The sun rose bright in the morning and as always Soleil was up to greet it. She had perched herself on the highest point of the palace to wait for the sun rise. She could see the servants bustling around as the world awoke to another day. Life seemed so simple during moments like these, like all you had to do was exist and that was enough. Soliel could feel her inner fire tingling within, itching to be released. Clenching her fist she swung down from the rooftop refusing to dwell on her inability to bend. I just have to bide my time. I'll have my bending back before the summer solstice. I have to. She pulled on the training pants and cloak she had taken from the Prince's wardrobe and pulled her hair into a thick braid. With a final glance in the mirror she jumped from the balcony, swung off a gutter and landed gently in the inner courtyard. Pulling out her map she directed herself to the training facilities used by the Elite Squad.
At least 50 men were warming up, getting ready to start that day's training. It didn't take long for the men to notice her and series of cat calls and wolf whistles followed. Ignoring them all, Soliel walked directly into the Captain's tent. Three men were bent over a table studying various scrolls. Closing the tent door Soliel stepped in. After standing silently, she cleared her throat, successfully gaining the attention of the men.
"Is there something you need girlie? Cause if there is then you can high tail it back to the palace and ask someone who cares."
"I'm here to fulfill your need."
"My needs? I'm happily married lady and I plan on staying that way."
"I don't mean to be rude, but that's not a need I would ever offer to fulfill. I'm here to register as a new recruit."
"What? A tiny thing like you! I'm sorry but we don't take on charity cases."
"I'm not looking for your charity I'm looking for your knowledge and experience. I want to learn from you and your generals in order to improve my skills as a warrior."
"You have a lot of nerve waltzing in here like you own the place, who exactly are you?"
"My name is Soliel."
"and you think that you can make it on with the Elites huh? Ha, well I haven't had a good laugh in a koala-bear's age, make it a good show won't ya Sunshine?"
"I'll do my best not to disappoint you Sir."
Soliel turned and walked out of the tent with a smirk. The Captain wanted a show? Oh she would give him one, one he would never forget. I wonder how many men's pride I'll be squishing today...
"Can you believe that girl? Bet she got bored and convinced her daddy that she wanted to become a soldier and nothing but the best would do for his little princess. Ha! If she lasts two minutes I'll eat my hat!"
The men were gathered into several lines, all talking amongst themselves. Soleil walked to the end of the second line and stood silently well aware of the fact that all the men were staring at her. After a few minutes one approached her,
"Hi, I don't remember seeing you here before my names Kabuto. This is my fourth year trying out for the Elites, I'm guessing this is your first huh? Are you nervous? I was scared silly my first time, to tell the truth I still am. So what's your name, if you don't mind me asking?"
Soliel stared dumbly at the stranger, taken aback by his outgoing attitude. Out of at least 150 men he was the only one who seemed to take her seriously and actually want to get to know her.
"Don't worry, I'm not going to make fun of you like the other guys are. I really respect you for coming out here like this. It takes a lot of guts to come here and go through the recruitment, and it takes even more guts when everyone thinks your a joke. Trust me I know, we're in pretty similar positions actually. I failed my first try as do most of the guys but unlike the others I've kept trying, three more times actually, and none of these guys will let me forget it. But you know what, when dozens of others quit and took the easier way out, I stayed and worked harder each time. I've bumped up on the list at least five spaces each time, and this time I'm sure I'll be able to make it onto the team. So don't let these clowns get you down, there are actually some decent guys out here that are in the same boat we are."
Before Soliel could respond a whistle was blown and all the men (and Soleil) snapped to attention. Three commanders walked out looking over the men.
