Chapter 1: Dreams realized

Nathan was waiting in the dressing room, now fully prepared for what awaited him behind the doors. He was a fighter,from a very young age. Now, he had a chance to make an appearance in a local league. This was not his first fight in the league, but it was the most important. If he wins he will be allowed a place in the nationals, and then maybe the UFC.
"And here he comes, Nathan Shenlong!"

That was the signal. Nathan got up, and started walking. As he emerged on the way to the octagon shaped cage, the host went on speaking of him. Nate zoned it out,there wasn't much to say, after all. He was just 21 years old, and had been training since the age of 10. Nathan entered the cage, and waited for his oponent, still ignoring the host and his talk. His oponent was a bit older than Nathan was, and had his share of fights in the ring.
Finally, the gong went off, and the two fighters shortened the distance separating them. Nathan threw the first punch, which was blocked easily by his target. Nate went again, backhanded direct, front hook and right hook. None connected. Good, a boxer. Nate can handle that. The two of them then started to move in circles, searching for an opening as well as throwing some punches or kicks themselves.

It took around half a minute when Nathan recognized a pattern. His opponent always attempted to counter Nathans' third punch with his own. As Nathan realized this, he attacked again with a front kick and followed it with two hooks. Instead of going for the third one, he reacted by slipping to his right. A grin appeared on his face when a fist flew right next to his head, and punched with a right hook on his own. Score! He captured the moment and pressed. Body hook, hook, uppercut. As the man stumbled backwards, trying to regain control of the situation he threw a punch on his own. Nathan ducked, grabbed his legs, lifted a little and threw him to the ground.

The fighter landed and tried to get up,only for his head to be met with a roundhouse kick. Nathan then punched the man once, twice. The gong sounded. Nathan won. He won!

OoOoOoOoOoO
It was a few hours after the fight when Nathan met up with his friends and his mentor, Jerome. It was quite late. The group met up. Excitement in the air, a ton of congratulating and hugs ensued.

As they were on their way to one of numerous clubs in the city, Jerome appeared next to Nathan.
"So, looking forward to the league?"
"You bet" Nathan grinned "What do you think about being the one who taught the next champion?"
Jerome laughed "NOt bad, I suppose. Too bad I didn't manage myself."

He was right, but it was only bad luck to blame. Jerome used to be a top tier boxer slash wrestler, but he injured his knee badly once and never regained its full flexibility. Jerome sometimes still bragged about how it hurt.

"Blame the fact that you can't bend the fucking knee" Nathan joked, refering to the show they both liked, the Game Of Thrones. The two of them then talked about random stuff. This went on even when they arrived at the club and started drinking. Only the topics changed to the more interesting ones, like-

"So, I do get that you broke up with Jennifer, but that was two months ago. Don't tell me you haven't talked to a girl since then"
"You know I don' want to talk about that"
What followed was a while of awkward silence. That is, until the rest of the group joined the two with their drinks. They hadn't been there for more than half an hour, and the majority was already drunk.

OoOoOoOoOoO

The rest of the night - and morning - was mainly the same: drinking, laughing, and doing god knows what else. Not that anyone would remember more than the beginning. Nathan somehow got to his apartment around four in the morning,and simply fell on his bed.

OoOoOoOoOoO

Nathan:

The first thing I noticed the next - hopefully - morning was the sunlight. Then there was a breeze. And bird noises. I opened my eyes and sat up. I had to be asleep, I thought, well that or I got insanely drunk last night. Why? Simple. I was not on my bed, nor in my room. Also, my body was same as when I was 17 and... I was in the middle of a FRIGGIN' FOREST. There were just two words I had for this: "The fuck?"

So, here goes the first chapter. What do you think? I reallllly hope you like it. This is a new project of mine, which exists mainly as an outlet for my stress and stuff, since I'm taking my FRIGGIN' FINALS this month. That is also why I'll be updating at random for some time. Anyway, I would be glad for some good advice, some constructive criticism and rewievs as such. Also, two questions: One. Do you want Nate to join the GAang, or do you want him to travel alone? Also, which part of the story should he start in? AAAAAAND a bonus question: What element should he bend and why?

Thanks if you read it up till now.

Khai