Chapter 2
Disclaimer: See the Prologue
The following character belongs to T5Tango and I have permission to use him:
Dameii.
Air
It'll be a breeze!
*Simba's POV*
The events of last week were still present in my mind as I was walking along the savannah. One part of my mind was overjoyed at being the avatar like my great-grandpa Mohatu, but at the same time another was worried about having such a responsibility and if I would be able to handle it when the time came. But other than that, the feelings of my brother and friends about me being the avatar, did not make them see me in a different light. If anything it made them proud of me, and more eager to help me learn the 4 elements, which is what they were doing today. Yesterday, Dad had allowed me the night to come to terms with this new knowledge, for the next day would begin my elemental training.
"Your dad is awesome for letting us join you Simba. I have always wanted to see the Air groves." Said Chumvi who was bouncing up and down with excitement.
"My dad told me it is unlike anything you can see at Pride Rock." I answered with a smile.
"Sweet!" said Chumvi.
"So Simba, you ready for your air bending training?" asked Tama.
"You bet! It is my best element right now so it will be a breeze." I said with a smile. But it was the furthest from the truth in my mind. I hope it is a breeze.
"Uh huh! Sure it will." Said Tama with a smirk because I knew she could hear in my voice, that I am nervous about my lessons.
Sure our parents train is in the basics here at Pride Rock and normally, training for a cub begins when they reach 7-8 months of age when they are allowed to freely roam the four districts of the Pride Lands, but because of me; myself, Kopa and our friends are allowed to begin our training and travel to the four districts so long as we had an escort with us. Today, we are starting with my birth element of air. but I had not been told who my teacher would be. The tension was obviouslyapparent to the others, as I was never good at hiding my emotions. I was tapping my claws on the ground impatiently which I heard Kopa shift because he had noticed my tapping.
"You ok Bro?" he inquired.
"Yeah, I'm fine." I said trying to sound convincing.
"I know something is bothering you so tell me."
"Ok, I am nervous about what my instructor will be like. I am afraid I will make a bad impression when I demonstrate my skills." I said while my ears droop in shame.
"Don't worry about that bro. I am sure you will do great."
"You will air bend circles around this instructor." Said Kula who had come along to give me some support.
"That and every one of us will be right there to cheer you on." Said Nala who gave me a playful shove.
"I am sure he will appreciate the support young Nala." Said a warm feminine voice that I knew anywhere.
We came to a halt and saw at the border of Pride Rock wasGrandma, who had a big smile on her face. "Grandma!" I said gleefully, as Kopa and I rush up and nuzzled her.
"Are you our escort for today miss Uru?" asked Tojo.
"Why yes Tojo, I am."
"Then come on Grandma, let us go." I said as I began cheering up, seeing her comforted me with a sense of familiarity. With that Grandma and the rest of us entered Air Groves. For a while the groves did not seem any different from areas around Pride Rock, until we reached the center. Most of the cubs chins to hit the floor, while Kopa's eyes, along with my own widened with wonder. "Grandma what are those?" I asked with curiosity as I noticed something unusual.
"Those my little sweet, are the Air Kopjes" she answered with a chuckle.
The Air Groves' appearance was just like any other part of the savannah, with grass and acacia trees, but it had one key distinction. Rising from the ground were enormous mounds of stone and rock that then stopped a maybe twenty strides high off the ground. I could see a few of these had air gusts coming from them, and realized there were quite a few students learning along with me.
"Simba come on don't get left behind." Shouted Grandma. She had begun leading the others up the closest Kopje.
"Coming Grandma!"
Once we reached the top I noticed another lion. He was a bit taller than Dad and had the same coloring as him except he had a bit of red fur on his muzzle that was like his mane and he had a red arrow of fur on his forehead like I did.
"Cubs, this is Sifu Dameii. One of Air Grove's finest air benders." I heard my grandmother said with obvious respect.
"Hello Mr. Dameii." We said in unison.
"Hello young ones! Welcome to my training area in Air Groves. Especially you, Simba. I will be one of your instructors for the next couple of weeks." He said to me with a smile.
"Cool! Wait who will be my other teacher?" I asked with a tilt of my head.
"That would be me dear!" answered my grandma with a smile.
"Really? You're going to teach me?"
"I will teach you one side of Air bending, and Dameii will teach you the other. For now, your friends and I will be watching from over there while you practice with Dameii." She then ushered the other cubs away to a higher point on the kopje, but not before Kopa gave me an encouraging head butt and then joined the others.
*Dameii's POV*
"So Simba, shall we begin?" I asked the eager cub.
"Yes Sifu Dameii."
"Well then can you first tell me what Air is?"
"Air is the element of freedom."
"Correct. Air is an element which is not limited by things, such as shape, and for the most part it cannot be contained like the other elements. As Air benders, we exist by becoming like the air and moving with things instead of against them. For, example..." I then chucked a stone at Simba who side stepped the throw.
"Air benders usually never tackle a problem head on, but instead find a solution that works around it. In such cases as you are faced with a fire bender your main defense would be to use quick gusts of wind like this.." I then spun around and then thrust my front paws forward and a short, but strong gust of wind came forth. "That will be your main line of defense against flames. Now you try."
Simba quickly centered himself and repeated what I had just demonstrated. A smalle,r but no less powerful version of my own gust came out and he looked very pleased with himself.
