Book 1: Earth

Chapter 3: The Pro-Bending Arena

Luke peered out his window, people surrounded the huge building, almost all of them trying their very best to squeeze inside. The Professor parked his car; nearest to the door as he possibly could but there was still was ways to go before they could even reach the front entrance. Luke sighed and exited his seat, people crowded around him, the air was hot and sticky, it was very uncomfortable.

"I knew I shouldn't have allowed this," the Professor muttered under his breath.

"What was that Professor?" Luke turned around and looked him in the eye.

"Nothing my boy," he replied quickly after shutting his door.

"Alright then," Luke responded, just the tiniest bit confused. He shrugged his shoulders and followed the Professor into the mob. They meshed themselves within the crowd, people pushed and shoved, just hoping to get inside the arena, to get a glimpse of the new teams.

"Luke!" He heard the Professor shout, "Where are you!" He called at the top of his voice, he promised Clark and Brenda that he would take care of the boy, not loose him.

"Professor," worried ceased Luke's voice, "Professor?" He turned around only to be pushed backwards by upcoming people, "Urg!" He fell on his bottom, people swarmed around him like bugs, trying their best to get what was left out of the forgotten picnic basket.

"Luke," the Professor spotted the boy on the ground rubbing his sore lower back, he bent down and lifted him by the under arms, "Brush yourself off, come, let's get inside." Luke nodded and brushed his shoulders, soon after that he caught up with the Professor, he held onto the arm of his jacket, praying that the crowd wouldn't pull them apart anymore.

"Make two lines people, two lines!" A man wit ha raspy voice commanded through an old fashioned microphone, "Please, let's keep this as civilized as possible!"

"Uh," the Professor looked carefully at the man shouting through the speakers; it was none other than Inspector Chelmey himself.

"Please calm yourselves down!" The angry firebender yelled again.

"Good morning Inspector," the Professor topped his hat, pushing and squeezing through the line or mass for that matter.

"Layton?" He shouted into the microphone, completely surprised, "I didn't know that you were a fan of Pro-Bending." The Inspector slid of his platform and into the madness.

"Oh, I'm not," the Professor brought Luke forward, "But our Avatar is."

"Ah," The Inspector looked down at Luke, "I can't wait to see you firebend in a few years." Luke nodded without a response, "Well, um you may go inside, be cautious," he stood back up on his podium and took the microphone in hand, "Have a wonderful day at the Pro-Bending arena," he said with almost no enthusiasm, "Let the open door begin." The gates slowly made their way open and people flooded inside, most of them heading towards the arena itself to see the new platform and seats.

"So Luke," the Professor began, trying his hardest not to be bumped my incoming people, "Do you want to explore the training rooms?" The boy stood there with his finger on his chin for a while.

"Yes that's fine, maybe we'll find my earthbending teacher!" he shouted enthusiastically.

"Ha-ha," the Professor smiled warmly at him, "Well, let's get moving, I think the training rooms are up this way." He pointed to a metal sign hung from the ceiling, Training Rooms was written on it and arrows pointing to the right lay just under the words.

"Alrighty then," Luke followed the Professor closely, people were everywhere, and they could really care less if they them lost or not.

The duo followed the sign's instructions, they went up a flight of stairs painted a light yellowish color, in the less crowded second level, the higher seats were located up in this section that had yet to be renovated. Across from the arena entrances were the training rooms for future Pro-Bending teams.

"Professor, do we just… knock?" He asked while standing in front of a door.

"Well, I guess so Luke," the Professor shrugged as Luke's fist almost began to make contact with the door.

"I'm done with you!" A medium sized man with a black suit shot angrily through the door. His eyes were strangely different sizes and he had only a small patch of hair sticking out of his oddly shaped head.

"Fisheye, come on!" A young man ran out after him, he looked a lot like Luke in many ways, same hair, same eyes, but older and less mature.

"No, you have completely taken advantage of me Clive!" Fisheye, in the heat of the moment waterbended any existing water in a potted plant to the left of the now open door and sent it barreling towards this so called Clive.

