Nuile the Paracosmic Tulpa

Chapter Eleven Koh Scores "If a fish lives its whole life in this river, does he know the river's destiny? No! Only that it runs on and on out of his control. He may follow where it flows, but he cannot see the end. He cannot imagine the ocean." - Jeong Jeong The Avatar rocketed back to the field on jets of fire. Tobi and I followed as best we could on foot. When we arrived, far behind, we found the field empty. It was lifeless and silent. There were no signs of the battle that had been fought here. The burning grass had been doused, the churned earth somehow repaired, the grass replaced. The only sounds to be heard were the singing of cicadas, the gentle gurgle of the fountain, the distant rumblings of cars.Evidently Jenny had, finding the field as we saw it now, gone on ahead to search for Koh. Tobi and I exchanged glances. It's easy enough to say now that we knew, even then, that she would not find him. At the time, however, it was probably no more than a doubt. The question that did impress itself upon us both, however, was this: where was Wuqing?And so we waited. Tobi mediated, while I paced. Not ten minutes had passed before she gave it up and joined me in my agitated dance.Soon the sky ignited with fire. The Avatar was back. No sooner did she appear in the sky above us than she lowered herself out of it. The descent was faster, perhaps, than she had intended, and she stumbled as she landed. The flames dispersed around her. The blue faded from her eyes. She was Jenny again.She didn't mention Koh. Neither did we. We only asked, "Any sign of Wuqing?"She didn't answer, only shaking her head.She swallowed. "What do you think happened to him?"Tobi and I were wordless. Luckily, we didn't have to answer. A cough interrupted us, and a weak, quiet voice called out, "Avatar? Is that you?"Jenny's voice softened with relief. "Wuqing! Where are you?"There was a rustling of branches. We turned to see Tommy padding out of a bush toward us. He wasn't a pretty sight. He moved slowly, with one paw held aloft, balancing on three legs, though he limped upon one of them. His fur was torn and tangled and adorned with scorch marks. The tip of one ear dangled in loose shreds, and his tail was bent at an awkward angle. Jenny gasped and rushed to his side immediately. Tobi kneeled beside them. I stood over the little group."Tommy--Wuqing!" Jenny cried. "Are you okay?"He hesitated. Then he said, "Avatar. Will you listen to me?"She nodded obediently."You will have to continue your training without me.""Why?" It was a foolish question. Really, it was a sob more than anything else."Tobi will have to undertake to instruct you in bending.""I've read up on the arts, like you wanted me to, Master," said Tobi with quaking voice."I know you have. I have faith in your abilities. But teaching"--he coughed--"teaching--" he broke off as the cough shook his whole body, long and violent. At last it subsided with a final shudder. "Teaching you to truly master the Avatar State is more than I could do, anyway," he wheezed. "You will have to find another master for that.""Who?" asked Jenny. "Where will I find him?"Wuqing raised a paw feebly. He pressed it against Jenny's lowered head. "Inside. To master the Avatar State, you must call upon one of your past lives." He coughed again. His next words were a whisper that none of us made out."Who?" Jenny pressed. "Who?"Wuqing's every word was strained, but he poured into them all the force he could muster. "You must call upon the first Avatar to truly master the ability, who succeeded in doing so only through disciplined training. She can best teach you what you need to learn. You must look within yourself and find Avatar Korra. She will train you.""Yes, Master." As Wuqing coughed again, she added, "Please--please, don't--""It is not a choice I am free to make. Life and death is an endless circle. I have gone fully around it. Do not grieve for me.""But you're a spirit! How can you--" she choked, unable to finish."That does not make me invincible. Neither is Koh. As my time has come, so, soon, will his." He paused. Then, "And Jenny . . . promise me something.""Anything, Master.""Remember what I have told you. To master the Avatar State--to master bending--you must master yourself.""If anyone can, she can, Master Wuqing," I assured him."I promise, Master," said Jenny. "And--" she added, "and I swear, too, that I'll stop Koh. I won't give up--and no matter what, I won't fail. He'll be stopped. I promise."Wuqing nodded. I could have sworn that the fixed frown of a cat's lips became a smile then upon his face. He took one more breath, deep and shivering, and became still.Tobi began crying. I admired Jenny for the silent sobs that shook her. I sat between the two, putting an arm around the shoulder of each. And I wept with them over the fading image of Wuqing's feline body.I watched Jenny, who was soundlessly repeating, "I promise. I promise. I promise." Review Sincerely, Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith

Chapter Ten Rematch "It's not going to be much of a match."- Azula The benders brandished their elements threateningly, but none made an immediate move to attack. This allowed Jenny the time to make the first move.She sprang forward and raised her hands. In swift succession she formed fireballs in each hand and hurled them at the wall of faceless benders. The firebenders deflected, the waterbenders doused the flames, the airbenders dodged. But one struck an earthbender square in the head, knocking him and all his muscle off his feet.Jenny flinched. "They--they can't feel that, can they?""No," Wuqing responded quickly, "but now's not the time to worry about that. Watch out!"Jenny looked up in time to see a barrage of icicle spikes descending on her. She swept her arm into the air, creating an umbrella of flame. The ice melted and fell as rain into the fire with a series of hisses. But then the umbrella was gone, dispersed by a rush of wind. Jenny ducked a flying rock, which missed my own head by inches. The next instant a powerful gust sent me sprawling.Jenny brought her foot down, and a boulder popped up from the earth before her. She kicked it like a soccer ball, and it rolled at Koh's minions. They parted and it rolled harmlessly between them."Enough!" Wuqing roared. He stepped forward, standing firm as a jet of water meant for Jenny struck him in the chest. He cast over his shoulder at the rest of us, "Run! Now!""But what about--""Run!"And then suddenly Wuqing was gone. Flickering into visibility in his place stood a massive lion, its jaws parted to bare its teeth. Muscles rippled beneath its golden pelt. Its mane ruffled as it shook its head, a deep growl rumbling in its throat. In the same moment he crouched and sprang. With each step of his mighty paws he tore lumps of sod from the earth. The benders scattered as he tore into their ranks, batting them aside like dolls. I noticed he kept his claws sheathed.We watched in awe. I was the first to recover myself. "Come on!" I urged Jenny and Tobi, grabbing them by the wrists and leading them away. We ran across the field, across the street. But waiting at the dojo door stood a line of faceless pawns. We turned and ran toward the alley. Rounding the corner, we ran straight into more of them. Coming toward us along the sidewalk, pursuing us across the street--we were surrounded.I flung myself at the nearest of them, dealing a one-two punch to his face. The feeling of the bare, unnaturally smooth skin against my fist nauseated me. But without a face to strike, it was vain. The man retaliated, with more effective results. I staggered, straightened, went for him again. I hit him in the neck, thumped him twice hard in the stomach. He fell.Now two more had me by the arms. Nearby, Tobi and Jenny were similarly occupied; though I only wished I had their martial art skills or, better, the ability to bend. As it was, all I had was brute strength and superior intelligence. Against assailants with arms as thick as tree trunks, I opted for the latter.I pulled my feet off the ground. The two thugs reeled with my sudden weight and bashed skulls. Freed, I scrambled to my feet and greeted a faceless woman, who responded rather rudely by throwing a splash of ice-cold water in my face.At least, it was water when she splashed it, but as it connected with my face it froze solid. It felt as if I had plunged my head into a midwinter pool.I felt a foot against my back. Pain shot up my spine. A fist collided with my chest, another with my stomach. My mind dull with the cold, I kicked out, observing faintly that it hit something hard that toppled. With my luck, it was probably a commemorative statue, or a police officer.The ice before my eyes began to glow with an orange hue. I felt a hand on my shoulder. Warmth began to creep into face, growing into a searing heat. The ice dissolved and I saw Jenny, who paused to cast white-hot sparks at one of Koh's men before saying to me, "This way!" and taking off along the alley."Last time you said that," I protested, "I got shot!""Shut up!""And I told you as much beforehand! I said, 'you're going to get me into trouble!' And what did you do? You got me into trouble! It was a premonition!""That doesn't make you psychic; I always get you into trouble!""Then it was a deduction!""Which way?" This was Tobi's contribution to the conversation when we paused at a junction in the alley. "We could get into the kwoon by the back door.""Do you have a key?" asked Jenny.Tobi patted her pockets. She stamped her foot. "Not with me.""Benders at six o' clock," I warned. "Come on!"We took once more to our heels. The streets were nearly deserted--unless the horde of bulb-headed freaks chasing us qualifies, which I daresay it does. Besides them, and us, there were only a few passersby present to turn and flee at the sight of the bending. I pitied the 911 operators on duty that night.There were a small number of refuges near at hand; most of the shops were closed for the night, and it seemed hardly sporting to interrupt any romantic dinners by bursting into a restaurant to search in vain for a hiding-place. The police station was within running distance and we were coming up on the court house, but we were running away from the former and I don't think settling Jenny's score with Koh on a legal playing field crossed any of our minds. Instead, we opted for a parking garage. Leaping through the window we crossed the lot, passed the ramp, and ducked behind a dumpster. Suddenly a candlelit cafe seemed far more welcoming.It was some moments before our pursuers charged past. I wondered fleetingly how hiding was actually of any benefit, when Koh's minions had no eyes from which to hide. Perhaps he controlled them via some sort of psychic echolocation. There was a disturbing idea.Tobi intruded upon my thoughts by whispering, "What now?""Home," I suggested. "Jenny's, or mine. They're not far."But Jenny shook her head. "No. What's the point? They'll just burn the houses down. We would only be putting everyone in danger.""Then where--""I don't know!" Jenny hissed. She clutched her head. "I don't know! There's nowhere we can go! Koh's--he's not going to give up. No matter what. There's nowhere I can run that he won't follow. Where can I hide that he won't find me?" Hugging her knees, she rocked back and forth. "What else can I do?""Else than what?" But Jenny had a peculiarly communicative silence. Without a word she could say almost anything. And she told me very clearly what she meant. "No!" I objected, "no! Jenny, you can't! You're not ready!""I have no other choice, Jacob!" she shot back. "Koh has me cornered! This game of cat and mouse has to end!""Jenny, you can't!"Tobi's questioning expression cleared. "You're not thinking of challenging the Face-Stealer now, are you?"But Jenny was no longer listening. Her eyes were closed. I could see that every muscle in her body was straining. Her teeth were gritted. As I watched, her lips curved into a grimace. She appeared to be in pain."Jenny--" I began.Her eyes snapped open. They burned blue. She stood up. With a single burst of flame she flung the dumpster across the parking lot and stepped out into the open. When she spoke, her voice was layered over countless others of discordant pitches and tones, as if a whole crowd were saying in perfect unison:"Koh, this ends now!" Review Sincerely, Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith

