive rock slides, and Firebenders starting massive wildfires wreaking havoc. After the AB laws passed, benders were taken from their homes and places of work, placed in confinement, and were executed. "You are never to tell anyone of your powers, Jack," my father said, a look of worry on his face that in 16 years I had never seen. Minutes later a fleet of SWAT had arrived. Busting down the door, I watched from the stairs as they took my father. In his eyes I saw fear, and in that moment, he lost control. A bright fire burned, engulfing his hands, beyond his control. I watched as the fire spread from the furniture, to the curtains, and to the walls. Suddenly, a stream of water flows into the room, extinguishing the flames. A figure walks into the room. My mother stands silent, submitting herself. "My mother can't be a bender!" I screamed internally. She always seemed to have a distaste to bending, and made my father promise to not use it in the house, but I had no idea she was a bender herself. "Jack, take care of yourself. We're not going to fight this." The last words my mother ever spoke to me. The SWAT team left with my parents and declared me an emancipated minor. All of my parents' assets would be transferred to me and I could do as I wish. I didn't know where I was going to go, but I knew it was going to be somewhere that my powers could never hurt anyone. Little did I know that in my own little slice of heaven tucked away between the pines of a picturesque landscape is where I would become the Avatar.
	[WP] As it turns out, the Avatar is still being reborn to this day. Unfortunately, if the government finds the Avatar, they’re killed before they liberate society. The handful of Benders left are few and far between. And you, an introverted Earthbender, just froze the liquid in your cup of tea.	I laughed, holding the cup upside-down. My three-year old self was not aware of what this meant. For me, it was just another trick, just as natural as bending rocks or dirt. I looked up to my mother, smiling- Just to find her staring at the cup. As the cup froze, she froze as well. The good-hearted, cheerful young woman's face was almost as pale as the big marble table we where seated at for breakfast. I had never seen her like this, and I realized I had done something wrong. My smile vanished. Confused and scared, I turned my head to look at my father, just as he dropped his cup. It fell almost as if in slow-motion, and it shattered into thousand pieces on the hard table's surface. But no one even seemed to notice. "Ragin..." Mother had almost no voice. She stared at him. But my father did not say a word, he just brushed tea off his uniform with the back of his hand, then pushed the chair back. "Ragin!" Her voice sounded fierce all of the sudden. My father stood up and grabbed me by my wrist, pulling me to my feet. I cried, more out of fear than out of pain. He took my to my room, shoving me inside. "You- You stay in your room, do you understand?" I nodded and watched him close the door. I just stood there. I did not know what to do. I heard them fight as I stared at my bedroom's door, but they where much louder then usual. While I could usually hear his loud voice, it sounded muffled. It was my mother who was screaming at the top of her lungs, and I could hear every word as I pressed my ear to the door. "You can't possibly... He's our son!" I heard her slap him, and the sound of what must had been his vPhone dropping onto the floor. What followed, I only remember very vaguely. But I never had witnessed such powerful earth-bending to this day. The building was shaking, and my father was screaming in pain. Half of the building was just - gone. My mother hugged me, and I could feel her wet tears against my cheek. Then We ran. We ran to this day. I... I can not express the grief I feel now. She not only saved me, but the revolution would not have been possible without her. She fought. She negotiated. And she tough me everything I know. Far more than just earth-bending. She died far too young. I just wish we could have put her to rest in her home-town, but it is still a long way to peace.	A chill fell over the room; more of a tingling electrical shock working through every nerve in my arms, rather than a chill from a cold breeze of a door left ajar. A chill I had only felt once before in my life. "Odd," I think to myself. Placing my newspaper on the warm oak of the coffee table I take my first sip of my morning tea, chamomile. Thought the tea inside is steaming, releasing the soft, warming aroma of the brew, the cup feels cool to the touch. I first blame this on my raynaud's, a trait that many of the few benders left seem to have in common and living in Northeast sure didn't help, but the woods that bordered by home gave me a secluded place to help practice my Earthbending. As I pull the cup to my lips, I close my eyes, expecting to feel the warmth of the steam as the aroma overcame my senses and the tea warmed my core. What happened then changed my life. The tea had frozen solid. "This can't be happening!", my mind screams. I walk through the living room, my pace audible through the echo of the hardwood and vaulted ceiling to the kitchen. As I pass the fireplace, I feel no heat from the fire. I raise my hand to the fire, facing my palm directly into the flames. My reflexes pull my hand back, but the fire trails. As I raise both palms to the fire, I close my eyes, take a deep breath, swallowing my fear of what is happening to me and as i open my eyes, the fire roared, scorching the hardwood a few feet away, and setting my robe ablaze. After I extinguish my robe and pour a fresh cup of tea, my mind starts to race. I think back to my parents; they always knew there was something different about me since I was young. I start to hear my father speaking to me, "Remember Jack, power comes from control; once fear sets in, power can take over."My father was one of the last Firebenders in New York before the AB laws passed. The anti-bending society passed legislation that led to the execution of hundreds of benders. They were seen as a danger to society due to their supernatural abilities. Most people feared the benders, but it wasn't unusual to walk into a bar and see a Waterbender mixing drinks. Though, there were some who abused their power. Airbenders who would (quite literally) take your breath away, Waterbenders who would drown people in their own homes, Earthbenders causing massive rock slides, and Firebenders starting massive wildfires wreaking havoc. After the AB laws passed, benders were taken from their homes and places of work, placed in confinement, and were executed. "You are never to tell anyone of your powers, Jack," my father said, a look of worry on his face that in 16 years I had never seen. Minutes later a fleet of SWAT had arrived. Busting down the door, I watched from the stairs as they took my father. In his eyes I saw fear, and in that moment, he lost control. A bright fire burned, engulfing his hands, beyond his control. I watched as the fire spread from the furniture, to the curtains, and to the walls. Suddenly, a stream of water flows into the room, extinguishing the flames. A figure walks into the room. My mother stands silent, submitting herself. "My mother can't be a bender!" I screamed internally. She always seemed to have a distaste to bending, and made my father promise to not use it in the house, but I had no idea she was a bender herself. "Jack, take care of yourself. We're not going to fight this." The last words my mother ever spoke to me. The SWAT team left with my parents and declared me an emancipated minor. All of my parents' assets would be transferred to me and I could do as I wish. I didn't know where I was going to go, but I knew it was going to be somewhere that my powers could never hurt anyone. Little did I know that in my own little slice of heaven tucked away between the pines of a picturesque landscape is where I would become the Avatar.
	[WP] As it turns out, the Avatar is still being reborn to this day. Unfortunately, if the government finds the Avatar, they’re killed before they liberate society. The handful of Benders left are few and far between. And you, an introverted Earthbender, just froze the liquid in your cup of tea.	The students filed into the cafeteria in a moderate pace. There were trays on a table at the start of the lunch line, with napkins and utensils neatly organized. My class moved mechanically; three years of college and twelve years of grade school provided more than enough muscle memory for this. The only sounds reverberating were the shuffling of feet, a low murmur amongst the tables, and plastic spoons clattering against metal pots and pans. I had not checked the menu when I entered the line, but the smell of beef stock - and what I hoped was bread - told me all I needed to know. I would need a cup of something to wash it down. I grabbed a cup. There weren’t ever many choices in the exquisite cuisine of Shisa Academy. In truth, there weren’t many choices in this college. You take a major after you study for three years. Sleep when the dorm lights turn off. No talking in the lunch line. Had I not been gifted tuition here due to my father’s work, there still wouldn’t be much choice in a different school. Order had been established, and it was quite peaceful and progressive, if at times aggressively so. There was no room in this world for chaos and propaganda, and myths like an ‘Avatar’ - not sure what that means - would stir negativity in places with so many people at once. My mind tends to wander to strange places when I try to avoid something, like the smell of - is that a paste? - something hopefully more edible than last Friday’s meal. Rei stood next to me. Her face contorted as the cook slapped the mixture on to her tray. She looked at me to save her, shoulder-length strands brushing away from her pained eyes. I held up my cup before giving her a shrug, and proceeded to the tea basin. When I finally sat with my class of fellow third-years, I took a good look. For the next three years we’ll be in different classes, finally studying our respective majors, becoming the future leaders of our country. I hadn’t paid much attention earlier, but I was sure sometime over the last year Elisa dyed her hair a darker shade. Isaiah was the same as ever, sneaking on his litePod when the enforcers weren’t looking. He found a way to bypass the wireless security before attending courses. The twins, Sung and Huin, played a game together on their own litePods. Then there was Rei, the only other person I really talked to in class, sitting on the corner picking at her meat paste. Barry, Elias, and Amin huddled together, body language louder than their voices. Jang-suk and Martha, the longest lasting couple in the entire school, huddled together; her tight dark curls covered the earbuds they shared. Other faces and names I’d gotten used to - Ronni, Elmer, Sayuri, Sheila - people I might’ve gotten to know, if it had not been for my father. My career politician father, and his bender-free college. This was supposedly a haven for nonbenders, those who couldn’t interact with the natural elements, but there were more than a few sympathizers to the dying breed. I might’ve gotten to know some of them, if it wouldn’t ruin his career. It’s alright, I thought. And it is, in truth. I’ve made friends here, and though I’ve kept my own bending a secret, I’m sure they wouldn’t mind. The benders left in the world don’t do much more than an average low-class citizen, if they haven’t been evicted from their houses. If they had houses at all. Much stigma remained about us despite our - my ancestors, I suppose - part in establishing peace in the world. There just weren’t many protections in place for the few benders left, and some of them found housing together, I’ve heard. There was a culture there, at least. Maybe there are more benders than we think. Maybe I’ll visit them, when I graduate in three years. Maybe I can get away from my father... Wrapped in my mind again, I must’ve missed Rei take a bite of that paste, because she urged me to hand her my tea. I handed it to her, only or her to thrust it back at me forcefully after taking a sip. The cup was still so warm that I almost dropped it. “Was it hot?” I let some smugness sneak into my question. “Oh light,” Rei managed to choke out between spitting and coughing. “I need to start bringing in my own food. I can’t tell if that’s fish or mulch.” I thought I smelled beef earlier. I decided to nix the food and took off the lid to cool my tea down. Rei never said much, but it was always pleasant when we had banter. “You think they have food-benders out there?” she went on. “Or flavor benders? You’d think with all this higher education they would hire better cooks.” Her face was still twisted with her mouth full of aftertaste. “Heh, maybe. Did you see the video on Seddit with the Soundbender?” I blew on the tea. “She popped one dude’s eardrums when they tried to arrest her.” The voice belonged to Isaiah. “They probably thought she was the Avatar.” Surely he was a sympathizer. He said he’d major in history at the start of this year, and I’ve seen the articles he reads on his litePod about bending. “I mean, no one’s even heard of Soundbending, and Lavabenders and Metalbenders haven’t been discovered for decades. “Chris?” said Rei. Lava? My throat caught. “I didn’t know that was even possible...” “Yeah! And just imagine, if there were Lightbenders-“ “Chris!” Rei again. “How did you do that?” I finally turned to her. “Do what?” Suddenly something felt odd. No, it felt cold. It was my hand. In it was a frosted cup of tea. I heard Isaiah gasp. This was a problem. Two people had seen me bend in a nonbending area, and if I was unlucky, so did an enforcer. The worst part was, water wasn’t my element.	A chill fell over the room; more of a tingling electrical shock working through every nerve in my arms, rather than a chill from a cold breeze of a door left ajar. A chill I had only felt once before in my life. "Odd," I think to myself. Placing my newspaper on the warm oak of the coffee table I take my first sip of my morning tea, chamomile. Thought the tea inside is steaming, releasing the soft, warming aroma of the brew, the cup feels cool to the touch. I first blame this on my raynaud's, a trait that many of the few benders left seem to have in common and living in Northeast sure didn't help, but the woods that bordered by home gave me a secluded place to help practice my Earthbending. As I pull the cup to my lips, I close my eyes, expecting to feel the warmth of the steam as the aroma overcame my senses and the tea warmed my core. What happened then changed my life. The tea had frozen solid. "This can't be happening!", my mind screams. I walk through the living room, my pace audible through the echo of the hardwood and vaulted ceiling to the kitchen. As I pass the fireplace, I feel no heat from the fire. I raise my hand to the fire, facing my palm directly into the flames. My reflexes pull my hand back, but the fire trails. As I raise both palms to the fire, I close my eyes, take a deep breath, swallowing my fear of what is happening to me and as i open my eyes, the fire roared, scorching the hardwood a few feet away, and setting my robe ablaze. After I extinguish my robe and pour a fresh cup of tea, my mind starts to race. I think back to my parents; they always knew there was something different about me since I was young. I start to hear my father speaking to me, "Remember Jack, power comes from control; once fear sets in, power can take over."My father was one of the last Firebenders in New York before the AB laws passed. The anti-bending society passed legislation that led to the execution of hundreds of benders. They were seen as a danger to society due to their supernatural abilities. Most people feared the benders, but it wasn't unusual to walk into a bar and see a Waterbender mixing drinks. Though, there were some who abused their power. Airbenders who would (quite literally) take your breath away, Waterbenders who would drown people in their own homes, Earthbenders causing massive rock slides, and Firebenders starting massive wildfires wreaking havoc. After the AB laws passed, benders were taken from their homes and places of work, placed in confinement, and were executed. "You are never to tell anyone of your powers, Jack," my father said, a look of worry on his face that in 16 years I had never seen. Minutes later a fleet of SWAT had arrived. Busting down the door, I watched from the stairs as they took my father. In his eyes I saw fear, and in that moment, he lost control. A bright fire burned, engulfing his hands, beyond his control. I watched as the fire spread from the furniture, to the curtains, and to the walls. Suddenly, a stream of water flows into the room, extinguishing the flames. A figure walks into the room. My mother stands silent, submitting herself. "My mother can't be a bender!" I screamed internally. She always seemed to have a distaste to bending, and made my father promise to not use it in the house, but I had no idea she was a bender herself. "Jack, take care of yourself. We're not going to fight this." The last words my mother ever spoke to me. The SWAT team left with my parents and declared me an emancipated minor. All of my parents' assets would be transferred to me and I could do as I wish. I didn't know where I was going to go, but I knew it was going to be somewhere that my powers could never hurt anyone. Little did I know that in my own little slice of heaven tucked away between the pines of a picturesque landscape is where I would become the Avatar.
	[WP] As it turns out, the Avatar is still being reborn to this day. Unfortunately, if the government finds the Avatar, they’re killed before they liberate society. The handful of Benders left are few and far between. And you, an introverted Earthbender, just froze the liquid in your cup of tea.	"Finnick! Get your lazy earthbending butt up! We need to reinforce these structures those fire-fairies just welded!" That was Mark, he's the master builder here in Rebellion: Block Four (RB4). The last of the four main Rebellion camps still left standing after the witch-hunt was fully endorsed by congress. Here's the issue I have with this rebellion, they have nearly 10,000 times the numbers in an effort to shut us down while we have what? The ability to manipulate one sect of nature? Nothing when compared to firearms, I don't know why there is even a rebellion... It's a lost cause. I know what you're thinking reading this as well, 'then why the hell are you there?' And the answer is actually easy, why does any young-adult male in any situation that puts him at risk? The love of his life... Rose. Waterbender, beautiful, something I can't put words to to be honest. She was in no way a model, but she had this aura around her, something that I gravitate towards. She was wild, almost feral, and amazing. I signed up right when I saw her freeze a whole group of anti-benders in order to save a child. "Finnick, I need you to put serious effort in making sure these are well done and not going to crumble with a single tomahawk missile." My job here? I work as an integrity tester. There were a few earthbenders here, a few worked with the metal to ensure that it was decent enough to withstand some explosions. I am the only one who is titled: Integrity Tester. I somehow had a more in-tune grasp of metal working and earthbending in general that I was placed on the opposite of construction, but destruction. My job was to put immense strain on the infrastructure many firebenders, earthbenders, waterbenders and airbenders put many hours into. I was able to target large grasps of metal and rock at one time and simulate waves and downward forces that would come from explosions. Our shaman, what they call those who specialize in what's behind bending, says that I'm just more adapted to creating havoc which is different than most earthbenders, who focus naturally towards defense. I went to work. We were about a mile below the earth at this point in RB4. I knew how missiles worked because I experienced the variety of them at the governments disposal while in the rebellion. It would ring through the ground like an unnatural wave seeking to flatten everything in it's wake. I had the memory deep in me for every missile I felt in the ground and what it did to the earth around me. I replicated those, all of them. Sirens went off in the halls to alarm those within the construct that they were under attack, but it was just me. Blowing up the earth around the structure in a feign bombing run. It held. "Alright, everyone back to their work. Nothing to see here." Mark was one to really get everyone moving. I sat in a pool of my own sweat unable to stand quite yet. "Hey bud, that was some serious force you put out today. Seriously, go get yourself something to drink and take the rest of the day off. Great job, love watching you work." Mark was cold but at the same time could be an alright guy overall. Almost like he knew what to say in certain situations, even if he didn't mean it. I made my way to the cafeteria. Being the "destructive" earthbender I have a weird reputation where people think I'm a mean person or at best a badass. I get lots of stares and a few people move out of my way. I like that perk to be honest, I don't really like talking. I make it to the cafeteria and I see there is a line at the coffee station, I don't want to wait so I make my way to the tea stand. "Finn! That was awesome! I felt that in my room!" That was Elizabeth, she was an airbender that worked on 'rapid cooling of material' or something. I don't quite remember, all I know is that she is a sweet girl and lost both her parents to the filth that is the government. I grabbed my tea and walked over to the only table that didn't have that many people on it. I was still recuperating from the strain of work when I sat down. I lifted my tea to my mouth and took a long swig, but I thought it to be a little cold. I wanted something warm and this just wasn't it. "Something wrong deary?" The cafeteria ladies were always immediate when they sensed something wrong. All of them were old waterbenders, just doing the best they can in order to help those fighting. Most of them lost their whole family to the rebellion. "No ma'am, just the teas a little cold." "Oh, let me take care of that!" She bent the liquid in the cup out and into the sink near by and pour me a new cup from the steaming kettle she had. "Thanks." "You rest up now Finnick. We are all so grateful you put your heart and soul into your work. " That's another thing, people think of me as hardworking. I've just had to fight all my life so I only know one thing; Survive. And to survive there just wasn't any time to half-ass anything. I grab the tea and delicately put it to my lips in order to not burn myself. Cold. I set the tea down and stared at it for a period of time. It began to freeze. I look around to see if a waterbender was pranking me, but not a soul was around nor paying attention to me. I thought at this time, 'was it me? But that would mean..." and as I thought about it I saw another lady work her way over here to see if I was okay. I put my hand over the cup to try to mask what I had done. I couldn't let anyone know what I was, I couldn't. "Hello there son. You seem off, everything alright?" At this time the lady noticed my hand on my cup. This is it, this is where I get caught. But, I feel a sort of steam on the palm of my hand covering the cup. I remove my hand and the trapped steam rolls out as if nothing had happened. "Oh nothing, I was just... warming my hands up, it gets pretty cold down here." "You don't have to tell me twice! Those airbenders that work in ventilation sure do their job!" She wanders off and I leave to get to my room. I am sweating profusely. Walking along the halls I keep to myself even more so than normal. I don't make eye contact, just b-line it to my room. "Finn you damn idiot! I was trying to balance water when you started your testing! I am so close to being able to make perfect ice sheets!" Shoot, my roommate Chris was in the room. "Hey Chris, I'm sorry but I'm pretty distraught right now, could I have the room?" "Oh. You need to meditate again? No problem man, I'm here if you need to talk." "Thanks man." Most benders meditate often in order to spend time attuning themselves with their nature. I do so almost religiously because then I have a reason that no one should bother me and I don't feel bad about not talking to people. I cross my legs on my mat and reach out to the earth around me. The problem is, I feel like there is more there. Upon this realization I feel a wave of raw emotion take over me. Pain, fear, suffering, unjustness and hope. I receive images all around me. I had little Avatar knowledge at the time but I know that they were able to attune themselves to past avatars in order to gain wisdom. But, the last avatar known was a hundred years ago or so. I received images of the last remaining seconds of poor little children's lives. I felt every stab from a knife used to silence these little Avatars. The looks on their parents faces as they see their child, me in this case, slowly slip away into darkness. I did not see wisdom, I saw pain. Pain inflicted by those who seek to silence us benders. The images and feeling went on for what seemed like hours until finally I reached a point where it was no longer a toddler being strangled by an anti-bending unit. This was a girl, I knew everything about her at that exact moment. She was seventeen, originally thought to just be a waterbender, she found her Avatar powers in the middle of a market. She was touching a carpet when it caught fire, she didn't know she could do such a thing or else she would have never. She was a kind soul, a beautiful young girl just wanting to live peacefully in the world. Then I felt the grasp of a noose around her neck, my neck. Drug away into an ally she was approached by three anti-bending units who saw the whole thing happen. But this wasn't a mercy killing or an execution. They did unspeakable things to this young girl. I wanted to leave the image but something held me back, some unseen force made me witness what was happening. When it was all over I was jolted back into my own reality and slammed my head into the floor, I blacked out. "Finn! Finn! Holy heck dude, are you alright! Did you hit your head?" Chris was freaking out over me. "Yea. Yea Chris I'm fine, just had a scary dream and knocked my head. No big." "Must have been some dream." "Where is the nearest offensive task force sign up sheet?" "Woah, Finn. Are you finally going to go out and fight? They could use you. What changed your mind man?" "I feel obligated to fight for those who have died before me now." "Was it Rose?" The pang shot through my heart like it always did. "No, something else has stirred this raw emotion in me."	A chill fell over the room; more of a tingling electrical shock working through every nerve in my arms, rather than a chill from a cold breeze of a door left ajar. A chill I had only felt once before in my life. "Odd," I think to myself. Placing my newspaper on the warm oak of the coffee table I take my first sip of my morning tea, chamomile. Thought the tea inside is steaming, releasing the soft, warming aroma of the brew, the cup feels cool to the touch. I first blame this on my raynaud's, a trait that many of the few benders left seem to have in common and living in Northeast sure didn't help, but the woods that bordered by home gave me a secluded place to help practice my Earthbending. As I pull the cup to my lips, I close my eyes, expecting to feel the warmth of the steam as the aroma overcame my senses and the tea warmed my core. What happened then changed my life. The tea had frozen solid. "This can't be happening!", my mind screams. I walk through the living room, my pace audible through the echo of the hardwood and vaulted ceiling to the kitchen. As I pass the fireplace, I feel no heat from the fire. I raise my hand to the fire, facing my palm directly into the flames. My reflexes pull my hand back, but the fire trails. As I raise both palms to the fire, I close my eyes, take a deep breath, swallowing my fear of what is happening to me and as i open my eyes, the fire roared, scorching the hardwood a few feet away, and setting my robe ablaze. After I extinguish my robe and pour a fresh cup of tea, my mind starts to race. I think back to my parents; they always knew there was something different about me since I was young. I start to hear my father speaking to me, "Remember Jack, power comes from control; once fear sets in, power can take over."My father was one of the last Firebenders in New York before the AB laws passed. The anti-bending society passed legislation that led to the execution of hundreds of benders. They were seen as a danger to society due to their supernatural abilities. Most people feared the benders, but it wasn't unusual to walk into a bar and see a Waterbender mixing drinks. Though, there were some who abused their power. Airbenders who would (quite literally) take your breath away, Waterbenders who would drown people in their own homes, Earthbenders causing massive rock slides, and Firebenders starting massive wildfires wreaking havoc. After the AB laws passed, benders were taken from their homes and places of work, placed in confinement, and were executed. "You are never to tell anyone of your powers, Jack," my father said, a look of worry on his face that in 16 years I had never seen. Minutes later a fleet of SWAT had arrived. Busting down the door, I watched from the stairs as they took my father. In his eyes I saw fear, and in that moment, he lost control. A bright fire burned, engulfing his hands, beyond his control. I watched as the fire spread from the furniture, to the curtains, and to the walls. Suddenly, a stream of water flows into the room, extinguishing the flames. A figure walks into the room. My mother stands silent, submitting herself. "My mother can't be a bender!" I screamed internally. She always seemed to have a distaste to bending, and made my father promise to not use it in the house, but I had no idea she was a bender herself. "Jack, take care of yourself. We're not going to fight this." The last words my mother ever spoke to me. The SWAT team left with my parents and declared me an emancipated minor. All of my parents' assets would be transferred to me and I could do as I wish. I didn't know where I was going to go, but I knew it was going to be somewhere that my powers could never hurt anyone. Little did I know that in my own little slice of heaven tucked away between the pines of a picturesque landscape is where I would become the Avatar.
	[WP] As it turns out, the Avatar is still being reborn to this day. Unfortunately, if the government finds the Avatar, they’re killed before they liberate society. The handful of Benders left are few and far between. And you, an introverted Earthbender, just froze the liquid in your cup of tea.	"Where is the Avatar, Rahm?" I gestured to the seat in front of me. "Now, now, calm yourself, Kota. Come, sit down, have a cup of tea." "I'll pass. Now, where are they? We know you're hiding the Avatar!" I sighed. "Are you sure? It's oolong, it's really quite good. I insist, you must have a cup. Now, do you take cream these days? Sugar?" "I just said I don't want any of your stupid tea, Rahm." "Ah, right. Of course. Well, suit yourself." I began to mix the sugar into my cup. "So, how is life? I hear the new government job is going well." "Quit stalling. Tell us where the Avatar is, and we'll let you live." I set the tea down on the table, and looked him in the eye. "Kota, I'm afraid that won't be the case." "What?" Kota gasped as the tea began to freeze in my cup. "You? You're the Avatar?" "Yes, but I am calling on you, in the name of any friendship we once had. Come, join us, join the resistance. Together, we can-" I gasped as I saw the shard of metal, poking through my ribcage. As I fell to the ground, I could hear Kota talking into a radio. "Call off the search. We... we got him." As I felt my blood draining out, I took the rest of the pack of potassium nitrate crystals from my pocket and bent it into the ground as far as I could. "Good luck, Avatar, wherever you are." I whispered to myself. "May this give you the time you need."	A chill fell over the room; more of a tingling electrical shock working through every nerve in my arms, rather than a chill from a cold breeze of a door left ajar. A chill I had only felt once before in my life. "Odd," I think to myself. Placing my newspaper on the warm oak of the coffee table I take my first sip of my morning tea, chamomile. Thought the tea inside is steaming, releasing the soft, warming aroma of the brew, the cup feels cool to the touch. I first blame this on my raynaud's, a trait that many of the few benders left seem to have in common and living in Northeast sure didn't help, but the woods that bordered by home gave me a secluded place to help practice my Earthbending. As I pull the cup to my lips, I close my eyes, expecting to feel the warmth of the steam as the aroma overcame my senses and the tea warmed my core. What happened then changed my life. The tea had frozen solid. "This can't be happening!", my mind screams. I walk through the living room, my pace audible through the echo of the hardwood and vaulted ceiling to the kitchen. As I pass the fireplace, I feel no heat from the fire. I raise my hand to the fire, facing my palm directly into the flames. My reflexes pull my hand back, but the fire trails. As I raise both palms to the fire, I close my eyes, take a deep breath, swallowing my fear of what is happening to me and as i open my eyes, the fire roared, scorching the hardwood a few feet away, and setting my robe ablaze. After I extinguish my robe and pour a fresh cup of tea, my mind starts to race. I think back to my parents; they always knew there was something different about me since I was young. I start to hear my father speaking to me, "Remember Jack, power comes from control; once fear sets in, power can take over."My father was one of the last Firebenders in New York before the AB laws passed. The anti-bending society passed legislation that led to the execution of hundreds of benders. They were seen as a danger to society due to their supernatural abilities. Most people feared the benders, but it wasn't unusual to walk into a bar and see a Waterbender mixing drinks. Though, there were some who abused their power. Airbenders who would (quite literally) take your breath away, Waterbenders who would drown people in their own homes, Earthbenders causing massive rock slides, and Firebenders starting massive wildfires wreaking havoc. After the AB laws passed, benders were taken from their homes and places of work, placed in confinement, and were executed. "You are never to tell anyone of your powers, Jack," my father said, a look of worry on his face that in 16 years I had never seen. Minutes later a fleet of SWAT had arrived. Busting down the door, I watched from the stairs as they took my father. In his eyes I saw fear, and in that moment, he lost control. A bright fire burned, engulfing his hands, beyond his control. I watched as the fire spread from the furniture, to the curtains, and to the walls. Suddenly, a stream of water flows into the room, extinguishing the flames. A figure walks into the room. My mother stands silent, submitting herself. "My mother can't be a bender!" I screamed internally. She always seemed to have a distaste to bending, and made my father promise to not use it in the house, but I had no idea she was a bender herself. "Jack, take care of yourself. We're not going to fight this." The last words my mother ever spoke to me. The SWAT team left with my parents and declared me an emancipated minor. All of my parents' assets would be transferred to me and I could do as I wish. I didn't know where I was going to go, but I knew it was going to be somewhere that my powers could never hurt anyone. Little did I know that in my own little slice of heaven tucked away between the pines of a picturesque landscape is where I would become the Avatar.
	[WP] As it turns out, the Avatar is still being reborn to this day. Unfortunately, if the government finds the Avatar, they’re killed before they liberate society. The handful of Benders left are few and far between. And you, an introverted Earthbender, just froze the liquid in your cup of tea.	Jin sat in the basement of an old warehouse wishing her tea was warmer. Everyone around her looked defeated as yet another raid had taken place in their neighborhood. The officers stormed into homes and rounded up the people to submit them to 'testing'. This time they found an infant who tested positive for waterbending. They stole him away The goal had become to eliminate all benders from society. It started when the surrounding towns and villages of the Earth Kingdom declared their independence from Ba Sing Se. The result of this declaration was a massive civil war that ended in many deaths. In particular, it was the earth benders that were hit hardest with the casualties. They were employed extensively on both sides and by the time the war was over there simply weren't that many left to carry in the ability. As for the airbenders, well there never really have been that many of them since the Hundred Years War; and so many firebenders left the Fire Nation after that War and had children with people from other nations that firebenders simply weren't seen again for generations; water benders have always been a small group and with immigration from the Southern and Northern Water Tribes to The Republic the same thing happened to them as it did the firebenders. Nobody had anticipated that the four nations being so intermingled would result in a dilution of the bending powers. They found that individuals who would have otherwise been capable of bending were now unable because they had bending parents of different elements. Nobody can bend just two elements alone, so they just cancelled each other out. Because of this, it has become very uncommon for someone to have bending capabilities, and the new government in place has taken extensive measures to eliminate the few who can. The logic was much the same as Tarlok's, but far more compelling with so much fewer benders out there. Soon enough the entire council was lead by solely nonbenders. There was no voice for the benders. Returning to the test, though, it was done by exposing the suspected benders to each of the elements and watching what happens. Simply pressing earth against an earth bender like Jin was enough to know what she was capable of. They had a tool that could measure the vibrations of the elements when in proximity to the tested. However minute, they could tell when someone had the ability to bend any of the elements. It was bad enough if they found that they could bend one element, even worse if they found that they could bend more than two. This was assumed, of course. Nobody had encountered an Avatar in 60 years. Stories spread about newborns being found with the abilities of the Avatar and simply disappearing from the hospital in the middle of the night or showing up dead the next morning. Of course, many people wanted to believe that their deceased child was the Avatar, so the story gets tossed around a lot; but there is truth to be told in these tales. Jin was in a basement with other benders watching them practice their ancient and forbidden arts. There were 14 of them, and most were either water and fire benders. There were only two other earth benders on top of Jin. They had a single airbender friend named Tashi but he enjoyed flying his airglider at night too much, and went missing several months ago. Jin held her cup in her hand and stared intently at the tea inside. She could see a layer of dust in it. Probably from all the earthbending, she thought. She looked up at her earthbending kin in the corner practicing rock lunges and thought about the eventual eradication of her people. They were 9 and 17 years old and they both had no parents. Both their parents were earthbending renegades that managed to hide their identities and have children. It was considered a capital offense and their parents died. They spent their lives in hiding with each other's families and we're both very close. She remembered meeting her first earthbender four years ago. He taught her everything she knew. She eventually fell in love with him too, but it would never work out for them. He had been captured and tested positive for earthbending. They sterilized him to prevent him from having children and when he came back he lost much of his will to live. She remembered what he said before he left. "Jin, what's the point?" He had just told her that he was leaving. "You and I can never have children. You need to have children, to carry our legacy as a people. I am no longer good for you. All I can give you now is my earthbending experience, and you already have all of it. I'm sorry about what happened, but I need to go somewhere else to train others in our sacred art." He walked away but she did not pursue him. He already knew how she felt. Jin thought from time to time about having children, but she only wanted them with him. She told him she wasnt have them with anybody else. He could only hope that she would change her mind in the future. He called her selfish for refusing to bear children with another earthbender, but she didn't care. It was her choice. The boy and the girl were summoning earth beneath them with their feet and lunging forward. They would then turn back and lunge in the opposite direction. They repeated this back and forth to get a feel of the earth with their feet. It was an intermediate level skill to be able to bend with your feet and not just your hands, and they were both progressing nicely. Jin's tea was still cold, and the dust was ruining the taste. She made a move to bend the dust from out of her cup and something happened that she did not expect. As she pulled the dust from out her cup the tea itself seemed to cling to the particles. She looked around to see if one of the water benders was messing with her, but they seemed to be occupied elsewhere. She tried harder to remove the particles but every time she did the water held fast to the tiny pieces. She released the particles and lowered her hand. Her hand lowering caused a change in her tea. She felt that familiar pull as her body started to bend. The energy flowed from her hand and outward towards some bendable element. The tea grow dramatically colder and soon tiny fibrils of ice started to form on the surface. Alarmed, she threw her hand back from the cup and bended the tea out of the cup and onto the floor. She screamed. The other benders stopped what they were doing and started to stare. "What are you doing Jin?" A fire bender asked her this. "Is everything okay?" "Ye- yes... I just spilled my tea and it was pretty hot. Sorry." They nodded and she left the room. "I need to go rinse my hands." She walked to the bathroom and stared at herself in the mirror. She then looked down at the sink and at the many water droplets on its surface. She waved her hand over them and acted like she was earth bending. The water droplets started to lift hemselves from the surface and adhere to her hand, moving up her arm. Her eyes widened in terror. She was waterbending	The cup rolled to a stop. There was a thin layer of frost lining the cup, and I could see the light dull on its surface. I felt the blood drain from my face, and my hands grew cold. "Did I just...did I do...no. No way," I whispered low as possible, as I stared in disbelief at the sight before me. As the tea fell from the cup, I reached out instinctively. Frost whisked from my fingertips, and the water froze into a perfect solid form of spilling water. I watched it fall with a soft sharp thud. I stared wide-eyed for much longer than necessary. Slowly, I reached towards the ice. I tenderly plucked it off the ground, and felt the cold sting my palm. I froze the tea into ice. -------------------- There was never a time when I didn't know I was an Earth Bender. From the first moment I remember, I felt a deep energy in the soil around me. It connected the ground to me, branching and spreading to everything on along the ground's surface. I never had to think. I could fill the objects with this energy and move them to my will. It was my extra sense. My energy flowed to lift boulders larger than myself, but yet was delicate enough to move a single particle of sand. I could manipulate the earth to suit my will. However, this was different. This was something that slumbered. That suddenly broke free. My fingers tingled with a sensation so cold and shocking that it sent a shiver down my body. I let more icy drops fall through my fingers, and thud softly to the floor. In a rush of adrenaline, I stood and held the mold of ice to my chest. I checked around to see if any of my family was home. When I felt sure that I was truly alone, I chucked the ice out an open window and clutched my hands to my lips. I felt the gravity of the situation weigh on me. It melted through me from the top of my head, and enveloped me in fear. I was an earthbender...who bent water. My mind shuffled. I tried to recall any bits of information I could about benders. So little was taught to us, and the only real knowledge I had was from whispers behind closed doors. Conversations I curiously eavesdropped in on, while my Grandmother gossiped with the other Old Timers. When the regime was first taking over, in the early days of my childhood. She spoke of warriors who fought with blasts of wind and fire. Humans who wielded supernatural powers over water, earth, fire, and even the air itself. Powers beyond what machines could muster, or regular people could imitate. However, to the best of my knowledge there were no benders who bent multiple elements. Not that they ever spoke of. Well, no benders who only bent two elements. There was only one person who could bend multiple elements. The Avatar.
	[WP] As it turns out, the Avatar is still being reborn to this day. Unfortunately, if the government finds the Avatar, they’re killed before they liberate society. The handful of Benders left are few and far between. And you, an introverted Earthbender, just froze the liquid in your cup of tea.	Her morning tea was one of the few things that helped her get through the day. The hectic, meeting filled, stress-inducing day. The aroma from the tea was almost as relaxing as drinking it. Except for the part where tea time always coincided with briefing time. A few quick wraps at the door announced the presence of her assistant. "Enter." she called out between sips. "Good morning, General!" her chipper assistant entered with a stack of papers. "How are we this morning?" "Fine fine, what's on the agenda for the day, lieutenant?" "Well there is a briefing in thirty minutes with the other generals about the search for the avatar. They believe they have some leads, but they want everyone's input before proceeding." "Very well. Next?" another sip of tea. The steaming cup was making this more bearable. The lieutenant flipped through the pages on top of his stack. "At fourteen-hundred hours you have to talk to the troops from battalion B. They had a run-in with a band of wild fire benders last week and the Capitan wanted you to show them defense against fire benders. And also to practice offensives with them." A smile came across her face."It's been forever since I've been able to practice firebending with permission. This'll be quite the treat!" The lieutenant smiled. "Very good, ma'am. And one last bit of business..." his voice trailed off. That couldn't be good. "You're ex-husband wants to meet with you today." A shiver went down her spine. But took over her whole body for a moment. The cup of tea that was warming her hands so nicely was now freezing cold. That was odd. She looked down as the last wisp of steam escaped off the top and the cop was now a solid block of ice. Her eyes went wide. Firebending didn't do that.. "Major?" he asked. Taking a step closer. "Are you... Okay?" his jaw went slack. "Is that ice?" She set the cup down and pushed it to the side of her cluttered desk. "This doesn't leave this room. Do you understand? Not a word, and that is an order." The lieutenant just blinked a few times. Seemingly not comprehending what was unfolding before his eyes. "You're the.. Wait but.. Umm. Yes ma'am." The major leaning back in her chair and covered her eyes with her hands. "Is there anything else for today?" "No, that's all for today. But you have to go to that meeting soon. You know, about finding the avatar." he frowned as he realized how ironic that was. She peeped at him from between her fingers. "This is going to be one hell of a day isn't it." "Yes, avatar." he nodded and turned to leave. She groaned and let her head fall to her desk. Frozen tea to start the day. What an omen.	The cup rolled to a stop. There was a thin layer of frost lining the cup, and I could see the light dull on its surface. I felt the blood drain from my face, and my hands grew cold. "Did I just...did I do...no. No way," I whispered low as possible, as I stared in disbelief at the sight before me. As the tea fell from the cup, I reached out instinctively. Frost whisked from my fingertips, and the water froze into a perfect solid form of spilling water. I watched it fall with a soft sharp thud. I stared wide-eyed for much longer than necessary. Slowly, I reached towards the ice. I tenderly plucked it off the ground, and felt the cold sting my palm. I froze the tea into ice. -------------------- There was never a time when I didn't know I was an Earth Bender. From the first moment I remember, I felt a deep energy in the soil around me. It connected the ground to me, branching and spreading to everything on along the ground's surface. I never had to think. I could fill the objects with this energy and move them to my will. It was my extra sense. My energy flowed to lift boulders larger than myself, but yet was delicate enough to move a single particle of sand. I could manipulate the earth to suit my will. However, this was different. This was something that slumbered. That suddenly broke free. My fingers tingled with a sensation so cold and shocking that it sent a shiver down my body. I let more icy drops fall through my fingers, and thud softly to the floor. In a rush of adrenaline, I stood and held the mold of ice to my chest. I checked around to see if any of my family was home. When I felt sure that I was truly alone, I chucked the ice out an open window and clutched my hands to my lips. I felt the gravity of the situation weigh on me. It melted through me from the top of my head, and enveloped me in fear. I was an earthbender...who bent water. My mind shuffled. I tried to recall any bits of information I could about benders. So little was taught to us, and the only real knowledge I had was from whispers behind closed doors. Conversations I curiously eavesdropped in on, while my Grandmother gossiped with the other Old Timers. When the regime was first taking over, in the early days of my childhood. She spoke of warriors who fought with blasts of wind and fire. Humans who wielded supernatural powers over water, earth, fire, and even the air itself. Powers beyond what machines could muster, or regular people could imitate. However, to the best of my knowledge there were no benders who bent multiple elements. Not that they ever spoke of. Well, no benders who only bent two elements. There was only one person who could bend multiple elements. The Avatar.
	[WP] As it turns out, the Avatar is still being reborn to this day. Unfortunately, if the government finds the Avatar, they’re killed before they liberate society. The handful of Benders left are few and far between. And you, an introverted Earthbender, just froze the liquid in your cup of tea.	"Bender rights have been in focus this week as Senate votes to pass EARTH1, a bill that would positively define the way benders are treated in society for the first time since the last Blue Moon-" bang You startle out of your zoned observation of the news, dropping your fork. As if it were a helpful golden retriever, the dirt rises from the small basin from the corner of the room and pushes the metal handle back to you, dwindling as if waiting for a confirmation of a job well done. You don't notice, as you turn to your roommate who is still cursing as he recovers from where he ran hip first into the counter. "You believe this shit? All of this EARTH1 coverage has the 'pro bender' bleeding heart Tumblrinas going nuts- fucking idiots haven't even looked past the pretty title and realized the god awfulness of the mandatory Registration-" he pauses and shoots a quick jet of flame underneath the kettle, igniting the gas stove- "and during all this, all speculations of the appearance of the Avatar are hushed quicker than a poor fucker who posted the wrong content on Reddit." You snort softly. "I don't know, maybe this will be a good thing," you pause, noticing the way his shoulders tense, but press on, "I wouldn't mind having to register myself if it means I can finally use my bending in public, to do some good finally, you know?" You try not to be hurt as your roommate turns, his face twisted in derision. "So. What you're saying is that you'd rather be a collared fucking animal, a mark on your back just so you can go out there, and I don't know, rescue someone's cat from a tree or some shit?" Before you can get a word in, he collects his tea and portion of the scrambled eggs and retreats, shaking his head vigorously, sparks flying off his hair, back into his room. Looking at the angrily closed door, you internally sigh. It was a lucky day, the day you found out that your first roommate out of college was a Bender. Some days you felt lucky, that your elements were more or less compatible, and that you had a space to practice and commune with the earth. Other days, you just down right hated his fiery ass. And still others you wonder how your small, very wood-filled flat was not a pile of burnt rubble. "Well Sharon, thanks for the update. We will continue to keep you all posted as more new information arrives! Here's Greg with your 7:30am traffic forecas-" 7:30 am oh fuck me You gather your computer and jacket, with the ever helpful dirt mound pushing keys and were those breath mints? Into your pocket. In your rush you pause to look down at the now small bump of earth- "For the last time I'm not asking Jordan out today or ever, stop pushing the damn mints on me." It ripples slightly, and you feel a little ridiculous as you're essentially trying to convince yourself. The headache from the moment you turned the TV on this morning builds a little more, and you fumble your way grumpily out the door. - The ride to work was an uneventful one. You filled in a few potholes stealthily, but there wasn't much infrastructure along the route that you had a chance to change. You hated your little cubicle on the 12th floor of the shiny stainless steel office you worked in. So far from the ground, with only a little pot with a single, but happy, but lonely flower inside to keep you company. As you clicked on the the umpteenth spread sheet, you absentmindedly swirled the little flower around. "Hey you! What's with that look grumpy face?" Your head throbs. You turn your chair around and are greeted by the infernally grinning mug that is Linda's face. "Just woke up wrong is all- and it's a Monday too." She lunges forward and presses her sharply manicured nails against your arm- "Well honey, I have just the perfect fix for you! Mark's just gotten home from his trip to Hawaii, and he brought back this absolutely amazing pineapple hibiscus tea; it'll cheer you up in no time!" You trudge reluctantly behind her as she leads you through the maze to the break room, fantasizing the entire time about bulging the ground underneath her so she would trip just a little on her ridiculous 5 inch fire engine red heels. But you're fucking 12 floors off any workable dirt, your traitorous mind murmurs. Your pulled out of your thoughts once again by the smell of the fresh tea. Linda is still going on about some office drama that she's caught up in, but where usually you would have paid some semblance of attention out of sheer boredom, today your eyes are suddenly drawn to the liquid swirling in the cup. It's shiny. Like metal. It's pretty, but you had a distinct feeling that whatever fancy crap Linda has put in had diluted it. Absolutely tainted the otherwise pure and smooth water. Water. Your hand reaches out as if drawn by a string, and you delicately touch the tip of your index in the middle of the gently rippling surface. And you fall. Into an ocean. A swirling typhoon, waves battering your very being. Niagara falls, long before it was ever named, its untamed nature echoing the harmony of the earth, the sun, the air through which the Bison had flown. Wild and eternal and fluid in its memories- it engulfs you. And then It Stops And you return to a break room. A break room who's walls had been an un-tasteful blue. A break room who's walls were now coated in ice. You look down at your hand, and the tea you had submerged your finger in. It was beautiful, the way the ice has spread from inside the cup, to the water cooler, and on to the floor. It would have been more beautiful if fucking Linda hadn't been standing there, her mouth agape. It would have been absolutely stunning if Linda's brother wasn't a part of a task force that specialized in hunting in rogue benders. It would have been amazingly awe inspiringly breath taking if you didn't just realize that you were now a fucking Avatar. As hell began to break loose, you stare forlornly at the garishly decorated mug of sub par tea. It had actually smelled pretty good. If only you had gotten to have a taste before becoming damn fugitive. -FIN-? This will probably be buried af but please let me know what you think! I tried to keep this as neutral as possible so that anyone could relate!	The cup rolled to a stop. There was a thin layer of frost lining the cup, and I could see the light dull on its surface. I felt the blood drain from my face, and my hands grew cold. "Did I just...did I do...no. No way," I whispered low as possible, as I stared in disbelief at the sight before me. As the tea fell from the cup, I reached out instinctively. Frost whisked from my fingertips, and the water froze into a perfect solid form of spilling water. I watched it fall with a soft sharp thud. I stared wide-eyed for much longer than necessary. Slowly, I reached towards the ice. I tenderly plucked it off the ground, and felt the cold sting my palm. I froze the tea into ice. -------------------- There was never a time when I didn't know I was an Earth Bender. From the first moment I remember, I felt a deep energy in the soil around me. It connected the ground to me, branching and spreading to everything on along the ground's surface. I never had to think. I could fill the objects with this energy and move them to my will. It was my extra sense. My energy flowed to lift boulders larger than myself, but yet was delicate enough to move a single particle of sand. I could manipulate the earth to suit my will. However, this was different. This was something that slumbered. That suddenly broke free. My fingers tingled with a sensation so cold and shocking that it sent a shiver down my body. I let more icy drops fall through my fingers, and thud softly to the floor. In a rush of adrenaline, I stood and held the mold of ice to my chest. I checked around to see if any of my family was home. When I felt sure that I was truly alone, I chucked the ice out an open window and clutched my hands to my lips. I felt the gravity of the situation weigh on me. It melted through me from the top of my head, and enveloped me in fear. I was an earthbender...who bent water. My mind shuffled. I tried to recall any bits of information I could about benders. So little was taught to us, and the only real knowledge I had was from whispers behind closed doors. Conversations I curiously eavesdropped in on, while my Grandmother gossiped with the other Old Timers. When the regime was first taking over, in the early days of my childhood. She spoke of warriors who fought with blasts of wind and fire. Humans who wielded supernatural powers over water, earth, fire, and even the air itself. Powers beyond what machines could muster, or regular people could imitate. However, to the best of my knowledge there were no benders who bent multiple elements. Not that they ever spoke of. Well, no benders who only bent two elements. There was only one person who could bend multiple elements. The Avatar.
	[WP] As it turns out, the Avatar is still being reborn to this day. Unfortunately, if the government finds the Avatar, they’re killed before they liberate society. The handful of Benders left are few and far between. And you, an introverted Earthbender, just froze the liquid in your cup of tea.	I laughed, holding the cup upside-down. My three-year old self was not aware of what this meant. For me, it was just another trick, just as natural as bending rocks or dirt. I looked up to my mother, smiling- Just to find her staring at the cup. As the cup froze, she froze as well. The good-hearted, cheerful young woman's face was almost as pale as the big marble table we where seated at for breakfast. I had never seen her like this, and I realized I had done something wrong. My smile vanished. Confused and scared, I turned my head to look at my father, just as he dropped his cup. It fell almost as if in slow-motion, and it shattered into thousand pieces on the hard table's surface. But no one even seemed to notice. "Ragin..." Mother had almost no voice. She stared at him. But my father did not say a word, he just brushed tea off his uniform with the back of his hand, then pushed the chair back. "Ragin!" Her voice sounded fierce all of the sudden. My father stood up and grabbed me by my wrist, pulling me to my feet. I cried, more out of fear than out of pain. He took my to my room, shoving me inside. "You- You stay in your room, do you understand?" I nodded and watched him close the door. I just stood there. I did not know what to do. I heard them fight as I stared at my bedroom's door, but they where much louder then usual. While I could usually hear his loud voice, it sounded muffled. It was my mother who was screaming at the top of her lungs, and I could hear every word as I pressed my ear to the door. "You can't possibly... He's our son!" I heard her slap him, and the sound of what must had been his vPhone dropping onto the floor. What followed, I only remember very vaguely. But I never had witnessed such powerful earth-bending to this day. The building was shaking, and my father was screaming in pain. Half of the building was just - gone. My mother hugged me, and I could feel her wet tears against my cheek. Then We ran. We ran to this day. I... I can not express the grief I feel now. She not only saved me, but the revolution would not have been possible without her. She fought. She negotiated. And she tough me everything I know. Far more than just earth-bending. She died far too young. I just wish we could have put her to rest in her home-town, but it is still a long way to peace.	The cup rolled to a stop. There was a thin layer of frost lining the cup, and I could see the light dull on its surface. I felt the blood drain from my face, and my hands grew cold. "Did I just...did I do...no. No way," I whispered low as possible, as I stared in disbelief at the sight before me. As the tea fell from the cup, I reached out instinctively. Frost whisked from my fingertips, and the water froze into a perfect solid form of spilling water. I watched it fall with a soft sharp thud. I stared wide-eyed for much longer than necessary. Slowly, I reached towards the ice. I tenderly plucked it off the ground, and felt the cold sting my palm. I froze the tea into ice. -------------------- There was never a time when I didn't know I was an Earth Bender. From the first moment I remember, I felt a deep energy in the soil around me. It connected the ground to me, branching and spreading to everything on along the ground's surface. I never had to think. I could fill the objects with this energy and move them to my will. It was my extra sense. My energy flowed to lift boulders larger than myself, but yet was delicate enough to move a single particle of sand. I could manipulate the earth to suit my will. However, this was different. This was something that slumbered. That suddenly broke free. My fingers tingled with a sensation so cold and shocking that it sent a shiver down my body. I let more icy drops fall through my fingers, and thud softly to the floor. In a rush of adrenaline, I stood and held the mold of ice to my chest. I checked around to see if any of my family was home. When I felt sure that I was truly alone, I chucked the ice out an open window and clutched my hands to my lips. I felt the gravity of the situation weigh on me. It melted through me from the top of my head, and enveloped me in fear. I was an earthbender...who bent water. My mind shuffled. I tried to recall any bits of information I could about benders. So little was taught to us, and the only real knowledge I had was from whispers behind closed doors. Conversations I curiously eavesdropped in on, while my Grandmother gossiped with the other Old Timers. When the regime was first taking over, in the early days of my childhood. She spoke of warriors who fought with blasts of wind and fire. Humans who wielded supernatural powers over water, earth, fire, and even the air itself. Powers beyond what machines could muster, or regular people could imitate. However, to the best of my knowledge there were no benders who bent multiple elements. Not that they ever spoke of. Well, no benders who only bent two elements. There was only one person who could bend multiple elements. The Avatar.
	[WP] As it turns out, the Avatar is still being reborn to this day. Unfortunately, if the government finds the Avatar, they’re killed before they liberate society. The handful of Benders left are few and far between. And you, an introverted Earthbender, just froze the liquid in your cup of tea.	The students filed into the cafeteria in a moderate pace. There were trays on a table at the start of the lunch line, with napkins and utensils neatly organized. My class moved mechanically; three years of college and twelve years of grade school provided more than enough muscle memory for this. The only sounds reverberating were the shuffling of feet, a low murmur amongst the tables, and plastic spoons clattering against metal pots and pans. I had not checked the menu when I entered the line, but the smell of beef stock - and what I hoped was bread - told me all I needed to know. I would need a cup of something to wash it down. I grabbed a cup. There weren’t ever many choices in the exquisite cuisine of Shisa Academy. In truth, there weren’t many choices in this college. You take a major after you study for three years. Sleep when the dorm lights turn off. No talking in the lunch line. Had I not been gifted tuition here due to my father’s work, there still wouldn’t be much choice in a different school. Order had been established, and it was quite peaceful and progressive, if at times aggressively so. There was no room in this world for chaos and propaganda, and myths like an ‘Avatar’ - not sure what that means - would stir negativity in places with so many people at once. My mind tends to wander to strange places when I try to avoid something, like the smell of - is that a paste? - something hopefully more edible than last Friday’s meal. Rei stood next to me. Her face contorted as the cook slapped the mixture on to her tray. She looked at me to save her, shoulder-length strands brushing away from her pained eyes. I held up my cup before giving her a shrug, and proceeded to the tea basin. When I finally sat with my class of fellow third-years, I took a good look. For the next three years we’ll be in different classes, finally studying our respective majors, becoming the future leaders of our country. I hadn’t paid much attention earlier, but I was sure sometime over the last year Elisa dyed her hair a darker shade. Isaiah was the same as ever, sneaking on his litePod when the enforcers weren’t looking. He found a way to bypass the wireless security before attending courses. The twins, Sung and Huin, played a game together on their own litePods. Then there was Rei, the only other person I really talked to in class, sitting on the corner picking at her meat paste. Barry, Elias, and Amin huddled together, body language louder than their voices. Jang-suk and Martha, the longest lasting couple in the entire school, huddled together; her tight dark curls covered the earbuds they shared. Other faces and names I’d gotten used to - Ronni, Elmer, Sayuri, Sheila - people I might’ve gotten to know, if it had not been for my father. My career politician father, and his bender-free college. This was supposedly a haven for nonbenders, those who couldn’t interact with the natural elements, but there were more than a few sympathizers to the dying breed. I might’ve gotten to know some of them, if it wouldn’t ruin his career. It’s alright, I thought. And it is, in truth. I’ve made friends here, and though I’ve kept my own bending a secret, I’m sure they wouldn’t mind. The benders left in the world don’t do much more than an average low-class citizen, if they haven’t been evicted from their houses. If they had houses at all. Much stigma remained about us despite our - my ancestors, I suppose - part in establishing peace in the world. There just weren’t many protections in place for the few benders left, and some of them found housing together, I’ve heard. There was a culture there, at least. Maybe there are more benders than we think. Maybe I’ll visit them, when I graduate in three years. Maybe I can get away from my father... Wrapped in my mind again, I must’ve missed Rei take a bite of that paste, because she urged me to hand her my tea. I handed it to her, only or her to thrust it back at me forcefully after taking a sip. The cup was still so warm that I almost dropped it. “Was it hot?” I let some smugness sneak into my question. “Oh light,” Rei managed to choke out between spitting and coughing. “I need to start bringing in my own food. I can’t tell if that’s fish or mulch.” I thought I smelled beef earlier. I decided to nix the food and took off the lid to cool my tea down. Rei never said much, but it was always pleasant when we had banter. “You think they have food-benders out there?” she went on. “Or flavor benders? You’d think with all this higher education they would hire better cooks.” Her face was still twisted with her mouth full of aftertaste. “Heh, maybe. Did you see the video on Seddit with the Soundbender?” I blew on the tea. “She popped one dude’s eardrums when they tried to arrest her.” The voice belonged to Isaiah. “They probably thought she was the Avatar.” Surely he was a sympathizer. He said he’d major in history at the start of this year, and I’ve seen the articles he reads on his litePod about bending. “I mean, no one’s even heard of Soundbending, and Lavabenders and Metalbenders haven’t been discovered for decades. “Chris?” said Rei. Lava? My throat caught. “I didn’t know that was even possible...” “Yeah! And just imagine, if there were Lightbenders-“ “Chris!” Rei again. “How did you do that?” I finally turned to her. “Do what?” Suddenly something felt odd. No, it felt cold. It was my hand. In it was a frosted cup of tea. I heard Isaiah gasp. This was a problem. Two people had seen me bend in a nonbending area, and if I was unlucky, so did an enforcer. The worst part was, water wasn’t my element.	The cup rolled to a stop. There was a thin layer of frost lining the cup, and I could see the light dull on its surface. I felt the blood drain from my face, and my hands grew cold. "Did I just...did I do...no. No way," I whispered low as possible, as I stared in disbelief at the sight before me. As the tea fell from the cup, I reached out instinctively. Frost whisked from my fingertips, and the water froze into a perfect solid form of spilling water. I watched it fall with a soft sharp thud. I stared wide-eyed for much longer than necessary. Slowly, I reached towards the ice. I tenderly plucked it off the ground, and felt the cold sting my palm. I froze the tea into ice. -------------------- There was never a time when I didn't know I was an Earth Bender. From the first moment I remember, I felt a deep energy in the soil around me. It connected the ground to me, branching and spreading to everything on along the ground's surface. I never had to think. I could fill the objects with this energy and move them to my will. It was my extra sense. My energy flowed to lift boulders larger than myself, but yet was delicate enough to move a single particle of sand. I could manipulate the earth to suit my will. However, this was different. This was something that slumbered. That suddenly broke free. My fingers tingled with a sensation so cold and shocking that it sent a shiver down my body. I let more icy drops fall through my fingers, and thud softly to the floor. In a rush of adrenaline, I stood and held the mold of ice to my chest. I checked around to see if any of my family was home. When I felt sure that I was truly alone, I chucked the ice out an open window and clutched my hands to my lips. I felt the gravity of the situation weigh on me. It melted through me from the top of my head, and enveloped me in fear. I was an earthbender...who bent water. My mind shuffled. I tried to recall any bits of information I could about benders. So little was taught to us, and the only real knowledge I had was from whispers behind closed doors. Conversations I curiously eavesdropped in on, while my Grandmother gossiped with the other Old Timers. When the regime was first taking over, in the early days of my childhood. She spoke of warriors who fought with blasts of wind and fire. Humans who wielded supernatural powers over water, earth, fire, and even the air itself. Powers beyond what machines could muster, or regular people could imitate. However, to the best of my knowledge there were no benders who bent multiple elements. Not that they ever spoke of. Well, no benders who only bent two elements. There was only one person who could bend multiple elements. The Avatar.
