The Fundamentals (Accepting)

Natalie McKenzie- Air

I woke up, to the sound of my alarm. I groaned an d immediately shut it off. I brushed my teeth and took a quick shower, then changed. I pulled out the mascara from my jacket pocket. I laughed when I thought about how I chose this to be the one thing I kept. I applied the mascara, then slipped it into my pocket.

I walked outside, with my book in my hand. I began flipping through it until somesoet of wooden object knocked it out my hands. I looked up.

"What the-" but I couldn't finish. The staff swung over my head and I ducked. I looked up to see a faceless man. What is going on? I asked myself. The man swung the staff again, this time hitting me on the head. The swig alsoknocked me down beside my book. I got up and glared at the man.

"You asked for it," I said. I immediately remember a move in the book. I circle my hands, forming what seems to be an invisible ball, and launched it the man, making him fly away. The man left a note when he flew away.

You have passed, well done Natalie, it said. What the heck?! I walk into the cafe, and touched my head again. Ugh, I think it's a bruise, since it hurt whenever I touch it. I got my food and slammed my tray on the table.

(Hope this is okay!)

Arwen ¬

I sighed and rolled off my bed. I set the alarm for 9:45.

I wasn't upset, or angry.

I was furious. I screamed and hurled the fireballs at the walls. I growled and fell on my knees and put my head in my hands. Why? Why? Why? I brushed the tears away and made my way to the showers. I brushed my teeth and pulled out the hair dye. I'd bought the hair dye two days before I was "killed". I sighed and applyed it.

* * *

I walked into the cafeteria, and pushed my tray onto an emty table. I didn't want to sit with anyone. I was once again the loner, just like in school.

Eli could have Jerr.

I didn't care anymore.

I was a terrible liar. I could even tell when I was lying to myself. I sighed heavily again. I adruptly stood up and scowled. I noticed Jerr watching me as I shoved the tray off the table where it clattered to the floor. I walked past it; kicked it. It hit the wall and clattered to the floor again. I set it on fire and ran out of the cafeteria. I bumped into Elijah.
"Watch where you're going Mrs-oh-you're-so-beautiful-when-your-angry," I snarled, and slammed the door shut to my room.
Shit. I kicked myself. I had just told Eli what I'd saw last night.
I screamed again and set the alarm clock on fire when it rang for 9:45.

Spoiler

Arwen's new hair. xD

Thuake Brooks - Earth

I was awake at 8AM. I needed seven and a half hours of sleep at night, any more and I felt too tired when I woke up and the same if I slept any less.

As soon as I was awoke the first thing I did was one hundred press ups and then fifty squats.

I went into the bath room and drank water from the tap, I couldn't be bothered to go to the cafe. I did some more exercise and that's when an alarm rang, it rang through the main speaker. I guess the kids needed an alarm.

I got to my bed to change my clothes and that's when I saw a note sitting comfortably on my pillow, my eyes ran towards the window, vents and doors to see any signs of intrusion. There were none.

The note read, It's 9:00 A.M. You have an hour, do what you want, but do not be late. Showers are located down the hall from your room.

I decided to go the showers at once, before any one else got there.

The shower room had seven shower cubicles, I took a cold shower like I always did. It only took me five minutes, once I was done I headed back to my room.

I opened the door to my room and sensed something was amiss. I felt a sound and a flurry of air near my left arm, I turned and dodged a huge staff that was about to crush the left part of my body. In front of me seemed to be a warrior of some sort. I dodged a few more of the warriors blows.

I summoned the powers of earth and broke two parts of my beds leg which were made out of pinewood, summoned the soil to cover the end of each part and hurled the new weapons right into the warriors eyes.

The warrior had become blinded, the next step was easy. I was going to use a trick I learned from the book.

I quickly took control of the rocks in the plant pot and spun them around in the pot extremely fast, now they were going at high speeds and had enough friction to burn anything that touched them. Just as the warrior was about to gets its bearing back I threw the rocks at great speed into its head, they burned through the warriors skin and it collapsed on the spot.

I had a satisfied grin smeared across my face. I went closer and realised the warrior was still alive, it got up, I was getting ready to go on the offensive again when it just left the room leaving behind one note.

The note said, You have passed. Well done Thuake but you have a long way to go yet.

I threw the note away, so this had been a test after all. I checked my watch and the time was nine thirty.

It was time to go to the roof top.

It was time to begin the first mission.

Hanna Parker - Water; Jerrson Hastings - Fire

Hanna walked into the cafe and sat besides Arwen, feeling like crap. After she cried herself to sleep, she woke up feeling terrible. So sh'd look a shower and dressed in blue skinny jeans and a black long-sleeved shirt. She promised herself thatbshe would get through this hell-hole.