"Very good Simba. It seems you have a good grasp of air bending, but now let me show you something not many of the other teachers know." I then brought my front paws in front of my chest and quickly slid the air between them and a spinning sphere appeared in one of my paws.
"This is the air sphere. One of my greatest techniques. It works by first rotating the air around your paws and then compressing them into a spinning sphere. Once released, it can blow away anything in its path. Why don't you make one." I chided with a smile.
Simba nodded and no surprise came to me when he produced a sphere as good as mine. "Very good Simba. Now for the fun part." I then gestured to some piles of mud nearby and we both walked behind them.
"Now Simba you take your air sphere back like this." I brought my paw with the sphere slowly behind me and Simba imitated me. " And then thrust it forward." I then thrust my paws forward, which Simba did also and the spheres hit the mud which went flying towards where Uru and the cubs were.
"Very Good Simba." I said with a laugh which Simba joined in as they heard a squeal of frustration come from where the mud landed.
"Show me more Sifu Dameii!" This cub is going to be fun!
*Simba's POV*
Dameii's lessons so far are very informative and fun as well. I think I could enjoy learning from him. Suddenly, I had an idea and created another air sphere, but this time I carefully split it into two, dropped both of them and then jumped onto both of them. I then leaned forward and I began laughing as I moved around extremely fast atop I spheres.
"WOO HOO this is fun, Sifu Dameii." I laughed and Dameii joined in, until I heard someone clear their throat. I jumped off my spheres and we both saw my grandmother Uru looking at us with an amused and mischievous look on her face. UH OH! Now I am in for it. I had heard the tales of my fierce grandmother,and even though she had aged, she was still a very powerful lioness. Not to mention if Dad found out I was goofing around in a lesson, I'd be in the den for a week at least!
*Uru's POV*
"Dameii. I think I should teach Simba some offensive air bending if you do not mind." I said with a sweet tone.
"Of course Uru. I would not mind." As he said this, he walked off and joined the other cubs on the higher perch.
"So then let us begin Simba."
"Wait Grandma! I have a question."
"Yes what is it?"
"Dameii said that Air benders don't tackle things head on, doesn't that mean that we use it to defend and not attack?"
"Normally Simba, yes, that is true but in some cases you will have no choice but to fight. And trust me that your air will be your best weapon when it comes to that." I responded, proud of my wise grandson.
"But Grandma, air is so soft and gentle. How can it be dangerous?"
"Simba tell me what air looks like?" I saw him get a confused look and I chuckled.
"I can't tell you that." He finally said.
"Why is that?"
"Because I can't see it."
"That is why air is dangerous. You see Simba, unlike the other elements which are clearly visible, air is the only one we cannot see. This makes it both mysterious and dangerous because you cannot fight what you can't see." I explained with a wave of my paw.
"Ok I get that Grandma. But how can air ever hurt someone?"
"Let me show you." I then turned to a statue of Dameii which was standing next to three identical statues in a row. I then made a quick spin and whipped my tail in a quick swipe. Then, a thin, but fast gale of wind shot forth and cut the head off of the statue.
When I turned to Simba, I saw a shudder go through him. Then I heard a distinct gulp come from Dameii a few stides away. With a wider smirk I teasily shouted over to Demeii, "Think of this the next time you decide to hit me with mud."
"You better get an earthbenders here to fix this, or I'll do the same to yours." he replied with an obvious smirk, and playfully sways his tail back and forth. I turn my head to see mind, and instantly of of Ahadi's. Oh how I miss him. Someday soon, I think I'll take the boys to go see it. I then saw Simba starting to look panicked, as he realized he also may have hit me with mud and quickly asked. "What was that Grandma?"
"That was an attack of mine I like to call the Gale Fang. It is a sharp blade of wind, shaped like a fang that is released from your tail. If done correctly, one could cut through Pride Rock."
"But how did you do it?"
"First, I want you to think of the one individual in your life you have no feelings for at all."
"Huh?" he said with obvious confusion.
"Just do it." I insisted.
*Simba's POV*
I did as she said and closed my eyes. My mind immediately went to Zira and the sound of my brother screaming in pain echoed in my ears. I felt a cold rage as I thought of her, and I opened my eyes with fierce intensity and snarled. Grandma gestured with her paw to another of the statues.
"Now do what I did." She said ecuragingly
Almost immediately, I spun around and whipped my tail forward as I stopped. The gale left and hit the statue in the chest area, cutting it in half. I was astonished at what I did and then felt my grandmother nuzzle him for me accomplishment.
"Good job my little one!" she said,
"Thanks Grandma." I said as I saw the statue.
"Do you understand why you can do that?"
"No, actually I don't."
"The reason you could cut it is because your air became as cold as your emotions that you were focusing on."
"I kind of get it." I said while scratching my head in confusion.
"Simba. Air may seem gentle and soft when it does things like blow grass or blow a breeze through your fur, but the emotions of air are as cold as ice. Air is perhaps the most ruthless of the four elements. When a hurricane comes, the winds become so strong that trees are torn from their homes in the earth. If a tornado occurs, everything from Lions to our home of Pride Rock could be carried away or destroyed by the very winds you and I wield."
"Kings above, I never thought about it like that." I said as I lowered my head in deep thought.
"It is ok my dear one. That is why you are being taught. So shall we continue?" My grandmother asked with a hint of playful inquiry.
"Yeah! Show me some more Grandma."
1) who is your favorite lion king or queen?
2) What kind of bender are you?