	[WP] As it turns out, the Avatar is still being reborn to this day. Unfortunately, if the government finds the Avatar, they’re killed before they liberate society. The handful of Benders left are few and far between. And you, an introverted Earthbender, just froze the liquid in your cup of tea.	"Bender rights have been in focus this week as Senate votes to pass EARTH1, a bill that would positively define the way benders are treated in society for the first time since the last Blue Moon-" bang You startle out of your zoned observation of the news, dropping your fork. As if it were a helpful golden retriever, the dirt rises from the small basin from the corner of the room and pushes the metal handle back to you, dwindling as if waiting for a confirmation of a job well done. You don't notice, as you turn to your roommate who is still cursing as he recovers from where he ran hip first into the counter. "You believe this shit? All of this EARTH1 coverage has the 'pro bender' bleeding heart Tumblrinas going nuts- fucking idiots haven't even looked past the pretty title and realized the god awfulness of the mandatory Registration-" he pauses and shoots a quick jet of flame underneath the kettle, igniting the gas stove- "and during all this, all speculations of the appearance of the Avatar are hushed quicker than a poor fucker who posted the wrong content on Reddit." You snort softly. "I don't know, maybe this will be a good thing," you pause, noticing the way his shoulders tense, but press on, "I wouldn't mind having to register myself if it means I can finally use my bending in public, to do some good finally, you know?" You try not to be hurt as your roommate turns, his face twisted in derision. "So. What you're saying is that you'd rather be a collared fucking animal, a mark on your back just so you can go out there, and I don't know, rescue someone's cat from a tree or some shit?" Before you can get a word in, he collects his tea and portion of the scrambled eggs and retreats, shaking his head vigorously, sparks flying off his hair, back into his room. Looking at the angrily closed door, you internally sigh. It was a lucky day, the day you found out that your first roommate out of college was a Bender. Some days you felt lucky, that your elements were more or less compatible, and that you had a space to practice and commune with the earth. Other days, you just down right hated his fiery ass. And still others you wonder how your small, very wood-filled flat was not a pile of burnt rubble. "Well Sharon, thanks for the update. We will continue to keep you all posted as more new information arrives! Here's Greg with your 7:30am traffic forecas-" 7:30 am oh fuck me You gather your computer and jacket, with the ever helpful dirt mound pushing keys and were those breath mints? Into your pocket. In your rush you pause to look down at the now small bump of earth- "For the last time I'm not asking Jordan out today or ever, stop pushing the damn mints on me." It ripples slightly, and you feel a little ridiculous as you're essentially trying to convince yourself. The headache from the moment you turned the TV on this morning builds a little more, and you fumble your way grumpily out the door. - The ride to work was an uneventful one. You filled in a few potholes stealthily, but there wasn't much infrastructure along the route that you had a chance to change. You hated your little cubicle on the 12th floor of the shiny stainless steel office you worked in. So far from the ground, with only a little pot with a single, but happy, but lonely flower inside to keep you company. As you clicked on the the umpteenth spread sheet, you absentmindedly swirled the little flower around. "Hey you! What's with that look grumpy face?" Your head throbs. You turn your chair around and are greeted by the infernally grinning mug that is Linda's face. "Just woke up wrong is all- and it's a Monday too." She lunges forward and presses her sharply manicured nails against your arm- "Well honey, I have just the perfect fix for you! Mark's just gotten home from his trip to Hawaii, and he brought back this absolutely amazing pineapple hibiscus tea; it'll cheer you up in no time!" You trudge reluctantly behind her as she leads you through the maze to the break room, fantasizing the entire time about bulging the ground underneath her so she would trip just a little on her ridiculous 5 inch fire engine red heels. But you're fucking 12 floors off any workable dirt, your traitorous mind murmurs. Your pulled out of your thoughts once again by the smell of the fresh tea. Linda is still going on about some office drama that she's caught up in, but where usually you would have paid some semblance of attention out of sheer boredom, today your eyes are suddenly drawn to the liquid swirling in the cup. It's shiny. Like metal. It's pretty, but you had a distinct feeling that whatever fancy crap Linda has put in had diluted it. Absolutely tainted the otherwise pure and smooth water. Water. Your hand reaches out as if drawn by a string, and you delicately touch the tip of your index in the middle of the gently rippling surface. And you fall. Into an ocean. A swirling typhoon, waves battering your very being. Niagara falls, long before it was ever named, its untamed nature echoing the harmony of the earth, the sun, the air through which the Bison had flown. Wild and eternal and fluid in its memories- it engulfs you. And then It Stops And you return to a break room. A break room who's walls had been an un-tasteful blue. A break room who's walls were now coated in ice. You look down at your hand, and the tea you had submerged your finger in. It was beautiful, the way the ice has spread from inside the cup, to the water cooler, and on to the floor. It would have been more beautiful if fucking Linda hadn't been standing there, her mouth agape. It would have been absolutely stunning if Linda's brother wasn't a part of a task force that specialized in hunting in rogue benders. It would have been amazingly awe inspiringly breath taking if you didn't just realize that you were now a fucking Avatar. As hell began to break loose, you stare forlornly at the garishly decorated mug of sub par tea. It had actually smelled pretty good. If only you had gotten to have a taste before becoming damn fugitive. -FIN-? This will probably be buried af but please let me know what you think! I tried to keep this as neutral as possible so that anyone could relate!	Jin sat in the basement of an old warehouse wishing her tea was warmer. Everyone around her looked defeated as yet another raid had taken place in their neighborhood. The officers stormed into homes and rounded up the people to submit them to 'testing'. This time they found an infant who tested positive for waterbending. They stole him away The goal had become to eliminate all benders from society. It started when the surrounding towns and villages of the Earth Kingdom declared their independence from Ba Sing Se. The result of this declaration was a massive civil war that ended in many deaths. In particular, it was the earth benders that were hit hardest with the casualties. They were employed extensively on both sides and by the time the war was over there simply weren't that many left to carry in the ability. As for the airbenders, well there never really have been that many of them since the Hundred Years War; and so many firebenders left the Fire Nation after that War and had children with people from other nations that firebenders simply weren't seen again for generations; water benders have always been a small group and with immigration from the Southern and Northern Water Tribes to The Republic the same thing happened to them as it did the firebenders. Nobody had anticipated that the four nations being so intermingled would result in a dilution of the bending powers. They found that individuals who would have otherwise been capable of bending were now unable because they had bending parents of different elements. Nobody can bend just two elements alone, so they just cancelled each other out. Because of this, it has become very uncommon for someone to have bending capabilities, and the new government in place has taken extensive measures to eliminate the few who can. The logic was much the same as Tarlok's, but far more compelling with so much fewer benders out there. Soon enough the entire council was lead by solely nonbenders. There was no voice for the benders. Returning to the test, though, it was done by exposing the suspected benders to each of the elements and watching what happens. Simply pressing earth against an earth bender like Jin was enough to know what she was capable of. They had a tool that could measure the vibrations of the elements when in proximity to the tested. However minute, they could tell when someone had the ability to bend any of the elements. It was bad enough if they found that they could bend one element, even worse if they found that they could bend more than two. This was assumed, of course. Nobody had encountered an Avatar in 60 years. Stories spread about newborns being found with the abilities of the Avatar and simply disappearing from the hospital in the middle of the night or showing up dead the next morning. Of course, many people wanted to believe that their deceased child was the Avatar, so the story gets tossed around a lot; but there is truth to be told in these tales. Jin was in a basement with other benders watching them practice their ancient and forbidden arts. There were 14 of them, and most were either water and fire benders. There were only two other earth benders on top of Jin. They had a single airbender friend named Tashi but he enjoyed flying his airglider at night too much, and went missing several months ago. Jin held her cup in her hand and stared intently at the tea inside. She could see a layer of dust in it. Probably from all the earthbending, she thought. She looked up at her earthbending kin in the corner practicing rock lunges and thought about the eventual eradication of her people. They were 9 and 17 years old and they both had no parents. Both their parents were earthbending renegades that managed to hide their identities and have children. It was considered a capital offense and their parents died. They spent their lives in hiding with each other's families and we're both very close. She remembered meeting her first earthbender four years ago. He taught her everything she knew. She eventually fell in love with him too, but it would never work out for them. He had been captured and tested positive for earthbending. They sterilized him to prevent him from having children and when he came back he lost much of his will to live. She remembered what he said before he left. "Jin, what's the point?" He had just told her that he was leaving. "You and I can never have children. You need to have children, to carry our legacy as a people. I am no longer good for you. All I can give you now is my earthbending experience, and you already have all of it. I'm sorry about what happened, but I need to go somewhere else to train others in our sacred art." He walked away but she did not pursue him. He already knew how she felt. Jin thought from time to time about having children, but she only wanted them with him. She told him she wasnt have them with anybody else. He could only hope that she would change her mind in the future. He called her selfish for refusing to bear children with another earthbender, but she didn't care. It was her choice. The boy and the girl were summoning earth beneath them with their feet and lunging forward. They would then turn back and lunge in the opposite direction. They repeated this back and forth to get a feel of the earth with their feet. It was an intermediate level skill to be able to bend with your feet and not just your hands, and they were both progressing nicely. Jin's tea was still cold, and the dust was ruining the taste. She made a move to bend the dust from out of her cup and something happened that she did not expect. As she pulled the dust from out her cup the tea itself seemed to cling to the particles. She looked around to see if one of the water benders was messing with her, but they seemed to be occupied elsewhere. She tried harder to remove the particles but every time she did the water held fast to the tiny pieces. She released the particles and lowered her hand. Her hand lowering caused a change in her tea. She felt that familiar pull as her body started to bend. The energy flowed from her hand and outward towards some bendable element. The tea grow dramatically colder and soon tiny fibrils of ice started to form on the surface. Alarmed, she threw her hand back from the cup and bended the tea out of the cup and onto the floor. She screamed. The other benders stopped what they were doing and started to stare. "What are you doing Jin?" A fire bender asked her this. "Is everything okay?" "Ye- yes... I just spilled my tea and it was pretty hot. Sorry." They nodded and she left the room. "I need to go rinse my hands." She walked to the bathroom and stared at herself in the mirror. She then looked down at the sink and at the many water droplets on its surface. She waved her hand over them and acted like she was earth bending. The water droplets started to lift hemselves from the surface and adhere to her hand, moving up her arm. Her eyes widened in terror. She was waterbending
	[WP] As it turns out, the Avatar is still being reborn to this day. Unfortunately, if the government finds the Avatar, they’re killed before they liberate society. The handful of Benders left are few and far between. And you, an introverted Earthbender, just froze the liquid in your cup of tea.	I laughed, holding the cup upside-down. My three-year old self was not aware of what this meant. For me, it was just another trick, just as natural as bending rocks or dirt. I looked up to my mother, smiling- Just to find her staring at the cup. As the cup froze, she froze as well. The good-hearted, cheerful young woman's face was almost as pale as the big marble table we where seated at for breakfast. I had never seen her like this, and I realized I had done something wrong. My smile vanished. Confused and scared, I turned my head to look at my father, just as he dropped his cup. It fell almost as if in slow-motion, and it shattered into thousand pieces on the hard table's surface. But no one even seemed to notice. "Ragin..." Mother had almost no voice. She stared at him. But my father did not say a word, he just brushed tea off his uniform with the back of his hand, then pushed the chair back. "Ragin!" Her voice sounded fierce all of the sudden. My father stood up and grabbed me by my wrist, pulling me to my feet. I cried, more out of fear than out of pain. He took my to my room, shoving me inside. "You- You stay in your room, do you understand?" I nodded and watched him close the door. I just stood there. I did not know what to do. I heard them fight as I stared at my bedroom's door, but they where much louder then usual. While I could usually hear his loud voice, it sounded muffled. It was my mother who was screaming at the top of her lungs, and I could hear every word as I pressed my ear to the door. "You can't possibly... He's our son!" I heard her slap him, and the sound of what must had been his vPhone dropping onto the floor. What followed, I only remember very vaguely. But I never had witnessed such powerful earth-bending to this day. The building was shaking, and my father was screaming in pain. Half of the building was just - gone. My mother hugged me, and I could feel her wet tears against my cheek. Then We ran. We ran to this day. I... I can not express the grief I feel now. She not only saved me, but the revolution would not have been possible without her. She fought. She negotiated. And she tough me everything I know. Far more than just earth-bending. She died far too young. I just wish we could have put her to rest in her home-town, but it is still a long way to peace.	This is only my second time writing, criticism is appreciated. It didn’t turn out like I had intended, but I figured I may as well post it anyway. ————— Carl was, all things considered, an ordinary man. He woke up every day, dressed in his suit and tie, kissed his wife and children goodbye, and went to work. His cell phone was that of an ordinary man, with various social media apps, none of which had more than a few notifications. He worked at his ordinary job doing ordinary programming. His team was small and focused, and they rarely had any arguments. It was the perfect kind of team, one that could get any job done when given the means. Carl had heard the rumors, the stories. He participated in the gossip just like any other middle-aged man would do. The stories told of an Avatar, a being so powerful that he could singlehandedly take over the world. He could control all four of the primary elements: water, earth, fire, and air. They also told stories of benders, people who could control a single element using martial arts. But of course, that was all a load of shit. Humans didn’t have supernatural powers. That was the kind of thing that children believed, that kept them entertained when they weren’t buried in their tablets. It was nothing more than fairy tales. But, as any ordinary Dad would do, he used those stories he learned as children for his own children’s benefit, taking the form of their bedtime stories. His kids always took great interest in his stories, and would beg for him to tell the tale of the Avatar to them every night. Carl supposed that they wanted to be benders, and when he thought about it, he decided he would like that too. It was an ordinary day. The sun was shining, the A/C was humming, and the sound of keyboards permeated the room. Carl had spent the last week trying to hunt down a problem with their deployment system. “This is ridiculous,” he exclaimed, pounding his fists on the desk in front of him. “How can I debug such a tiny issue in such a large project!?” Carl realized he was getting angry, and took deep breaths to calm himself. No sooner had he regained his composure then there was a loud BANG in the next room over. A woman screamed, more bangs. Carl realized with a flood of horror that he was hearing gunshots. The door slammed open and a man blundered through. His eyes were wild, his hair rumpled, and his shirt was torn in half at the waistline. In his hand was a semiautomatic rifle, and he screamed as he starting shooting everything in sight. “Look out!” Carl screamed as he took cover under his desk. The woman across the aisle from him, Jane, was attempting to do the same when the man caught sight of her. Within an instant, thick crimson blood spattered her desk and Jane fell to the floor, dead as a tree stump. It took a moment. Just a moment, in which Carl comprehended the scene in front of him. A crazed, half-drunk, obviously mentally ill mountain of a man had just killed a small, innocent, lovely young woman in cold blood. Carl felt the anger rise up in him again, but this time, he didn’t even try to contain it. “You bastard!” Carl let out those words with a bloodcurdling scream. The man’s eyes went wide with horror as Carl stood up through his own desk, the aluminum frame tearing itself to shreds around him. Carl couldn’t even think anymore. All he wanted was for the man to suffer for what he had done. “YOU,” the sound of a thousand voices erupted from Carl’s own mouth. The murderer scampered back as the sheer force of Carl’s will locked on him. He was lifted into the air, his limbs contorting into knots, blood spurting free from his throat as Carl crushed him under the pressure of his own bodily fluids. Carl watched mercilessly as he commanded the man to DIE, and die he did. When it was over, Carl lay on the floor, groaning and heaving from the effort. Without knowing how, he had just commanded another man to die, and his wish had come true. All of Carl’s inner ideologies screamed out in anguish. He had just killed a man. Whether or not it was justified, he had just ended someone else’s life. He would never, ever do that again.
	[WP] As it turns out, the Avatar is still being reborn to this day. Unfortunately, if the government finds the Avatar, they’re killed before they liberate society. The handful of Benders left are few and far between. And you, an introverted Earthbender, just froze the liquid in your cup of tea.	I know bending is cool and all, and I love reading the Legends, but I never believed it had any place in the modern world. When it comes to escapist mythology, well; I'm still waiting for my letter from Hogwarts. That always seemed like a better fit. I love books, and learning, I can do that. Martial Arts, on the other hand, always seemed out of reach. That doesn't mean I didn't try it. My older brother and I tried every type of sparring as kids. We'd watch wrestling and immediately create personalities, costumes, trash talk, and full Nelsons. After one of those holds, I couldn't walk for a week. Then there was an ancient copy of the Matrix, and we stole mom and dad's coats and went at it. I think I only came out of that with a concussion and a black eye. You can see the pattern, right? Of course it was my golden boy older brother who changed my reality forever. This time we weren't playing, we were fighting. That happened a lot when my parents weren't around. It's hard for kids, stuck in the house all the time for safety, filled with dreams from our scholar-parents giant collection of historical media. Rather than think about all the dangers they faced out there, we cursed the home we were trapped in, our scraped together "education", and each other, the only people we ever got to see. So we're fighting, no holds barred. He's double my weight, with a longer reach and muscles. I'm small and desperate, seizing any opportunity to go for vulnerable areas and race back out of range. Usually I could wear him down, but he wasn't getting any less mad. Suddenly, our stone fireplace seems to move on its own, and it's coming at me! Next thing I know, I'm in the room my parents designate as a hospital, since we could never afford a real one. I'm covered in scratches, bruises, and mortar dust. My brother is looming more contrite than I've ever seen him. "I'm so sorry", dad muttered, handing me a cup of tea, "I never thought either of you would be able to..." able to what? "Your grandparents were earthbenders." "What are you talking about? There hadn't been a bender in centuries. If they were still around, we'd know. Might as well tell me polar bear dogs aren't extinct." "Our government has worked very hard to make it so", mom said, tears in her eyes. Dad rubbed his temples like a headache was coming on, "Why do you think we never sent you to school?" "We couldn't afford it" I said bitterly. "That's part of it. But we didn't want you exposed to their propaganda, their revisionist history. They'd have you believe they, and they only, have the answer to the Great Divide. Our poverty would never keep us from the benefits the Donors can provide. It's brainwashing. They'd turn you against our family without you even knowing who we are." "Who are we?" "The last of the ancient families. They'd kill us if they knew your grandparents were born in the earth kingdom." "So I can earthbend?" I asked, suddenly thinking Hogwarts wasn't my only hope. "No", mom said, "he can", gesturing to my unusually quiet, unusually guilty-looking brother. "I could've killed you" he said. "Oh" of course, I'm not special, golden boy is I felt bitter bile rise up my throat. I hated myself and the tiny world I inhabited. Then CRACK, my mother gasped, and I watched the pieces of ceramic fall away from my now-frozen cube of tea. The tiny world I resented seemed to shrink away, and all I wanted was to have it back.	This is only my second time writing, criticism is appreciated. It didn’t turn out like I had intended, but I figured I may as well post it anyway. ————— Carl was, all things considered, an ordinary man. He woke up every day, dressed in his suit and tie, kissed his wife and children goodbye, and went to work. His cell phone was that of an ordinary man, with various social media apps, none of which had more than a few notifications. He worked at his ordinary job doing ordinary programming. His team was small and focused, and they rarely had any arguments. It was the perfect kind of team, one that could get any job done when given the means. Carl had heard the rumors, the stories. He participated in the gossip just like any other middle-aged man would do. The stories told of an Avatar, a being so powerful that he could singlehandedly take over the world. He could control all four of the primary elements: water, earth, fire, and air. They also told stories of benders, people who could control a single element using martial arts. But of course, that was all a load of shit. Humans didn’t have supernatural powers. That was the kind of thing that children believed, that kept them entertained when they weren’t buried in their tablets. It was nothing more than fairy tales. But, as any ordinary Dad would do, he used those stories he learned as children for his own children’s benefit, taking the form of their bedtime stories. His kids always took great interest in his stories, and would beg for him to tell the tale of the Avatar to them every night. Carl supposed that they wanted to be benders, and when he thought about it, he decided he would like that too. It was an ordinary day. The sun was shining, the A/C was humming, and the sound of keyboards permeated the room. Carl had spent the last week trying to hunt down a problem with their deployment system. “This is ridiculous,” he exclaimed, pounding his fists on the desk in front of him. “How can I debug such a tiny issue in such a large project!?” Carl realized he was getting angry, and took deep breaths to calm himself. No sooner had he regained his composure then there was a loud BANG in the next room over. A woman screamed, more bangs. Carl realized with a flood of horror that he was hearing gunshots. The door slammed open and a man blundered through. His eyes were wild, his hair rumpled, and his shirt was torn in half at the waistline. In his hand was a semiautomatic rifle, and he screamed as he starting shooting everything in sight. “Look out!” Carl screamed as he took cover under his desk. The woman across the aisle from him, Jane, was attempting to do the same when the man caught sight of her. Within an instant, thick crimson blood spattered her desk and Jane fell to the floor, dead as a tree stump. It took a moment. Just a moment, in which Carl comprehended the scene in front of him. A crazed, half-drunk, obviously mentally ill mountain of a man had just killed a small, innocent, lovely young woman in cold blood. Carl felt the anger rise up in him again, but this time, he didn’t even try to contain it. “You bastard!” Carl let out those words with a bloodcurdling scream. The man’s eyes went wide with horror as Carl stood up through his own desk, the aluminum frame tearing itself to shreds around him. Carl couldn’t even think anymore. All he wanted was for the man to suffer for what he had done. “YOU,” the sound of a thousand voices erupted from Carl’s own mouth. The murderer scampered back as the sheer force of Carl’s will locked on him. He was lifted into the air, his limbs contorting into knots, blood spurting free from his throat as Carl crushed him under the pressure of his own bodily fluids. Carl watched mercilessly as he commanded the man to DIE, and die he did. When it was over, Carl lay on the floor, groaning and heaving from the effort. Without knowing how, he had just commanded another man to die, and his wish had come true. All of Carl’s inner ideologies screamed out in anguish. He had just killed a man. Whether or not it was justified, he had just ended someone else’s life. He would never, ever do that again.
	[WP] As it turns out, the Avatar is still being reborn to this day. Unfortunately, if the government finds the Avatar, they’re killed before they liberate society. The handful of Benders left are few and far between. And you, an introverted Earthbender, just froze the liquid in your cup of tea.	The students filed into the cafeteria in a moderate pace. There were trays on a table at the start of the lunch line, with napkins and utensils neatly organized. My class moved mechanically; three years of college and twelve years of grade school provided more than enough muscle memory for this. The only sounds reverberating were the shuffling of feet, a low murmur amongst the tables, and plastic spoons clattering against metal pots and pans. I had not checked the menu when I entered the line, but the smell of beef stock - and what I hoped was bread - told me all I needed to know. I would need a cup of something to wash it down. I grabbed a cup. There weren’t ever many choices in the exquisite cuisine of Shisa Academy. In truth, there weren’t many choices in this college. You take a major after you study for three years. Sleep when the dorm lights turn off. No talking in the lunch line. Had I not been gifted tuition here due to my father’s work, there still wouldn’t be much choice in a different school. Order had been established, and it was quite peaceful and progressive, if at times aggressively so. There was no room in this world for chaos and propaganda, and myths like an ‘Avatar’ - not sure what that means - would stir negativity in places with so many people at once. My mind tends to wander to strange places when I try to avoid something, like the smell of - is that a paste? - something hopefully more edible than last Friday’s meal. Rei stood next to me. Her face contorted as the cook slapped the mixture on to her tray. She looked at me to save her, shoulder-length strands brushing away from her pained eyes. I held up my cup before giving her a shrug, and proceeded to the tea basin. When I finally sat with my class of fellow third-years, I took a good look. For the next three years we’ll be in different classes, finally studying our respective majors, becoming the future leaders of our country. I hadn’t paid much attention earlier, but I was sure sometime over the last year Elisa dyed her hair a darker shade. Isaiah was the same as ever, sneaking on his litePod when the enforcers weren’t looking. He found a way to bypass the wireless security before attending courses. The twins, Sung and Huin, played a game together on their own litePods. Then there was Rei, the only other person I really talked to in class, sitting on the corner picking at her meat paste. Barry, Elias, and Amin huddled together, body language louder than their voices. Jang-suk and Martha, the longest lasting couple in the entire school, huddled together; her tight dark curls covered the earbuds they shared. Other faces and names I’d gotten used to - Ronni, Elmer, Sayuri, Sheila - people I might’ve gotten to know, if it had not been for my father. My career politician father, and his bender-free college. This was supposedly a haven for nonbenders, those who couldn’t interact with the natural elements, but there were more than a few sympathizers to the dying breed. I might’ve gotten to know some of them, if it wouldn’t ruin his career. It’s alright, I thought. And it is, in truth. I’ve made friends here, and though I’ve kept my own bending a secret, I’m sure they wouldn’t mind. The benders left in the world don’t do much more than an average low-class citizen, if they haven’t been evicted from their houses. If they had houses at all. Much stigma remained about us despite our - my ancestors, I suppose - part in establishing peace in the world. There just weren’t many protections in place for the few benders left, and some of them found housing together, I’ve heard. There was a culture there, at least. Maybe there are more benders than we think. Maybe I’ll visit them, when I graduate in three years. Maybe I can get away from my father... Wrapped in my mind again, I must’ve missed Rei take a bite of that paste, because she urged me to hand her my tea. I handed it to her, only or her to thrust it back at me forcefully after taking a sip. The cup was still so warm that I almost dropped it. “Was it hot?” I let some smugness sneak into my question. “Oh light,” Rei managed to choke out between spitting and coughing. “I need to start bringing in my own food. I can’t tell if that’s fish or mulch.” I thought I smelled beef earlier. I decided to nix the food and took off the lid to cool my tea down. Rei never said much, but it was always pleasant when we had banter. “You think they have food-benders out there?” she went on. “Or flavor benders? You’d think with all this higher education they would hire better cooks.” Her face was still twisted with her mouth full of aftertaste. “Heh, maybe. Did you see the video on Seddit with the Soundbender?” I blew on the tea. “She popped one dude’s eardrums when they tried to arrest her.” The voice belonged to Isaiah. “They probably thought she was the Avatar.” Surely he was a sympathizer. He said he’d major in history at the start of this year, and I’ve seen the articles he reads on his litePod about bending. “I mean, no one’s even heard of Soundbending, and Lavabenders and Metalbenders haven’t been discovered for decades. “Chris?” said Rei. Lava? My throat caught. “I didn’t know that was even possible...” “Yeah! And just imagine, if there were Lightbenders-“ “Chris!” Rei again. “How did you do that?” I finally turned to her. “Do what?” Suddenly something felt odd. No, it felt cold. It was my hand. In it was a frosted cup of tea. I heard Isaiah gasp. This was a problem. Two people had seen me bend in a nonbending area, and if I was unlucky, so did an enforcer. The worst part was, water wasn’t my element.	This is only my second time writing, criticism is appreciated. It didn’t turn out like I had intended, but I figured I may as well post it anyway. ————— Carl was, all things considered, an ordinary man. He woke up every day, dressed in his suit and tie, kissed his wife and children goodbye, and went to work. His cell phone was that of an ordinary man, with various social media apps, none of which had more than a few notifications. He worked at his ordinary job doing ordinary programming. His team was small and focused, and they rarely had any arguments. It was the perfect kind of team, one that could get any job done when given the means. Carl had heard the rumors, the stories. He participated in the gossip just like any other middle-aged man would do. The stories told of an Avatar, a being so powerful that he could singlehandedly take over the world. He could control all four of the primary elements: water, earth, fire, and air. They also told stories of benders, people who could control a single element using martial arts. But of course, that was all a load of shit. Humans didn’t have supernatural powers. That was the kind of thing that children believed, that kept them entertained when they weren’t buried in their tablets. It was nothing more than fairy tales. But, as any ordinary Dad would do, he used those stories he learned as children for his own children’s benefit, taking the form of their bedtime stories. His kids always took great interest in his stories, and would beg for him to tell the tale of the Avatar to them every night. Carl supposed that they wanted to be benders, and when he thought about it, he decided he would like that too. It was an ordinary day. The sun was shining, the A/C was humming, and the sound of keyboards permeated the room. Carl had spent the last week trying to hunt down a problem with their deployment system. “This is ridiculous,” he exclaimed, pounding his fists on the desk in front of him. “How can I debug such a tiny issue in such a large project!?” Carl realized he was getting angry, and took deep breaths to calm himself. No sooner had he regained his composure then there was a loud BANG in the next room over. A woman screamed, more bangs. Carl realized with a flood of horror that he was hearing gunshots. The door slammed open and a man blundered through. His eyes were wild, his hair rumpled, and his shirt was torn in half at the waistline. In his hand was a semiautomatic rifle, and he screamed as he starting shooting everything in sight. “Look out!” Carl screamed as he took cover under his desk. The woman across the aisle from him, Jane, was attempting to do the same when the man caught sight of her. Within an instant, thick crimson blood spattered her desk and Jane fell to the floor, dead as a tree stump. It took a moment. Just a moment, in which Carl comprehended the scene in front of him. A crazed, half-drunk, obviously mentally ill mountain of a man had just killed a small, innocent, lovely young woman in cold blood. Carl felt the anger rise up in him again, but this time, he didn’t even try to contain it. “You bastard!” Carl let out those words with a bloodcurdling scream. The man’s eyes went wide with horror as Carl stood up through his own desk, the aluminum frame tearing itself to shreds around him. Carl couldn’t even think anymore. All he wanted was for the man to suffer for what he had done. “YOU,” the sound of a thousand voices erupted from Carl’s own mouth. The murderer scampered back as the sheer force of Carl’s will locked on him. He was lifted into the air, his limbs contorting into knots, blood spurting free from his throat as Carl crushed him under the pressure of his own bodily fluids. Carl watched mercilessly as he commanded the man to DIE, and die he did. When it was over, Carl lay on the floor, groaning and heaving from the effort. Without knowing how, he had just commanded another man to die, and his wish had come true. All of Carl’s inner ideologies screamed out in anguish. He had just killed a man. Whether or not it was justified, he had just ended someone else’s life. He would never, ever do that again.
	[WP] As it turns out, the Avatar is still being reborn to this day. Unfortunately, if the government finds the Avatar, they’re killed before they liberate society. The handful of Benders left are few and far between. And you, an introverted Earthbender, just froze the liquid in your cup of tea.	"Finnick! Get your lazy earthbending butt up! We need to reinforce these structures those fire-fairies just welded!" That was Mark, he's the master builder here in Rebellion: Block Four (RB4). The last of the four main Rebellion camps still left standing after the witch-hunt was fully endorsed by congress. Here's the issue I have with this rebellion, they have nearly 10,000 times the numbers in an effort to shut us down while we have what? The ability to manipulate one sect of nature? Nothing when compared to firearms, I don't know why there is even a rebellion... It's a lost cause. I know what you're thinking reading this as well, 'then why the hell are you there?' And the answer is actually easy, why does any young-adult male in any situation that puts him at risk? The love of his life... Rose. Waterbender, beautiful, something I can't put words to to be honest. She was in no way a model, but she had this aura around her, something that I gravitate towards. She was wild, almost feral, and amazing. I signed up right when I saw her freeze a whole group of anti-benders in order to save a child. "Finnick, I need you to put serious effort in making sure these are well done and not going to crumble with a single tomahawk missile." My job here? I work as an integrity tester. There were a few earthbenders here, a few worked with the metal to ensure that it was decent enough to withstand some explosions. I am the only one who is titled: Integrity Tester. I somehow had a more in-tune grasp of metal working and earthbending in general that I was placed on the opposite of construction, but destruction. My job was to put immense strain on the infrastructure many firebenders, earthbenders, waterbenders and airbenders put many hours into. I was able to target large grasps of metal and rock at one time and simulate waves and downward forces that would come from explosions. Our shaman, what they call those who specialize in what's behind bending, says that I'm just more adapted to creating havoc which is different than most earthbenders, who focus naturally towards defense. I went to work. We were about a mile below the earth at this point in RB4. I knew how missiles worked because I experienced the variety of them at the governments disposal while in the rebellion. It would ring through the ground like an unnatural wave seeking to flatten everything in it's wake. I had the memory deep in me for every missile I felt in the ground and what it did to the earth around me. I replicated those, all of them. Sirens went off in the halls to alarm those within the construct that they were under attack, but it was just me. Blowing up the earth around the structure in a feign bombing run. It held. "Alright, everyone back to their work. Nothing to see here." Mark was one to really get everyone moving. I sat in a pool of my own sweat unable to stand quite yet. "Hey bud, that was some serious force you put out today. Seriously, go get yourself something to drink and take the rest of the day off. Great job, love watching you work." Mark was cold but at the same time could be an alright guy overall. Almost like he knew what to say in certain situations, even if he didn't mean it. I made my way to the cafeteria. Being the "destructive" earthbender I have a weird reputation where people think I'm a mean person or at best a badass. I get lots of stares and a few people move out of my way. I like that perk to be honest, I don't really like talking. I make it to the cafeteria and I see there is a line at the coffee station, I don't want to wait so I make my way to the tea stand. "Finn! That was awesome! I felt that in my room!" That was Elizabeth, she was an airbender that worked on 'rapid cooling of material' or something. I don't quite remember, all I know is that she is a sweet girl and lost both her parents to the filth that is the government. I grabbed my tea and walked over to the only table that didn't have that many people on it. I was still recuperating from the strain of work when I sat down. I lifted my tea to my mouth and took a long swig, but I thought it to be a little cold. I wanted something warm and this just wasn't it. "Something wrong deary?" The cafeteria ladies were always immediate when they sensed something wrong. All of them were old waterbenders, just doing the best they can in order to help those fighting. Most of them lost their whole family to the rebellion. "No ma'am, just the teas a little cold." "Oh, let me take care of that!" She bent the liquid in the cup out and into the sink near by and pour me a new cup from the steaming kettle she had. "Thanks." "You rest up now Finnick. We are all so grateful you put your heart and soul into your work. " That's another thing, people think of me as hardworking. I've just had to fight all my life so I only know one thing; Survive. And to survive there just wasn't any time to half-ass anything. I grab the tea and delicately put it to my lips in order to not burn myself. Cold. I set the tea down and stared at it for a period of time. It began to freeze. I look around to see if a waterbender was pranking me, but not a soul was around nor paying attention to me. I thought at this time, 'was it me? But that would mean..." and as I thought about it I saw another lady work her way over here to see if I was okay. I put my hand over the cup to try to mask what I had done. I couldn't let anyone know what I was, I couldn't. "Hello there son. You seem off, everything alright?" At this time the lady noticed my hand on my cup. This is it, this is where I get caught. But, I feel a sort of steam on the palm of my hand covering the cup. I remove my hand and the trapped steam rolls out as if nothing had happened. "Oh nothing, I was just... warming my hands up, it gets pretty cold down here." "You don't have to tell me twice! Those airbenders that work in ventilation sure do their job!" She wanders off and I leave to get to my room. I am sweating profusely. Walking along the halls I keep to myself even more so than normal. I don't make eye contact, just b-line it to my room. "Finn you damn idiot! I was trying to balance water when you started your testing! I am so close to being able to make perfect ice sheets!" Shoot, my roommate Chris was in the room. "Hey Chris, I'm sorry but I'm pretty distraught right now, could I have the room?" "Oh. You need to meditate again? No problem man, I'm here if you need to talk." "Thanks man." Most benders meditate often in order to spend time attuning themselves with their nature. I do so almost religiously because then I have a reason that no one should bother me and I don't feel bad about not talking to people. I cross my legs on my mat and reach out to the earth around me. The problem is, I feel like there is more there. Upon this realization I feel a wave of raw emotion take over me. Pain, fear, suffering, unjustness and hope. I receive images all around me. I had little Avatar knowledge at the time but I know that they were able to attune themselves to past avatars in order to gain wisdom. But, the last avatar known was a hundred years ago or so. I received images of the last remaining seconds of poor little children's lives. I felt every stab from a knife used to silence these little Avatars. The looks on their parents faces as they see their child, me in this case, slowly slip away into darkness. I did not see wisdom, I saw pain. Pain inflicted by those who seek to silence us benders. The images and feeling went on for what seemed like hours until finally I reached a point where it was no longer a toddler being strangled by an anti-bending unit. This was a girl, I knew everything about her at that exact moment. She was seventeen, originally thought to just be a waterbender, she found her Avatar powers in the middle of a market. She was touching a carpet when it caught fire, she didn't know she could do such a thing or else she would have never. She was a kind soul, a beautiful young girl just wanting to live peacefully in the world. Then I felt the grasp of a noose around her neck, my neck. Drug away into an ally she was approached by three anti-bending units who saw the whole thing happen. But this wasn't a mercy killing or an execution. They did unspeakable things to this young girl. I wanted to leave the image but something held me back, some unseen force made me witness what was happening. When it was all over I was jolted back into my own reality and slammed my head into the floor, I blacked out. "Finn! Finn! Holy heck dude, are you alright! Did you hit your head?" Chris was freaking out over me. "Yea. Yea Chris I'm fine, just had a scary dream and knocked my head. No big." "Must have been some dream." "Where is the nearest offensive task force sign up sheet?" "Woah, Finn. Are you finally going to go out and fight? They could use you. What changed your mind man?" "I feel obligated to fight for those who have died before me now." "Was it Rose?" The pang shot through my heart like it always did. "No, something else has stirred this raw emotion in me."	This is only my second time writing, criticism is appreciated. It didn’t turn out like I had intended, but I figured I may as well post it anyway. ————— Carl was, all things considered, an ordinary man. He woke up every day, dressed in his suit and tie, kissed his wife and children goodbye, and went to work. His cell phone was that of an ordinary man, with various social media apps, none of which had more than a few notifications. He worked at his ordinary job doing ordinary programming. His team was small and focused, and they rarely had any arguments. It was the perfect kind of team, one that could get any job done when given the means. Carl had heard the rumors, the stories. He participated in the gossip just like any other middle-aged man would do. The stories told of an Avatar, a being so powerful that he could singlehandedly take over the world. He could control all four of the primary elements: water, earth, fire, and air. They also told stories of benders, people who could control a single element using martial arts. But of course, that was all a load of shit. Humans didn’t have supernatural powers. That was the kind of thing that children believed, that kept them entertained when they weren’t buried in their tablets. It was nothing more than fairy tales. But, as any ordinary Dad would do, he used those stories he learned as children for his own children’s benefit, taking the form of their bedtime stories. His kids always took great interest in his stories, and would beg for him to tell the tale of the Avatar to them every night. Carl supposed that they wanted to be benders, and when he thought about it, he decided he would like that too. It was an ordinary day. The sun was shining, the A/C was humming, and the sound of keyboards permeated the room. Carl had spent the last week trying to hunt down a problem with their deployment system. “This is ridiculous,” he exclaimed, pounding his fists on the desk in front of him. “How can I debug such a tiny issue in such a large project!?” Carl realized he was getting angry, and took deep breaths to calm himself. No sooner had he regained his composure then there was a loud BANG in the next room over. A woman screamed, more bangs. Carl realized with a flood of horror that he was hearing gunshots. The door slammed open and a man blundered through. His eyes were wild, his hair rumpled, and his shirt was torn in half at the waistline. In his hand was a semiautomatic rifle, and he screamed as he starting shooting everything in sight. “Look out!” Carl screamed as he took cover under his desk. The woman across the aisle from him, Jane, was attempting to do the same when the man caught sight of her. Within an instant, thick crimson blood spattered her desk and Jane fell to the floor, dead as a tree stump. It took a moment. Just a moment, in which Carl comprehended the scene in front of him. A crazed, half-drunk, obviously mentally ill mountain of a man had just killed a small, innocent, lovely young woman in cold blood. Carl felt the anger rise up in him again, but this time, he didn’t even try to contain it. “You bastard!” Carl let out those words with a bloodcurdling scream. The man’s eyes went wide with horror as Carl stood up through his own desk, the aluminum frame tearing itself to shreds around him. Carl couldn’t even think anymore. All he wanted was for the man to suffer for what he had done. “YOU,” the sound of a thousand voices erupted from Carl’s own mouth. The murderer scampered back as the sheer force of Carl’s will locked on him. He was lifted into the air, his limbs contorting into knots, blood spurting free from his throat as Carl crushed him under the pressure of his own bodily fluids. Carl watched mercilessly as he commanded the man to DIE, and die he did. When it was over, Carl lay on the floor, groaning and heaving from the effort. Without knowing how, he had just commanded another man to die, and his wish had come true. All of Carl’s inner ideologies screamed out in anguish. He had just killed a man. Whether or not it was justified, he had just ended someone else’s life. He would never, ever do that again.
	[WP] As it turns out, the Avatar is still being reborn to this day. Unfortunately, if the government finds the Avatar, they’re killed before they liberate society. The handful of Benders left are few and far between. And you, an introverted Earthbender, just froze the liquid in your cup of tea.	When Avatar Korra was questioned as to how she learned to bend the elements so quickly, she replied, “I think it was like a switch flipped. I just knew.” The frozen cup of tea in my hand should’ve been cold, mug included. But my hand was hot. Not a harmful warmth, but comfortable - like a warm breath caressing my skin. Without even trying, I knew. I knew that if I just willed it, flame would erupt from my hand. A certain power began to also fill my lungs, as if reacting to the deep breath I had taken when the tea froze. Dropping my cup of tea, I put one hand over my mouth, and pinched my nose closed with the other. No matter what, I couldn’t let my breath escape - couldn’t airbend no matter the cost. As my cup crashed to the floor, I heard my sister Mary cry, “Hey, you okay?” I couldn’t answer. A few seconds passed before her feet hit the tile floor and started toward the kitchen. Her voice came from around the corner, “Hey, Ella, what happened?” As she turned the corner and saw what I was doing, she froze, horror creeping into her expression. Tears began to drip down my cheeks. “Oh god,” she whispered. The airbenders had been wiped out twice, the first time by the firebenders, and then a second time by the earthbenders. The science of bending had made leaps and bounds after Korra. The realization that benders were becoming stronger with time made the natural phenomenon easier to study. My sister moved, her body likely acting ahead of her mind. With one smooth hand motion, she broke the metal sensors placed in the kitchen - things built to detect airbending, and the avatar as an extension. Breaking them would cause a silent alarm to go off, but we wouldn't be stopped by containment foam. “Breathe!” she said, holding my shoulders. Releasing my mouth and nose, I started panting, each breath creating a light breeze around me. “Mary,” I choked out. “I’m so sorry, I- I’m the avatar. I’m-” She took hold of my arm and pulled me forward. “Come on.” “What-” “We’re running.” “But-” I stopped myself. She knew the risks - what helping the avatar implied. She had likely carried out a few sentences herself as a state bender. With another wave of her hand, she blew apart the wall of our kitchen, revealing that there was already a few mounds of black dirt outside. Still dragging me forward, and without breaking pace, she stamped her foot on the ground, causing the three black mounds to melt. Muffled cries came from within them. Then she stamped again, and the ground bubbled underneath us and erupted forth. With another simple motion of her feet, Mary controlled the earth to carry us forward at high speed. She looked back at me and gave her best smile. “Come on, cheer up.” I couldn’t answer. “We-” She squeezed my hand harder. “There’s supposed to be a White Lotus camp in the north. We just need to get there.” I nodded once, smiling a little for Mary. The power of the avatar was described as the power of God once mastered, able to shape continents with a few simple motions. But you’d be hard pressed to find any masters these days, and even harder pressed to find a bender who hadn’t been forced into the Earth Empire’s military. And as the earth behind us rumbled from the incoming squad of elite benders, I thought of Avatar Aang’s legend. Maybe, just maybe, we could get through this.	This is only my second time writing, criticism is appreciated. It didn’t turn out like I had intended, but I figured I may as well post it anyway. ————— Carl was, all things considered, an ordinary man. He woke up every day, dressed in his suit and tie, kissed his wife and children goodbye, and went to work. His cell phone was that of an ordinary man, with various social media apps, none of which had more than a few notifications. He worked at his ordinary job doing ordinary programming. His team was small and focused, and they rarely had any arguments. It was the perfect kind of team, one that could get any job done when given the means. Carl had heard the rumors, the stories. He participated in the gossip just like any other middle-aged man would do. The stories told of an Avatar, a being so powerful that he could singlehandedly take over the world. He could control all four of the primary elements: water, earth, fire, and air. They also told stories of benders, people who could control a single element using martial arts. But of course, that was all a load of shit. Humans didn’t have supernatural powers. That was the kind of thing that children believed, that kept them entertained when they weren’t buried in their tablets. It was nothing more than fairy tales. But, as any ordinary Dad would do, he used those stories he learned as children for his own children’s benefit, taking the form of their bedtime stories. His kids always took great interest in his stories, and would beg for him to tell the tale of the Avatar to them every night. Carl supposed that they wanted to be benders, and when he thought about it, he decided he would like that too. It was an ordinary day. The sun was shining, the A/C was humming, and the sound of keyboards permeated the room. Carl had spent the last week trying to hunt down a problem with their deployment system. “This is ridiculous,” he exclaimed, pounding his fists on the desk in front of him. “How can I debug such a tiny issue in such a large project!?” Carl realized he was getting angry, and took deep breaths to calm himself. No sooner had he regained his composure then there was a loud BANG in the next room over. A woman screamed, more bangs. Carl realized with a flood of horror that he was hearing gunshots. The door slammed open and a man blundered through. His eyes were wild, his hair rumpled, and his shirt was torn in half at the waistline. In his hand was a semiautomatic rifle, and he screamed as he starting shooting everything in sight. “Look out!” Carl screamed as he took cover under his desk. The woman across the aisle from him, Jane, was attempting to do the same when the man caught sight of her. Within an instant, thick crimson blood spattered her desk and Jane fell to the floor, dead as a tree stump. It took a moment. Just a moment, in which Carl comprehended the scene in front of him. A crazed, half-drunk, obviously mentally ill mountain of a man had just killed a small, innocent, lovely young woman in cold blood. Carl felt the anger rise up in him again, but this time, he didn’t even try to contain it. “You bastard!” Carl let out those words with a bloodcurdling scream. The man’s eyes went wide with horror as Carl stood up through his own desk, the aluminum frame tearing itself to shreds around him. Carl couldn’t even think anymore. All he wanted was for the man to suffer for what he had done. “YOU,” the sound of a thousand voices erupted from Carl’s own mouth. The murderer scampered back as the sheer force of Carl’s will locked on him. He was lifted into the air, his limbs contorting into knots, blood spurting free from his throat as Carl crushed him under the pressure of his own bodily fluids. Carl watched mercilessly as he commanded the man to DIE, and die he did. When it was over, Carl lay on the floor, groaning and heaving from the effort. Without knowing how, he had just commanded another man to die, and his wish had come true. All of Carl’s inner ideologies screamed out in anguish. He had just killed a man. Whether or not it was justified, he had just ended someone else’s life. He would never, ever do that again.
	[WP] As it turns out, the Avatar is still being reborn to this day. Unfortunately, if the government finds the Avatar, they’re killed before they liberate society. The handful of Benders left are few and far between. And you, an introverted Earthbender, just froze the liquid in your cup of tea.	"Where is the Avatar, Rahm?" I gestured to the seat in front of me. "Now, now, calm yourself, Kota. Come, sit down, have a cup of tea." "I'll pass. Now, where are they? We know you're hiding the Avatar!" I sighed. "Are you sure? It's oolong, it's really quite good. I insist, you must have a cup. Now, do you take cream these days? Sugar?" "I just said I don't want any of your stupid tea, Rahm." "Ah, right. Of course. Well, suit yourself." I began to mix the sugar into my cup. "So, how is life? I hear the new government job is going well." "Quit stalling. Tell us where the Avatar is, and we'll let you live." I set the tea down on the table, and looked him in the eye. "Kota, I'm afraid that won't be the case." "What?" Kota gasped as the tea began to freeze in my cup. "You? You're the Avatar?" "Yes, but I am calling on you, in the name of any friendship we once had. Come, join us, join the resistance. Together, we can-" I gasped as I saw the shard of metal, poking through my ribcage. As I fell to the ground, I could hear Kota talking into a radio. "Call off the search. We... we got him." As I felt my blood draining out, I took the rest of the pack of potassium nitrate crystals from my pocket and bent it into the ground as far as I could. "Good luck, Avatar, wherever you are." I whispered to myself. "May this give you the time you need."	This is only my second time writing, criticism is appreciated. It didn’t turn out like I had intended, but I figured I may as well post it anyway. ————— Carl was, all things considered, an ordinary man. He woke up every day, dressed in his suit and tie, kissed his wife and children goodbye, and went to work. His cell phone was that of an ordinary man, with various social media apps, none of which had more than a few notifications. He worked at his ordinary job doing ordinary programming. His team was small and focused, and they rarely had any arguments. It was the perfect kind of team, one that could get any job done when given the means. Carl had heard the rumors, the stories. He participated in the gossip just like any other middle-aged man would do. The stories told of an Avatar, a being so powerful that he could singlehandedly take over the world. He could control all four of the primary elements: water, earth, fire, and air. They also told stories of benders, people who could control a single element using martial arts. But of course, that was all a load of shit. Humans didn’t have supernatural powers. That was the kind of thing that children believed, that kept them entertained when they weren’t buried in their tablets. It was nothing more than fairy tales. But, as any ordinary Dad would do, he used those stories he learned as children for his own children’s benefit, taking the form of their bedtime stories. His kids always took great interest in his stories, and would beg for him to tell the tale of the Avatar to them every night. Carl supposed that they wanted to be benders, and when he thought about it, he decided he would like that too. It was an ordinary day. The sun was shining, the A/C was humming, and the sound of keyboards permeated the room. Carl had spent the last week trying to hunt down a problem with their deployment system. “This is ridiculous,” he exclaimed, pounding his fists on the desk in front of him. “How can I debug such a tiny issue in such a large project!?” Carl realized he was getting angry, and took deep breaths to calm himself. No sooner had he regained his composure then there was a loud BANG in the next room over. A woman screamed, more bangs. Carl realized with a flood of horror that he was hearing gunshots. The door slammed open and a man blundered through. His eyes were wild, his hair rumpled, and his shirt was torn in half at the waistline. In his hand was a semiautomatic rifle, and he screamed as he starting shooting everything in sight. “Look out!” Carl screamed as he took cover under his desk. The woman across the aisle from him, Jane, was attempting to do the same when the man caught sight of her. Within an instant, thick crimson blood spattered her desk and Jane fell to the floor, dead as a tree stump. It took a moment. Just a moment, in which Carl comprehended the scene in front of him. A crazed, half-drunk, obviously mentally ill mountain of a man had just killed a small, innocent, lovely young woman in cold blood. Carl felt the anger rise up in him again, but this time, he didn’t even try to contain it. “You bastard!” Carl let out those words with a bloodcurdling scream. The man’s eyes went wide with horror as Carl stood up through his own desk, the aluminum frame tearing itself to shreds around him. Carl couldn’t even think anymore. All he wanted was for the man to suffer for what he had done. “YOU,” the sound of a thousand voices erupted from Carl’s own mouth. The murderer scampered back as the sheer force of Carl’s will locked on him. He was lifted into the air, his limbs contorting into knots, blood spurting free from his throat as Carl crushed him under the pressure of his own bodily fluids. Carl watched mercilessly as he commanded the man to DIE, and die he did. When it was over, Carl lay on the floor, groaning and heaving from the effort. Without knowing how, he had just commanded another man to die, and his wish had come true. All of Carl’s inner ideologies screamed out in anguish. He had just killed a man. Whether or not it was justified, he had just ended someone else’s life. He would never, ever do that again.
	[WP] As it turns out, the Avatar is still being reborn to this day. Unfortunately, if the government finds the Avatar, they’re killed before they liberate society. The handful of Benders left are few and far between. And you, an introverted Earthbender, just froze the liquid in your cup of tea.	I laughed, holding the cup upside-down. My three-year old self was not aware of what this meant. For me, it was just another trick, just as natural as bending rocks or dirt. I looked up to my mother, smiling- Just to find her staring at the cup. As the cup froze, she froze as well. The good-hearted, cheerful young woman's face was almost as pale as the big marble table we where seated at for breakfast. I had never seen her like this, and I realized I had done something wrong. My smile vanished. Confused and scared, I turned my head to look at my father, just as he dropped his cup. It fell almost as if in slow-motion, and it shattered into thousand pieces on the hard table's surface. But no one even seemed to notice. "Ragin..." Mother had almost no voice. She stared at him. But my father did not say a word, he just brushed tea off his uniform with the back of his hand, then pushed the chair back. "Ragin!" Her voice sounded fierce all of the sudden. My father stood up and grabbed me by my wrist, pulling me to my feet. I cried, more out of fear than out of pain. He took my to my room, shoving me inside. "You- You stay in your room, do you understand?" I nodded and watched him close the door. I just stood there. I did not know what to do. I heard them fight as I stared at my bedroom's door, but they where much louder then usual. While I could usually hear his loud voice, it sounded muffled. It was my mother who was screaming at the top of her lungs, and I could hear every word as I pressed my ear to the door. "You can't possibly... He's our son!" I heard her slap him, and the sound of what must had been his vPhone dropping onto the floor. What followed, I only remember very vaguely. But I never had witnessed such powerful earth-bending to this day. The building was shaking, and my father was screaming in pain. Half of the building was just - gone. My mother hugged me, and I could feel her wet tears against my cheek. Then We ran. We ran to this day. I... I can not express the grief I feel now. She not only saved me, but the revolution would not have been possible without her. She fought. She negotiated. And she tough me everything I know. Far more than just earth-bending. She died far too young. I just wish we could have put her to rest in her home-town, but it is still a long way to peace.	Well _that_ shut him up. Mars staggered back. At his feet, Airu gave a pitiful whine. Mole stared down at what he had done. "Mars," Mole whispered, plucked his goggles off his face, up onto the top of his head. "Don't--" but the Resistance leader raised a quivering finger, and pointed it at me again, accusing. "You wanted to stay dead. You wanted to keep living underground, in the little hole - the little grave you built for yourself!" he snarled. "But _look_, you have even _less_ of an excuse now to hide!" "It's not _hiding!"_ "You're no mole," Mars turned a cold shoulder to his former friend. Airu uncoiled himself from his seated position. "You're a worm." With that stinging farewell, Mars and his companion left the coffee shop. Mole whipped the napkin from his lap to cover the mug of tea. He rose so fast the tablesettings clinked, and others cast a glance his way. _You're a worm._ The words hurt, but they were true, weren't they? Every day, members of the Resistance died trying to overthrow the Consortium. Mole was the last Earthbender known on the planet. The Consortium had thought they'd killed him long ago, but he'd gone deep underground, driven back only to help Mars, his childhood friend. _Have I always known?_ Mole stared at his gloved hands, grubby and fat. Mole slammed a hand in the front of his overcoat. He tossed a handful of coins onto the table, then fled the shop. He stepped out into the street, and was met with a smack of red over drab gray and white. The only color these days were red Consortium banners hanging from every place of business. Mole glanced this way and that down the bustling street. He could usually smell Airu before he could see Mole, but he saw neither of them. Mars would tell the others of what he saw. Mars would get himself killed. Mole felt the age-old panic rise up in him again. He slipped through the crowd, intending to put behind Mars' call to action. He wanted to ignore everything that had happened. He'd tell the others that Mole had gone to crawl back underground. And maybe that was just right. Fate had some streak of cruelty, giving the man who just wanted to stay out of everything, lest he fail the ones he love again the title of Avatar. _Avatar._ Even thinking it made Mole shake with fear. He ducked down a dark alley, bracing a hand on the brick. It was a very bad thing to cause trouble. He would go back to the underworld he had created, where he could tend for his gloomshrooms and skip rocks on his lake. "HALT!" one of the Consortium Enforcers wheeled up, white, gold and red. The camera laser-focused onto the hunched form of Mole, as he leaned against the alley wall. "YOUR DISTRESS LEVELS ARE OUT OF THE ACCEPTED RATIOS. STATE YOUR IDENTITY." "I am no one," Mole cried out. He jerked out with a fist, and a pillar of stone jettisoned the bot into the street. Mole turned and _gripped_ the earth before him, peeling back the concrete of the alley, and diving inside. He sealed it back closed over his head, safely underground. He continued the burrowing, bringing his tunneling powers to bear. As earth and stone moved around him, the sight of the frozen cup and Mars' accusing finger had seared themselves into his mind's eye. _I am no one_, he thought, pushing himself down deeper, far and away. _I am nothing._
	[WP] As it turns out, the Avatar is still being reborn to this day. Unfortunately, if the government finds the Avatar, they’re killed before they liberate society. The handful of Benders left are few and far between. And you, an introverted Earthbender, just froze the liquid in your cup of tea.	I know bending is cool and all, and I love reading the Legends, but I never believed it had any place in the modern world. When it comes to escapist mythology, well; I'm still waiting for my letter from Hogwarts. That always seemed like a better fit. I love books, and learning, I can do that. Martial Arts, on the other hand, always seemed out of reach. That doesn't mean I didn't try it. My older brother and I tried every type of sparring as kids. We'd watch wrestling and immediately create personalities, costumes, trash talk, and full Nelsons. After one of those holds, I couldn't walk for a week. Then there was an ancient copy of the Matrix, and we stole mom and dad's coats and went at it. I think I only came out of that with a concussion and a black eye. You can see the pattern, right? Of course it was my golden boy older brother who changed my reality forever. This time we weren't playing, we were fighting. That happened a lot when my parents weren't around. It's hard for kids, stuck in the house all the time for safety, filled with dreams from our scholar-parents giant collection of historical media. Rather than think about all the dangers they faced out there, we cursed the home we were trapped in, our scraped together "education", and each other, the only people we ever got to see. So we're fighting, no holds barred. He's double my weight, with a longer reach and muscles. I'm small and desperate, seizing any opportunity to go for vulnerable areas and race back out of range. Usually I could wear him down, but he wasn't getting any less mad. Suddenly, our stone fireplace seems to move on its own, and it's coming at me! Next thing I know, I'm in the room my parents designate as a hospital, since we could never afford a real one. I'm covered in scratches, bruises, and mortar dust. My brother is looming more contrite than I've ever seen him. "I'm so sorry", dad muttered, handing me a cup of tea, "I never thought either of you would be able to..." able to what? "Your grandparents were earthbenders." "What are you talking about? There hadn't been a bender in centuries. If they were still around, we'd know. Might as well tell me polar bear dogs aren't extinct." "Our government has worked very hard to make it so", mom said, tears in her eyes. Dad rubbed his temples like a headache was coming on, "Why do you think we never sent you to school?" "We couldn't afford it" I said bitterly. "That's part of it. But we didn't want you exposed to their propaganda, their revisionist history. They'd have you believe they, and they only, have the answer to the Great Divide. Our poverty would never keep us from the benefits the Donors can provide. It's brainwashing. They'd turn you against our family without you even knowing who we are." "Who are we?" "The last of the ancient families. They'd kill us if they knew your grandparents were born in the earth kingdom." "So I can earthbend?" I asked, suddenly thinking Hogwarts wasn't my only hope. "No", mom said, "he can", gesturing to my unusually quiet, unusually guilty-looking brother. "I could've killed you" he said. "Oh" of course, I'm not special, golden boy is I felt bitter bile rise up my throat. I hated myself and the tiny world I inhabited. Then CRACK, my mother gasped, and I watched the pieces of ceramic fall away from my now-frozen cube of tea. The tiny world I resented seemed to shrink away, and all I wanted was to have it back.	Well _that_ shut him up. Mars staggered back. At his feet, Airu gave a pitiful whine. Mole stared down at what he had done. "Mars," Mole whispered, plucked his goggles off his face, up onto the top of his head. "Don't--" but the Resistance leader raised a quivering finger, and pointed it at me again, accusing. "You wanted to stay dead. You wanted to keep living underground, in the little hole - the little grave you built for yourself!" he snarled. "But _look_, you have even _less_ of an excuse now to hide!" "It's not _hiding!"_ "You're no mole," Mars turned a cold shoulder to his former friend. Airu uncoiled himself from his seated position. "You're a worm." With that stinging farewell, Mars and his companion left the coffee shop. Mole whipped the napkin from his lap to cover the mug of tea. He rose so fast the tablesettings clinked, and others cast a glance his way. _You're a worm._ The words hurt, but they were true, weren't they? Every day, members of the Resistance died trying to overthrow the Consortium. Mole was the last Earthbender known on the planet. The Consortium had thought they'd killed him long ago, but he'd gone deep underground, driven back only to help Mars, his childhood friend. _Have I always known?_ Mole stared at his gloved hands, grubby and fat. Mole slammed a hand in the front of his overcoat. He tossed a handful of coins onto the table, then fled the shop. He stepped out into the street, and was met with a smack of red over drab gray and white. The only color these days were red Consortium banners hanging from every place of business. Mole glanced this way and that down the bustling street. He could usually smell Airu before he could see Mole, but he saw neither of them. Mars would tell the others of what he saw. Mars would get himself killed. Mole felt the age-old panic rise up in him again. He slipped through the crowd, intending to put behind Mars' call to action. He wanted to ignore everything that had happened. He'd tell the others that Mole had gone to crawl back underground. And maybe that was just right. Fate had some streak of cruelty, giving the man who just wanted to stay out of everything, lest he fail the ones he love again the title of Avatar. _Avatar._ Even thinking it made Mole shake with fear. He ducked down a dark alley, bracing a hand on the brick. It was a very bad thing to cause trouble. He would go back to the underworld he had created, where he could tend for his gloomshrooms and skip rocks on his lake. "HALT!" one of the Consortium Enforcers wheeled up, white, gold and red. The camera laser-focused onto the hunched form of Mole, as he leaned against the alley wall. "YOUR DISTRESS LEVELS ARE OUT OF THE ACCEPTED RATIOS. STATE YOUR IDENTITY." "I am no one," Mole cried out. He jerked out with a fist, and a pillar of stone jettisoned the bot into the street. Mole turned and _gripped_ the earth before him, peeling back the concrete of the alley, and diving inside. He sealed it back closed over his head, safely underground. He continued the burrowing, bringing his tunneling powers to bear. As earth and stone moved around him, the sight of the frozen cup and Mars' accusing finger had seared themselves into his mind's eye. _I am no one_, he thought, pushing himself down deeper, far and away. _I am nothing._
	[WP] As it turns out, the Avatar is still being reborn to this day. Unfortunately, if the government finds the Avatar, they’re killed before they liberate society. The handful of Benders left are few and far between. And you, an introverted Earthbender, just froze the liquid in your cup of tea.	The students filed into the cafeteria in a moderate pace. There were trays on a table at the start of the lunch line, with napkins and utensils neatly organized. My class moved mechanically; three years of college and twelve years of grade school provided more than enough muscle memory for this. The only sounds reverberating were the shuffling of feet, a low murmur amongst the tables, and plastic spoons clattering against metal pots and pans. I had not checked the menu when I entered the line, but the smell of beef stock - and what I hoped was bread - told me all I needed to know. I would need a cup of something to wash it down. I grabbed a cup. There weren’t ever many choices in the exquisite cuisine of Shisa Academy. In truth, there weren’t many choices in this college. You take a major after you study for three years. Sleep when the dorm lights turn off. No talking in the lunch line. Had I not been gifted tuition here due to my father’s work, there still wouldn’t be much choice in a different school. Order had been established, and it was quite peaceful and progressive, if at times aggressively so. There was no room in this world for chaos and propaganda, and myths like an ‘Avatar’ - not sure what that means - would stir negativity in places with so many people at once. My mind tends to wander to strange places when I try to avoid something, like the smell of - is that a paste? - something hopefully more edible than last Friday’s meal. Rei stood next to me. Her face contorted as the cook slapped the mixture on to her tray. She looked at me to save her, shoulder-length strands brushing away from her pained eyes. I held up my cup before giving her a shrug, and proceeded to the tea basin. When I finally sat with my class of fellow third-years, I took a good look. For the next three years we’ll be in different classes, finally studying our respective majors, becoming the future leaders of our country. I hadn’t paid much attention earlier, but I was sure sometime over the last year Elisa dyed her hair a darker shade. Isaiah was the same as ever, sneaking on his litePod when the enforcers weren’t looking. He found a way to bypass the wireless security before attending courses. The twins, Sung and Huin, played a game together on their own litePods. Then there was Rei, the only other person I really talked to in class, sitting on the corner picking at her meat paste. Barry, Elias, and Amin huddled together, body language louder than their voices. Jang-suk and Martha, the longest lasting couple in the entire school, huddled together; her tight dark curls covered the earbuds they shared. Other faces and names I’d gotten used to - Ronni, Elmer, Sayuri, Sheila - people I might’ve gotten to know, if it had not been for my father. My career politician father, and his bender-free college. This was supposedly a haven for nonbenders, those who couldn’t interact with the natural elements, but there were more than a few sympathizers to the dying breed. I might’ve gotten to know some of them, if it wouldn’t ruin his career. It’s alright, I thought. And it is, in truth. I’ve made friends here, and though I’ve kept my own bending a secret, I’m sure they wouldn’t mind. The benders left in the world don’t do much more than an average low-class citizen, if they haven’t been evicted from their houses. If they had houses at all. Much stigma remained about us despite our - my ancestors, I suppose - part in establishing peace in the world. There just weren’t many protections in place for the few benders left, and some of them found housing together, I’ve heard. There was a culture there, at least. Maybe there are more benders than we think. Maybe I’ll visit them, when I graduate in three years. Maybe I can get away from my father... Wrapped in my mind again, I must’ve missed Rei take a bite of that paste, because she urged me to hand her my tea. I handed it to her, only or her to thrust it back at me forcefully after taking a sip. The cup was still so warm that I almost dropped it. “Was it hot?” I let some smugness sneak into my question. “Oh light,” Rei managed to choke out between spitting and coughing. “I need to start bringing in my own food. I can’t tell if that’s fish or mulch.” I thought I smelled beef earlier. I decided to nix the food and took off the lid to cool my tea down. Rei never said much, but it was always pleasant when we had banter. “You think they have food-benders out there?” she went on. “Or flavor benders? You’d think with all this higher education they would hire better cooks.” Her face was still twisted with her mouth full of aftertaste. “Heh, maybe. Did you see the video on Seddit with the Soundbender?” I blew on the tea. “She popped one dude’s eardrums when they tried to arrest her.” The voice belonged to Isaiah. “They probably thought she was the Avatar.” Surely he was a sympathizer. He said he’d major in history at the start of this year, and I’ve seen the articles he reads on his litePod about bending. “I mean, no one’s even heard of Soundbending, and Lavabenders and Metalbenders haven’t been discovered for decades. “Chris?” said Rei. Lava? My throat caught. “I didn’t know that was even possible...” “Yeah! And just imagine, if there were Lightbenders-“ “Chris!” Rei again. “How did you do that?” I finally turned to her. “Do what?” Suddenly something felt odd. No, it felt cold. It was my hand. In it was a frosted cup of tea. I heard Isaiah gasp. This was a problem. Two people had seen me bend in a nonbending area, and if I was unlucky, so did an enforcer. The worst part was, water wasn’t my element.	Well _that_ shut him up. Mars staggered back. At his feet, Airu gave a pitiful whine. Mole stared down at what he had done. "Mars," Mole whispered, plucked his goggles off his face, up onto the top of his head. "Don't--" but the Resistance leader raised a quivering finger, and pointed it at me again, accusing. "You wanted to stay dead. You wanted to keep living underground, in the little hole - the little grave you built for yourself!" he snarled. "But _look_, you have even _less_ of an excuse now to hide!" "It's not _hiding!"_ "You're no mole," Mars turned a cold shoulder to his former friend. Airu uncoiled himself from his seated position. "You're a worm." With that stinging farewell, Mars and his companion left the coffee shop. Mole whipped the napkin from his lap to cover the mug of tea. He rose so fast the tablesettings clinked, and others cast a glance his way. _You're a worm._ The words hurt, but they were true, weren't they? Every day, members of the Resistance died trying to overthrow the Consortium. Mole was the last Earthbender known on the planet. The Consortium had thought they'd killed him long ago, but he'd gone deep underground, driven back only to help Mars, his childhood friend. _Have I always known?_ Mole stared at his gloved hands, grubby and fat. Mole slammed a hand in the front of his overcoat. He tossed a handful of coins onto the table, then fled the shop. He stepped out into the street, and was met with a smack of red over drab gray and white. The only color these days were red Consortium banners hanging from every place of business. Mole glanced this way and that down the bustling street. He could usually smell Airu before he could see Mole, but he saw neither of them. Mars would tell the others of what he saw. Mars would get himself killed. Mole felt the age-old panic rise up in him again. He slipped through the crowd, intending to put behind Mars' call to action. He wanted to ignore everything that had happened. He'd tell the others that Mole had gone to crawl back underground. And maybe that was just right. Fate had some streak of cruelty, giving the man who just wanted to stay out of everything, lest he fail the ones he love again the title of Avatar. _Avatar._ Even thinking it made Mole shake with fear. He ducked down a dark alley, bracing a hand on the brick. It was a very bad thing to cause trouble. He would go back to the underworld he had created, where he could tend for his gloomshrooms and skip rocks on his lake. "HALT!" one of the Consortium Enforcers wheeled up, white, gold and red. The camera laser-focused onto the hunched form of Mole, as he leaned against the alley wall. "YOUR DISTRESS LEVELS ARE OUT OF THE ACCEPTED RATIOS. STATE YOUR IDENTITY." "I am no one," Mole cried out. He jerked out with a fist, and a pillar of stone jettisoned the bot into the street. Mole turned and _gripped_ the earth before him, peeling back the concrete of the alley, and diving inside. He sealed it back closed over his head, safely underground. He continued the burrowing, bringing his tunneling powers to bear. As earth and stone moved around him, the sight of the frozen cup and Mars' accusing finger had seared themselves into his mind's eye. _I am no one_, he thought, pushing himself down deeper, far and away. _I am nothing._