"Hey." She muttered to Arwen.

"Hi." Arwen hissed."

"You okay? What's wrong?"

Elijah Woods - Fire

The alarm clock rang harshly and I slammed it with a fiery fist. I got maybe three hours of sleep last night because I stayed up studying and crying. The crying part wasn't planned and my anger over the fact that I was actually crying only made me cry harder. I flipped through the pages angrily and tears dripped down onto the pages. Still not tough enough, I lectured myself. [i]I need to be stronger.

I grabbed my clothes - actually my clothes - and took a quick shower. Ten was coming quick and I was hungry. On my way to the cafe someone jumped out at me from nowhere with a staff.

"Oh, what the hell is it now," I groaned. "Look, man, I'm tired and-" He just swung at me and I barely dodged it. I didn't need anymore promplting than that. I'd been studying that stupid book all night. Wasting no time, I waved one hand in a circle, conjuring a ring of fire, and pushed it towards the man. He cut through it with his staff but that much I prdicted and shot off two rapid fire bolts. He dodged one but the other caught his shoulder. He ignored the flames. I ran at him and jumped up into the air, kicking both my feet out so two more fireballs flew out, he made a move to dodge those but I dropped to the ground and spun, sticking out my leg so it tripped him. Once he was one the ground a conjured a ring of fire around him and watched him burn. Before the flames could kill him, though, I extinguised them.

I walked over to make sure he was okay but he stood up before I could reach him. All he did was bow and put a note on the floor before leaving. I picked it up and read it with a smug grin.

Congratulations, Elijah. You have passed the test.

I pocket it and started back towards the cafe. I was proud but even more tired now. I reached the entrance of the cafe and didn't see Arwen coming out quick enough. I accedentally bumped into her.

"Oh," I gasped. "My bad-"

"Watch where you're going Mrs-oh-you're-so-beautiful-when-your-angry," she snarled. Wait, what?

"What? What the fu-" But she just stormed out. Oh no, I was too tired for that certain brand of bull shit. "Whatever," I yelled after her. Man, did she see that? Or maybe Jerr told her how pathetic little miss Elijah was. Dammit. I stormed inside of the cafe and grabbed a tray, suddenly not very hungry and even more tired. I ate my food quickly and tried to advoid everyone, but that didn't work out very well when Jerr walked in. I glared at him as he started towards me. I could see him start to speak but I cut him off.

"Jerk," I spat.

dunno what came over me. imma sorry i heard your convo. i was a bit upset. sorry?

I threw the crumpled peice of paper under the door. I quickly made my way to the roof. I moped about for a bit, I had nothing else to do.
"Hey," I looked up.
"Hey ... what's your name?" I asked, "I'm Arwen,"
"I'm Thuake,"

Hanna Parker - Water; Jerrson Hastings - Fire

"Eli, listen. I'm sorry for yesterday." Jerr said, grabbing her hand.

"Let go!" She snarled, lighting her hand on fire. Jerr merely smiled and extinguished it.

"I want to talk to you. I don't want to be enemies. I want to be allies." Jerr said.

"And why should I?" She growled, fixing his amber eyes with her own.

"Because. I won't give up." Jerr said softly, staring down at her.

"I don't need you." She insisted.

Jerr smiled crookedly. "How about this? You and I fight with staffs on a table. No using fists or fire, just the staffs. If you knock me off the table, I'll leave you alone. If I knock you off, you have to stop fighting me and let me in. Okay?"

Alice Belltris - Air

The ringing continued through my room even though I've been awake for two minutes already. I fumbled around with the clock, trying to turn it off, but I couldn't find and off button. I wrinkled my brow in frustration and and turned the thing upside down.

"Please shhsh," I begged. But I didn't know what to do. There was a knocking on my door that startled me a bit, causing me to drop the alarm clock. It clattered on the floor noisily but at least it stopped ringing. I kicked it under my bed and went to open the door. A man with everything covered except for his eyes stood in the frame. I smiled slightly and stood back?

"Hello?" He pulled a staff from behind him and motioned for me to step into the hallway. I didn't know what was going on but I followed anyway. When I closed the door behind me and turned to face him he swung the staff at me.

"Woah!" I bent backwards out of it's way but he just brought it around and tried to trip me. I did a quick back flip to avoid the staff and didn't stop flipping until I was a good five feet away from him. It seems like ballet and gymnastics were coming back to save me. "Is that you, Elijah? I'm sorry for whatever I did! Please don't kill me." The person just shook their head and ran forward. I squealed and dropped to the ground to avoid the stick again and I had to roll to the side to keep it from smashing into my head.

