Hercules took his quill and scratched out what he had just written. It had been used too often. But this project was due tomorrow- first thing. He leaned back in his chair and looked around Kora's. Everyone had the same assignment as him- to write their autobiography. Just for some strange reason he couldn't think about anything that happened in his life. It was also due to the fact that he wasn't an expert writer as many of the others.

"If there was just someone who could teach me how to write!" he cried out as he threw his quill and scroll up into the air. He needed help.

Neila walked into Kora's, hoping to find some inspiration for her autobiography. She knew what she wanted to write about, she just needed a way to start it. She was hoping Kora's would give her what she needed.

She looked around and spotted her brother, Hercules in a corner, a frustrated look upon his face. She approached him carefully, in case he didn't want to be disturbed. "Hercules?" she got his attention timidly. "Is everything OK?"

Hercules looked up to see his sister standing there. "No, Neila," he replied, "everything is not OK."

She sat down next to him. "What's the matter? Anything I can help you with?"

"I'm having trouble with the assignment Old Fiddle Face gave us," Hercules started to explain. "You know, the one where we have to write our autobiography?" Neila nodded. "Well, I don't know how to write it. I don't know what to put in it or even how to begin."

Neila smiled at him. "I know the feeling," she told him. "Well, at least the how-to-begin-it feeling anyway."

"What do I do?" Hercules seemed almost panicked. "I'm no writer. At least not like a lot of you guys around the academy. Your stories just seem to flow right out onto the parchment without any real thought or hesitation."

"That's not entirely true, Hercules," Neila contradicted him gently. "I know some of the cadets have to think for a long time before the story comes to them. They plan the plot and sequence of events so that it comes out just right. I know with me, once I get the story idea and actually start writing, the story just flows out but it doesn't always happen like that. Sometimes I get terrible writer's block. I get the idea but I can't seem to figure out how to tell it. And until my muse visits, there isn't much I can do but wait."

"But this assignment is due at the end of the week!" Hercules complained. "I can't wait around for my 'muse' to finally get around to telling me what to write!"

"Calm down, bro," Neila said gently. "This is an autobiography, right?" Hercules nodded. "Well, then, write what you know. If this is about you, only you know what's gone on in your life the best. Just put it in your own words, your own perception. If someone else was with you during a certain event, maybe they'll have a different spin on what happened but even they can't say how you perceived it all."

"But how do I start?"

"I've found it best to start at the beginning," Neila said with a teasing smile. Seeing her brother wasn't exactly in the mood to be teased she went on. "Pick an event that significantly changed your life or start with your life as a young child. It doesn't really matter where you start. You just have to make sure you have a good order to continue on with once you do get started."

Hercules smiled at his sister. "Thanks, Neila. I guess I just have to calm down and think about it a little. Something should come to me then."

"Glad I could help," she gave her brother a hug. She stood up. "I'll leave you alone now so you can get started." She walked away, hoping she really had helped her brother out.


Neila
The Academy Alien
Fan Fic Fanatic