	[WP] As it turns out, the Avatar is still being reborn to this day. Unfortunately, if the government finds the Avatar, they’re killed before they liberate society. The handful of Benders left are few and far between. And you, an introverted Earthbender, just froze the liquid in your cup of tea.	"Finnick! Get your lazy earthbending butt up! We need to reinforce these structures those fire-fairies just welded!" That was Mark, he's the master builder here in Rebellion: Block Four (RB4). The last of the four main Rebellion camps still left standing after the witch-hunt was fully endorsed by congress. Here's the issue I have with this rebellion, they have nearly 10,000 times the numbers in an effort to shut us down while we have what? The ability to manipulate one sect of nature? Nothing when compared to firearms, I don't know why there is even a rebellion... It's a lost cause. I know what you're thinking reading this as well, 'then why the hell are you there?' And the answer is actually easy, why does any young-adult male in any situation that puts him at risk? The love of his life... Rose. Waterbender, beautiful, something I can't put words to to be honest. She was in no way a model, but she had this aura around her, something that I gravitate towards. She was wild, almost feral, and amazing. I signed up right when I saw her freeze a whole group of anti-benders in order to save a child. "Finnick, I need you to put serious effort in making sure these are well done and not going to crumble with a single tomahawk missile." My job here? I work as an integrity tester. There were a few earthbenders here, a few worked with the metal to ensure that it was decent enough to withstand some explosions. I am the only one who is titled: Integrity Tester. I somehow had a more in-tune grasp of metal working and earthbending in general that I was placed on the opposite of construction, but destruction. My job was to put immense strain on the infrastructure many firebenders, earthbenders, waterbenders and airbenders put many hours into. I was able to target large grasps of metal and rock at one time and simulate waves and downward forces that would come from explosions. Our shaman, what they call those who specialize in what's behind bending, says that I'm just more adapted to creating havoc which is different than most earthbenders, who focus naturally towards defense. I went to work. We were about a mile below the earth at this point in RB4. I knew how missiles worked because I experienced the variety of them at the governments disposal while in the rebellion. It would ring through the ground like an unnatural wave seeking to flatten everything in it's wake. I had the memory deep in me for every missile I felt in the ground and what it did to the earth around me. I replicated those, all of them. Sirens went off in the halls to alarm those within the construct that they were under attack, but it was just me. Blowing up the earth around the structure in a feign bombing run. It held. "Alright, everyone back to their work. Nothing to see here." Mark was one to really get everyone moving. I sat in a pool of my own sweat unable to stand quite yet. "Hey bud, that was some serious force you put out today. Seriously, go get yourself something to drink and take the rest of the day off. Great job, love watching you work." Mark was cold but at the same time could be an alright guy overall. Almost like he knew what to say in certain situations, even if he didn't mean it. I made my way to the cafeteria. Being the "destructive" earthbender I have a weird reputation where people think I'm a mean person or at best a badass. I get lots of stares and a few people move out of my way. I like that perk to be honest, I don't really like talking. I make it to the cafeteria and I see there is a line at the coffee station, I don't want to wait so I make my way to the tea stand. "Finn! That was awesome! I felt that in my room!" That was Elizabeth, she was an airbender that worked on 'rapid cooling of material' or something. I don't quite remember, all I know is that she is a sweet girl and lost both her parents to the filth that is the government. I grabbed my tea and walked over to the only table that didn't have that many people on it. I was still recuperating from the strain of work when I sat down. I lifted my tea to my mouth and took a long swig, but I thought it to be a little cold. I wanted something warm and this just wasn't it. "Something wrong deary?" The cafeteria ladies were always immediate when they sensed something wrong. All of them were old waterbenders, just doing the best they can in order to help those fighting. Most of them lost their whole family to the rebellion. "No ma'am, just the teas a little cold." "Oh, let me take care of that!" She bent the liquid in the cup out and into the sink near by and pour me a new cup from the steaming kettle she had. "Thanks." "You rest up now Finnick. We are all so grateful you put your heart and soul into your work. " That's another thing, people think of me as hardworking. I've just had to fight all my life so I only know one thing; Survive. And to survive there just wasn't any time to half-ass anything. I grab the tea and delicately put it to my lips in order to not burn myself. Cold. I set the tea down and stared at it for a period of time. It began to freeze. I look around to see if a waterbender was pranking me, but not a soul was around nor paying attention to me. I thought at this time, 'was it me? But that would mean..." and as I thought about it I saw another lady work her way over here to see if I was okay. I put my hand over the cup to try to mask what I had done. I couldn't let anyone know what I was, I couldn't. "Hello there son. You seem off, everything alright?" At this time the lady noticed my hand on my cup. This is it, this is where I get caught. But, I feel a sort of steam on the palm of my hand covering the cup. I remove my hand and the trapped steam rolls out as if nothing had happened. "Oh nothing, I was just... warming my hands up, it gets pretty cold down here." "You don't have to tell me twice! Those airbenders that work in ventilation sure do their job!" She wanders off and I leave to get to my room. I am sweating profusely. Walking along the halls I keep to myself even more so than normal. I don't make eye contact, just b-line it to my room. "Finn you damn idiot! I was trying to balance water when you started your testing! I am so close to being able to make perfect ice sheets!" Shoot, my roommate Chris was in the room. "Hey Chris, I'm sorry but I'm pretty distraught right now, could I have the room?" "Oh. You need to meditate again? No problem man, I'm here if you need to talk." "Thanks man." Most benders meditate often in order to spend time attuning themselves with their nature. I do so almost religiously because then I have a reason that no one should bother me and I don't feel bad about not talking to people. I cross my legs on my mat and reach out to the earth around me. The problem is, I feel like there is more there. Upon this realization I feel a wave of raw emotion take over me. Pain, fear, suffering, unjustness and hope. I receive images all around me. I had little Avatar knowledge at the time but I know that they were able to attune themselves to past avatars in order to gain wisdom. But, the last avatar known was a hundred years ago or so. I received images of the last remaining seconds of poor little children's lives. I felt every stab from a knife used to silence these little Avatars. The looks on their parents faces as they see their child, me in this case, slowly slip away into darkness. I did not see wisdom, I saw pain. Pain inflicted by those who seek to silence us benders. The images and feeling went on for what seemed like hours until finally I reached a point where it was no longer a toddler being strangled by an anti-bending unit. This was a girl, I knew everything about her at that exact moment. She was seventeen, originally thought to just be a waterbender, she found her Avatar powers in the middle of a market. She was touching a carpet when it caught fire, she didn't know she could do such a thing or else she would have never. She was a kind soul, a beautiful young girl just wanting to live peacefully in the world. Then I felt the grasp of a noose around her neck, my neck. Drug away into an ally she was approached by three anti-bending units who saw the whole thing happen. But this wasn't a mercy killing or an execution. They did unspeakable things to this young girl. I wanted to leave the image but something held me back, some unseen force made me witness what was happening. When it was all over I was jolted back into my own reality and slammed my head into the floor, I blacked out. "Finn! Finn! Holy heck dude, are you alright! Did you hit your head?" Chris was freaking out over me. "Yea. Yea Chris I'm fine, just had a scary dream and knocked my head. No big." "Must have been some dream." "Where is the nearest offensive task force sign up sheet?" "Woah, Finn. Are you finally going to go out and fight? They could use you. What changed your mind man?" "I feel obligated to fight for those who have died before me now." "Was it Rose?" The pang shot through my heart like it always did. "No, something else has stirred this raw emotion in me."	Well _that_ shut him up. Mars staggered back. At his feet, Airu gave a pitiful whine. Mole stared down at what he had done. "Mars," Mole whispered, plucked his goggles off his face, up onto the top of his head. "Don't--" but the Resistance leader raised a quivering finger, and pointed it at me again, accusing. "You wanted to stay dead. You wanted to keep living underground, in the little hole - the little grave you built for yourself!" he snarled. "But _look_, you have even _less_ of an excuse now to hide!" "It's not _hiding!"_ "You're no mole," Mars turned a cold shoulder to his former friend. Airu uncoiled himself from his seated position. "You're a worm." With that stinging farewell, Mars and his companion left the coffee shop. Mole whipped the napkin from his lap to cover the mug of tea. He rose so fast the tablesettings clinked, and others cast a glance his way. _You're a worm._ The words hurt, but they were true, weren't they? Every day, members of the Resistance died trying to overthrow the Consortium. Mole was the last Earthbender known on the planet. The Consortium had thought they'd killed him long ago, but he'd gone deep underground, driven back only to help Mars, his childhood friend. _Have I always known?_ Mole stared at his gloved hands, grubby and fat. Mole slammed a hand in the front of his overcoat. He tossed a handful of coins onto the table, then fled the shop. He stepped out into the street, and was met with a smack of red over drab gray and white. The only color these days were red Consortium banners hanging from every place of business. Mole glanced this way and that down the bustling street. He could usually smell Airu before he could see Mole, but he saw neither of them. Mars would tell the others of what he saw. Mars would get himself killed. Mole felt the age-old panic rise up in him again. He slipped through the crowd, intending to put behind Mars' call to action. He wanted to ignore everything that had happened. He'd tell the others that Mole had gone to crawl back underground. And maybe that was just right. Fate had some streak of cruelty, giving the man who just wanted to stay out of everything, lest he fail the ones he love again the title of Avatar. _Avatar._ Even thinking it made Mole shake with fear. He ducked down a dark alley, bracing a hand on the brick. It was a very bad thing to cause trouble. He would go back to the underworld he had created, where he could tend for his gloomshrooms and skip rocks on his lake. "HALT!" one of the Consortium Enforcers wheeled up, white, gold and red. The camera laser-focused onto the hunched form of Mole, as he leaned against the alley wall. "YOUR DISTRESS LEVELS ARE OUT OF THE ACCEPTED RATIOS. STATE YOUR IDENTITY." "I am no one," Mole cried out. He jerked out with a fist, and a pillar of stone jettisoned the bot into the street. Mole turned and _gripped_ the earth before him, peeling back the concrete of the alley, and diving inside. He sealed it back closed over his head, safely underground. He continued the burrowing, bringing his tunneling powers to bear. As earth and stone moved around him, the sight of the frozen cup and Mars' accusing finger had seared themselves into his mind's eye. _I am no one_, he thought, pushing himself down deeper, far and away. _I am nothing._
	[WP] As it turns out, the Avatar is still being reborn to this day. Unfortunately, if the government finds the Avatar, they’re killed before they liberate society. The handful of Benders left are few and far between. And you, an introverted Earthbender, just froze the liquid in your cup of tea.	When Avatar Korra was questioned as to how she learned to bend the elements so quickly, she replied, “I think it was like a switch flipped. I just knew.” The frozen cup of tea in my hand should’ve been cold, mug included. But my hand was hot. Not a harmful warmth, but comfortable - like a warm breath caressing my skin. Without even trying, I knew. I knew that if I just willed it, flame would erupt from my hand. A certain power began to also fill my lungs, as if reacting to the deep breath I had taken when the tea froze. Dropping my cup of tea, I put one hand over my mouth, and pinched my nose closed with the other. No matter what, I couldn’t let my breath escape - couldn’t airbend no matter the cost. As my cup crashed to the floor, I heard my sister Mary cry, “Hey, you okay?” I couldn’t answer. A few seconds passed before her feet hit the tile floor and started toward the kitchen. Her voice came from around the corner, “Hey, Ella, what happened?” As she turned the corner and saw what I was doing, she froze, horror creeping into her expression. Tears began to drip down my cheeks. “Oh god,” she whispered. The airbenders had been wiped out twice, the first time by the firebenders, and then a second time by the earthbenders. The science of bending had made leaps and bounds after Korra. The realization that benders were becoming stronger with time made the natural phenomenon easier to study. My sister moved, her body likely acting ahead of her mind. With one smooth hand motion, she broke the metal sensors placed in the kitchen - things built to detect airbending, and the avatar as an extension. Breaking them would cause a silent alarm to go off, but we wouldn't be stopped by containment foam. “Breathe!” she said, holding my shoulders. Releasing my mouth and nose, I started panting, each breath creating a light breeze around me. “Mary,” I choked out. “I’m so sorry, I- I’m the avatar. I’m-” She took hold of my arm and pulled me forward. “Come on.” “What-” “We’re running.” “But-” I stopped myself. She knew the risks - what helping the avatar implied. She had likely carried out a few sentences herself as a state bender. With another wave of her hand, she blew apart the wall of our kitchen, revealing that there was already a few mounds of black dirt outside. Still dragging me forward, and without breaking pace, she stamped her foot on the ground, causing the three black mounds to melt. Muffled cries came from within them. Then she stamped again, and the ground bubbled underneath us and erupted forth. With another simple motion of her feet, Mary controlled the earth to carry us forward at high speed. She looked back at me and gave her best smile. “Come on, cheer up.” I couldn’t answer. “We-” She squeezed my hand harder. “There’s supposed to be a White Lotus camp in the north. We just need to get there.” I nodded once, smiling a little for Mary. The power of the avatar was described as the power of God once mastered, able to shape continents with a few simple motions. But you’d be hard pressed to find any masters these days, and even harder pressed to find a bender who hadn’t been forced into the Earth Empire’s military. And as the earth behind us rumbled from the incoming squad of elite benders, I thought of Avatar Aang’s legend. Maybe, just maybe, we could get through this.	Well _that_ shut him up. Mars staggered back. At his feet, Airu gave a pitiful whine. Mole stared down at what he had done. "Mars," Mole whispered, plucked his goggles off his face, up onto the top of his head. "Don't--" but the Resistance leader raised a quivering finger, and pointed it at me again, accusing. "You wanted to stay dead. You wanted to keep living underground, in the little hole - the little grave you built for yourself!" he snarled. "But _look_, you have even _less_ of an excuse now to hide!" "It's not _hiding!"_ "You're no mole," Mars turned a cold shoulder to his former friend. Airu uncoiled himself from his seated position. "You're a worm." With that stinging farewell, Mars and his companion left the coffee shop. Mole whipped the napkin from his lap to cover the mug of tea. He rose so fast the tablesettings clinked, and others cast a glance his way. _You're a worm._ The words hurt, but they were true, weren't they? Every day, members of the Resistance died trying to overthrow the Consortium. Mole was the last Earthbender known on the planet. The Consortium had thought they'd killed him long ago, but he'd gone deep underground, driven back only to help Mars, his childhood friend. _Have I always known?_ Mole stared at his gloved hands, grubby and fat. Mole slammed a hand in the front of his overcoat. He tossed a handful of coins onto the table, then fled the shop. He stepped out into the street, and was met with a smack of red over drab gray and white. The only color these days were red Consortium banners hanging from every place of business. Mole glanced this way and that down the bustling street. He could usually smell Airu before he could see Mole, but he saw neither of them. Mars would tell the others of what he saw. Mars would get himself killed. Mole felt the age-old panic rise up in him again. He slipped through the crowd, intending to put behind Mars' call to action. He wanted to ignore everything that had happened. He'd tell the others that Mole had gone to crawl back underground. And maybe that was just right. Fate had some streak of cruelty, giving the man who just wanted to stay out of everything, lest he fail the ones he love again the title of Avatar. _Avatar._ Even thinking it made Mole shake with fear. He ducked down a dark alley, bracing a hand on the brick. It was a very bad thing to cause trouble. He would go back to the underworld he had created, where he could tend for his gloomshrooms and skip rocks on his lake. "HALT!" one of the Consortium Enforcers wheeled up, white, gold and red. The camera laser-focused onto the hunched form of Mole, as he leaned against the alley wall. "YOUR DISTRESS LEVELS ARE OUT OF THE ACCEPTED RATIOS. STATE YOUR IDENTITY." "I am no one," Mole cried out. He jerked out with a fist, and a pillar of stone jettisoned the bot into the street. Mole turned and _gripped_ the earth before him, peeling back the concrete of the alley, and diving inside. He sealed it back closed over his head, safely underground. He continued the burrowing, bringing his tunneling powers to bear. As earth and stone moved around him, the sight of the frozen cup and Mars' accusing finger had seared themselves into his mind's eye. _I am no one_, he thought, pushing himself down deeper, far and away. _I am nothing._
	[WP] As it turns out, the Avatar is still being reborn to this day. Unfortunately, if the government finds the Avatar, they’re killed before they liberate society. The handful of Benders left are few and far between. And you, an introverted Earthbender, just froze the liquid in your cup of tea.	"Where is the Avatar, Rahm?" I gestured to the seat in front of me. "Now, now, calm yourself, Kota. Come, sit down, have a cup of tea." "I'll pass. Now, where are they? We know you're hiding the Avatar!" I sighed. "Are you sure? It's oolong, it's really quite good. I insist, you must have a cup. Now, do you take cream these days? Sugar?" "I just said I don't want any of your stupid tea, Rahm." "Ah, right. Of course. Well, suit yourself." I began to mix the sugar into my cup. "So, how is life? I hear the new government job is going well." "Quit stalling. Tell us where the Avatar is, and we'll let you live." I set the tea down on the table, and looked him in the eye. "Kota, I'm afraid that won't be the case." "What?" Kota gasped as the tea began to freeze in my cup. "You? You're the Avatar?" "Yes, but I am calling on you, in the name of any friendship we once had. Come, join us, join the resistance. Together, we can-" I gasped as I saw the shard of metal, poking through my ribcage. As I fell to the ground, I could hear Kota talking into a radio. "Call off the search. We... we got him." As I felt my blood draining out, I took the rest of the pack of potassium nitrate crystals from my pocket and bent it into the ground as far as I could. "Good luck, Avatar, wherever you are." I whispered to myself. "May this give you the time you need."	Well _that_ shut him up. Mars staggered back. At his feet, Airu gave a pitiful whine. Mole stared down at what he had done. "Mars," Mole whispered, plucked his goggles off his face, up onto the top of his head. "Don't--" but the Resistance leader raised a quivering finger, and pointed it at me again, accusing. "You wanted to stay dead. You wanted to keep living underground, in the little hole - the little grave you built for yourself!" he snarled. "But _look_, you have even _less_ of an excuse now to hide!" "It's not _hiding!"_ "You're no mole," Mars turned a cold shoulder to his former friend. Airu uncoiled himself from his seated position. "You're a worm." With that stinging farewell, Mars and his companion left the coffee shop. Mole whipped the napkin from his lap to cover the mug of tea. He rose so fast the tablesettings clinked, and others cast a glance his way. _You're a worm._ The words hurt, but they were true, weren't they? Every day, members of the Resistance died trying to overthrow the Consortium. Mole was the last Earthbender known on the planet. The Consortium had thought they'd killed him long ago, but he'd gone deep underground, driven back only to help Mars, his childhood friend. _Have I always known?_ Mole stared at his gloved hands, grubby and fat. Mole slammed a hand in the front of his overcoat. He tossed a handful of coins onto the table, then fled the shop. He stepped out into the street, and was met with a smack of red over drab gray and white. The only color these days were red Consortium banners hanging from every place of business. Mole glanced this way and that down the bustling street. He could usually smell Airu before he could see Mole, but he saw neither of them. Mars would tell the others of what he saw. Mars would get himself killed. Mole felt the age-old panic rise up in him again. He slipped through the crowd, intending to put behind Mars' call to action. He wanted to ignore everything that had happened. He'd tell the others that Mole had gone to crawl back underground. And maybe that was just right. Fate had some streak of cruelty, giving the man who just wanted to stay out of everything, lest he fail the ones he love again the title of Avatar. _Avatar._ Even thinking it made Mole shake with fear. He ducked down a dark alley, bracing a hand on the brick. It was a very bad thing to cause trouble. He would go back to the underworld he had created, where he could tend for his gloomshrooms and skip rocks on his lake. "HALT!" one of the Consortium Enforcers wheeled up, white, gold and red. The camera laser-focused onto the hunched form of Mole, as he leaned against the alley wall. "YOUR DISTRESS LEVELS ARE OUT OF THE ACCEPTED RATIOS. STATE YOUR IDENTITY." "I am no one," Mole cried out. He jerked out with a fist, and a pillar of stone jettisoned the bot into the street. Mole turned and _gripped_ the earth before him, peeling back the concrete of the alley, and diving inside. He sealed it back closed over his head, safely underground. He continued the burrowing, bringing his tunneling powers to bear. As earth and stone moved around him, the sight of the frozen cup and Mars' accusing finger had seared themselves into his mind's eye. _I am no one_, he thought, pushing himself down deeper, far and away. _I am nothing._
	[WP] As it turns out, the Avatar is still being reborn to this day. Unfortunately, if the government finds the Avatar, they’re killed before they liberate society. The handful of Benders left are few and far between. And you, an introverted Earthbender, just froze the liquid in your cup of tea.	The students filed into the cafeteria in a moderate pace. There were trays on a table at the start of the lunch line, with napkins and utensils neatly organized. My class moved mechanically; three years of college and twelve years of grade school provided more than enough muscle memory for this. The only sounds reverberating were the shuffling of feet, a low murmur amongst the tables, and plastic spoons clattering against metal pots and pans. I had not checked the menu when I entered the line, but the smell of beef stock - and what I hoped was bread - told me all I needed to know. I would need a cup of something to wash it down. I grabbed a cup. There weren’t ever many choices in the exquisite cuisine of Shisa Academy. In truth, there weren’t many choices in this college. You take a major after you study for three years. Sleep when the dorm lights turn off. No talking in the lunch line. Had I not been gifted tuition here due to my father’s work, there still wouldn’t be much choice in a different school. Order had been established, and it was quite peaceful and progressive, if at times aggressively so. There was no room in this world for chaos and propaganda, and myths like an ‘Avatar’ - not sure what that means - would stir negativity in places with so many people at once. My mind tends to wander to strange places when I try to avoid something, like the smell of - is that a paste? - something hopefully more edible than last Friday’s meal. Rei stood next to me. Her face contorted as the cook slapped the mixture on to her tray. She looked at me to save her, shoulder-length strands brushing away from her pained eyes. I held up my cup before giving her a shrug, and proceeded to the tea basin. When I finally sat with my class of fellow third-years, I took a good look. For the next three years we’ll be in different classes, finally studying our respective majors, becoming the future leaders of our country. I hadn’t paid much attention earlier, but I was sure sometime over the last year Elisa dyed her hair a darker shade. Isaiah was the same as ever, sneaking on his litePod when the enforcers weren’t looking. He found a way to bypass the wireless security before attending courses. The twins, Sung and Huin, played a game together on their own litePods. Then there was Rei, the only other person I really talked to in class, sitting on the corner picking at her meat paste. Barry, Elias, and Amin huddled together, body language louder than their voices. Jang-suk and Martha, the longest lasting couple in the entire school, huddled together; her tight dark curls covered the earbuds they shared. Other faces and names I’d gotten used to - Ronni, Elmer, Sayuri, Sheila - people I might’ve gotten to know, if it had not been for my father. My career politician father, and his bender-free college. This was supposedly a haven for nonbenders, those who couldn’t interact with the natural elements, but there were more than a few sympathizers to the dying breed. I might’ve gotten to know some of them, if it wouldn’t ruin his career. It’s alright, I thought. And it is, in truth. I’ve made friends here, and though I’ve kept my own bending a secret, I’m sure they wouldn’t mind. The benders left in the world don’t do much more than an average low-class citizen, if they haven’t been evicted from their houses. If they had houses at all. Much stigma remained about us despite our - my ancestors, I suppose - part in establishing peace in the world. There just weren’t many protections in place for the few benders left, and some of them found housing together, I’ve heard. There was a culture there, at least. Maybe there are more benders than we think. Maybe I’ll visit them, when I graduate in three years. Maybe I can get away from my father... Wrapped in my mind again, I must’ve missed Rei take a bite of that paste, because she urged me to hand her my tea. I handed it to her, only or her to thrust it back at me forcefully after taking a sip. The cup was still so warm that I almost dropped it. “Was it hot?” I let some smugness sneak into my question. “Oh light,” Rei managed to choke out between spitting and coughing. “I need to start bringing in my own food. I can’t tell if that’s fish or mulch.” I thought I smelled beef earlier. I decided to nix the food and took off the lid to cool my tea down. Rei never said much, but it was always pleasant when we had banter. “You think they have food-benders out there?” she went on. “Or flavor benders? You’d think with all this higher education they would hire better cooks.” Her face was still twisted with her mouth full of aftertaste. “Heh, maybe. Did you see the video on Seddit with the Soundbender?” I blew on the tea. “She popped one dude’s eardrums when they tried to arrest her.” The voice belonged to Isaiah. “They probably thought she was the Avatar.” Surely he was a sympathizer. He said he’d major in history at the start of this year, and I’ve seen the articles he reads on his litePod about bending. “I mean, no one’s even heard of Soundbending, and Lavabenders and Metalbenders haven’t been discovered for decades. “Chris?” said Rei. Lava? My throat caught. “I didn’t know that was even possible...” “Yeah! And just imagine, if there were Lightbenders-“ “Chris!” Rei again. “How did you do that?” I finally turned to her. “Do what?” Suddenly something felt odd. No, it felt cold. It was my hand. In it was a frosted cup of tea. I heard Isaiah gasp. This was a problem. Two people had seen me bend in a nonbending area, and if I was unlucky, so did an enforcer. The worst part was, water wasn’t my element.	I know bending is cool and all, and I love reading the Legends, but I never believed it had any place in the modern world. When it comes to escapist mythology, well; I'm still waiting for my letter from Hogwarts. That always seemed like a better fit. I love books, and learning, I can do that. Martial Arts, on the other hand, always seemed out of reach. That doesn't mean I didn't try it. My older brother and I tried every type of sparring as kids. We'd watch wrestling and immediately create personalities, costumes, trash talk, and full Nelsons. After one of those holds, I couldn't walk for a week. Then there was an ancient copy of the Matrix, and we stole mom and dad's coats and went at it. I think I only came out of that with a concussion and a black eye. You can see the pattern, right? Of course it was my golden boy older brother who changed my reality forever. This time we weren't playing, we were fighting. That happened a lot when my parents weren't around. It's hard for kids, stuck in the house all the time for safety, filled with dreams from our scholar-parents giant collection of historical media. Rather than think about all the dangers they faced out there, we cursed the home we were trapped in, our scraped together "education", and each other, the only people we ever got to see. So we're fighting, no holds barred. He's double my weight, with a longer reach and muscles. I'm small and desperate, seizing any opportunity to go for vulnerable areas and race back out of range. Usually I could wear him down, but he wasn't getting any less mad. Suddenly, our stone fireplace seems to move on its own, and it's coming at me! Next thing I know, I'm in the room my parents designate as a hospital, since we could never afford a real one. I'm covered in scratches, bruises, and mortar dust. My brother is looming more contrite than I've ever seen him. "I'm so sorry", dad muttered, handing me a cup of tea, "I never thought either of you would be able to..." able to what? "Your grandparents were earthbenders." "What are you talking about? There hadn't been a bender in centuries. If they were still around, we'd know. Might as well tell me polar bear dogs aren't extinct." "Our government has worked very hard to make it so", mom said, tears in her eyes. Dad rubbed his temples like a headache was coming on, "Why do you think we never sent you to school?" "We couldn't afford it" I said bitterly. "That's part of it. But we didn't want you exposed to their propaganda, their revisionist history. They'd have you believe they, and they only, have the answer to the Great Divide. Our poverty would never keep us from the benefits the Donors can provide. It's brainwashing. They'd turn you against our family without you even knowing who we are." "Who are we?" "The last of the ancient families. They'd kill us if they knew your grandparents were born in the earth kingdom." "So I can earthbend?" I asked, suddenly thinking Hogwarts wasn't my only hope. "No", mom said, "he can", gesturing to my unusually quiet, unusually guilty-looking brother. "I could've killed you" he said. "Oh" of course, I'm not special, golden boy is I felt bitter bile rise up my throat. I hated myself and the tiny world I inhabited. Then CRACK, my mother gasped, and I watched the pieces of ceramic fall away from my now-frozen cube of tea. The tiny world I resented seemed to shrink away, and all I wanted was to have it back.
	[WP] As it turns out, the Avatar is still being reborn to this day. Unfortunately, if the government finds the Avatar, they’re killed before they liberate society. The handful of Benders left are few and far between. And you, an introverted Earthbender, just froze the liquid in your cup of tea.	"Finnick! Get your lazy earthbending butt up! We need to reinforce these structures those fire-fairies just welded!" That was Mark, he's the master builder here in Rebellion: Block Four (RB4). The last of the four main Rebellion camps still left standing after the witch-hunt was fully endorsed by congress. Here's the issue I have with this rebellion, they have nearly 10,000 times the numbers in an effort to shut us down while we have what? The ability to manipulate one sect of nature? Nothing when compared to firearms, I don't know why there is even a rebellion... It's a lost cause. I know what you're thinking reading this as well, 'then why the hell are you there?' And the answer is actually easy, why does any young-adult male in any situation that puts him at risk? The love of his life... Rose. Waterbender, beautiful, something I can't put words to to be honest. She was in no way a model, but she had this aura around her, something that I gravitate towards. She was wild, almost feral, and amazing. I signed up right when I saw her freeze a whole group of anti-benders in order to save a child. "Finnick, I need you to put serious effort in making sure these are well done and not going to crumble with a single tomahawk missile." My job here? I work as an integrity tester. There were a few earthbenders here, a few worked with the metal to ensure that it was decent enough to withstand some explosions. I am the only one who is titled: Integrity Tester. I somehow had a more in-tune grasp of metal working and earthbending in general that I was placed on the opposite of construction, but destruction. My job was to put immense strain on the infrastructure many firebenders, earthbenders, waterbenders and airbenders put many hours into. I was able to target large grasps of metal and rock at one time and simulate waves and downward forces that would come from explosions. Our shaman, what they call those who specialize in what's behind bending, says that I'm just more adapted to creating havoc which is different than most earthbenders, who focus naturally towards defense. I went to work. We were about a mile below the earth at this point in RB4. I knew how missiles worked because I experienced the variety of them at the governments disposal while in the rebellion. It would ring through the ground like an unnatural wave seeking to flatten everything in it's wake. I had the memory deep in me for every missile I felt in the ground and what it did to the earth around me. I replicated those, all of them. Sirens went off in the halls to alarm those within the construct that they were under attack, but it was just me. Blowing up the earth around the structure in a feign bombing run. It held. "Alright, everyone back to their work. Nothing to see here." Mark was one to really get everyone moving. I sat in a pool of my own sweat unable to stand quite yet. "Hey bud, that was some serious force you put out today. Seriously, go get yourself something to drink and take the rest of the day off. Great job, love watching you work." Mark was cold but at the same time could be an alright guy overall. Almost like he knew what to say in certain situations, even if he didn't mean it. I made my way to the cafeteria. Being the "destructive" earthbender I have a weird reputation where people think I'm a mean person or at best a badass. I get lots of stares and a few people move out of my way. I like that perk to be honest, I don't really like talking. I make it to the cafeteria and I see there is a line at the coffee station, I don't want to wait so I make my way to the tea stand. "Finn! That was awesome! I felt that in my room!" That was Elizabeth, she was an airbender that worked on 'rapid cooling of material' or something. I don't quite remember, all I know is that she is a sweet girl and lost both her parents to the filth that is the government. I grabbed my tea and walked over to the only table that didn't have that many people on it. I was still recuperating from the strain of work when I sat down. I lifted my tea to my mouth and took a long swig, but I thought it to be a little cold. I wanted something warm and this just wasn't it. "Something wrong deary?" The cafeteria ladies were always immediate when they sensed something wrong. All of them were old waterbenders, just doing the best they can in order to help those fighting. Most of them lost their whole family to the rebellion. "No ma'am, just the teas a little cold." "Oh, let me take care of that!" She bent the liquid in the cup out and into the sink near by and pour me a new cup from the steaming kettle she had. "Thanks." "You rest up now Finnick. We are all so grateful you put your heart and soul into your work. " That's another thing, people think of me as hardworking. I've just had to fight all my life so I only know one thing; Survive. And to survive there just wasn't any time to half-ass anything. I grab the tea and delicately put it to my lips in order to not burn myself. Cold. I set the tea down and stared at it for a period of time. It began to freeze. I look around to see if a waterbender was pranking me, but not a soul was around nor paying attention to me. I thought at this time, 'was it me? But that would mean..." and as I thought about it I saw another lady work her way over here to see if I was okay. I put my hand over the cup to try to mask what I had done. I couldn't let anyone know what I was, I couldn't. "Hello there son. You seem off, everything alright?" At this time the lady noticed my hand on my cup. This is it, this is where I get caught. But, I feel a sort of steam on the palm of my hand covering the cup. I remove my hand and the trapped steam rolls out as if nothing had happened. "Oh nothing, I was just... warming my hands up, it gets pretty cold down here." "You don't have to tell me twice! Those airbenders that work in ventilation sure do their job!" She wanders off and I leave to get to my room. I am sweating profusely. Walking along the halls I keep to myself even more so than normal. I don't make eye contact, just b-line it to my room. "Finn you damn idiot! I was trying to balance water when you started your testing! I am so close to being able to make perfect ice sheets!" Shoot, my roommate Chris was in the room. "Hey Chris, I'm sorry but I'm pretty distraught right now, could I have the room?" "Oh. You need to meditate again? No problem man, I'm here if you need to talk." "Thanks man." Most benders meditate often in order to spend time attuning themselves with their nature. I do so almost religiously because then I have a reason that no one should bother me and I don't feel bad about not talking to people. I cross my legs on my mat and reach out to the earth around me. The problem is, I feel like there is more there. Upon this realization I feel a wave of raw emotion take over me. Pain, fear, suffering, unjustness and hope. I receive images all around me. I had little Avatar knowledge at the time but I know that they were able to attune themselves to past avatars in order to gain wisdom. But, the last avatar known was a hundred years ago or so. I received images of the last remaining seconds of poor little children's lives. I felt every stab from a knife used to silence these little Avatars. The looks on their parents faces as they see their child, me in this case, slowly slip away into darkness. I did not see wisdom, I saw pain. Pain inflicted by those who seek to silence us benders. The images and feeling went on for what seemed like hours until finally I reached a point where it was no longer a toddler being strangled by an anti-bending unit. This was a girl, I knew everything about her at that exact moment. She was seventeen, originally thought to just be a waterbender, she found her Avatar powers in the middle of a market. She was touching a carpet when it caught fire, she didn't know she could do such a thing or else she would have never. She was a kind soul, a beautiful young girl just wanting to live peacefully in the world. Then I felt the grasp of a noose around her neck, my neck. Drug away into an ally she was approached by three anti-bending units who saw the whole thing happen. But this wasn't a mercy killing or an execution. They did unspeakable things to this young girl. I wanted to leave the image but something held me back, some unseen force made me witness what was happening. When it was all over I was jolted back into my own reality and slammed my head into the floor, I blacked out. "Finn! Finn! Holy heck dude, are you alright! Did you hit your head?" Chris was freaking out over me. "Yea. Yea Chris I'm fine, just had a scary dream and knocked my head. No big." "Must have been some dream." "Where is the nearest offensive task force sign up sheet?" "Woah, Finn. Are you finally going to go out and fight? They could use you. What changed your mind man?" "I feel obligated to fight for those who have died before me now." "Was it Rose?" The pang shot through my heart like it always did. "No, something else has stirred this raw emotion in me."	I know bending is cool and all, and I love reading the Legends, but I never believed it had any place in the modern world. When it comes to escapist mythology, well; I'm still waiting for my letter from Hogwarts. That always seemed like a better fit. I love books, and learning, I can do that. Martial Arts, on the other hand, always seemed out of reach. That doesn't mean I didn't try it. My older brother and I tried every type of sparring as kids. We'd watch wrestling and immediately create personalities, costumes, trash talk, and full Nelsons. After one of those holds, I couldn't walk for a week. Then there was an ancient copy of the Matrix, and we stole mom and dad's coats and went at it. I think I only came out of that with a concussion and a black eye. You can see the pattern, right? Of course it was my golden boy older brother who changed my reality forever. This time we weren't playing, we were fighting. That happened a lot when my parents weren't around. It's hard for kids, stuck in the house all the time for safety, filled with dreams from our scholar-parents giant collection of historical media. Rather than think about all the dangers they faced out there, we cursed the home we were trapped in, our scraped together "education", and each other, the only people we ever got to see. So we're fighting, no holds barred. He's double my weight, with a longer reach and muscles. I'm small and desperate, seizing any opportunity to go for vulnerable areas and race back out of range. Usually I could wear him down, but he wasn't getting any less mad. Suddenly, our stone fireplace seems to move on its own, and it's coming at me! Next thing I know, I'm in the room my parents designate as a hospital, since we could never afford a real one. I'm covered in scratches, bruises, and mortar dust. My brother is looming more contrite than I've ever seen him. "I'm so sorry", dad muttered, handing me a cup of tea, "I never thought either of you would be able to..." able to what? "Your grandparents were earthbenders." "What are you talking about? There hadn't been a bender in centuries. If they were still around, we'd know. Might as well tell me polar bear dogs aren't extinct." "Our government has worked very hard to make it so", mom said, tears in her eyes. Dad rubbed his temples like a headache was coming on, "Why do you think we never sent you to school?" "We couldn't afford it" I said bitterly. "That's part of it. But we didn't want you exposed to their propaganda, their revisionist history. They'd have you believe they, and they only, have the answer to the Great Divide. Our poverty would never keep us from the benefits the Donors can provide. It's brainwashing. They'd turn you against our family without you even knowing who we are." "Who are we?" "The last of the ancient families. They'd kill us if they knew your grandparents were born in the earth kingdom." "So I can earthbend?" I asked, suddenly thinking Hogwarts wasn't my only hope. "No", mom said, "he can", gesturing to my unusually quiet, unusually guilty-looking brother. "I could've killed you" he said. "Oh" of course, I'm not special, golden boy is I felt bitter bile rise up my throat. I hated myself and the tiny world I inhabited. Then CRACK, my mother gasped, and I watched the pieces of ceramic fall away from my now-frozen cube of tea. The tiny world I resented seemed to shrink away, and all I wanted was to have it back.
	[WP] As it turns out, the Avatar is still being reborn to this day. Unfortunately, if the government finds the Avatar, they’re killed before they liberate society. The handful of Benders left are few and far between. And you, an introverted Earthbender, just froze the liquid in your cup of tea.	"Where is the Avatar, Rahm?" I gestured to the seat in front of me. "Now, now, calm yourself, Kota. Come, sit down, have a cup of tea." "I'll pass. Now, where are they? We know you're hiding the Avatar!" I sighed. "Are you sure? It's oolong, it's really quite good. I insist, you must have a cup. Now, do you take cream these days? Sugar?" "I just said I don't want any of your stupid tea, Rahm." "Ah, right. Of course. Well, suit yourself." I began to mix the sugar into my cup. "So, how is life? I hear the new government job is going well." "Quit stalling. Tell us where the Avatar is, and we'll let you live." I set the tea down on the table, and looked him in the eye. "Kota, I'm afraid that won't be the case." "What?" Kota gasped as the tea began to freeze in my cup. "You? You're the Avatar?" "Yes, but I am calling on you, in the name of any friendship we once had. Come, join us, join the resistance. Together, we can-" I gasped as I saw the shard of metal, poking through my ribcage. As I fell to the ground, I could hear Kota talking into a radio. "Call off the search. We... we got him." As I felt my blood draining out, I took the rest of the pack of potassium nitrate crystals from my pocket and bent it into the ground as far as I could. "Good luck, Avatar, wherever you are." I whispered to myself. "May this give you the time you need."	I know bending is cool and all, and I love reading the Legends, but I never believed it had any place in the modern world. When it comes to escapist mythology, well; I'm still waiting for my letter from Hogwarts. That always seemed like a better fit. I love books, and learning, I can do that. Martial Arts, on the other hand, always seemed out of reach. That doesn't mean I didn't try it. My older brother and I tried every type of sparring as kids. We'd watch wrestling and immediately create personalities, costumes, trash talk, and full Nelsons. After one of those holds, I couldn't walk for a week. Then there was an ancient copy of the Matrix, and we stole mom and dad's coats and went at it. I think I only came out of that with a concussion and a black eye. You can see the pattern, right? Of course it was my golden boy older brother who changed my reality forever. This time we weren't playing, we were fighting. That happened a lot when my parents weren't around. It's hard for kids, stuck in the house all the time for safety, filled with dreams from our scholar-parents giant collection of historical media. Rather than think about all the dangers they faced out there, we cursed the home we were trapped in, our scraped together "education", and each other, the only people we ever got to see. So we're fighting, no holds barred. He's double my weight, with a longer reach and muscles. I'm small and desperate, seizing any opportunity to go for vulnerable areas and race back out of range. Usually I could wear him down, but he wasn't getting any less mad. Suddenly, our stone fireplace seems to move on its own, and it's coming at me! Next thing I know, I'm in the room my parents designate as a hospital, since we could never afford a real one. I'm covered in scratches, bruises, and mortar dust. My brother is looming more contrite than I've ever seen him. "I'm so sorry", dad muttered, handing me a cup of tea, "I never thought either of you would be able to..." able to what? "Your grandparents were earthbenders." "What are you talking about? There hadn't been a bender in centuries. If they were still around, we'd know. Might as well tell me polar bear dogs aren't extinct." "Our government has worked very hard to make it so", mom said, tears in her eyes. Dad rubbed his temples like a headache was coming on, "Why do you think we never sent you to school?" "We couldn't afford it" I said bitterly. "That's part of it. But we didn't want you exposed to their propaganda, their revisionist history. They'd have you believe they, and they only, have the answer to the Great Divide. Our poverty would never keep us from the benefits the Donors can provide. It's brainwashing. They'd turn you against our family without you even knowing who we are." "Who are we?" "The last of the ancient families. They'd kill us if they knew your grandparents were born in the earth kingdom." "So I can earthbend?" I asked, suddenly thinking Hogwarts wasn't my only hope. "No", mom said, "he can", gesturing to my unusually quiet, unusually guilty-looking brother. "I could've killed you" he said. "Oh" of course, I'm not special, golden boy is I felt bitter bile rise up my throat. I hated myself and the tiny world I inhabited. Then CRACK, my mother gasped, and I watched the pieces of ceramic fall away from my now-frozen cube of tea. The tiny world I resented seemed to shrink away, and all I wanted was to have it back.
	[WP] As it turns out, the Avatar is still being reborn to this day. Unfortunately, if the government finds the Avatar, they’re killed before they liberate society. The handful of Benders left are few and far between. And you, an introverted Earthbender, just froze the liquid in your cup of tea.	The students filed into the cafeteria in a moderate pace. There were trays on a table at the start of the lunch line, with napkins and utensils neatly organized. My class moved mechanically; three years of college and twelve years of grade school provided more than enough muscle memory for this. The only sounds reverberating were the shuffling of feet, a low murmur amongst the tables, and plastic spoons clattering against metal pots and pans. I had not checked the menu when I entered the line, but the smell of beef stock - and what I hoped was bread - told me all I needed to know. I would need a cup of something to wash it down. I grabbed a cup. There weren’t ever many choices in the exquisite cuisine of Shisa Academy. In truth, there weren’t many choices in this college. You take a major after you study for three years. Sleep when the dorm lights turn off. No talking in the lunch line. Had I not been gifted tuition here due to my father’s work, there still wouldn’t be much choice in a different school. Order had been established, and it was quite peaceful and progressive, if at times aggressively so. There was no room in this world for chaos and propaganda, and myths like an ‘Avatar’ - not sure what that means - would stir negativity in places with so many people at once. My mind tends to wander to strange places when I try to avoid something, like the smell of - is that a paste? - something hopefully more edible than last Friday’s meal. Rei stood next to me. Her face contorted as the cook slapped the mixture on to her tray. She looked at me to save her, shoulder-length strands brushing away from her pained eyes. I held up my cup before giving her a shrug, and proceeded to the tea basin. When I finally sat with my class of fellow third-years, I took a good look. For the next three years we’ll be in different classes, finally studying our respective majors, becoming the future leaders of our country. I hadn’t paid much attention earlier, but I was sure sometime over the last year Elisa dyed her hair a darker shade. Isaiah was the same as ever, sneaking on his litePod when the enforcers weren’t looking. He found a way to bypass the wireless security before attending courses. The twins, Sung and Huin, played a game together on their own litePods. Then there was Rei, the only other person I really talked to in class, sitting on the corner picking at her meat paste. Barry, Elias, and Amin huddled together, body language louder than their voices. Jang-suk and Martha, the longest lasting couple in the entire school, huddled together; her tight dark curls covered the earbuds they shared. Other faces and names I’d gotten used to - Ronni, Elmer, Sayuri, Sheila - people I might’ve gotten to know, if it had not been for my father. My career politician father, and his bender-free college. This was supposedly a haven for nonbenders, those who couldn’t interact with the natural elements, but there were more than a few sympathizers to the dying breed. I might’ve gotten to know some of them, if it wouldn’t ruin his career. It’s alright, I thought. And it is, in truth. I’ve made friends here, and though I’ve kept my own bending a secret, I’m sure they wouldn’t mind. The benders left in the world don’t do much more than an average low-class citizen, if they haven’t been evicted from their houses. If they had houses at all. Much stigma remained about us despite our - my ancestors, I suppose - part in establishing peace in the world. There just weren’t many protections in place for the few benders left, and some of them found housing together, I’ve heard. There was a culture there, at least. Maybe there are more benders than we think. Maybe I’ll visit them, when I graduate in three years. Maybe I can get away from my father... Wrapped in my mind again, I must’ve missed Rei take a bite of that paste, because she urged me to hand her my tea. I handed it to her, only or her to thrust it back at me forcefully after taking a sip. The cup was still so warm that I almost dropped it. “Was it hot?” I let some smugness sneak into my question. “Oh light,” Rei managed to choke out between spitting and coughing. “I need to start bringing in my own food. I can’t tell if that’s fish or mulch.” I thought I smelled beef earlier. I decided to nix the food and took off the lid to cool my tea down. Rei never said much, but it was always pleasant when we had banter. “You think they have food-benders out there?” she went on. “Or flavor benders? You’d think with all this higher education they would hire better cooks.” Her face was still twisted with her mouth full of aftertaste. “Heh, maybe. Did you see the video on Seddit with the Soundbender?” I blew on the tea. “She popped one dude’s eardrums when they tried to arrest her.” The voice belonged to Isaiah. “They probably thought she was the Avatar.” Surely he was a sympathizer. He said he’d major in history at the start of this year, and I’ve seen the articles he reads on his litePod about bending. “I mean, no one’s even heard of Soundbending, and Lavabenders and Metalbenders haven’t been discovered for decades. “Chris?” said Rei. Lava? My throat caught. “I didn’t know that was even possible...” “Yeah! And just imagine, if there were Lightbenders-“ “Chris!” Rei again. “How did you do that?” I finally turned to her. “Do what?” Suddenly something felt odd. No, it felt cold. It was my hand. In it was a frosted cup of tea. I heard Isaiah gasp. This was a problem. Two people had seen me bend in a nonbending area, and if I was unlucky, so did an enforcer. The worst part was, water wasn’t my element.	"It's all just a bunch of superstition, I say." I heard Carla announce over the lunch table. The talk of the whole "Avatar" has restarted again and I can't say I blame anyone for it happening. One of the kids in Year 1 had been caught throwing rocks around a bit harder than they should have been able to. People found out she was an Earthbender and suddenly she disappeared for a few days before returning back, acting as though the days she'd been gone had never existed. "Yes, Carla. Tell us all about it." The groan came from a very bored sounding Michael on the other side of the table. If his voice hadn't dripped with enough sarcasm he already looked like his head was ready to fall off his hands onto the table at the next word. Carla seemed to not notice. "There's always loads of stories about amazing acts and feats that people have done that no one could have ever done. Like that one who suddenly invented Metalbending. Like, it had never been done ever in the world then suddenly she could and everything was amazing." "You mean Toffee?" Another voice, Charles sat next to me. He seemed just as bored as Michael. "Was that the name? I never remember all those stupid history lessons. Anyway, it was more likely that metal just hadn't been invented back then or whatever. People always want some hero they can look up to, someone who can be all amazing and save the world. And back then there was no science or whatever to believe in, so it was all spirits and bending. So you make some magical spirit person who can do all the bending ever, make them able to change faces so there can be a new hero every generation and bam, instant easy legend." Carla looked pretty pleased with herself until she looked around the table to see Michael having fallen asleep on the table, Charles just watching her with a blank look and me staring down into my drink. "Ugh, why do I even bother with you people?" She sighed dramatically, slumping down, crossing her arms and leaning across the table so that she took up over half of it. "Because you'd never fit in anywhere else?" Charles smirked, ruffling her hair up with a quick motion. The energy of the table quickly returned, Carla jumping up in anger, starting to chase Charles around the cafeteria with Michael having woken up enough to watch and cheer them on. I meanwhile just stared further into my cup. Only half of me had ever really been listening. The little girl that vanished for a few days, she was an Earthbender, like me. Not that I make a big deal out of it. Not much use being a bender these days, you stand out too much and get outcasted pretty quickly if you try to flaunt it. But they hadn't looked twice when there was that nursery that burned down a couple of months back when some toddler and a candle got too close to each other. They were looking for an Earthbender for some reason. The chill that went down my spine flowed down my arms until crystals started to appear around the rim of my cup. Wait. No. ... This was going to be interesting...
	[WP] As it turns out, the Avatar is still being reborn to this day. Unfortunately, if the government finds the Avatar, they’re killed before they liberate society. The handful of Benders left are few and far between. And you, an introverted Earthbender, just froze the liquid in your cup of tea.	"Finnick! Get your lazy earthbending butt up! We need to reinforce these structures those fire-fairies just welded!" That was Mark, he's the master builder here in Rebellion: Block Four (RB4). The last of the four main Rebellion camps still left standing after the witch-hunt was fully endorsed by congress. Here's the issue I have with this rebellion, they have nearly 10,000 times the numbers in an effort to shut us down while we have what? The ability to manipulate one sect of nature? Nothing when compared to firearms, I don't know why there is even a rebellion... It's a lost cause. I know what you're thinking reading this as well, 'then why the hell are you there?' And the answer is actually easy, why does any young-adult male in any situation that puts him at risk? The love of his life... Rose. Waterbender, beautiful, something I can't put words to to be honest. She was in no way a model, but she had this aura around her, something that I gravitate towards. She was wild, almost feral, and amazing. I signed up right when I saw her freeze a whole group of anti-benders in order to save a child. "Finnick, I need you to put serious effort in making sure these are well done and not going to crumble with a single tomahawk missile." My job here? I work as an integrity tester. There were a few earthbenders here, a few worked with the metal to ensure that it was decent enough to withstand some explosions. I am the only one who is titled: Integrity Tester. I somehow had a more in-tune grasp of metal working and earthbending in general that I was placed on the opposite of construction, but destruction. My job was to put immense strain on the infrastructure many firebenders, earthbenders, waterbenders and airbenders put many hours into. I was able to target large grasps of metal and rock at one time and simulate waves and downward forces that would come from explosions. Our shaman, what they call those who specialize in what's behind bending, says that I'm just more adapted to creating havoc which is different than most earthbenders, who focus naturally towards defense. I went to work. We were about a mile below the earth at this point in RB4. I knew how missiles worked because I experienced the variety of them at the governments disposal while in the rebellion. It would ring through the ground like an unnatural wave seeking to flatten everything in it's wake. I had the memory deep in me for every missile I felt in the ground and what it did to the earth around me. I replicated those, all of them. Sirens went off in the halls to alarm those within the construct that they were under attack, but it was just me. Blowing up the earth around the structure in a feign bombing run. It held. "Alright, everyone back to their work. Nothing to see here." Mark was one to really get everyone moving. I sat in a pool of my own sweat unable to stand quite yet. "Hey bud, that was some serious force you put out today. Seriously, go get yourself something to drink and take the rest of the day off. Great job, love watching you work." Mark was cold but at the same time could be an alright guy overall. Almost like he knew what to say in certain situations, even if he didn't mean it. I made my way to the cafeteria. Being the "destructive" earthbender I have a weird reputation where people think I'm a mean person or at best a badass. I get lots of stares and a few people move out of my way. I like that perk to be honest, I don't really like talking. I make it to the cafeteria and I see there is a line at the coffee station, I don't want to wait so I make my way to the tea stand. "Finn! That was awesome! I felt that in my room!" That was Elizabeth, she was an airbender that worked on 'rapid cooling of material' or something. I don't quite remember, all I know is that she is a sweet girl and lost both her parents to the filth that is the government. I grabbed my tea and walked over to the only table that didn't have that many people on it. I was still recuperating from the strain of work when I sat down. I lifted my tea to my mouth and took a long swig, but I thought it to be a little cold. I wanted something warm and this just wasn't it. "Something wrong deary?" The cafeteria ladies were always immediate when they sensed something wrong. All of them were old waterbenders, just doing the best they can in order to help those fighting. Most of them lost their whole family to the rebellion. "No ma'am, just the teas a little cold." "Oh, let me take care of that!" She bent the liquid in the cup out and into the sink near by and pour me a new cup from the steaming kettle she had. "Thanks." "You rest up now Finnick. We are all so grateful you put your heart and soul into your work. " That's another thing, people think of me as hardworking. I've just had to fight all my life so I only know one thing; Survive. And to survive there just wasn't any time to half-ass anything. I grab the tea and delicately put it to my lips in order to not burn myself. Cold. I set the tea down and stared at it for a period of time. It began to freeze. I look around to see if a waterbender was pranking me, but not a soul was around nor paying attention to me. I thought at this time, 'was it me? But that would mean..." and as I thought about it I saw another lady work her way over here to see if I was okay. I put my hand over the cup to try to mask what I had done. I couldn't let anyone know what I was, I couldn't. "Hello there son. You seem off, everything alright?" At this time the lady noticed my hand on my cup. This is it, this is where I get caught. But, I feel a sort of steam on the palm of my hand covering the cup. I remove my hand and the trapped steam rolls out as if nothing had happened. "Oh nothing, I was just... warming my hands up, it gets pretty cold down here." "You don't have to tell me twice! Those airbenders that work in ventilation sure do their job!" She wanders off and I leave to get to my room. I am sweating profusely. Walking along the halls I keep to myself even more so than normal. I don't make eye contact, just b-line it to my room. "Finn you damn idiot! I was trying to balance water when you started your testing! I am so close to being able to make perfect ice sheets!" Shoot, my roommate Chris was in the room. "Hey Chris, I'm sorry but I'm pretty distraught right now, could I have the room?" "Oh. You need to meditate again? No problem man, I'm here if you need to talk." "Thanks man." Most benders meditate often in order to spend time attuning themselves with their nature. I do so almost religiously because then I have a reason that no one should bother me and I don't feel bad about not talking to people. I cross my legs on my mat and reach out to the earth around me. The problem is, I feel like there is more there. Upon this realization I feel a wave of raw emotion take over me. Pain, fear, suffering, unjustness and hope. I receive images all around me. I had little Avatar knowledge at the time but I know that they were able to attune themselves to past avatars in order to gain wisdom. But, the last avatar known was a hundred years ago or so. I received images of the last remaining seconds of poor little children's lives. I felt every stab from a knife used to silence these little Avatars. The looks on their parents faces as they see their child, me in this case, slowly slip away into darkness. I did not see wisdom, I saw pain. Pain inflicted by those who seek to silence us benders. The images and feeling went on for what seemed like hours until finally I reached a point where it was no longer a toddler being strangled by an anti-bending unit. This was a girl, I knew everything about her at that exact moment. She was seventeen, originally thought to just be a waterbender, she found her Avatar powers in the middle of a market. She was touching a carpet when it caught fire, she didn't know she could do such a thing or else she would have never. She was a kind soul, a beautiful young girl just wanting to live peacefully in the world. Then I felt the grasp of a noose around her neck, my neck. Drug away into an ally she was approached by three anti-bending units who saw the whole thing happen. But this wasn't a mercy killing or an execution. They did unspeakable things to this young girl. I wanted to leave the image but something held me back, some unseen force made me witness what was happening. When it was all over I was jolted back into my own reality and slammed my head into the floor, I blacked out. "Finn! Finn! Holy heck dude, are you alright! Did you hit your head?" Chris was freaking out over me. "Yea. Yea Chris I'm fine, just had a scary dream and knocked my head. No big." "Must have been some dream." "Where is the nearest offensive task force sign up sheet?" "Woah, Finn. Are you finally going to go out and fight? They could use you. What changed your mind man?" "I feel obligated to fight for those who have died before me now." "Was it Rose?" The pang shot through my heart like it always did. "No, something else has stirred this raw emotion in me."	"It's all just a bunch of superstition, I say." I heard Carla announce over the lunch table. The talk of the whole "Avatar" has restarted again and I can't say I blame anyone for it happening. One of the kids in Year 1 had been caught throwing rocks around a bit harder than they should have been able to. People found out she was an Earthbender and suddenly she disappeared for a few days before returning back, acting as though the days she'd been gone had never existed. "Yes, Carla. Tell us all about it." The groan came from a very bored sounding Michael on the other side of the table. If his voice hadn't dripped with enough sarcasm he already looked like his head was ready to fall off his hands onto the table at the next word. Carla seemed to not notice. "There's always loads of stories about amazing acts and feats that people have done that no one could have ever done. Like that one who suddenly invented Metalbending. Like, it had never been done ever in the world then suddenly she could and everything was amazing." "You mean Toffee?" Another voice, Charles sat next to me. He seemed just as bored as Michael. "Was that the name? I never remember all those stupid history lessons. Anyway, it was more likely that metal just hadn't been invented back then or whatever. People always want some hero they can look up to, someone who can be all amazing and save the world. And back then there was no science or whatever to believe in, so it was all spirits and bending. So you make some magical spirit person who can do all the bending ever, make them able to change faces so there can be a new hero every generation and bam, instant easy legend." Carla looked pretty pleased with herself until she looked around the table to see Michael having fallen asleep on the table, Charles just watching her with a blank look and me staring down into my drink. "Ugh, why do I even bother with you people?" She sighed dramatically, slumping down, crossing her arms and leaning across the table so that she took up over half of it. "Because you'd never fit in anywhere else?" Charles smirked, ruffling her hair up with a quick motion. The energy of the table quickly returned, Carla jumping up in anger, starting to chase Charles around the cafeteria with Michael having woken up enough to watch and cheer them on. I meanwhile just stared further into my cup. Only half of me had ever really been listening. The little girl that vanished for a few days, she was an Earthbender, like me. Not that I make a big deal out of it. Not much use being a bender these days, you stand out too much and get outcasted pretty quickly if you try to flaunt it. But they hadn't looked twice when there was that nursery that burned down a couple of months back when some toddler and a candle got too close to each other. They were looking for an Earthbender for some reason. The chill that went down my spine flowed down my arms until crystals started to appear around the rim of my cup. Wait. No. ... This was going to be interesting...
	[WP] As it turns out, the Avatar is still being reborn to this day. Unfortunately, if the government finds the Avatar, they’re killed before they liberate society. The handful of Benders left are few and far between. And you, an introverted Earthbender, just froze the liquid in your cup of tea.	When Avatar Korra was questioned as to how she learned to bend the elements so quickly, she replied, “I think it was like a switch flipped. I just knew.” The frozen cup of tea in my hand should’ve been cold, mug included. But my hand was hot. Not a harmful warmth, but comfortable - like a warm breath caressing my skin. Without even trying, I knew. I knew that if I just willed it, flame would erupt from my hand. A certain power began to also fill my lungs, as if reacting to the deep breath I had taken when the tea froze. Dropping my cup of tea, I put one hand over my mouth, and pinched my nose closed with the other. No matter what, I couldn’t let my breath escape - couldn’t airbend no matter the cost. As my cup crashed to the floor, I heard my sister Mary cry, “Hey, you okay?” I couldn’t answer. A few seconds passed before her feet hit the tile floor and started toward the kitchen. Her voice came from around the corner, “Hey, Ella, what happened?” As she turned the corner and saw what I was doing, she froze, horror creeping into her expression. Tears began to drip down my cheeks. “Oh god,” she whispered. The airbenders had been wiped out twice, the first time by the firebenders, and then a second time by the earthbenders. The science of bending had made leaps and bounds after Korra. The realization that benders were becoming stronger with time made the natural phenomenon easier to study. My sister moved, her body likely acting ahead of her mind. With one smooth hand motion, she broke the metal sensors placed in the kitchen - things built to detect airbending, and the avatar as an extension. Breaking them would cause a silent alarm to go off, but we wouldn't be stopped by containment foam. “Breathe!” she said, holding my shoulders. Releasing my mouth and nose, I started panting, each breath creating a light breeze around me. “Mary,” I choked out. “I’m so sorry, I- I’m the avatar. I’m-” She took hold of my arm and pulled me forward. “Come on.” “What-” “We’re running.” “But-” I stopped myself. She knew the risks - what helping the avatar implied. She had likely carried out a few sentences herself as a state bender. With another wave of her hand, she blew apart the wall of our kitchen, revealing that there was already a few mounds of black dirt outside. Still dragging me forward, and without breaking pace, she stamped her foot on the ground, causing the three black mounds to melt. Muffled cries came from within them. Then she stamped again, and the ground bubbled underneath us and erupted forth. With another simple motion of her feet, Mary controlled the earth to carry us forward at high speed. She looked back at me and gave her best smile. “Come on, cheer up.” I couldn’t answer. “We-” She squeezed my hand harder. “There’s supposed to be a White Lotus camp in the north. We just need to get there.” I nodded once, smiling a little for Mary. The power of the avatar was described as the power of God once mastered, able to shape continents with a few simple motions. But you’d be hard pressed to find any masters these days, and even harder pressed to find a bender who hadn’t been forced into the Earth Empire’s military. And as the earth behind us rumbled from the incoming squad of elite benders, I thought of Avatar Aang’s legend. Maybe, just maybe, we could get through this.	"It's all just a bunch of superstition, I say." I heard Carla announce over the lunch table. The talk of the whole "Avatar" has restarted again and I can't say I blame anyone for it happening. One of the kids in Year 1 had been caught throwing rocks around a bit harder than they should have been able to. People found out she was an Earthbender and suddenly she disappeared for a few days before returning back, acting as though the days she'd been gone had never existed. "Yes, Carla. Tell us all about it." The groan came from a very bored sounding Michael on the other side of the table. If his voice hadn't dripped with enough sarcasm he already looked like his head was ready to fall off his hands onto the table at the next word. Carla seemed to not notice. "There's always loads of stories about amazing acts and feats that people have done that no one could have ever done. Like that one who suddenly invented Metalbending. Like, it had never been done ever in the world then suddenly she could and everything was amazing." "You mean Toffee?" Another voice, Charles sat next to me. He seemed just as bored as Michael. "Was that the name? I never remember all those stupid history lessons. Anyway, it was more likely that metal just hadn't been invented back then or whatever. People always want some hero they can look up to, someone who can be all amazing and save the world. And back then there was no science or whatever to believe in, so it was all spirits and bending. So you make some magical spirit person who can do all the bending ever, make them able to change faces so there can be a new hero every generation and bam, instant easy legend." Carla looked pretty pleased with herself until she looked around the table to see Michael having fallen asleep on the table, Charles just watching her with a blank look and me staring down into my drink. "Ugh, why do I even bother with you people?" She sighed dramatically, slumping down, crossing her arms and leaning across the table so that she took up over half of it. "Because you'd never fit in anywhere else?" Charles smirked, ruffling her hair up with a quick motion. The energy of the table quickly returned, Carla jumping up in anger, starting to chase Charles around the cafeteria with Michael having woken up enough to watch and cheer them on. I meanwhile just stared further into my cup. Only half of me had ever really been listening. The little girl that vanished for a few days, she was an Earthbender, like me. Not that I make a big deal out of it. Not much use being a bender these days, you stand out too much and get outcasted pretty quickly if you try to flaunt it. But they hadn't looked twice when there was that nursery that burned down a couple of months back when some toddler and a candle got too close to each other. They were looking for an Earthbender for some reason. The chill that went down my spine flowed down my arms until crystals started to appear around the rim of my cup. Wait. No. ... This was going to be interesting...
	[WP] As it turns out, the Avatar is still being reborn to this day. Unfortunately, if the government finds the Avatar, they’re killed before they liberate society. The handful of Benders left are few and far between. And you, an introverted Earthbender, just froze the liquid in your cup of tea.	"Where is the Avatar, Rahm?" I gestured to the seat in front of me. "Now, now, calm yourself, Kota. Come, sit down, have a cup of tea." "I'll pass. Now, where are they? We know you're hiding the Avatar!" I sighed. "Are you sure? It's oolong, it's really quite good. I insist, you must have a cup. Now, do you take cream these days? Sugar?" "I just said I don't want any of your stupid tea, Rahm." "Ah, right. Of course. Well, suit yourself." I began to mix the sugar into my cup. "So, how is life? I hear the new government job is going well." "Quit stalling. Tell us where the Avatar is, and we'll let you live." I set the tea down on the table, and looked him in the eye. "Kota, I'm afraid that won't be the case." "What?" Kota gasped as the tea began to freeze in my cup. "You? You're the Avatar?" "Yes, but I am calling on you, in the name of any friendship we once had. Come, join us, join the resistance. Together, we can-" I gasped as I saw the shard of metal, poking through my ribcage. As I fell to the ground, I could hear Kota talking into a radio. "Call off the search. We... we got him." As I felt my blood draining out, I took the rest of the pack of potassium nitrate crystals from my pocket and bent it into the ground as far as I could. "Good luck, Avatar, wherever you are." I whispered to myself. "May this give you the time you need."	"It's all just a bunch of superstition, I say." I heard Carla announce over the lunch table. The talk of the whole "Avatar" has restarted again and I can't say I blame anyone for it happening. One of the kids in Year 1 had been caught throwing rocks around a bit harder than they should have been able to. People found out she was an Earthbender and suddenly she disappeared for a few days before returning back, acting as though the days she'd been gone had never existed. "Yes, Carla. Tell us all about it." The groan came from a very bored sounding Michael on the other side of the table. If his voice hadn't dripped with enough sarcasm he already looked like his head was ready to fall off his hands onto the table at the next word. Carla seemed to not notice. "There's always loads of stories about amazing acts and feats that people have done that no one could have ever done. Like that one who suddenly invented Metalbending. Like, it had never been done ever in the world then suddenly she could and everything was amazing." "You mean Toffee?" Another voice, Charles sat next to me. He seemed just as bored as Michael. "Was that the name? I never remember all those stupid history lessons. Anyway, it was more likely that metal just hadn't been invented back then or whatever. People always want some hero they can look up to, someone who can be all amazing and save the world. And back then there was no science or whatever to believe in, so it was all spirits and bending. So you make some magical spirit person who can do all the bending ever, make them able to change faces so there can be a new hero every generation and bam, instant easy legend." Carla looked pretty pleased with herself until she looked around the table to see Michael having fallen asleep on the table, Charles just watching her with a blank look and me staring down into my drink. "Ugh, why do I even bother with you people?" She sighed dramatically, slumping down, crossing her arms and leaning across the table so that she took up over half of it. "Because you'd never fit in anywhere else?" Charles smirked, ruffling her hair up with a quick motion. The energy of the table quickly returned, Carla jumping up in anger, starting to chase Charles around the cafeteria with Michael having woken up enough to watch and cheer them on. I meanwhile just stared further into my cup. Only half of me had ever really been listening. The little girl that vanished for a few days, she was an Earthbender, like me. Not that I make a big deal out of it. Not much use being a bender these days, you stand out too much and get outcasted pretty quickly if you try to flaunt it. But they hadn't looked twice when there was that nursery that burned down a couple of months back when some toddler and a candle got too close to each other. They were looking for an Earthbender for some reason. The chill that went down my spine flowed down my arms until crystals started to appear around the rim of my cup. Wait. No. ... This was going to be interesting...