"Come on Fisheye!" Clive shouted again, now angered at his previous teammate's quick end and because he was now soaked in water.

"No, I'm getting out of here, good luck entering, now you have to find waterbender and a firebender," with that, Fisheye left Clive to grieve. He silently cursed under his breath while heading back into his training room.

"Erm," Luke swiftly followed him, "Um sir?" He asked nervously.

"Listen," Clive whipped around, a towel in his hand, "If you're here to take pictures, I would suggest you don't I'm not a painting at the art museum." He turned back around to practice.

"Take pictures?" Luke replied a bit sassily, "No, I was just going to dry you off." Before Clive had a chance to turn back around, Luke had extracted the water form his clothes and hair and sent it into a drain on the other side of the room.

"Um thanks I guess," Clive said a bit embarrassed.

"It's no problem," Luke walked further into the training room, "So…" he tried to start up a conversation, but it obviously wasn't working.

"You can leave now, you don't have to do me any favors," Clive stomped his foot on the ground, making a circular rock pop up into the air.

"You're an earthbender!" Luke exclaimed lightheartedly.

"Really," Clive turned around once more, by this time he was greatly annoyed, "I hadn't noticed."

"No," Luke ran in front of Clive, his excitement getting the best of him, "I've been looking for earthbenders."

"Why is that?" Clive asked now interested.

"I need a teacher,"

"But you're a waterbender," Clive walked a bit off to the side, "Waterbenders can't earthbend, well except for the Ava- oh…" He now felt like an idiot.

"No really, I hadn't noticed!" Luke smiled a quirky smile, he felt accomplished for sending Clive's remark right back into his face.

"So this whole time," Clive walked towards him, "All you've been practicing is waterbending, you didn't even start on your earthbending?"

"Well," the boy paused, "I just haven't found the right teacher."

"So your earthbending teacher is chosen by fate, is that correct?" Luke nodded, "And you think that I am it?" He nodded once again.

"Listen," the Professor walked in between them, "We need to find his teacher soon," he placed his hand on Clive's shoulder, "Please just try to teach him something as simple as moving a rock."

"Alright and what if I'm not it?" Clive looked up at the man with the hat.

"Then could you point us in the direction of the next training room?" The Professor smiled.

"Ah," Clive sighed, "Come here kid." Luke quickly ran up to Clive, excited to finally learn a new element, "Ready your stance, you need to lock your joints and stand up straight, no slouching," Luke watched carefully as Clive locked himself firmly in the position and he quickly did the same, "Now," Clive looked towards Luke, a boyish smile crossed his lips, "Stomp your right foot, the one in front."

"I know which foot is my-"

"Don't break your concentration!" Clive shouted in his ear.

"Ah!" Luke scowled at him, "Fine." he stuck out his bottom lip.

"You two are acting like children," the Professor muttered under his breath.

"Now, press your foot firmly on the ground, feel the vibrations, listen closely, can you see the other rooms with your feet?" Clive tried to ignore the Professor's last comment as Luke stomped, but nothing happened.

"Uh?" Luke stuttered and angrily looked down at his rock that hadn't moved an inch.

"Close your eyes and try again." Luke followed his command, in one swift movement his foot was off the ground and was quickly sent back down with a powerful bang. He felt the vibrations through his foot and could depict the room below him and when he opened his eyes a rock was floating just under his nose.

"I-I did it!" Luke cried, he turned to Clive, "Thank you!" He ran over to the young man and wrapped his arms around him.

"Oh, um, you're welcome," he wasn't used to hugs; he hadn't had one in a long time.

"Clive," the Professor walked behind the boys, "I would request that you stay with Luke, me, and my adopted daughter-"

"Professor," Luke looked up at him, "You have an adopted daughter?"

"Yes, her name is Flora, she is currently at a friends home," he smiled lightly at Luke.

"Oh," Luke sighed, he wished that this girl could have been Arianna.

"So Clive," the Professor looked back at the young man, "Do you agree?" Clive stared in front of him for a few moments, not knowing whether to agree or not, this was happening so fast, he didn't know what to comprehend.

