Chapter Six: Marble


There was so much to explore at the base. With Xlo as her guide, Li started to learn about this place. Xlo told her that Jet was the leader and had established this resistance. That made Li uneasy. She could imagine Jet snapping his fingers and she would be pummeled by the entire kid-army.

Xlo also said that most of the resistance had had their parents killed by the fire nation. That was why they all hated them so much. Xlo had only known her parents until she was six. Her village had been raided, and both of them killed by a fire nation troop. She barely had escaped. Jet had taken her in.

Xlo was like a little sister to him. She hated him and loved him at the same time. Also, she knew most of his secrets. She had no problem sharing them with Li who she was quickly becoming attached to. "And he has a crush on some girl named Stacy's mom…" Xlo continued on sharing secrets.

Li was looking up and down the base. She was currently on the fifth floor, which left one more level to explore. She wasn't paying attention when she tripped. She dropped her glider and it slid down in front of her. Xlo almost didn't notice until she heard the thump.

"Li, are you alright?" Xlo hurried to her side and helped her up.

"Ow… yeah. I'm fine" Li said, pulling herself up. She grabbed her glider.

Li heard laughing nearby, and most of the kids who were on the floor were the culprits. Li's face went red quickly. She looked down at Xlo. "Xlo, it's time for your first lesson."

Li was going to use Xlo as an excuse to leave the base, but only for now. She held a hand out for Xlo, who instead of holding her hand held onto her chest tightly. Li sighed and spread her glider's fans out and jumped off the bridge. A few kids leaned over the side to see where she'd gone, but all they saw was the glider.

Li had trouble flying the glider by just holding onto it with her hands, but she made due. She flew through the forest; Xlo hanging onto her for dear life. Li was looking for the right spot where she could try to teach her lesson. She saw a cliff that there was a view of the village and the dam from. That would work.

Li landed on the cliff and closed up her glider. Xlo let go of her and blushed a little. "Xlo, I need you to stand over there." She said, indicating to a tree. Xlo obediently stood there.

Li bowed to her as if she was a master bender. Xlo bowed back. "Welcome to my teaching, my pupil. Are you ready to learn dark bending?" Li asked her, acting like she was a monk.

Xlo nodded vigorously and waited to be taught. "Teach, me Monk Li" Xlo said, joking with Li.

"Then you shall learn the most simplistic move. The marble." Li said. "Give me your hand." She said, holding her hand out. Xlo put her hand under Li's and felt something drop into her hand. It was a small black marble.

"How do I make it?" Xlo asked.

"Make a fist, then visualize a marble forming in your hand, and it will." Li instructed.

Xlo pulled her hand back, and made a tight fist. She held it close to her chest and closed her eyes. After a few moments her eyes opened again and she looked into her hand. Xlo almost lost her breath when she saw what was in her hand.

A small teal marble.


Yay, I can dark bend:) ! Yes, teal is one of my favorite colors.