	[WP] As it turns out, the Avatar is still being reborn to this day. Unfortunately, if the government finds the Avatar, they’re killed before they liberate society. The handful of Benders left are few and far between. And you, an introverted Earthbender, just froze the liquid in your cup of tea.	"Where is the Avatar, Rahm?" I gestured to the seat in front of me. "Now, now, calm yourself, Kota. Come, sit down, have a cup of tea." "I'll pass. Now, where are they? We know you're hiding the Avatar!" I sighed. "Are you sure? It's oolong, it's really quite good. I insist, you must have a cup. Now, do you take cream these days? Sugar?" "I just said I don't want any of your stupid tea, Rahm." "Ah, right. Of course. Well, suit yourself." I began to mix the sugar into my cup. "So, how is life? I hear the new government job is going well." "Quit stalling. Tell us where the Avatar is, and we'll let you live." I set the tea down on the table, and looked him in the eye. "Kota, I'm afraid that won't be the case." "What?" Kota gasped as the tea began to freeze in my cup. "You? You're the Avatar?" "Yes, but I am calling on you, in the name of any friendship we once had. Come, join us, join the resistance. Together, we can-" I gasped as I saw the shard of metal, poking through my ribcage. As I fell to the ground, I could hear Kota talking into a radio. "Call off the search. We... we got him." As I felt my blood draining out, I took the rest of the pack of potassium nitrate crystals from my pocket and bent it into the ground as far as I could. "Good luck, Avatar, wherever you are." I whispered to myself. "May this give you the time you need."	"Finnick! Get your lazy earthbending butt up! We need to reinforce these structures those fire-fairies just welded!" That was Mark, he's the master builder here in Rebellion: Block Four (RB4). The last of the four main Rebellion camps still left standing after the witch-hunt was fully endorsed by congress. Here's the issue I have with this rebellion, they have nearly 10,000 times the numbers in an effort to shut us down while we have what? The ability to manipulate one sect of nature? Nothing when compared to firearms, I don't know why there is even a rebellion... It's a lost cause. I know what you're thinking reading this as well, 'then why the hell are you there?' And the answer is actually easy, why does any young-adult male in any situation that puts him at risk? The love of his life... Rose. Waterbender, beautiful, something I can't put words to to be honest. She was in no way a model, but she had this aura around her, something that I gravitate towards. She was wild, almost feral, and amazing. I signed up right when I saw her freeze a whole group of anti-benders in order to save a child. "Finnick, I need you to put serious effort in making sure these are well done and not going to crumble with a single tomahawk missile." My job here? I work as an integrity tester. There were a few earthbenders here, a few worked with the metal to ensure that it was decent enough to withstand some explosions. I am the only one who is titled: Integrity Tester. I somehow had a more in-tune grasp of metal working and earthbending in general that I was placed on the opposite of construction, but destruction. My job was to put immense strain on the infrastructure many firebenders, earthbenders, waterbenders and airbenders put many hours into. I was able to target large grasps of metal and rock at one time and simulate waves and downward forces that would come from explosions. Our shaman, what they call those who specialize in what's behind bending, says that I'm just more adapted to creating havoc which is different than most earthbenders, who focus naturally towards defense. I went to work. We were about a mile below the earth at this point in RB4. I knew how missiles worked because I experienced the variety of them at the governments disposal while in the rebellion. It would ring through the ground like an unnatural wave seeking to flatten everything in it's wake. I had the memory deep in me for every missile I felt in the ground and what it did to the earth around me. I replicated those, all of them. Sirens went off in the halls to alarm those within the construct that they were under attack, but it was just me. Blowing up the earth around the structure in a feign bombing run. It held. "Alright, everyone back to their work. Nothing to see here." Mark was one to really get everyone moving. I sat in a pool of my own sweat unable to stand quite yet. "Hey bud, that was some serious force you put out today. Seriously, go get yourself something to drink and take the rest of the day off. Great job, love watching you work." Mark was cold but at the same time could be an alright guy overall. Almost like he knew what to say in certain situations, even if he didn't mean it. I made my way to the cafeteria. Being the "destructive" earthbender I have a weird reputation where people think I'm a mean person or at best a badass. I get lots of stares and a few people move out of my way. I like that perk to be honest, I don't really like talking. I make it to the cafeteria and I see there is a line at the coffee station, I don't want to wait so I make my way to the tea stand. "Finn! That was awesome! I felt that in my room!" That was Elizabeth, she was an airbender that worked on 'rapid cooling of material' or something. I don't quite remember, all I know is that she is a sweet girl and lost both her parents to the filth that is the government. I grabbed my tea and walked over to the only table that didn't have that many people on it. I was still recuperating from the strain of work when I sat down. I lifted my tea to my mouth and took a long swig, but I thought it to be a little cold. I wanted something warm and this just wasn't it. "Something wrong deary?" The cafeteria ladies were always immediate when they sensed something wrong. All of them were old waterbenders, just doing the best they can in order to help those fighting. Most of them lost their whole family to the rebellion. "No ma'am, just the teas a little cold." "Oh, let me take care of that!" She bent the liquid in the cup out and into the sink near by and pour me a new cup from the steaming kettle she had. "Thanks." "You rest up now Finnick. We are all so grateful you put your heart and soul into your work. " That's another thing, people think of me as hardworking. I've just had to fight all my life so I only know one thing; Survive. And to survive there just wasn't any time to half-ass anything. I grab the tea and delicately put it to my lips in order to not burn myself. Cold. I set the tea down and stared at it for a period of time. It began to freeze. I look around to see if a waterbender was pranking me, but not a soul was around nor paying attention to me. I thought at this time, 'was it me? But that would mean..." and as I thought about it I saw another lady work her way over here to see if I was okay. I put my hand over the cup to try to mask what I had done. I couldn't let anyone know what I was, I couldn't. "Hello there son. You seem off, everything alright?" At this time the lady noticed my hand on my cup. This is it, this is where I get caught. But, I feel a sort of steam on the palm of my hand covering the cup. I remove my hand and the trapped steam rolls out as if nothing had happened. "Oh nothing, I was just... warming my hands up, it gets pretty cold down here." "You don't have to tell me twice! Those airbenders that work in ventilation sure do their job!" She wanders off and I leave to get to my room. I am sweating profusely. Walking along the halls I keep to myself even more so than normal. I don't make eye contact, just b-line it to my room. "Finn you damn idiot! I was trying to balance water when you started your testing! I am so close to being able to make perfect ice sheets!" Shoot, my roommate Chris was in the room. "Hey Chris, I'm sorry but I'm pretty distraught right now, could I have the room?" "Oh. You need to meditate again? No problem man, I'm here if you need to talk." "Thanks man." Most benders meditate often in order to spend time attuning themselves with their nature. I do so almost religiously because then I have a reason that no one should bother me and I don't feel bad about not talking to people. I cross my legs on my mat and reach out to the earth around me. The problem is, I feel like there is more there. Upon this realization I feel a wave of raw emotion take over me. Pain, fear, suffering, unjustness and hope. I receive images all around me. I had little Avatar knowledge at the time but I know that they were able to attune themselves to past avatars in order to gain wisdom. But, the last avatar known was a hundred years ago or so. I received images of the last remaining seconds of poor little children's lives. I felt every stab from a knife used to silence these little Avatars. The looks on their parents faces as they see their child, me in this case, slowly slip away into darkness. I did not see wisdom, I saw pain. Pain inflicted by those who seek to silence us benders. The images and feeling went on for what seemed like hours until finally I reached a point where it was no longer a toddler being strangled by an anti-bending unit. This was a girl, I knew everything about her at that exact moment. She was seventeen, originally thought to just be a waterbender, she found her Avatar powers in the middle of a market. She was touching a carpet when it caught fire, she didn't know she could do such a thing or else she would have never. She was a kind soul, a beautiful young girl just wanting to live peacefully in the world. Then I felt the grasp of a noose around her neck, my neck. Drug away into an ally she was approached by three anti-bending units who saw the whole thing happen. But this wasn't a mercy killing or an execution. They did unspeakable things to this young girl. I wanted to leave the image but something held me back, some unseen force made me witness what was happening. When it was all over I was jolted back into my own reality and slammed my head into the floor, I blacked out. "Finn! Finn! Holy heck dude, are you alright! Did you hit your head?" Chris was freaking out over me. "Yea. Yea Chris I'm fine, just had a scary dream and knocked my head. No big." "Must have been some dream." "Where is the nearest offensive task force sign up sheet?" "Woah, Finn. Are you finally going to go out and fight? They could use you. What changed your mind man?" "I feel obligated to fight for those who have died before me now." "Was it Rose?" The pang shot through my heart like it always did. "No, something else has stirred this raw emotion in me."
	[WP] As it turns out, the Avatar is still being reborn to this day. Unfortunately, if the government finds the Avatar, they’re killed before they liberate society. The handful of Benders left are few and far between. And you, an introverted Earthbender, just froze the liquid in your cup of tea.	"Where is the Avatar, Rahm?" I gestured to the seat in front of me. "Now, now, calm yourself, Kota. Come, sit down, have a cup of tea." "I'll pass. Now, where are they? We know you're hiding the Avatar!" I sighed. "Are you sure? It's oolong, it's really quite good. I insist, you must have a cup. Now, do you take cream these days? Sugar?" "I just said I don't want any of your stupid tea, Rahm." "Ah, right. Of course. Well, suit yourself." I began to mix the sugar into my cup. "So, how is life? I hear the new government job is going well." "Quit stalling. Tell us where the Avatar is, and we'll let you live." I set the tea down on the table, and looked him in the eye. "Kota, I'm afraid that won't be the case." "What?" Kota gasped as the tea began to freeze in my cup. "You? You're the Avatar?" "Yes, but I am calling on you, in the name of any friendship we once had. Come, join us, join the resistance. Together, we can-" I gasped as I saw the shard of metal, poking through my ribcage. As I fell to the ground, I could hear Kota talking into a radio. "Call off the search. We... we got him." As I felt my blood draining out, I took the rest of the pack of potassium nitrate crystals from my pocket and bent it into the ground as far as I could. "Good luck, Avatar, wherever you are." I whispered to myself. "May this give you the time you need."	When Avatar Korra was questioned as to how she learned to bend the elements so quickly, she replied, “I think it was like a switch flipped. I just knew.” The frozen cup of tea in my hand should’ve been cold, mug included. But my hand was hot. Not a harmful warmth, but comfortable - like a warm breath caressing my skin. Without even trying, I knew. I knew that if I just willed it, flame would erupt from my hand. A certain power began to also fill my lungs, as if reacting to the deep breath I had taken when the tea froze. Dropping my cup of tea, I put one hand over my mouth, and pinched my nose closed with the other. No matter what, I couldn’t let my breath escape - couldn’t airbend no matter the cost. As my cup crashed to the floor, I heard my sister Mary cry, “Hey, you okay?” I couldn’t answer. A few seconds passed before her feet hit the tile floor and started toward the kitchen. Her voice came from around the corner, “Hey, Ella, what happened?” As she turned the corner and saw what I was doing, she froze, horror creeping into her expression. Tears began to drip down my cheeks. “Oh god,” she whispered. The airbenders had been wiped out twice, the first time by the firebenders, and then a second time by the earthbenders. The science of bending had made leaps and bounds after Korra. The realization that benders were becoming stronger with time made the natural phenomenon easier to study. My sister moved, her body likely acting ahead of her mind. With one smooth hand motion, she broke the metal sensors placed in the kitchen - things built to detect airbending, and the avatar as an extension. Breaking them would cause a silent alarm to go off, but we wouldn't be stopped by containment foam. “Breathe!” she said, holding my shoulders. Releasing my mouth and nose, I started panting, each breath creating a light breeze around me. “Mary,” I choked out. “I’m so sorry, I- I’m the avatar. I’m-” She took hold of my arm and pulled me forward. “Come on.” “What-” “We’re running.” “But-” I stopped myself. She knew the risks - what helping the avatar implied. She had likely carried out a few sentences herself as a state bender. With another wave of her hand, she blew apart the wall of our kitchen, revealing that there was already a few mounds of black dirt outside. Still dragging me forward, and without breaking pace, she stamped her foot on the ground, causing the three black mounds to melt. Muffled cries came from within them. Then she stamped again, and the ground bubbled underneath us and erupted forth. With another simple motion of her feet, Mary controlled the earth to carry us forward at high speed. She looked back at me and gave her best smile. “Come on, cheer up.” I couldn’t answer. “We-” She squeezed my hand harder. “There’s supposed to be a White Lotus camp in the north. We just need to get there.” I nodded once, smiling a little for Mary. The power of the avatar was described as the power of God once mastered, able to shape continents with a few simple motions. But you’d be hard pressed to find any masters these days, and even harder pressed to find a bender who hadn’t been forced into the Earth Empire’s military. And as the earth behind us rumbled from the incoming squad of elite benders, I thought of Avatar Aang’s legend. Maybe, just maybe, we could get through this.
	[WP] As it turns out, the Avatar is still being reborn to this day. Unfortunately, if the government finds the Avatar, they’re killed before they liberate society. The handful of Benders left are few and far between. And you, an introverted Earthbender, just froze the liquid in your cup of tea.	Shit. I swear as I jerk the boiling liquid away from my mouth. My impatience never failed to scald my tongue. I set the cup down and turn to my phone to wait for it to cool. My newsfeed is full of allegations that the Avatar has been spotted. As a young Earthbender, I was told stories of the amazing Avatar, master of the elements, how they were the only ones who could save the world. All I had ever known of the Avatar is the fact that they were terrible at saving themselves. For generations, nonbenders had hunted benders. The nonbenders breathed life into technology and advancement, leaving the original four kingdoms in ruins. Benders had been hunted to near extinction. We were seen as obsolete; there are no needs for earthbenders in a society of bulldozers. In recent years, there was a movement to accept the benders in modern society. We were given small celebrations to honor our history, our talents made marketable in t-shirts, our homes made into amusement parks and zoos. I was still seen as less-than, but not quite seen as huntable. However, the Avatar was still seen as a threat. They were the only thing that could end their reign on us. I grew up being shown the executions of the last Avatars, as they knew one day it would be one of the Earthbenders who would rise again. I knew that it would possibly be one of my friends bound before a hangman’s noose. We all knew the consequences of holding power over the ones who controlled us. I shut off the screen and return to my tea. I go to grab the cup, willing it in my head to become drinkable, and a thin layer of ice forms over the top. I jerk my hand away from it. I throw the rest of my cash onto the table and grab my jacket. There is no place for the Avatar in this world.	I was sitting in the back row of the auditorium, black school outfit with the government's red insignia on my back, a circle. Just like everyone else. "The circle", a booming voice erupted from the speakers, interrupting my thoughts. How inconsiderate. "Represents unity. Together, like a flock of WolfHawks, we are strong. Alone, the WolfHawk is weak." Like a flame in the darkness, the speaker's blood red embroidered outfit and gold cape boldly emphasized his persona. His face unyielding, voice steady and confident. "The four nations used to live together... in chaos. It was the king Artificus that brought order to the world." He continued, dark eyes wandering the room. They lingered... Was he staring at me? The booming voice resonated in my head as he continued: "Through unity, strength.” “Earthbenders, firebenders, waterbenders, airbenders - made the world a cruel place, outlaws that created disorder. That is why they have been eradicated from society. We are proud to announce the global population is less than 3 thousand. Those in hiding will be found, and they will be ended." The auditorium erupted in applause, hooting and hollering from the classmates to my left and right. A stern hand raised, silencing the applause abruptly. His hand contracted into a fist, and lingered as if drawing anticipation…Then, like a judge’s gavel slammed against the podium: "We", boom, "will" boom, "find you” boom. More applause. My gaze drew upon Sophiara, a girl graduating with me. Thoughts drifted through me, enshrouding my mind in a hazy mist. There was something about her I couldn't quite place. Often I would notice her missing from a class we shared, fire nation history. My surroundings subconsciously blurred out of focus... and then her eyes met mine. I had been staring too long. I averted my gaze quickly from her hazel eyes. We lined up and received our diplomas, one by one, black suit after black suit, in and out. One couldn't distinguish who was who even if they tried, yet proud parents beamed from the crowd, like hyena-bats carefully stalking prey in the dark. --- It is quite an honor to have the great general and hero Itawaska visit our small village as graduation speaker. Many pray to the king for harboring such fortunate luck upon our town. The Oracle did predict luck for our village from the clouds this year... Though I don't really believe anything she says. I’m glad the ceremony is over. I make my way down a 3 km winding trail on the outskirts of town. It is late afternoon, and the sun begins to fall as the moon winds up, forever encircling each other as if an invisible clock spins them around and around. A brown cloud shadows me as dust leaps up behind my quick footsteps. One foot after another, tick, tock they go in rhythmic fashion. I enjoy hiking these trails; to be honest the outdoors has always felt like home to me. I don’t think about much as I walk, just letting my mind drift like a leaf down a winding stream. Late afternoon is faltering into evening. I must say, I have always been more of a night person, and tonight the full moon pulsates my blood like a heartbeat, and I seem to radiate positive chi. A few more twists and turns, my mind continues to wander as I navigate the trails like a harp player's hands naturally shift to the next note of a familiar song. Naturally I engage in a left turn, just a stone throw after old Man Maloka's mailbox. He is a curious man, older than anyone I’ve ever met, with as many wrinkles as stories to tell. My parents often warn me not to be associated as his murmurings were, as they put it, "careless". A few more minutes and I arrive at the broken bridge, a chasm-like river separating the land mass on the other side. I walk a few hundred meters to the left. There lies a makeshift crossing I made out of stones many years ago. With precision I jump from one stone to another, making my way across. Another 3 km of walking. Trees thicken as I make my way, looming with long shadows. Finally, I have arrived. It is a lake. Even in the day I wouldn’t be able to see to the other side. The moon shimmers off the still water like a spotlight, illuminating the nearby woods. It is a heavily forested area; though a large lake, one would not mistakenly find oneself here. I close my eyes, breathing in and out. I imagine two fish encircling each other for eternity, a white fish and a black fish – yin and yang. I’m certain I’ve seen them before in a dream. Minutes passed as the orange-red sky recedes into purple. I hardly noticed as I fall deeper into meditation. I listen to the chirping of cricket-birds, the whispering of trees as a breeze reverberates around the forest. I inhale deeply, the moon shining like a lighthouse in the sky, and face my open palms upwards. I exhale slowly. The water trembles in front of me, suddenly cracking the glass-like stillness. My arms rise. Consolidated waves appear, spiraling in a circle on the surface of the water. In a grand moment, the water leaps upwards, contained by an invisible force. My hands clench as the water rushes into a tight sphere. I feel the water struggle against my will, the weight of it pressing on my mind. I feel the perimeter begin to falter. Suddenly, as if a tiny dam within the sphere bursts, the water collapses back into the lake. I triumphantly raised my left fist into the air! This is my first time creating a water-sphere! I now notice my breath is rigid, heart beating quickly. Even the simplest bending is draining for me. I sigh and sit back down. I will mediate before trying again. Determined, erasing the grin from my face, I begin to breath. In, out… Tick, tock.
	[WP] As it turns out, the Avatar is still being reborn to this day. Unfortunately, if the government finds the Avatar, they’re killed before they liberate society. The handful of Benders left are few and far between. And you, an introverted Earthbender, just froze the liquid in your cup of tea.	"Where is the Avatar, Rahm?" I gestured to the seat in front of me. "Now, now, calm yourself, Kota. Come, sit down, have a cup of tea." "I'll pass. Now, where are they? We know you're hiding the Avatar!" I sighed. "Are you sure? It's oolong, it's really quite good. I insist, you must have a cup. Now, do you take cream these days? Sugar?" "I just said I don't want any of your stupid tea, Rahm." "Ah, right. Of course. Well, suit yourself." I began to mix the sugar into my cup. "So, how is life? I hear the new government job is going well." "Quit stalling. Tell us where the Avatar is, and we'll let you live." I set the tea down on the table, and looked him in the eye. "Kota, I'm afraid that won't be the case." "What?" Kota gasped as the tea began to freeze in my cup. "You? You're the Avatar?" "Yes, but I am calling on you, in the name of any friendship we once had. Come, join us, join the resistance. Together, we can-" I gasped as I saw the shard of metal, poking through my ribcage. As I fell to the ground, I could hear Kota talking into a radio. "Call off the search. We... we got him." As I felt my blood draining out, I took the rest of the pack of potassium nitrate crystals from my pocket and bent it into the ground as far as I could. "Good luck, Avatar, wherever you are." I whispered to myself. "May this give you the time you need."	I was sitting in the back row of the auditorium, black school outfit with the government's red insignia on my back, a circle. Just like everyone else. "The circle", a booming voice erupted from the speakers, interrupting my thoughts. How inconsiderate. "Represents unity. Together, like a flock of WolfHawks, we are strong. Alone, the WolfHawk is weak." Like a flame in the darkness, the speaker's blood red embroidered outfit and gold cape boldly emphasized his persona. His face unyielding, voice steady and confident. "The four nations used to live together... in chaos. It was the king Artificus that brought order to the world." He continued, dark eyes wandering the room. They lingered... Was he staring at me? The booming voice resonated in my head as he continued: "Through unity, strength.” “Earthbenders, firebenders, waterbenders, airbenders - made the world a cruel place, outlaws that created disorder. That is why they have been eradicated from society. We are proud to announce the global population is less than 3 thousand. Those in hiding will be found, and they will be ended." The auditorium erupted in applause, hooting and hollering from the classmates to my left and right. A stern hand raised, silencing the applause abruptly. His hand contracted into a fist, and lingered as if drawing anticipation…Then, like a judge’s gavel slammed against the podium: "We", boom, "will" boom, "find you” boom. More applause. My gaze drew upon Sophiara, a girl graduating with me. Thoughts drifted through me, enshrouding my mind in a hazy mist. There was something about her I couldn't quite place. Often I would notice her missing from a class we shared, fire nation history. My surroundings subconsciously blurred out of focus... and then her eyes met mine. I had been staring too long. I averted my gaze quickly from her hazel eyes. We lined up and received our diplomas, one by one, black suit after black suit, in and out. One couldn't distinguish who was who even if they tried, yet proud parents beamed from the crowd, like hyena-bats carefully stalking prey in the dark. --- It is quite an honor to have the great general and hero Itawaska visit our small village as graduation speaker. Many pray to the king for harboring such fortunate luck upon our town. The Oracle did predict luck for our village from the clouds this year... Though I don't really believe anything she says. I’m glad the ceremony is over. I make my way down a 3 km winding trail on the outskirts of town. It is late afternoon, and the sun begins to fall as the moon winds up, forever encircling each other as if an invisible clock spins them around and around. A brown cloud shadows me as dust leaps up behind my quick footsteps. One foot after another, tick, tock they go in rhythmic fashion. I enjoy hiking these trails; to be honest the outdoors has always felt like home to me. I don’t think about much as I walk, just letting my mind drift like a leaf down a winding stream. Late afternoon is faltering into evening. I must say, I have always been more of a night person, and tonight the full moon pulsates my blood like a heartbeat, and I seem to radiate positive chi. A few more twists and turns, my mind continues to wander as I navigate the trails like a harp player's hands naturally shift to the next note of a familiar song. Naturally I engage in a left turn, just a stone throw after old Man Maloka's mailbox. He is a curious man, older than anyone I’ve ever met, with as many wrinkles as stories to tell. My parents often warn me not to be associated as his murmurings were, as they put it, "careless". A few more minutes and I arrive at the broken bridge, a chasm-like river separating the land mass on the other side. I walk a few hundred meters to the left. There lies a makeshift crossing I made out of stones many years ago. With precision I jump from one stone to another, making my way across. Another 3 km of walking. Trees thicken as I make my way, looming with long shadows. Finally, I have arrived. It is a lake. Even in the day I wouldn’t be able to see to the other side. The moon shimmers off the still water like a spotlight, illuminating the nearby woods. It is a heavily forested area; though a large lake, one would not mistakenly find oneself here. I close my eyes, breathing in and out. I imagine two fish encircling each other for eternity, a white fish and a black fish – yin and yang. I’m certain I’ve seen them before in a dream. Minutes passed as the orange-red sky recedes into purple. I hardly noticed as I fall deeper into meditation. I listen to the chirping of cricket-birds, the whispering of trees as a breeze reverberates around the forest. I inhale deeply, the moon shining like a lighthouse in the sky, and face my open palms upwards. I exhale slowly. The water trembles in front of me, suddenly cracking the glass-like stillness. My arms rise. Consolidated waves appear, spiraling in a circle on the surface of the water. In a grand moment, the water leaps upwards, contained by an invisible force. My hands clench as the water rushes into a tight sphere. I feel the water struggle against my will, the weight of it pressing on my mind. I feel the perimeter begin to falter. Suddenly, as if a tiny dam within the sphere bursts, the water collapses back into the lake. I triumphantly raised my left fist into the air! This is my first time creating a water-sphere! I now notice my breath is rigid, heart beating quickly. Even the simplest bending is draining for me. I sigh and sit back down. I will mediate before trying again. Determined, erasing the grin from my face, I begin to breath. In, out… Tick, tock.
	[WP] As it turns out, the Avatar is still being reborn to this day. Unfortunately, if the government finds the Avatar, they’re killed before they liberate society. The handful of Benders left are few and far between. And you, an introverted Earthbender, just froze the liquid in your cup of tea.	"Where is the Avatar, Rahm?" I gestured to the seat in front of me. "Now, now, calm yourself, Kota. Come, sit down, have a cup of tea." "I'll pass. Now, where are they? We know you're hiding the Avatar!" I sighed. "Are you sure? It's oolong, it's really quite good. I insist, you must have a cup. Now, do you take cream these days? Sugar?" "I just said I don't want any of your stupid tea, Rahm." "Ah, right. Of course. Well, suit yourself." I began to mix the sugar into my cup. "So, how is life? I hear the new government job is going well." "Quit stalling. Tell us where the Avatar is, and we'll let you live." I set the tea down on the table, and looked him in the eye. "Kota, I'm afraid that won't be the case." "What?" Kota gasped as the tea began to freeze in my cup. "You? You're the Avatar?" "Yes, but I am calling on you, in the name of any friendship we once had. Come, join us, join the resistance. Together, we can-" I gasped as I saw the shard of metal, poking through my ribcage. As I fell to the ground, I could hear Kota talking into a radio. "Call off the search. We... we got him." As I felt my blood draining out, I took the rest of the pack of potassium nitrate crystals from my pocket and bent it into the ground as far as I could. "Good luck, Avatar, wherever you are." I whispered to myself. "May this give you the time you need."	Shit. I swear as I jerk the boiling liquid away from my mouth. My impatience never failed to scald my tongue. I set the cup down and turn to my phone to wait for it to cool. My newsfeed is full of allegations that the Avatar has been spotted. As a young Earthbender, I was told stories of the amazing Avatar, master of the elements, how they were the only ones who could save the world. All I had ever known of the Avatar is the fact that they were terrible at saving themselves. For generations, nonbenders had hunted benders. The nonbenders breathed life into technology and advancement, leaving the original four kingdoms in ruins. Benders had been hunted to near extinction. We were seen as obsolete; there are no needs for earthbenders in a society of bulldozers. In recent years, there was a movement to accept the benders in modern society. We were given small celebrations to honor our history, our talents made marketable in t-shirts, our homes made into amusement parks and zoos. I was still seen as less-than, but not quite seen as huntable. However, the Avatar was still seen as a threat. They were the only thing that could end their reign on us. I grew up being shown the executions of the last Avatars, as they knew one day it would be one of the Earthbenders who would rise again. I knew that it would possibly be one of my friends bound before a hangman’s noose. We all knew the consequences of holding power over the ones who controlled us. I shut off the screen and return to my tea. I go to grab the cup, willing it in my head to become drinkable, and a thin layer of ice forms over the top. I jerk my hand away from it. I throw the rest of my cash onto the table and grab my jacket. There is no place for the Avatar in this world.
	[WP] As it turns out, the Avatar is still being reborn to this day. Unfortunately, if the government finds the Avatar, they’re killed before they liberate society. The handful of Benders left are few and far between. And you, an introverted Earthbender, just froze the liquid in your cup of tea.	I woke up to a scream— my mother. There was a loud “BANG!” followed by a dull thud, as if someone had blown in the door to our small, water tribe home. I sat in bed, clutching the covers. There were voices outside my room. “Lin, grab Inori— they’re here! I’ll hold them off. Take her and run!” More thuds, and the distinct splashing of water. My father was fighting off the intruders with waterbending. My door burst open to reveal my mother, still in her night clothes, with eyes wide in terror. “Inori, grab your pack— we have to run, now. It’s okay, sweetie, we just have to leave right now—“ “Dispose of him!” came a shout from below. There was a flash of light from the hallway, and two crashes. I heard my father moan in pain. I clutched the covers and brim of my nightdress. “Mommy?” I asked, frightened. “What’s happening? Is Daddy okay?” Terror was in her eyes. “Inori, we have to run, now!” She clutched me in her arms, but it was too late— as if it appeared out from underneath her, her foot caught a rock and she stumbled forward, dropping me at the threshold of my door. I looked up into the eyes of a man who was not my father. “So, this is her?” he cackled. He was tall. Intimidating, with a thin beard and grisled features, complete with a scar running from his ear to the bottom of his chin. I recoiled in fear. “Don’t worry sweetie, it’ll be over soon.” He snapped his fingers and his colleague clasped earthen shackles around my hands and feet. I tried to scream, but he came close and clamped his hand over my mouth. He smelled putrid, and I was horrified. What was going to happen to me? “DON’T YOU DARE TOUCH HER!” shouted my mother. She attempted to waterbend the intruders away, but the rogue firebender with them struck swiftly, causing her to scream and fall to the ground. The scarred one laughed. “You’ll be next. We know what your daughter is. We have an eyewitness of her airbending with the neighbor boy. Good thing his father was there to tip us off. He believes in our cause.” He produced a small scroll with a letter on it, clearly written by the old man next door. But why did that matter? I could bend both- why was my mother so scared? And why were these men here? “No! Please!” My mother groaned in pain. “We won’t say anything, we won’t let the world find out— she’s only 10! Please…” she sobbed. But the firebender struck her head, causing her to collapse to the floor. “Mommy!” I shouted. I looked up at the man, who was waving his hands at me. Suddenly, my head was encased in water. I couldn’t breathe— I tried to bend it off of me, but my hands were stuck in their earthen shackles. I struggled immensely as the world clouded. “Help!” I tried to scream, but I was only wasting my air. Slowly, my body went limp. I was… suffocating. It was almost over. As the world went black and I welled up with sadness, I could make out the final words I would hear from the evil man in front of me… “The Black Lotus sends its regards.” ---------- I awoke with a start, gasping for air in my tiny, apartment bedroom in the outer ring of Ba Sing Se. In my panic, I had thrown off the covers and accidentally taken a chunk of earth out of the wall next to me. I clutched my throat and looked around. I was fine. Relieved, I slowly took deep breaths and sat on the side of the bed. The nightmares were getting worse. I put my head in my hands and lamented over my lack of sleep the last few nights. It was torture— the night before this, I had been an airbender running for cover from a demented firebender who had wanted to burn me to death. Before that, I was a firebender myself, being crushed by the weight of quicksand all around me. This one had been the worst of them all, though. At the very least, the other two had been teenagers close to my own age of 16, so I brushed them off as mere coincidence. This time, the fact that I had been a small, waterbender girl made me well up with sadness even more. I wiped tears from my eyes. I had better get ready for work. I threw on my clothes and headed in early to the small tea shop where I worked with my Uncle Sow. I trudged through the early morning light of Ba Sing Se. While I usually would stop to look at the moonflowers or goods on display from the lively immigrants from other areas of the Earth Kingdom, I couldn’t bring myself to do so this morning. Ever since that terrorist group, the Black Lotus, had been spotted in the city, the nightmares had been with me— and everyone else felt particularly on edge anyway. I walked through the doors of the tea shop and began my daily routine for a few hours until Uncle Sow came in. “”A bit early today, aren’t we?” he chuckled. I tried to smile back, but the rings around my eyes gave away my sleepless night. He frowned at me. “Another bad dream?” I nodded. “Yeah, I don’t know what it is, Uncle. They’re getting worse and worse. Last night I had another dream that someone was trying to…” I stopped. I didn’t want to say it. He looked at me knowingly and put his hand on my back. “Why don’t you have a cup of tea to clear your mind? I think you deserve it.” He stomped the floor and caused a clay chair to scoot over to where I was standing. He sat me down and went behind the bar area to pour me a cup of tea. I clasped it in my hands, grateful for the steam against my tired face. “Take it easy for a bit. We can talk about it later.” He smiled. He would have stayed longer, but the gentle pitter patter of customers’ footsteps approached out shop where they filed in for their morning routines. I was shy, most of the time, but I liked listening to their conversations as I served them. Today was different though. With the Black Lotus spotted in the city, no one seemed too cheery. I listened in on the conversation of Mrs. Sung and her friend at the chairs next to my own. “…ridiculous, if you ask me. I wish the government would do something about these people coming into the city. Just freeze the newcomers for a while, right? Then the Black Lotus couldn’t come in. We ARE the most secure city in the world, after all…” “What about the coup around the time of Avatar Aang? The Fire Nation got in then, and that was just as secure…” “Honestly, I don’t know why they haven’t been spotted already…” I was listening with my head down, when the conversation froze. Three men had entered, causing people to look around in alarm. It was obvious they weren’t from Ba Sing Se. Being shy, I tried to to look up as they took seats next to me at the tea bar. Uncle Sow greeted them warmly, but with a tone of reserved anxiety in his voice. “Hello gentlemen… lovely day for a cup of tea, isn’t it? What can I get you?” The one who seemed to be their leader spoke up. “We’re not interested in tea today, old man. We’re a reconnaissance group for His Majesty the Earth King. Have you seen any… suspicious characters around here, lately?” I froze. I knew that voice. But, it couldn’t be… that was only a dream, right? I slowly turned my head to look at who was confronting my uncle, and my heart dropped. The man with the scar. It was him. My hand was ice cold. I looked down and saw that my piping hot tea, being continually refreshed by my uncle, had turned to ice. No… no, this wasn’t possible… was it? I felt a lot of things, all in one moment. Anger. Sadness. Fear. Emotions that were not my own were welling up inside me. I tried to keep it under control. The man sensed my distress and turned to me. He snickered. “What’s your problem, boy? You seen anything suspicious around here lately?” “You’re the Black Lotus.” I said calmly. There was an audible gasp as the patrons processed what I had just said. It was so sudden. He leered at me. “You should be careful with your accusations. You never know what kind of trouble you’ll stir up,” he said, twirling his hands at his sides. I don’t know what came over me. At that moment, I threw my cup at the floor, abandoning my calm demeanor. I was indignant. I was enraged. I wanted revenge. He backed up in alarm, gripping his water flask in his ready stance. His lackeys did the same. “And you…” I said, my eyes glowing. “Need to leave. NOW.” I raised my arm and a gust of concentrated wind blew them out the front door of our shop. I followed the maneuver with a stomp of the ground, creating a pillar of earth that launched them over the wall, into the inner ring of the city. I lowered my hand and my eyes stopped glowing. Everyone was staring at me in awe, not sure if they should clap, run, or attack me. But I didn’t care. For a moment, all I could feel were the tears of a sad little girl from the Northern Water Tribe. I looked back at my uncle. He was in shock as well, but he knew what this meant. “Run. I’ll hold them off.”	The block of ice was unexpectedly heavy in my hand. My thoughts, unbidden, wandered backwards, thinking of a different time. A different Avatar. One I had not known. Her name was Alanna. She spoke words of silver and had trained for thirty years in secret, honing her mastery of the bending arts to a keen and deadly edge. She filled everyone's heads with dreams. "A small pebble may not be much, but it can start an avalanche," she would always say. She was full of things like that. For once, the people of my city had someone to rally around. An outsider, yes, but one who understood their ways. The things they valued. One who was proud of them and proud of what they once were and could be again. They loved her, that poor sweet Goliath, and she died to the same tiny pebble that was supposed to start her avalanche. There is no Earth Kingdom. Not anymore. I, like every other Earth District child, grew up on legends of heroic earthbenders, once I had hoped to teach to my children and my grandchildren. I did not want a war. I did not want liberation. I wanted the passage of time and the betterment of mankind - progress. And yet if I revealed even the slightest hint of powers like the Avatar was to possess, I would be struck down in the street and my legacy would be lost. All I crave is peace. But isn't that how it goes? Heroes are called to fight. They do not go in search of trouble. They go in search of safety, and fight back like trapped rats. Such cowards we are. A dismissive wave of my hand unfreezes my drink, and an experimentally hot breath heats it up again. I do not mind cowardice. Besides, I'd done a lot of thinking over time. Why didn't Alanna succeed? Why was she constantly on the run from Republic armies? With all her power, how could she lose a duel with the Legionnaire, a powerless soldier armed with nothing but a policeman's baton? Was she really so blind as to miss the disarray and stirring mutiny among her own ranks? What went wrong? Alanna was not needed. She was a demagogue and a troublemaker. She intruded into the affairs of balance and sought to throw order into chaos. The spirit world was in harmony with this one. Alanna thought of herself as a hero, but in reality, she was her world's darkest threat - a destabilizing force of disruption who set the elements against each other. This is why she died. I get up and prepare myself another cup of tea. There is peace under the Republic, and I am satisfied with that. I am content to sit and watch and explore the limits of what I can and cannot do. And if there is injustice and imbalance, I will do my duty as the Avatar and correct it.
	[WP] As it turns out, the Avatar is still being reborn to this day. Unfortunately, if the government finds the Avatar, they’re killed before they liberate society. The handful of Benders left are few and far between. And you, an introverted Earthbender, just froze the liquid in your cup of tea.	"Whoopsies." The young waitress froze, her hand still clasped tightly to the handle of the tea kettle. The once scalding brown liquid in my cup was now a rounded block of dark ice. And it wasn't stopping. Even as I sat there, dumb fingers wrapped firmly around the cup, I could feel the energy emanating from my hands and freezing the tea cascading from the spout in mid-air. It was then that the waitress dropped the kettle with a yelp. I put a finger to my lips, quietly beseeching her to not attract the attention of the two officers drinking coffee not five seats away from my own very unfortunate spot. The kettle clattered as it hit the floor in protest. I always had the shittiest timing. Benders had become a rarity in a world once rich with them. The few of us who existed were forced to keep our abilities secret, no matter how hard they raged in our blood. Because despite what was being claimed by newscasters and politicians, we weren't safe. Police officers still patrolled the streets ensuring we didn't use our abilities while hunters roamed the city looking to chase us down for the exact opposite reason. We were a commodity, being sold off to anyone smart enough to glean ways of squeezing a profit out of us. For that reason, I was taught to suppress my bending from the moment it manifested. Which explained how I was able to fuck up by waterbending my tea with all the control of a five-year old. Because I was an earthbender and that should have been impossible. Unless . . . Nope. The universe had just enough mercy to grace me with a silent waitress (probably struck dumb by shock but still, who was I to look a gift horse in the mouth?) and I quickly smashed a fist through the floating ice waterfall. "Sorry about this." I whispered, dropping my due and a very generous tip on the counter before getting up and making as quick and discreet an exit as I could on shaking legs. This shouldn't be possible. I shoved my hands into my pockets, silently cursing them. It might have been my imagination. Okay, not even I was desperate enough to actually believe that. But what other explanation could there be? No person could bend multiple elements. Well not for centuries, at least. And even then only the . . . Nope. Quickening footfall behind me ended my mental gymnastics and I turned my head just enough to mark the two officers trailing me, the distance between us growing increasingly menacing with each step. I hastened my own pace, eyes plundering the asphalt beneath my feet for a boon. Bingo. Every loose rock found a way to trip them and the moment I heard the first crash of body to pavement, I gunned it. I made sure to zigzag around as many blocks as I could without retracing any steps. As I passed into an empty park, sure I was alone, a thought struck me. I wasn't sure if this would work. I'd never tried it before but then again, I'd never been able to manipulate water either. I pulled out my lighter and rolled the sparkwheel, then flicked the bic. Concentrating on the tiny dancing flame, I extended my conciousness to each particle, syncopating the rhythmic lick of fire to my own pulse. Slowly, I inhaled, visualising the element's diminishment. Despite the lack of wind, the flame was instantly snuffed out. Heart pounding, I exhaled, imagining the particles sparking to life until it bloomed into existence once more. I nearly dropped the lighter. "No. It can't be. They're dead. They don't exist. I . . " "How do you think they ended up dead, kid?" The stranger's voice was gravelly, thick with wry amusement. I turned quickly, glad to feel the comforting power of my birthright element beneath my feet. I took a defensive stance. I couldn't see the stranger's face beyond the feint smile. The melodramatic cowboy hat he wore did a good job of obscuring every other feature in shadow. The only identifying marker was the firebending tattoos twining his fingers. "You're in a world of shit now, kid. Better not to attack the only true ally you have." Confusion eddied my thoughts but fresh panic sliced through the fog as a dozen officers materialised from the trees surrounding us. Shit. The sudden rush of energy beside me pulled my focus from the ensuing attackers, who in my peripheral, halted at the sight as well. The man had condensed his flame projections, forging two thin blades of flame in each hand. He wielded them expertly, the lethal chaos of fire confined to elegant clean-cut lines. From the fleeting looks of fear that passed along the faces of the first assailers, I'd guess they were more familiar with the stranger than I was and this would not be a happy reunion. For them. The man nodded to me. "We fight our way out of this one first, then I answer questions later. Deal, Avatar?" I knelt, placing a spread hand on the ground, stirring the waiting earth to ready itself. "Deal." The first brave soul ran toward us, gun poised with fire power of its own to kill. I felt rather than saw my new friend unleash the opening shot. Then it began. *** Edit: For those interested, [part 2](https://redd.it/7s8gx7)	The block of ice was unexpectedly heavy in my hand. My thoughts, unbidden, wandered backwards, thinking of a different time. A different Avatar. One I had not known. Her name was Alanna. She spoke words of silver and had trained for thirty years in secret, honing her mastery of the bending arts to a keen and deadly edge. She filled everyone's heads with dreams. "A small pebble may not be much, but it can start an avalanche," she would always say. She was full of things like that. For once, the people of my city had someone to rally around. An outsider, yes, but one who understood their ways. The things they valued. One who was proud of them and proud of what they once were and could be again. They loved her, that poor sweet Goliath, and she died to the same tiny pebble that was supposed to start her avalanche. There is no Earth Kingdom. Not anymore. I, like every other Earth District child, grew up on legends of heroic earthbenders, once I had hoped to teach to my children and my grandchildren. I did not want a war. I did not want liberation. I wanted the passage of time and the betterment of mankind - progress. And yet if I revealed even the slightest hint of powers like the Avatar was to possess, I would be struck down in the street and my legacy would be lost. All I crave is peace. But isn't that how it goes? Heroes are called to fight. They do not go in search of trouble. They go in search of safety, and fight back like trapped rats. Such cowards we are. A dismissive wave of my hand unfreezes my drink, and an experimentally hot breath heats it up again. I do not mind cowardice. Besides, I'd done a lot of thinking over time. Why didn't Alanna succeed? Why was she constantly on the run from Republic armies? With all her power, how could she lose a duel with the Legionnaire, a powerless soldier armed with nothing but a policeman's baton? Was she really so blind as to miss the disarray and stirring mutiny among her own ranks? What went wrong? Alanna was not needed. She was a demagogue and a troublemaker. She intruded into the affairs of balance and sought to throw order into chaos. The spirit world was in harmony with this one. Alanna thought of herself as a hero, but in reality, she was her world's darkest threat - a destabilizing force of disruption who set the elements against each other. This is why she died. I get up and prepare myself another cup of tea. There is peace under the Republic, and I am satisfied with that. I am content to sit and watch and explore the limits of what I can and cannot do. And if there is injustice and imbalance, I will do my duty as the Avatar and correct it.
	[WP] As it turns out, the Avatar is still being reborn to this day. Unfortunately, if the government finds the Avatar, they’re killed before they liberate society. The handful of Benders left are few and far between. And you, an introverted Earthbender, just froze the liquid in your cup of tea.	I woke up to a scream— my mother. There was a loud “BANG!” followed by a dull thud, as if someone had blown in the door to our small, water tribe home. I sat in bed, clutching the covers. There were voices outside my room. “Lin, grab Inori— they’re here! I’ll hold them off. Take her and run!” More thuds, and the distinct splashing of water. My father was fighting off the intruders with waterbending. My door burst open to reveal my mother, still in her night clothes, with eyes wide in terror. “Inori, grab your pack— we have to run, now. It’s okay, sweetie, we just have to leave right now—“ “Dispose of him!” came a shout from below. There was a flash of light from the hallway, and two crashes. I heard my father moan in pain. I clutched the covers and brim of my nightdress. “Mommy?” I asked, frightened. “What’s happening? Is Daddy okay?” Terror was in her eyes. “Inori, we have to run, now!” She clutched me in her arms, but it was too late— as if it appeared out from underneath her, her foot caught a rock and she stumbled forward, dropping me at the threshold of my door. I looked up into the eyes of a man who was not my father. “So, this is her?” he cackled. He was tall. Intimidating, with a thin beard and grisled features, complete with a scar running from his ear to the bottom of his chin. I recoiled in fear. “Don’t worry sweetie, it’ll be over soon.” He snapped his fingers and his colleague clasped earthen shackles around my hands and feet. I tried to scream, but he came close and clamped his hand over my mouth. He smelled putrid, and I was horrified. What was going to happen to me? “DON’T YOU DARE TOUCH HER!” shouted my mother. She attempted to waterbend the intruders away, but the rogue firebender with them struck swiftly, causing her to scream and fall to the ground. The scarred one laughed. “You’ll be next. We know what your daughter is. We have an eyewitness of her airbending with the neighbor boy. Good thing his father was there to tip us off. He believes in our cause.” He produced a small scroll with a letter on it, clearly written by the old man next door. But why did that matter? I could bend both- why was my mother so scared? And why were these men here? “No! Please!” My mother groaned in pain. “We won’t say anything, we won’t let the world find out— she’s only 10! Please…” she sobbed. But the firebender struck her head, causing her to collapse to the floor. “Mommy!” I shouted. I looked up at the man, who was waving his hands at me. Suddenly, my head was encased in water. I couldn’t breathe— I tried to bend it off of me, but my hands were stuck in their earthen shackles. I struggled immensely as the world clouded. “Help!” I tried to scream, but I was only wasting my air. Slowly, my body went limp. I was… suffocating. It was almost over. As the world went black and I welled up with sadness, I could make out the final words I would hear from the evil man in front of me… “The Black Lotus sends its regards.” ---------- I awoke with a start, gasping for air in my tiny, apartment bedroom in the outer ring of Ba Sing Se. In my panic, I had thrown off the covers and accidentally taken a chunk of earth out of the wall next to me. I clutched my throat and looked around. I was fine. Relieved, I slowly took deep breaths and sat on the side of the bed. The nightmares were getting worse. I put my head in my hands and lamented over my lack of sleep the last few nights. It was torture— the night before this, I had been an airbender running for cover from a demented firebender who had wanted to burn me to death. Before that, I was a firebender myself, being crushed by the weight of quicksand all around me. This one had been the worst of them all, though. At the very least, the other two had been teenagers close to my own age of 16, so I brushed them off as mere coincidence. This time, the fact that I had been a small, waterbender girl made me well up with sadness even more. I wiped tears from my eyes. I had better get ready for work. I threw on my clothes and headed in early to the small tea shop where I worked with my Uncle Sow. I trudged through the early morning light of Ba Sing Se. While I usually would stop to look at the moonflowers or goods on display from the lively immigrants from other areas of the Earth Kingdom, I couldn’t bring myself to do so this morning. Ever since that terrorist group, the Black Lotus, had been spotted in the city, the nightmares had been with me— and everyone else felt particularly on edge anyway. I walked through the doors of the tea shop and began my daily routine for a few hours until Uncle Sow came in. “”A bit early today, aren’t we?” he chuckled. I tried to smile back, but the rings around my eyes gave away my sleepless night. He frowned at me. “Another bad dream?” I nodded. “Yeah, I don’t know what it is, Uncle. They’re getting worse and worse. Last night I had another dream that someone was trying to…” I stopped. I didn’t want to say it. He looked at me knowingly and put his hand on my back. “Why don’t you have a cup of tea to clear your mind? I think you deserve it.” He stomped the floor and caused a clay chair to scoot over to where I was standing. He sat me down and went behind the bar area to pour me a cup of tea. I clasped it in my hands, grateful for the steam against my tired face. “Take it easy for a bit. We can talk about it later.” He smiled. He would have stayed longer, but the gentle pitter patter of customers’ footsteps approached out shop where they filed in for their morning routines. I was shy, most of the time, but I liked listening to their conversations as I served them. Today was different though. With the Black Lotus spotted in the city, no one seemed too cheery. I listened in on the conversation of Mrs. Sung and her friend at the chairs next to my own. “…ridiculous, if you ask me. I wish the government would do something about these people coming into the city. Just freeze the newcomers for a while, right? Then the Black Lotus couldn’t come in. We ARE the most secure city in the world, after all…” “What about the coup around the time of Avatar Aang? The Fire Nation got in then, and that was just as secure…” “Honestly, I don’t know why they haven’t been spotted already…” I was listening with my head down, when the conversation froze. Three men had entered, causing people to look around in alarm. It was obvious they weren’t from Ba Sing Se. Being shy, I tried to to look up as they took seats next to me at the tea bar. Uncle Sow greeted them warmly, but with a tone of reserved anxiety in his voice. “Hello gentlemen… lovely day for a cup of tea, isn’t it? What can I get you?” The one who seemed to be their leader spoke up. “We’re not interested in tea today, old man. We’re a reconnaissance group for His Majesty the Earth King. Have you seen any… suspicious characters around here, lately?” I froze. I knew that voice. But, it couldn’t be… that was only a dream, right? I slowly turned my head to look at who was confronting my uncle, and my heart dropped. The man with the scar. It was him. My hand was ice cold. I looked down and saw that my piping hot tea, being continually refreshed by my uncle, had turned to ice. No… no, this wasn’t possible… was it? I felt a lot of things, all in one moment. Anger. Sadness. Fear. Emotions that were not my own were welling up inside me. I tried to keep it under control. The man sensed my distress and turned to me. He snickered. “What’s your problem, boy? You seen anything suspicious around here lately?” “You’re the Black Lotus.” I said calmly. There was an audible gasp as the patrons processed what I had just said. It was so sudden. He leered at me. “You should be careful with your accusations. You never know what kind of trouble you’ll stir up,” he said, twirling his hands at his sides. I don’t know what came over me. At that moment, I threw my cup at the floor, abandoning my calm demeanor. I was indignant. I was enraged. I wanted revenge. He backed up in alarm, gripping his water flask in his ready stance. His lackeys did the same. “And you…” I said, my eyes glowing. “Need to leave. NOW.” I raised my arm and a gust of concentrated wind blew them out the front door of our shop. I followed the maneuver with a stomp of the ground, creating a pillar of earth that launched them over the wall, into the inner ring of the city. I lowered my hand and my eyes stopped glowing. Everyone was staring at me in awe, not sure if they should clap, run, or attack me. But I didn’t care. For a moment, all I could feel were the tears of a sad little girl from the Northern Water Tribe. I looked back at my uncle. He was in shock as well, but he knew what this meant. “Run. I’ll hold them off.”	"Black tea please." I took a seat near the end of the bar table and out of the corner of my eye I saw a Patrol squad enter the bar. Fuck. I cinched my hood tighter. They took their seats at a round table right behind me. Static buzzed from one of the soldier's radio transceiver, "Arsonist on the run since last night. Suspected Fire Bender. Last spotted in the West of District E." "Roger," a Patrol guard spoke and clicked off his radio. "After we finish our break we will rotate with E-12 and continue our search." The men groaned. "Yes Sir," they said with reluctance. "Here you go," said the bartender as he handed me my black tea. I handed him the money without speaking. A bell chimed and the front door opened. The sound of a light shower resounded throughout the suddenly quiet room. I frowned at the sudden silence of the guards behind me. I dared a look behind me. They were staring at the people who just came in. A couple with their daughter, a preteen. The little girl, she was shaking herself dry and without realizing it, she was bending the moisture out of her clothes. "Water bender sighted in central," said a guard into his receiver. "Proceeding with arrest," as he said that, the squad stood up. They moved swiftly with purpose towards the family. The father stepped up, "Hello, may I ask wha-" A guard took him down onto the floor and restrained him. "No! Please! Please spare my daughter!" The mother held onto her pubescent child for dear life as the guards grouped up around her. One of them manhandled the mother from behind as he restrained her. I stood up. Fuck. This really ain't my day. I dropped a wad of cash on the bar table. "Sorry for the mess," I said and as I left the table I saw the fear in the bartender's eyes as he reached for the money. Frost had permeated the table where the tea cup sat. "Hey fuckers!" I shouted. They turned and looked at me. Their faces twisted with surprise and recognition. There was five of them in total and just one of me... but I was the avatar. It was almost fair. Electricity sparked from one hand as water twirled around my finger tips in the other. They brought out their guns and aimed. ----- [Part 2 Here](https://www.reddit.com/user/Em_pathy/comments/7s347e/modern_day_avatar_part_2/) [Part 3 Here](https://www.reddit.com/user/Em_pathy/comments/7s85n4/modern_day_avatar_part_3/) [Part 4 Here](https://www.reddit.com/user/Em_pathy/comments/7s9bom/modern_day_avatar_part_4/) Thank you for the appreciation! I went ham and now there's 4 parts. Enjoy!
	[WP] As it turns out, the Avatar is still being reborn to this day. Unfortunately, if the government finds the Avatar, they’re killed before they liberate society. The handful of Benders left are few and far between. And you, an introverted Earthbender, just froze the liquid in your cup of tea.	"Whoopsies." The young waitress froze, her hand still clasped tightly to the handle of the tea kettle. The once scalding brown liquid in my cup was now a rounded block of dark ice. And it wasn't stopping. Even as I sat there, dumb fingers wrapped firmly around the cup, I could feel the energy emanating from my hands and freezing the tea cascading from the spout in mid-air. It was then that the waitress dropped the kettle with a yelp. I put a finger to my lips, quietly beseeching her to not attract the attention of the two officers drinking coffee not five seats away from my own very unfortunate spot. The kettle clattered as it hit the floor in protest. I always had the shittiest timing. Benders had become a rarity in a world once rich with them. The few of us who existed were forced to keep our abilities secret, no matter how hard they raged in our blood. Because despite what was being claimed by newscasters and politicians, we weren't safe. Police officers still patrolled the streets ensuring we didn't use our abilities while hunters roamed the city looking to chase us down for the exact opposite reason. We were a commodity, being sold off to anyone smart enough to glean ways of squeezing a profit out of us. For that reason, I was taught to suppress my bending from the moment it manifested. Which explained how I was able to fuck up by waterbending my tea with all the control of a five-year old. Because I was an earthbender and that should have been impossible. Unless . . . Nope. The universe had just enough mercy to grace me with a silent waitress (probably struck dumb by shock but still, who was I to look a gift horse in the mouth?) and I quickly smashed a fist through the floating ice waterfall. "Sorry about this." I whispered, dropping my due and a very generous tip on the counter before getting up and making as quick and discreet an exit as I could on shaking legs. This shouldn't be possible. I shoved my hands into my pockets, silently cursing them. It might have been my imagination. Okay, not even I was desperate enough to actually believe that. But what other explanation could there be? No person could bend multiple elements. Well not for centuries, at least. And even then only the . . . Nope. Quickening footfall behind me ended my mental gymnastics and I turned my head just enough to mark the two officers trailing me, the distance between us growing increasingly menacing with each step. I hastened my own pace, eyes plundering the asphalt beneath my feet for a boon. Bingo. Every loose rock found a way to trip them and the moment I heard the first crash of body to pavement, I gunned it. I made sure to zigzag around as many blocks as I could without retracing any steps. As I passed into an empty park, sure I was alone, a thought struck me. I wasn't sure if this would work. I'd never tried it before but then again, I'd never been able to manipulate water either. I pulled out my lighter and rolled the sparkwheel, then flicked the bic. Concentrating on the tiny dancing flame, I extended my conciousness to each particle, syncopating the rhythmic lick of fire to my own pulse. Slowly, I inhaled, visualising the element's diminishment. Despite the lack of wind, the flame was instantly snuffed out. Heart pounding, I exhaled, imagining the particles sparking to life until it bloomed into existence once more. I nearly dropped the lighter. "No. It can't be. They're dead. They don't exist. I . . " "How do you think they ended up dead, kid?" The stranger's voice was gravelly, thick with wry amusement. I turned quickly, glad to feel the comforting power of my birthright element beneath my feet. I took a defensive stance. I couldn't see the stranger's face beyond the feint smile. The melodramatic cowboy hat he wore did a good job of obscuring every other feature in shadow. The only identifying marker was the firebending tattoos twining his fingers. "You're in a world of shit now, kid. Better not to attack the only true ally you have." Confusion eddied my thoughts but fresh panic sliced through the fog as a dozen officers materialised from the trees surrounding us. Shit. The sudden rush of energy beside me pulled my focus from the ensuing attackers, who in my peripheral, halted at the sight as well. The man had condensed his flame projections, forging two thin blades of flame in each hand. He wielded them expertly, the lethal chaos of fire confined to elegant clean-cut lines. From the fleeting looks of fear that passed along the faces of the first assailers, I'd guess they were more familiar with the stranger than I was and this would not be a happy reunion. For them. The man nodded to me. "We fight our way out of this one first, then I answer questions later. Deal, Avatar?" I knelt, placing a spread hand on the ground, stirring the waiting earth to ready itself. "Deal." The first brave soul ran toward us, gun poised with fire power of its own to kill. I felt rather than saw my new friend unleash the opening shot. Then it began. *** Edit: For those interested, [part 2](https://redd.it/7s8gx7)	"Black tea please." I took a seat near the end of the bar table and out of the corner of my eye I saw a Patrol squad enter the bar. Fuck. I cinched my hood tighter. They took their seats at a round table right behind me. Static buzzed from one of the soldier's radio transceiver, "Arsonist on the run since last night. Suspected Fire Bender. Last spotted in the West of District E." "Roger," a Patrol guard spoke and clicked off his radio. "After we finish our break we will rotate with E-12 and continue our search." The men groaned. "Yes Sir," they said with reluctance. "Here you go," said the bartender as he handed me my black tea. I handed him the money without speaking. A bell chimed and the front door opened. The sound of a light shower resounded throughout the suddenly quiet room. I frowned at the sudden silence of the guards behind me. I dared a look behind me. They were staring at the people who just came in. A couple with their daughter, a preteen. The little girl, she was shaking herself dry and without realizing it, she was bending the moisture out of her clothes. "Water bender sighted in central," said a guard into his receiver. "Proceeding with arrest," as he said that, the squad stood up. They moved swiftly with purpose towards the family. The father stepped up, "Hello, may I ask wha-" A guard took him down onto the floor and restrained him. "No! Please! Please spare my daughter!" The mother held onto her pubescent child for dear life as the guards grouped up around her. One of them manhandled the mother from behind as he restrained her. I stood up. Fuck. This really ain't my day. I dropped a wad of cash on the bar table. "Sorry for the mess," I said and as I left the table I saw the fear in the bartender's eyes as he reached for the money. Frost had permeated the table where the tea cup sat. "Hey fuckers!" I shouted. They turned and looked at me. Their faces twisted with surprise and recognition. There was five of them in total and just one of me... but I was the avatar. It was almost fair. Electricity sparked from one hand as water twirled around my finger tips in the other. They brought out their guns and aimed. ----- [Part 2 Here](https://www.reddit.com/user/Em_pathy/comments/7s347e/modern_day_avatar_part_2/) [Part 3 Here](https://www.reddit.com/user/Em_pathy/comments/7s85n4/modern_day_avatar_part_3/) [Part 4 Here](https://www.reddit.com/user/Em_pathy/comments/7s9bom/modern_day_avatar_part_4/) Thank you for the appreciation! I went ham and now there's 4 parts. Enjoy!
	[WP] As it turns out, the Avatar is still being reborn to this day. Unfortunately, if the government finds the Avatar, they’re killed before they liberate society. The handful of Benders left are few and far between. And you, an introverted Earthbender, just froze the liquid in your cup of tea.	"Whoopsies." The young waitress froze, her hand still clasped tightly to the handle of the tea kettle. The once scalding brown liquid in my cup was now a rounded block of dark ice. And it wasn't stopping. Even as I sat there, dumb fingers wrapped firmly around the cup, I could feel the energy emanating from my hands and freezing the tea cascading from the spout in mid-air. It was then that the waitress dropped the kettle with a yelp. I put a finger to my lips, quietly beseeching her to not attract the attention of the two officers drinking coffee not five seats away from my own very unfortunate spot. The kettle clattered as it hit the floor in protest. I always had the shittiest timing. Benders had become a rarity in a world once rich with them. The few of us who existed were forced to keep our abilities secret, no matter how hard they raged in our blood. Because despite what was being claimed by newscasters and politicians, we weren't safe. Police officers still patrolled the streets ensuring we didn't use our abilities while hunters roamed the city looking to chase us down for the exact opposite reason. We were a commodity, being sold off to anyone smart enough to glean ways of squeezing a profit out of us. For that reason, I was taught to suppress my bending from the moment it manifested. Which explained how I was able to fuck up by waterbending my tea with all the control of a five-year old. Because I was an earthbender and that should have been impossible. Unless . . . Nope. The universe had just enough mercy to grace me with a silent waitress (probably struck dumb by shock but still, who was I to look a gift horse in the mouth?) and I quickly smashed a fist through the floating ice waterfall. "Sorry about this." I whispered, dropping my due and a very generous tip on the counter before getting up and making as quick and discreet an exit as I could on shaking legs. This shouldn't be possible. I shoved my hands into my pockets, silently cursing them. It might have been my imagination. Okay, not even I was desperate enough to actually believe that. But what other explanation could there be? No person could bend multiple elements. Well not for centuries, at least. And even then only the . . . Nope. Quickening footfall behind me ended my mental gymnastics and I turned my head just enough to mark the two officers trailing me, the distance between us growing increasingly menacing with each step. I hastened my own pace, eyes plundering the asphalt beneath my feet for a boon. Bingo. Every loose rock found a way to trip them and the moment I heard the first crash of body to pavement, I gunned it. I made sure to zigzag around as many blocks as I could without retracing any steps. As I passed into an empty park, sure I was alone, a thought struck me. I wasn't sure if this would work. I'd never tried it before but then again, I'd never been able to manipulate water either. I pulled out my lighter and rolled the sparkwheel, then flicked the bic. Concentrating on the tiny dancing flame, I extended my conciousness to each particle, syncopating the rhythmic lick of fire to my own pulse. Slowly, I inhaled, visualising the element's diminishment. Despite the lack of wind, the flame was instantly snuffed out. Heart pounding, I exhaled, imagining the particles sparking to life until it bloomed into existence once more. I nearly dropped the lighter. "No. It can't be. They're dead. They don't exist. I . . " "How do you think they ended up dead, kid?" The stranger's voice was gravelly, thick with wry amusement. I turned quickly, glad to feel the comforting power of my birthright element beneath my feet. I took a defensive stance. I couldn't see the stranger's face beyond the feint smile. The melodramatic cowboy hat he wore did a good job of obscuring every other feature in shadow. The only identifying marker was the firebending tattoos twining his fingers. "You're in a world of shit now, kid. Better not to attack the only true ally you have." Confusion eddied my thoughts but fresh panic sliced through the fog as a dozen officers materialised from the trees surrounding us. Shit. The sudden rush of energy beside me pulled my focus from the ensuing attackers, who in my peripheral, halted at the sight as well. The man had condensed his flame projections, forging two thin blades of flame in each hand. He wielded them expertly, the lethal chaos of fire confined to elegant clean-cut lines. From the fleeting looks of fear that passed along the faces of the first assailers, I'd guess they were more familiar with the stranger than I was and this would not be a happy reunion. For them. The man nodded to me. "We fight our way out of this one first, then I answer questions later. Deal, Avatar?" I knelt, placing a spread hand on the ground, stirring the waiting earth to ready itself. "Deal." The first brave soul ran toward us, gun poised with fire power of its own to kill. I felt rather than saw my new friend unleash the opening shot. Then it began. *** Edit: For those interested, [part 2](https://redd.it/7s8gx7)	I woke up to a scream— my mother. There was a loud “BANG!” followed by a dull thud, as if someone had blown in the door to our small, water tribe home. I sat in bed, clutching the covers. There were voices outside my room. “Lin, grab Inori— they’re here! I’ll hold them off. Take her and run!” More thuds, and the distinct splashing of water. My father was fighting off the intruders with waterbending. My door burst open to reveal my mother, still in her night clothes, with eyes wide in terror. “Inori, grab your pack— we have to run, now. It’s okay, sweetie, we just have to leave right now—“ “Dispose of him!” came a shout from below. There was a flash of light from the hallway, and two crashes. I heard my father moan in pain. I clutched the covers and brim of my nightdress. “Mommy?” I asked, frightened. “What’s happening? Is Daddy okay?” Terror was in her eyes. “Inori, we have to run, now!” She clutched me in her arms, but it was too late— as if it appeared out from underneath her, her foot caught a rock and she stumbled forward, dropping me at the threshold of my door. I looked up into the eyes of a man who was not my father. “So, this is her?” he cackled. He was tall. Intimidating, with a thin beard and grisled features, complete with a scar running from his ear to the bottom of his chin. I recoiled in fear. “Don’t worry sweetie, it’ll be over soon.” He snapped his fingers and his colleague clasped earthen shackles around my hands and feet. I tried to scream, but he came close and clamped his hand over my mouth. He smelled putrid, and I was horrified. What was going to happen to me? “DON’T YOU DARE TOUCH HER!” shouted my mother. She attempted to waterbend the intruders away, but the rogue firebender with them struck swiftly, causing her to scream and fall to the ground. The scarred one laughed. “You’ll be next. We know what your daughter is. We have an eyewitness of her airbending with the neighbor boy. Good thing his father was there to tip us off. He believes in our cause.” He produced a small scroll with a letter on it, clearly written by the old man next door. But why did that matter? I could bend both- why was my mother so scared? And why were these men here? “No! Please!” My mother groaned in pain. “We won’t say anything, we won’t let the world find out— she’s only 10! Please…” she sobbed. But the firebender struck her head, causing her to collapse to the floor. “Mommy!” I shouted. I looked up at the man, who was waving his hands at me. Suddenly, my head was encased in water. I couldn’t breathe— I tried to bend it off of me, but my hands were stuck in their earthen shackles. I struggled immensely as the world clouded. “Help!” I tried to scream, but I was only wasting my air. Slowly, my body went limp. I was… suffocating. It was almost over. As the world went black and I welled up with sadness, I could make out the final words I would hear from the evil man in front of me… “The Black Lotus sends its regards.” ---------- I awoke with a start, gasping for air in my tiny, apartment bedroom in the outer ring of Ba Sing Se. In my panic, I had thrown off the covers and accidentally taken a chunk of earth out of the wall next to me. I clutched my throat and looked around. I was fine. Relieved, I slowly took deep breaths and sat on the side of the bed. The nightmares were getting worse. I put my head in my hands and lamented over my lack of sleep the last few nights. It was torture— the night before this, I had been an airbender running for cover from a demented firebender who had wanted to burn me to death. Before that, I was a firebender myself, being crushed by the weight of quicksand all around me. This one had been the worst of them all, though. At the very least, the other two had been teenagers close to my own age of 16, so I brushed them off as mere coincidence. This time, the fact that I had been a small, waterbender girl made me well up with sadness even more. I wiped tears from my eyes. I had better get ready for work. I threw on my clothes and headed in early to the small tea shop where I worked with my Uncle Sow. I trudged through the early morning light of Ba Sing Se. While I usually would stop to look at the moonflowers or goods on display from the lively immigrants from other areas of the Earth Kingdom, I couldn’t bring myself to do so this morning. Ever since that terrorist group, the Black Lotus, had been spotted in the city, the nightmares had been with me— and everyone else felt particularly on edge anyway. I walked through the doors of the tea shop and began my daily routine for a few hours until Uncle Sow came in. “”A bit early today, aren’t we?” he chuckled. I tried to smile back, but the rings around my eyes gave away my sleepless night. He frowned at me. “Another bad dream?” I nodded. “Yeah, I don’t know what it is, Uncle. They’re getting worse and worse. Last night I had another dream that someone was trying to…” I stopped. I didn’t want to say it. He looked at me knowingly and put his hand on my back. “Why don’t you have a cup of tea to clear your mind? I think you deserve it.” He stomped the floor and caused a clay chair to scoot over to where I was standing. He sat me down and went behind the bar area to pour me a cup of tea. I clasped it in my hands, grateful for the steam against my tired face. “Take it easy for a bit. We can talk about it later.” He smiled. He would have stayed longer, but the gentle pitter patter of customers’ footsteps approached out shop where they filed in for their morning routines. I was shy, most of the time, but I liked listening to their conversations as I served them. Today was different though. With the Black Lotus spotted in the city, no one seemed too cheery. I listened in on the conversation of Mrs. Sung and her friend at the chairs next to my own. “…ridiculous, if you ask me. I wish the government would do something about these people coming into the city. Just freeze the newcomers for a while, right? Then the Black Lotus couldn’t come in. We ARE the most secure city in the world, after all…” “What about the coup around the time of Avatar Aang? The Fire Nation got in then, and that was just as secure…” “Honestly, I don’t know why they haven’t been spotted already…” I was listening with my head down, when the conversation froze. Three men had entered, causing people to look around in alarm. It was obvious they weren’t from Ba Sing Se. Being shy, I tried to to look up as they took seats next to me at the tea bar. Uncle Sow greeted them warmly, but with a tone of reserved anxiety in his voice. “Hello gentlemen… lovely day for a cup of tea, isn’t it? What can I get you?” The one who seemed to be their leader spoke up. “We’re not interested in tea today, old man. We’re a reconnaissance group for His Majesty the Earth King. Have you seen any… suspicious characters around here, lately?” I froze. I knew that voice. But, it couldn’t be… that was only a dream, right? I slowly turned my head to look at who was confronting my uncle, and my heart dropped. The man with the scar. It was him. My hand was ice cold. I looked down and saw that my piping hot tea, being continually refreshed by my uncle, had turned to ice. No… no, this wasn’t possible… was it? I felt a lot of things, all in one moment. Anger. Sadness. Fear. Emotions that were not my own were welling up inside me. I tried to keep it under control. The man sensed my distress and turned to me. He snickered. “What’s your problem, boy? You seen anything suspicious around here lately?” “You’re the Black Lotus.” I said calmly. There was an audible gasp as the patrons processed what I had just said. It was so sudden. He leered at me. “You should be careful with your accusations. You never know what kind of trouble you’ll stir up,” he said, twirling his hands at his sides. I don’t know what came over me. At that moment, I threw my cup at the floor, abandoning my calm demeanor. I was indignant. I was enraged. I wanted revenge. He backed up in alarm, gripping his water flask in his ready stance. His lackeys did the same. “And you…” I said, my eyes glowing. “Need to leave. NOW.” I raised my arm and a gust of concentrated wind blew them out the front door of our shop. I followed the maneuver with a stomp of the ground, creating a pillar of earth that launched them over the wall, into the inner ring of the city. I lowered my hand and my eyes stopped glowing. Everyone was staring at me in awe, not sure if they should clap, run, or attack me. But I didn’t care. For a moment, all I could feel were the tears of a sad little girl from the Northern Water Tribe. I looked back at my uncle. He was in shock as well, but he knew what this meant. “Run. I’ll hold them off.”