"Well," he stepped down the little semicircle that had formed around him, "I was going to enter in the Pro-Bending tournament, but I no longer have a team…" He looked towards Luke, "I'm make a deal with you," he walked up to the boy, "You join my Pro-Bending team and I'll teach you how to earthbend."

"Pft! Deal!" Luke happily took Clive's hand and shook it roughly before his mentor had a chance to speak.

"Now wait a second Luke," the Professor didn't want the boy to be exposed to Pro-Bending, first of all it wasn't safe and he still had to focus on learning the other elements.

"Professor, please let me," Luke looked up at him with puppy dog eyes, "I've been stuck in Misthallery my whole life, I want to do something fun in London, I don't want to become a training freak."

"Ah," he sighed, he has a very hard time saying no, "Fine, but you know you have to find a firebender and on such short notice, I honestly don't know how you'll do it." He tipped his hat slightly, "Let's get going now; the crowd could be even worse than it was before." He left the room without another word to the boys, who just shrugged and were now thinking of possible candidates for their firebender.

…

When they arrived back at the Professor's flat, Clive's things had been packed tightly into the Professor's car. Clive had obviously been living in the arena, paying rent to the man who owned it. Though the young man came form a wealthy family, he fortune was… lost in a previous misdemeanor, others might call it an aft of terrorism and an abuse of his bending, but he tried his best not to think about. This is a new start, he thought to himself, I can make a new life here, with Luke and the Professor, try to forget about the past.

Luke helped him unload his things, as the Professor walked up to the front of his flat, whipping out his keys it reminded him of a question that he had been meaning to ask Clive.

"Erm, Clive, would you by any chance be a metalbender?" He turned around, Luke was carrying a small duffel bag, and Clive was not far behind him with a rolling suit case and a satchel slung over his shoulder.

"Yes as a matter of fact, I am," he smiled a proud smile while slowly following Luke up the steps, "Why?"

"Just the virtue of curiosity," he mumbled quietly while placing the key into the lock.

"Ah!" Was heard from inside the flat, his eye brows crossed.

"Um, Professor, what was that?" Luke asked, just the tiniest bit worried as he stood next to his mentor.

"It's probably Flora," he sighed, "She's been trying to cook for the past few weeks, with no success I'm afraid," he whispered the last part, just in case she was close enough to hear them through the door.

"Oh boy," Clive muttered as the Professor pushed the front door in.

"Oh thank goodness!" The girl stood on top of the coffee table in the middle of the living space, she was holding one of the Professor's old university yearbooks. Her feet were turned in and her knees were shaking, "Professor, we have a rodent problem!"

"Rodent?" Luke immediately dropped the duffel bag onto the hardwood floors, "Toppy? Come here this instant," he put his foot down, the little mouse came running from under one of the sectional couches squeaking happily as Flora backed up farther on the small table, "I told you not to misbehave," he scolded his pet before letting him crawl up on his shoulder.

"Pet?" Flora scoffed, "It tried to do its business in my stew!" She pouted and straightened herself up.

"Flora, please get down from there dear," the Professor walked over to the coffee table and held out his hand.

"Alright," she took his hand gently, "Can we please purchase a cage for that creature though?"

"A- a cage?" Luke shot her a look, "Toppy should be allowed to run free, not be held back in a frivolous cage!"

"Now, now, please let's get along; you two haven't even had a proper introduction." Flora held her head down and silently walked over to Luke.

"Hello," she greeted him sarcastically.

"Hi," he smiled a smug toothy grin, "My name is Luke."

"Flora," she replied simply before returning to the kitchen.

"See that wasn't so bad," the Professor smiled slightly.

"Yes it was," she muttered under her breath as she passed through the wavering door.

"Now," he turned to Clive, "You can stay in the spare room upstairs, there is a pull out couch and a dresser, and I think it will be fine. There is room for everyone here."

"Alright, thanks," he smiled slightly before grabbed his duffel bag and heading up the set of stairs just off to the right of the front door.

