Disclaimer: I don't own ATLA, (although I wish I do)
I sat up in bed and yawned. Today is going to be just another normal day. I got up, got ready for the day ahead of me. I headed out the door; almost face planted, as I trip over the newspaper on the doormat.' Huh'. I thought I already picked that up. I bend down and grab it. It's all rolled up, like a scroll, and the paper was very old looking, fragile almost. I carefully unroll it and examine it. It has pictures of people waving their arms around and controlling blue stuff. I blink and look again. It's a waterbending scroll! I gasp. Only benders receive those! Well, it can't be for me, it must be for my perfect brother, David. I call him over and give it to him, so he can start practicing.
"Dave! Guess what!" I hollered
"What?" he shouted back from inside.
"You got a waterbending scroll!" I excitedly told him. David runs ran over to me, and carefully lifts the scroll out of my hands
"Wow! Wow! I'm gonna start practicing right now!" He squealed excitedly. He rushes over to the sink, and gets a cup of water. He inspects the first move, arranges his stance, and performs the action. Nothing happens. Not even a twitch from the water. His face falls. 'This is the simpeliest move in waterbending, how could he not be able to do it?' I thought. I check the name on the scroll. Yup, it's definitely for him. He stares glumly at the glass of water. Any waterbender could complete that easy move. How could Dave, my perfect brother, not be able to?
"Heh, maybe I should try," I joke, trying to cheer him up.
"Maybe... Maybe you should try," he says sadly, after trying the move once more. I was taken aback by his suggestion, does he really think I could do it? The scroll has his name printed neatly on the back. David. Not Kira. David. I quickly recover, and laugh. I theatrically read the scroll, and exaggeratedly perform the movements, trying to cheer him up. To my surprise, the water rose from the cup in a small sphere effortlessly. 'Wait, what?' My hands drop, and the sphere plops back into the cup. I'm at a loss for words, as is Dave. There is no way that just happened. Just to be sure, I get into the position, and do it again. It works. Holding my stance, I glance over my shoulder to make sure this isn't a prank from Dave. His face is blank. I'm a bit offended. He wanted to be a waterbender that bad? He sees the expression I inevitably made, and gasps.
"No no! I'm not jealous, really I'm not! I'm so happy for you! I just don't know how the masters made this mistake. I'm really happy for you Kira," he explains. I let out a sigh of a relief. I never knew Dave to be selfish, anyway. Then, a thought pops into my head. If the masters did make a mistake, I would have to go confront them, all by myself, but not just yet. First, I would have to wait nine more days to receive the others of the ten beginner's waterbending scrolls. It's the law, really, to not abandon your first ten scrolls. It's a duty to the country to learn at least that much, so you have control over your element so that you don't cause any accidents. After I receive the other scrolls, I'd have to set off on my own journey, and learn the scrolls on the way. I don't know why you have to confront the masters completely on your own, that's just how it works. Even if you are just a twelve year old. So until I leave for my journey, I'd prepare, and receive the rest of my scrolls. Then I'd be off.
The next day, I get up, go and get the paper, and see the second waterbending scroll. I flip it over, and see it still has the name "David" printed on it. I also skim over the moves, which appear to be harder than yesterdays. There are two on the scroll, whereas there was only one yesterday, (The sphere one). I try out the first move, which was creating a string of water from a solid source. I position my feet, hold my hands at the angle illustrated on the scroll, and eased the water upwards. A thin stream of water forms, going up and down, moving at my command. I drop it back in to the cup, and then I looked at the next move, which is picking up water from a puddle, or from where it's been dropped. First, I dump the cup of water onto the carpet. Then, I spread out my feet some more, arch my fingers as if playing piano, and lift up the spilled water. This move is more difficult, but after my second try, the water slowly lifts off the floor, forming into a shape similar to the sphere on my first scroll.
I spend another hour practicing my new movements, then start packing for my journey.
The next day, the next scroll arrives, but I'm too busy packing to practice it. The same happens for seven more days, and then the final day arrives. I'm all packed for my long journey, but I haven't practiced my scrolls. That's fine; I can just learn them during the trip, like what I thought before. I look over my packed bags. I have clothes, food, books, the scrolls, water, and much more. I sigh, and dump them all out. Then I grab a backpack. I put two bottles of water, a ham sandwich, and the scrolls in it, and zip it. I have to pack light. Then I open the door, and set off.
A/N I loved writing this first chapter, but I need reviews on how I could make anything better. Suggestions please!