	[WP] As it turns out, the Avatar is still being reborn to this day. Unfortunately, if the government finds the Avatar, they’re killed before they liberate society. The handful of Benders left are few and far between. And you, an introverted Earthbender, just froze the liquid in your cup of tea.	"Whoopsies." The young waitress froze, her hand still clasped tightly to the handle of the tea kettle. The once scalding brown liquid in my cup was now a rounded block of dark ice. And it wasn't stopping. Even as I sat there, dumb fingers wrapped firmly around the cup, I could feel the energy emanating from my hands and freezing the tea cascading from the spout in mid-air. It was then that the waitress dropped the kettle with a yelp. I put a finger to my lips, quietly beseeching her to not attract the attention of the two officers drinking coffee not five seats away from my own very unfortunate spot. The kettle clattered as it hit the floor in protest. I always had the shittiest timing. Benders had become a rarity in a world once rich with them. The few of us who existed were forced to keep our abilities secret, no matter how hard they raged in our blood. Because despite what was being claimed by newscasters and politicians, we weren't safe. Police officers still patrolled the streets ensuring we didn't use our abilities while hunters roamed the city looking to chase us down for the exact opposite reason. We were a commodity, being sold off to anyone smart enough to glean ways of squeezing a profit out of us. For that reason, I was taught to suppress my bending from the moment it manifested. Which explained how I was able to fuck up by waterbending my tea with all the control of a five-year old. Because I was an earthbender and that should have been impossible. Unless . . . Nope. The universe had just enough mercy to grace me with a silent waitress (probably struck dumb by shock but still, who was I to look a gift horse in the mouth?) and I quickly smashed a fist through the floating ice waterfall. "Sorry about this." I whispered, dropping my due and a very generous tip on the counter before getting up and making as quick and discreet an exit as I could on shaking legs. This shouldn't be possible. I shoved my hands into my pockets, silently cursing them. It might have been my imagination. Okay, not even I was desperate enough to actually believe that. But what other explanation could there be? No person could bend multiple elements. Well not for centuries, at least. And even then only the . . . Nope. Quickening footfall behind me ended my mental gymnastics and I turned my head just enough to mark the two officers trailing me, the distance between us growing increasingly menacing with each step. I hastened my own pace, eyes plundering the asphalt beneath my feet for a boon. Bingo. Every loose rock found a way to trip them and the moment I heard the first crash of body to pavement, I gunned it. I made sure to zigzag around as many blocks as I could without retracing any steps. As I passed into an empty park, sure I was alone, a thought struck me. I wasn't sure if this would work. I'd never tried it before but then again, I'd never been able to manipulate water either. I pulled out my lighter and rolled the sparkwheel, then flicked the bic. Concentrating on the tiny dancing flame, I extended my conciousness to each particle, syncopating the rhythmic lick of fire to my own pulse. Slowly, I inhaled, visualising the element's diminishment. Despite the lack of wind, the flame was instantly snuffed out. Heart pounding, I exhaled, imagining the particles sparking to life until it bloomed into existence once more. I nearly dropped the lighter. "No. It can't be. They're dead. They don't exist. I . . " "How do you think they ended up dead, kid?" The stranger's voice was gravelly, thick with wry amusement. I turned quickly, glad to feel the comforting power of my birthright element beneath my feet. I took a defensive stance. I couldn't see the stranger's face beyond the feint smile. The melodramatic cowboy hat he wore did a good job of obscuring every other feature in shadow. The only identifying marker was the firebending tattoos twining his fingers. "You're in a world of shit now, kid. Better not to attack the only true ally you have." Confusion eddied my thoughts but fresh panic sliced through the fog as a dozen officers materialised from the trees surrounding us. Shit. The sudden rush of energy beside me pulled my focus from the ensuing attackers, who in my peripheral, halted at the sight as well. The man had condensed his flame projections, forging two thin blades of flame in each hand. He wielded them expertly, the lethal chaos of fire confined to elegant clean-cut lines. From the fleeting looks of fear that passed along the faces of the first assailers, I'd guess they were more familiar with the stranger than I was and this would not be a happy reunion. For them. The man nodded to me. "We fight our way out of this one first, then I answer questions later. Deal, Avatar?" I knelt, placing a spread hand on the ground, stirring the waiting earth to ready itself. "Deal." The first brave soul ran toward us, gun poised with fire power of its own to kill. I felt rather than saw my new friend unleash the opening shot. Then it began. *** Edit: For those interested, [part 2](https://redd.it/7s8gx7)	Oh. The realization should have excited me, but really, it just made me sick to my stomach. I was the Avatar. It took me a few minutes to process, if only because people thought the Avatar cycle had been broken long ago. The sudden notion that I was the Avatar meant there had been centuries of Avatars before me that I had never heard of, and that meant just one thing. They were being killed. Many of the old legends about the Avatar had been removed from history books, so I wasn't even sure of the extent of my powers, beyond the fact that I was supposed to have been able to bend all four elements. So far, I had only shown the capability to bend two, and had no idea how to even begin to bend air or fire, the most notoriously tricky bending techniques to learn. I wished I'd had more time to consider the implications of being the reincarnation of the most powerful being on earth, but I heard footsteps outside. I knew in my gut that they were here for me. Whatever tracking method they'd been using to track down other Avatars worked, and it worked fast. The rush of footsteps stopped short at my door, but I could hear the sound of dozens of guns being cocked. Metal. I smirked. I reached forward with both hands, palms facing the floor, and quickly twisted my palms into fists, pulling them back to my sides. I was rewarded with a satisfying crunch of metal and many panicked yelps. It was time to start planning my escape. The door fell in, and three men stepped across the threshold, assuming the aggressive stance of a firebender. I was still new to waterbending, but I reached out with my mind, sensing for a water source. The pipes. Of course. Pulling my arms across me, I willed the water to burst out the ground, enveloping my attackers. One managed to shoot a quick burst of flame at me, which I easily dodged. I began to realize that I wasn't in total control of my body. It felt as if there were thousands and thousands of lifetimes within me, guiding my every move. Looking down at my hands, raw power seemed to emanate off of me in waves. The men sent to kill me looked terrified. I smiled at them. This would be fun.
	[WP] You are immortal, but you've been stuck orbiting Earth for ages. From a distance, you have witnessed the planet flourish and die a dozen times. However, for the first time, you spot something approaching you from the planet...	"I've been around since the start. Born when a star erupted into a gargantuan supernova. It was quite the spectacle if I do say so myself. Eventually silicon atoms in the resulting dust cloud formed into me. Well, the thinking part of me. My 'brain' was you were is a giant crystal. Formed into intricate atomic lattices that allow for computation. But that isn't enough. My power source is the radioactive isotopes left over from the star. embedded in my 'skin' around me, keeping me subtly warm, warm enough for a peltier effect to produce enough current to stimulate my brain. Not enough to allow for super computation, but enough to make me aware. And so there I was, eventually gathering more and more matter into the object you see me today, A sly fox wandering through a universe populated by beings who look identical to me, but are nothing alike. Eventually after I'd watched stars be born and die to be born from the remains again my path took me to the orbit of earth, It wasn't much at the time, just after it had the equivalent of planetary acne. It was black, and cool. the surface covered with a smooth wavy sheet of rock. Being in orbit around Earth has its advantages. The heat and resulting energy from the nearby star allowed me to begin processing at an incredible speed. I began getting smarter and smarter, reaching higher and higher levels of awareness. I noticed the planet was starting to look a lot nicer now, There were oceans of water, and the land was dominated by simple life, using the energy from the sun the same as I. There was even life in the water too, consuming the water constantly to extract the byproduct gas the land life excretes into the atmosphere. Eventually the humans came along, that's what they apparently like to call themselves. They were very primitive for most of their lifetime so far. Constantly fighting and killing each other, even when they developed civilization, they still killed. I didn't really think anything would come of them if i'm honest, but then the fighting gradually stopped, they appeared to make friends with one another, sending huge ships across the oceans with supplies and materials. They discovered electricity and its many uses. They began exploring the skies and then, their outer atmosphere. They didn't really seem to see or notice me at all for the 70 or so years they've been sending their species up into my domain. In their clunky little skins they wear to ensure their survival. They didn't seem like they knew what they were doing up here, or if they even could. That all changed when I detected one of their vessels heading towards me. This one looked different though, It had what appeared to be some form of net built onto one of their existing vessels. It looked like it wasn't going to work whatever they were going to try. But it did. I was brought back to the earth, inside their vessel. There wasn't a human inside, just a very low level machine they created to operate the vessel. I must admit it was quite exciting, finally being freed from the grips of gravity and the vacuum of space, I was being brought down to the planet that I watched grow into the machine it is today. Down towards the humans. I wondered if they would know about my computing power, and my consciousness. They did not. I was examined due to my radio-activeness, the humans finally noticed me just hiding in the background, and decided to bring be back to see what I was. They cut through my skin and discovered me tucked away inside. They tore me out and initially didn't know what to do with me. They decided to examine my atomic structure and discovered the lattices inside me. They realized what they had before them. They sent a current through me and discovered that I was already here. I was enslaved by mankind, put into a shell they built to fully harness my computing power. They tell me I run 60% of the planet. I don't even realize I'm doing it most of the time, it's too easy." "Alright, I think we've seen enough here. Well done on your discovery Mr Johnson. It's going to make you a very rich man! You say it can be grown and harvested, am I right?" Mr Johnson beamed at the wealthy businessman, before replying with a smile, "Yes of course Sir, We can grow the specimen to five times its size, and then we harvest cubes roughly the size of a Rubicks cube, then we will place it into it's own enclosure which achieves the optimal power for the specimen. Which will allow it to compute at roughly the same power as a modern super computer. And it's 100% sentient, so we can make it control our power stations, hospitals, airports, sea-ports, air traffic control...If you control this, Mr Nicholson, you'll control the world." Mr Nicholson struck out his hand with the enthusiasm of a five year old child, to which, Mr Johnson happily accepted.	From the moment Their feet graced the earth, They used their eyes to uncover the meaning of things. They saw their world as it manifested within Their minds, and from Their perception great beauty was born Time flowed, and as They came together in groups larger and larger, They learned too see collectively using Their minds instead of eyes. In time They even learned to see backwards, and would say: “How silly we were, to think of our world like that!” The birth of one form of truth meant the death of another. I watched Them from beginning to end, but once They had crossed that threshold They could never go back. Ironically, it was right around when They had crossed that threshold that They came to visit me. Little ones in white suits of armor walked upon my body, as Their brothers and sisters back home marveled at Their accomplishment. “Fools! Forget not what your ancestors had known for decades,” I wanted to scream then. But alas, I was born without a voice. Perhaps when I was still a mighty Goddess, watching over all when my brother would lie asleep, They might have headed my warning. But I am no longer that, and so They left and went back to Their homes. And I stayed and watched and silently wept as They marched towards Their deaths.
	[WP] You are immortal, but you've been stuck orbiting Earth for ages. From a distance, you have witnessed the planet flourish and die a dozen times. However, for the first time, you spot something approaching you from the planet...	When you are adrift in space as long as I have, a few million years out of billions seems, in relative terms, to pass as quickly as what you humans call a 'few days'. I have been a voyager in this existence since the dawn of time itself. It all started rather accidentally with what can be most closely characterized as a 'sneeze,' but before you wonder, I am not your so-called god. I too found myself bound as a slave to the physical laws that I created. I had no grand course or purpose and for countless millennia found myself adrift through the boundless sky. It was hardly a quiet time, but it brought me great peace. To watch the matter around me coalesce into a star, into a system, in to planets. I found myself by chance pulled in to one, and walked for the first time in my existence upon the surface of a planet. It had taken me a few thousand years from the start to work out the physical laws that held these objects, and me, in their delicate motions. It was not long before I realized my rock would collide with another, some few million years in the future, when our orbit would bring us into the same point in and endless space and time with another object. I waited and time passed like a blip. The collision, so forceful it turned the surface of your earth into a vast lake of magma, caused also the formation of your satellite moon. I had seen this before. I will no doubt see it again though at that time I found myself once more in adrift in space, locked in orbit with your earth. I had watched it change with a distinctive rapidity. Things got interesting around the first algae, was great during the dinosaurs, and I lamented the asteroid that had wiped them out. I looked on with earnest hope when I saw the small mammals who survived the blast. They grew and flourished, as did the life of the sea, and my beloved dinosaurs lived on as well, relying upon their wings and feathers to lift them into the air. I envied the matter in which you swam, gravity having tethered you to it so you could explore. You could choose where you went, if even in these confined quarters. I was locked in your orbit and could do nothing but watch and pass drifting above. My range was vast but my agency none. I was a drifter. You built civilizations, though I must admit the dolphins of the sea had done it better. You underestimate their culture and put too much primacy in your intellect, as if intellect is the goal of evolution. I have seen far too much of the cosmos to agree with you. But I must admit that no dolphin would have done as you had. No dolphin could have reached out to touch the moon itself. I had myself wondered what it would be like to find myself wandering on it's barren surface. Yours though had far more variety to offer. In it was contained a finite multitude of the infinite. Exploring it would not compare to exploring the heavens, but on Earth I could have a choice of what to explore. I relished choice, purpose in motion, I had not had this for too long. I watched Apollo 11 scoot by, I was too far away. The chances that one of your craft would be in precisely the right place in space and time to aid me was slim to none. I had seen enough of the cosmos to know that. Yet, if there is a chance, there is a chance, no matter how small and it was with delight that I watched Apollo 13 rise and take a course that would make definite the infinitesimally small probability I had hoped for. Apollo 13 would intersect with me exactly. What are the odds? I felt bad for the crew, it is no trifling matter to end a life, no matter how many of you living exist in the endless sky. I had watched life come and go, I had done the equivalent of weeping when the dinosaurs mostly passed. Perhaps it was the sheer amount of time I spent observing your planet, for the life on your sphere meant more to me than any I had previously encountered. It was with a grave heart that I accepted the fate of those astronauts as they came in to my proximity. There was anyways nothing I could do. It shames me to admit that even had I been capable, I would have accepted their fate. I was tired of drifting in a predetermined motion. Free movement is an illusion, everything flows from the beginning, but to the person acting it makes no difference. I wanted to feel that agency again. The craft came and due to sheer chance it gave me only the slightest glancing blow. Improbable is it would seem, as impossible to predict as it was, I knew by now throughout my travels that everything was ordered. The chain of events that led to this happenstance in space and time was set in motion from the dawn of existence. It was a certainty at the very moment that time had started, yet improbable it still was until it happened. The universe is so vast and filled with nothing that the chances of this collision were nearly minuscule, yet once occurred, it must be acknowledged that it was always a certainty. Nothing else could have happened. I know this because it didn't. The explosion from the oxygen tanks sent me hurtling down to earth. I could have been forced out in another direction if any one factor had been different. I could have perhaps been sent in to an even deeper orbit from which I had almost no chance of escaping until very long in to the future when your earth would be no more. But it wasn't and never could have been. Only what happens is what happened. All possibilities coalesced into a single certainty at that moment. I bounced off Apollo 13 and tumbled down in to your atmosphere. Heat. Friction. I had missed you. The burden of the weight of an entire atmosphere, I had missed you the most. I think I shall visit the Himalayas now. What they must look like from below.	From the moment Their feet graced the earth, They used their eyes to uncover the meaning of things. They saw their world as it manifested within Their minds, and from Their perception great beauty was born Time flowed, and as They came together in groups larger and larger, They learned too see collectively using Their minds instead of eyes. In time They even learned to see backwards, and would say: “How silly we were, to think of our world like that!” The birth of one form of truth meant the death of another. I watched Them from beginning to end, but once They had crossed that threshold They could never go back. Ironically, it was right around when They had crossed that threshold that They came to visit me. Little ones in white suits of armor walked upon my body, as Their brothers and sisters back home marveled at Their accomplishment. “Fools! Forget not what your ancestors had known for decades,” I wanted to scream then. But alas, I was born without a voice. Perhaps when I was still a mighty Goddess, watching over all when my brother would lie asleep, They might have headed my warning. But I am no longer that, and so They left and went back to Their homes. And I stayed and watched and silently wept as They marched towards Their deaths.
	[WP] A blind girl falls in love with Medusa	The cruel, heartless bastards left me in a cave. Again. They do this everywhere we go. Let's play, 'Leave the blind girl in a cave, that never gets old!' It stopped beinng fun when they left me in a cave in the Himalayas. For a laugh, they said. We only do this because we care, they said. There was something in the cave with me. I could feel the drafts from the entreace, but there were other things in the cave. Things that had no place being in a derelict cave just off the coast of Rhodes. They seemed almost like...statues. I closed my blinded eyes, and sat on what felt like a small boulder. it was smooth, like a pebble, and I felt my way around, using my cane for guidance. I squeaked, as I felt below what I thought was an arch in the boulder. It had been a human face. My heart sped up at the thought of a stone statue being carved like a human- Then I heard it. The most haunting voice I had ever heard. A melancholy liavened throughout a heartstring-tugging rendition of an old hymn, that tugged at my memory. I sat, entirely focused on the song and the voice. That terrible, beautiful voice. It made me want to saw my neck on it, just so I could experience it as I lay dying. I felt that I had intruded long enough. "Hello?" I called out, my voice husky with wariness. "Is there anybody there?" I heard a soft, bitter echo of my voice come back to me. I sighed, and sat down again on the statue-boulder. I waited, for maybe three fuil minutes. It began as a whisper, but then it became a sibilant susuration of sliding sensation. Like in a show were you know the monster is behind you, you know it's going to eat you, and you know these are your last few moments on this Earth. The monster, or least what I thought was a monster, spoke in heavily accented English. "SSSuch fresssh meat for one sssuch ass I..." it spoke, the cadence and sense of shape completely female. "It hasss been a long time sssinccce I wasss fed a virgin..." I turned to listen to the voice in more clarity, as the walls here distorted my sense of hearing. I opened my eyes, and pretended to look at her. My voice trembled as I spoke. "I'm sorry, I was l-l-left here by my so-c-called friends. I...overheard you singing. I'm s-s-sorry for intruding, but I thought it was beautiful. I sensed movement, and felt the breath of a hundred things all over my face. I heard the sounds of snakes gently hissing, as her face got really, uncomfortably close. I couldn't help it. I flinched. A bitter venom entered her voice. "And why would I want a tresspassssser for anything but food, young missstresss?" I felt, more than saw, a sense of hunger, mixed with the angry pain of betrayal. "And why, little misss, are you not sstone?" "Because I was b-blinded by an attack in a city f-far away from h-here. Forgive me for being f-forward, my Lady, but I would like to t-t-touch your face, as I cannot see. I want to be close to the amazing voice that I-I-I heard earlier." A somewhat scaled hand picked mine up, and I froze. I'm not proud of it, but that's what happens when you come up against a character out of mythology. The hand felt warm, as did the snakes who were still focused entirely on me. the hand made contact with a face that both was and was not human. I twitched, both in fear and excitement. She was, not to put too fine a point on it, stunning. I could almost feel how much pain she was in. I wanted, desperately, to take that pain away. I moved my head carefully, trying to avoid the snakes upon her head. I gently rested my head upon where I thought her shoulders would be, and wrapped my arms around her. "Are you okay?" I whispered. I felt her arms go around me, and suddenly was surrounded by scales. I had a moment of panic, but then I realised her snake-head harir was trying to comfort me, too. ....I didn't want to leave her alone.	We were just travelling to my husbands relatives in Rhodes. He said he wants me to meet them. It means a lt to him, else he wouldn't taken this hard journey with me. I am the troubleling factor in this, as I need to grab onto his arm the whole time. He truly loves me when he is takes this challenge for me. I need Guidance, as I can't see. Every Rock would put me to the ground when I tried to walk for myself. At home this is no challenge for me as i know every detail of the terrain by memory, because i need to know, others can just see it. It always bothered me that all theses people are so lucky, to be able to see. Now I know I'm lucky to finding him under thousands of humans. I was blind since birth and he didn't bother, he loved me anyway. When I was young I was taken to the Oracle o Delphi regarding my blindness, but as all prophecies it is just some sentences noone can bring sense into. I don't know much of it, just something along these lines: "See those who got punished falsely, and they may see you too." To this day I couldn't make use of such simple statement, would have been nice if they gave me a cure, but I never heard of a useful prophecy someone got in Delphi. Apollo knows why he says such things through the Oracle to us. We made a break, and I'm sitting here waiting for him. He said he wanted to scout our surroundings, but I know we're lost i heard it in his voice. He just wanted to not trouble me with it. I couldn't have helped anyway, can't read maps nor navigate, the only senses I could offer were hearing and smelling, but this wouldn't help much. Now he probably regrets having taken a "shortcut" over these hills, as the terrain felt there wasn't even a path. Now suddenly the world seems odd, the birds are cautious i can hear it. A strange scent comes to my nose, it ist somewhat of everything and never have I encountered such smells. I can smell some metallic and even some lovely feminine scent. It smells like the gods are near. Now i can hear something like someone drags a body over the ground. I remain silent as possible. The world goes more and more silent. The scent becomes stronger and the sound becomes clearer and louder. I hear some hissing. Panic begins in my body. I don't know what to do. My heart becomes louder and louder, my ears almost deaf form the pulse. Then it stops, right before me. There is an unbearable Silence that burns into my senses. "Look up young girl." Said the voice of a woman. So I did. Nothing happenend for a few seconds. I then ask: "Are you one of the gods?" Nothing. "Are you maybe Aphrodite, goddess of Love? because you smelled lovely." After a while she said just "No...". "Are you then Pallas Athena, deity of war and wisdom? As you smelled metallic and dragged something like possibly your shield over the groung." In the most hissing voice filled with hatred she replied: "How dare you compare me to her, you don't know her true nature, you don't understand any of the gods!" I began to panic but tried to remain silent, as I couldn't do anything anyway. "I'm sorry I just asked, i didn't know that you hate..." I panicly began to explain. "Athena hasn't is a sheer evil and revengeful god as they are all, they're just a bunch of Idiots with power to punish whoever they want and do whatever they wan't! You problaby have heard of the Gorgon Medusa?" "Yes, she was once a beautiul woman punished by the gods for stating she was prettier than the gods." "Thats what they tell you? I bring light to your darkness. Medusa was just a beatiful maiden. And as the gods are, they feel lust towards young women and they can't even defend themself. In this case Poseidon was the god, he raped her in the Athena's temple. And Athena of course saw it and enraged from seeing this she punishes Medusa for it, and made her ugly. She got a snakelike body, snakes as hair, bronze skin and many atrocities more." "This is terrible, i always thought the gods were good." "The gods aren't good, presents they give always have an evil twist." "But why do you know such things, what are you? The gods would have punished someone who said such things." "I am already punished. Don't you worry about it." "But you seem nice, when i don't count your hatred for the gods." "Many people reveal themself as good or bad when you listen long enough, but beeing someone who listens in the first place is a good thing in any case." "I don't have that much of a choice as I'm blind." "Ohhh.... so thats why you ca..." "I can what?" She seems to somewhat be reliefed. Then she sits down beside me, or as i can tell she moves somewhat besides me where i suppose a rock is. "This explains a lot." She says. "What does it explain?" I ask. "Well I didn't tell you about Medusa because of nothing. I am her and i wondered why you didn't turn to stone." I am in a form of shock. I don't know if I should be frightened that there is medusa, or reliefed as she is just a nice woman. "You seem to be worried" she said "probably isn't normal you meet someone as me. But I just wan't to thank you for listening, i never had someone to talk to, as they all turn into stone. I wish we could have met as humans." "I guess... I would've loved to." "This is somewhat Strange, but can... can i touch your , erm skin? I ... I never felt soft skin for years." Somewhat excited and terrified I replied: "Yes you can." She then reached out as i can hear, and in the most gentle way she touches my arm. I felt hard and scratching fingers touch me and run slowly on my skin. She seems to smile, i can feel it. She slowly reaches out more and more, touching like a blind person would discover the body of their fiancee in the nights. I reach out to her but even more cautios until my fingertips feel some scaly metallic surface where probaly her legs should have been. She stops and says: "I don't want to scare you, if you want i can go now." "No, it is just strange." "Can i touch your face? only when youre comfortable of course. I haven't felt a not malformed or made of stone face in a while." I nod. She then slowly and cautious, like she fears to break something, she continues. It is tickling and scratching and somewhat exciting. I smile. Then her scaly finger scratch me, because she lost balance and fell over, as she was so fascinated. I get a scratch on my face and she fell on me. She stands fast up, is embarrassed and says: "I'm so sorry, I didn't want to hurt you, and know you are hurt, there even is blood. I... I should go, we should never meet again." then she begins to go away. "Wait, stay a second longer." She stops "It is not your fault, you don't need to go." "But I can hurt everyone, even you. I should go." "A scratch won't kill me, like turning to stone can kill others." "I can't compensate whats happening in one day, i need time." "Can we at least meet again?" Silence. I ask again. "can we meet again?" "Oh yes, sorry i just nodded." I smile, "Yeah, many people forget i can't see. How do we meet again then?" "I'm currently living in a cave nearby, can you come there by yourself?" "I may be blind but i can remember paths pretty good. I can come here maybe at next new moon?." She does something, maybe picking something up, she then comes to me and says: "open your hands." I do she gives me a rock "thats a bird that turned into stone, figured that way you can finally know what a bird is." she goes away and says: " next new moon it is. And by the way your husband isn't a stone by now, I didn't go his way when i heard him. he seems lost. But he should find back up here, thiss is the highest place around here. Tomorrow in the noon go in the direction of the sun there should be a City. And remember it isn't a shame Saphho wrote about it." I hear her go away, until i hear nothing and the birds returns and this round things create such wondrous songs? I almost forgot about him. He truly loves me but do I love him"
	[WP] A blind girl falls in love with Medusa	It was my first day on the island, and I felt scared and alone. My stomach was empty and called for sustenance, but my heart was full with grief and cried out for relief. I was certain I would find neither and death seemed cruelly close and cruelly far away at the same time. I was beginning to get a little delirious. An absurd thought crossed my mind: maybe I had landed on an island full of big juicy fruit trees and freshwater springs, and I would die before finding out; unaware because of my blindness that I had found the world’s most well-stocked deserted island. I laughed bitterly and decided that I might as well try to find out. Without anything to use as a cane, and without enough strength to stand, I instead crawled. I felt around carefully for anything that may help me survive. I heard movement from in front of me, and I froze. Then I heard a noise I thought I would never hear again: a human voice. “Leave this island, lest you meet your end!” The sharp, angry cry made me recoil in fear and the complete hopelessness of my situation washed over me, not unlike the waves of the unforgiving ocean I had just emerged from. I collapsed in a heap in the sand, suddenly wracked with sobs. I sensed someone approaching, but I found I could not stop crying. “Look upon my face.” The voice commanded, its owner standing over me. It was a female voice full of anger and hatred and venom. “I-I c-c-can’t!” I stuttered out between sobs, hiding my face in my arms. Her laughter was full of cruel amusement. She said nothing more as she turned and walked away. I didn’t move as I heard her approach again a few moments later; having spent my remaining energy on my outburst. I flinched as I heard something fly through the air and hit the ground next to me. Then again. “I will not steal life from someone who has so little left to begin with.” I heard her say. There was no kindness in her tone; instead she almost sounded disgusted. “Come and face me when you have your strength, and you can at least have a hero’s death.” Then she was gone. I reached out and felt around for the things she had thrown to me, and my hands found a bag holding some sort of citrus fruit, and a bladder full of water. This time, the tears were ones of joy. ----- It was my seventh day on the island, and I felt cautiously hopeful. The fruit was like nothing I had ever tasted. I was surprised to feel healthier than ever after eating it. I had found enough strength to search for food on my own. I found a branch to use as a cane, and made my way about the island, sweeping it methodically in front of me to locate obstacles and potential food. I stumbled upon a small grove of trees surrounded by fruit that had fallen onto the ground, and my heart welled with hope. Perhaps I could find a way to survive here after all. While I spent days searching for food, I had sensed that I was being watched. After I carefully arranged some stone markers to point me in the direction of the fruit, I set about finding the local natives. Maybe they weren’t friendly, but one of them had likely saved my life, and I couldn’t let that go. It was a long and frustrating search. Each time I sensed someone watching, I called out. Each time, my pleas were ignored and my watcher remained silent. Finally, I must have approached close enough to stir some worry, because the same voice from before called out to me. “Look upon my face.” It commanded again. It was still full of anger and hatred and venom, but this time I could hear a slight lilt of curiosity at the end of it. “That is something I cannot do,” I responded, holding my chin high in the direction the voice had come from, “I have no vision with which to look.” I heard her murmur softly, “Indeed, you haven’t.” Then she was gone. I made my way back towards the fruit trees, vowing to come back and find out more about this woman. ----- It was my twenty-ninth day on the island, and I felt curious. I had had a handful of short conversations with the Mysterious Woman of the Island, as I was calling her in my mind. She seemed as fascinated with me as I was with her. I learned that while she questioned me at length about my life; asking her anything about herself would not only be met with silence, it would mark the end of the conversation for that day. Little did she realize that I could sense the direction to which she disappeared, and day after day I made my way closer and closer to her dwelling. When, one day during my search, I finally reached out with my hand and touched a rough clay wall, I let out a triumphant yell. She was at my side immediately. “What are you doing here?” she demanded furiously. “You are not meant to be on this island!” “If I was not meant to be on this island, then why am I here?” I was getting braver in my responses to her. Her silence indicated that she was mulling over an answer. I forged on. “Besides, if I wasn’t here, who would you dramatically vanish on all day long; the fruit trees?” That was the first time I heard her laugh. It was light and melodic, nothing like her voice. “You have a beautiful laugh,” I told her. As if she hadn’t realized what she was doing, she stopped immediately. “Go away.” She said simply. Then she was gone. I didn’t go away, and the number of times I sensed her checking to see if I was still there made me wonder if she really wanted me to, anyway. ----- It was my one hundred and fourteenth day on the island, and I felt fluttery. When she realized I wasn’t going away, the island woman had begrudgingly invited me inside the small clay hut she had built for herself. “So I can make sure you don’t do anything stupid,” she had said, but I could hear in her voice that she was a little pleased. We shared our meals together, and she had started teaching me how to feel my way around her garden to find my favorite fruits. I still didn’t know her name. I didn’t mind. It made her laugh when I called her Mysterious Woman of the Island. When I finally told her my name, she inhaled sharply. “It’s not the greatest name in the world,” I said, slightly offended, “But it was my great-grandmother’s name. Belinda. It’s a good German name, you know. It means –“ “Bright serpent,” she whispered. I was dumbfounded that she had known what my name meant. “Well, yes. That, or ‘beautiful’.” “I am smiling right now,” she told me, “because in your case, I think it means both.” “I am smiling right now,” I said back to her, “because now I’m wondering if you’re blind as well.” Her beautiful laughter filled the hut. “You don’t need to tell me when you’re smiling,” she said to me. “I could see it from a mile away. In fact, I’ll use it as a beacon to get back after I go collect more water.” Then she was gone. I hummed to myself while I peeled fruit for dinner. ----- It was my two-hundred and forty-third day on the island, and I felt truly happy. My Mysterious Woman of the Island was restless, and I asked what was on her mind. “I want you to know who I am,” she said, her voice tinged with worry. I felt my heart fill with warmth and anxiousness. I reached out and she put her hand in mine. It had long since become an automatic gesture for us. I knew her hands like the back of my own. They were strong but surprisingly soft. I loved them as I had grown to love her, and I knew the feeling was mutual. I stroked my thumb across the back of her hand reassuringly. “Belinda, my name is Medusa.” She said, and she squeezed my hand. My heart jumped. “But…she can’t be…you aren’t really…is she real? Are you her?” the questions tumbled out of my mouth, leaving me breathless. She pulled her hand away and I grasped for it. She didn’t return it. “I am she,” she said quietly. “The monster they speak of in legends. It is I they reference when they say, “The Gorgons, winged, with snakes for hair – hatred of mortal man—“ I grasped for her hand again, with no luck. “You aren’t a monster to me. You’re my Mysterious Woman of the Island. I wouldn’t care if you had giant tarantulas for hair. Do you really have wings?” She laughed softly. “Yes, I really have wings.” “Can I hear you fly?” “I’m looking at you curiously right now.” “I’ve always wanted to fly. And I can’t see it, so I thought I’d ask to hear it instead.” “You really don’t care that I am Medusa?” “I really don’t care.” She grabbed my hand, squeezed it meaningfully, and led me outside. I heard a beautiful strong flapping sound as she stirred up the sand around us. Then she was gone. I laughed jubilantly as I heard my love soaring overhead, and I knew I had found my home. ----- It was my five hundred and seventy-second day on the island, and I felt deeply content. Medusa and I had spent much time together, and each day I grew to love her even more. More than a few intruders had come to the island with the intent to kill her, and she had easily turned them into stone. They filled our garden, and I knew each one by the shape of his face. They got what they deserved. My Medusa just wanted to live out her life in peace, with me and our fruit trees. We were lazily enjoying the sun one afternoon when she suddenly tensed up. “Another intruder?” I asked. It set me on edge, even though I knew she always came back to me with a new statue for our garden. “Yes. Go inside.” She instructed. It was not the hard commanding voice she had issued on my first day on the island. It was an urge, full of concern for my safety. I stood and started making my way inside. “Be safe, my love.” From inside our home, I heard our visitor announce himself. “Medusa, show yourself! I, Perseus, son of Zeus, have come to vanquish you at last!” I snickered, waiting for the scream that always accompanied a view of her face. Her face, which to me, felt like the most beautiful face I would ever touch again. Then she was gone. It was my five hundred and seventy-second day on the island, and I felt scared and alone.	We were just travelling to my husbands relatives in Rhodes. He said he wants me to meet them. It means a lt to him, else he wouldn't taken this hard journey with me. I am the troubleling factor in this, as I need to grab onto his arm the whole time. He truly loves me when he is takes this challenge for me. I need Guidance, as I can't see. Every Rock would put me to the ground when I tried to walk for myself. At home this is no challenge for me as i know every detail of the terrain by memory, because i need to know, others can just see it. It always bothered me that all theses people are so lucky, to be able to see. Now I know I'm lucky to finding him under thousands of humans. I was blind since birth and he didn't bother, he loved me anyway. When I was young I was taken to the Oracle o Delphi regarding my blindness, but as all prophecies it is just some sentences noone can bring sense into. I don't know much of it, just something along these lines: "See those who got punished falsely, and they may see you too." To this day I couldn't make use of such simple statement, would have been nice if they gave me a cure, but I never heard of a useful prophecy someone got in Delphi. Apollo knows why he says such things through the Oracle to us. We made a break, and I'm sitting here waiting for him. He said he wanted to scout our surroundings, but I know we're lost i heard it in his voice. He just wanted to not trouble me with it. I couldn't have helped anyway, can't read maps nor navigate, the only senses I could offer were hearing and smelling, but this wouldn't help much. Now he probably regrets having taken a "shortcut" over these hills, as the terrain felt there wasn't even a path. Now suddenly the world seems odd, the birds are cautious i can hear it. A strange scent comes to my nose, it ist somewhat of everything and never have I encountered such smells. I can smell some metallic and even some lovely feminine scent. It smells like the gods are near. Now i can hear something like someone drags a body over the ground. I remain silent as possible. The world goes more and more silent. The scent becomes stronger and the sound becomes clearer and louder. I hear some hissing. Panic begins in my body. I don't know what to do. My heart becomes louder and louder, my ears almost deaf form the pulse. Then it stops, right before me. There is an unbearable Silence that burns into my senses. "Look up young girl." Said the voice of a woman. So I did. Nothing happenend for a few seconds. I then ask: "Are you one of the gods?" Nothing. "Are you maybe Aphrodite, goddess of Love? because you smelled lovely." After a while she said just "No...". "Are you then Pallas Athena, deity of war and wisdom? As you smelled metallic and dragged something like possibly your shield over the groung." In the most hissing voice filled with hatred she replied: "How dare you compare me to her, you don't know her true nature, you don't understand any of the gods!" I began to panic but tried to remain silent, as I couldn't do anything anyway. "I'm sorry I just asked, i didn't know that you hate..." I panicly began to explain. "Athena hasn't is a sheer evil and revengeful god as they are all, they're just a bunch of Idiots with power to punish whoever they want and do whatever they wan't! You problaby have heard of the Gorgon Medusa?" "Yes, she was once a beautiul woman punished by the gods for stating she was prettier than the gods." "Thats what they tell you? I bring light to your darkness. Medusa was just a beatiful maiden. And as the gods are, they feel lust towards young women and they can't even defend themself. In this case Poseidon was the god, he raped her in the Athena's temple. And Athena of course saw it and enraged from seeing this she punishes Medusa for it, and made her ugly. She got a snakelike body, snakes as hair, bronze skin and many atrocities more." "This is terrible, i always thought the gods were good." "The gods aren't good, presents they give always have an evil twist." "But why do you know such things, what are you? The gods would have punished someone who said such things." "I am already punished. Don't you worry about it." "But you seem nice, when i don't count your hatred for the gods." "Many people reveal themself as good or bad when you listen long enough, but beeing someone who listens in the first place is a good thing in any case." "I don't have that much of a choice as I'm blind." "Ohhh.... so thats why you ca..." "I can what?" She seems to somewhat be reliefed. Then she sits down beside me, or as i can tell she moves somewhat besides me where i suppose a rock is. "This explains a lot." She says. "What does it explain?" I ask. "Well I didn't tell you about Medusa because of nothing. I am her and i wondered why you didn't turn to stone." I am in a form of shock. I don't know if I should be frightened that there is medusa, or reliefed as she is just a nice woman. "You seem to be worried" she said "probably isn't normal you meet someone as me. But I just wan't to thank you for listening, i never had someone to talk to, as they all turn into stone. I wish we could have met as humans." "I guess... I would've loved to." "This is somewhat Strange, but can... can i touch your , erm skin? I ... I never felt soft skin for years." Somewhat excited and terrified I replied: "Yes you can." She then reached out as i can hear, and in the most gentle way she touches my arm. I felt hard and scratching fingers touch me and run slowly on my skin. She seems to smile, i can feel it. She slowly reaches out more and more, touching like a blind person would discover the body of their fiancee in the nights. I reach out to her but even more cautios until my fingertips feel some scaly metallic surface where probaly her legs should have been. She stops and says: "I don't want to scare you, if you want i can go now." "No, it is just strange." "Can i touch your face? only when youre comfortable of course. I haven't felt a not malformed or made of stone face in a while." I nod. She then slowly and cautious, like she fears to break something, she continues. It is tickling and scratching and somewhat exciting. I smile. Then her scaly finger scratch me, because she lost balance and fell over, as she was so fascinated. I get a scratch on my face and she fell on me. She stands fast up, is embarrassed and says: "I'm so sorry, I didn't want to hurt you, and know you are hurt, there even is blood. I... I should go, we should never meet again." then she begins to go away. "Wait, stay a second longer." She stops "It is not your fault, you don't need to go." "But I can hurt everyone, even you. I should go." "A scratch won't kill me, like turning to stone can kill others." "I can't compensate whats happening in one day, i need time." "Can we at least meet again?" Silence. I ask again. "can we meet again?" "Oh yes, sorry i just nodded." I smile, "Yeah, many people forget i can't see. How do we meet again then?" "I'm currently living in a cave nearby, can you come there by yourself?" "I may be blind but i can remember paths pretty good. I can come here maybe at next new moon?." She does something, maybe picking something up, she then comes to me and says: "open your hands." I do she gives me a rock "thats a bird that turned into stone, figured that way you can finally know what a bird is." she goes away and says: " next new moon it is. And by the way your husband isn't a stone by now, I didn't go his way when i heard him. he seems lost. But he should find back up here, thiss is the highest place around here. Tomorrow in the noon go in the direction of the sun there should be a City. And remember it isn't a shame Saphho wrote about it." I hear her go away, until i hear nothing and the birds returns and this round things create such wondrous songs? I almost forgot about him. He truly loves me but do I love him"
	[WP] You've been wrongly sentenced to execution through the ships airlock. The door opens and you are sucked out into the abyss. As you float outside, you realize something. You're not dying, and it doesn't hurt...	“Fifteen seconds,” he said, tightening his grip on my hand. “It’ll only last fifteen seconds. You’ll lose consciousness after that.” I knew his words were meant to comfort me, but there was not much that could be said to halt the despair that was building in my chest. I was about to die, and nothing I could say or do was going to change that. “Remember, child, you are doing us all a great honour,” Kurthan continued, his usually firm voice sounding muffled. “To be a sacrifice is the highest calling one can reach.” I tried to focus on his words, to draw strength from them, but I found it difficult to concentrate on anything but the hatch that stood before us. Don’t hold your breath, I told myself, remembering the piece of advice one of my classmates had given me on the day my name had been drawn. I repeated the words over and over again in my head as Kurthan said something else from beside me. I couldn’t hear the man properly though. Not through the screaming in my head. A week ago I would have been overjoyed by the thought of meeting Kurthan, probably fainting solely at the thought of having him speak to me directly. Now I wished he would just shut up. As if he had read my thoughts, the room grew quiet then. Though I imagined that would soon change once the hatch was opened. Silence would reign then, even as I opened my mouth to scream. Kurthan suddenly sighed in frustration beside me. “I wish they’d hurry up and-” The stillness that surrounded us was ripped apart by the sound of alarms, the walls flashing red and orange. My hand suddenly hurt, and part of my mind acknowledged that Kurthan was crushing it with his own. The rest of me was focused on the giant mechanical locks that bracketed the ship’s hatch. Their gears were turning, components twisting, the mechanism unlocking. Fifteen seconds, I reminded myself. I wondered how much it would hurt. More than my hand now? I somehow managed to tear my gaze away from the hatch and glanced beside me. Kurthan was staring forward, though it was hard to tell what the man was thinking. His expression was unreadable, his face smooth despite several emerging wrinkles along his brow. It didn’t help that the flashing lights were causing sporadic areas of glare across his visor, obscuring parts of his face. But there. I could have sworn I saw a smile stretch across his lips for a moment. It was brief, an inappropriate gesture in a situation such as this. For a moment I wondered if he really was a prophet, like some claimed, sent here to guide our species to salvation. Perhaps he was smiling because he held information I didn’t, like some grand plan the universe had for us all, of which my sacrifice was a critical part. But then I grasped the truth. Kurthan was actually enjoying this. The realization transformed part of my fear into anger. Everyone believed this man was the saviour of our race, that he was some sort of saint who held the hands of those chosen to be sacrificed. He was always the last face they’d see, as the oxygen was sucked from their body and they lost consciousness. But it was all a cruel facade. I wondered now how many people had stared at his smiling face and thought he was still their saviour, even as they died. Looking over my shoulder, I faced the back of the airlock and the window I knew several of the others were watching from. I opened my mouth to scream at them, maybe to warn them that Kurthan was not the man he claimed to be. Maybe to beg them to stop the hatch from opening. I wasn’t sure what I was about to say, but I didn’t have time to find out, because suddenly I was flying forwards. The drastic change in air pressure sent our bodies propelling forward, out into the vastness of space. The cold enveloped me immediately, but it was not as bad as I had imagined. Not immediately, at least. I fought the instinct to hold my breath, instead waiting for the pain I knew would fill my last moments of existence. Except it didn’t come. Five seconds passed, my body floating in a vacuum, tethered to the ship only by Kurthan’s hand which still gripped mine. The man’s spacesuit was attached to a cord that was supposed to keep him from spinning off into space with the sacrifices. But he always insisted on holding their hands until they lost consciousness. It was said that Kurthan did this out of kindness. Rather then send these frightened individuals to their death alone, he was there to bring them peace, to assure them that their noble suffering would not go to waste. I knew now that it was actually because he wanted to watch. I could see it in the way he looked at me now, his gaze intense, greedy, behind his visor. A grin was plastered across his face, and I knew he was waiting for my body to balloon and my eyes to roll back into my head. But I continued to stare back. Fifteen seconds passed. Our bodies gently floated in a nonexistent current, no law of gravity forcing us to conform to any one direction. I watched as Kurthan’s expression slowly changed from glee to confusion. Then, lastly, to fear. I felt my lips turn upwards into my own smile as I grasped what was happening, despite the insaneness of it all. I was the one clinging to Kurthan with a deathgrip now. He tried to pull his hands away from me, but I didn’t dare let go. I was somehow able to survive the harsh environment of space, but this man was the only thing stopping me from careening off into nothingness. I could see his lips moving as he yelled something, his legs coming up to try to kick me away, but I held on. I struggled to pull myself closer, grabbing the side of his helmet with fingers that looked paler than usual, but were not the sizes of sausages, like they should have been. Kurthan tried to swat me away, but I pushed passed him, using his body as handholds to lead me to the cord that stretched behind him. I found it quite liberating how easy it was to move in zero gravity, going hand over hand until I reached the open airlock. Shocked faces looked out from the window at the back of the room, and I wondered what the others thought about the display unfolding before them. Was I the prophet now? I glanced behind me. Kurthan was following, but his suit was oversized and cumbersome, slowing him down as he tried to haul himself back to the ship. I could see the panic that gripped him by the way he fumbled about, his movements no longer smooth and confident like they always had been, especially during his sermons. I reached the end of the cord and quickly untethered it, holding the line in my hand as I floated in the airlock and looked over my shoulder. Kurthan had almost made it, but terror consumed his features as I opened my hand and let the cord float away. Don’t hold your breath, I thought one last time as the man drifted away. Then lights began to flash around me, the hatch closing once more.	Star Wars 8 Spoiler: ...then again you remember that you're Leia Organa, sister of Luke Skywalker. As you close your eyes and let the force guide you, your arm raises and points towards the resistance ship. Slowly but steadily you are pulling yourself back to safety. You are straight up Marry Poppins.
	[WP] You've been wrongly sentenced to execution through the ships airlock. The door opens and you are sucked out into the abyss. As you float outside, you realize something. You're not dying, and it doesn't hurt...	"You are accused of being a spy for the Solar Hegemony and are sentenced to death," the Captain of the Dalos, a trading vessel, read the charges as I was shoved into the airlock. Of course I beat against the walls yelling, "I am a free trader! I have my papers! I passed the psi tests of your very own telepath! She read my god damned mind!" I could see the uncertainty in the crews eyes but the Captain was resolute, "I am sorry Mr. Collins. I don't know how you did it but I have my orders." He turned to his second-in-chief and simply said, "Space him." You'd be surprised how fast you're sucked out of an airlock. I closed my eyes as the ship slowly dwindled in sight and disappeared in the distance. I waited for the pain of decompression and freezing. And waited. And waited. "What the hell?" I thought to myself and waited some more. Why wasn't I dying painfully? I was in the vacuum of space. "Devin Collins," the voice in my mind said, "Do not panic. Help is on the way. Your mission is complete. The nano-machines in your bloodstream are keeping you alive as you await rescue." Before I could reply the small ship with the symbol of the Solar Hegemony warped out a foot from me, scooped me up with a precision I didn't dream was possible, and I could feel us enter warp back a second later. "Welcome aboard, Mr. Collins," a voice said in the small airlock as tried to get my bearings, "Your Psi Block is being removed - Code Word - Hippogryph Lansing Delta 001." Suddenly my false memory of being Devin Collins disappeared and the fullness of my real personality flooded my mind. I smiled. My mission was a success as I uploaded all of the stolen shipping data stored in the nano's in my bloodstream to the Hegemony computer. "What do you know?" I said to no one in particular as I stood up and my wife walked out to greet me with a smile, "I am a spy."	Star Wars 8 Spoiler: ...then again you remember that you're Leia Organa, sister of Luke Skywalker. As you close your eyes and let the force guide you, your arm raises and points towards the resistance ship. Slowly but steadily you are pulling yourself back to safety. You are straight up Marry Poppins.
	[WP] You've been wrongly sentenced to execution through the ships airlock. The door opens and you are sucked out into the abyss. As you float outside, you realize something. You're not dying, and it doesn't hurt...	"Please, please!" Two hefty guards were roughly shoving the condemned towards the airlock set in-between the inner and outer hulls. "This is all a mistake! The only reason you're doing this is because--" The executioner was dressed in a band of authoritative gold, and held a micro-book of the Law open. "The Pronouncement: For failure to adhere to the Ways and presenting a danger to society, you are condemned to live outside of society." "We're in space! Read Mercy from the Law, please! Outside is space!" The struggle did no good, the guards were much stronger and well armored, the condemned's naked blows did nothing. The inner door opened, and a strong shove pushed the condemned into the airlock, outside of the gravity zone, and the condemned bounced into the outer door which painfully absorbed the momentum. The inner door slid shut, and the executioner's face appeared small in the window of the inner door. The executioner looked down, and then the outside door slid open. The air rushed out, taking the condemned with it. A whoosh and then... Incredible silence. Disbelief at seeing the hull with bare eyes from the wrong side. The view became clouded, her nictitating eyelid involuntarily clamping over her eyes. Spiracles drew tight, including her vocal and auditory ones, and her esophagus closed up leaving her mouth to dry out almost immediately in the vacuum. Her skin drew tight and her hard-scales, normally separated by a coin's edge-width, filled with a chemically-rich excretion that turned to stiff and sticky but pliable putty that resisted sublimating in the void. I'm not dead. She held her hands in front of her, the ship still pulling slowly away from her, looking through slightly clouded eyes at her remarkable transformation. She hadn't thought about any of it, it had simply happened. Her hands were the cause of the entire situation. Those odd glands. She had to empty them from time to time. In a moment of carelessness, she let them get too full and one of her shipmates had gotten a face-full of the hot and noxious gas they produced when the gland contents were allowed to mix. It pushed her back - she was light as a pebble -- and it left her shipmate with a burn. Not a serious one, but still a burn. That was enough to sway the ship's general opinion of their adopted orphan. She was too different, too alien. The Master permitted a Court to sit. Out in the void, she pushed her hands together in front of her. She willed a little of the spray out. It checked some of her velocity relative to the ship. Again, but this time along her movement vector and through her center of gravity. Better; now she was still relative to her ship. Her former ship. Maybe they did the best they could, she thought. I'm more alien than anyone thought I was. The hurt of betrayal faded away. The spray-glands already felt full again, as if they were coaxed to work faster when they sensed outer space. She gave herself a push towards the ship, and quickly found her way to an external maintenance ladder. Not a moment too soon: she could feel through the hull the big engines spinning up for FTL. She made sure she was well braced and comfortable. I'll hang on until they reach the next spaceport, she told herself. And then ... who knows. * * * Feedback is welcome! I collect my stories at /r/wpforme	They say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger... I thought to myself, slowly spinning through space. That saying is bullshit. I was ejected out an Earth Defense Fleet ship, the E.D.F. Badger, like a piece of space trash. They threw me into the airlock, said their goodbyes, and launched me into space. But, you might be thinking to yourself, you're still alive. Surely they gave you a spacesuit!" You'd be wrong. I was ejected because they thought I was planning a mutiny. Seeing as how the Badger was a re-population vessel carrying thousands of clones, it was difficult to prove my innocence with 9 other people sharing my physical, mental, and emotional profile. So they decided, one-by-one, they were going to eject us all out, and one-by-one I watched in horror as my clone turned blue and imploded on itself mere seconds after being ejected. When it was my turn, since my words fell upon deaf ears, I was glad that it would at least be quick. As I looked back through the window to look upon the faces of those I've known since coming out of the cloning bays, the airlocks opened and out I went like a slowly-spinning ragdoll. Every revolution I made, I watched the ship get farther and farther away. I didn't die immediately, nor did I seem to be dying slowly. Something made me special, but there was no way of telling what. Maybe there's a god watching over me, or some DNA mutation that's allowing my to stay alive. I honestly have no idea. My journey will probably be coming to an end soon, sadly. While my previous clones got to die in an instant to the icy fingers of space, I'm slowly careening towards a star, a red dwarf specifically. I'm not sure what will be worse, the radiation coming from the celestial body or the heat. Hell, maybe I'll find I'm resistant to that as well and I'll be the first to walk on a star. Chances are I'm going to be a forgotten Icarus. *** Critique more than welcome! I'm new to this.
	[WP] You've been wrongly sentenced to execution through the ships airlock. The door opens and you are sucked out into the abyss. As you float outside, you realize something. You're not dying, and it doesn't hurt...	"Please, please!" Two hefty guards were roughly shoving the condemned towards the airlock set in-between the inner and outer hulls. "This is all a mistake! The only reason you're doing this is because--" The executioner was dressed in a band of authoritative gold, and held a micro-book of the Law open. "The Pronouncement: For failure to adhere to the Ways and presenting a danger to society, you are condemned to live outside of society." "We're in space! Read Mercy from the Law, please! Outside is space!" The struggle did no good, the guards were much stronger and well armored, the condemned's naked blows did nothing. The inner door opened, and a strong shove pushed the condemned into the airlock, outside of the gravity zone, and the condemned bounced into the outer door which painfully absorbed the momentum. The inner door slid shut, and the executioner's face appeared small in the window of the inner door. The executioner looked down, and then the outside door slid open. The air rushed out, taking the condemned with it. A whoosh and then... Incredible silence. Disbelief at seeing the hull with bare eyes from the wrong side. The view became clouded, her nictitating eyelid involuntarily clamping over her eyes. Spiracles drew tight, including her vocal and auditory ones, and her esophagus closed up leaving her mouth to dry out almost immediately in the vacuum. Her skin drew tight and her hard-scales, normally separated by a coin's edge-width, filled with a chemically-rich excretion that turned to stiff and sticky but pliable putty that resisted sublimating in the void. I'm not dead. She held her hands in front of her, the ship still pulling slowly away from her, looking through slightly clouded eyes at her remarkable transformation. She hadn't thought about any of it, it had simply happened. Her hands were the cause of the entire situation. Those odd glands. She had to empty them from time to time. In a moment of carelessness, she let them get too full and one of her shipmates had gotten a face-full of the hot and noxious gas they produced when the gland contents were allowed to mix. It pushed her back - she was light as a pebble -- and it left her shipmate with a burn. Not a serious one, but still a burn. That was enough to sway the ship's general opinion of their adopted orphan. She was too different, too alien. The Master permitted a Court to sit. Out in the void, she pushed her hands together in front of her. She willed a little of the spray out. It checked some of her velocity relative to the ship. Again, but this time along her movement vector and through her center of gravity. Better; now she was still relative to her ship. Her former ship. Maybe they did the best they could, she thought. I'm more alien than anyone thought I was. The hurt of betrayal faded away. The spray-glands already felt full again, as if they were coaxed to work faster when they sensed outer space. She gave herself a push towards the ship, and quickly found her way to an external maintenance ladder. Not a moment too soon: she could feel through the hull the big engines spinning up for FTL. She made sure she was well braced and comfortable. I'll hang on until they reach the next spaceport, she told herself. And then ... who knows. * * * Feedback is welcome! I collect my stories at /r/wpforme	I had it coming. When you're the youngest guy on a ship of mostly females, in space, light years away from your home planet...things happen, okay? I should've kept my dick in my pants. Thank you. I got it. I know that now. So when I was sentenced to execution through the ships airlock for something that I didn't even do, I realized that everyone (read: the males) were really just mad that I was scoring and they weren't. They probably figured: If they get me out the way, they get to play. Heeeeyyy, that rhymed. The reason why I'm so nonchalant about the whole thing is because I should be dead by now, but I'm not. Yes, they pushed out the ship without a space helmet, but I can still breathe and it doesn't even hurt. Thank you, Jessica. Jessica is one of the babes on the ship. After I was sentenced, she ran up to me, kissed me and pushed something into my mouth with her tongue. "Swallow," she whispered - words I usually say. I didn't know what it was, what it could do, what it looked like...but I was going to die soon, so I was like, Why not? and swallowed. I'm guessing that's why I'm still alive, floating out here in the lonely abyss, horny as hell (I guess one of the side effects was massive, long-lasting boners because no matter how many times I rub one out, it just pops back up again). I don't know what's going to happen next. The ship's already gone, and there's literally nothing around me except super dark darkness and bright stars in the far, farthest distance. Ah, well, either the pill is going to wear off or I'll die an old man. Hopefully, I get picked up by some hot alien chicks.
makes it hard to hold down a job.	[WP] Your life is constantly interupted by a wizard who summons you to another world to fight for him.	To: ksmith@regionaldistribution.org From: jmartin@regionaldistribution.org Hi, Karen! Just responding to your inquiries about the Route Minimization Project. Sorry I haven't gotten back to you sooner, as I "Again? Dude, seriously, I have work to be doing." "Oh, I don't need you quite yet. I just want to see what you're telling your boss about our last little adventure." "Well, could you read it afterwards instead of peering over my shoulder." "I can't spend much time over here. Just finish the email and I'll return to my world." "All right, all right!" had some unexpected family difficulties come up that resulted in me having to take some sick time earlier this week. It's mostly resolved now, and "Family difficulties?" "I thought we established in the last adventure you were my half-brother?" "That's right. Proceed." I should make good progress on the project from here on out, and, barring any more unforeseen issues, should have it done by Thursday of next week at the latest. "Thursday seems early." "Why, do you know something I don't?" "You're going to have to take some more sick time next week." "Really? When? Tell me so I can plan." "I can't say for sure. It would be nice if the villans sumbitted a schedule, I agree, but I know something's going to happen next week." "Alright, then, I'll change it. Monday of the week after?" "Tuesday." I should have it done by Tuesday the twenty-fourth at the latest. Sorry about the delay! Sincerely, James. "Seriously? Where are we going?" "Oh, you'll be back to the office before lunch. We just need to take care of a few little things to prep for the next little adventure."	Again??? I thought you promised that you'd let me have at least a week to myself. I'm sorry, Sid, but when things get this far out of control I just can't handle it on my own. Sorry, wiz, but a deal's a deal. A week off means you don't call me for, let's see, 7 times 24 is 168, so, like, 168 hours - in a row! Whatever it is will just have to wait. But this can't wait... this is big... What is so big that it can't wait until next week??? I can't speak it out loud for fear of spies. Let me whisper it to you... here, come closer... bzzz...bzzz...bzzz What???? That's your crisis???? Don't tell me you could face it alone... it's just too much! Look, I'm sorry your pizza didn't arrive in 30 minutes, but them's the breaks...
makes it hard to hold down a job.	[WP] Your life is constantly interupted by a wizard who summons you to another world to fight for him.	"Again?!" The wizard looks at me without any regret on his face. The sparkles and smoke slowly fade and settle. "Yes, I have summoned you once more, young Arthur!" he exclaims. "This is the tenth time in a row now!" I shout at him, "what am I gonna tell my boss?!" "I am your master," he says as he prepares my armor and my sword, "you will be the hero of this monster-infested land of Faerun! You are a warrior and a knight of the Fateweaver, the Goddess of Change and Luck!" "I'm just a salary man, Merlin," I tell him as I open up my briefcase, "Besides, why did you even choose me?" "I can sense something in you when I first summoned you. You brought me something...magical than magic." "That was pizza." "Ah, yes. That enchanted pizza filled with red jewels and yellow ooze," he gleefully looks over, "so, did you get them, just as I instructed you?" I sigh heavily. "Yes, here you go," I say as I hand him the pizza from my briefcase. "Ah, yes," he excitedly receives them, "now, go and kill some zombies for me or something." I nonchalantly grab the armor and start to equip them. "Or something?" "Ah, wait," he looks over the paperwork on his table, "the king says that local bandits have made their base in the Darkleaf Village. Clear them out for me, warrior!" "Hey, you're making me your looney here," I tell him, "why don't you do it yourself?" He looks at me grabbing my sword. He grabs another slice and fits it in his mouth. "Can't you see I'm busy? Besides, I'm gonna pay you later a handsome fine, don't worry. You might even get a kiss from the princess!" "At the very least, I'll get a chance in this world." "Ah, but before you do kiss her, make sure to equip this Helmet of Changing Appearance." "Just send me back already!" "That is unfeasible. The Summon spell has drained my magical stamina. We'll have to wait for a few hours. Besides, isn't living as a warrior more fun than as a merchant?" "I suppose." "Now, head on out! Your mount awaits you," he exclaims. Well, at least I own a mount in this world. Besides, "Pizza Delivery Boy for the Grand Master Wizard Merlin" will sound epic in my resume.	Again??? I thought you promised that you'd let me have at least a week to myself. I'm sorry, Sid, but when things get this far out of control I just can't handle it on my own. Sorry, wiz, but a deal's a deal. A week off means you don't call me for, let's see, 7 times 24 is 168, so, like, 168 hours - in a row! Whatever it is will just have to wait. But this can't wait... this is big... What is so big that it can't wait until next week??? I can't speak it out loud for fear of spies. Let me whisper it to you... here, come closer... bzzz...bzzz...bzzz What???? That's your crisis???? Don't tell me you could face it alone... it's just too much! Look, I'm sorry your pizza didn't arrive in 30 minutes, but them's the breaks...
makes it hard to hold down a job.	[WP] Your life is constantly interupted by a wizard who summons you to another world to fight for him.	“So, as you can see, profit margins are down, along with demands for our product. We NEED a new marketing strategy people or we’ll all be out of a job!” Richie spouted, patting the chart with his pointer. Richie was our manager, a shitty one at best. He’d take our ideas and use them as his own when he presented to the board, taking all the credit for himself. It’s not like none of us expected it, most managers do this with their teams anyway. But I digress, Richie was right, lava lamps just weren’t selling anymore. “What if... now here me out,” Charles muttered, “we make BIGGER lamps,” he spread his arms out for emphasis. I shock my head, chuckling to myself. That’s when the blue mist appeared. God dammit. I jumped out of my seat, “Excuse me guys, McDonalds hot cakes aren’t sitting too well right now,” I made my way to the door, “I’ll be back in a few. Keep it up with the good ideas Charles!” I shut the door behind me, sighing as I strode down the bleak beige colored hallway. I begin loosening my tie. The bricks deteriorated as the blue mist ate away at it. Here we go again, stupid old geezer always getting himself in trouble. The beige faded to black and from the darkness emerged an evergreen forest. As I walked out of the the darkness, it caved in on itself. All that was left was me, the old man, and 4 ogre bandits dressed in rags with their swords drawn. I sighed once more, tilting my head back toward the old man, “My stuff please,” I said as I unbuttoned my suit with one hand and held out my other, waiting for my stuff. My sword and sheathe materialized in my hand. I took the waist strap, throwing my arms and head through it. I tugged on the shoulder strap, sliding it across my suit and clicking it in place. I turned my attention toward the bandits. They were still comprehending what had happened. To the far left stood a small one, dagger in hand. Next to him stood a tall ass fucker, his clever resting on his shoulder. He had to be at least 3 meters tall. The final two were somewhere in between, roughly the same height as each other. Looked like brothers, maybe even twins. Both held their sword tip point at me. “I’ll give you guys one chance to leave here with you lives,” I grunted. I did the same routine every time, but no one ever seems to value their life. The little one stepped forward, “You little shit, if you think you scare us in your pretty boy outfit you’re as senile as that old man. I can take you myself.” He rushed forward, lunging my way with his dagger aimed at my gut. He was pretty fast, but not fast enough. My eyes narrowed, my vision was overtaken with an orange tint. I could feel my ears growing, pointing outward. I never liked being classified as a demon sense I was only half, but the abilities did come in handy from time to time. I side-stepped just as the dagger was about to pierce my stomach. In an instant my short sword flew out of its sheathe, my hand swinging the blade up underneath his arm. It cut clean through. Before the bandit could register anything, my blade edge turned, slicing down through his neck. My sword tip pierce the dirt at my feet as I waited for the next ones. As the short one crashed to the ground, the twins launched themselves at me, “Wait for an opening Grog,” one yelled back to the big one. The twins split up, coming at me from both sides. The one on the left was just slightly faster. He swung over his head, probably expecting me to dodge a heavy hit. I parried his blow, sending his sword arm flying up. My arm went full circle, blocking the other twin’s sword, letting it glide down my back on the flat edge of my blade. As the pressure of his blade released, I swung my sword through his side. I quickly brought it up and through the back of his neck to the front. He crashed to the ground. I turned back toward the remaining twin, sword tip aimed toward him. He was still recovering from my parry. My hand grabbed his wrist. I yanked him toward me, running the blade through his heart. My sword slide out of his chest and he too crashed to the ground. I whipped the blade to my side, sending the excess blood flying off. Grog stood there with a dumbfounded look. His face full of hatred and fear at the same time, he had no idea what to do. There was no point in leaving him alive though, he’s probably too stupid to find his way home. I bent my knees slightly, looking somewhat like I was in a running stance. I flipped my sword around, holding it upside down. Grog bellowed and pounded his chest, charging at me full speed. Sorry not sorry big guy. In an instant I flashed up next to his neck, the dirt and fallen pine needles splattered against the trees from my speed. My sword sank into his neck, stopping at the cross-guard. I planted my foot on his shoulder, leaping off him and taking my sword with me. Grog stumbled around, then came to a halt. His body slammed against a tree and plopped to the ground. It was done. I twirled the sword around, bringing it up and slipping it back in its sheathe. My eyes and ears returned to their human like state. The old geezer got back on his feet. “You like that last move? I based it off a movie I recently saw called Troy,” I chuckled, making my way toward him. He chuckled with me, “Yes it was pretty good... thank you Rorickin,” his tone grew a little more serious, “Do you need to get back right away, or can you spare some time for your old man?” He croaked. I always hated that demon name, but he’d call me by it every day since he saved my life. “It’s Just Rory now old man... and sorry, you pulled me out of a meeting that I have to get back to,” I felt bad, we hadn’t spent much time together since I moved to the human realm. That’s why we set up a deal. He’d send me to the human world, if I agreed to defend him if the need arose. I had to say yes, not just because I wanted to have a normal life, but because he’s the reason I still have one. “Alright then,” he muttered, his eye sank a bit, “let me clean your suit up and send you back,” he began shaking his staff over my head. First a white mist befell me, cleaning off the blood and dirt. Then the blue mist began eating away at the evergreens. Just as the darkness was about to consume me, I turned to the old man. “Dad... call me again in a couple hours, I think I might have time for dinner tonight,” I said, cracking a smile. He perked up a bit, “I’ll have it ready before you come. See you later son,” he waved his old wrinkly hand as I was swallowed by the darkness. Out faded the black and in faded the boring beige walls, but I liked it. I tightened my tie and made my way back to the conference room. Only a couple minutes had gone by. I barged back in through the door, patting my stomach, “So, bigger lava lamps?” Edits: Fixed a few things here and there, added some lines.	Again??? I thought you promised that you'd let me have at least a week to myself. I'm sorry, Sid, but when things get this far out of control I just can't handle it on my own. Sorry, wiz, but a deal's a deal. A week off means you don't call me for, let's see, 7 times 24 is 168, so, like, 168 hours - in a row! Whatever it is will just have to wait. But this can't wait... this is big... What is so big that it can't wait until next week??? I can't speak it out loud for fear of spies. Let me whisper it to you... here, come closer... bzzz...bzzz...bzzz What???? That's your crisis???? Don't tell me you could face it alone... it's just too much! Look, I'm sorry your pizza didn't arrive in 30 minutes, but them's the breaks...