"Now," the Professor turned back to Luke, "I would suggest that after this you go down to the park to practice earthbending with Clive, maybe a little waterbending too," Flora quietly poked her head through the wavering door.

"Can I come?" she stepped out wiping her hands on the apron she had just put on.

"Are you a bender?" Luke asked, leaning in slightly.

"Yes, but that is none of your business," she replied swiftly, "I need to get outside, that's all."

"Well-" Luke began.

"Of course you can come Flora," the Professor eyed him, "I'll just stay here, I'm sure that Clive knows where is it, he can show you."

"I can show you what?" Clive came sliding down the stairs.

"Oh," he turned back to Clive, "You know where the park is, don't you?"

"Oh, of course," he smiled lightly at Flora, who had barely noticed his arrival in the first place.

"Alright then," the Professor breathed in, "Be back by seven-thirty if you are to stay out that long."

…

By the time it reached seven o'clock Luke was worn out from drills and new earthbending techniques that he had yet to master. Clive was going too fast, but Luke was the only one who really knew.

"Clive, can we please take a break?" he asked in between breaths, "We've been practicing nonstop and I honestly don't think I learned much." Luke bent over and put his hands on his knees to support himself.

"Fine, be a baby," Clive muttered before headed over to a bench to sit next to Flora who had been threading a daisy chain almost the whole time. Luke on the other hand feel down on his back and closed his eyes, begging for sleep.

"Hi Clive," she said nervously while continuing to thread her daisy chain, not even looking up from the petals.

"Hey," he said casually, "So…" He didn't ever have this hard a time getting the ladies.

"No-Benders of London!" Both of their heads snapped towards the direction of a peppy spokesperson, he shouted into the microphone, the sound blaring into their ears, "My name is Ward, a fellow non-bender, and we have been ridiculed and taken advantage of by these benders! When will we get to be on the council, when will we have a chance to vote for our rights?"

"Let's shut this guy up," Clive stood up.

"Um Clive," Flora began, but it was too late he was already walking towards the man; anger ceased the lines of his face.

"Hey, you!" He stood in the middle of the crowd that had gathered around his podium.

"And who is this, hm?" The man bent over enthusiastically, "A bender I presume?"

"Yeah," Clive pierced into the man's soul with his eyes, "I am a bender, and I don't think you should be spreading lies around this city, it has benefited from benders and you all know it." He pointed his finger at the man.

"Ha-ha!" Ward's laughed bellowed in Clive's ear, "Oh please!"

"You know what I'm-" He took a step forward, Flora and Luke not behind him.

"What, are you going to knock me off my post?" The man shouted.

"I'm seriously thinking about it!" Clive's fists were raised.

"You see, our community is oppressed by the powers of benders!" People around them started to cheer and glare at the trio.

"Clive," Flora whispered and grabbed his arm with both hands.

"What?" He looked back at her.

"Let's get out of here," She pulled on his arm, heat radiated from her hand.

"Ouch, geez Flora," he winced as the heat became more intense illuminating from her hands.

"I'm sorry I had to do that," she said once they were out of an earshot of Ward and his followers. She dropped his arm and placed her hands delicately behind her back.

"Who are they?" Luke stood in between them, arms draped over their shoulders.

"They're Descole supporters," Flora looked back at him, "Better known as Equalists or the Family." She explained to Luke.

"Oh, I've heard of them on my parent's radio," he told the two.

"What are they trying to do?" He looked towards Clive.

"They are trying to eliminate benders from the world," he looked off into the distance, Descole posters hanging on every building, "And to be honest, they're doing a pretty good job." Luke swallowed as they made their way back to the Professor's flat; he was the most powerful bender, what was coming for him?

Hey! I got Clive in this chapter Riku's Music Lover! I also included Flora! Now my question is, what type of bender is she? She wouldn't admit it but… Anyway! Who thinks Descole is a good Amon? Trust me though, it will NOT be exactly like Korra, there will be Last Airbender parts snuck in there and my own little creations… Mwhahaha! Alrighty then, I'll talk to you all soon! Peace out girl scout! -Lil