The person kept coming at me and I evaded their moves as best as I could. I used the air to help push me further into the air and keep my moves fluid. We went on like that for a good ten minutes before I just got too tired to evade anymore. He pinned me to the ground with the end of the staff and shook his head. He left a note on my chest and walked off. I sat up, breathing heavily, and read the note.

Defense is good, need to work on attack. Read your book, it's there to help you. I groaned and put the note in my pocket.

"But I hate reading." I went back in my room and grabbed my clothes off the bed. It was a dress from my house, my favorite dress actually. It was white with blue spiral patterns and stopped at my knees. I took a shower and put it on before rushing towards the cafe - it was easier to find now that I've been there. I looked around and spotted Antony talking to some other guy. I ran over to him and tapped him on the shoulder.

"Did you get attacked by a masked man too," I asked. "Please say it wasn't just me!" Both Antony and the other boy laughed and said that they got attacked too. I sighed in relief and sat down. "Oh, that's good, cause I was just in my room when-"

Attention Fundamentals, it is now 9:50. Just a reminder of where you all should be. I looked over to Antony as he stood.

"Guess that means we should go." He looked at me in the other boy. "Ready to go?" I nodded and grabbed my book and a water bottle off the table.

"Sure," I said. The other boy said he'd come too. Antony grabbed a bottle of chocolate milk and started to walk outside the cafe.

"This is so exciting," I chimed happily.

David Baker-Air

I read the book for hours memorising the basic moves and slipping into a couple of the advanced chapters. I did however skim read the last few chapters to see if their was anything amazing but it pretty much came down to just explaining that country popular belief if the conditions weren't right it would take a water fundamental and a air fundamental to cause a hurricane seeing as how amazingly people were getting along at the moment I decided to skip that bit. Unfortunately there was nothing in the book about creating vacuums which led me to believe that they didn't have everything in the book. The note at the end of the book ran true though it was about the advantages and disadvantages of Air. The main advantage it spoke about was the abundance of air it pointed out that the second earth got out of the ground the second water left the ocean it was in your territory so unless you started a fight underwater or in a cave you had the home field advantage. Being an optimist I decided to skip the bit were it listed the disadvantages however I was disheartened to see that the disadvantages were just as long as the advantages. Finally I decided to go to sleep the pictures of the moves ruining through my head.

*

An alarm rang and after a couple of seconds to wake up I turned off the alarm and got up I went into the bathroom and had a drink from the tap regretting instantly after realising that they could of put anything in it. I went back into my room and top of the bed were some of my clothes and on top of them a note.

"9am blah blah blah" I said reading the note before turning my attention to the clothes. Brown jeans grey t shirt and a black hoodie. I got changed and opened my door a man in full riot gear with a big wooden staff awaited me. He swung the staff but I pushed him pack with the wind, he hit the wall across the hall, and the staff whisked past my face. He adjusted his position but I acted too and a strong wind hit him from the side at first it was only enough to make him have to focus on not falling over but I turned it up and it lifted him off his feet once he was on the floor with no grip it was easy for the air to carry him down the hallway after twenty meters he came too two door frames that were next to each other and jammed his staff in the door frames to stop himself from going any further. I let the wind drop and he quickly got up and started to run at me. I had a plan though and a move that had interested me in the book. I spun my fist around in large circles collecting air and with one last huge swing above my head I released it in a jet. It was visible too the naked eye and was about two meters long with 30cm width it was like a snake. It didn't look like a snake feature wise but when I moved my fist the front of the wind snake went that way and the rest of the tunnel of air followed. The wind snake and the masked man charged head on the masked man clearly expecting something like the comparatively basic winds from before which took time to take effect however I could tell from the sound of them connecting it was more like a sledgehammer. The Masked man man was lifted off his feet by the wind snake and I let it carry him back for five meters before ramming the masked man into the ceiling. I pulled back so the masked man dropped to the floor. I hit him with the wind snake a couple more times each time I actually felt bad for the guy every hit knocked him about. Finally he dropped his staff and I opened my fist. The wind snake dissipated into the surrounding air leaving a fresh feeling behind. As I got closer to him he reached for the staff and I whisked it away with the wind. He put his hands up in surrender and took off his mask revealing featureless face when I frowned he showed me a note.

Well done. You passed David

I let Faceless leave with his staff before making my way to the cafeteria. I only had a quick bit not even sitting down before heading to the roof. I wanted to see what this world looked like.

Elijah Woods, Fire

I climbed onto the table without further hesitation and bent down to pick up the staff.

"Great," I said, "I've been meaning to kick your ass ever since I found out you told Arwen what happened last night." A ball formed in my throat and I swallowed it down and hardened my glare. "Hope you had a good time laughing at me, bastard."

Jerr stopped climbing onto the table and looked up up at me with confusion heavy in his stare.