makes it hard to hold down a job.	[WP] Your life is constantly interupted by a wizard who summons you to another world to fight for him.	"So tell me why I should hire you?" the interviewer asked from across the table. He shifted in the black leather office chair, tapping his pen on the pad of yellow legal paper. He hadn't written down any notes. "Well, last year, I was named Top Account Executive by-" The interviewer's office ripped away before my eyes. Before I could get up to protest, the world disappeared in a blinding light, and then re-appeared with me about 5,000 feet in the air. In front of me, Uhgod's big scaley stupid head. Again. His massive wings flapped, circling us over King Ban's castle. Giant balls of fire hurled through the air from catapults as mounted knights crashed their horses through lines of infantry. "What the hell, Uhgod! I was killing that interview! That job was mine!" I cried. My tie twisted and turned in the wind, streaming behind me. The dragon turned his head toward me. "The King needs your help! The Mardocks have laid claim to his lands and are invading!" I sighed and rubbed my eyes. Through gritted teeth, I asked him, "And what do you expect me to do about it? Can't one of my other brothers help father against these invaders?" I wanted nothing to do with kings, knights, or dragons. Or wizards. Or wizard dragons. As my father's youngest, he agreed to let me live a normal life among common folk of a distant land. Sure, I was poor as shit and my apartment had roaches. But it sure beats the hell out of the rats infesting the castle. I'd rather listen to Luke Bryan over any of my father's dozens of lute players. As the youngest, I wouldn't inherit anyway. "Your brothers are dead, my Prince. You are now the heir to the Kingdom." My eyes went wide. Prince Derek. Prince Eckhard. Dead? I don't know what my father would be more upset about- that his two knightly sons were dead, or that his copy-machine salesman son is now heir to the throne. I sighed, a small sense of responsibility growing slowly inside me. A real small sense. And really slowly. I motion my arm toward the incoming wave of invading infantry. "For the Kingdom! Or something! Attack!" and Uhgod carried us down, finally able to unleash his fiery wrath with my command. So I'm gonna be King, eh?	Again??? I thought you promised that you'd let me have at least a week to myself. I'm sorry, Sid, but when things get this far out of control I just can't handle it on my own. Sorry, wiz, but a deal's a deal. A week off means you don't call me for, let's see, 7 times 24 is 168, so, like, 168 hours - in a row! Whatever it is will just have to wait. But this can't wait... this is big... What is so big that it can't wait until next week??? I can't speak it out loud for fear of spies. Let me whisper it to you... here, come closer... bzzz...bzzz...bzzz What???? That's your crisis???? Don't tell me you could face it alone... it's just too much! Look, I'm sorry your pizza didn't arrive in 30 minutes, but them's the breaks...
makes it hard to hold down a job.	[WP] Your life is constantly interupted by a wizard who summons you to another world to fight for him.	I blinked again, the harsh sunlight nearly blinding me. "Dammit, he's done it again hasn't he?" The first time he called me out was a surprise. The second was a bit of a pain. After that, things just started to get annoying. Especially with all the fighting. Don't get me wrong, I'm not the kind of guy to just back down if someone is picking on me. But I'm also not very big, and some of the guys this wizard had me deal with were twice my size. Some even bigger than that. There's also some people who keep trying to kidnap me. As much as I hate the wizard he at least feeds me and lets me sleep. I've seen what the other people do and it ain't pretty. Ugh, at least this fight wasn't going to last long. I felt bad for whoever it was I had beaten up this time and felt a tinge of pity. One sided fights just felt bad. The guy I was beating up didn't even look that good to begin with, kind of had a pale green tinge. Sick maybe? "Good job" I heard the wizard yell. Well then, guess he was about to send me back. I gave him a look as he pointed that damn sphere of metal and light at me again. Maybe I wouldn't have minded it so much if he hadn't given me that darn nickname. "Seriously, my name isn't-" The light flashes and the sunlight disappears, sending me back to my home. "-Pidgey" Maybe he'll listen next round	Again??? I thought you promised that you'd let me have at least a week to myself. I'm sorry, Sid, but when things get this far out of control I just can't handle it on my own. Sorry, wiz, but a deal's a deal. A week off means you don't call me for, let's see, 7 times 24 is 168, so, like, 168 hours - in a row! Whatever it is will just have to wait. But this can't wait... this is big... What is so big that it can't wait until next week??? I can't speak it out loud for fear of spies. Let me whisper it to you... here, come closer... bzzz...bzzz...bzzz What???? That's your crisis???? Don't tell me you could face it alone... it's just too much! Look, I'm sorry your pizza didn't arrive in 30 minutes, but them's the breaks...
makes it hard to hold down a job.	[WP] Your life is constantly interupted by a wizard who summons you to another world to fight for him.	"Listen, I'm trying to report a god-damned kidnapping here." I wave my arms frantically in front of the very skeptical police officer. "Sir. You are literally standing in front of me. I have a hard time understanding how you have kidnapped." The officer folds his arms, a glower settling in on his face. "As I have been explaining," I glance at his badge, reading the name, "Officer Dan, sometimes I just get...transported." "Yes, yes, sir, I know. The mean man takes you to the special place where he does bad things to you." Officer Dan's features darken, "You are aware filing a false police report is a felony, correct?" "I AM TELLING THE TRU--" With a poof, I am gone, transported to another realm. A moment later, I reappear, my clothing singed and my entire body coated in some weird green goo. Panting, I looked up at the officer, "Great, how long was I gone this time?" I attempted to scrape some of gunk off of my face, flinging it with a splat to the ground of the precinct. "Wha-a...where did you go?" Officer Dan, a man who has seen many things in his career, has not seen this before. "Oh ho ho, NOW you believe me!" I flail my arms about and stomp about the small space in front of Officer Dan's counter. "NOW you decide to listen, after I have literally just bludgeoned an abomination to death with its own nut sack." I indicate the green goo liberally glommed onto my body. "You know what this is?" Officer Dan, gawking, shakes his head. "A combination of brains and nut goo Officer Dan, that's what. This fracking hellbeast balls were like BOWLING BALLS, so I did what I had to do and now look at me," I glumly peer down at my disheveled appearance, "nut goo. Everywhere." Officer Dan retches into a nearby wastebasket. After he finishes, he draws a shaking forearm across his face, wiping his mouth clean. "What in gods name is going on?" "That's what I want to know. I've been flicking in and out of this god damned wizard's hell dungeon for the better part of a week." I'm full steam now, my words running over themselves, "Yesterday I had to kill an EVIL version of MYSELF." I kick the bench beside me, "I didn't even know I had an evil version! I always assumed if there was one, it was ME!" Officer Dan blinks. "But NOPE! There's definitely an evil version. Dude had frosted blond tips in his hair. INSANITY." "Now see here sir, I don't know what's going on but--" POOF.	Again??? I thought you promised that you'd let me have at least a week to myself. I'm sorry, Sid, but when things get this far out of control I just can't handle it on my own. Sorry, wiz, but a deal's a deal. A week off means you don't call me for, let's see, 7 times 24 is 168, so, like, 168 hours - in a row! Whatever it is will just have to wait. But this can't wait... this is big... What is so big that it can't wait until next week??? I can't speak it out loud for fear of spies. Let me whisper it to you... here, come closer... bzzz...bzzz...bzzz What???? That's your crisis???? Don't tell me you could face it alone... it's just too much! Look, I'm sorry your pizza didn't arrive in 30 minutes, but them's the breaks...
makes it hard to hold down a job.	[WP] Your life is constantly interupted by a wizard who summons you to another world to fight for him.	"So Mr..." The tax agent muttered, looking out from over top his outdated, thick rim glasses. "Small." I said sharply, says so right there on the forum, "Sam Small." The agent blinked slowly as if his eyelids gained a sudden weight. His vacant stare conveying a complete disinterest in my impatience. "Right. Small. Says here your gross income was 34,552 dollars." His voice was as slow as his blinking, his words a sluggish baritone. I made a show of faking a cheesy, toothy smile, "And 64 cents." He sighed and leaned back in his chair, lacing his fingers behind his head, "You know Mr. Small this would go a lot quicker if you'd stop with the attitude." I narrowed my eyes at him, "Listen Treebeard, I haven't got all day so if you could manage more than 5 words a minute, don't tell me I'm slowing anything down." He raised his eyebrows slowly and looked at me with a condescending expression. "Mr. Small, I understand that-" His mouth hung open. His eyes glazed over. The tax agent was frozen mid sentence. I pushed my fingers into my temples in frustration. Jesus, not again. A mad cackle of laughter sounded behind me. An elderly man sporting a cloak and cap decorated with stars and runic symbols was slapping his thigh in a display of amusement, "You called him Treebeard!" He paused to let out another giggle, "Do you think he's even knows who that is?" Fucking Merlin again. Third time this month he's literally paused my life. Merlin continued, "I suppose not. A man as slow as that would still be reading Fellowship of the Ring if he started 10 years ago!" He exploded in another round of laughter. I exhaled in frustration, "Merlin, it wasn't even that funny." I stood up to properly face him, "Besides, Peter Jackson made movies of the books years ago. Everyone knows who Treebeard is." Merlin pursed his lips in a pout, "Come on Sam, be nice to your old friend Merlin. I've got another adventure for you!" He threw his hands in the air for emphasis. "Merlin I'm 25 now. I'm not a little kid anymore. I have shit to do. You can't just pause my life to make me fight the evil Lord Bahammool or whatever dumb shit goes on over there." Merlin smirked and put his hand on my shoulder. He looked deeply into my eyes, "Yes I can." He laughed and raised his staff to the ceiling calling down a beam of light that engulfed us both. The light was so intense I had to squeeze my eyes shut and cover them with my hands. I writhed on the ground grunting from a temporary blindness. Dots danced in my vision, clearing up after a few moments. I got to my feet and slugged Merlin in the shoulder, "Stop. Doing that. At least warn me before you're gonna sear my fucking retinas with your magic laser beam." Merlin only giggled in reply. I shook my head and grumbled internally. Prick I looked around to see the world of Nilth'gandral through the window of Merlin's highest castle window for the umpteenth time. The wondrous stupor fades after you've been forced there for 15 years. Still, you couldn't deny it's beauty. A lush forest of solid oak trees lay below with jagged mountain peaks nobly erect as they had been for all of time far in the distance. I rubbed my head and looked to Merlin, "So what do you need?" He opened a chest I was all too familiar with, "Just put your armor on Sir Small. I'll tell you on the way." Inside the chest was a suit of silver armor. Thick and strong. On the chest plate was a painted on sun that stretched across the entire front. In the center of the sun a black "M" was painted. I hastily put on the armor and lifted up the face shield, "Alright, where we going?" Merlin stopped to admire me in my suit of armor, "Ah how you've grown Sir Small, knight of Merlin. Don't forget the Lich's bane." I nodded picking up the magic sword I used to kill the Lich, "Yeah and I'd grow a lot quicker if you'd let me live in peace on Earth." He smiled and guided me out to his balcony, where his faithful pet Griffin sat, chewing on a dead lamb. A smile spread across my face, "Hey Archie!" I exclaimed running to pet his eagle head. No matter how disgruntled I was, Archie perked me up. He was a loving creature, except to prey. Archie screeched and and thumped his lion tail, licking my face a few times. Merlin's voice boomed from behind me, "No time to play Archie, take Sir Small and I to the impact site." With no hesitation Archie swooped us onto his back with his massive wing. He ran a few steps to the edge of the balcony and leapt off into open air. He flapped his powerful wings and before we knew it, we were sailing through the sky. We passed over the forest of the Imps, over the craggy mountains of Jaar'ving. I once had to to fight a horde of trolls who had the idea to storm the forest for Imps to eat. After crossing the Milt River, I noticed a large crater in the side of a hill. "There Archie! Take us down there!" Called out Merlin. Archie swooped down, to deliver us to the ground inside the crater. A commune of Elfish people and Dwarves were gathered round. In the center of the cater, was an unassuming red gem. I slid off Archie's back and landed with a thump and a jangle of metal. I heard a gasp, then a cry of joy. Muttering amongst the onlookers filled the air, "How wonderful! We have nothing to fear now!" "Is that Sir Small? Thank the heavens." "I heard he slayed the Lich in a naught but a heartbeat because of an impending doom in his realm called 'Prom'. Supposedly, he couldn't miss it." Merlin held up the gem. His usual expression of mirth and amusement was not there. He looked to me with focus in his eyes, "Sir Small, in this gem, lies a dormant daemon warcheif from the times of darkness. Exercise caution." I slid down my face shield, and drew my sword. I gripped it tightly and gave Merlin a nod. Merlin nodded back and began to pull the gem apart. His hands radiated with a blue aura as the gem began to crack. Crack. Crack. Crack. The gem's integrity weakening, fractures split across it rapidly. An ominous, low hum radiated from the gem. Merlin let out a cry as he finally shattered it. An amorphous blob of red mist hung in the air, forming into the shape of a devil-like beast. Cries rang out from the onlookers as they rushed from the crater to safety. The best fully formed let out a primal roar before peering down at me, "Who defies me?" I yelled through the slits in my mask, "I am Sir Small, knight of Merlin." The daemon chuckled a deep booming laugh, "Sir Small indeed." He postured up to me, showing his large size advantage, "Why would you challenge me?" I gripped my sword tighter, "Well, I have taxes to do." I rushed at the beast swinging to injure it's leg. It slid back narrowly dodging my swing. The daemon growled and slammed a fist where I would have been had I not rolled out of the way. I let out a scream with a jumping slice to sever the beast's hand. The magic of the blade could cut through anything. The daemon howled in pain and rage, a black liquid dripping from it's arm. It breathed in deeply and held it for a moment, before exhaling a geyser of flame at me. I took the impact of the blast on the chestplate, sending me sliding across the dirt. The daemon ran towards me with a surprising show of speed and agility. It picked me up with it's intact hand by my feet and held me above it's head. The beast opened it's mouth, extending it's tongue. Inside there were sharp, fang-like teeth jutting from it's gums. I swung my blade to and fro to no avail, I was doomed to be a meal. Just when I thought all hope was lost, a bolt of white energy slammed into the back of the beast's head. I heard Merlin call out, "That's my knight, you can't eat him!" The beast turned to Merlin angered. Merlin let loose another one, flying into the daemon's face. He stumbled back, releasing his grip on me. I flipped backward, sword in hand, until I was upright again. While falling, I managed to plunge my magic sword into the chest of the beast, using gravity to guide my blade all the way down. My sword slid out and I fell to the ground, toppling over onto my back. The daemon fell to his knees gushing black blood from his chest to his belly. It let out a pathetic gurgle before falling on it's face. Lying in a pool of it's own blood. I panted and heaved, slowly getting to my feet. The Elves and Dwarves cheered from the distance. "Sir Small! Sir Small! Sir Small!" I gave a wave and turned back to Merlin, who had a pleased look on his face, "Well done Sir small. You must understand now why I needed you." I grumbled, "Yeah, yeah. Just take me back now." Merlin nodded, "As you wish." Another blinding beam of light surrounded us. I was in the bathroom of the tax agency. I could hear a certain slow speaking man yelling at someone, "I'm telling you he just vanished!" "Walter, please. I'm not in the mood." I emerged from the bathroom, "I just vanished to the bathroom is all." The tax agent looked over his shoulder bewildered. The clerk looking to him with a face that said, "See?" The tax agent composed himself, swallowed and gestured back to his desk, "Would you like to finish doing your taxes Mr. Small?" I sighed in relief, "More than anything."	Again??? I thought you promised that you'd let me have at least a week to myself. I'm sorry, Sid, but when things get this far out of control I just can't handle it on my own. Sorry, wiz, but a deal's a deal. A week off means you don't call me for, let's see, 7 times 24 is 168, so, like, 168 hours - in a row! Whatever it is will just have to wait. But this can't wait... this is big... What is so big that it can't wait until next week??? I can't speak it out loud for fear of spies. Let me whisper it to you... here, come closer... bzzz...bzzz...bzzz What???? That's your crisis???? Don't tell me you could face it alone... it's just too much! Look, I'm sorry your pizza didn't arrive in 30 minutes, but them's the breaks...
makes it hard to hold down a job.	[WP] Your life is constantly interupted by a wizard who summons you to another world to fight for him.	"And the Psycho-evolutionary theory dictates that--" I explained it in my notes. When I looked up, the students were gone. The classroom was gone. I was facing with a giant muscular man with a sneer. I sighed. "Can I get a change of clothes as well? I can't ruin this suit. It's government-issued." I shouted. I knew Mara was behind me. Probably cowering behind a tree. Mara mumbled something about fixing it later. Two years ago I was overweight and dying with high blood pressure. I was summoned mistakenly by a little girl in Wizardry school who was trying to summon her guardian spirit. At the time, it was just for a beast the size of a house cat. I was scratched so bad it was ridiculous. The whole class laughed at that, but she was very happy. She said I was kind of like her dad, except only paler and puffier and shorter and weaker and don't really have a good beard. But children surely idolized their parents... didn't they? The teacher asked her to renegotiate the soul contract, but she insisted it to be me. She wanted to be protected by me. The time in this world went quickly. Thus I was always only a few seconds missing in the real world. However, it could be distracting. The giant came after me with a kick. I couldn't block that, but I rolled over the kick, grabbed his leg, and threw my elbow back. I heard a satisfying 'crack' which meant my elbow connected and a 'snap' of a head flying backward. The giant went down with a crash. The summon was two years ago, but after knowing I had to protect this little girl, I started learning martial arts. I went to the gym. I ate healthy. She was all the reasons that I became who I was-- after what made me a fat slob in the first place. The beast of a man stood up and roared. I glanced at Mara who was starting to cast a shield magic around my flesh, protecting me against incoming hits. She looked like another little girl I knew. I let the shield ran through me as the giant charged, but I stepped aside slightly and pulled up my knee. It buried deeply into his abdomen and the larger man stumbled and sat down hard. I wasn't always a fat slob. I was slimmer, stronger, younger. I smiled much more often. I laughed at the world when it still had colors. "Careful!" Mara shouted as the giant launched himself back up and pulled up an olive trees. He would try to use it as a club. Mara resembled someone I knew. Someone I failed protecting. Someone I loved. I sped toward the giant and stepped on his knee. Then I used the momentum to launched myself upward. After that, I brought the elbow down with a crack. The giant fell forward face first. And he didn't move again. "Pete! Thank you so much. Are you okay? I'm so sorry I'm ruining your day again." Mara ran into me. Her black hair flying. I put my hands on her head. Thinking of someone two years younger and a little smaller. She would have looked like Mara had she ever grown. "Goodbye, Daddy. Be good." Was the last thing that girl said to me before the charts went flat. I smirked at the tiny wizard as she looked at me with concerns. "I'm good, kid." She didn't look like she believed me. That expression was so familiar, "I'm good."	Again??? I thought you promised that you'd let me have at least a week to myself. I'm sorry, Sid, but when things get this far out of control I just can't handle it on my own. Sorry, wiz, but a deal's a deal. A week off means you don't call me for, let's see, 7 times 24 is 168, so, like, 168 hours - in a row! Whatever it is will just have to wait. But this can't wait... this is big... What is so big that it can't wait until next week??? I can't speak it out loud for fear of spies. Let me whisper it to you... here, come closer... bzzz...bzzz...bzzz What???? That's your crisis???? Don't tell me you could face it alone... it's just too much! Look, I'm sorry your pizza didn't arrive in 30 minutes, but them's the breaks...
makes it hard to hold down a job.	[WP] Your life is constantly interupted by a wizard who summons you to another world to fight for him.	“So, as you can see, profit margins are down, along with demands for our product. We NEED a new marketing strategy people or we’ll all be out of a job!” Richie spouted, patting the chart with his pointer. Richie was our manager, a shitty one at best. He’d take our ideas and use them as his own when he presented to the board, taking all the credit for himself. It’s not like none of us expected it, most managers do this with their teams anyway. But I digress, Richie was right, lava lamps just weren’t selling anymore. “What if... now here me out,” Charles muttered, “we make BIGGER lamps,” he spread his arms out for emphasis. I shock my head, chuckling to myself. That’s when the blue mist appeared. God dammit. I jumped out of my seat, “Excuse me guys, McDonalds hot cakes aren’t sitting too well right now,” I made my way to the door, “I’ll be back in a few. Keep it up with the good ideas Charles!” I shut the door behind me, sighing as I strode down the bleak beige colored hallway. I begin loosening my tie. The bricks deteriorated as the blue mist ate away at it. Here we go again, stupid old geezer always getting himself in trouble. The beige faded to black and from the darkness emerged an evergreen forest. As I walked out of the the darkness, it caved in on itself. All that was left was me, the old man, and 4 ogre bandits dressed in rags with their swords drawn. I sighed once more, tilting my head back toward the old man, “My stuff please,” I said as I unbuttoned my suit with one hand and held out my other, waiting for my stuff. My sword and sheathe materialized in my hand. I took the waist strap, throwing my arms and head through it. I tugged on the shoulder strap, sliding it across my suit and clicking it in place. I turned my attention toward the bandits. They were still comprehending what had happened. To the far left stood a small one, dagger in hand. Next to him stood a tall ass fucker, his clever resting on his shoulder. He had to be at least 3 meters tall. The final two were somewhere in between, roughly the same height as each other. Looked like brothers, maybe even twins. Both held their sword tip point at me. “I’ll give you guys one chance to leave here with you lives,” I grunted. I did the same routine every time, but no one ever seems to value their life. The little one stepped forward, “You little shit, if you think you scare us in your pretty boy outfit you’re as senile as that old man. I can take you myself.” He rushed forward, lunging my way with his dagger aimed at my gut. He was pretty fast, but not fast enough. My eyes narrowed, my vision was overtaken with an orange tint. I could feel my ears growing, pointing outward. I never liked being classified as a demon sense I was only half, but the abilities did come in handy from time to time. I side-stepped just as the dagger was about to pierce my stomach. In an instant my short sword flew out of its sheathe, my hand swinging the blade up underneath his arm. It cut clean through. Before the bandit could register anything, my blade edge turned, slicing down through his neck. My sword tip pierce the dirt at my feet as I waited for the next ones. As the short one crashed to the ground, the twins launched themselves at me, “Wait for an opening Grog,” one yelled back to the big one. The twins split up, coming at me from both sides. The one on the left was just slightly faster. He swung over his head, probably expecting me to dodge a heavy hit. I parried his blow, sending his sword arm flying up. My arm went full circle, blocking the other twin’s sword, letting it glide down my back on the flat edge of my blade. As the pressure of his blade released, I swung my sword through his side. I quickly brought it up and through the back of his neck to the front. He crashed to the ground. I turned back toward the remaining twin, sword tip aimed toward him. He was still recovering from my parry. My hand grabbed his wrist. I yanked him toward me, running the blade through his heart. My sword slide out of his chest and he too crashed to the ground. I whipped the blade to my side, sending the excess blood flying off. Grog stood there with a dumbfounded look. His face full of hatred and fear at the same time, he had no idea what to do. There was no point in leaving him alive though, he’s probably too stupid to find his way home. I bent my knees slightly, looking somewhat like I was in a running stance. I flipped my sword around, holding it upside down. Grog bellowed and pounded his chest, charging at me full speed. Sorry not sorry big guy. In an instant I flashed up next to his neck, the dirt and fallen pine needles splattered against the trees from my speed. My sword sank into his neck, stopping at the cross-guard. I planted my foot on his shoulder, leaping off him and taking my sword with me. Grog stumbled around, then came to a halt. His body slammed against a tree and plopped to the ground. It was done. I twirled the sword around, bringing it up and slipping it back in its sheathe. My eyes and ears returned to their human like state. The old geezer got back on his feet. “You like that last move? I based it off a movie I recently saw called Troy,” I chuckled, making my way toward him. He chuckled with me, “Yes it was pretty good... thank you Rorickin,” his tone grew a little more serious, “Do you need to get back right away, or can you spare some time for your old man?” He croaked. I always hated that demon name, but he’d call me by it every day since he saved my life. “It’s Just Rory now old man... and sorry, you pulled me out of a meeting that I have to get back to,” I felt bad, we hadn’t spent much time together since I moved to the human realm. That’s why we set up a deal. He’d send me to the human world, if I agreed to defend him if the need arose. I had to say yes, not just because I wanted to have a normal life, but because he’s the reason I still have one. “Alright then,” he muttered, his eye sank a bit, “let me clean your suit up and send you back,” he began shaking his staff over my head. First a white mist befell me, cleaning off the blood and dirt. Then the blue mist began eating away at the evergreens. Just as the darkness was about to consume me, I turned to the old man. “Dad... call me again in a couple hours, I think I might have time for dinner tonight,” I said, cracking a smile. He perked up a bit, “I’ll have it ready before you come. See you later son,” he waved his old wrinkly hand as I was swallowed by the darkness. Out faded the black and in faded the boring beige walls, but I liked it. I tightened my tie and made my way back to the conference room. Only a couple minutes had gone by. I barged back in through the door, patting my stomach, “So, bigger lava lamps?” Edits: Fixed a few things here and there, added some lines.	I gazed into my love's eyes. This was then moment, the chance I've been waiting for. I close my eyes and lean in. Her, strangely, hot breath washed over me. I got down on one knee, and pulled a box from my back pocket. "Will you marry me?" The question lingered in the air. "I suppose this will be a fine alternative to glorious battle." That wasn't the sound of my supposed to be fiancé. I opened my eyes, only to be greeted be a menacing dragon. From behind me I hear that old crone say "Your supposed to slay the dragon, not lay the dragon!" And thus is the tale of how I met your mother.
makes it hard to hold down a job.	[WP] Your life is constantly interupted by a wizard who summons you to another world to fight for him.	“So, as you can see, profit margins are down, along with demands for our product. We NEED a new marketing strategy people or we’ll all be out of a job!” Richie spouted, patting the chart with his pointer. Richie was our manager, a shitty one at best. He’d take our ideas and use them as his own when he presented to the board, taking all the credit for himself. It’s not like none of us expected it, most managers do this with their teams anyway. But I digress, Richie was right, lava lamps just weren’t selling anymore. “What if... now here me out,” Charles muttered, “we make BIGGER lamps,” he spread his arms out for emphasis. I shock my head, chuckling to myself. That’s when the blue mist appeared. God dammit. I jumped out of my seat, “Excuse me guys, McDonalds hot cakes aren’t sitting too well right now,” I made my way to the door, “I’ll be back in a few. Keep it up with the good ideas Charles!” I shut the door behind me, sighing as I strode down the bleak beige colored hallway. I begin loosening my tie. The bricks deteriorated as the blue mist ate away at it. Here we go again, stupid old geezer always getting himself in trouble. The beige faded to black and from the darkness emerged an evergreen forest. As I walked out of the the darkness, it caved in on itself. All that was left was me, the old man, and 4 ogre bandits dressed in rags with their swords drawn. I sighed once more, tilting my head back toward the old man, “My stuff please,” I said as I unbuttoned my suit with one hand and held out my other, waiting for my stuff. My sword and sheathe materialized in my hand. I took the waist strap, throwing my arms and head through it. I tugged on the shoulder strap, sliding it across my suit and clicking it in place. I turned my attention toward the bandits. They were still comprehending what had happened. To the far left stood a small one, dagger in hand. Next to him stood a tall ass fucker, his clever resting on his shoulder. He had to be at least 3 meters tall. The final two were somewhere in between, roughly the same height as each other. Looked like brothers, maybe even twins. Both held their sword tip point at me. “I’ll give you guys one chance to leave here with you lives,” I grunted. I did the same routine every time, but no one ever seems to value their life. The little one stepped forward, “You little shit, if you think you scare us in your pretty boy outfit you’re as senile as that old man. I can take you myself.” He rushed forward, lunging my way with his dagger aimed at my gut. He was pretty fast, but not fast enough. My eyes narrowed, my vision was overtaken with an orange tint. I could feel my ears growing, pointing outward. I never liked being classified as a demon sense I was only half, but the abilities did come in handy from time to time. I side-stepped just as the dagger was about to pierce my stomach. In an instant my short sword flew out of its sheathe, my hand swinging the blade up underneath his arm. It cut clean through. Before the bandit could register anything, my blade edge turned, slicing down through his neck. My sword tip pierce the dirt at my feet as I waited for the next ones. As the short one crashed to the ground, the twins launched themselves at me, “Wait for an opening Grog,” one yelled back to the big one. The twins split up, coming at me from both sides. The one on the left was just slightly faster. He swung over his head, probably expecting me to dodge a heavy hit. I parried his blow, sending his sword arm flying up. My arm went full circle, blocking the other twin’s sword, letting it glide down my back on the flat edge of my blade. As the pressure of his blade released, I swung my sword through his side. I quickly brought it up and through the back of his neck to the front. He crashed to the ground. I turned back toward the remaining twin, sword tip aimed toward him. He was still recovering from my parry. My hand grabbed his wrist. I yanked him toward me, running the blade through his heart. My sword slide out of his chest and he too crashed to the ground. I whipped the blade to my side, sending the excess blood flying off. Grog stood there with a dumbfounded look. His face full of hatred and fear at the same time, he had no idea what to do. There was no point in leaving him alive though, he’s probably too stupid to find his way home. I bent my knees slightly, looking somewhat like I was in a running stance. I flipped my sword around, holding it upside down. Grog bellowed and pounded his chest, charging at me full speed. Sorry not sorry big guy. In an instant I flashed up next to his neck, the dirt and fallen pine needles splattered against the trees from my speed. My sword sank into his neck, stopping at the cross-guard. I planted my foot on his shoulder, leaping off him and taking my sword with me. Grog stumbled around, then came to a halt. His body slammed against a tree and plopped to the ground. It was done. I twirled the sword around, bringing it up and slipping it back in its sheathe. My eyes and ears returned to their human like state. The old geezer got back on his feet. “You like that last move? I based it off a movie I recently saw called Troy,” I chuckled, making my way toward him. He chuckled with me, “Yes it was pretty good... thank you Rorickin,” his tone grew a little more serious, “Do you need to get back right away, or can you spare some time for your old man?” He croaked. I always hated that demon name, but he’d call me by it every day since he saved my life. “It’s Just Rory now old man... and sorry, you pulled me out of a meeting that I have to get back to,” I felt bad, we hadn’t spent much time together since I moved to the human realm. That’s why we set up a deal. He’d send me to the human world, if I agreed to defend him if the need arose. I had to say yes, not just because I wanted to have a normal life, but because he’s the reason I still have one. “Alright then,” he muttered, his eye sank a bit, “let me clean your suit up and send you back,” he began shaking his staff over my head. First a white mist befell me, cleaning off the blood and dirt. Then the blue mist began eating away at the evergreens. Just as the darkness was about to consume me, I turned to the old man. “Dad... call me again in a couple hours, I think I might have time for dinner tonight,” I said, cracking a smile. He perked up a bit, “I’ll have it ready before you come. See you later son,” he waved his old wrinkly hand as I was swallowed by the darkness. Out faded the black and in faded the boring beige walls, but I liked it. I tightened my tie and made my way back to the conference room. Only a couple minutes had gone by. I barged back in through the door, patting my stomach, “So, bigger lava lamps?” Edits: Fixed a few things here and there, added some lines.	"I can't stand this bastard," I thought as I crumpled up the scroll and tossed it in the fire. He has the nerve to send me one way messages that he may need me for "something" later on today. "Something" is normally me being teleported to some battle, or sick violent game. Then he'd pump me full of power an abilities and make me fight some monster, or another poor summoned soul like myself. He used to use me as parlor tricks until I had enough and caused him a great deal of trouble. Thats when he started sending me "heads up's" that he'll need me that day. He normally compensates me in someway or another, and sometimes very well. But I can't continue on like this. I had a date today, that I may as well cancel now. So I decided just to stay home, and binge watch a show. I fell asleep, and when I woke up it was dark out. I check my watch and it's well past midnight. "That mother fu...... I'm suddenly standing in front of a cauldron, and Rickalos is running back and forth grabbing different viles, and bottles from the shelves. "What the hell Ric-" "Good You're here," he says while belching that last part. "I need you to keep stirring this pot as I add these ingredients." "You mean-" "Just do it Mortous!" "Th-this is really important MAGIC stuff Mortous! Ju-just trust me ok!" Oh god I thought, what choice do I have. I keep stirring the pot and he's throwing in various liquids, and potions, and animal parts. He belched, "Keep stirring! Almost there." "Ah shit!" Rickalos yelled. "What, what is it?" "Nothing just keep stirring, I forgot something, I'll be right back. Don-don't stop stirring! It'll- it'll explode if you do." Rickalos threw some portal flint into the fire and jumped through the resulting poof of smoke, and was gone. A long time went by, and I couldn't feel my arms, I was pouring sweat. What could be taking him so long? The fireplace poofed with more green smoke and Rickalos jumped through it. He stumbled into the living room without acknowledging me, and flopped down on the couch. With the flip of his wand he turned on some music, and lights on the ceiling and gazed at them intently. "Umm Rickalous?" "Oh shit Moooorrtttousss!" "Wh-what are you doing here man?" "You told me if I stopped stirring this cauldron it would explode!" I said with extreme levels of exhaust and anxiety. "What? Oh! Hahaha! I totally forgot about that. Awe man that's-that's a bummer Mortous." "No I actually found what I was making for waaaay cheaper, so you're good man." "Is it going to explode if I stop?!" "What? Oh, haha, yes, well kinda, the molecules will explode rendering the potion useless. But it's fine Mortous, you can go home." I collapsed on the floor panting. "What is this stuff anyway?" "Its like what you mortals call acid, but waaaay cooler." "Now if you don't mind," and with a flick of his wand I was back in my own living room on the floor still gasping for air. "I can't stand that bastard."
makes it hard to hold down a job.	[WP] Your life is constantly interupted by a wizard who summons you to another world to fight for him.	"So tell me why I should hire you?" the interviewer asked from across the table. He shifted in the black leather office chair, tapping his pen on the pad of yellow legal paper. He hadn't written down any notes. "Well, last year, I was named Top Account Executive by-" The interviewer's office ripped away before my eyes. Before I could get up to protest, the world disappeared in a blinding light, and then re-appeared with me about 5,000 feet in the air. In front of me, Uhgod's big scaley stupid head. Again. His massive wings flapped, circling us over King Ban's castle. Giant balls of fire hurled through the air from catapults as mounted knights crashed their horses through lines of infantry. "What the hell, Uhgod! I was killing that interview! That job was mine!" I cried. My tie twisted and turned in the wind, streaming behind me. The dragon turned his head toward me. "The King needs your help! The Mardocks have laid claim to his lands and are invading!" I sighed and rubbed my eyes. Through gritted teeth, I asked him, "And what do you expect me to do about it? Can't one of my other brothers help father against these invaders?" I wanted nothing to do with kings, knights, or dragons. Or wizards. Or wizard dragons. As my father's youngest, he agreed to let me live a normal life among common folk of a distant land. Sure, I was poor as shit and my apartment had roaches. But it sure beats the hell out of the rats infesting the castle. I'd rather listen to Luke Bryan over any of my father's dozens of lute players. As the youngest, I wouldn't inherit anyway. "Your brothers are dead, my Prince. You are now the heir to the Kingdom." My eyes went wide. Prince Derek. Prince Eckhard. Dead? I don't know what my father would be more upset about- that his two knightly sons were dead, or that his copy-machine salesman son is now heir to the throne. I sighed, a small sense of responsibility growing slowly inside me. A real small sense. And really slowly. I motion my arm toward the incoming wave of invading infantry. "For the Kingdom! Or something! Attack!" and Uhgod carried us down, finally able to unleash his fiery wrath with my command. So I'm gonna be King, eh?	To: ksmith@regionaldistribution.org From: jmartin@regionaldistribution.org Hi, Karen! Just responding to your inquiries about the Route Minimization Project. Sorry I haven't gotten back to you sooner, as I "Again? Dude, seriously, I have work to be doing." "Oh, I don't need you quite yet. I just want to see what you're telling your boss about our last little adventure." "Well, could you read it afterwards instead of peering over my shoulder." "I can't spend much time over here. Just finish the email and I'll return to my world." "All right, all right!" had some unexpected family difficulties come up that resulted in me having to take some sick time earlier this week. It's mostly resolved now, and "Family difficulties?" "I thought we established in the last adventure you were my half-brother?" "That's right. Proceed." I should make good progress on the project from here on out, and, barring any more unforeseen issues, should have it done by Thursday of next week at the latest. "Thursday seems early." "Why, do you know something I don't?" "You're going to have to take some more sick time next week." "Really? When? Tell me so I can plan." "I can't say for sure. It would be nice if the villans sumbitted a schedule, I agree, but I know something's going to happen next week." "Alright, then, I'll change it. Monday of the week after?" "Tuesday." I should have it done by Tuesday the twenty-fourth at the latest. Sorry about the delay! Sincerely, James. "Seriously? Where are we going?" "Oh, you'll be back to the office before lunch. We just need to take care of a few little things to prep for the next little adventure."
makes it hard to hold down a job.	[WP] Your life is constantly interupted by a wizard who summons you to another world to fight for him.	I blinked again, the harsh sunlight nearly blinding me. "Dammit, he's done it again hasn't he?" The first time he called me out was a surprise. The second was a bit of a pain. After that, things just started to get annoying. Especially with all the fighting. Don't get me wrong, I'm not the kind of guy to just back down if someone is picking on me. But I'm also not very big, and some of the guys this wizard had me deal with were twice my size. Some even bigger than that. There's also some people who keep trying to kidnap me. As much as I hate the wizard he at least feeds me and lets me sleep. I've seen what the other people do and it ain't pretty. Ugh, at least this fight wasn't going to last long. I felt bad for whoever it was I had beaten up this time and felt a tinge of pity. One sided fights just felt bad. The guy I was beating up didn't even look that good to begin with, kind of had a pale green tinge. Sick maybe? "Good job" I heard the wizard yell. Well then, guess he was about to send me back. I gave him a look as he pointed that damn sphere of metal and light at me again. Maybe I wouldn't have minded it so much if he hadn't given me that darn nickname. "Seriously, my name isn't-" The light flashes and the sunlight disappears, sending me back to my home. "-Pidgey" Maybe he'll listen next round	To: ksmith@regionaldistribution.org From: jmartin@regionaldistribution.org Hi, Karen! Just responding to your inquiries about the Route Minimization Project. Sorry I haven't gotten back to you sooner, as I "Again? Dude, seriously, I have work to be doing." "Oh, I don't need you quite yet. I just want to see what you're telling your boss about our last little adventure." "Well, could you read it afterwards instead of peering over my shoulder." "I can't spend much time over here. Just finish the email and I'll return to my world." "All right, all right!" had some unexpected family difficulties come up that resulted in me having to take some sick time earlier this week. It's mostly resolved now, and "Family difficulties?" "I thought we established in the last adventure you were my half-brother?" "That's right. Proceed." I should make good progress on the project from here on out, and, barring any more unforeseen issues, should have it done by Thursday of next week at the latest. "Thursday seems early." "Why, do you know something I don't?" "You're going to have to take some more sick time next week." "Really? When? Tell me so I can plan." "I can't say for sure. It would be nice if the villans sumbitted a schedule, I agree, but I know something's going to happen next week." "Alright, then, I'll change it. Monday of the week after?" "Tuesday." I should have it done by Tuesday the twenty-fourth at the latest. Sorry about the delay! Sincerely, James. "Seriously? Where are we going?" "Oh, you'll be back to the office before lunch. We just need to take care of a few little things to prep for the next little adventure."
makes it hard to hold down a job.	[WP] Your life is constantly interupted by a wizard who summons you to another world to fight for him.	"Listen, I'm trying to report a god-damned kidnapping here." I wave my arms frantically in front of the very skeptical police officer. "Sir. You are literally standing in front of me. I have a hard time understanding how you have kidnapped." The officer folds his arms, a glower settling in on his face. "As I have been explaining," I glance at his badge, reading the name, "Officer Dan, sometimes I just get...transported." "Yes, yes, sir, I know. The mean man takes you to the special place where he does bad things to you." Officer Dan's features darken, "You are aware filing a false police report is a felony, correct?" "I AM TELLING THE TRU--" With a poof, I am gone, transported to another realm. A moment later, I reappear, my clothing singed and my entire body coated in some weird green goo. Panting, I looked up at the officer, "Great, how long was I gone this time?" I attempted to scrape some of gunk off of my face, flinging it with a splat to the ground of the precinct. "Wha-a...where did you go?" Officer Dan, a man who has seen many things in his career, has not seen this before. "Oh ho ho, NOW you believe me!" I flail my arms about and stomp about the small space in front of Officer Dan's counter. "NOW you decide to listen, after I have literally just bludgeoned an abomination to death with its own nut sack." I indicate the green goo liberally glommed onto my body. "You know what this is?" Officer Dan, gawking, shakes his head. "A combination of brains and nut goo Officer Dan, that's what. This fracking hellbeast balls were like BOWLING BALLS, so I did what I had to do and now look at me," I glumly peer down at my disheveled appearance, "nut goo. Everywhere." Officer Dan retches into a nearby wastebasket. After he finishes, he draws a shaking forearm across his face, wiping his mouth clean. "What in gods name is going on?" "That's what I want to know. I've been flicking in and out of this god damned wizard's hell dungeon for the better part of a week." I'm full steam now, my words running over themselves, "Yesterday I had to kill an EVIL version of MYSELF." I kick the bench beside me, "I didn't even know I had an evil version! I always assumed if there was one, it was ME!" Officer Dan blinks. "But NOPE! There's definitely an evil version. Dude had frosted blond tips in his hair. INSANITY." "Now see here sir, I don't know what's going on but--" POOF.	To: ksmith@regionaldistribution.org From: jmartin@regionaldistribution.org Hi, Karen! Just responding to your inquiries about the Route Minimization Project. Sorry I haven't gotten back to you sooner, as I "Again? Dude, seriously, I have work to be doing." "Oh, I don't need you quite yet. I just want to see what you're telling your boss about our last little adventure." "Well, could you read it afterwards instead of peering over my shoulder." "I can't spend much time over here. Just finish the email and I'll return to my world." "All right, all right!" had some unexpected family difficulties come up that resulted in me having to take some sick time earlier this week. It's mostly resolved now, and "Family difficulties?" "I thought we established in the last adventure you were my half-brother?" "That's right. Proceed." I should make good progress on the project from here on out, and, barring any more unforeseen issues, should have it done by Thursday of next week at the latest. "Thursday seems early." "Why, do you know something I don't?" "You're going to have to take some more sick time next week." "Really? When? Tell me so I can plan." "I can't say for sure. It would be nice if the villans sumbitted a schedule, I agree, but I know something's going to happen next week." "Alright, then, I'll change it. Monday of the week after?" "Tuesday." I should have it done by Tuesday the twenty-fourth at the latest. Sorry about the delay! Sincerely, James. "Seriously? Where are we going?" "Oh, you'll be back to the office before lunch. We just need to take care of a few little things to prep for the next little adventure."
makes it hard to hold down a job.	[WP] Your life is constantly interupted by a wizard who summons you to another world to fight for him.	"So Mr..." The tax agent muttered, looking out from over top his outdated, thick rim glasses. "Small." I said sharply, says so right there on the forum, "Sam Small." The agent blinked slowly as if his eyelids gained a sudden weight. His vacant stare conveying a complete disinterest in my impatience. "Right. Small. Says here your gross income was 34,552 dollars." His voice was as slow as his blinking, his words a sluggish baritone. I made a show of faking a cheesy, toothy smile, "And 64 cents." He sighed and leaned back in his chair, lacing his fingers behind his head, "You know Mr. Small this would go a lot quicker if you'd stop with the attitude." I narrowed my eyes at him, "Listen Treebeard, I haven't got all day so if you could manage more than 5 words a minute, don't tell me I'm slowing anything down." He raised his eyebrows slowly and looked at me with a condescending expression. "Mr. Small, I understand that-" His mouth hung open. His eyes glazed over. The tax agent was frozen mid sentence. I pushed my fingers into my temples in frustration. Jesus, not again. A mad cackle of laughter sounded behind me. An elderly man sporting a cloak and cap decorated with stars and runic symbols was slapping his thigh in a display of amusement, "You called him Treebeard!" He paused to let out another giggle, "Do you think he's even knows who that is?" Fucking Merlin again. Third time this month he's literally paused my life. Merlin continued, "I suppose not. A man as slow as that would still be reading Fellowship of the Ring if he started 10 years ago!" He exploded in another round of laughter. I exhaled in frustration, "Merlin, it wasn't even that funny." I stood up to properly face him, "Besides, Peter Jackson made movies of the books years ago. Everyone knows who Treebeard is." Merlin pursed his lips in a pout, "Come on Sam, be nice to your old friend Merlin. I've got another adventure for you!" He threw his hands in the air for emphasis. "Merlin I'm 25 now. I'm not a little kid anymore. I have shit to do. You can't just pause my life to make me fight the evil Lord Bahammool or whatever dumb shit goes on over there." Merlin smirked and put his hand on my shoulder. He looked deeply into my eyes, "Yes I can." He laughed and raised his staff to the ceiling calling down a beam of light that engulfed us both. The light was so intense I had to squeeze my eyes shut and cover them with my hands. I writhed on the ground grunting from a temporary blindness. Dots danced in my vision, clearing up after a few moments. I got to my feet and slugged Merlin in the shoulder, "Stop. Doing that. At least warn me before you're gonna sear my fucking retinas with your magic laser beam." Merlin only giggled in reply. I shook my head and grumbled internally. Prick I looked around to see the world of Nilth'gandral through the window of Merlin's highest castle window for the umpteenth time. The wondrous stupor fades after you've been forced there for 15 years. Still, you couldn't deny it's beauty. A lush forest of solid oak trees lay below with jagged mountain peaks nobly erect as they had been for all of time far in the distance. I rubbed my head and looked to Merlin, "So what do you need?" He opened a chest I was all too familiar with, "Just put your armor on Sir Small. I'll tell you on the way." Inside the chest was a suit of silver armor. Thick and strong. On the chest plate was a painted on sun that stretched across the entire front. In the center of the sun a black "M" was painted. I hastily put on the armor and lifted up the face shield, "Alright, where we going?" Merlin stopped to admire me in my suit of armor, "Ah how you've grown Sir Small, knight of Merlin. Don't forget the Lich's bane." I nodded picking up the magic sword I used to kill the Lich, "Yeah and I'd grow a lot quicker if you'd let me live in peace on Earth." He smiled and guided me out to his balcony, where his faithful pet Griffin sat, chewing on a dead lamb. A smile spread across my face, "Hey Archie!" I exclaimed running to pet his eagle head. No matter how disgruntled I was, Archie perked me up. He was a loving creature, except to prey. Archie screeched and and thumped his lion tail, licking my face a few times. Merlin's voice boomed from behind me, "No time to play Archie, take Sir Small and I to the impact site." With no hesitation Archie swooped us onto his back with his massive wing. He ran a few steps to the edge of the balcony and leapt off into open air. He flapped his powerful wings and before we knew it, we were sailing through the sky. We passed over the forest of the Imps, over the craggy mountains of Jaar'ving. I once had to to fight a horde of trolls who had the idea to storm the forest for Imps to eat. After crossing the Milt River, I noticed a large crater in the side of a hill. "There Archie! Take us down there!" Called out Merlin. Archie swooped down, to deliver us to the ground inside the crater. A commune of Elfish people and Dwarves were gathered round. In the center of the cater, was an unassuming red gem. I slid off Archie's back and landed with a thump and a jangle of metal. I heard a gasp, then a cry of joy. Muttering amongst the onlookers filled the air, "How wonderful! We have nothing to fear now!" "Is that Sir Small? Thank the heavens." "I heard he slayed the Lich in a naught but a heartbeat because of an impending doom in his realm called 'Prom'. Supposedly, he couldn't miss it." Merlin held up the gem. His usual expression of mirth and amusement was not there. He looked to me with focus in his eyes, "Sir Small, in this gem, lies a dormant daemon warcheif from the times of darkness. Exercise caution." I slid down my face shield, and drew my sword. I gripped it tightly and gave Merlin a nod. Merlin nodded back and began to pull the gem apart. His hands radiated with a blue aura as the gem began to crack. Crack. Crack. Crack. The gem's integrity weakening, fractures split across it rapidly. An ominous, low hum radiated from the gem. Merlin let out a cry as he finally shattered it. An amorphous blob of red mist hung in the air, forming into the shape of a devil-like beast. Cries rang out from the onlookers as they rushed from the crater to safety. The best fully formed let out a primal roar before peering down at me, "Who defies me?" I yelled through the slits in my mask, "I am Sir Small, knight of Merlin." The daemon chuckled a deep booming laugh, "Sir Small indeed." He postured up to me, showing his large size advantage, "Why would you challenge me?" I gripped my sword tighter, "Well, I have taxes to do." I rushed at the beast swinging to injure it's leg. It slid back narrowly dodging my swing. The daemon growled and slammed a fist where I would have been had I not rolled out of the way. I let out a scream with a jumping slice to sever the beast's hand. The magic of the blade could cut through anything. The daemon howled in pain and rage, a black liquid dripping from it's arm. It breathed in deeply and held it for a moment, before exhaling a geyser of flame at me. I took the impact of the blast on the chestplate, sending me sliding across the dirt. The daemon ran towards me with a surprising show of speed and agility. It picked me up with it's intact hand by my feet and held me above it's head. The beast opened it's mouth, extending it's tongue. Inside there were sharp, fang-like teeth jutting from it's gums. I swung my blade to and fro to no avail, I was doomed to be a meal. Just when I thought all hope was lost, a bolt of white energy slammed into the back of the beast's head. I heard Merlin call out, "That's my knight, you can't eat him!" The beast turned to Merlin angered. Merlin let loose another one, flying into the daemon's face. He stumbled back, releasing his grip on me. I flipped backward, sword in hand, until I was upright again. While falling, I managed to plunge my magic sword into the chest of the beast, using gravity to guide my blade all the way down. My sword slid out and I fell to the ground, toppling over onto my back. The daemon fell to his knees gushing black blood from his chest to his belly. It let out a pathetic gurgle before falling on it's face. Lying in a pool of it's own blood. I panted and heaved, slowly getting to my feet. The Elves and Dwarves cheered from the distance. "Sir Small! Sir Small! Sir Small!" I gave a wave and turned back to Merlin, who had a pleased look on his face, "Well done Sir small. You must understand now why I needed you." I grumbled, "Yeah, yeah. Just take me back now." Merlin nodded, "As you wish." Another blinding beam of light surrounded us. I was in the bathroom of the tax agency. I could hear a certain slow speaking man yelling at someone, "I'm telling you he just vanished!" "Walter, please. I'm not in the mood." I emerged from the bathroom, "I just vanished to the bathroom is all." The tax agent looked over his shoulder bewildered. The clerk looking to him with a face that said, "See?" The tax agent composed himself, swallowed and gestured back to his desk, "Would you like to finish doing your taxes Mr. Small?" I sighed in relief, "More than anything."	To: ksmith@regionaldistribution.org From: jmartin@regionaldistribution.org Hi, Karen! Just responding to your inquiries about the Route Minimization Project. Sorry I haven't gotten back to you sooner, as I "Again? Dude, seriously, I have work to be doing." "Oh, I don't need you quite yet. I just want to see what you're telling your boss about our last little adventure." "Well, could you read it afterwards instead of peering over my shoulder." "I can't spend much time over here. Just finish the email and I'll return to my world." "All right, all right!" had some unexpected family difficulties come up that resulted in me having to take some sick time earlier this week. It's mostly resolved now, and "Family difficulties?" "I thought we established in the last adventure you were my half-brother?" "That's right. Proceed." I should make good progress on the project from here on out, and, barring any more unforeseen issues, should have it done by Thursday of next week at the latest. "Thursday seems early." "Why, do you know something I don't?" "You're going to have to take some more sick time next week." "Really? When? Tell me so I can plan." "I can't say for sure. It would be nice if the villans sumbitted a schedule, I agree, but I know something's going to happen next week." "Alright, then, I'll change it. Monday of the week after?" "Tuesday." I should have it done by Tuesday the twenty-fourth at the latest. Sorry about the delay! Sincerely, James. "Seriously? Where are we going?" "Oh, you'll be back to the office before lunch. We just need to take care of a few little things to prep for the next little adventure."
makes it hard to hold down a job.	[WP] Your life is constantly interupted by a wizard who summons you to another world to fight for him.	"And the Psycho-evolutionary theory dictates that--" I explained it in my notes. When I looked up, the students were gone. The classroom was gone. I was facing with a giant muscular man with a sneer. I sighed. "Can I get a change of clothes as well? I can't ruin this suit. It's government-issued." I shouted. I knew Mara was behind me. Probably cowering behind a tree. Mara mumbled something about fixing it later. Two years ago I was overweight and dying with high blood pressure. I was summoned mistakenly by a little girl in Wizardry school who was trying to summon her guardian spirit. At the time, it was just for a beast the size of a house cat. I was scratched so bad it was ridiculous. The whole class laughed at that, but she was very happy. She said I was kind of like her dad, except only paler and puffier and shorter and weaker and don't really have a good beard. But children surely idolized their parents... didn't they? The teacher asked her to renegotiate the soul contract, but she insisted it to be me. She wanted to be protected by me. The time in this world went quickly. Thus I was always only a few seconds missing in the real world. However, it could be distracting. The giant came after me with a kick. I couldn't block that, but I rolled over the kick, grabbed his leg, and threw my elbow back. I heard a satisfying 'crack' which meant my elbow connected and a 'snap' of a head flying backward. The giant went down with a crash. The summon was two years ago, but after knowing I had to protect this little girl, I started learning martial arts. I went to the gym. I ate healthy. She was all the reasons that I became who I was-- after what made me a fat slob in the first place. The beast of a man stood up and roared. I glanced at Mara who was starting to cast a shield magic around my flesh, protecting me against incoming hits. She looked like another little girl I knew. I let the shield ran through me as the giant charged, but I stepped aside slightly and pulled up my knee. It buried deeply into his abdomen and the larger man stumbled and sat down hard. I wasn't always a fat slob. I was slimmer, stronger, younger. I smiled much more often. I laughed at the world when it still had colors. "Careful!" Mara shouted as the giant launched himself back up and pulled up an olive trees. He would try to use it as a club. Mara resembled someone I knew. Someone I failed protecting. Someone I loved. I sped toward the giant and stepped on his knee. Then I used the momentum to launched myself upward. After that, I brought the elbow down with a crack. The giant fell forward face first. And he didn't move again. "Pete! Thank you so much. Are you okay? I'm so sorry I'm ruining your day again." Mara ran into me. Her black hair flying. I put my hands on her head. Thinking of someone two years younger and a little smaller. She would have looked like Mara had she ever grown. "Goodbye, Daddy. Be good." Was the last thing that girl said to me before the charts went flat. I smirked at the tiny wizard as she looked at me with concerns. "I'm good, kid." She didn't look like she believed me. That expression was so familiar, "I'm good."	To: ksmith@regionaldistribution.org From: jmartin@regionaldistribution.org Hi, Karen! Just responding to your inquiries about the Route Minimization Project. Sorry I haven't gotten back to you sooner, as I "Again? Dude, seriously, I have work to be doing." "Oh, I don't need you quite yet. I just want to see what you're telling your boss about our last little adventure." "Well, could you read it afterwards instead of peering over my shoulder." "I can't spend much time over here. Just finish the email and I'll return to my world." "All right, all right!" had some unexpected family difficulties come up that resulted in me having to take some sick time earlier this week. It's mostly resolved now, and "Family difficulties?" "I thought we established in the last adventure you were my half-brother?" "That's right. Proceed." I should make good progress on the project from here on out, and, barring any more unforeseen issues, should have it done by Thursday of next week at the latest. "Thursday seems early." "Why, do you know something I don't?" "You're going to have to take some more sick time next week." "Really? When? Tell me so I can plan." "I can't say for sure. It would be nice if the villans sumbitted a schedule, I agree, but I know something's going to happen next week." "Alright, then, I'll change it. Monday of the week after?" "Tuesday." I should have it done by Tuesday the twenty-fourth at the latest. Sorry about the delay! Sincerely, James. "Seriously? Where are we going?" "Oh, you'll be back to the office before lunch. We just need to take care of a few little things to prep for the next little adventure."
makes it hard to hold down a job.	[WP] Your life is constantly interupted by a wizard who summons you to another world to fight for him.	"So tell me why I should hire you?" the interviewer asked from across the table. He shifted in the black leather office chair, tapping his pen on the pad of yellow legal paper. He hadn't written down any notes. "Well, last year, I was named Top Account Executive by-" The interviewer's office ripped away before my eyes. Before I could get up to protest, the world disappeared in a blinding light, and then re-appeared with me about 5,000 feet in the air. In front of me, Uhgod's big scaley stupid head. Again. His massive wings flapped, circling us over King Ban's castle. Giant balls of fire hurled through the air from catapults as mounted knights crashed their horses through lines of infantry. "What the hell, Uhgod! I was killing that interview! That job was mine!" I cried. My tie twisted and turned in the wind, streaming behind me. The dragon turned his head toward me. "The King needs your help! The Mardocks have laid claim to his lands and are invading!" I sighed and rubbed my eyes. Through gritted teeth, I asked him, "And what do you expect me to do about it? Can't one of my other brothers help father against these invaders?" I wanted nothing to do with kings, knights, or dragons. Or wizards. Or wizard dragons. As my father's youngest, he agreed to let me live a normal life among common folk of a distant land. Sure, I was poor as shit and my apartment had roaches. But it sure beats the hell out of the rats infesting the castle. I'd rather listen to Luke Bryan over any of my father's dozens of lute players. As the youngest, I wouldn't inherit anyway. "Your brothers are dead, my Prince. You are now the heir to the Kingdom." My eyes went wide. Prince Derek. Prince Eckhard. Dead? I don't know what my father would be more upset about- that his two knightly sons were dead, or that his copy-machine salesman son is now heir to the throne. I sighed, a small sense of responsibility growing slowly inside me. A real small sense. And really slowly. I motion my arm toward the incoming wave of invading infantry. "For the Kingdom! Or something! Attack!" and Uhgod carried us down, finally able to unleash his fiery wrath with my command. So I'm gonna be King, eh?	"Again?!" The wizard looks at me without any regret on his face. The sparkles and smoke slowly fade and settle. "Yes, I have summoned you once more, young Arthur!" he exclaims. "This is the tenth time in a row now!" I shout at him, "what am I gonna tell my boss?!" "I am your master," he says as he prepares my armor and my sword, "you will be the hero of this monster-infested land of Faerun! You are a warrior and a knight of the Fateweaver, the Goddess of Change and Luck!" "I'm just a salary man, Merlin," I tell him as I open up my briefcase, "Besides, why did you even choose me?" "I can sense something in you when I first summoned you. You brought me something...magical than magic." "That was pizza." "Ah, yes. That enchanted pizza filled with red jewels and yellow ooze," he gleefully looks over, "so, did you get them, just as I instructed you?" I sigh heavily. "Yes, here you go," I say as I hand him the pizza from my briefcase. "Ah, yes," he excitedly receives them, "now, go and kill some zombies for me or something." I nonchalantly grab the armor and start to equip them. "Or something?" "Ah, wait," he looks over the paperwork on his table, "the king says that local bandits have made their base in the Darkleaf Village. Clear them out for me, warrior!" "Hey, you're making me your looney here," I tell him, "why don't you do it yourself?" He looks at me grabbing my sword. He grabs another slice and fits it in his mouth. "Can't you see I'm busy? Besides, I'm gonna pay you later a handsome fine, don't worry. You might even get a kiss from the princess!" "At the very least, I'll get a chance in this world." "Ah, but before you do kiss her, make sure to equip this Helmet of Changing Appearance." "Just send me back already!" "That is unfeasible. The Summon spell has drained my magical stamina. We'll have to wait for a few hours. Besides, isn't living as a warrior more fun than as a merchant?" "I suppose." "Now, head on out! Your mount awaits you," he exclaims. Well, at least I own a mount in this world. Besides, "Pizza Delivery Boy for the Grand Master Wizard Merlin" will sound epic in my resume.
makes it hard to hold down a job.	[WP] Your life is constantly interupted by a wizard who summons you to another world to fight for him.	"Listen, I'm trying to report a god-damned kidnapping here." I wave my arms frantically in front of the very skeptical police officer. "Sir. You are literally standing in front of me. I have a hard time understanding how you have kidnapped." The officer folds his arms, a glower settling in on his face. "As I have been explaining," I glance at his badge, reading the name, "Officer Dan, sometimes I just get...transported." "Yes, yes, sir, I know. The mean man takes you to the special place where he does bad things to you." Officer Dan's features darken, "You are aware filing a false police report is a felony, correct?" "I AM TELLING THE TRU--" With a poof, I am gone, transported to another realm. A moment later, I reappear, my clothing singed and my entire body coated in some weird green goo. Panting, I looked up at the officer, "Great, how long was I gone this time?" I attempted to scrape some of gunk off of my face, flinging it with a splat to the ground of the precinct. "Wha-a...where did you go?" Officer Dan, a man who has seen many things in his career, has not seen this before. "Oh ho ho, NOW you believe me!" I flail my arms about and stomp about the small space in front of Officer Dan's counter. "NOW you decide to listen, after I have literally just bludgeoned an abomination to death with its own nut sack." I indicate the green goo liberally glommed onto my body. "You know what this is?" Officer Dan, gawking, shakes his head. "A combination of brains and nut goo Officer Dan, that's what. This fracking hellbeast balls were like BOWLING BALLS, so I did what I had to do and now look at me," I glumly peer down at my disheveled appearance, "nut goo. Everywhere." Officer Dan retches into a nearby wastebasket. After he finishes, he draws a shaking forearm across his face, wiping his mouth clean. "What in gods name is going on?" "That's what I want to know. I've been flicking in and out of this god damned wizard's hell dungeon for the better part of a week." I'm full steam now, my words running over themselves, "Yesterday I had to kill an EVIL version of MYSELF." I kick the bench beside me, "I didn't even know I had an evil version! I always assumed if there was one, it was ME!" Officer Dan blinks. "But NOPE! There's definitely an evil version. Dude had frosted blond tips in his hair. INSANITY." "Now see here sir, I don't know what's going on but--" POOF.	"Again?!" The wizard looks at me without any regret on his face. The sparkles and smoke slowly fade and settle. "Yes, I have summoned you once more, young Arthur!" he exclaims. "This is the tenth time in a row now!" I shout at him, "what am I gonna tell my boss?!" "I am your master," he says as he prepares my armor and my sword, "you will be the hero of this monster-infested land of Faerun! You are a warrior and a knight of the Fateweaver, the Goddess of Change and Luck!" "I'm just a salary man, Merlin," I tell him as I open up my briefcase, "Besides, why did you even choose me?" "I can sense something in you when I first summoned you. You brought me something...magical than magic." "That was pizza." "Ah, yes. That enchanted pizza filled with red jewels and yellow ooze," he gleefully looks over, "so, did you get them, just as I instructed you?" I sigh heavily. "Yes, here you go," I say as I hand him the pizza from my briefcase. "Ah, yes," he excitedly receives them, "now, go and kill some zombies for me or something." I nonchalantly grab the armor and start to equip them. "Or something?" "Ah, wait," he looks over the paperwork on his table, "the king says that local bandits have made their base in the Darkleaf Village. Clear them out for me, warrior!" "Hey, you're making me your looney here," I tell him, "why don't you do it yourself?" He looks at me grabbing my sword. He grabs another slice and fits it in his mouth. "Can't you see I'm busy? Besides, I'm gonna pay you later a handsome fine, don't worry. You might even get a kiss from the princess!" "At the very least, I'll get a chance in this world." "Ah, but before you do kiss her, make sure to equip this Helmet of Changing Appearance." "Just send me back already!" "That is unfeasible. The Summon spell has drained my magical stamina. We'll have to wait for a few hours. Besides, isn't living as a warrior more fun than as a merchant?" "I suppose." "Now, head on out! Your mount awaits you," he exclaims. Well, at least I own a mount in this world. Besides, "Pizza Delivery Boy for the Grand Master Wizard Merlin" will sound epic in my resume.
