The Final Four (Avatar, the last airbender)

Chapter 5

I fidgited slightly in the airplane seat. This was strange. Mako sat on the other side of the jet, reading  some history book that I'df forgotten the name of. I had been expecting we'd be flying somewhere far from the U.S., what I had not expect was a private jet and gourmet dining. Holy shit, I could get used too this.

"Where are we headed too?" I asked and he looked up from his book, eyeing me.

"Normally, the first place we would be headed too would be the Water tribes, now known as the Anatartica's. However, Control is on high alert looking for you, and they'll certainly look for you there. You will have to train in conditions not as well suited for a Water bender. What used to be the Fire Nation is our destination. Also known as the lost islands." He told me. I gulped.

"There are volcanoes there." I whined. "Why do you think they are called the lost islands? Because everything there gets lost in molten rock and ash." I pointed out.

"I'm sorry, but they won't look for you there. Not for a while atleast. We will be safe there, I swear it. Now get some sleep, we must start your training the second we get there. We haven't got time to lose."

***

"Mako, how long do I have to stand like this?" I called out in annoyance. I'd been standing on one foot for well over two hours and my leg was cramping.

"The moment your will to push through fades is the moment you may put your foot down." He responded and I put my leg down instantly, sighing in relief. When I looked back at him however, he was frowning. "Could you not hold on longer?" He asked and I gave a look of indignation.

"Hey, that really hurt." I complained.

"Other leg." He said with a sigh. I blanched but didn't resist and instead brought the other leg up.

"How long do I have to hold this one up? If you say, till my will fades, this is going to last like five minutes because I'm starving." I warned him. His lips quirked in a half smirk.

"That is exactly what I was going to say. However, with the warning that if you drop your leg anytime under two hours I'll have you run five miles." He replied. I scowled at him but said nothing once more and he returned to his seat on the bench, returning to his book. After an hour of torture, I finally got a little chatty.

"How does this even help my water bending? Aren't water benders supposed to be all flowy and stuff?" I asked and he looked up from his book, eyeing me.

"Yes. But there is much more too it than that. Don't lose focus." He ordered. With a huff of frustration, I focused on not dropping my leg.

"Has it been two hours yet?" I groaned out after what seemed like two hours all by itself.

"No." He responded, turning another page in his book. Soon though, my leg started to wobble, clearly unable to keep this up much longer. Without even so much as breathing I tumbled to the ground, my sore legs screaming in pain.

"Are you still going to make me run five laps?" I whined and Mako slammed his book shut.

"No. You passed two hours, three hours ago." He told me. I gawked.

"You liar! You told me it hadn't been two hours yet!" I screeched, attempting to stand but finding my leg weren't having any of it.

"I wanted to see how long you could go when actually motivated. Five hours is impressive, of course nowhere near my twelve hours. Which is what you'll have to get too before we move on." He told me. I didn't respond verbally, just fell back on the grass and groaned. What did I sign up for?

***

"You're almost there, Kairi. You've got ten minutes before you hit twelve hours." Mako encouraged me. I bit my lip, refusing to give in. It had been five days and Mako had not been lying when he said that I wouldn't be learning anything else till I could stand on one leg for twelve hours. I was getting restless, and when I get restless, I get determined. Very determined.