The morning rose in the state named "Zigor" located in the fire continent, shops began opening, getting ready for a new day of business, people greet one another as they pass each other on the streets, joy flows all around, but in this state a particular noodle shop opens up, anyone whose passing by can smell the sweet aroma of their broth just by passing the front door, the sweet smell was coming from the kitchen, where the shop co-owners— a man and his wife
"Wow it's already the D-Day" Mr. Zaki the co-owner of the noodle shop said as he is looking at the stairs
"His mother would be so proud" Mrs. Zaki the co-owner of the noodle shop replied softly with a warm smile on her face
A girl named Sofia, their daughter comes rushing down the stairs while whispering "Quick quick he's coming down"
A black teenage boy with short black hair comes down yawning, while clearing his eyes "I'm here" The boy "Dan" says as he stretches his arms wide
In unison they shout "Happy birthday!", With warm smiles all round their faces
Dan smiled "Oh my gosh, thank you so much guys" as he he hugs all of them
Sofia holds Dan close to her " I can't believe you're sixteen now, you're all grown up. You're like the little brother i never had"
Dan embraces her warmly in response "Same for you too Now where is my cake"
Mrs Zaki goes to the kitchen and brings out a cake with candles on it, with a glowing "16" sign on top "Here it is"
Mr. Zaki holds Dan shoulder, telling him with a smile"Blow out the candles and make a wish"
Dan blew out the candles, makes a wish in his mind while chuckling about it
Sofia eager to know what the wish was "What did you wish for?"
Dan responds "Simple to pass my knight exams" his smile beaming across the room
Sofia let out a sigh "You still haven't given up on that yet? Didn't your mom not want that for you"
Dan went quiet for a moment looked down then raised his head back up with a smile "Yes, but she also told me that i should do what makes me happy"
Mr. Zaki pats Dan on his head "Fine Dan we have been trying to convince you for Eight years now, but if you're prepared then you can go on"
Mrs. Zaki tells Dan from a place of worry"Just be safe, you know since you don't have any chi"
Dan nodded understanding her fears "Yeah, i was afraid about that but that's what all those karate classes were for"
Sofia's mind wasn't still at peace with the situation"But still.."
"It's ok, it's his choice now" Mr. Zaki interrupts to stop the fears
Dan smiles touched by their worries and fears" I will be alright guys...Thanks for the cake i have to go there and register but first i will stop by the dojo"
Sofia waves at him as he leaves the shop and he returns the wave with a gentle smile
Dan runs to his karate dojo where he trained and mastered his skills to prepare himself for a life as a knight
At the dojo
Sun shine through the windows of the stunning white dojo with the awards and medals glimmering on the wall. The banners of their teachings hung on each corner of the dojo
"Come on Axel, i told you to clean up before students start showing up" Zen the karate teacher barked, he was a tall white man with white hair, his gi was loosely tied.
"Sorry i forgot" Axel his assistant muttered
Three people come in wearing their gi's. As they enter and see the dojo still not ready they all sigh in unison
"Argh you're not done" the first student Alexander looks in disappointment
"I thought you guys will stop starting late" Eugene added
"As expected" Ruby said not surprised
Zen scolded them "Hey! show some respect to your teacher..... Anyway where is my top student"
"Dan should be coming soon, you know it's his birthday" Alexander responded
Zen eyes widened in shock "What!" He said in disbelief, "None of you told me"
"We thought you knew" Eugene said innocently
"He's your best student and you don't know that" Ruby laughed
Alexander comes close to Ruby's ear "Did you get him your gift?"
Ruby blushes "I-I-I will give it to him"
"You know he won't be here for long" Alexander added "It's now or never"
Dan comes in with a big smile, that brightens the whole room
"Hey guys!"
They all respond "Happy birthday!"
Zen ponders in his mind, with sweat dripping from his head "Shit, what will I get him now"
Alexander, Eugene and Ruby all hug him while getting him a gift
Dan eyes sparkle as he thanks them all.. He looks at his karate master who has taught him all he knows since he was eigth years old
Zen begins to tremble and he wonders what he will get Dan, he looks around the dojo, until his eyes landed on the perfect gift
"Dan my best student, here is your gift"
He hands over his dazzling golden trophy
Dan is in shock "Wow, thanks master. I know this must be hard for you since it's your most prized trophy"
A tears rolls down Zen left eye "You won't believe it"
"But I'm sure nothing beats the arm braclet your mom gave to you" Alexander said
Dan takes a moment to stare at the beautiful black and blue bracelet his mom gave to him a year before she died "Yeah nothing will....Well i can't stay for long here guys i have to go register for the knight exams "
Ruby says in worry "That again?"
Eugene adds "Do you really think you can go far?"
Dan smiles and responds "I understand all of your worries... But don't worry, I will be a knight,be it fire, lightning, weapons, Ice, Air Nations, I won't let you down"
Alexander asks "Why do you love the knights so much"
Dan smiles "Oh didn't i tell you, when i was eigth i saw a knight from the fire nation in action and it was super cool, they are like heroes"
"I wish you well Dan, good luck" Zen said
Dan thanks them all for the gifts and well wishes, he leaves the dojo setting his sights at the knight exam registration center
Dan enters the Knight's registration center. He looks around at all the fire nation knights in their sharp red armour
"This is who I want to be" Dan says with a bright smile on his face
A voice with malice tied with it speaks "Dan is that you?"