makes it hard to hold down a job.	[WP] Your life is constantly interupted by a wizard who summons you to another world to fight for him.	"So Mr..." The tax agent muttered, looking out from over top his outdated, thick rim glasses. "Small." I said sharply, says so right there on the forum, "Sam Small." The agent blinked slowly as if his eyelids gained a sudden weight. His vacant stare conveying a complete disinterest in my impatience. "Right. Small. Says here your gross income was 34,552 dollars." His voice was as slow as his blinking, his words a sluggish baritone. I made a show of faking a cheesy, toothy smile, "And 64 cents." He sighed and leaned back in his chair, lacing his fingers behind his head, "You know Mr. Small this would go a lot quicker if you'd stop with the attitude." I narrowed my eyes at him, "Listen Treebeard, I haven't got all day so if you could manage more than 5 words a minute, don't tell me I'm slowing anything down." He raised his eyebrows slowly and looked at me with a condescending expression. "Mr. Small, I understand that-" His mouth hung open. His eyes glazed over. The tax agent was frozen mid sentence. I pushed my fingers into my temples in frustration. Jesus, not again. A mad cackle of laughter sounded behind me. An elderly man sporting a cloak and cap decorated with stars and runic symbols was slapping his thigh in a display of amusement, "You called him Treebeard!" He paused to let out another giggle, "Do you think he's even knows who that is?" Fucking Merlin again. Third time this month he's literally paused my life. Merlin continued, "I suppose not. A man as slow as that would still be reading Fellowship of the Ring if he started 10 years ago!" He exploded in another round of laughter. I exhaled in frustration, "Merlin, it wasn't even that funny." I stood up to properly face him, "Besides, Peter Jackson made movies of the books years ago. Everyone knows who Treebeard is." Merlin pursed his lips in a pout, "Come on Sam, be nice to your old friend Merlin. I've got another adventure for you!" He threw his hands in the air for emphasis. "Merlin I'm 25 now. I'm not a little kid anymore. I have shit to do. You can't just pause my life to make me fight the evil Lord Bahammool or whatever dumb shit goes on over there." Merlin smirked and put his hand on my shoulder. He looked deeply into my eyes, "Yes I can." He laughed and raised his staff to the ceiling calling down a beam of light that engulfed us both. The light was so intense I had to squeeze my eyes shut and cover them with my hands. I writhed on the ground grunting from a temporary blindness. Dots danced in my vision, clearing up after a few moments. I got to my feet and slugged Merlin in the shoulder, "Stop. Doing that. At least warn me before you're gonna sear my fucking retinas with your magic laser beam." Merlin only giggled in reply. I shook my head and grumbled internally. Prick I looked around to see the world of Nilth'gandral through the window of Merlin's highest castle window for the umpteenth time. The wondrous stupor fades after you've been forced there for 15 years. Still, you couldn't deny it's beauty. A lush forest of solid oak trees lay below with jagged mountain peaks nobly erect as they had been for all of time far in the distance. I rubbed my head and looked to Merlin, "So what do you need?" He opened a chest I was all too familiar with, "Just put your armor on Sir Small. I'll tell you on the way." Inside the chest was a suit of silver armor. Thick and strong. On the chest plate was a painted on sun that stretched across the entire front. In the center of the sun a black "M" was painted. I hastily put on the armor and lifted up the face shield, "Alright, where we going?" Merlin stopped to admire me in my suit of armor, "Ah how you've grown Sir Small, knight of Merlin. Don't forget the Lich's bane." I nodded picking up the magic sword I used to kill the Lich, "Yeah and I'd grow a lot quicker if you'd let me live in peace on Earth." He smiled and guided me out to his balcony, where his faithful pet Griffin sat, chewing on a dead lamb. A smile spread across my face, "Hey Archie!" I exclaimed running to pet his eagle head. No matter how disgruntled I was, Archie perked me up. He was a loving creature, except to prey. Archie screeched and and thumped his lion tail, licking my face a few times. Merlin's voice boomed from behind me, "No time to play Archie, take Sir Small and I to the impact site." With no hesitation Archie swooped us onto his back with his massive wing. He ran a few steps to the edge of the balcony and leapt off into open air. He flapped his powerful wings and before we knew it, we were sailing through the sky. We passed over the forest of the Imps, over the craggy mountains of Jaar'ving. I once had to to fight a horde of trolls who had the idea to storm the forest for Imps to eat. After crossing the Milt River, I noticed a large crater in the side of a hill. "There Archie! Take us down there!" Called out Merlin. Archie swooped down, to deliver us to the ground inside the crater. A commune of Elfish people and Dwarves were gathered round. In the center of the cater, was an unassuming red gem. I slid off Archie's back and landed with a thump and a jangle of metal. I heard a gasp, then a cry of joy. Muttering amongst the onlookers filled the air, "How wonderful! We have nothing to fear now!" "Is that Sir Small? Thank the heavens." "I heard he slayed the Lich in a naught but a heartbeat because of an impending doom in his realm called 'Prom'. Supposedly, he couldn't miss it." Merlin held up the gem. His usual expression of mirth and amusement was not there. He looked to me with focus in his eyes, "Sir Small, in this gem, lies a dormant daemon warcheif from the times of darkness. Exercise caution." I slid down my face shield, and drew my sword. I gripped it tightly and gave Merlin a nod. Merlin nodded back and began to pull the gem apart. His hands radiated with a blue aura as the gem began to crack. Crack. Crack. Crack. The gem's integrity weakening, fractures split across it rapidly. An ominous, low hum radiated from the gem. Merlin let out a cry as he finally shattered it. An amorphous blob of red mist hung in the air, forming into the shape of a devil-like beast. Cries rang out from the onlookers as they rushed from the crater to safety. The best fully formed let out a primal roar before peering down at me, "Who defies me?" I yelled through the slits in my mask, "I am Sir Small, knight of Merlin." The daemon chuckled a deep booming laugh, "Sir Small indeed." He postured up to me, showing his large size advantage, "Why would you challenge me?" I gripped my sword tighter, "Well, I have taxes to do." I rushed at the beast swinging to injure it's leg. It slid back narrowly dodging my swing. The daemon growled and slammed a fist where I would have been had I not rolled out of the way. I let out a scream with a jumping slice to sever the beast's hand. The magic of the blade could cut through anything. The daemon howled in pain and rage, a black liquid dripping from it's arm. It breathed in deeply and held it for a moment, before exhaling a geyser of flame at me. I took the impact of the blast on the chestplate, sending me sliding across the dirt. The daemon ran towards me with a surprising show of speed and agility. It picked me up with it's intact hand by my feet and held me above it's head. The beast opened it's mouth, extending it's tongue. Inside there were sharp, fang-like teeth jutting from it's gums. I swung my blade to and fro to no avail, I was doomed to be a meal. Just when I thought all hope was lost, a bolt of white energy slammed into the back of the beast's head. I heard Merlin call out, "That's my knight, you can't eat him!" The beast turned to Merlin angered. Merlin let loose another one, flying into the daemon's face. He stumbled back, releasing his grip on me. I flipped backward, sword in hand, until I was upright again. While falling, I managed to plunge my magic sword into the chest of the beast, using gravity to guide my blade all the way down. My sword slid out and I fell to the ground, toppling over onto my back. The daemon fell to his knees gushing black blood from his chest to his belly. It let out a pathetic gurgle before falling on it's face. Lying in a pool of it's own blood. I panted and heaved, slowly getting to my feet. The Elves and Dwarves cheered from the distance. "Sir Small! Sir Small! Sir Small!" I gave a wave and turned back to Merlin, who had a pleased look on his face, "Well done Sir small. You must understand now why I needed you." I grumbled, "Yeah, yeah. Just take me back now." Merlin nodded, "As you wish." Another blinding beam of light surrounded us. I was in the bathroom of the tax agency. I could hear a certain slow speaking man yelling at someone, "I'm telling you he just vanished!" "Walter, please. I'm not in the mood." I emerged from the bathroom, "I just vanished to the bathroom is all." The tax agent looked over his shoulder bewildered. The clerk looking to him with a face that said, "See?" The tax agent composed himself, swallowed and gestured back to his desk, "Would you like to finish doing your taxes Mr. Small?" I sighed in relief, "More than anything."	"Again?!" The wizard looks at me without any regret on his face. The sparkles and smoke slowly fade and settle. "Yes, I have summoned you once more, young Arthur!" he exclaims. "This is the tenth time in a row now!" I shout at him, "what am I gonna tell my boss?!" "I am your master," he says as he prepares my armor and my sword, "you will be the hero of this monster-infested land of Faerun! You are a warrior and a knight of the Fateweaver, the Goddess of Change and Luck!" "I'm just a salary man, Merlin," I tell him as I open up my briefcase, "Besides, why did you even choose me?" "I can sense something in you when I first summoned you. You brought me something...magical than magic." "That was pizza." "Ah, yes. That enchanted pizza filled with red jewels and yellow ooze," he gleefully looks over, "so, did you get them, just as I instructed you?" I sigh heavily. "Yes, here you go," I say as I hand him the pizza from my briefcase. "Ah, yes," he excitedly receives them, "now, go and kill some zombies for me or something." I nonchalantly grab the armor and start to equip them. "Or something?" "Ah, wait," he looks over the paperwork on his table, "the king says that local bandits have made their base in the Darkleaf Village. Clear them out for me, warrior!" "Hey, you're making me your looney here," I tell him, "why don't you do it yourself?" He looks at me grabbing my sword. He grabs another slice and fits it in his mouth. "Can't you see I'm busy? Besides, I'm gonna pay you later a handsome fine, don't worry. You might even get a kiss from the princess!" "At the very least, I'll get a chance in this world." "Ah, but before you do kiss her, make sure to equip this Helmet of Changing Appearance." "Just send me back already!" "That is unfeasible. The Summon spell has drained my magical stamina. We'll have to wait for a few hours. Besides, isn't living as a warrior more fun than as a merchant?" "I suppose." "Now, head on out! Your mount awaits you," he exclaims. Well, at least I own a mount in this world. Besides, "Pizza Delivery Boy for the Grand Master Wizard Merlin" will sound epic in my resume.
makes it hard to hold down a job.	[WP] Your life is constantly interupted by a wizard who summons you to another world to fight for him.	"And the Psycho-evolutionary theory dictates that--" I explained it in my notes. When I looked up, the students were gone. The classroom was gone. I was facing with a giant muscular man with a sneer. I sighed. "Can I get a change of clothes as well? I can't ruin this suit. It's government-issued." I shouted. I knew Mara was behind me. Probably cowering behind a tree. Mara mumbled something about fixing it later. Two years ago I was overweight and dying with high blood pressure. I was summoned mistakenly by a little girl in Wizardry school who was trying to summon her guardian spirit. At the time, it was just for a beast the size of a house cat. I was scratched so bad it was ridiculous. The whole class laughed at that, but she was very happy. She said I was kind of like her dad, except only paler and puffier and shorter and weaker and don't really have a good beard. But children surely idolized their parents... didn't they? The teacher asked her to renegotiate the soul contract, but she insisted it to be me. She wanted to be protected by me. The time in this world went quickly. Thus I was always only a few seconds missing in the real world. However, it could be distracting. The giant came after me with a kick. I couldn't block that, but I rolled over the kick, grabbed his leg, and threw my elbow back. I heard a satisfying 'crack' which meant my elbow connected and a 'snap' of a head flying backward. The giant went down with a crash. The summon was two years ago, but after knowing I had to protect this little girl, I started learning martial arts. I went to the gym. I ate healthy. She was all the reasons that I became who I was-- after what made me a fat slob in the first place. The beast of a man stood up and roared. I glanced at Mara who was starting to cast a shield magic around my flesh, protecting me against incoming hits. She looked like another little girl I knew. I let the shield ran through me as the giant charged, but I stepped aside slightly and pulled up my knee. It buried deeply into his abdomen and the larger man stumbled and sat down hard. I wasn't always a fat slob. I was slimmer, stronger, younger. I smiled much more often. I laughed at the world when it still had colors. "Careful!" Mara shouted as the giant launched himself back up and pulled up an olive trees. He would try to use it as a club. Mara resembled someone I knew. Someone I failed protecting. Someone I loved. I sped toward the giant and stepped on his knee. Then I used the momentum to launched myself upward. After that, I brought the elbow down with a crack. The giant fell forward face first. And he didn't move again. "Pete! Thank you so much. Are you okay? I'm so sorry I'm ruining your day again." Mara ran into me. Her black hair flying. I put my hands on her head. Thinking of someone two years younger and a little smaller. She would have looked like Mara had she ever grown. "Goodbye, Daddy. Be good." Was the last thing that girl said to me before the charts went flat. I smirked at the tiny wizard as she looked at me with concerns. "I'm good, kid." She didn't look like she believed me. That expression was so familiar, "I'm good."	"Again?!" The wizard looks at me without any regret on his face. The sparkles and smoke slowly fade and settle. "Yes, I have summoned you once more, young Arthur!" he exclaims. "This is the tenth time in a row now!" I shout at him, "what am I gonna tell my boss?!" "I am your master," he says as he prepares my armor and my sword, "you will be the hero of this monster-infested land of Faerun! You are a warrior and a knight of the Fateweaver, the Goddess of Change and Luck!" "I'm just a salary man, Merlin," I tell him as I open up my briefcase, "Besides, why did you even choose me?" "I can sense something in you when I first summoned you. You brought me something...magical than magic." "That was pizza." "Ah, yes. That enchanted pizza filled with red jewels and yellow ooze," he gleefully looks over, "so, did you get them, just as I instructed you?" I sigh heavily. "Yes, here you go," I say as I hand him the pizza from my briefcase. "Ah, yes," he excitedly receives them, "now, go and kill some zombies for me or something." I nonchalantly grab the armor and start to equip them. "Or something?" "Ah, wait," he looks over the paperwork on his table, "the king says that local bandits have made their base in the Darkleaf Village. Clear them out for me, warrior!" "Hey, you're making me your looney here," I tell him, "why don't you do it yourself?" He looks at me grabbing my sword. He grabs another slice and fits it in his mouth. "Can't you see I'm busy? Besides, I'm gonna pay you later a handsome fine, don't worry. You might even get a kiss from the princess!" "At the very least, I'll get a chance in this world." "Ah, but before you do kiss her, make sure to equip this Helmet of Changing Appearance." "Just send me back already!" "That is unfeasible. The Summon spell has drained my magical stamina. We'll have to wait for a few hours. Besides, isn't living as a warrior more fun than as a merchant?" "I suppose." "Now, head on out! Your mount awaits you," he exclaims. Well, at least I own a mount in this world. Besides, "Pizza Delivery Boy for the Grand Master Wizard Merlin" will sound epic in my resume.
makes it hard to hold down a job.	[WP] Your life is constantly interupted by a wizard who summons you to another world to fight for him.	"Listen, I'm trying to report a god-damned kidnapping here." I wave my arms frantically in front of the very skeptical police officer. "Sir. You are literally standing in front of me. I have a hard time understanding how you have kidnapped." The officer folds his arms, a glower settling in on his face. "As I have been explaining," I glance at his badge, reading the name, "Officer Dan, sometimes I just get...transported." "Yes, yes, sir, I know. The mean man takes you to the special place where he does bad things to you." Officer Dan's features darken, "You are aware filing a false police report is a felony, correct?" "I AM TELLING THE TRU--" With a poof, I am gone, transported to another realm. A moment later, I reappear, my clothing singed and my entire body coated in some weird green goo. Panting, I looked up at the officer, "Great, how long was I gone this time?" I attempted to scrape some of gunk off of my face, flinging it with a splat to the ground of the precinct. "Wha-a...where did you go?" Officer Dan, a man who has seen many things in his career, has not seen this before. "Oh ho ho, NOW you believe me!" I flail my arms about and stomp about the small space in front of Officer Dan's counter. "NOW you decide to listen, after I have literally just bludgeoned an abomination to death with its own nut sack." I indicate the green goo liberally glommed onto my body. "You know what this is?" Officer Dan, gawking, shakes his head. "A combination of brains and nut goo Officer Dan, that's what. This fracking hellbeast balls were like BOWLING BALLS, so I did what I had to do and now look at me," I glumly peer down at my disheveled appearance, "nut goo. Everywhere." Officer Dan retches into a nearby wastebasket. After he finishes, he draws a shaking forearm across his face, wiping his mouth clean. "What in gods name is going on?" "That's what I want to know. I've been flicking in and out of this god damned wizard's hell dungeon for the better part of a week." I'm full steam now, my words running over themselves, "Yesterday I had to kill an EVIL version of MYSELF." I kick the bench beside me, "I didn't even know I had an evil version! I always assumed if there was one, it was ME!" Officer Dan blinks. "But NOPE! There's definitely an evil version. Dude had frosted blond tips in his hair. INSANITY." "Now see here sir, I don't know what's going on but--" POOF.	"So tell me why I should hire you?" the interviewer asked from across the table. He shifted in the black leather office chair, tapping his pen on the pad of yellow legal paper. He hadn't written down any notes. "Well, last year, I was named Top Account Executive by-" The interviewer's office ripped away before my eyes. Before I could get up to protest, the world disappeared in a blinding light, and then re-appeared with me about 5,000 feet in the air. In front of me, Uhgod's big scaley stupid head. Again. His massive wings flapped, circling us over King Ban's castle. Giant balls of fire hurled through the air from catapults as mounted knights crashed their horses through lines of infantry. "What the hell, Uhgod! I was killing that interview! That job was mine!" I cried. My tie twisted and turned in the wind, streaming behind me. The dragon turned his head toward me. "The King needs your help! The Mardocks have laid claim to his lands and are invading!" I sighed and rubbed my eyes. Through gritted teeth, I asked him, "And what do you expect me to do about it? Can't one of my other brothers help father against these invaders?" I wanted nothing to do with kings, knights, or dragons. Or wizards. Or wizard dragons. As my father's youngest, he agreed to let me live a normal life among common folk of a distant land. Sure, I was poor as shit and my apartment had roaches. But it sure beats the hell out of the rats infesting the castle. I'd rather listen to Luke Bryan over any of my father's dozens of lute players. As the youngest, I wouldn't inherit anyway. "Your brothers are dead, my Prince. You are now the heir to the Kingdom." My eyes went wide. Prince Derek. Prince Eckhard. Dead? I don't know what my father would be more upset about- that his two knightly sons were dead, or that his copy-machine salesman son is now heir to the throne. I sighed, a small sense of responsibility growing slowly inside me. A real small sense. And really slowly. I motion my arm toward the incoming wave of invading infantry. "For the Kingdom! Or something! Attack!" and Uhgod carried us down, finally able to unleash his fiery wrath with my command. So I'm gonna be King, eh?
makes it hard to hold down a job.	[WP] Your life is constantly interupted by a wizard who summons you to another world to fight for him.	"So Mr..." The tax agent muttered, looking out from over top his outdated, thick rim glasses. "Small." I said sharply, says so right there on the forum, "Sam Small." The agent blinked slowly as if his eyelids gained a sudden weight. His vacant stare conveying a complete disinterest in my impatience. "Right. Small. Says here your gross income was 34,552 dollars." His voice was as slow as his blinking, his words a sluggish baritone. I made a show of faking a cheesy, toothy smile, "And 64 cents." He sighed and leaned back in his chair, lacing his fingers behind his head, "You know Mr. Small this would go a lot quicker if you'd stop with the attitude." I narrowed my eyes at him, "Listen Treebeard, I haven't got all day so if you could manage more than 5 words a minute, don't tell me I'm slowing anything down." He raised his eyebrows slowly and looked at me with a condescending expression. "Mr. Small, I understand that-" His mouth hung open. His eyes glazed over. The tax agent was frozen mid sentence. I pushed my fingers into my temples in frustration. Jesus, not again. A mad cackle of laughter sounded behind me. An elderly man sporting a cloak and cap decorated with stars and runic symbols was slapping his thigh in a display of amusement, "You called him Treebeard!" He paused to let out another giggle, "Do you think he's even knows who that is?" Fucking Merlin again. Third time this month he's literally paused my life. Merlin continued, "I suppose not. A man as slow as that would still be reading Fellowship of the Ring if he started 10 years ago!" He exploded in another round of laughter. I exhaled in frustration, "Merlin, it wasn't even that funny." I stood up to properly face him, "Besides, Peter Jackson made movies of the books years ago. Everyone knows who Treebeard is." Merlin pursed his lips in a pout, "Come on Sam, be nice to your old friend Merlin. I've got another adventure for you!" He threw his hands in the air for emphasis. "Merlin I'm 25 now. I'm not a little kid anymore. I have shit to do. You can't just pause my life to make me fight the evil Lord Bahammool or whatever dumb shit goes on over there." Merlin smirked and put his hand on my shoulder. He looked deeply into my eyes, "Yes I can." He laughed and raised his staff to the ceiling calling down a beam of light that engulfed us both. The light was so intense I had to squeeze my eyes shut and cover them with my hands. I writhed on the ground grunting from a temporary blindness. Dots danced in my vision, clearing up after a few moments. I got to my feet and slugged Merlin in the shoulder, "Stop. Doing that. At least warn me before you're gonna sear my fucking retinas with your magic laser beam." Merlin only giggled in reply. I shook my head and grumbled internally. Prick I looked around to see the world of Nilth'gandral through the window of Merlin's highest castle window for the umpteenth time. The wondrous stupor fades after you've been forced there for 15 years. Still, you couldn't deny it's beauty. A lush forest of solid oak trees lay below with jagged mountain peaks nobly erect as they had been for all of time far in the distance. I rubbed my head and looked to Merlin, "So what do you need?" He opened a chest I was all too familiar with, "Just put your armor on Sir Small. I'll tell you on the way." Inside the chest was a suit of silver armor. Thick and strong. On the chest plate was a painted on sun that stretched across the entire front. In the center of the sun a black "M" was painted. I hastily put on the armor and lifted up the face shield, "Alright, where we going?" Merlin stopped to admire me in my suit of armor, "Ah how you've grown Sir Small, knight of Merlin. Don't forget the Lich's bane." I nodded picking up the magic sword I used to kill the Lich, "Yeah and I'd grow a lot quicker if you'd let me live in peace on Earth." He smiled and guided me out to his balcony, where his faithful pet Griffin sat, chewing on a dead lamb. A smile spread across my face, "Hey Archie!" I exclaimed running to pet his eagle head. No matter how disgruntled I was, Archie perked me up. He was a loving creature, except to prey. Archie screeched and and thumped his lion tail, licking my face a few times. Merlin's voice boomed from behind me, "No time to play Archie, take Sir Small and I to the impact site." With no hesitation Archie swooped us onto his back with his massive wing. He ran a few steps to the edge of the balcony and leapt off into open air. He flapped his powerful wings and before we knew it, we were sailing through the sky. We passed over the forest of the Imps, over the craggy mountains of Jaar'ving. I once had to to fight a horde of trolls who had the idea to storm the forest for Imps to eat. After crossing the Milt River, I noticed a large crater in the side of a hill. "There Archie! Take us down there!" Called out Merlin. Archie swooped down, to deliver us to the ground inside the crater. A commune of Elfish people and Dwarves were gathered round. In the center of the cater, was an unassuming red gem. I slid off Archie's back and landed with a thump and a jangle of metal. I heard a gasp, then a cry of joy. Muttering amongst the onlookers filled the air, "How wonderful! We have nothing to fear now!" "Is that Sir Small? Thank the heavens." "I heard he slayed the Lich in a naught but a heartbeat because of an impending doom in his realm called 'Prom'. Supposedly, he couldn't miss it." Merlin held up the gem. His usual expression of mirth and amusement was not there. He looked to me with focus in his eyes, "Sir Small, in this gem, lies a dormant daemon warcheif from the times of darkness. Exercise caution." I slid down my face shield, and drew my sword. I gripped it tightly and gave Merlin a nod. Merlin nodded back and began to pull the gem apart. His hands radiated with a blue aura as the gem began to crack. Crack. Crack. Crack. The gem's integrity weakening, fractures split across it rapidly. An ominous, low hum radiated from the gem. Merlin let out a cry as he finally shattered it. An amorphous blob of red mist hung in the air, forming into the shape of a devil-like beast. Cries rang out from the onlookers as they rushed from the crater to safety. The best fully formed let out a primal roar before peering down at me, "Who defies me?" I yelled through the slits in my mask, "I am Sir Small, knight of Merlin." The daemon chuckled a deep booming laugh, "Sir Small indeed." He postured up to me, showing his large size advantage, "Why would you challenge me?" I gripped my sword tighter, "Well, I have taxes to do." I rushed at the beast swinging to injure it's leg. It slid back narrowly dodging my swing. The daemon growled and slammed a fist where I would have been had I not rolled out of the way. I let out a scream with a jumping slice to sever the beast's hand. The magic of the blade could cut through anything. The daemon howled in pain and rage, a black liquid dripping from it's arm. It breathed in deeply and held it for a moment, before exhaling a geyser of flame at me. I took the impact of the blast on the chestplate, sending me sliding across the dirt. The daemon ran towards me with a surprising show of speed and agility. It picked me up with it's intact hand by my feet and held me above it's head. The beast opened it's mouth, extending it's tongue. Inside there were sharp, fang-like teeth jutting from it's gums. I swung my blade to and fro to no avail, I was doomed to be a meal. Just when I thought all hope was lost, a bolt of white energy slammed into the back of the beast's head. I heard Merlin call out, "That's my knight, you can't eat him!" The beast turned to Merlin angered. Merlin let loose another one, flying into the daemon's face. He stumbled back, releasing his grip on me. I flipped backward, sword in hand, until I was upright again. While falling, I managed to plunge my magic sword into the chest of the beast, using gravity to guide my blade all the way down. My sword slid out and I fell to the ground, toppling over onto my back. The daemon fell to his knees gushing black blood from his chest to his belly. It let out a pathetic gurgle before falling on it's face. Lying in a pool of it's own blood. I panted and heaved, slowly getting to my feet. The Elves and Dwarves cheered from the distance. "Sir Small! Sir Small! Sir Small!" I gave a wave and turned back to Merlin, who had a pleased look on his face, "Well done Sir small. You must understand now why I needed you." I grumbled, "Yeah, yeah. Just take me back now." Merlin nodded, "As you wish." Another blinding beam of light surrounded us. I was in the bathroom of the tax agency. I could hear a certain slow speaking man yelling at someone, "I'm telling you he just vanished!" "Walter, please. I'm not in the mood." I emerged from the bathroom, "I just vanished to the bathroom is all." The tax agent looked over his shoulder bewildered. The clerk looking to him with a face that said, "See?" The tax agent composed himself, swallowed and gestured back to his desk, "Would you like to finish doing your taxes Mr. Small?" I sighed in relief, "More than anything."	"So tell me why I should hire you?" the interviewer asked from across the table. He shifted in the black leather office chair, tapping his pen on the pad of yellow legal paper. He hadn't written down any notes. "Well, last year, I was named Top Account Executive by-" The interviewer's office ripped away before my eyes. Before I could get up to protest, the world disappeared in a blinding light, and then re-appeared with me about 5,000 feet in the air. In front of me, Uhgod's big scaley stupid head. Again. His massive wings flapped, circling us over King Ban's castle. Giant balls of fire hurled through the air from catapults as mounted knights crashed their horses through lines of infantry. "What the hell, Uhgod! I was killing that interview! That job was mine!" I cried. My tie twisted and turned in the wind, streaming behind me. The dragon turned his head toward me. "The King needs your help! The Mardocks have laid claim to his lands and are invading!" I sighed and rubbed my eyes. Through gritted teeth, I asked him, "And what do you expect me to do about it? Can't one of my other brothers help father against these invaders?" I wanted nothing to do with kings, knights, or dragons. Or wizards. Or wizard dragons. As my father's youngest, he agreed to let me live a normal life among common folk of a distant land. Sure, I was poor as shit and my apartment had roaches. But it sure beats the hell out of the rats infesting the castle. I'd rather listen to Luke Bryan over any of my father's dozens of lute players. As the youngest, I wouldn't inherit anyway. "Your brothers are dead, my Prince. You are now the heir to the Kingdom." My eyes went wide. Prince Derek. Prince Eckhard. Dead? I don't know what my father would be more upset about- that his two knightly sons were dead, or that his copy-machine salesman son is now heir to the throne. I sighed, a small sense of responsibility growing slowly inside me. A real small sense. And really slowly. I motion my arm toward the incoming wave of invading infantry. "For the Kingdom! Or something! Attack!" and Uhgod carried us down, finally able to unleash his fiery wrath with my command. So I'm gonna be King, eh?
makes it hard to hold down a job.	[WP] Your life is constantly interupted by a wizard who summons you to another world to fight for him.	"And the Psycho-evolutionary theory dictates that--" I explained it in my notes. When I looked up, the students were gone. The classroom was gone. I was facing with a giant muscular man with a sneer. I sighed. "Can I get a change of clothes as well? I can't ruin this suit. It's government-issued." I shouted. I knew Mara was behind me. Probably cowering behind a tree. Mara mumbled something about fixing it later. Two years ago I was overweight and dying with high blood pressure. I was summoned mistakenly by a little girl in Wizardry school who was trying to summon her guardian spirit. At the time, it was just for a beast the size of a house cat. I was scratched so bad it was ridiculous. The whole class laughed at that, but she was very happy. She said I was kind of like her dad, except only paler and puffier and shorter and weaker and don't really have a good beard. But children surely idolized their parents... didn't they? The teacher asked her to renegotiate the soul contract, but she insisted it to be me. She wanted to be protected by me. The time in this world went quickly. Thus I was always only a few seconds missing in the real world. However, it could be distracting. The giant came after me with a kick. I couldn't block that, but I rolled over the kick, grabbed his leg, and threw my elbow back. I heard a satisfying 'crack' which meant my elbow connected and a 'snap' of a head flying backward. The giant went down with a crash. The summon was two years ago, but after knowing I had to protect this little girl, I started learning martial arts. I went to the gym. I ate healthy. She was all the reasons that I became who I was-- after what made me a fat slob in the first place. The beast of a man stood up and roared. I glanced at Mara who was starting to cast a shield magic around my flesh, protecting me against incoming hits. She looked like another little girl I knew. I let the shield ran through me as the giant charged, but I stepped aside slightly and pulled up my knee. It buried deeply into his abdomen and the larger man stumbled and sat down hard. I wasn't always a fat slob. I was slimmer, stronger, younger. I smiled much more often. I laughed at the world when it still had colors. "Careful!" Mara shouted as the giant launched himself back up and pulled up an olive trees. He would try to use it as a club. Mara resembled someone I knew. Someone I failed protecting. Someone I loved. I sped toward the giant and stepped on his knee. Then I used the momentum to launched myself upward. After that, I brought the elbow down with a crack. The giant fell forward face first. And he didn't move again. "Pete! Thank you so much. Are you okay? I'm so sorry I'm ruining your day again." Mara ran into me. Her black hair flying. I put my hands on her head. Thinking of someone two years younger and a little smaller. She would have looked like Mara had she ever grown. "Goodbye, Daddy. Be good." Was the last thing that girl said to me before the charts went flat. I smirked at the tiny wizard as she looked at me with concerns. "I'm good, kid." She didn't look like she believed me. That expression was so familiar, "I'm good."	"So tell me why I should hire you?" the interviewer asked from across the table. He shifted in the black leather office chair, tapping his pen on the pad of yellow legal paper. He hadn't written down any notes. "Well, last year, I was named Top Account Executive by-" The interviewer's office ripped away before my eyes. Before I could get up to protest, the world disappeared in a blinding light, and then re-appeared with me about 5,000 feet in the air. In front of me, Uhgod's big scaley stupid head. Again. His massive wings flapped, circling us over King Ban's castle. Giant balls of fire hurled through the air from catapults as mounted knights crashed their horses through lines of infantry. "What the hell, Uhgod! I was killing that interview! That job was mine!" I cried. My tie twisted and turned in the wind, streaming behind me. The dragon turned his head toward me. "The King needs your help! The Mardocks have laid claim to his lands and are invading!" I sighed and rubbed my eyes. Through gritted teeth, I asked him, "And what do you expect me to do about it? Can't one of my other brothers help father against these invaders?" I wanted nothing to do with kings, knights, or dragons. Or wizards. Or wizard dragons. As my father's youngest, he agreed to let me live a normal life among common folk of a distant land. Sure, I was poor as shit and my apartment had roaches. But it sure beats the hell out of the rats infesting the castle. I'd rather listen to Luke Bryan over any of my father's dozens of lute players. As the youngest, I wouldn't inherit anyway. "Your brothers are dead, my Prince. You are now the heir to the Kingdom." My eyes went wide. Prince Derek. Prince Eckhard. Dead? I don't know what my father would be more upset about- that his two knightly sons were dead, or that his copy-machine salesman son is now heir to the throne. I sighed, a small sense of responsibility growing slowly inside me. A real small sense. And really slowly. I motion my arm toward the incoming wave of invading infantry. "For the Kingdom! Or something! Attack!" and Uhgod carried us down, finally able to unleash his fiery wrath with my command. So I'm gonna be King, eh?
makes it hard to hold down a job.	[WP] Your life is constantly interupted by a wizard who summons you to another world to fight for him.	"Listen, I'm trying to report a god-damned kidnapping here." I wave my arms frantically in front of the very skeptical police officer. "Sir. You are literally standing in front of me. I have a hard time understanding how you have kidnapped." The officer folds his arms, a glower settling in on his face. "As I have been explaining," I glance at his badge, reading the name, "Officer Dan, sometimes I just get...transported." "Yes, yes, sir, I know. The mean man takes you to the special place where he does bad things to you." Officer Dan's features darken, "You are aware filing a false police report is a felony, correct?" "I AM TELLING THE TRU--" With a poof, I am gone, transported to another realm. A moment later, I reappear, my clothing singed and my entire body coated in some weird green goo. Panting, I looked up at the officer, "Great, how long was I gone this time?" I attempted to scrape some of gunk off of my face, flinging it with a splat to the ground of the precinct. "Wha-a...where did you go?" Officer Dan, a man who has seen many things in his career, has not seen this before. "Oh ho ho, NOW you believe me!" I flail my arms about and stomp about the small space in front of Officer Dan's counter. "NOW you decide to listen, after I have literally just bludgeoned an abomination to death with its own nut sack." I indicate the green goo liberally glommed onto my body. "You know what this is?" Officer Dan, gawking, shakes his head. "A combination of brains and nut goo Officer Dan, that's what. This fracking hellbeast balls were like BOWLING BALLS, so I did what I had to do and now look at me," I glumly peer down at my disheveled appearance, "nut goo. Everywhere." Officer Dan retches into a nearby wastebasket. After he finishes, he draws a shaking forearm across his face, wiping his mouth clean. "What in gods name is going on?" "That's what I want to know. I've been flicking in and out of this god damned wizard's hell dungeon for the better part of a week." I'm full steam now, my words running over themselves, "Yesterday I had to kill an EVIL version of MYSELF." I kick the bench beside me, "I didn't even know I had an evil version! I always assumed if there was one, it was ME!" Officer Dan blinks. "But NOPE! There's definitely an evil version. Dude had frosted blond tips in his hair. INSANITY." "Now see here sir, I don't know what's going on but--" POOF.	I blinked again, the harsh sunlight nearly blinding me. "Dammit, he's done it again hasn't he?" The first time he called me out was a surprise. The second was a bit of a pain. After that, things just started to get annoying. Especially with all the fighting. Don't get me wrong, I'm not the kind of guy to just back down if someone is picking on me. But I'm also not very big, and some of the guys this wizard had me deal with were twice my size. Some even bigger than that. There's also some people who keep trying to kidnap me. As much as I hate the wizard he at least feeds me and lets me sleep. I've seen what the other people do and it ain't pretty. Ugh, at least this fight wasn't going to last long. I felt bad for whoever it was I had beaten up this time and felt a tinge of pity. One sided fights just felt bad. The guy I was beating up didn't even look that good to begin with, kind of had a pale green tinge. Sick maybe? "Good job" I heard the wizard yell. Well then, guess he was about to send me back. I gave him a look as he pointed that damn sphere of metal and light at me again. Maybe I wouldn't have minded it so much if he hadn't given me that darn nickname. "Seriously, my name isn't-" The light flashes and the sunlight disappears, sending me back to my home. "-Pidgey" Maybe he'll listen next round
makes it hard to hold down a job.	[WP] Your life is constantly interupted by a wizard who summons you to another world to fight for him.	"So Mr..." The tax agent muttered, looking out from over top his outdated, thick rim glasses. "Small." I said sharply, says so right there on the forum, "Sam Small." The agent blinked slowly as if his eyelids gained a sudden weight. His vacant stare conveying a complete disinterest in my impatience. "Right. Small. Says here your gross income was 34,552 dollars." His voice was as slow as his blinking, his words a sluggish baritone. I made a show of faking a cheesy, toothy smile, "And 64 cents." He sighed and leaned back in his chair, lacing his fingers behind his head, "You know Mr. Small this would go a lot quicker if you'd stop with the attitude." I narrowed my eyes at him, "Listen Treebeard, I haven't got all day so if you could manage more than 5 words a minute, don't tell me I'm slowing anything down." He raised his eyebrows slowly and looked at me with a condescending expression. "Mr. Small, I understand that-" His mouth hung open. His eyes glazed over. The tax agent was frozen mid sentence. I pushed my fingers into my temples in frustration. Jesus, not again. A mad cackle of laughter sounded behind me. An elderly man sporting a cloak and cap decorated with stars and runic symbols was slapping his thigh in a display of amusement, "You called him Treebeard!" He paused to let out another giggle, "Do you think he's even knows who that is?" Fucking Merlin again. Third time this month he's literally paused my life. Merlin continued, "I suppose not. A man as slow as that would still be reading Fellowship of the Ring if he started 10 years ago!" He exploded in another round of laughter. I exhaled in frustration, "Merlin, it wasn't even that funny." I stood up to properly face him, "Besides, Peter Jackson made movies of the books years ago. Everyone knows who Treebeard is." Merlin pursed his lips in a pout, "Come on Sam, be nice to your old friend Merlin. I've got another adventure for you!" He threw his hands in the air for emphasis. "Merlin I'm 25 now. I'm not a little kid anymore. I have shit to do. You can't just pause my life to make me fight the evil Lord Bahammool or whatever dumb shit goes on over there." Merlin smirked and put his hand on my shoulder. He looked deeply into my eyes, "Yes I can." He laughed and raised his staff to the ceiling calling down a beam of light that engulfed us both. The light was so intense I had to squeeze my eyes shut and cover them with my hands. I writhed on the ground grunting from a temporary blindness. Dots danced in my vision, clearing up after a few moments. I got to my feet and slugged Merlin in the shoulder, "Stop. Doing that. At least warn me before you're gonna sear my fucking retinas with your magic laser beam." Merlin only giggled in reply. I shook my head and grumbled internally. Prick I looked around to see the world of Nilth'gandral through the window of Merlin's highest castle window for the umpteenth time. The wondrous stupor fades after you've been forced there for 15 years. Still, you couldn't deny it's beauty. A lush forest of solid oak trees lay below with jagged mountain peaks nobly erect as they had been for all of time far in the distance. I rubbed my head and looked to Merlin, "So what do you need?" He opened a chest I was all too familiar with, "Just put your armor on Sir Small. I'll tell you on the way." Inside the chest was a suit of silver armor. Thick and strong. On the chest plate was a painted on sun that stretched across the entire front. In the center of the sun a black "M" was painted. I hastily put on the armor and lifted up the face shield, "Alright, where we going?" Merlin stopped to admire me in my suit of armor, "Ah how you've grown Sir Small, knight of Merlin. Don't forget the Lich's bane." I nodded picking up the magic sword I used to kill the Lich, "Yeah and I'd grow a lot quicker if you'd let me live in peace on Earth." He smiled and guided me out to his balcony, where his faithful pet Griffin sat, chewing on a dead lamb. A smile spread across my face, "Hey Archie!" I exclaimed running to pet his eagle head. No matter how disgruntled I was, Archie perked me up. He was a loving creature, except to prey. Archie screeched and and thumped his lion tail, licking my face a few times. Merlin's voice boomed from behind me, "No time to play Archie, take Sir Small and I to the impact site." With no hesitation Archie swooped us onto his back with his massive wing. He ran a few steps to the edge of the balcony and leapt off into open air. He flapped his powerful wings and before we knew it, we were sailing through the sky. We passed over the forest of the Imps, over the craggy mountains of Jaar'ving. I once had to to fight a horde of trolls who had the idea to storm the forest for Imps to eat. After crossing the Milt River, I noticed a large crater in the side of a hill. "There Archie! Take us down there!" Called out Merlin. Archie swooped down, to deliver us to the ground inside the crater. A commune of Elfish people and Dwarves were gathered round. In the center of the cater, was an unassuming red gem. I slid off Archie's back and landed with a thump and a jangle of metal. I heard a gasp, then a cry of joy. Muttering amongst the onlookers filled the air, "How wonderful! We have nothing to fear now!" "Is that Sir Small? Thank the heavens." "I heard he slayed the Lich in a naught but a heartbeat because of an impending doom in his realm called 'Prom'. Supposedly, he couldn't miss it." Merlin held up the gem. His usual expression of mirth and amusement was not there. He looked to me with focus in his eyes, "Sir Small, in this gem, lies a dormant daemon warcheif from the times of darkness. Exercise caution." I slid down my face shield, and drew my sword. I gripped it tightly and gave Merlin a nod. Merlin nodded back and began to pull the gem apart. His hands radiated with a blue aura as the gem began to crack. Crack. Crack. Crack. The gem's integrity weakening, fractures split across it rapidly. An ominous, low hum radiated from the gem. Merlin let out a cry as he finally shattered it. An amorphous blob of red mist hung in the air, forming into the shape of a devil-like beast. Cries rang out from the onlookers as they rushed from the crater to safety. The best fully formed let out a primal roar before peering down at me, "Who defies me?" I yelled through the slits in my mask, "I am Sir Small, knight of Merlin." The daemon chuckled a deep booming laugh, "Sir Small indeed." He postured up to me, showing his large size advantage, "Why would you challenge me?" I gripped my sword tighter, "Well, I have taxes to do." I rushed at the beast swinging to injure it's leg. It slid back narrowly dodging my swing. The daemon growled and slammed a fist where I would have been had I not rolled out of the way. I let out a scream with a jumping slice to sever the beast's hand. The magic of the blade could cut through anything. The daemon howled in pain and rage, a black liquid dripping from it's arm. It breathed in deeply and held it for a moment, before exhaling a geyser of flame at me. I took the impact of the blast on the chestplate, sending me sliding across the dirt. The daemon ran towards me with a surprising show of speed and agility. It picked me up with it's intact hand by my feet and held me above it's head. The beast opened it's mouth, extending it's tongue. Inside there were sharp, fang-like teeth jutting from it's gums. I swung my blade to and fro to no avail, I was doomed to be a meal. Just when I thought all hope was lost, a bolt of white energy slammed into the back of the beast's head. I heard Merlin call out, "That's my knight, you can't eat him!" The beast turned to Merlin angered. Merlin let loose another one, flying into the daemon's face. He stumbled back, releasing his grip on me. I flipped backward, sword in hand, until I was upright again. While falling, I managed to plunge my magic sword into the chest of the beast, using gravity to guide my blade all the way down. My sword slid out and I fell to the ground, toppling over onto my back. The daemon fell to his knees gushing black blood from his chest to his belly. It let out a pathetic gurgle before falling on it's face. Lying in a pool of it's own blood. I panted and heaved, slowly getting to my feet. The Elves and Dwarves cheered from the distance. "Sir Small! Sir Small! Sir Small!" I gave a wave and turned back to Merlin, who had a pleased look on his face, "Well done Sir small. You must understand now why I needed you." I grumbled, "Yeah, yeah. Just take me back now." Merlin nodded, "As you wish." Another blinding beam of light surrounded us. I was in the bathroom of the tax agency. I could hear a certain slow speaking man yelling at someone, "I'm telling you he just vanished!" "Walter, please. I'm not in the mood." I emerged from the bathroom, "I just vanished to the bathroom is all." The tax agent looked over his shoulder bewildered. The clerk looking to him with a face that said, "See?" The tax agent composed himself, swallowed and gestured back to his desk, "Would you like to finish doing your taxes Mr. Small?" I sighed in relief, "More than anything."	I blinked again, the harsh sunlight nearly blinding me. "Dammit, he's done it again hasn't he?" The first time he called me out was a surprise. The second was a bit of a pain. After that, things just started to get annoying. Especially with all the fighting. Don't get me wrong, I'm not the kind of guy to just back down if someone is picking on me. But I'm also not very big, and some of the guys this wizard had me deal with were twice my size. Some even bigger than that. There's also some people who keep trying to kidnap me. As much as I hate the wizard he at least feeds me and lets me sleep. I've seen what the other people do and it ain't pretty. Ugh, at least this fight wasn't going to last long. I felt bad for whoever it was I had beaten up this time and felt a tinge of pity. One sided fights just felt bad. The guy I was beating up didn't even look that good to begin with, kind of had a pale green tinge. Sick maybe? "Good job" I heard the wizard yell. Well then, guess he was about to send me back. I gave him a look as he pointed that damn sphere of metal and light at me again. Maybe I wouldn't have minded it so much if he hadn't given me that darn nickname. "Seriously, my name isn't-" The light flashes and the sunlight disappears, sending me back to my home. "-Pidgey" Maybe he'll listen next round
makes it hard to hold down a job.	[WP] Your life is constantly interupted by a wizard who summons you to another world to fight for him.	"And the Psycho-evolutionary theory dictates that--" I explained it in my notes. When I looked up, the students were gone. The classroom was gone. I was facing with a giant muscular man with a sneer. I sighed. "Can I get a change of clothes as well? I can't ruin this suit. It's government-issued." I shouted. I knew Mara was behind me. Probably cowering behind a tree. Mara mumbled something about fixing it later. Two years ago I was overweight and dying with high blood pressure. I was summoned mistakenly by a little girl in Wizardry school who was trying to summon her guardian spirit. At the time, it was just for a beast the size of a house cat. I was scratched so bad it was ridiculous. The whole class laughed at that, but she was very happy. She said I was kind of like her dad, except only paler and puffier and shorter and weaker and don't really have a good beard. But children surely idolized their parents... didn't they? The teacher asked her to renegotiate the soul contract, but she insisted it to be me. She wanted to be protected by me. The time in this world went quickly. Thus I was always only a few seconds missing in the real world. However, it could be distracting. The giant came after me with a kick. I couldn't block that, but I rolled over the kick, grabbed his leg, and threw my elbow back. I heard a satisfying 'crack' which meant my elbow connected and a 'snap' of a head flying backward. The giant went down with a crash. The summon was two years ago, but after knowing I had to protect this little girl, I started learning martial arts. I went to the gym. I ate healthy. She was all the reasons that I became who I was-- after what made me a fat slob in the first place. The beast of a man stood up and roared. I glanced at Mara who was starting to cast a shield magic around my flesh, protecting me against incoming hits. She looked like another little girl I knew. I let the shield ran through me as the giant charged, but I stepped aside slightly and pulled up my knee. It buried deeply into his abdomen and the larger man stumbled and sat down hard. I wasn't always a fat slob. I was slimmer, stronger, younger. I smiled much more often. I laughed at the world when it still had colors. "Careful!" Mara shouted as the giant launched himself back up and pulled up an olive trees. He would try to use it as a club. Mara resembled someone I knew. Someone I failed protecting. Someone I loved. I sped toward the giant and stepped on his knee. Then I used the momentum to launched myself upward. After that, I brought the elbow down with a crack. The giant fell forward face first. And he didn't move again. "Pete! Thank you so much. Are you okay? I'm so sorry I'm ruining your day again." Mara ran into me. Her black hair flying. I put my hands on her head. Thinking of someone two years younger and a little smaller. She would have looked like Mara had she ever grown. "Goodbye, Daddy. Be good." Was the last thing that girl said to me before the charts went flat. I smirked at the tiny wizard as she looked at me with concerns. "I'm good, kid." She didn't look like she believed me. That expression was so familiar, "I'm good."	I blinked again, the harsh sunlight nearly blinding me. "Dammit, he's done it again hasn't he?" The first time he called me out was a surprise. The second was a bit of a pain. After that, things just started to get annoying. Especially with all the fighting. Don't get me wrong, I'm not the kind of guy to just back down if someone is picking on me. But I'm also not very big, and some of the guys this wizard had me deal with were twice my size. Some even bigger than that. There's also some people who keep trying to kidnap me. As much as I hate the wizard he at least feeds me and lets me sleep. I've seen what the other people do and it ain't pretty. Ugh, at least this fight wasn't going to last long. I felt bad for whoever it was I had beaten up this time and felt a tinge of pity. One sided fights just felt bad. The guy I was beating up didn't even look that good to begin with, kind of had a pale green tinge. Sick maybe? "Good job" I heard the wizard yell. Well then, guess he was about to send me back. I gave him a look as he pointed that damn sphere of metal and light at me again. Maybe I wouldn't have minded it so much if he hadn't given me that darn nickname. "Seriously, my name isn't-" The light flashes and the sunlight disappears, sending me back to my home. "-Pidgey" Maybe he'll listen next round
makes it hard to hold down a job.	[WP] Your life is constantly interupted by a wizard who summons you to another world to fight for him.	Finch spat into the brown clay pot and closed his eyes as the pounding in his ears worsened. His clean black suit had been torn and bloodied in the previous arena bout. He smelt of lion's blood and his trimmed nails were now dulled and banged up. An older, grey-bearded man sat across from him, counting out the contents of a velvety purple purse. His voice, low and dry, barely registered in the midst of the ringing within Finch's ears. "Four-hundred-and-eighty.... four-hundred-and-ninety-five... five hundred!" exclaimed the old man. His face broke out into a smile, clashing against the mood made by Finch's grim glare. "Of all the goddamned days, Pagaloni," Finch bared his teeth, shattered and coated in red clumps of man-flesh and hair. "You just had to summon me on the day of my damned wedding." "Well, what's done is done," the wizard shrugged his familiar's comment aside. "Besides, we made a good haul. You can get yourself another wife with what I'm paying you." "Your stupid world's currency means nothing in mine, you senile shit," Finch got up and tossed away the remnants of his tuxedo. The modern clothes crumpled onto the dust floor. Finch kicked them into a corner and made his way over to a half-filled bucket. Pagaloni got up and followed the now-squatting man to his bucket."A pity. I'd always assumed gold would be a universal commodity just about everywhere." "Oh, it's valuable. The problem is that when I show up to a bank or eBay to cash it out, I get questioned on the markings and the source of the gold. Then, it's a flipping coin-toss between going to jail while they try to get the matter sorted or me having to low-ball the price to get rid of it," Finch grunted and squirmed. One could hear the sound of a soft plop from the bucket. "Mother Mary, that fucking hurts...." "If only you were better at bartering..." Pagaloni began. Finch interrupted by smashing him across the face with a bucket. Pagaloni hardly flinched. Finch recoiled in disgust, "I don't know how you people can stand the stench of that stuff, let alone the feeling of it across your face. You disgusting animals.' "And I don't know how it is that you can stand having to find a bucket everytime you need to relieve yourself, but you don't see me complaining." Finch shrugged, "Pagaloni. I have a wedding to get to. I'm getting married to the love of my life and when I get back, I'm going to have to apologize on my knees for missing our damned wedding day." Pagaloni nodded his head, pretending to hear. "Yes, yes. That's all good and well." Finch continued, "And if, by some god-given miracle, she forgives me, I'm going to carry her bridal-style to her favorite pancake restaurant the next morning so that she can eat me out of my savings account like the adorable piglet she is." "Uh-huh. That's nice. I don't understand the point of you telling me any of this, but I'm very sure you'll be doing that very soon, within the next twelve hours after my spell reloads." Finch grabbed Pagaloni by his beard and smiled. "Friend, I am telling you this because if, in the middle of me carrying her, I get interrupted with your stupid money-making schemes, I'm going to cut your head off and give your coinpurse to her as a gift." A guardsman entered the room. "Master Finch, it's time for your next fight against an armored elephant, three archers, a crocodile, and a baby dragon." Finch nodded at the guardsman, threw an obscene gesture at Pagaloni, grabbed his sword and shield, and scampered back into the arena. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Charlotte was sitting in her home watching television when she heard a knock at the door. She yelped for a moment when she opened the door and was met with her childhood sweetheart and husband. "Oh my god- Wait, you got teleported again?" she said, beckoning him in. "When did that happen?" "Pancake restaurant. I figured it would've happened so I called my sister over to take you out shopping before I left," he took deep, long breaths. Blood streamed down from his forehead, covering his right eye. His left shoulder was torn apart, showing a bit of bone, cleaned of its skin. "Do you want dinner, a bath, or do you want a lift to the ER?" Charlotte asked, giving the man her sleeves to wipe away the blood in his eyes. "I need a nap," he said. Charlotte dragged the disheveled man over to the couch and continued on with her TV watching. She turned the volume down when she saw him start wincing to the sounds. She grabbed ahold of his head and took him towards her chest. The ringing in Finch's ears grew more and more managable as he focused on the heartbeat pressing against his left ear. He muttered something about getting blood on his wife's clothes, but she ignored him. His eyelids grew droopy over his eyes, and he began to nod off. Charlotte smiled and continued to cradle the man's head, ignoring the bloodied purple purse he was clenching in one of his fists.	One moment I'm rushing not to be late for my next meeting. The next moment, I'm not. "Mordecai..." He's on the bed. "There's a spider on the floor," he whispers. Now, there's two of us on the bed, anxiously peering around at the floor. "What are you doing?" he hisses. "Get down there and kill it!" "It's too late. The nope have invaded and the only solution is burn this house down." "I am not burning down my hou-" He pauses and frowns, eyes criss-crossing as he focuses on the spider dangling before him. "So..." The firefighter scratches at his head. "Tell us how your home got burn down again?"
	[WP] You were accidentally killed by a god. As compensation,you're offered a job as a god of something of your own choosing. Your choice was surprising.	The other gods looked uncomfortable. In fact, I swear I could see the fear form in Hephasteus' eyes. He looked uneasy, partly because he understood why I made my choice. Athena's face was that of cloaked rage. Ares, uncloaked. Zeus, the idiot he was, sensed the awkward silence and partook in it as well. Centuries ago, mankind had a very basic understanding of the world. There was lightning, water, and the like. It was up until only recently, that we harnessed mother nature, and made it do our bidding. The gods chose their domains based on human's understanding of the world. Little did they know that we would come so far. "This is...certainly unprecedented, mortal." Hera was the first one to break the silence. "I've made my choice, and you can not revoke it." "Do you realize what this would mean for you, Robert?" Hades was the second one to break his silence. Yet, under his accusatory tone, I detected a concealed delight. "I am well aware of the consequences Hades. I spent my whole life studying them." With a sigh, the pantheon conceded. They knew change was to come. Some were fearful, and yet, it looked like some were excited about what the future would bring, after a millennia of stagnation. "So be it. Dr. Oppenheimer, I dub thee God of Radiation."	"Jack. Fuck off." A large glass pint thundered down on the oak table and the dark liquid inside whisked around like a storm trodden ocean. "Billy, on me father, it's true." I pleaded. "Well your dad's a right proper cunt, and he used to beat you, so why the fuck would I trust you when you swear on father? I already told you seventeen times, fuck off." Billy sat back, his grey woollen suit jacket met with the red velvet cushioning covering the walls. He turned to me, then threw his head back and uproarious laughter piled out of his chest. When he was done he returned his gaze and mockingly uttered: "So you want to tell me, on whoever the fuck, mom, dad, the fucking hooker you fell in love with in Brighton, that you, you Jack... _Jesus fucking christ_. Jack. No, for the life of me I can't fucking say this out loud..." He sat back up, placed his hat next to him, leaned forward and rhythmically banged his head into the table. The pint shivered with each bang. Once again a storm was brewing on the surface of the dark liquid, but before the seas got too rough it flew off the table and rapidly into Billy Daniel's mouth. In a few short moments, the entire pint was empty, he slammed it down even harder this time. I almost jumped back as I feared that the glass might shatter or that the table might break. But the glass held together, and it was clear that it wasn't the first time this block of oak had been roughhousing. "Jamie! Can you get me another one of these?" Billy roared. "Wait, no, no, no, fuck that. Make it two, and apparently my brother here wants some whisky, he's showin' me a party trick he learned from one o' his new 'friends'!" Jamie, the bartender gave him a nod from across the room before sliding over to the four brass taps lined up the rightmost side of the counter. He snatched another two glass pints, and filled them up to the brim with dark liquid pouring out from the leftmost brass tap. Into another smaller glass he poured a goldenbrown liquid from a dark green bottle and paraded towards their table. "Jack, Billy." pearls of water ran down the sides of the fresh pints and left traces in the misty texture. Unlike Billy, Jamie placed the two pints down with elegance and care. As the pints slid across the table they left trails on the surface that were quickly taken care of by a stained white rag. "Cheers Jamie, 'ts on me." I placed almost a whole pound worth of coins in his left hand. Jamie smiled, looked at me, raised his left eyebrow, surprised, and tipped his head before making his was back behind the counter. Billy had already helped himself about halfway through one of the fresh pints of seemingly pitch black stout. "Billy." I held the glass over the table in front of him. He tilted his head and grimaced, indicating his disinterest in following through with my request. But a broad satirical smile slowly spread on his face. "Alright, Jack," he said and turned towards the glass "but let me be clear with you I think-" the smile slowly crept back where it had came from and a new expression emerged. Billy stared into the liquid, but it was no longer golden brown. It was a fiery glowing orangered. Literally. The liquid appeared luminescent. "I think you're not kidding me." He swallowed. He looked confused, but there was a sense of curiosity in his eyes as well. "Billy, I told ye I'm not being a cunt. Taste it, I swear, it's good." He slowly reached out and grabbed a firm hold around the glass. He motioned it towards his mouth. Like a man who had been stuck in the desert for weeks without water, he thought he would never drink again but by divine intervention he found an oasis. The glass tipped backwards and the glowing liquid escaped behind his lips. This time there was no slam when he placed the glass back on the table. Billy almost appeared like he was in thanks to the glass itself when he let the empty crystal container land on the wooden surface. He looked at me again. His look harmonious, peaceful, like he had been extended an unexpected charity at the time when he most needed it. "The god of fucking whisky eh..." Billy muttered, and once again a smile slowly spread across his face, but this time it was genuine, warm, and for some reason, slightly mischievous. I shrugged knowingly, and returned the smile. "Billy, do ye remember uncle John? Uncle John who went to the Americas when we were 8?" Billy nodded encouragingly "I've been in touch with 'im. Do ye know why? Because when I came knockin' at yer door, three weeks ago, sayin' I'd been thrown out... Well, I actually sold me house. And all the money, all of the money. The whole lot of it. I'd sent to uncle John in the Americas. And uncle John has bought us a distillery in a place they call Tennessee. And I done bought us two boat tickets," I slipped my left hand inside my jacket and begun fishing for two slips of paper I had kept in my inner chest pocket "to uncle John, in the Americas, to a place they call Tennessee. Because the three of us are founding our own distillery. It's all paid for. It's all ours brother mine." I finally got a hold of the tickets and pulled them both out and handed one to Billy. Billy shot up, and in grand swigs he finished both his pints faster than he had finished the tiny glass of whisky, then jumped up on the table and bellowed: "Lads, ladies, next round is on me! Because I am moving across the mighty seas, because my brother, my lovely cunt brother, Jack, is the god of fucking whisky!" triumphantly presenting the ticket in his right hand. As the lads and the ladies cheered, clapped and sang as Billy danced on the table I sat back. "See that, ye humourless scum fucking pantheon twat fuckers. Thought ye'd make me a fool, thought ye'd get to laugh at the lad who couldn't hold his tongue an' said 'Well then make me the god of fucking whisky!'. Well look at me now. While I might not hurl lightning and summon storms to stir the oceans, I am still a god. And Jack Daniels, he, he is the god of fucking whisky." I thought.