You have a blog. If you want to try and be genuinely inspirational there, you are welcome to do so. XD I'm just trying to spread a little cheer. Sincerely, Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith

Every now and then, we all feel a little despondence. We lose hope or confidence and we feel down. Especially when we're about to tackle a daunting task, we all have our misgivings. The specific thought that brings this all to mind is National Novel Writing Month. A lot of writers are dedicating themselves to the task of writing a hefty 50,000 words during the course of the ensuing month, and that is no simple task. So for them, for anyone who needs a little inspiration, I offer this poem. It is actually a rewrite of a poem by Edgar Best, "It Couldn't Be Done." This version is by Edward Carp. Perseverance Somebody said it couldn't be done, But he with a chuckle replied, Maybe it couldn't, but I will be one, Who'll never say 'No!' 'til I've tried." So he buckled right in, With a trace of a grin On his face, if he worried he hid it. And he tackled that thing that couldn't be done, And he couldn't do it. Yeah, you might want to look up that original. But I hope I helped. ;D National Novel Writing Month writers, or anyone in general: Keep trying, keep persevering, and never lose hope! Sincerely, Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith

Chapter Nine The Seven Chakras "Chakras, chakras, everybody loves chakras!"- Guru Pathik The subsequent morning found us, bright and early, not at the kwoon itself, but in a field across the street. Wuqing and Tobi were stretching, and assuming kung fu forms in slow motion. They paused their tai chi as we approached."Good morning, Avatar Jenny, Jacob. Join us. Then we shall meditate."We returned greetings and assents, and began following them in their movements. I confess to total inexperience in the martial arts and a general lack of physical coordination, which would account for any losses of balance, clumsy stances, discrepancy of movement, or muscles trembling under the strain of trying to perform a kick with all the speed of a tortoise.It rather surprised me that, as leisurely as tai chi appeared, I was panting before we had finished. When first we sat in a circle and began our deep breathing, my inhalations were longer than the others', and my expirations shorter.Before we were sitting long in silence, Jenny said, "I feel like everyone's watching us.""Probably because they are," I murmured, opening one eye to a slit. Indeed, it seemed that we were being observed by each and every passerby. Even the players on the shuffleboard court regarded us curiously between shuffles."Remember," Wuqing murmured, "they do not exist. There is nothing outside this circle.""But I can sense they're watching. It's almost like their looking disrupts the energy.""Does it make you feel uncomfortable?""A little.""Does it embarrass you?""I guess so.""Embarrassment is a form of fear. It is one of the most irrational. You are afraid of what these people might think. You are afraid of appearing foolish. But these people are not judging you. It is human nature to observe, especially that which is unusual. They study you in an effort to understand, out of mere curiosity. What they do, even what they think, is no concern of yours. Let go of your fear."The word brought to mind my conversation with Jenny. She had greater worries weighing on her mind than pertained to onlookers."Let go of your fear," Wuqing repeated. "It has no place within you. Hurl it into the river of energy and let it float away."We were all quiet for some minutes, wrapped up in our own thoughts. It occurred to me that greater worries were exactly what Wuqing was referring to. I mentally applied the method to a long list of fears: I watched spiders, lima beans and flamingos carried away on a stream. Lightning, pain; these were harder to drown.A vision crept into my mind. I saw a man with a mustache, a gun's muzzle grinning from his hand. It blazed. I crumpled. I watched helplessly as the man's body faded into a long, black, segmented tail. The legs around his face were as sharp as claws. Jenny's eyes flashed blue, and flames burst forth around her. But then the bewhiskered face disappeared, the mouth opened wide. I heard Jenny scream. Her eyes lost their glow. She collapsed. The fire dissipated. When I looked at Jenny, I wanted to cry out, but it caught in my throat. Her face was gone.My eyelids flew open, and I swallowed hard. It was all in my mind, I knew. But somehow, the image was too large to fit in the little stream of energy.Wuqing opened his eyes as suddenly as I had. His gaze met mine, and for a moment, I caught a glimpse of something, a tacit communication--an expression of compassion? pity? regret?--but then it was gone. He turned to Jenny and said, "Do you feel better now?"I, for one, did not. But Jenny answered, "Yes. I--I did what you said. I saw my fears float away. And it felt good."Wuqing smiled. I could hear it in his voice as he said, "Congratulations. You have unlocked your earth chakra." ~ * ~ The next day Wuqing explained the nature of the water chakra. Where the earth chakra's character was survival, the water's was pleasure; where the earth chakra was blocked by fear, the water was blocked by guilt.Through slitted eye I observed Jenny, wondering fleetingly what guilt plagued her thoughts. Closing my vision in darkness, I considered my own regrets.I spread out my sins before my mind. Some were so small that I was surprised I remembered them. Some were so great I wished that I could forget them.Fits over the most trivial matters came to mind, alongside arguments with siblings or parents. I recall pocketing a tawdry office decoration and being made to return it, and a kind secretary permitting me to keep it. But these were the mere juvenile impulses of a child. I had learned my lessons at little cost.But the memory of a friend of former status being unnecessarily rude to a young girl surfaced in my mind. I might have done something, but instead she went home in tears. I had lacked the courage to act.I squirmed with discomfort, remembering who that girl was. Guilt, as I found, is hard to let go of when one is guilty.Jenny breathed a deep breath, and Wuqing complimented her success. I was glad I was not the Avatar, because I had failed. ~ * ~ The fire chakra pertained to willpower, its negative being shame. Wuqing advised Jenny not to blame herself for what cannot be helped.For myself, I wondered what was the difference between guilt and shame. The conclusion, after some little contemplation, at which I arrived was such that guilt is relative to repentance, a remorse felt for misconduct; while shame refers to a repining over mistakes.So I thought of that for which I held myself accountable, even when I was not, or not entirely. I thought of ruined meals and broken--well, everything, from dishes to light bulbs, from windows to a fire hydrant. I thought of insults that had slipped off my tongue without ever the chance to be retracted. I thought of the time I had sprained my sister's foot by stepping on it. I thought of the lawnmower's meal of Internet cables under my negligent guidance.I thought of Jenny, and the perils of friendship. I thought of the natural missteps I had taken along its course, and those which had been far less natural. But they were errors, all, amended.Indeed, I realized, no matter how badly something might be broken in the blunders of human hands, nothing is irreparable. Spilled milk should not be wept over, but cleaned up.If I had had a chakra, I think it would have been unlocked, and a good few minutes before Jenny announced, "I can feel it this time. I did it." ~ * ~ "The air chakra deals with love," Wuqing explained. "It is blocked by grief. Summon to mind all your loss. Feel the pain of all your woes. Count your grievances. Then let them all go. Things we lose have a way of coming back to us. Though a flower may die, it will bud and bloom anew. Count your blessings, and let them overpower your grief."This was the first meditation which presented to me no difficulty. I had lost no loved ones, save a grandfather I had lost at such a young age that I could hardly remember him. As far back as my memory reached, I had only lost one pet, but I had come to terms with her passing on to a better place. Friends in my life, as in all, had come and gone, but I had never lost those nearest and dearest. I opened an eye to look at Jenny. Not, at least, never to be regained. I knew very well that wilted flowers grow back.And I did not need to meditate to know that the blessings of my life outweighed the banes. Despite the everyday complaints we all have, deep within our hearts are held our thanksgivings, even when we don't take notice of them. But it is one of my rules in life that, no matter how bad things may seem, no matter what adversities I may face, I don't lose sight of my blessings. Grief was one thing I was capable of countering.I regarded the others. Wuqing and Tobi appeared calm, but with knitted brow and deep frown, it seemed Jenny did not find this chakra as easy as I.I asked myself then what griefs might oppress Jenny's soul, but I could give myself no answer. Her immediate family was wholly intact, and as far as I knew so were her extended relations.I can't quite explain how my next thought entered my mind. Perhaps it was that consideration of Jenny's family. But it was at this moment when I recalled Koh's words: How would your family feel if they knew you were so willing to sign away their lives?Somehow, I did not think Koh was a bluffer. Somewhere in his arsenal, no doubt, he had a topnotch poker face; however, I did not think he had been using it. To him, Jenny's family would be as nothing to his ends. He would go to far greater lengths than murdering half a dozen people--worse, even, then stealing their faces.I could not help, hard as I tried, but to imagine the ground littered with the featureless bodies of Jenny's parents, her siblings, my own, and the bodies of countless others. It was a cold, cruel scene, one I was not eager to witness firsthand.And I wondered: if Koh killed or stole the faces of Jenny's family--or of my own . . . could I so easily release my grief then?While I had regressed to the earth chakra, Jenny had been working away at her air chakra. But it was Wuqing who murmured, "Good work, Jenny."Jenny's eyelids lifted to stare at the grass. "Thank you--master." ~ * ~ The nature of the next chakra was truth; opposed, not surprisingly, by lies."The kinds of lies you tell yourself. The truth hurts, but it also heals. Better, always, to know the truth than to live in ignorance. Do not withhold the facts, even from yourself. You cannot change that which is set in stone. You can only accept it."I was not sure insisting to myself, in spite of all evidence to the contrary, that I was devilishly handsome, was quite the variety of fib Jenny's spirit trainer had in mind. Therefore, I did not think that admitting my looks were only moderately exceptional would have unlocked any chakras.I dug deeper. Perhaps I truly was, in some ways, conceited. I conceded the point. And it was so, I decided, that I was not as strong as I made myself out to be. But--was it true that I wasn't as brave as I thought?I asked myself: if circumstances called for it, could I stand up to Koh again? If Jenny needed my help--if the world, somehow, needed my help--could I do it? Taking a bullet was one thing. Forfeiting my soul to a caterpillar demon was something else again. Did I have the courage I told myself I had? I found that I did not know the answer. I only hoped that, when the time was right, I would find it.An even more dangerous question occurred to me. If it did happen that I was called upon to face Koh, if Jenny did need my aid, would I be able to? What, after all, could I do to stop him? I was no Avatar. I was merely me.I shook away the thoughts and occupied my mind, instead, with considering Jenny's case. It was my guess that the chief lie she was overcoming was her incapability. The truth, which I hoped she was realizing, was that she had the strength to accomplish the task before her, if only she would see it and use it. In a way, that's what she was doing. The Avatar State itself was a kind of metaphor: by searching herself she would find the inner strength she already had, which would grant her the success she needed.Could she find it in time? I knew she could--but would she admit it to herself? ~ * ~ Insight and illusion were two of the more obscure polar attributes of the chakras.Wuqing commented, "Insight means to look beyond superficial appearances. Human beings are naturally blinded by illusion, but it is not hard to see things for what they are. Do not allow yourself to be fooled."I had been operating all along under the idea that this whole Avatar business was an illusion; but I don't think I had ever truly believed that. If anything, I had been lying to myself. I was a day late on this one.But perhaps I was not far off. If insight meant to see through illusion, then maybe the illusion here was the preconceived notion that something like the Avatar could not exist. In our day-to-day lives, we humans tend to be distracted by trivialities. The commonplace becomes reality to our unperceiving minds. If anything was an illusion, it was what we refer to as "reality." There is a force in the universe far greater than that which can be plainly seen. But it is there to be seen--if we only look.I wondered what it felt like, unlocking a chakra. Indigestion, maybe? I made a note to ask Jenny. At that moment, she was still meditating. ~ * ~ Wuqing summoned us that same night to meditate upon the next chakra beneath the stars.After we had calmed and cleared our minds, Wuqing announced, "The seventh and final chakra. The last pathway to open, and the energy will flow freely throughout your body, and the Avatar State will be yours to command. You are getting ever closer, Jenny, to mastering it."This chakra deals with pure cosmic energy. Worldly attachments lock it. Think of what bonds you to this world--think of the things, of the people you care about. And then let them go--let the pure cosmic energy flow into your body and take place of them.""Let--let go of them? Of my family, and friends?" I opened an eye to see Jenny staring at Wuqing, horror-struck. "But I can't! How could I?""It is only right that you love and care for them. I would expect nothing less of you--as you. But as the Avatar, in the Avatar State, you are no longer yourself. You must detach yourself entirely from negative emotions, and from the world itself. You may fear and grieve and love at all other times, but you have to learn to release yourself entirely. The Avatar State is ruled by emotion; therefore, you must rule emotion."Jenny nodded and took a deep breath. I was leaving this one up to her; I could meditate and ponder as much as I wanted, but I hadn't the slightest idea what cosmic energy was.And so I sat in silence, watching Jenny. The seconds rolled into minutes, which by and by became an hour. I slapped idly at a mosquito, wondering how Jenny could stand becoming a feeding ground for the vermin. Helpfully, I slapped one on her arm. She slapped me back. There's gratitude for you."Well, well, well!" Without warning, a voice broke the peace, calm and quiet, yet strikingly fierce and loud in the silence of the night. "I expected that you would be training, but I did not think you would be meditating. If this is how you intend to meddle in my schemes--by sitting in circles and contemplating the mysteries of the universe--proceed by all means. I apologize for interrupting."All eyes were open, all eyes turned. It was Koh, and he had brought his evil hockey team for a rematch. But this time, they came bare-faced--and I mean that in the most literal sense that could be applied to the term. Their heads, perched upon their shoulders like naked light bulbs, might have been comical if they had not been so macabre."Nothing to say?" observed Koh. "And I thought witty retorts were a staple of the Avatar. But hold your peace, if you prefer. I makes no difference to me."He made a quick motion with one hand and four of his minions stepped forward. They raised their hands. It was then, a moment before they attacked, that I realized with a jolt of shock the horrible truth. These were no ordinary men and women whose faces Koh had stolen.The hands of one burst into flame, another levitated a thick chunk of turf. One drew a wave from the nearby fountain, the fourth created a whirlwind about herself. Others stepped up behind them, armed, too, with the elements.These were benders. These were skilled, experienced benders. These were opponents Jenny was not ready to fight. Review Sincerely, Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith

Chapter Eight Earth "Earth is the element of substance."- Iroh "Earth is firm and unyielding. It simultaneously protects and defends. It is the element of body. You must be conscious of yourself in your entirety, from each strand of hair to each toe. Feel the ground beneath your feet as an extension of that entirety. Be ever mindful of yourself, your surroundings, and your place in them."Jenny was blindfolded again. Her task this morning was to spar with Tobi, who was not blindfolded. I thought it would be entertaining. Wuqing thought it would teach Jenny to feel rather than see her opponent, to sense the vibrations in the earth. As it turned out, we were both equally correct.They stepped into one of the arenas chalked off on the floor. Tobi advanced first, slowly; while Jenny stood stock still, waiting."That's right," said Wuqing. "Wait for your opponent to make the first move! They who strike first do not always strike last. Anticipate their attack, and use it against them."Tobi put her feet down lightly as she inched ever nearer to Jenny. She was only a few feet away when Jenny jerked her head up suddenly. She stomped on the stone and the earth beneath Tobi rippled, upsetting her balance. Now Jenny advanced. But before she could react, Tobi was back on her feet, and she knocked Jenny back with a carefully measured kick to the stomach. Jenny retaliated with a second ripple, but this time Tobi was ready to dodge.Jenny waited again, unmoving as Tobi slowly crept around behind her. Jenny whipped around, swinging an arm wildly in Tobi's direction. Tobi caught the blow easily and rejoined with a kick to her opponent's shoulder."Do not yield to your opponent's strength! Stand against it, and use it against them!"Jenny applied the advice quickly. With a tap of her toes she raised the floor beneath Tobi a few inches, just enough to topple her. Jenny moved to plant a foot on her opposition's stomach, but Tobi rolled aside and the foot fell on bare floor.Tobi was up again in a moment, but Jenny was ready. She played helpless until Tobi came at her. Then she took her opponent's arm over her shoulder and flipped Tobi. She took the fall with practiced ease. Jenny slid her foot across the floor, causing a ruffle in the stone that sent Tobi rolling. Without missing a beat Jenny continued the onslaught. Even when Tobi moved aside to avoid the rippling floor, Jenny adjusted her aim and caught her opponent again, pushing her far beyond the limits of the drawn arena.Wuqing's thin voice echoed through the chamber. "Enough. That's enough for today. Avatar, excellent work."Jenny discontinued her attack and removed the blindfold as Tobi stood. The two shook hands."Not bad," commented Tobi, "not bad at all.""You did the best you could," Jenny replied with good-natured sarcasm. "I am the Avatar, after all.""And now," said Wuqing, "let us relax."He and Jenny converged in the meditation circle, while Tobi and I sat outside its boundaries, forming a rough diamond pattern between the four of us.Wuqing issued the usual instructions. "Breathe in through the nose--out through the mouth. Let the energy within you flow peacefully, carrying away your disruptive thoughts."I carried out the directions, successfully emptying my mind and calming my body. This time, and for the first time, I did not fall asleep. Wuqing ended the session with a deep sigh and the following pronouncement:"That is enough. Jenny, I congratulate you on your speed in learning these fundamental bending skills. Meditation, too, is an art, and not as simple as it may seem. You have taken to it proficiently. Tomorrow we will begin unlocking your chakras." He transfigured into a cat and padded toward the exit, mewing over his shoulder, "Good day!" ~ * ~We had squared matters with our parents on the pretense of taking self-defense classes, which wasn't altogether a pretense, being more or less true, the more on Jenny's part, the less on mine. My explanation was an interest in the martial arts; while Jenny claimed a desire for diversity, a change from the Korean martial arts.So it was that we waited in the front room of the White Lotus Kwoon for Jenny's parents to pick us up. The clock on the wall had an irksomely loud tick, almost like a heartbeat, which steadily drove me nuts even though I was hiding nothing beneath the floor more than the knowledge of a secret training room.The sun was at the point in the sky that it poured its rays heavily through the front windows, blinding me to the point that I had to close my eyes against it. With nothing but spots dancing amidst the darkness beneath my eyelids, the ticking of the clock seemed to become louder. Before it could overwhelm me completely, I broke the not-so-silent silence."Looking forward to chucking rocks tomorrow?"Jenny didn't answer for a moment. Then I sensed her giver herself a shake in her chair and say, "What?""Forget it. It was a bad pun, anyway. Are you all right?""Yeah. I was just--thinking.""I don't have a penny on me, but would you accept a paper clip distorted into the shape of Abraham Lincoln?""It's a deal." I withdrew the article and began bending the thin metal into shape, while Jenny went on, "I was just wondering--if I can learn to master the Avatar State in time--will it be enough? Will I really be able to stop Koh?""It's only natural that you're afraid of him. Well, come to think of it, there's nothing about him or that pertains to him that could be called natural. But fear, anyway, that's natural. Of course you don't believe that you're strong enough. Of course you believe that you stand no chance against an evil spirit bent on revenge. Of course you believe he'll kill you. Of course--""Thanks, Jacob, I appreciate the encouragement!""My point is that it's only natural to fear. But what you have to remember is that fear is an emotion, and emotions are entirely irrational. There can be rationality tied into them--as, for example, in the case of a rational fear. But this isn't. This is an entirely irrational fear; a groundless one.""That doesn't make me feel any better.""Of course it doesn't. Rationality can't dispel fear. But for what it's worth, you are strong enough. You can face Koh, and win. You're the Avatar.""That's right--the Avatar is strong enough. She can defeat Koh. But can I?""Jenny--Wuqing believes in the Avatar. Tobi believes in the Avatar. But you know what? I don't. I still think it's all a dream, a lot of nonsense and mumbo-jumbo. But whether I'm awake or not, it doesn't change what I believe in. The Avatar? Phooey! I believe in you."I paused, but not long enough to allow Jenny to respond. Placing the paper clip in her hand, I said, "Here you go. The spitting image of ol' Abe!""Close enough. At least, what he looks like by now."And we laughed. Review Sincerely, Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith

Chapter Seven Air and Water "To master the bending disciplines, you must first master discipline itself." - Jeong Jeong "Air is the most constant of elements. It is around us, and it is within us. You breathe it, you swim through it. Its bounds are only those known by your imagination. If you open your mind, you will not be limited even by the sky." Today, a large portion of the training room was occupied by a labyrinth constructed of padded wood panels. I stood with Wuqing and Jenny at the entrance. Tobi was absent, probably at home getting a well-deserved rest after a long night's handiwork."But," asked Jenny, "what does the maze have to do with air, Master?"I suggested, "You have to bend the air to carry the scent of the cheese at the end to you. Then you just follow it."Though Jenny cast me a vaguely amused, but mostly exasperated, glare, Wuqing said, "Actually, your friend is not far wrong.""Hey," I went on, "if there's cheese, I'll go through the maze.""There is no cheese. There is one entrance, and one exit. This creates a single path for the air to follow, beginning to end. You must flow with the currents of air, and follow them to the end."Jenny nodded. "Okay. Sounds easy enough.""But you have to do it blindfolded.""I was afraid there was a catch."When the spirit had wrapped a strip of cloth around Jenny's head, covering her eyes, he turned her to face the maze entrance and gave her a gentle push. "Breathe the air. Feel the air. Sense the currents. Follow them to the other side."We watched as she started timidly forward, step by step. She took deep breaths resembling Wuqing's meditation technique. I wondered if she detected the air flow through an inner, perhaps almost instinctive feeling, or if she physically sensed it as it swept past her skin or disturbed her hairs, almost as a cat does with its whiskers. At the thought, I cast a glance at Wuqing out of the corner of my eye, wondering if his beard worked that way.Jenny had nearly reached the first turn when, as far as I could tell, she felt it too soon. For she veered suddenly to the side, ramming headlong into the wall.I called, "Come on, Jenny! If guinea pigs can do it, you can! Just follow the smell of the cheese!"Jenny gave a shove in my direction, which propelled a current of air that nearly knocked me off my feet.When she had disappeared around the corner, Wuqing led me around the outside of the maze to the end, where we waited. And waited. And waited. And admired dust motes. Dull thuds and an occasional grunt of frustration from within the maze afforded us a periodical progress report. At one point, Wuqing sat down to meditate. Out of curiosity, I stepped to the bookcase to scan the shelves. A copy of Water Margin caught my eye. But as I reached out to take it gingerly in my hands, what should I hear but a gravelly, "Don't touch that!""Oh, come on!" I complained. "I'm the Avatar's friend! She's too busy training to do all the research. I should that while she's busy!""You're still not touching my collection."Suddenly Jenny cried out, "Not another dead end!""Don't think of it as a dead end," I encouraged, "but a deceased finish.""When I get out of here--"Wuqing observed, "Do not see it as a wall, but as another opportunity.""Another opportunity? Okay, then I'll take it."Before the spirit responded, there came the sound of rushing air, and Jenny appeared above the maze. For a moment, she hovered, as the momentum of her leap yielded to gravity. Then she landed lightly atop one of the walls. The moment she had gained balance, she sprang to the next wall, then to the next, and on to the next, until she leaped free of the outer wall and half-crashed, half-alighted on the ground."There! I'm out!" she declared."You used your mind and your airbending to come at your task from a different angle. Excellent work." Wuqing nodded his approval, rising. "Now, let us meditate." ~ * ~ The night passed uneventfully, and I slept through the hours I didn't spend trying to wake myself from my dream. At the White Lotus Kwoon the next day, Jenny's mentor and his assistant awaited us with a target erected at the end of the room, where the tables had been parted to provide it a large girth. Oddly, a string stretched from a peg at its center, to a wooden post standing near the chamber entrance. At the foot of the latter sat a basin full of water."Tightrope walking!" I cried, clapping my hands and bouncing up and down with sarcastic giddiness.Wuqing had learned to ignore me by this time. "Water is the element of willpower." Most people do. "Like the ocean, it pushes and pulls." When they get used to me. "You must work with it while maintaining control over it." And realize that half of what I say isn't worth listening to, anyway. "Hit the target.""Um--I'll try." Jenny coaxed the water out of the bowl, and then launched a stream. It missed by an approximate rod, leaving nothing but a long, wet trail."Try again."She obeyed. This time, the water flew off in the other direction."I think you got a drop on the target that time," I remarked. She splashed me."You must concentrate. Center your mind on your target. Focus your energy upon it. Will the water to strike it. Bend the water along the string. Keep it constant, keep it composed, and keep it true to its aim. First, practice. Try it slowly."Tobi and I seated ourselves to watch. Jenny made her first attempt, which popped like a water balloon halfway along the string. Her second attempt veered off course. Two more failures were followed by a vent of frustration in the form a powerful jet of water that just missed the target enough to strike me full on and bowl me over, chair and all. And I was behind her."Water," I moaned. "Can't we go back to air? I wouldn't mind being blasted by wind." Jenny replied with a gust of just that. The chair rolled, leaving me flat on my face."I take that back," I commented to the cold, and oh so very hard, stone."Calm yourself, Jenny," instructed Wuqing. "Water is only turbulent when necessary. A river runs smooth and steady, and does not become a rapid until circumstances call it to. Be patient. Do not hasten yourself. You have all the time you need."The floor was too fresh in my memory--indeed, I was still picking myself up--for me to voice my comments regarding just how limited her time actually was. That very deadline, in itself, aided to subdue my wit."You can do it, Jenny! Just focus!" I called instead. "Do that breathing thing, and keep your eye on the--splash." I might, I reflected, have quit while I was ahead there.But Jenny tried again. Very slowly she conducted the water forward along the string, spiraling the stream around it like a snake coiling along a branch. She took her time. She took her sweet time. But the stream wound its way to the end at last and struck its mark."Excellent! Excellent!" Wuqing beamed. "Now do it again." Review Sincerely, Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith

I apologize for being so late on this one. But Grant-Sud's Warm, reviewed. Sincerely, Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith

Nuile here, reporting with an official SSCC charity review for you.This is sweet; this is really very sweet. It's simple, there's not much at all to it; it's a trivial scene, and that's the point, after all. I think that, like your protagonist puts it, it was just one of those moments, one of those memories you want to keep. It's hard to place just why, but it's one of those beautiful moments we sometimes take for granted and sometimes take for their true value. And you captured it wonderfully. I could feel with the character each precious moment. The emotions were plain, as they were supposed to be; the descriptions of her illness was almost enough to make me feel as bad as she did; and it was all conveyed perfectly.I'll tell the truth, the style annoyed. There were several instances of improper grammar and I'm not a fan of present tense. I love first person, but it has to be done right, which isn't necessarily easy. Just because you're writing through a character's pen doesn't excuse you from writing well. Formality has its place and in a first person narrative it can be--it isn't always, but it can be--out of place. However, I feel that this was somehow an exception. It was a simple scene with a simple style. So I'll not only let it slide, I'll commend you for setting the tone.That's about it. I don't have much to complain about because there wasn't much wrong. But there were a few grammatical mistakes that I don't think can full under the excuse of style: I think you meant routine. I admit, though, that I like the way route sounds in its place. It seems to suggest that our daily lives are the paths we follow, the routes we take. That said, the narrator obviously wasn't in a very poetic mood, and all in all I think this was an error. That was too awkward. It was way too awkward. I can't even pinpoint the way to rectify it. It just needs to be reworded. This is one of the most annoying and one of the most common mistakes, one I know I was long guilty of. The rules of quotations are confusing, as I well know. But I digress. A quotation should only end in a comma if it is part of a greater sentence (e.g. "Yes," he said.). In this case, it should end with a period, because it is not a part of the sentence beyond the quotation markes (e.g. "No." His voice was hoarse.)Overall, very nicely done here. It was sweet with an intentional hint of bitterness; rather like her tea. I adore this kind of sappy romantic story, and I think you did it exceptionally well.Sincerely, Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith

Read Drawn to Disaster. ;P Sincerely, Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith

Chapter Six A Late-night Warning "Do you really want to fight me?" - Azula I was at home, finally laying my head gently on my pillow and pulling the bedclothes over my shoulders, when I heard the phone ring from the next room. With a groan, I waited. It rang a second time. Everybody else was probably asleep by now. At any rate, I was the closest, and after the day I had gone through, I wasn't about to be lax in my vigilance. If it was a wrong number, well, then I could put the phone through the garbage disposal.I stumbled to the phone and, having forgotten by glasses by my bedside, squinted at the numbers. It was Jenny.I pressed a button and said, "I hope your house is on fire, because otherwise--no, I hope it's better than that, because you should be able to just bend it out.""Jacob? Is that you?""No. He's my next-door neighbor. I'm the other guy who knows you can bend.""What? I can hardly hear you!""So can I. Oh, wait. I'm holding the phone upside-down. Okay. What's going on?""How quickly can you get over here?"That was an odd question. But it had been an odd day. Maybe the tooth fairy had come calling."Fifteen minutes. Ten if I don't bother to change and run fast. Five if I throw myself out the window right now.""Make it three minutes." Her voice was tense and wavering.Now I was concerned. "Jenny, what's wrong?""It's Koh." She audibly gulped over the line. "He's at the front door."I didn't hesitate a moment after that. I can't even recall whether I hung up the phone or not before I flung myself out the back door and barreled across the lawn and through the neighbor's yard. Without my spectacles, I stumbled half-blind through the night, grateful for the light of the moon. I doubt if it was any more than three minutes before I found myself panting outside the side door at her house, knocking in a gentle frenzy. The door opened on Jenny and she quickly pulled me inside."Did anyone see you?""Not--as far--as I--know.""Did you see anyone?"I shook my head."I have no idea if he's alone or not.""I--doubt--it.""So what do we do?" she cried in an undertone. "What do we do?""Did you--wake your--parents?""Are you nuts? So Koh can steal their faces?""It's not--a solstice," I reminded her."Then he'll shoot them, or his faceless minions will strangle them, or--" She broke off, shaking her head. "This isn't any everyday burglar. I can't put my family in danger. I'm the Avatar. This is my job.""You're only an Avatar--in training!""But I am the Avatar. I have to deal with Koh.""You didn't seem--to mind waking me.""I had to have someone! You're the only one who knows!""What about your cat?""I don't know! He never came home tonight.""Then we'll just have to face Koh.""But that's mad!""What else can we do? He's liable to shatter a window, which will only cause new problems."Jenny closed her eyes and swallowed hard. She said only, "Okay."Silently she led me to the front door. I reached for the handle first."Let the bulletproof vest lead the way," I whispered.But she put herself between the door and me. "No. This time the Avatar leads.""Very well." As she took the doorhandle and took a deep breath, I added, "Don't worry. I've got your back.""I'm more worried about my front," passing a hand over her face.She flung the door open and stepped out onto the porch. Koh took a step back, taken momentarily by surprise as we advanced. Then he smiled."Ah, the Avatar at last. I was worried you would leave me waiting out here all night.""What do you want, Koh?" Jenny snarled."Calm yourself." Koh put his hands in his pockets and rolled on, "This time I come to you in peace. I bear no ill will for the afternoon's regrettable events. I merely wish to extend to you a friendly warning." Through squinted eyes I saw his smile broaden. It was self-satisfied and dry, and only as warm as ice. "This is a dangerous game, Avatar, and not one you want to play. If you do not keep yourself at a safe distance, things might happen. Bystanders could be harmed. None of us want any accidents on our hands, do we?""What are you asking?" said Jenny. "You want me to stand by and let you carry on with whatever schemes you're planning?""I assure you, Avatar, you do not want to make the same mistakes as you have in the past."I jeered, "It's you who made the mistakes, Koh.""That is what separates the Avatar from me. I learn from my errors. On the other hand, you, Avatar, never learn. Life after life after life, you make the same mistakes. Allow me, then, to drill some sense into that thick skull, if I can. If you do not back down, conflict will be inevitable. And when two opposing forces collide . . . there are consequences." Instead of continuing, he paused, surveying the face of the house before him. "What a lovely house. So charmingly homey. It is a comfortable little recess in a pocket of the world.""You leave my family alone!" Jenny hissed.Koh ignored her. "It has all the trappings of peace and tranquility. Like a meadow, before the storm hits. But then nature's forces clash, and their battle becomes a hurricane. It rages across the meadow, tearing up the trees with its winds, and drowning the grass with its rain. It leaves behind it a desolate landscape, empty of life." He sighed. "Is that what you want, Avatar? Do you really want to see this house--all these houses--crushed in the wake of battle?"Jenny hesitated. I burst out, "But that's what you're going to do anyway!"He frowned. "Don't tell me what it is I intend, mortal. You could not possibly understand what it is I want." But then he regarded me with curiosity. "You're the boy I shot this morning. I never forget a face. Tell me: did it hurt? Had you ever felt anything like it? Was it the pain of imminent death?""Not thanks to Jenny," I replied pointedly."But a bullet is a mere pebble piercing your body. Imagine, then, how much worse it would feel to have your face ripped from its place. Imagine how unendurable would be the pain of living in a constant state of imminent death. Imagine your face my own, your spirit bent to my will." His eyes roved again to Jenny. "Think about it, Avatar. It would be very unpleasant; for you, for your friends, for your loved ones. What a price . . . what a dear price it would be to pay, and all because you did not turn back. But it is not too late yet."Jenny was silent. She hung her head. Surely, she couldn't be buying this?Koh went on, "And what good would it all be, anyway? You, a mere child, with no bending training, could not possibly hope to stand in my way. You would be a nuisance to me, nothing more. You cannot win. It would all be in vain. You must see that. But if you step aside, nobody need get hurt.""I--I can't," Jenny murmured."Come now. You must see that you have no choice."Jenny's head snapped up. She spat, "You're right! There's only one choice! I will stop you!"Koh's eyes narrowed. "You will try, Avatar . . . but you are not the first to fail."He was about to continue when a mew interrupted him. And then there was Wuqing, standing between Jenny and Koh.The Face-Stealer's smile returned. "Wuqing. It has been too long.""I think it is time for you to leave," was the old man's only response."Very well. I said all I meant to say. And I have my answer." He turned with a slight sigh. "A pity. But know, Avatar, that this is not as I wanted it to be. You have forced my hand.""Now," Wuqing added.And Koh walked away into the darkness. His last words to Jenny, cast over his shoulder from the end of the front walk, were these: "I wonder what your family would think. How would they feel if they knew you were so willing to sign away their lives?" Review Sincerely, Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith

I think the writers of BZPower are scared to face me. Come on, guys; all you need is 400 words, or even less. Be creative and let your imagination find your path! Sincerely, Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith

Chapter Five Fire "But fire brings only destruction and pain. It forces those of us burdened with its care to walk a razor's edge between humanity and savagery." - Jeong Jeong "We will begin with your natural element."Wuqing led our little group to a triad of small, round tables. Perched upon one of them was a candle and, upon another, was piled a stack of papers."Fire," he said. "Light the candle."Jenny raised her eyebrows. "Light the candle."Wuqing nodded. "Light the candle.""That's it?""Light the candle," he repeated.Shrugging, Jenny snapped her fingers. A tongue of flame sprang up on her thumb, and she tipped it into the candle, igniting the wick."That'll come in handy," I quipped. "In battle, you can just light a candle, and--and--ah--" I searched my mind for candle-related witticisms, but my repertoire was surprisingly limited. "Wow. I've got nothing."Wuqing withdrew from the depths of his trench coat a second candle, slightly larger than the first. He placed it on the second table. "Now light this one."Jenny conformed, this time with a little more flourish. She formed a fireball in her hands and pitched it at an angle that it whizzed over the top of the candle, lighting the wick in passing. It flew upward to explode against the ceiling in a burst of sparks. The flames subsided into puffs of spoke that quickly dissipated, leaving only a slight scorch mark on the stone."Very good." Wuqing reached again into his coat and pulled out yet another candle, this as long and as thick as his forearm. He hefted it onto the third table, atop the pile of papers. "Light this one."Jenny formed another fireball. "Easy.""Ah, but this time, I want you not only to light the wick, but melt the whole candle.""Okay." Jenny lifted the fireball above her head."Oh, and be careful. Don't set fire to the papers--they are older even than I."The fireball burst in Jenny's hands."Fire is fast and ferocious. It is impulsive and merciless. Unbridled, it can wreak unspeakable damage. It is too easy to lose oneself in the heat of emotion and to do things we regret. Fire fuels this audacity. If you let it, it will control you. That is why it is vital that you remain its master. Tame the fire. Do not let it carry you away. But at the same time, you must keep it hot and strong. Melt the candle."Jenny brushed cinders out of her hair and took a deep breath. "O-okay. I can do that."Small flames sprang onto the tips of her fingers. She held her hand over the candle, letting the heat warm the wax. A minute passed. Drips oozed down the sides. Two minutes passed. A puddle began to form in the center. Five minutes passed, and the uppermost reaches of the candle had liquefied. Slowly but surely, it was melting--mostly slowly. She had hardly melted a quarter of the candle before I began to doze on my feet. The pleasing aroma of hot wax, the gentle flicker of the candle had the same lulling affect as Wuqing's voice. My head drooped; I jerked awake, only for my head to slide again off my shoulders.Jenny was getting impatient. She let out a frustrated growl, and her fire flared suddenly. The wick, which she had bent out of the way, ignited. Amidst the flames of her fingers, however, she didn't notice. It escaped even my diligent observation--for a moment. But only a moment.I opened my jaws wide, and nobody can prove it wasn't to call out a warning. But before I found the words, the charred tip of the wick crumpled. The still-glowing cinders rained down upon the papers. Before Jenny knew it, they had kindled.In a trice she had the water out of her canteen to douse the flames, but it was too late. The damage was done. The papers had acquired large black blemishes, and she had failed her task."I am so sorry, Mr. Wuqing! I didn't mean to--"The old man held up a hand. "It is of no consequence. It is not easy to tame fire. I did not expect you to succeed on your first try. You did well.""But your papers!"Wuqing shrugged. "Newspapers. I found them lying in the alley out back.""But you said--""Well, I lied." He smiled beneath his beard. "Come. Let us do something easier. Breathing exercises and practicing a few forms will relax us both and help you learn more about firebending."While Jenny learned how to breathe, Tobi and I took chairs at the far end of the chamber to watch. I asked her, "How is it Wuqing knows so much about bending? Is he a bender?""Only in mind. He's studied the arts as well as any bender--or so he says."I turned suddenly to her. "So what's your story? How did you get involved with this?""I came to the White Lotus Kwoon to learn kung fu. That's all I wanted, and all I expected. But over the years, Wuqing was impressed by abilities, somehow. He said I had a natural gift for martial arts. I became his prize pupil, and he gave me a summer job teaching classes for younger students. Then, a few years ago--he just told me. He told me everything.""But why?"She shook her head. "I never knew. Maybe he thought I would be helpful to him as an assistant, and I suppose I have been. But I guess he saw something in me that I didn't see myself.""He saw the pebbles of destiny lying beneath the surface of the pond of truth."Tobi laughed. "Something like that. Of course, I found it hard to believe him at first. I didn't, at all. I thought he was mad. But it's hard to argue with a guy who transforms into a cat right before your eyes.""Yeah, I can sympathize with that."She cocked her head at me. "So tell me about you and the Avatar. That was the one detail Wuqing was always tight-lipped about: the current Avatar herself. And I don't have any idea how you come into this.""Well, you know how it goes. One minute you're expecting to spend the day at your best friend's birthday party, the next, you're being chased by a faceless hockey team captained by a caterpillar ghost who eats faces. That's life.""But start a little farther back. Who is Jenny, and how do you know her?""Well," I began, sitting back, "Jenny's been a friend for years. I don't know how long, really. I don't remember the day we first met. I just remember--her. And it's as simple as that. We're both homeschoolers, and that commonality has helped keep our families as well as us close."Jenny's--well, she's Jenny. I can't think of much more to say about her than that. She's spirited, energetic--she's athletic and strong. She's kind, and friendly, and she has a great sense of humor. Although mine is better. But don't tell her I said that. But there you have it. She's Jenny. She was never a hero. I suppose she probably has it in her--but heroes are born of circumstances. Until now, she hasn't had those circumstances.""So you think she can do it?""I know she'll be a great Avatar. She'll rise to the challenge. She'll gripe and complain about it, and drive herself nuts trying to wrap her head around the whole thing. But she'll do it.""It's good to know you believe in her. When Wuqing told me about the Avatar, all he said was that he was her pet cat. Well, disguised as it. I expected some old woman as wrinkly as he is, not--not--well!" She waved a hand at Jenny. "She's so--young. I admit that I was disappointed, and doubtful. But you and Wuqing see what I can't.""Don't underestimate Jenny. There's more to her than meets the eye.""I'll take your word for it.""You'll see it soon enough."She changed the subject. "So what happened today?"I began to recount the events of the day up until the point Jenny and I had entered the kwoon. When I had finished, we lapsed into silence to watch Jenny and Wuqing. The latter was slowly demonstrating a form halfway between a galloping horse and a dying goose.He was saying, "Fire strikes swiftly, and without hesitation. Do not falter. But where the fire will not, you must make it. Try it."Jenny breathed slowly. Then she trotted forward a few steps, arms extended like wings, and twirled. Her hands became alight, and she swung them in mirror figure eights. She ended with a clap, which sent a small spurt of flame before her.The old man nodded. "Excellent. Already, you have improved."Jenny put a fist against her palm and bowed. "Thank you, Master." She hesitated, then added, "But if I may, sir--shouldn't I be training to master the Avatar State, rather than learning to bend? You said I didn't have time for it.""I said you did not have the time to master the four elements," Wuqing corrected. "But you must not preoccupy yourself with the Avatar State to the full exclusion of everything else. If you cannot bend, you will not live long enough to activate the State. Besides, you have been training to master the Avatar State. The four elements of qi correspond with the four natural elements. Fire is fueled by spirit; fire is spirit. However, I must warn you: never allow anger to fuel your firebending. It is an emotion as difficult to control as fire itself, and together, they will carry you away."Jenny nodded. "Yes, Master." She bounced on her heels. "What now?"Wuqing smiled. "Now, go home. You have done well for one night. Return to your homes, and the families who are likely wondering where you have disappeared to." His eyes sparkled with a sudden feline mischief. "Your parents will not be happy. I fear you will have a time of it giving them explanations. But I will call them and do what I can. I will till them what has happened--though I believe it would be best if I leave out a few details here and there. Tomorrow, however, return, bright and early. Be ready to continue training for the Avatar State, and to learn the basics of airbending." Review Sincerely, Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith

. . . Well, if we can't all laugh at my joke, we can at least all laugh at the poor execution born of my obsession over grammatical propriety. Sincerely, Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith

My little pony, MY little pony Ah-ah-ah-AAAAAHHHHHHH MYYYY little poNYYY I used to wonder what friendship could BE MYYYY little poNYYY Until this show revealed it to ME Big adventure Tons of fun A beautiful heart Faithful and strong Sharing kindness It's an easy feat And only magic makes it a bit cheesy You have MYYYY little poNYYY Do you know you're all my very best FRRRIIIEEEEENNNDDDDSSSS? Anyway, I support that motion, get us a recording. Sincerely, Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith

Did you hear about the stick up on the bridge? . . . No? I wonder who threw it up there? Sincerely, Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith

As far as I'm concerned, the Pokemon universe begins and ends with the games in which you can choose one to follow you around and listen to nostalgic GBC tunes. Since then anything else has become inane. Therefore, your ramblings are the only thing that make this entry worthwhile, so don't deny them the merit they deserve. Sincerely, Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith

Simple question. When you're reading a book, how do you feel about accent? What do you like to see, and what do you dislike? Do you prefer to be free from the occasional phonetic spellings? I'd like to hear your thoughts. Or perhaps, "I'd like to heah yore though's." Sincerely, Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith

I'm exorbitantly handsome. Sincerely, Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith

The detritus of an Ambage write-off isn't always pretty. The theme was "pathfinding," a forecast of the contest. I this day wrote my two entries and submitted them. Though by the rules of the contest I am permitted a third, I rejected this story due to a lack of love for it that, if you read it, will be understandable. That said, I did in a small way enjoy writing it; though it was a bittersweet feeling as would accompany any writing taking place in the constraints of fifteen minutes is wont to be. That all said, here is the refuse, the poorly executed forerunner of my The Extra Mile: The Hardest Path The stars were bright that night. I don’t think they’ve ever been brighter. It’s funny. The whole evening had been that way. The twilight had been more golden than I had ever seen it. It gilded everything it touched, glimmering on the drops from the afternoon’s rain. The humidity in the air was warm and caressing, nothing less. And the rays of the sun as they touched the skies, lending its tinctures to the clouds in varying shades, can only be described by one word: magical. Even her eyes that night glowed with a sheen that transcended her consuetudinary effervescence. Ironic. When I felt at my worst, the world is at its best. When I felt in the depths of despair, the world around me was in the heights of glory. Even when the tears hung on her lashes like the last raindrops hung from the leaves of the trees; even when her face was as moist as the sodden earth; even when she could hardly keep her voice level, she was smiling at me. That smile. She always smiled. Always. I’ll never forget it. That memory will be all that remains to keep me company. She told me it was over. She told me that friendship was no longer possible, the way she felt . . . and the way she knew I felt. But she told me she wasn’t ready for anything more. And in my heart I knew that I wasn’t, either. And now I’m lost. And alone. And waiting, and searching. Perusing the profundity of my broken heart and my wounded soul. Time. It can be an impasse as substantial as any other. Incorporeal or not, it’s more insuperable than most, for there is only one way to overcome it. Let it pass. Let it go by. It’s a mire. It’s daunting. But I have to trudge me way through. I have to wait. How could I do anything else? It’s all I can do for her, now. I always swore I would do everything; how could I turn back now? When I made the pledge with but God as my witness, I had no idea the task she would require of me would be as hard as this. But I’ll find my way through. I have to. I love her. How can I do anything else? Sincerely, Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith

I'd like to request a review for Rugged Explorers, by Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith. My thanks in advance. Sincerely, Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith

I may have been opposed to the allowance of multiple entries, but not so starkly that I won't avail myself of it. Besides, it makes the contests more unique; not to mention more fun.Member Name: Nuile: Lunatic WordsmithTheme: "Pathfinding"Word Count: 921 (epigraph included)Link to Story and Title: That Extra MileMember Name: Nuile: Lunatic WordsmithTheme: "Pathfinding"Word Count: 868Link to Story and Title: Rugged Explorers Sincerely, Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith

I'm always glad to receive a comment and to know a fellow fan. I thank you.The inspiration struck me this morning. It occurred to me that the events of one comic in particular were very aptly suited to the theme of the contest, and so I adapted it into this. I probably won't win with it, but it was a pleasure to write. Sincerely, Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith

~ ENIM SAPIENTIA ~ ~~~ Down an unknown road To embrace my fate Though that road may wander It will lead me to you ( - From "Go the Distance" by David Zippel ) ~ * ~ The path ambled along through the rolling hills, stretching away farther than the eye could see. We made our progress slowly, she and I; there was nothing in the world to hurry us and everything to encourage delay."Beautiful weather," I observed."It's a beautiful view."I smiled at the silken screen of hair that cascaded down the back of her head. "It certainly is."She let out a happy sigh. "Sometimes--sometimes I just wish I could walk forever.""Free of worry, free of care. Under the golden sunlight by day and the starlight by night.""And when it rains I would dance in it. I would laugh at the thunder. And when the sun came back its grin would dry me.""It sounds wonderful.""It does. Just to walk. . . .""And who would be walking with you?"She tensed. I looked away and quickly introduced a different topic. "It's amazing the way the hills are all so alike and yet somehow different. Sort of like people.""People aren't all alike.""Oh, but they are. At the bottom of every heart there are the same thoughts, the same dreams. Every heart has the--the same love. Some people just forget that. Some never find it. Some ignore it.""Jacob--" But she broke off."Rachel, I care about you. You know that, don't you?"She hesitated. Then she said, "Some have to wait for love.""Wait to find it?""Yes, some. But others who've already found it have to wait for the right time."She bit her lip. We walked on.All too soon there came a fork in the path. A side road branched off the main. We paused and turned to face one another. "Which way are you going?" I asked. I knew the answer, but I dreaded it. Somehow I hoped feigning ignorance would buy me a few more moments.She did not respond. She couldn't say it. She only murmured in a tone thick and strained, "Goodbye, Jacob.""Rachel, please . . ." But I didn't know what I was asking. I examined my shoelaces with a shrug of my shoulders. "'Bye, I guess."She turned away, hugging her shoulders. Her gracile figure sidled away along her path as I began along mine. But before she escaped earshot I turned with sudden fervor and called out to her."Remember what I told you! I care about you. That won't change. Even when paths branch apart, they come back together. They intersect again."She looked at me. Her eyes were moist and her cheeks glistened in the sunlight. Yet for all that she beamed at me. "I know it." ~ * ~ The next evening I was traveling my lonely path when another came up alongside it, running parallel. Somehow I sensed, before I even looked across the verge, that Rachel was there.She looked happy. Was there an almost haunted quality to her eye, or did I imagine it? I couldn't be sure. I only caught the corner of its deep beauty before she turned her head in the other direction without even glancing at me. I turned, too.Neither of us spoke. It would have been too painful. So close and yet so very far.But beneath the ache in my chest there was something else. Buried far beneath my skin, constrained by the twisting of my heart, it was there: joy. Just a faint glimmer of delicious joy. And somehow through the pain that little joy made me feel as light as air.Did she feel it?Ahead the paths diverged. As soon as I caught sight of it I halted. After a few paces, she did the same. My heart pounded as I stood there, gazing at the back of her head, hoping.She turned. She smiled. My heart soared.I stepped to her side, keeping on my path but not taking my eyes off her for a moment. I ravenously devoured each passing second spent staring at her. She flushed under my gaze; but the rosy tint to her medium-dark cheeks only made her the more beautiful."I miss you."She met my gaze with eyes that glowed brighter than the first stars appearing overhead. "I miss you, too."In tacit concordance we turned and walked on until our paths separated once more.And I kept walking. ~ * ~ That's the hard part. To keep walking. To go on and never falter. To know the only way back is forth.The world passes by me with each step. But I keep going because it's empty. I fill it with what good I can when I can; but there's nothing left in it, not for me.I wonder where she is and I wonder where my path is taking me. I wonder about many things. My mind brims with the swelling ranks of unanswered questions.But what can I do but go onward? With patience and perseverence I have to fight my way forward. Along the way I strive to make myself into a man worthy of her. She is like a distant star guiding me along. It is day and I cannot see her, but I know she is there, and I follow her.Someday our paths will reconnect. Until then I'll continue wandering; but my heart will never stray. For my Rachel I'll go that extra mile. Sincerely, Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith

The warm golden fingers of the crepuscule were withdrawing. The gilt was melting off the trees' leaves, leaving the auburns and ochers of autumn to their own polychrome. A chill wind whistled through the branches, with a nuance of humidity that foreboded rain. Below, gloom was gathering among the tree trunks. Leaves crunched beneath the feet of two peripatetics as they sought their way through the forest. It was a relaxing stroll gone awry.One was a short boy with unkempt yellow hair. His ears were small and his mouth antithetical in size. Dressed too sparingly for the collecting cool he shivered, his arms folded.His companion was nearly twice his height, with unusually short legs and long torso. Beneath an orange and black coat he was contentedly toasty.Asked the former, "Haven't we passed that same stump seven times?""What makes you say that?""The moss growing on it looks like a three-headed space alien with tentacles."The other scratched his chin. "You know, I do remember that. I think you're right." He frowned. "But that's the first time today." He rolled his eyes and walked on."Hey, I wasn't leading when we got lost, remember? You wanted to lead, and I was benevolent enough to let you.""Benevolent!" the lanky scoffed. "You've lived here your whole life! You must have been in these woods hundreds of times! Don't you know where we are?""You've been here as many times as I have, fuzz-brain.""Always with you leading. You never let me before. How should I know my way?""What happened to that instinct you always brag about? You should be able to find your way out ""I'd be able to smell my way out of here if someone hadn't avoided his bath last night.""Then why'd you help me hide?""I didn't think our lives would depend on my nose!""If that ever happens we'll be doomed. You couldn't smell your way out of a paper bag.""I'd like to see you try it!""I'll find my way and without my nose.""Then why don't you?""It would be easier if you would keep quiet," the yellow-haired boy retorted. "And if my foot wasn't throbbing with every step!""I told you not to cross that log. It was too high.""You could have told me a little louder.""Is that rain?" The taller companion raised his face to the sky. A large, fat drop landed on his nose with a ­plop. He squirmed with distaste. "Great, now we'll be lost and wet.""Didn't I tell you the forecast said it would rain today?""Just because they're lucky every now and then when their psychics are right doesn't mean there's any reason to believe them.""I'm surprised you couldn't sense the rain with your 'instinct.'"As the rain fell harder their dissentient discussion rapidly developed into an altercation, an event not at all out of the ordinary."Look, pal, if you don't keep quiet I'm gonna leave you out here in the cold alone!""If you do you'll only die of starvation while I find my way home. Lemme go!"With a fist to his captor's stomach the yellow-haired boy freed himself. He received a kick to each shin in retaliation. Best of friends and best of foes, they broke into fisticuffs in earnest."Why don't you take a long walk on a skyscraper?" snapped the taller."Dr. Frankenstein called today, he wants his monster's brain back!""Your lips are moving but I only hear a buzzing sound coming out!""That must be your brain sizzling!""Slob!""Noodle-head!"A new voice broke into the racket. "Calvin! Calvin!"The contenders broke apart. Quoth the shorter, "Mom?""Calvin? Calvin, where are you?""Over here, Mom! Over here!"Crashing through the brush she appeared beside them. She held a flashlight in one hand that illuminated her face. It was a contorted mixture of choler and relief."Where--have--you--been?""We got lost, Mom! It's Hobbes's fault! He was leading the way, but he had no clue where he was going.""Don't tell lies!""But it's the truth! Hobbes has no sense of direction!""He couldn't have got you lost and you know that. He's just a--Oh!" Without warning she fell to her knees and wrapped her son in her arms. "I'm just glad you're all right! Let's get you home and into a warm bath."An hour later, snug and cozy in his bedroom, Calvin gazed from his window. The moonlight glazed the treetops with silver, setting each raindrop scintillating like the stars above. From here the woods, so frightening and frustrating not long before, became picturesque, even halcyon."You know, Hobbes," he sighed, "getting lost wasn't so bad, after all. Not when you look back on it.""It could have been worse. We might never have found our way home. It was still a bit scary, though.""Not as much as it would have been alone. Together, it wasn't so bad. Finding your way is a lot easier when you have a friend to help you find it.""It's even easier on a full stomach," the tiger countered. "Let's go back tomorrow--but after dinner, okay?" Sincerely, Nuile: Lunatic Wordsmith