"What are you talking about, Elijah?"

"Don't act stupid, Jerr," I spat back at him. My skin temperature spiked dangerously. "Whatever, I'm over it! I don't even care! Just get up here so I can kick your-"

Attention Fundamentals, it is now 9:50. Just a reminder of where you all should be. I cursed loudly and threw the staff to the ground. I jumped to the floor and gave Jerr a fiery glare before stomping away. He followed after me with a swear of his own.

"Eli, what are you talking about? I didn't tell Arwen shit."

"Back off, Jerr," I hissed. I started to run then, not caring if he followed or not. I had to pass by the bedrooms to get to the stair case. I ran up the stair case and up to the roof, tripping slightly on the last stair. I stumbled forward and fell, barreling right into Arwen. Great. I jumped up and glared at her, she returned the look.

She opened her mouth to say something but I just pushed past her and went to go sit on the edge of the building. Whatever, forget them. I just didn't care anymore.

Arwen ¬

"Don't accept my apology then," I snarled. "Maybe you should care about other people and not just yourself,"
She glared at me. "I thought you were my friend, you're obviously not," I snapped. Jerr opened his mouth to ask me something but I cut him off. "Whatever, Jerr, go call Eli beautiful again, for all I care," I pushed past them and ran down the steps. I barrelled into someone.

Natalie McKenzie- Air

I made my way to the rooftop, after hearing the announcement. I was still rubbing my temple from that hit. I let out an annoyed huff.

"I am so clueless," I murmured to myself. When I got to the rooftop, I saw some Findamentals that were already there. I could see an angry Elijah sitting by herself. I took a deep breath an debated whether or not to approach her. I bite my lip and start walking towards her. I sit down beside her, while she looks on with a weird look. I return the look with a smile.

"I really like your name," I said nervously. Elijah squinted at me and turned away. I extend my hand.

"We haven't really talked. Hi, I'm Natalie," I said, being careful of my words.

(Hope this is okay Onigiri!)

Jerrson Hastings - Fire; Hanna Parker - Water

Jerr followed Eli, calling for her to wait. She just ignored him, running faster. Jerr sighed and kicked the wll angrily. He turned and saw Arwen.

"Hey!" He started to smile at her when she cut him off.

"Go call Eli beautiful again!" She snapped angrily and bounced off.

Girls! He thought, scowling angrily. He could understand Eli, but Arwen?! What was ith these t? They hated me and each other?

Stomping up the steps to the roof, Jerr glanced idly at Eli. He'd talk to her later. He turned and bumped into the Water girl, Hanna.

"It's not everyone she has a problem with, it's you." Hanna spoke softly.

Jerr glanced at her angrily. "Not now, Hanna."

"Don't stop trying, Jerr. You'll get through to her eventually."

"I'd like to see you try." He snarled.

Hanna shrugged. "Watch and learn, then." She walked over to Natalie and Eli. "Hey, guys."

Liam

I had slept the whole of maybe two hours after having read through the book a couple times, practicing a couple of the basics in the sink of the small bathroom. It was interesting watching the water lash around the bowl, freezing, de-thawing, splashing then turning into a sheet of cool, still water without so much as the blink of an eye. All of these things were achievable... to add movement would be incredible.

After waking up - which I didn't enjoy, quite frankly - I made my way down the hallway after having heard the announcement. I hadn't thought to be ambushed, nor did it really matter to me that it should have occurred. It did, though, and I took what I could in strides.

What I noticed first was the sharp pain to the back of my knee. As I crumbled down, I caught sight of the strange warrior, masked and carrying quite the devilish staff. He was holding it up in a manner as if he would hit me again, so I did what first came to my mind.

I couldn't say it was the safest of ideas, nor the wisest, but it worked and that was all that matter. In a quick flick of the hand, I let an unsound wave carry through me and then out, so fast it happened almost instantly. As the wave of energy hit the warrior, I gripped it; made it solid. I could feel water within my fingertips, though none was there. I could sense the flushing of ones own blood.

And he stopped, the staff in the air ready to strike.

I tightened my grip curiously, watching as he squirmed as water hardened within his veins. It was enough to turn my stomach and let him go, but also surprisingly interesting. When he was released, the wave depleted and so did my energy with it. The weakness had taken me off guard.

The warrior had fallen to the floor, chest heaving and arms shaking, but he managed to slip a note across the floor before trudging away. A note I would soon see all the rest had. I had passed.

I then went, albeit slowly, towards the cafeteria, where I was to meet with the rest of the fundamentals. Of course, the only thought that rushed through my head was that whatever was circulating within his veins was not like the blood in mine. It was too thin. Simply water. Nothing more, nothing less.