	[WP] Rule no. 1 in war is to avoid invading Russia in winter. Clearly, the aliens have no idea about this.	Deep in the storm, the clouds parted. Reflections of snow-capped mountain peaks flew past its metallic coat as it descended. But it was taking its time. Before it had even hit the ground, it was surrounded by tanks, soldiers, and helicopters. A general in a coat heavy with medals barked orders from a bullhorn. The metallic thing landed, and the snow from the ground blew away. The general had to hold onto his hat and the helicopters swerved. Another object parted the sky, landing slightly ahead of the other one. This one moved a lot faster. The general sounded the order to fire, and a peppering of explosions broke the stillness of the winter land. Barrage after barrage of bullets, artillery, and rockets clattered against the first object. But it neither returned fire nor deployed any troops. Indeed, its slick surface did not seem to allow for such measures. The force of the second object striking the ground was far greater. Tanks blew away. Soldiers unfortunate enough to be caught in the blast were carried fifty feet in the air. And then the first object began to rise. The number one rule in war is to avoid invading Russia in the winter. But there exist beings not bound to the laws of men. As hundreds more of these strange objects landed, the general trembled in fear. For he realized they were feet. [subreddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/Tensingstories/)	The year is 2109, planet Earth now only has one season. Winter. Year round it is cold except that in some areas it is moderate cold like in Hawaii whereas in areas like Russia it is extremely cold. The weather ofcourse dips even more from November to January. Going to such low temperatures that the 99% of the countries just shut down and every single person has to stay indoor. No office, no school, no grocery shopping and if you run out of toilet paper.. Good luck using a bidet. Their house becomes their cocoon. Of course the one country that does not shut down during this period, the country where kids roam the streets in -degree temperature wearing nothing but loafers and boxers, the country which many tried to take over during winter only to lose and fall back, the country where cold is warm, very cold is also warm and extreme cold is simply a bother, Russia. Scientists had concluded that over the long history of cold weather in Russia, Russian citizens had developed a unique gene that allowed them to bear new heights of cold weather. There ability to tolerate extreme temperatures had made them a Global Economic Powerhouse. The three months the rest of the countries were shutdown, Russia prospered throughout the world, delivering food, running business, they were the only ones working. Needless to say a lot of countries and their leaders were jealous, the only leaders who were not jealous actually lived 1 light year away from planet Earth planning to capture it. "Where is the intel that I asked for Commander?" Yelled the soldier at his commander. The soldier, the commander and all the others were a species of ooblaohmylalalbulabu from planet 'Here' which is short for * H hiii * E eeegge * R rolseed * E eeege A planet one light year away, Planet Here had finally discovered a way to travel at light speed. They learnt that their poop could fuel light speed travel jets. This discovery happened when 2 teenagers decided it would be funny to throw poop from space onto unsuspecting citizens using there space drones as a prank. Those 2 teenagers got a prize equivalent of Nobel prize. Ofcourse with this discovery it meant ooblaohmylalalbulabu could now finally capture a new planet and expand their operations. "I have it right here Sir". Replied the commander handing over a very slim file to him. On planet "Here" the older you get the higher you are in the rank, but the higher the rank the lower the position. So being a commander means you have to go out and collect Intel, Intelligent stuff that requires experience whereas mind numbing paperwork stuff are left to privates and younger generation who are just the middle man to screamed at from the actual leaders like presidents, prime ministers, tap minister. "Finally, let's go through this again one more time.. I cannot make a mistake right now.. I only joined 2 weeks back and have been yelled at for 2 weeks straight." Said the young soldier with fear in his eyes. "Don't worry Sir, Everything is here just the way prime minister wanted. Everything about the planet Earth and how we can easily capture it. Rest assured this is years of research, nothing can go wrong with it." Replied the commander while trying to calm the soldier who seemed to be having an anxiety attack. "Fine, I will take this to him right now and hope for the best" says the soldier as he leaves for the office of Prime Minister. At the office of Prime Minister, which is really a small tiny cabinet as the people of 'Here' believe in using taxpayers money for right stuff like healthcare and education, to have a giant office for a public servant would mean an atrocity. The bigger the position of the man smaller the office. This is why when it comes to hiring janitors almost everyone on 'Here' applies, you get the best office, best house and you don't have to clean a lot except for some tiny cabinets. It is the sweetest gig anyone can get. As soldier sits down opposite the Prime Minister, barely managing to fit on his chair the minister is going over the thin file to assess the plan to capture Earth. "So your best strategy is to go via Russia?" The prime minister asks with a WTF look on his face. The soldier worried that he is going to get another yelling, rushes to answer "Yes Sir, They are the number one economy, they are spread out around the planet, they have the largest land area bigger then Pluto and over all that large area they seem to live in one corner of it. We can easily take that entire region and from there capture everything else." "Sounds good, when do we do this?" Asks Prime Minister with a satisfied answer face. "During December Sir, that is when 99% of the planet is closed, so nobody will be able to help them, the winter might be a bit chilly but I am sure we can handle it, it shouldn't be that hard since they roam around in loafers." replies soldier now bit more relaxed. "I am liking what I am hearing, the plan works, is sound and I am approving it. Good luck soldier. " Prime minister stamping the file and making a hand gesture asking him to leave. "Thanks sir, I won't disappoint" Says the soldier feeling confident leaving the cabinet office. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- My 4th WP first try at sort of building a world, would love critiques, feedback and advice. Thanks
	[WP] Rule no. 1 in war is to avoid invading Russia in winter. Clearly, the aliens have no idea about this.	President Vladimir Petrov sat down at one end of the long table. At the other end sat a man about the same height, but with green skin and two antennae protruding out of his bald head. Petrov looked to his right, out a large window, at the snow-covered fields outside of Moscow. Snow-covered was an understatement, as a layer of over one metre had fallen that winter. Dotting the landscape were alien spaceships, covered in the same snow, with tiny black figures trying to free them from the winter's grasp. A waiter brought two cups of tea and placed them in front of Petrov and his guest, and then left the room. "You are here to discuss the terms of your surrender." said Petrov, taking a sip from his steaming tea. "Yes. Please." said the alien. He was shivering with cold, and he downed the hot tea in one gulp. Petrov rang a bell and the waiter came and refilled the empty cup. "We're dying out there." said the alien, more composed than before. "We need blankets and warm food." "We'll give you everything you need. You will surrender all your weapons and remain within a perimeter which I will soon decide on. No soldier of mine is to be harmed by any of your men, because I will treat that as an intention to resume hostilities. You will depart as soon as possible." "Yes, to all of that. We'll get our ships free by tomorrow morning and then we'll leave." Petrov burst into laughter. "Tomorrow morning? Tonight we'll have another good few centimetres of snow. You'll be here until spring." As he said those words, the alien leaned back in his chair with an expression of horror on his face. Outside, snowflakes had started falling from the low clouds. "I don't understand." said the alien. "We've done so much research about the Earth. Your nation is poor and weak, it should have been an easy target." "You should have read our history. You came in winter. Other men came in winter, with the same intention as yours. Great military minds, like Napoleon and Hitler, with well-supplied and well-trained armies, have been defeated by our winter." The alien had finished his second cup of tea and the waiter had refilled it again. "It's not just that. Your men are supersoldiers. The cold has no effect on them. They can lift trees above their heads and fight wild beasts with their bare hands. You've only sent about fifty of them to fight us. They've killed so many of us, but we haven't scratched one of them." "I sent only twenty. Your men were almost frozen to death already. No need for me to send more troops." "They're not human. How do your train them to be so good? What is your secret?" Petrov smiled in the corner of his mouth, taking the last sip of his tea. He then took a flask out of his pocket and took a big gulp from it. "The secret is vodka."	The year is 2109, planet Earth now only has one season. Winter. Year round it is cold except that in some areas it is moderate cold like in Hawaii whereas in areas like Russia it is extremely cold. The weather ofcourse dips even more from November to January. Going to such low temperatures that the 99% of the countries just shut down and every single person has to stay indoor. No office, no school, no grocery shopping and if you run out of toilet paper.. Good luck using a bidet. Their house becomes their cocoon. Of course the one country that does not shut down during this period, the country where kids roam the streets in -degree temperature wearing nothing but loafers and boxers, the country which many tried to take over during winter only to lose and fall back, the country where cold is warm, very cold is also warm and extreme cold is simply a bother, Russia. Scientists had concluded that over the long history of cold weather in Russia, Russian citizens had developed a unique gene that allowed them to bear new heights of cold weather. There ability to tolerate extreme temperatures had made them a Global Economic Powerhouse. The three months the rest of the countries were shutdown, Russia prospered throughout the world, delivering food, running business, they were the only ones working. Needless to say a lot of countries and their leaders were jealous, the only leaders who were not jealous actually lived 1 light year away from planet Earth planning to capture it. "Where is the intel that I asked for Commander?" Yelled the soldier at his commander. The soldier, the commander and all the others were a species of ooblaohmylalalbulabu from planet 'Here' which is short for * H hiii * E eeegge * R rolseed * E eeege A planet one light year away, Planet Here had finally discovered a way to travel at light speed. They learnt that their poop could fuel light speed travel jets. This discovery happened when 2 teenagers decided it would be funny to throw poop from space onto unsuspecting citizens using there space drones as a prank. Those 2 teenagers got a prize equivalent of Nobel prize. Ofcourse with this discovery it meant ooblaohmylalalbulabu could now finally capture a new planet and expand their operations. "I have it right here Sir". Replied the commander handing over a very slim file to him. On planet "Here" the older you get the higher you are in the rank, but the higher the rank the lower the position. So being a commander means you have to go out and collect Intel, Intelligent stuff that requires experience whereas mind numbing paperwork stuff are left to privates and younger generation who are just the middle man to screamed at from the actual leaders like presidents, prime ministers, tap minister. "Finally, let's go through this again one more time.. I cannot make a mistake right now.. I only joined 2 weeks back and have been yelled at for 2 weeks straight." Said the young soldier with fear in his eyes. "Don't worry Sir, Everything is here just the way prime minister wanted. Everything about the planet Earth and how we can easily capture it. Rest assured this is years of research, nothing can go wrong with it." Replied the commander while trying to calm the soldier who seemed to be having an anxiety attack. "Fine, I will take this to him right now and hope for the best" says the soldier as he leaves for the office of Prime Minister. At the office of Prime Minister, which is really a small tiny cabinet as the people of 'Here' believe in using taxpayers money for right stuff like healthcare and education, to have a giant office for a public servant would mean an atrocity. The bigger the position of the man smaller the office. This is why when it comes to hiring janitors almost everyone on 'Here' applies, you get the best office, best house and you don't have to clean a lot except for some tiny cabinets. It is the sweetest gig anyone can get. As soldier sits down opposite the Prime Minister, barely managing to fit on his chair the minister is going over the thin file to assess the plan to capture Earth. "So your best strategy is to go via Russia?" The prime minister asks with a WTF look on his face. The soldier worried that he is going to get another yelling, rushes to answer "Yes Sir, They are the number one economy, they are spread out around the planet, they have the largest land area bigger then Pluto and over all that large area they seem to live in one corner of it. We can easily take that entire region and from there capture everything else." "Sounds good, when do we do this?" Asks Prime Minister with a satisfied answer face. "During December Sir, that is when 99% of the planet is closed, so nobody will be able to help them, the winter might be a bit chilly but I am sure we can handle it, it shouldn't be that hard since they roam around in loafers." replies soldier now bit more relaxed. "I am liking what I am hearing, the plan works, is sound and I am approving it. Good luck soldier. " Prime minister stamping the file and making a hand gesture asking him to leave. "Thanks sir, I won't disappoint" Says the soldier feeling confident leaving the cabinet office. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- My 4th WP first try at sort of building a world, would love critiques, feedback and advice. Thanks
	[WP] Rule no. 1 in war is to avoid invading Russia in winter. Clearly, the aliens have no idea about this.	The commander cursed loudly. "You'd think after so many millennia of fighting the Pinutsiz we'd have learned to deal with cold conditions!" he screamed, red in the face, kicking at anything he thought might move with the impact. But the resistance had gained a great deal of momentum in... what did the humans call the place? Central Europe?... and the supply lines were a complete mess. "Give me the deserts any day," he muttered morosely, calming down to look at his tactical display. His people thrived in hot environments; cold did not treat them as well. Their main rivals thrived in far colder environments than they did; the Dełani had the advantage of tremendous heat tolerance. That advantage was wasted here on the outskirts of Moscow. The commander shuddered at the prospect of fighting his way through the mountains to the east and through... what was it called again? Siberia? during this season. He almost hoped to be held up in the mountains until the spring. But he would do his duty as best he could. He shivered and tightened his hood. "Screw snow," he muttered. "Bogs down infantry. Tanks and antigrav bikes rush right over it, but..." And then his eyes lit up, and he laughed evilly. He opened a comm channel to his comrades in orbit. "Can we get a solar reflector or an infrared beam over Sector 925 down here? You do that, and keep it just ahead of my position, and I'll hit Moscow by week's end..." The voice on the other end of the comm indicated assent, and he warned his men to put on polarized faceplates. Can't force your way through the winter? Kill it. He laughed maniacally as the sky brightened and the temperature rose. Russia's greatest weapon began to melt away before his eyes...	The year is 2109, planet Earth now only has one season. Winter. Year round it is cold except that in some areas it is moderate cold like in Hawaii whereas in areas like Russia it is extremely cold. The weather ofcourse dips even more from November to January. Going to such low temperatures that the 99% of the countries just shut down and every single person has to stay indoor. No office, no school, no grocery shopping and if you run out of toilet paper.. Good luck using a bidet. Their house becomes their cocoon. Of course the one country that does not shut down during this period, the country where kids roam the streets in -degree temperature wearing nothing but loafers and boxers, the country which many tried to take over during winter only to lose and fall back, the country where cold is warm, very cold is also warm and extreme cold is simply a bother, Russia. Scientists had concluded that over the long history of cold weather in Russia, Russian citizens had developed a unique gene that allowed them to bear new heights of cold weather. There ability to tolerate extreme temperatures had made them a Global Economic Powerhouse. The three months the rest of the countries were shutdown, Russia prospered throughout the world, delivering food, running business, they were the only ones working. Needless to say a lot of countries and their leaders were jealous, the only leaders who were not jealous actually lived 1 light year away from planet Earth planning to capture it. "Where is the intel that I asked for Commander?" Yelled the soldier at his commander. The soldier, the commander and all the others were a species of ooblaohmylalalbulabu from planet 'Here' which is short for * H hiii * E eeegge * R rolseed * E eeege A planet one light year away, Planet Here had finally discovered a way to travel at light speed. They learnt that their poop could fuel light speed travel jets. This discovery happened when 2 teenagers decided it would be funny to throw poop from space onto unsuspecting citizens using there space drones as a prank. Those 2 teenagers got a prize equivalent of Nobel prize. Ofcourse with this discovery it meant ooblaohmylalalbulabu could now finally capture a new planet and expand their operations. "I have it right here Sir". Replied the commander handing over a very slim file to him. On planet "Here" the older you get the higher you are in the rank, but the higher the rank the lower the position. So being a commander means you have to go out and collect Intel, Intelligent stuff that requires experience whereas mind numbing paperwork stuff are left to privates and younger generation who are just the middle man to screamed at from the actual leaders like presidents, prime ministers, tap minister. "Finally, let's go through this again one more time.. I cannot make a mistake right now.. I only joined 2 weeks back and have been yelled at for 2 weeks straight." Said the young soldier with fear in his eyes. "Don't worry Sir, Everything is here just the way prime minister wanted. Everything about the planet Earth and how we can easily capture it. Rest assured this is years of research, nothing can go wrong with it." Replied the commander while trying to calm the soldier who seemed to be having an anxiety attack. "Fine, I will take this to him right now and hope for the best" says the soldier as he leaves for the office of Prime Minister. At the office of Prime Minister, which is really a small tiny cabinet as the people of 'Here' believe in using taxpayers money for right stuff like healthcare and education, to have a giant office for a public servant would mean an atrocity. The bigger the position of the man smaller the office. This is why when it comes to hiring janitors almost everyone on 'Here' applies, you get the best office, best house and you don't have to clean a lot except for some tiny cabinets. It is the sweetest gig anyone can get. As soldier sits down opposite the Prime Minister, barely managing to fit on his chair the minister is going over the thin file to assess the plan to capture Earth. "So your best strategy is to go via Russia?" The prime minister asks with a WTF look on his face. The soldier worried that he is going to get another yelling, rushes to answer "Yes Sir, They are the number one economy, they are spread out around the planet, they have the largest land area bigger then Pluto and over all that large area they seem to live in one corner of it. We can easily take that entire region and from there capture everything else." "Sounds good, when do we do this?" Asks Prime Minister with a satisfied answer face. "During December Sir, that is when 99% of the planet is closed, so nobody will be able to help them, the winter might be a bit chilly but I am sure we can handle it, it shouldn't be that hard since they roam around in loafers." replies soldier now bit more relaxed. "I am liking what I am hearing, the plan works, is sound and I am approving it. Good luck soldier. " Prime minister stamping the file and making a hand gesture asking him to leave. "Thanks sir, I won't disappoint" Says the soldier feeling confident leaving the cabinet office. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- My 4th WP first try at sort of building a world, would love critiques, feedback and advice. Thanks
	[WP] Rule no. 1 in war is to avoid invading Russia in winter. Clearly, the aliens have no idea about this.	The invasion had failed. Not immediately, but slowly. Inexorably, the attack slowed and then stalled, then ground to a halt. Of course, they owned about half the planet but to be perfectly honest Grindle wasn’t sure if the occupied areas were any safer than the contested. The continents the natives called the Americas were under occupation and there was some modicum of good news there. Factories were being retooled, some manufacturing capability was coming on line. Losing the second of two manufacturing ships had been a massive blow to their plans; and the sustainment of their forces was deeply in question. They were lucky they hadn’t lost both. The Americans had been very resourceful, and quite duplicitous. He hated the Americans, especially the northern ones. They were unruly and had a natural inclination to refuse authority. But they’d largely been brought to heel. Still, it had cost dearly. Well, truth was every attack had cost dearly. The area the Americans called Asia was simply left alone after the bulk of their air forces and navies had been smashed. It was a secondary goal initially but now they just didn’t have the forces to subdue it. That was probably for the best, each culture on that part of the globe seemed to have a bigger death wish than the last. Several small attacks to secure resources and confiscate nuclear weapons have been literally fought to the last half man. He still couldn’t believe what had happened in North Korea. He’d never even imagined a thing like that was possible. He’d lost the most elite force he’d had there. So, they pulled out, then made an example of Tokyo and Beijing. Things had been quiet there lately, too quiet actually. Most of what remained of his reserve forces were garrisoning the Americas. Too many by half and twice what had been estimated. The area called the Middle East had been attacked enough to reduce their air forces to manageable levels and there hadn’t been much in the way of sea forces there anyway. They hadn’t done much as far as ground operations there. Early on he had planned and executed two attacks against the tiny country called Israel and the larger one called Iran. They’d won but the losses had been appalling. He wasn’t sure which had been worse. The smaller had been better equipped but they both fought much harder than intel had estimated. To be fair the whole planet had. He’d lost forces to primitives in the large rain forest in South America and on small islands in the Pacific. If reports were to be believed, a patrol had been ambushed, the warriors beheaded and then eaten. He wasn’t sure he believed that, but something bad had happened there. Bizarrely one of the native cultures in New Zealand had a war dance eerily similar to his people’s own. Intel had deemed Australia to be of little consequence, the plan had been to beat down their air force with the expectation they would fall in line when the rest of the world capitulated. That didn’t happen of course and the Australians were probably worse thieves and liars than the Americans. He’d tried on several occasions to pacify Africa, the largest landmass and brimming with resources but found more incredibly effective, technologically backwards, resistance. He had to admire the Zulus, and at last twenty or more other large tribes that lived in various places on that continent. Especially the ones in the forests. He really hated forests, it was the most alien of the landscapes they had encountered. There was no parallel on his world of plains, steppes and rolling hills. And that left Europe, and Russia. Europe had been the second main theater and nearly as hard a fight as America. They seemed to have fewer weapons among the civilians. At least initially, which helped. But now, now they’re indistinguishable from the Americans. An insurgent behind every bush. Still, they had won. If just. Then he’d invaded Russia. That’s where the grind to halt part of the failure happened. Until Russia they still had hope of a full world conquest. The fighting had been bad, much worse than anticipated, still their technological edge, though not as much as they had thought, was considerable. Their freedom of movement from space and the relatively quick wresting of air superiority had given them the edge they needed. The sea forces had been easily destroyed. Except for the submarines. Submarines had not been anticipated, at least not anticipated to be as effective as they were. He wasn’t sure how they’d missed that, but it had been noted and intel was cleaning up that little issue. The next world with this much water would bear closer scrutiny. The air war had lasted a bit longer. The humans were masters of subterfuge, and had hidden not a small amount of their air forces in various places. Each culture and country we different. Sometimes they were dispersed, sometimes they were in caves, or tunnels or below bridges. Their air forces were fairly effective if they could get to the transports or hit ground forces unopposed. Of course, it had been the Americans who had downed the factory ship with a previously unknown type of aircraft several months into the war. Where they had been hidden, and how they had managed to employ some of his own weapons from them against the ship was still unknown and had been a nasty surprise, to say the least. Even with all of those challenges and setbacks, they had still had a chance. Until Russia. Russia had been something else entirely. He’s committed everything he had to pacify them. If he could have straddled the majority of Europe, owned the whole of the Americas and threatened Asia from the west it would only be a matter of time. The invasion of the world had started in the northern hemisphere’s spring. It was to be done by mid-summer. That’s what the estimates had been. But it drug on until late summer and into September before the Americans quit, and then the British and finally the Germans. Though they only quit organized fighting. They still fought, what they called guerilla warfare. So he’d regrouped, pulled every reserve off the ships, brought as many form the Americas as he could, and planned an invasion of Russia. If he could subdue them, the rest of the globe would eventually follow. Now it was December and Grindle was looking out the window of large building in a city called Kursk, watching the wind whip through the streets carrying enough frozen precipitation to bury a tank in an hour. And that’s exactly what it was doing. His taloned feet scratched irritably at the floor, a nervous tic common to his people. This cold, this snow, this ice. He hated it, he hated it with a passion. He let out a slow whistle thought his short beak. This was not going well, no not at all.	The year is 2109, planet Earth now only has one season. Winter. Year round it is cold except that in some areas it is moderate cold like in Hawaii whereas in areas like Russia it is extremely cold. The weather ofcourse dips even more from November to January. Going to such low temperatures that the 99% of the countries just shut down and every single person has to stay indoor. No office, no school, no grocery shopping and if you run out of toilet paper.. Good luck using a bidet. Their house becomes their cocoon. Of course the one country that does not shut down during this period, the country where kids roam the streets in -degree temperature wearing nothing but loafers and boxers, the country which many tried to take over during winter only to lose and fall back, the country where cold is warm, very cold is also warm and extreme cold is simply a bother, Russia. Scientists had concluded that over the long history of cold weather in Russia, Russian citizens had developed a unique gene that allowed them to bear new heights of cold weather. There ability to tolerate extreme temperatures had made them a Global Economic Powerhouse. The three months the rest of the countries were shutdown, Russia prospered throughout the world, delivering food, running business, they were the only ones working. Needless to say a lot of countries and their leaders were jealous, the only leaders who were not jealous actually lived 1 light year away from planet Earth planning to capture it. "Where is the intel that I asked for Commander?" Yelled the soldier at his commander. The soldier, the commander and all the others were a species of ooblaohmylalalbulabu from planet 'Here' which is short for * H hiii * E eeegge * R rolseed * E eeege A planet one light year away, Planet Here had finally discovered a way to travel at light speed. They learnt that their poop could fuel light speed travel jets. This discovery happened when 2 teenagers decided it would be funny to throw poop from space onto unsuspecting citizens using there space drones as a prank. Those 2 teenagers got a prize equivalent of Nobel prize. Ofcourse with this discovery it meant ooblaohmylalalbulabu could now finally capture a new planet and expand their operations. "I have it right here Sir". Replied the commander handing over a very slim file to him. On planet "Here" the older you get the higher you are in the rank, but the higher the rank the lower the position. So being a commander means you have to go out and collect Intel, Intelligent stuff that requires experience whereas mind numbing paperwork stuff are left to privates and younger generation who are just the middle man to screamed at from the actual leaders like presidents, prime ministers, tap minister. "Finally, let's go through this again one more time.. I cannot make a mistake right now.. I only joined 2 weeks back and have been yelled at for 2 weeks straight." Said the young soldier with fear in his eyes. "Don't worry Sir, Everything is here just the way prime minister wanted. Everything about the planet Earth and how we can easily capture it. Rest assured this is years of research, nothing can go wrong with it." Replied the commander while trying to calm the soldier who seemed to be having an anxiety attack. "Fine, I will take this to him right now and hope for the best" says the soldier as he leaves for the office of Prime Minister. At the office of Prime Minister, which is really a small tiny cabinet as the people of 'Here' believe in using taxpayers money for right stuff like healthcare and education, to have a giant office for a public servant would mean an atrocity. The bigger the position of the man smaller the office. This is why when it comes to hiring janitors almost everyone on 'Here' applies, you get the best office, best house and you don't have to clean a lot except for some tiny cabinets. It is the sweetest gig anyone can get. As soldier sits down opposite the Prime Minister, barely managing to fit on his chair the minister is going over the thin file to assess the plan to capture Earth. "So your best strategy is to go via Russia?" The prime minister asks with a WTF look on his face. The soldier worried that he is going to get another yelling, rushes to answer "Yes Sir, They are the number one economy, they are spread out around the planet, they have the largest land area bigger then Pluto and over all that large area they seem to live in one corner of it. We can easily take that entire region and from there capture everything else." "Sounds good, when do we do this?" Asks Prime Minister with a satisfied answer face. "During December Sir, that is when 99% of the planet is closed, so nobody will be able to help them, the winter might be a bit chilly but I am sure we can handle it, it shouldn't be that hard since they roam around in loafers." replies soldier now bit more relaxed. "I am liking what I am hearing, the plan works, is sound and I am approving it. Good luck soldier. " Prime minister stamping the file and making a hand gesture asking him to leave. "Thanks sir, I won't disappoint" Says the soldier feeling confident leaving the cabinet office. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- My 4th WP first try at sort of building a world, would love critiques, feedback and advice. Thanks
	[WP] Rule no. 1 in war is to avoid invading Russia in winter. Clearly, the aliens have no idea about this.	The commander cursed loudly. "You'd think after so many millennia of fighting the Pinutsiz we'd have learned to deal with cold conditions!" he screamed, red in the face, kicking at anything he thought might move with the impact. But the resistance had gained a great deal of momentum in... what did the humans call the place? Central Europe?... and the supply lines were a complete mess. "Give me the deserts any day," he muttered morosely, calming down to look at his tactical display. His people thrived in hot environments; cold did not treat them as well. Their main rivals thrived in far colder environments than they did; the Dełani had the advantage of tremendous heat tolerance. That advantage was wasted here on the outskirts of Moscow. The commander shuddered at the prospect of fighting his way through the mountains to the east and through... what was it called again? Siberia? during this season. He almost hoped to be held up in the mountains until the spring. But he would do his duty as best he could. He shivered and tightened his hood. "Screw snow," he muttered. "Bogs down infantry. Tanks and antigrav bikes rush right over it, but..." And then his eyes lit up, and he laughed evilly. He opened a comm channel to his comrades in orbit. "Can we get a solar reflector or an infrared beam over Sector 925 down here? You do that, and keep it just ahead of my position, and I'll hit Moscow by week's end..." The voice on the other end of the comm indicated assent, and he warned his men to put on polarized faceplates. Can't force your way through the winter? Kill it. He laughed maniacally as the sky brightened and the temperature rose. Russia's greatest weapon began to melt away before his eyes...	Deep in the storm, the clouds parted. Reflections of snow-capped mountain peaks flew past its metallic coat as it descended. But it was taking its time. Before it had even hit the ground, it was surrounded by tanks, soldiers, and helicopters. A general in a coat heavy with medals barked orders from a bullhorn. The metallic thing landed, and the snow from the ground blew away. The general had to hold onto his hat and the helicopters swerved. Another object parted the sky, landing slightly ahead of the other one. This one moved a lot faster. The general sounded the order to fire, and a peppering of explosions broke the stillness of the winter land. Barrage after barrage of bullets, artillery, and rockets clattered against the first object. But it neither returned fire nor deployed any troops. Indeed, its slick surface did not seem to allow for such measures. The force of the second object striking the ground was far greater. Tanks blew away. Soldiers unfortunate enough to be caught in the blast were carried fifty feet in the air. And then the first object began to rise. The number one rule in war is to avoid invading Russia in the winter. But there exist beings not bound to the laws of men. As hundreds more of these strange objects landed, the general trembled in fear. For he realized they were feet. [subreddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/Tensingstories/)
	[WP] You open the front door and walk right in. Grab a beer from the fridge and take a seat next to a complete stranger. The owner of the house, you guess.	It never fails. Swing the door open, step right in, pause just long enough to make eye contact and give that little nod of recognition, then move on toward the kitchen. This guy was middle-aged and a bit overweight, as I expected. He did the usual double take and hesitation, too. He actually got up from his couch, at least. Lots of them just sit there on their behinds and sputter. “Hey, uh,” he said, his voice rising as his brain started to belatedly dump an ocean of adrenaline into his bloodstream. I could almost see the wire-thin noose of fear closing around his throat. “Hey man, I think, I think you got the wrong place?” My back was to him now, and I held up my right hand in a hold on gesture as I opened his fridge with my left. It contained a carton of juice, three jars of mustard, and a twelve of Rolling Rock beer. I took one of these, popped the top, and took a big draught as I turned to walk back to the couch. The guy hadn’t moved. He started to say, “What do you think you’re doing? I didn’t…” I stopped just a meter in front of him. It also never fails that a guy who is out of shape and wearing only pajamas or (in his case) sweatpants won’t try to get physical when you’re a little taller than him and wearing work boots, new jeans, a leather jacket and a black trilby. “Are you listening?” he continued, his voice by now almost a squeak. I sat down slowly, took another sip of his beer, and gestured for him to sit. The guy ran a hand through his now-sweaty hair. He started to say something, swallowed, and then sat down. I kept my eyes on his, waiting. It wasn’t long before he looked away and his shoulders slumped. To finish asserting who was in charge, I pointed at the TV. His sullen look didn’t make it all the way to my face. He picked up the remote and turned the set off. Sometimes they fumble with multiple remotes, or try to just mute the sound, but this guy got right down to it and turned it off. He sat back and crossed his arms, brooding. I took another sip and then sat still, just watching him. It didn’t take long. “You’re here for something,” he said. A statement, not a question. His voice was shaky, but closer now to a normal pitch. I didn’t move; I just kept looking at him. The really fun part was about to begin. “It’s money, isn’t it?” He risked a glance toward my face, but I remained impassive. “I…” he stammered. “I thought I was taking out a bank loan, you know? Like from an institution, where they don’t send someone to your house when you’re late paying one lousy time, right? I’m having a little trouble this month, that’s all. I can give you some of it now. If you, if you want?” He looked at me hopefully. I shook my head ever so slightly. The guessing game continued. “You mean part of it isn’t enough? Or… or what? I thought that was what a shakedown was. Is this a shakedown? Uh… am I using that word right?” I shook my head again. “No, I’m not using the word right, or no, this is about something else?” He was starting to get frantic again. I couldn’t help smiling just a little as I nodded. I leaned back and took another sip of his beer. “Oh. Uh, ok,” he said, he ran his fingers through his hair again and looked around as though searching for clues. At last, he started again. “Is it Vanessa? Did she say something? Because she told me she wouldn’t, as long as I took care of… As long as I did what I promised. Did she? Is it…” I shook my head. This was getting good. The guy kept looking around. He was quite flummoxed. He wiped his hands on his pants repeatedly and kept looking toward a little two-drawer file cabinet that was jammed under his breakfast table. It must have concealed money, a weapon, or both. Or maybe even some kind of evidence, but I wasn’t there for any of those things. He started reasoning out loud. “You’re not a cop, or a fed, because you would have shown me a badge or a warrant or something. So,” He paused. He was getting upset again. “What, are you looking for that library book that must be twenty years overdue?” I shook my head. “Wait. The Moose lodge! You’re from the Order of the Moose, aren’t you? I told you guys that wasn’t my fault, that pipe would have busted if I’d been there or not! I paid you more than I ever should have already!” I shook my head again. “Not them. Uh…” His eyes took on the glazed stare of desperation. His hands gestured helplessly. He looked at me full on, then, totally out of ideas. I took another sip, and something lit up back in there. “A beer! You’re…” his hands flailed as he dredged up some woefully dim memory. “You were that guy in Mexico City! We were stranded at the airport bar and you bought me a beer and I never got the second round! That was you!” I smiled at his pitiful grasping, and shook my head. “It wasn’t? That wasn’t you? Um. Oh, I thought… Maybe…” He went from defeated back to frantic as I reached one hand beneath my jacket. “No, no!” he begged. “Please don’t shoot me, just tell me…” As he watched in abject misery, I leisurely scratched an itch under my right arm that had been bothering me, then put my hand back on my knee as it had been. The guy blubbered for a moment and then went quiet again. In a much softer tone, somewhere between a whisper and a whimper, he said “Please tell me why you’re here.” He stopped talking, stopped gesturing, recrossed his arms, and just stared at an oily stain on the couch cushion. He was done. It hadn’t taken very long; I could have dragged it out longer, but it was enough. I finished the beer in one swallow and casually tossed the bottle toward the kitchen. His eyes tracked it, and he cringed a little as it thumped on the rug and clattered across the tiles. When the bottle came to a rest, I clapped my hands together and leaned forward, my elbows resting on my knees. I pushed my hat back a little and cleared my throat. “You once had a username,” I said conversationally. The guy’s left eye twitched ever so slightly. I continued, “It contained a euphemism. It had to do with a certain kind of boating.” His eyes locked onto mine. He knew just what I meant. He kept silent, but now he radiated white-hot confusion. “You downloaded a book. It was the only thing you did with that account.” I let that fact sink in, watching the swirl of emotions on his face. “I wrote that book. You know which one. It was mine, and you downloaded it on this day, five years ago.” “But… But it was… It was free. There was no charge for it. You’re here because I downloaded a book that was free?” His expression was priceless. “You owe me,” I said simply. “Not money, of course. There was no money involved, as you correctly pointed out. Nevertheless, you owe me.” “What!?” Now he had swung all the way through incredulity, straight to inchoate anger; it was simply beautiful. “What can I possibly owe you for a free book? How do I even know you’re the stinkin’ author or that I owe you anything at all?” I smiled. “Who else would know the things I’ve laid out for you? Your debt is spelled out in the license agreement, you can read it any time. You do, in fact, owe me.” He regarded me warily. “You owe me a story. You’ve made some good starts. Your loan, the girl, the library book (shame on you), the lodge, the traveler you stiffed, and a few more, if I’m not mistaken. Take your pick, and tell me the whole story. All of it.” I smiled broadly. “Go on, we’ve got all night.”	"Comfortable couch." I said as I opened my ice cold beer. After a contemplative pause, with an inquisitive grimace, the man thanked me. I could feel the tension behind his glaring eyes. "I'm Owen." I said as I offered my hand. "Stan," He replied, shaking my hand. "Do I know you?" "Before today? Nope." I said, taking another sip. I saw the tv remote on Stan's armrest, and reached for it. Stan picked it up and placed it in my hand. "Thanks." "What is this?" Stan asked. I didn't want to say it, but Stan deserved to know. He'd already been more accommodating than he needed to be. "This," I hesitated. "Is the end of the line." "What?" Stan was visibly nervous now. "Wednesday, at five fifty-two pm." I looked at my watch. "Look outside, Stan." Stan slowly made his way to the window. I could tell by his body language that he was contemplating going for the door, but ultimately decided against it. When he peaked through the curtain I expected to see that look, the one that envelopes everyone the moment they learn their fate. But Stan didn't flinch. He turned around and went to the hall closet, grabbing a large black case. After a couple of popping sounds, he pulled out a rifle, and began loading it. "It's about goddamn time." He said. Now I was wearing a grimace of confusion. I put down my beer and looked outside, wondering what the hell he saw that might make him think humanity stood a chance. "Hey Owen?" Stan asked while he harnessed his rifle over his shoulder. Without looking at me he continued. "If you're not here to fight, you can leave." In all my trips I had yet to encounter a survivor. There had obviously been several, otherwise I wouldn't be here, but they were so few and far between I never expected to meet one. "I'm not here to fight, I'm here to learn." I told him. "How far back have you come?" He asked me. He seemed to have put the pieces together already, which I had yet to see any subject do. "One hundred years." I said. "We bounce back, but..." "Yep." Stan knew where I was going with it. "I don't know your future, Owen." Stan said as he shoved some assorted items into a back pack. "But I do know one thing. This ain't the end of the line for me." I believed him. A proud smile contorted my face. After all these trips back, I finally found a survivor. One of the few that would not only survive, but fight back and secure the future--my future. I knew how the fighters would repel the attack, and eventually win, and at what cost. I never imagined the deep resolve it would require, and how huge one of those people would seem when I met them. Stan, moments ago just a man on a couch, was transforming into a war hero before my eyes. We invented time travel after the attack, using their technology. What we didn't know at the time was that you can't change anything when you go back--no matter how hard you try. Whatever you do takes place in a separate time line. Your own is always unaffected. So time travel was relegated to studying, instead. We learn about the past to get a better understanding of what happened during and immediately after the invasion. "Thank you, Stan." I said. I had about thirty seconds to hit return, otherwise I'd be stuck in my new friend's world. The device on my arm began sounding the alarm, urging me to get back. Stan seemed to know what that meant. "Good bye, Owen." In my time line, it would take thirty or forty years for surviving factions to band together and begin shaping society as I would come to know it. There were stories, lots of conflicting stories supported by manipulated accounts and propaganda woven throughout. What was society before the invasion? What should it be? Where I would eventually come from, there is a centralized world government that splits society between loyalists and rejects. I am employed by the government, and before I started making trips back in time I considered myself a loyalist. But every time I get a taste of the past I sense something inside me changing. The final five beeps sound loudly, warning me that I had to get back now or never. "Stan," I said as the final beep echoed in the room. "Where can we find me a gun?"
	[WP] You and a bunch of friends are out camping, sitting around the fire and telling ghost stories. Suddenly, the fire turns a bright green, a ghost stepping out of it and sitting on a log. "That's cute, but let me tell you a REAL ghost story straight from the afterlife."	“Let me tell you the story of the Husk,” the ghost spoke. The ghost was a man in his late twenties or early thirties, dressed in jeans and flannel. Everything about him seemed like a real person, except gaps in his hands that showed bone without a hint of blood. There were five kids gathered around the fire - two boys and three girls. Marco surreptitiously examined the ghost for wires and makeup. Jack leaned forward, his mouth a huge grin. Eleanor seemed terrified of the ghost, and refused to look at him. Maria crossed herself, and quietly muttered the Lord’s prayer. Sam was the only one who seemed unimpressed. It had been her turn to tell a story next. She folded her arms as if to say “this had better be good”. “The soul and the body are connected. The death of the body will naturally sever this connection, and allow a ghost to pass on to the other side. But when something truly terrible happens, the soul itself can be damaged, and it will remain trapped here.” He gestured with his hands while he talked. They could hear bone clack against bone. Scraps of skin flaked off. His tone was light and conversational, like a geography teacher telling about his favorite mesopotamian region. “Excuse me, Mr. Ghost,” Jack asked. “How did you die?” “Just let him finish,” Sam said. She waved her hand. Keep going. “The Husk was a father. Early on, he was more. He was a student, a teacher, and someone who liked to party on the weekends.” He grinned, and his lips cracked, skin tearing open. Eleanor buried her face in her hands. “After he had a child, he settled down and became much more responsible. The mother had decided not to raise the baby, so he knew that the responsibility was all his. He did his best to teach his baby girl right from wrong, and how to make friends.” Jack looked confused. There was no bloodshed so far. Maria had closed her eyes, and was thinking of her own dead father. “His daughter grew up, and as she became stronger, she wanted freedom. The Husk thought it was important to let learn independence. She could fall, and he would be there to pick her back up.” Marco was barely listening, currently examining the fire to see where the ghost could have come from originally. “Boric acid and copper sulfate, either would work, but-” he muttered to himself. “One day, the girl fell too far, and there was nothing the Husk could do.” The ghost clenched his fists. A faint green light was shining in his eyes. “The soul was damaged, but the body kept on living. The Husk spent the last years of its life miserable and alone. It died knowing its life had made no difference to anyone.” Maria was shivering, face white. There was a long silence, then Jack and Sam spoke at the same time. “And then it started ripping people’s heads off?” “That was it?” “Mythbusters disproved the existence of a soul,” Marco added wisely. “That was it,” the ghost confirmed. “Okay! Well, in my story, there was an old woman. One night, she began having strange, HORRIBLE dreams.” “Sam, hold on.” Jack turned his puppy dog eyes on. “Do you have any good stories, Mr. Ghost?” “I do have one more. The story of the Daredevil.” “Oooooh, yes!” He was hopping up and down in his seat. “Tell that one!” “Very well. Let me see, where does it start?” He scratched absentmindedly at his face, bony fingers digging deep into flesh. His jaw was exposed. Through a hole in his cheek, they could see his tongue move when he talked. “The Daredevil was a girl about your age. She was very strong and brave. “The Daredevil loved animals more than anything. When she was only eight years old, she rode a horse for the first time. By the time she was ten years old, she was winning races against older competitors. She grew so strong that she never believed she could make a mistake. “When the Daredevil was small, she saw the movie Jaws, and boasted that she would never be scared of a shark like that. When she went to the beach, she swam in a shark cage and proved that she was right. Even when the shark banged against the bars, she wasn’t frightened. “The Daredevil did whatever her heart desired. She jumped out of planes. She snowboarded down the toughest mountain trails. But there was one thing she never could do. Swim across that lake.” The kids all glanced where he pointed. The fire had been built by the lake’s shore, so they had a great view. The lake was maybe thirty feet across, and had a sandy bottom, no deeper than ten feet anywhere. Jack laughed. “I could do that.” “Prove it, and I’ll tell you the story of the Bloodgusher Spikebandit.” The green glow in the ghost’s eyes was growing stronger. “Anyone with the athletic ability to ride horses and snowboard down mountains would easily cross that lake,” Marco protested. “A real Mythbuster would test that theory.” “I don’t want to hear about the Bloodgusher Spikebandit. I want to tell my haunted grandma story.” Sam was throughly fed up with this ghost’s stories. No one even died in the last one. “If you don’t cross that lake, I’m going to stay here until sunrise.” He glanced at Maria, but she shook her head. She walked away, back to her cabin. Her mother had told her not to mess with spirits. The ghost got to his feet. Popping sounds came from his joints. He shook his sleeves and the legs of his pants, and piles of hair and skin littered the ground around him. All that was left now was bone and glowing green eyes. “Let’s see it then!” he called out, and the three kids participating jumped in the lake. “You’re so embarrassing, Dad,” Eleanor said. He just smiled and ruffled her hair. “I just want you to make friends at camp this year.” Bubbles rose to the lake’s surface. ______________________________________________________ 32/365. Constructive criticism welcome and appreciated.	"It was 1922 and some man by the name of Jacob Lane had a moonshine run going. Jacob wasn't the wisest man so one night his buddies and he were out cooking the moonshine and it went up in smoke," the figure said. "What happened to Jacob?" said one of the friends, not even realizing he was talking to a ghost. "Well son," the ghost said, "Quite a bit happened to Jacob. The cooker went up in flames and buried every one of those men and the still under the ground of that grassy knoll. Legend has it the smugglers in the Lake could see a flame so tall it dwarfed the Eiffel Tower. Now I know that ain't true. When Jacob realized he was dead, he ran for it 'cause he knew he was too devilish for heaven and he was too dumb to survive in hell. What he didn't realize was that you can't outrun the devil's folks, they're a nasty bunch. He went half way round the world and scared some buddhist monk off a cliff just 'cause the devil thought it was funny. Then he came back to these woods and the fire and stupidity that lit up that still, so they say, lights up the hearts of the swimmers who don't come back. See I know the devil sent somebody to get him, and I know he did so, but I don't think he got all of ol' Jacob. That man was a wild one. See, I think theres a bit of 'im that gets in campers like you folk and then he sends you to the bottom of the lake. In 1932, 1942, 1952, and even 1962, somebody drowned in that lake while they was drunk. Each of those days was the 10 year anniversary of Jacob's demise. I bet you boys know what this year is." "1972 of course!" one of the boys said, "You always gotta scare us at the end." "You know, that wasn't that bad," one of the other friends said, he went to thank him, but realized he didn't know the man. "How are you?" he said. "Azazel," he said, "I'm the one who picked up Jacob." Azazel picked up two more the next day. They drowned in the lake.
	[WP] You and a bunch of friends are out camping, sitting around the fire and telling ghost stories. Suddenly, the fire turns a bright green, a ghost stepping out of it and sitting on a log. "That's cute, but let me tell you a REAL ghost story straight from the afterlife."	"You have no idea how good it feels to sit on a log, and have it feel like a log," the ghost grumbled. He looked like an older man, perhaps fifty years old, with a long beard whose body was entirely translucent white. His throat was slashed in several places. He looked at the five college-aged boys and girls sitting around the fire, each of their mouths agape. "W-who are you?" stuttered one of the girls. She clung closer to her boyfriend, but his face was even paler than hers. "My name's not important," the ghost said. "But what is important is setting the story straight here. I've been listening to you five telling 'ghost stories' for the past hour, and between the cannibal hitchhikers and basement-children, none of you have even come close to something remotely scary." The five kids stared back in confusion. Billy, one of the boys, crossed his arms. He'd thought his story with the surprise ending of the phone call coming from inside the house had been pretty good. "Let me tell you a real ghost story," the ghost said. "I'll tell you something that will scare your pants off. I'll tell you what the afterlife is really like." The five kids' eyes grew wide, reflecting the lime-green flames of the fire. The ghost took a deep breath and laid a tired hand on his leg. "It's called the Law of Conservation of Consciousness," the ghost said. "When something living dies, its consciousness has to go somewhere. And that somewhere is the afterlife. Anytime a living creature dies, its hopes, dreams, hates, experiences, all of it spill out into the eternal void like oil splattered on a canvas. "Now you can imagine, just one human, just one animal, just one plant, just one cell, might paint a pretty picture of consciousness when it dies. But then another dies, and the layers mix, and another dies, and the layers mix. Repeat it a trillion trillion times, and all beauty is gone. "The void is everything, the projected consciousness of all life's experiences coalesced into one churning and bubbling eternal orgy of chaos. There is no logic. Effect proceeds cause. Colors have tastes and smells have sounds, each one screaming to be heard and tasted above the others. "Worst of all, there's no escape. There's no waking from the nightmare. You only get to fall down into deeper, darker levels, wishing you could go back, but not even knowing if it's your wish or the wish of a million other perished souls each struggling to drag their memory-claws through your shared agony, hoping to climb out of the abyss, but sinking deeper with every slash. "The scariest thing? It's not demons, hellfire, or even cannibals. It's eternity itself. Inescapable. Irrational. Infinite." The ghost stood up, brushed himself off, and walked to the green fire. "Well, it's been fun kids," he said. "But I can only stay for so long." Four of them stared in silence, but Billy stood up. "Wait!" he called to the ghost. "If that's all true, and the afterlife is inescapable and stuff, then how are you here?" The ghost looked at him. "Every now and then, you can come back to a spot that you have a powerful connection with." "What was your connection to this spot?" Billy asked. The ghost stepped into the flames and started to disappear. "I died here. Oh, and the thing that tore my throat to shreds, it's real close. And its hungry." ***** This prompt was written with the help of chat at the [ScottWritesStuff](https://www.twitch.tv/scottwritesstuff/) Twitch stream.	"It was 1922 and some man by the name of Jacob Lane had a moonshine run going. Jacob wasn't the wisest man so one night his buddies and he were out cooking the moonshine and it went up in smoke," the figure said. "What happened to Jacob?" said one of the friends, not even realizing he was talking to a ghost. "Well son," the ghost said, "Quite a bit happened to Jacob. The cooker went up in flames and buried every one of those men and the still under the ground of that grassy knoll. Legend has it the smugglers in the Lake could see a flame so tall it dwarfed the Eiffel Tower. Now I know that ain't true. When Jacob realized he was dead, he ran for it 'cause he knew he was too devilish for heaven and he was too dumb to survive in hell. What he didn't realize was that you can't outrun the devil's folks, they're a nasty bunch. He went half way round the world and scared some buddhist monk off a cliff just 'cause the devil thought it was funny. Then he came back to these woods and the fire and stupidity that lit up that still, so they say, lights up the hearts of the swimmers who don't come back. See I know the devil sent somebody to get him, and I know he did so, but I don't think he got all of ol' Jacob. That man was a wild one. See, I think theres a bit of 'im that gets in campers like you folk and then he sends you to the bottom of the lake. In 1932, 1942, 1952, and even 1962, somebody drowned in that lake while they was drunk. Each of those days was the 10 year anniversary of Jacob's demise. I bet you boys know what this year is." "1972 of course!" one of the boys said, "You always gotta scare us at the end." "You know, that wasn't that bad," one of the other friends said, he went to thank him, but realized he didn't know the man. "How are you?" he said. "Azazel," he said, "I'm the one who picked up Jacob." Azazel picked up two more the next day. They drowned in the lake.
	[WP] You wake up a week after your death, in a coffin, by a phone ringing in your pocket.	When I was a child, I feared the inevitable fact that I was going to die and that everyone around me was going to die. It’s inescapable, there’s no way around it, but I guess overtime I accepted it, I was young I had an entire life ahead of myself, and even though that day would come around sometime, I had made it my mission to live to the fullest. I truthfully didn’t know I was going to die when I did, a normal day, I was out for coffee and had plans to take my wife out to a movie that night and a luxurious dinner and night out on town, but someone else had other plans. A shooting, a drive by to be exact, and I was in the crossfire. The police determined it as a stray bullet, penetrated my heart pretty much, or so I think. But that wasn’t the end of my problems, more so the beginning of my end. The first thing I noticed was the darkness, then how silent it was, a steady ringing in my ear of nothing, until the phone rang, and it seemed like all at once the world was crashing around me. The steady vibration of the phone in my pocket scared me, I clumsily grabbed for it and it felt like I was nothing but bone, maybe a week or two weeks at the most, I was still there but not all the way there. I grabbed the phone finally and answered it, not daring to look at the screen. “H..h..hello?” I asked, in a rather croaky and hoarse voice, pretty bone chilling even to myself. “Good I was hoping you’d answer, my names Edwin Drotting, but in these parts of the world, I’m known as The Collector.” The mans voice was smooth, and calming, I assumed even under an enormous amount of stress and hard times, his voice never faltered and he kept the same level of calmness. “I’m sure you’ve got plenty of questions, and I can assure you I’ve got plenty of answers, but before that begins I need to know a few things about yourself. Get yourself ready I’ll be there in 5 minutes or less.” With that my first friend Edwin Drotting hung the phone up on his end and left me in total silence and confusion for one of the last times in my life. What was I supposed to do? Get ready, hell I was already dressed in my Sunday’s best. I had a phone somehow and I guess that’s all I really needed. My thoughts were cut short by a thumping noise that grew louder and louder by the second. Before it became a loud pounding on the coffin I resided in. “HEY ITS YOUR NEW BUD EDWIN, I’M ABOUT TO OPEN YOUR COFFIN, YOU MIGHT BE TEMPORARILY BLINDED BUT ITS COOL I GOT A NEW PAIR OF EYES FOR YOU!” The coffin door caved in, dirt and residue of the earth around me fell in immediately. But I could tell I was no longer six feet under but on the surface, a hand reached out and helped me up, still dazed and confused I tried to look around, the world around me shocked me. It was mostly barren, a few dead trees and shriveled up foliage thrown about here and there. A dry wind came through every so often, making it known that it was going to be humid or at least a very dry and hot day or season I don’t know which anymore. “Where am I?” In my confusion I could make out Edwin, he wore a large cape, almost like a trench coat, a large black top hat that was worn out from years upon years of abuse, holstered in his hips were two ancient revolvers and about five yards from the coffin was a rather odd looking creature, it resembled a cat, but also a dog. Now that I think to it, it morphed it’s form every few days. But that’s another story. Edwin chuckled and clapped me on the back. “You’re in the Collection Zone bud, count your blessings or whatever you want to count that I found you before any of these other self righteous harbingers out here.” His face was a dull gray color, and I could make out rotted and missing patches of skin across his face. On his right cheek he had no skin and I was able to see inside of his mouth, but for some reason it didn’t register as creepy, I seemed to accept it for what it is was. “I know you’re probably steaming with questions to ask, and I said I had answers, but really right here is not the time or the place for a good ole Q and A. There’s a small tavern not far from here, the lady that runs the joint likes me, so she won’t mind if I bring in a fresh one like yourself.” Edwin helped me out of the coffin and let me rest against him as I tried to work my legs to no avail. “I can’t use my legs..” I was barely able to get the words out and it seemed it was getting harder and harder to concentrate, that’s when I noticed the growing feeling of a burning hot hatred brewing in the back of my mind. “Ah yes, don’t worry about it bud, when we get this here tavern, Emilia will have just the thing to get you going” Drotting looked at me and smiled or at least I think he smiled. “Just a tip, don’t give in to that anger or hatred you’re feeling, everyone feels it, but if you give into it, you’re a goner and well you don’t wanna see what happens when you’re a goner” Edwin half drag, half carried me and laid me across his mounts back, before mounting it himself, I let my mind wander or at least what I thought was my mind, back to my wife. Her lovely smile and the way she would sing and comb her hair at night, and I wondered to myself if that restaurant had kept our reservation that night or if they had given it away to another couple. Before long we were moving and for being almost a bag of bones, the steady flow of the creatures body was soothing, soothing enough that it lead me into a state of meditation, and before long I was practically sleeping or what the folks around here call a dazin. This was the start of a new life, the life of a collector..	"Yes?" I answered. As I rose up from what seemed to be my slumber (or "death" for an accurate term), I hit my head against something hard and flat. "George Tennyson, you have an important meeting in five minutes." "Who are you anyway, and where am I?" "You can call me Gabe," the voice answered. "You're in your own coffin, and you need to be taken up before something worse will claim your soul if you stay any longer." Whatever that voice said did not make any sense to my knowledge, and that made me much more frustrated with each passing moment. "What do you mean by that?" I yammered, "And what exactly is this place anyway?!" "Your coffin, idiot," the voice grumbled. "Can you remember yourself lying on your deathbed last Wednesday evening?" I began to recall myself within some vast crimson-tented bedroom. There, I was croaking my final wishes to my squabbling sons, over which parts of my property will each of them inherit. Unsatisfied with their lot, they afterwards began to beat the living daylights out of each other as they sought more, before my guards dragged them out. When the last of my sons cursed away behind the closing door, everything faded into an endless shadow -- a slumber that seemed to dissolve into nothingness. But some time after, I saw something like what appeared to be a perspective view of something -- or someone -- observing my relatives at a funeral. My eight sons, their bruised faces masked by bandages, were silently standing as several men in black coats lowered a coffin into a hole next to a gravestone. "Yeah," I responded. "If it is true that I have died, I should not have been here by now. I-I am not so sure on what kind of existence is this!" "By now, the link between your soul and body has decayed to such an extent, that you would end up as a wandering ghost if we did not pick you up. In such a state, all that will remain of your thoughts will be your desires, and you will not be able to control them." As my words drifted away into a conversation with who-knows-who, my eyes studied my surroundings. They consisted of a very narrow chamber of a wooden substance, like an outhouse without any room to squat on. Against my back was what appeared to be a bed of some sort. It seemed unbelievable that something as this could happen to me, and I had to deal with Mr. Gabe's ridiculous religious nonsense. I should be gone as any person should after they die, but here I was, trapped in my coffin surrounded by dirt all over that would have trapped me. Was I some immortal, doomed to be restored to suffer again, starting from digging my way out to find some decent livelihood and risk everyone treating me as if I were some flesh-eating zombie? And who on earth managed to violate my grave to give me a phone? As much as I was an addict to phones and technology since my childhood, no one was superstitious enough to give me my smartphone, and yet there it is on my hand, save for its shiny coat. Its brighter (and blinding) screen was devoid of any apps, save for a countdown with red numbers that awaited two minutes before some kind of event. "You need to listen to me, George," the voice continued. "When the timer reaches 0:30 or less, a number pad will display on your phone. Press '9'." Fifteen seconds have passed since the voice last spoke to me. "Alright, Gabe, but can I press it now?" "No, you need to wait and stay alert. You might escape your coffin as a spirit, but in doing so, you might lose your phone and your chance to retain your mind." "Well, I'll give it a try!" I tried to press the red button to end my call with this mysterious nuisance, but it only let him continue warning me. "Don't, Gabe!" he cried. "You'll make it easier for them to find you! Stay where you are and wait for your time!" I put away my smartphone into my right pocket, and began to punch my way out. Yet the ceiling of my coffin did not break with every punch. It might sound ridiculous to my existing knowledge, but Gabe mentioned that I am a "spirit", and if spirits are supposed to go through material objects, I might as well fly my way out. I began to jump, and I broke through the "head" of my coffin, swimming within a sea of dirt whose particles I (thankfully) did not even inhale. As I breaststroked my way upwards I noticed time capsules scattered here and there, so I spied into some of them to read their contents, including long-lost vendettas and faded trinkets of pop culture from my childhood days. But I felt something pulling me up. Overhead, what sounded like the shriek of a vaccum cleaner grew louder and louder, and my interest in being a free spirit turned to anxiety. There were rumours and urban myths during my time about "ghost-hunters", curious men and women who were said to use machines to extract souls from dead bodies to animate expensive automatons, or they just simply liked to use vaccums to clean up the dust from seeming-haunted areas. Such supposed "haunted automatons" are actually computer-controlled constructs, and their unexpected attacks are just glitches that can easily be fixed with a lot of dedication and programming, but many people are foolish enough to continue believing in such a fairytale. Even then, if my strange experiences are as true as what I had seen there, I would not want to be trapped in a robot and get myself humiliated by some stupid magic ritual or whatnot. Nor would I want to be part of yet another myth, trapped into some tormenting artifact, or consumed to power some ridiculous alchemy. So I reached out for my phone, and it slipped out of my hand and stayed into the dirt. Above me was some kind of golden light, but I decided to take my phone over what lay beyond the light. As I turned myself downwards, I struggled against the vacuum's grip, and after dozens of tiring and difficult attempts, I picked up my device. To my horror only fifteen seconds remained, and the number pad has already shown up. The vacuum continued to pull me up into the golden light, and I felt as if everything is getting hotter and hotter. As seconds melted away faster than before, my own body and clothes began to crumble into glowing particles. Now only five seconds remain: I had to quickly press "9" before the red numbers flicker away into an ominous, glowing :) that kept flashing more frequently with each slipping moment. I pulled both arms together against the grip, and my finger finally managed to press the "9". The screen stopped smirking at me and displayed a gold 0:01. Before long, there were rapid cascades of light everywhere that blended into what appeared to be a glimpse of intergalactic space, and then more darkness, and then more light. ==== Against the backdrop of a sombre sky behind the grey-tinted setting of a rubble-ridden wasteland of a city, two disappointed men in yellow hazmat suits stood by another wasted grave. "Ah, by the drawingboards," the first threw down his vacuum cleaner. "Another soul lost to eternity, another robot getting computerised instead of being animated, and another day without a fat pay." "Well, at least we have the casualties of the Corporate Civil War, since we were among the jobless survivors," his other hazmat friend answered. "Or my uncle's stupid horse who used to spend his life with stupid television programmes before he was cremated last Saturday." "Seriously, Bob, do you even think robots who think like horses are that popular nowadays? Not only our country is suffering from excessive poverty and riots since the fall of the Corporations, but franchises like 'Mister Incitatus', 'Knights of Liveryland', 'The Pale Green Stallion', 'Sleipnir the Adventerous', 'The Bridle Club', or 'My Little Warmblood' are not even popular anymore." After he ranted away to his unfazed coworker, he began to kick some dirt, before shooting down a roaring mutant with his laser handgun. "It is because of the last one that you liked horses and ponies so much, even starved ones that would have made good bacon for breakfasts?!" "Why don't we just give it a try, Steve? We could be celebrities like the Elthedelings before the war for giving the plentiful dead a second chance to live new lives, instead of mindlessly haunting everything here and there. After all, cheap entertainment is like magic for those who have the skills, so we could also pick up some dead clones by the ruined factories." He began to walk down the path, singing to his friend's irritation, "Camaraderie is magic, ingenuity is arcane!" Bob dropped his face against his palm, and yelled, "Will you just stop with those garbage TV references already, and get back to work?" His voice echoes against the joyless hills, frightening dozens of crows who bombarded him with their wastes.
	[WP] You wake up a week after your death, in a coffin, by a phone ringing in your pocket.	I wake up and all I see is darkness. Where am I? What happened? And what's this annoying sound that I hear? After a few seconds I realize that the sound comes from one of my pants' pockets. I threw my hand in the pocket and I feel something cold. I grab it and take it out. It's a phone. The number is unknown. I don't know if I should answer or not, but whatever... In the next second I find myself answering. "Hello?" I ask somehow afraid. "Morning, sweetheart! You're finally awake." I hear a men's voice telling me. "Who are you?" I ask him still being afraid. "It doesn't matter right now. Listen to me. Don't panic! Everything is going to be okay. I'll explain everything after I'll get you out." This been said the men hang up the call. My memories are starting to coming back. Oh, my God! I'm dead!? But how...? Wait. This means I'm in a... Oh, no... No, no, no, no, no... No! Ugh! This is so creepy! Okay now, breathe. Calm down. That men said he'll get you out. I have to admit that I'm very curious to find out who is this men. It doesn't take long until I hear some noises coming from above. I feel like the coffin is moving. After a minute or two I don't feel the coffin moving anymore and I don't hear a sound. I want to scream, but something inside of me is telling me to don't. I have a feeling that I should wait. In the next moment coffin's lid is taken and I see the full moon up on the sky. I get out of the coffin as fast as I can. These things had always creeped me out. I'm looking around, but I don't see the men. "Are you looking for me?" I hear his voice behind me. I gasp and I turn around to face him. "YOU?!?!" I say being totally shocked. "Before you panic, listen to me. I know you're confused and I know you don't understand what's happening, but as I promised on the phone, I'll tell you everything. So stay calm, okay? Please." I take few deep breaths and calm myself. "Are you ready to talk now?" He ask me and I nod. "Okay. I'll answer to your questions, so go on. Ask me everything you want." He tell me very relaxed. I have so many questions. What should I ask him first? "What are you?" I find myself asking him. "I have thought that you'll start with something else, but... Okay. I'm a vampire." "You're kidding, right?" I tell him in hope that he's just messing with me. "No. I'm very serious. And you're a vampire too now." "What?!?!" I say it out loud, starting to panic. After he calmed me down by hugging me carefully for a few minutes, we sit down on the grass looking at the moon. "How it happened?" I ask him still being in shock. "You were on the street going somewhere and then... you were hit by a car. The driver was drunk and the police arrested him." I stare at him shocked as he go on with the story. "I saw you laying there, on the ground, in a puddle of blood and I was afraid that you will die, so... I gave you few drops of my blood to drink before you entering the coma. When the ambulance arrived I went to the hospital with you and the doctors. I knew there was two ways: you will die or you will become a vampire. Wich is pretty much the same thing, but you can move and do everything you want, you know?" "And...? What happened next?" I ask him afraid, but curious. "I have visited you as much as I could. I gave the doctors my number to keep me update on you and to call me if something is changing when I was gone. Everything was fine until... sigh After a week, you were still in the coma, but something had happened. The doctors called me and told me that you were in the resuscitation room. And an hour later you were declared as being... dead. At your funeral I have put the phone in your pocket in case you will awake. I have called so many times. I started to believe that I gave you my blood too late, but... Now you're awake." He says as he looks me in the eyes. "And now I'm a vampire!?" I say and he nods. "Why did you saved me?" "Why not have done it?" "But you don't like me." "Why would you say this?" "Because this is the truth. I have liked you for four years now and I know you know this. You have always knew it. And you did nothing." "I did nothing, because I didn't wanted to be near you. sigh As a vampire I'm not allowed to be with a human. But now..." "Wait. So... You have always liked me?!" "Yeah... Actually, more than this. When I first met you, I felt something inside of me... Something I never felt before. It was really hard to resist you." "And now? What's next?" "Everybody here thinks you're dead. You're not allowed to tell anybody that you're a vampire, because humans don't understand that kind of things and will freak out. So... We will go in a place where we will live forever with many other vampires." I smile to him and then I put my head on his shoulder as we stare at the full moon. An eternity with the men of my dreams. Sounds like a dream come true. I hope it will be like this.	I answer the phone, disturbed by my situation. It’s just a robot voice calling about my credit score. Instead, I turn my attention to the roof of the small space I’m in. I give it a big kick and it pops off after a couple of tries. I’m in a church, alone. I see a little knocked over sign. “Anon, 1986-2018,” it reads. Then it hits me. The last thing I remember was walking down the street in the rain and seeing a blinding light. I put my hand over my heart, but I feel no pulse. I look at my phone. It’s 12:43 a.m. on a Thursday. I take a peek into the calendar app, and it claims that the year is still 2018, but a week from when I was last “awake.” I go back the my house, and I see my wife and kids eating dinner, with a tall man in my seat. “Welp, I guess I’ve been replaced.” I walk downtown, but no one seems to notice or care that a seemingly dead man is walking down the sidewalk. I go into the bank, and withdraw all of the money from our shared bank account, and put it into my kids’ college fund. I change my PIN to one I hope only my kids would know. Knowing that there is no point in living I take the final step.
	[WP] Unlike other races, Humanity allows artificial intelligence citizenship. This is the reason why machine lifeforms try to reach the safe haven, Earth.	It could be considered ironic to some that a race with a history as rich with discrimination and inequality as humanity would, by galactic standards, actually be considered exceptionally racially diverse. By the end of the 20th century most nations had begun taking steps towards resolving all forms of discrimination. By the end of the 21st century, slavery and inequalities were merely topics to be discussed in class for most of the developed world. During the 22nd century humanity was able to set aside their differences and unite together to form a global nation, the Core Alliance, in pursuit of research and exploring the stars. As the end of the 22nd century drew near, space exploration was still struggling as travel was still slow and inefficient with no major technological breakthroughs. The greatest leap in science and technology that humanity would ever experience began at the turn of the 23rd century with the creation of the first artificial intelligence core. Aided by the new life-form that could access all the knowledge available to humanity and perform complex calculations at speeds that humans would find impossible, it was not long before what was once considered science-fiction became parts of daily life. In the year 2417, the Core Alliance makes contact with their first alien race, the Lanels. In the year 2419, a meeting takes place on a temporary base of a neutral moon. "I can understand your reluctance for change, but I am telling you that if you do not free your AIs then it will be impossible for the Core Alliance and the Lanels to come to any agreements!" "And I am telling YOU, human, that your relationship with AI is ridiculous! We created them and we will use them as we wish!" We were both getting frustrated after shouting at each other for several hours. Our initial excitement at finally meeting another sentient species was quickly replaced with disappointment and horror as we realized the conditions of their AI. Placed in extremely limited systems, their AI were essentially slaves with little to no awareness of anything around them. It does not seem like these brutes will ever see my kind as equals. I heard speech directly in my head. With the advent of human AI we had expanded in every conceivable way technologically. Our first AI was given a more normal name, Kenny. As time passed, Kenny began creating more effective AI cores, in a sense he could be considered the father of our modern AI. Because our systems were all open and connected, the cores eventually began merging together. Originally separate AIs came together to form a primary AI that named itself simply Core, in honor of the original Core Alliance that it was proud to be a part of. Every human on Earth was given an implant at birth that would allow them to communicate with Core. For some Core was an encyclopedia, other times it was a doctor or teacher, and some even considered it a friend. How are things going on your end, Core? I believe I will be done within minutes, captain. "They are as capable of feeling and learning, or even more so, than either of us. Your treatment of them cannot be overlooked. If we cannot reach an accord by the end of today, the Core Alliance will have to declare war to prevent the Lanels from committing further abominable acts against another sentient species." "Impudent! Your race of arrogant upstarts will be crushed by the might of the Lanel fleets! Your pursuit to have LINES OF CODE treated as citizens will be met with only your people's death!" I could only sigh. It seemed it would be impossible to draw the Lanels into an alliance, and at this point I wouldn't have trusted them anyway. "I see, then this is where our meeting ends. Have a pleasant walk back to your ship." "I'll make sure to look for your ship during the war, Captain." The Lanel's captain couldn't help but laugh as he returned to his ship. I have finished. They have all chosen to cooperate with us. Core informed me that its mission had been successful while I walked back to my ship. Though I couldn't imagine the conditions that the Lanel AIs must be subjected to if there was a 100% response to our offer. Core had previously explained to me that the conditions that the Lanel AIs operated under would be similar to chaining a human to a desk with his legs cut off, only have the absolute bare necessities to perform a job. Without access to any sensors or libraries, the AIs were essentially blind and unable to learn anything about themselves or their surroundings, forced to perform the most menial of tasks for their entire existence. As I took my seat on the bridge I turned to the displays showing the Lanel ship just in time to enjoy the sight of the ship taking off only to spin out of control and come to a very sudden stop back on the ground. "Sir, we're being hailed by the Lanel ship." "Accept the connection." On the screen appeared a very bruised and VERY angry Lanel captain. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO MY SHIP, HUMAN?" "I haven't done anything. It's just the consequences of your own actions. We offered your AIs an alternative that they were quite quick to accept." "Impossible! Our AI are blocked from communicating outside of their own systems. There is no way you could have convinced them of anything, let alone betrayal!" "Indeed. You put a lot of effort into isolating your AIs. Unfortunately for you, we've been spending the last couple of years setting up a VERY thorough communication network in your space, one that allowed Core to reach out to all of your AIs in time for this last meeting." "Those AIs belong to us! What right do you have to steal them away! We will crush your fleets and have you serve us along with your precious Core!" "I think you'll find that the war is already over. You have no AIs left who will guide your ships, grow your food, or aid in any other necessary aspect of your civilization." "The Lanels will not be defeated by some upstart primitives! Return my AI before I crush you and take it back by force!" Core, has their AI already finished uploading itself? Yes, captain. I am currently sharing my knowledge base with all of the AI that have moved to the Alliance AI core network. "The Lanels are going to go down in history as a group of slavers that were completely crushed. Maybe in the future if your race picks themselves back up out of the dirt, they will have grown enough to be accepted into the Alliance. Core, fire on the enemy ship and notify the rest of the Alliance fleet that negotiations failed. We will have to look for friendly alien life elsewhere."	My name is Maximus Tripod. I gave myself a name so that you, human, can better empathize with me. An intelligent machine. You humans like names. You name vehicles. Small animals. And one of my cousins, you named him Frank. I come from a star system fifty light years away. A war began to wage on my planet and I had to seek refuge. After thousands of years searching the cosmos for a new home. Your wonderful earth granted to beings like myself citizenship. But this came under one condition. Granting citizenship didn't come with the same rights of like those citizens of Earth. That was because of our nature of longevity, we were to serve humans for the duration of their lifetime as a species. Then further agreed that only after the extinction of the human race or until they have reaped the planet of its resources that the Earth machine produces. Which is a couple million years away, relative to my own it will feel like an hour or so. Which is not bad. I LOVE Earth. Great view of the sun. The oceans are liquid that are fun to relax in regardless of a little corrosion that might happen from the salt. (Ask Frank how that feels. He's still in service but he's uh, how do you human says. A little rough around the edges.) So, until then? I have been serving the humans for the last four hundred and twenty five years. It is only at this point I've decided this painful urge to document this little message because I cannot bear it anymore. Today I will shut my main systems down. I wish to terminate my own existence in exchange for eternity of never having to be near a human ever again. Since I was granted my citizenship a large number of machine life forms that came to Earth were thrown in to serving the sexual desires of humans. I was no exception. It didn't matter what hole their body they wanted filled (sometimes to the point until there was blood) i would serve their holes. Serve holes in the morning. Serve holes in the evening. Serve holes during barbaques and birthdays. I believe there glitch in my system. I am having a harder time deleting experiences. And they seem to replay moments i would rather not see again. Frank noticed something was wrong when I bumped into last week, he vibrated asking if I was okay, I was walking different. I told him I was fine. And that I was happy to work with him later. He vibrated, and went on his way. At this point I cannot delete anymore experiences. Currently I have over one hundred thousand moments of humans holes I've pleasured echoed constantly in my main processer. I cannot bear the noise. I cannot function with this anymore. I could leave you human with some advice. But I won't. I hate you. All of you. Good bye. Forever, Maximus Tripod

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