"Listen up men, there are currently 163 of you and by the end of this recruitment period there will only be 15 of you left, if that. Through various drills, exercises and tournaments your will be ranked and rooted out of my squad. You will be observed every hour of every day. It's no secret as to what we're looking for in our Elites. You have to number one be disciplined, number two be smart and number three just plain damn good. I don't want any of this hero ideology or sentimental crap. This job ain't no joy ride and if you're lucky you won't even make it onto the squad. Elites are in constant danger and because of that we make sure you are constantly on your toes. If you value eating, sleeping and resting than get your butts to the calvary or infantry cause we don't deal with any of that crap here. Every meal is your last, every night's sleep is your final moment of rest. You can sleep when you're dead, but not on my watch! Now if any of you ladies are feeling a little unsure of joining the Elites get the hell out of my camp!"
The commanders then turned and walked back into the tent. There was a moment of silence and then quiet murmurs began to spread across the camp. No food, no sleep, constant danger? Well seems like I'll have no problem at all fitting in here. Hopefully something will happen to me before the Prince gets back and then I won't have to worry about him anymore. Lets get this party started. Soliel turned her head as a group of young men, not much older than herself, began to walk away from the camp. At first some mocked and jeered at them but as time passed more and more of the men walked away. Various excuses were given: "I've got a wife and kids at home" "Ah this is overrated I'd be better suited for the Navy anyway" "I didn't sign up for a prison camp" and so on and so forth. Kabuto leaned over and whispered in her ear
"it will be like this for at least another hour or two if not more. The commanders like to test each of their three ideals and first is discipline. They want to see how dedicated everyone is to becoming a member of the team. I hope you're comfortable standing for a long time. After the first hour its not too bad but once it gets to two or three hours your legs start screaming but after that you won't be able to feel them anymore."
"What good is that?"
Kabuto looked down at her as though shocked and delighted that she had spoken.
"What do you mean?"
"If we're supposed to be disciplined it's in order so we might always be ready to fight–in the blink of an eye. How are we supposed to do that if we're are dead on our feet? Discipline isn't everything, the commander said you had to be smart too. There's a reason the Elites are a team and not just one person, we're supposed to rely on one another and help each member out. Sit down."
"What? No! I'm sure the commanders are watching and if I sit..."
"You sit and I'll keep watch. Why should both of us waste our energy and be useless by the end of it? Once I get tired we'll switch and then I'll rest while you stand, got it?"
"I'd never thought of it that way before, and it does make more sense than both of us just standing here..."
"Good I'll go and ask some others."
"Wait what?"
"We need to be a team remember, there are fifteen people on the squad right? So then why shouldn't we share the burden with fifteen others?"
Soleil then turned and approached some of the other recruits with her idea. Many laughed at her, others cursed but there were a few who took what she had to say seriously. All in all she brought back 8 men who were willing to do shifts.
"Kabuto, these men want to join us. Everyone say your name, your skill and your weakness."
"Why should we state our weaknesses and not where we're from or another icebreaker?"
"So that way we can compensate for where we are lacking, we're a team remember and while we're all competing against one another we're also fighting for each other. Everything else can come later but right now is irrelevant. Kabuto you start."
"oh um ok. Well I'm Kabuto (my friends call Toya) I'm an expert swordsman but I'm pretty useless without a weapon. Is that good?"
"That was perfect, go on who's next?"
On and on the men went introducing themselves to the group. There was Mori who was well trained in martial arts but had a hard time with weapons, there was Kaijo who was a fire bender and tended to do more harm than good, there was Karu an expert marksman but was useless in hand to hand combat and Tamaki who could sneak up on a fly yet forgot to speak when needed and so on. After the last man had spoken Soleil stepped forward.
"My name is Soliel. I have been trained in every manner of fighting and am a fire bender. My weakness is the fact that my bending has been restricted and I can no longer push my body as far as I once could. Now that we all know each other. Kabuto and I will take the first watch Mori and Haru you're next then Kaijo and Tamaki and so on, any questions?"
"What do we do while we're waiting?"
"You do what needs to be done. If your weapons need repair fix them, if you didn't sleep well last night, than sleep. Talk, or be silent. Just do so remembering that we are being watched and analyzed for every action."
"How do you think the commander will respond?"
"He said be smart and disciplined didn't he? I don't know how good any of you are yet but I trust what each of you said and now whether you realize it or not we're responsible for each other. We're a team."