*I went through and changed some things*

The wind blew her soft black hair across her face as her upper lip lifted up into a growl. Her eyes locked on her target because he dared to move closer. It was only a matter of seconds before she rose up her arms and the earth moved with her. A row of rocks lifted up in his direction and knocked him away. The wind blasted harder as she kept pelting him with rocks. His howls of pain seemed to increase with each stroke.

"Lin, I believe that is enough. I think you are ready." Toph said encouraging her daughter.

It was the softest tone Lin had heard her mother use for the past 8 weeks. Lin understood she was in training but she hated the tone her mother used with her. It only seemed to peak her interest though. She wanted her mother to love her and she wanted to see how long it would take for her mother to be proud of her.

The man rose up after a while rubbing his aching body. The man was in water tribe attire and had soft black hair just like her and her own mother's. She watched as Toph ran over to the man. Her smile only seemed to get wider as she saw the pride in his eyes.

"Lin that was amazing. You sure know how to make you dad proud." The man's eyes lit up as he lifted up off the ground with Toph's help.

"Thanks dad!" Lin said with a wide smile on her face that was almost sinister.

"Sokka you really took a beating out here. Are you okay?" Toph said.

"I'm fine. You don't need to worry so much." Sokka said,smiling.

Sokka was my father, and I was his pride and joy and he was mine. I had the perfect family so I thought.

It was only a few days before starting school. I wanted my dad to bring me to school the first day. But things were soon about to change. All of my hopes and dreams crushed. I had a gut feeling from day one of my Earth bending training I had to toughen up and be like rocks because one day I will meet face to face with fate.

. . .

It started one fateful morning when I was at Aunt Katara's house with Uncle Aang. I was watching his earth bending techniques while Aunt Katara was out washing clothes.

"Watch closely Lin, I will show you the basics." Uncle Aang said as he used his bending to toss a rock across the field.

"Now you try." Uncle Aang said proudly.

I tossed a rock a bit further than his and that seemed to bring the child out in him. He rose up his hands in an act of peace and said, "Okay, Okay, let's try something a bit harder that I, myself, highly doubt you can master in one try."

I had prepared myself for what Uncle Aang was going to say but not what Aunt Katara was going to say when she ran frantically out of their house.

"Sokka is hurt!" Katara said frantically.

Everything inside of me seemed to crush. I felt my head rushing and everything seemed to fall apart piece by piece inside of me. It was almost like a part of my life is slowly being erased.

"I have to go save him!" I demanded.

I ran out before any of them could speak. I pushed past Kya and muttered a sorry as I ran out the door. I didn't even notice the quiet solemn boy in the corner of the room reading a book, a person that would soon be important to me… forever.

I followed my instinct and ran as fast as I could over to where I believed my dad was working, only to see a lifeless figure lying in the snow, from afar. This only motivated me to run faster.

"You have to get out of here little girl!" A soldier yelled frantically.

I ran with tears running down my face and used all my effort to push past him. I ran to the figure only to find out it was my dad, it was my father.

"Dad… Dad… NO! DAD!" I yelled as I crouched over him.

Tears dropped down on his uniform as he used every ounce of life he had left to open his eyes and smile at me.

"Lin… I'm here…" He whispered.

"No you're not, at least not for long anyways!" I cried out.

"Sh… I'll always be there in your heart my little soldier. Your mother and you… Must look out for each other..." He said calmly and hoarsely.

The tears seemed to never stop. Every time I tried to stop they just came down harder. They didn't even slow down until dad raised up his hand and wiped it away before it instantly fell to the ground for his now lifeless body.

"I love you." I whispered and I just laid there crying over him. I knew I had to make him proud. I knew I had to make it with mom. I knew I had to be independent.

I am Lin Beifong and this is my life story.