Ever wanted to know the origins of the Freedom Fighters? Well, here's just some oneshots based on our Freedom Fighters. First one up: Smellerbee. I may do Longshot next but then again...

Unwanted Flower

Smellerbee had two things that set her apart from her fellow Freedom Fighters. One, she was a girl. Despite most people's thoughts about her, she was indeed a young girl. Although the headband, her war paint and her clothing made her look like a young man.

The second thing was, she was the only Freedom Fighter who hadn't been directly affected by the Fire Nation unlike her cohorts Jet and Longshot.

In fact, she lived in a peaceful and happy village hidden by rocky mountains with sharp edges. Like a perfect utopia.

Most of the Freedom Fighters would've loved to live in her paradise-like village and at first, not even Jet could understand why Smellerbee would give up that sense of security and peace to come and join the Freedom Fighters.

The answer that she gave him? It was simple and concise.

She was unwanted from the start.

--

There was a huge celebration in the village that warm, sunny day. A rather tall, burly man was standing proudly on a small wooden platform with two young boys with him.

"Hee-Soon, congratulations! You'll have another healthy, strong boy!" some of the villagers shouted.

Hee-Soon nodded and looked up to the sky with pride.

"Hear that, Kotaro and Jiro? You'll have another brother!" Hee-Soon patted their heads.

"Yeah!" chirped Jiro, the second oldest.

"We finally have someone to play Ostrich Horse in The Middle!" said Kotaro, the oldest, excitingly.

Hee-Soon gave Kotaro a hearty laugh.

"I'm afraid your brother won't be able to play for a while."

"Aww," pouted both Jiro and Kotaro.

While people chatted, ate and were merry, a small woman came up to the platform quickly and tapped Hee-Soon on the shoulder.

Hee-Soon could barely contain it.

"Has Sang given birth to my son?"

The woman beckoned Hee-Soon to bend his knees as she whispered in his ear. Meanwhile, people gathered around and wondered what she was saying.

"Sang is waiting for you," she moved out of the way as Hee-Soon made his way to where his wife was. People started to murmer and talk quietly.

Hee-Soon walked through the door, took a left in the corridor and there was his wife, holding a small bundle in green and brown cloth. He looked at the bundle then at Sang.

"Hee-Soon...please, it's a beautiful baby girl," Sang knew why Hee-Soon was in here and was worried.

"Sang...I wanted a third son. Having three sons is good luck. This celebration was to honor my family for a third son!" He banged his fist on the wall.

Sang looked at her baby.

"Hee-Soon...I can't determine whether I give birth to a boy or girl. Look, isn't she lovely?" Sang explained, but to no avail.

"Wait until the village hears this...I'll be a laughing stock for years!" he ranted.

"Hee-Soon...will you at least help me name her?" Sang pulled back the cloth covering the baby's head.

Hee-Soon huffed and grunted.

"Well, she'll be an obediant girl and will have to make up for not being a boy," Hee-Soon said gruffly.

Sang frowned sadly and sighed, staring at her baby's face, eyes closed.

"I always liked the name Hana. Isn't it a pretty name, Hee-Soon?" Sang asked.

Hee-Soon exhaled sharply and nodded.

"Yeah. Sure."

He left without a sound and left Sang with her baby. Sang cuddled her even more.

"Hana."

--

"Hana! Give me back my shirt!" yelled an angry thirteen year old Jiro, chasing an eleven year old around the room.

"I want it!" Hana shouted back, gripping onto the brown shirt.

"You can't wear it! Dad got it for me, not you!" Jiro yellled back to Hana.

"Too bad!" Hana ran to her room and barricaded it. Hana heard Jiro pounding on her door.

"Give it back!"

"No!"

It was silent and Hana smiled triumphantly. She switched her shirt with Jiro's brown shirt and sat down on her floor. She then heard heavier footsteps. Kotaro's.

"...Hana?" Kotaro's voice asked.

"What?" she asked.

"Come out here," ordered the fifteen year old.

Hana huffed. Her father favored Kotaro so much, he practically made him man of the house. Well, besides her father of course.

Hana stepped outside and sunk her head and looked at her feet, trying to play innocent.

"Hana, it won't work on me. Now, give Jiro's shirt back."

"But...I never get anything new. All I have to wear is your smelly hand-me-down shirts and pants. Do you even smell your shirts?" she said, sticking her tongue out.

