AN: Roxas reminds me of an incident when we went skiing - one of my friends hadn't been before, and spent an hour sliding down the slope on his backside. He didn't stay on the skis once. Prompt number eight - "snowboarding". (Mikathekitsune - this is the one I was struggling with yesterday. Knew I'd get there in the end.)
"It's similar to skateboarding, right? Well, I can do that, so how hard can it be?"
Little did I know that snowboarding would be much, much harder. Axel and I were visiting the Land of the Dragons – officially to check for Heartless, but unofficially because it was one of the few worlds I hadn't seen, and I volunteered. Of course, that meant Axel had to go with me, since I couldn't leave him for a month while I went on the trip.
After the formal welcoming and introductions were over, Mulan showed us to our rooms in the palace. Somehow, I'd known they wouldn't let us share, but that was fine. We were inventive enough to come up with excuses if we were caught in each other's rooms. Official business, or some such nonsense, we could say.
The first thing Axel did, when shown to his room, was light a fire. I'll admit, the Land of the Dragons isn't the warmest of places, but it could be scorching hot outside and Axel would still feel cold.
We'd been there about a week when I discovered the snowboarders on the mountain above the village. Almost immediately, they asked if I wanted to have a try, which I did. Axel, hating the cold as he does, said he'd wait in the hut at the bottom of the slope. So, I trudged part-way up, strapped the board onto my feet and began. I'd initially thought I'd be able to do it because I can skateboard. I soon found out it was much, much harder. I hadn't travelled far (or fast), when I lost my balance for some reason, and collapsed into the snow. Undeterred, I forced myself back to my feet for another go. I went slightly further that time, before falling over and sliding the rest of the way on my butt. Axel, watching from a window, had been so amused by this that he ventured outside to comment on it.
"I'm not familiar with snowboarding, but I'm pretty sure you're meant to slide down on that board."
"Oh, yes, very funny indeed, Axel. I'd like to see you try."
"I'm not the one who thought he'd be a natural at it, am I?" Smirking, he went back in. Being ridiculed only made me more determined to get it right.
It took all day, but I managed it in the end.
"You see, Axel? I told you I could do it."
"You'd have given up ages ago if I hadn't commented, though."
Damn it. I hate it when he's right. Still, I persevered with it, and managed in the end. I'm strangely proud of myself for that.
AN: I'm beginning to feel very unloved. Hardly anyone who reads my stories is reviewing. It's not difficult - click the button and type what you thought of the story.