Dan looks at the boy with freckles and glasses with brown hair "Ezekiel.... You ass-"
Ezekiel kicks Dan in his chest hard
"Dan! You useless shit, I thought i told you to give up on this stupid dream of yours, face facts without abilities you can't do anything" Ezekiel barked in anger
Dan responds "Shut up!"
Dan attempts to punch him but Ezekiel weaves it with ease and blasts him with his sound chi power
A knight in sharp red armour appears and uses his barrier power to separate them
"Hey! If you continue i will kick you two out" the knight DG commands discipline from them
Dan coughs "Sorry"
Ezekiel smirks "Where are my manners a noble like myself shouldn't behave in such manner, I'm sorry for my rude behavior"
"Good you should settle this when the tournament starts" DG says
Dan and Ezekiel look at each other the former with anger, the latter with a wicked grin both responding "Fine"
It's night time and the streets are lit up with the beautiful street lights, people chatter about the day they have had while walking
Dan is on the rooftop on the noodle shop looking up at the stars, suddenly he started screaming "Damn him!"
A voice comes in, but this voice is warmer and more gentle to the ears of Dan, "Is the birthday boy upset?"
Dan turns and smiles "Damon!, You made it"
"Why won't i, what type of friend will i be if i don't come" Damon responds
"So what made you mad on your own birthday" Damon adds
"It's that annoying Ezekiel" Dan replies in anger
Damon gets angry on Dan's behalf "That idiot... Should I go and beat him up"
Dan chuckles "Like as if you can"
"I can try" Damon smirks
Dan stares up at the beautiful night sky, and looks at Damon by his side "Tomorrow my lifelong dream will finally begin"
"Ugh that stupid tournament, do you really-" Before Damon can finish speaking Dan gently interrupts him
"Yes! I will become a knight.... I wish you shared the same dream as I"
"No way dude, I want to be a traveller and see this whole world"
Dan smiles at Damon's response "That means we might see each other again someday"
Damon smirks"Just don't die before then"
"Of course not" Dan laughs
"Good luck tomorrow.... And remember Dan I'm your biggest fan" Damon says with a warm smile
Dan nodded with a bright smile across his face
The Next Day
Dan is at the battle arena for the knight exams. He seats with the crowd in the arena as he witnesses a match, two competitiors go at each other, with one finally coming out on top
Dan's eyes widen "This guys are the real deal"
The announcer of the matches speaks on his loud microphone"Next match up is The sound wave user Ezekiel vs the karate non-chi user Dan"
The crowd roar
"My money is on Ezekiel"
Dan heads to the tunnel preparing his mind for his fight "I can do this, my name is Daniel Mori, i can do anything"
Dan heads out of tunnel, shoulders high and his eyes fixated on one thing only.... Defeating Ezekiel
Ezekiel stands Infront of him, confident as ever, clenches his fists... He stares down at Dan "Are you sure you want to go with this"
"Bring it on!" Dan's reply sharp with rage
Ezekiel smirks, immediately he wastes no time, he charges at him with multiple sound blasts, Dan dodges some to a point but he gets hit with one of the blasts. Dan movements stalled which encourages Ezekiel to unleash multiple powerful sound blasts at him
The Announcer roars in excitement "Wow wow wow... Ezekiel isn't showing any mercy"
A wicked grin pops across Ezekiel's face he grabs Dan's hair "Do you still want to go?
Dan grabs Ezekiel by his cloth collar
"Got you"
Dan kicks him in his balls, he hits his throat, gives him continuous karate punches, kicks and chops. As he wants to give him a finishing blow, Ezekiel stretches his palm out and launches a huge blast that Dan back.
"Did you think you were some protagonist going to do an astonishing comeback... Be real"
Ezekiel stomps Dan on his chest
"You're nothing but a stupid non-chi user who belives he can be a knight, you are as useless as your mother, your friends and anybody in your life... You are a worthless" Ezekiel adds
Dan screams "Shut up!"
That response is followed with a thunderous punch to the ground by Ezekiel to Dan... He sees Dan bracelet
"Well lookie here, who is it from, someone special... Oh i guess it's from your mom" Ezekiel says
Dan eyes burned with fury
"What will you do if i destroy it" Ezekiel teases
Dan responds "Don't you dare!"
Ezekiel destroy the bracelet with a powerful sound wave blast, he shatters it to pieces.
"Noooo!" Dan screams
Ezekiel blasts him in the face "Shut up you worthless piece of thrash"
"What a brutal end to the match" the announcer called
"Easy" Ezekiel said
Suddenly Lightning starts to crackle around Dan's body as he is on the ground, he begins to feel a surge of energy he didn't know he had before and power to rival the likes of Ezekiel and more.
As Ezekiel was cheering to the crowd he didn't sense it until people in the crowd started making weird faces with one pointing at his back, he wondered... He turned back and out of nowhere a lightning fist was coming straight at him