Kotaro inhaled slowly and looked around. He laid his hand on her shoulder and said,

"Fine. Keep it. Whatever. I'll go out into town and get Jiro a new one. But don't think you're off easy. I'm telling Dad."

Hana was in utter shock. Last thing Hee-Soon needed was her stealing Jiro's new shirt.

"Aww, c'mon Kotaro!" she whined, but Kotaro left Hana by herself.

I hate this. Being treated as a nobody...the only nice thing I have is...that dress. It's too girly, Hana thought but then felt a wave of shame. That 'girly dress' belonged to her dear mother Sang, and knew her mother would want her to wear it one day.

"I miss you, Mom," she spoke quietly to herself. She snapped out of her reverie and toughened up. She clenched her fists.

Hana went to the small dresser and opened the third drawer. There, neatly folded and clean, was the pink, brown and green dress her mother had given to her. She took it out and hung it infront of her.

"Huh. Not so bad, but I'm not wearing it. Jiro might as well wear it, heh," Hana snickered and tried to fold it back into her drawer, but it was a bit wrinkly.

"Hana!" yelled the one voice Hana did not want to hear. Hee-Soon.

She walked out of her room, and came into the living room where Jiro, Kotaro and Hee-Soon were sitting. Jiro had a smug look on his face, Kotaro was looking away from her and Hee-Soon had a frown on his rugged face. She knew that Kotaro had snitched on her.

"Hana, sit down," Hee-Soon commanded, although not in his usual harsh tone.

She sat down, and she saw Jiro eye the shirt she was wearing. His shirt.

Hee-Soon closed his eyes and spoke sternly,

"Kotaro brought to my attention that the shirt I bought for Jiro was taken by you. Now, Kotaro said he will buy Jiro another shirt, but you will still be punished. You have plenty of clothes-,"

Hana interrupted Hee-Soon and asked angrily,

"I don't have new clothes! I have Kotaro and Jiro's hand-me-downs and a stinkin' dress! Can't you just let me have something new?"

Hee-Soon did not strike her, slap her or hit her in any way. Jiro looked at him as if he was expecting Hana to be punished. Hee-Soon shook his head.

"You're lucky to have clothes. There are people, people who's lives have been affected by war, and they don't have clothes. Just the ones on their backs. Take for granted you have hand-me-downs."

Hana paid no heed.

"Why can't I have something new? Or...or do I have to be a stupid boy just to get something nice, huh?" Hana didn't realize what she said and Hee-Soon's eyes opened immediately.

"...Yes, Hana. It's custom. As much as you loathe it..." he said, almost like a whisper.

Hana bit her lip and gritted her teeth.

"Loathe it? Of course I loathe it!" She stood up and stomped loudly all the way to her room and there was a big SLAM! from the door.

Jiro asked,

"Are all girls like that?"

Kotaro shrugged.

"Probably just Hana."

--

Mom, I hate it here. Dad treats me like my opinion doesn't matter and Jiro makes it worse. Maybe it'd be better if I was born a guy. I'd get new clothes, Jiro wouldn't pick on me and Dad...Dad wouldn't have to lecture me all the time.

Hana felt hot tears stream down her face and gulped. She couldn't cry. She couldn't. She turned around and saw her reflection in the small mirror in her room. It showed her, wearing a brown shirt and green, baggy pants. Her hair was frizzy and her almond colored eyes were mostly hidden by her hair. She really did look like a guy. Anyone who didn't know she was a girl could easily mistake her for a boy.

She slightly grinned. She liked the look. This is what she should've been. A boy.

--

That night, Hana tiptoed into Kotaro's room, which was located right across from hers. She knew Kotaro kept a headband that was given to him from Hee-Soon on his tenth birthday. She'd always liked it and wanted it for her own. She held her breath; Kotaro had excellent hearing and even asleep, he could wake up to a pin drop. It was dark except for the moonlight through his window, enough light for Hana.

I think he keeps it in one of his boxes...I think. I'll just steal it and he'll never hear-

Creak

Hana froze up, a squeaky floor tile.

"Hnn...Yes Mizu, I would like to go out..."

Hana sniggered lightly. He was hilarious in his sleep!

She continued on, and grabbed a box off the floor. She popped the top and felt inside. No headband. She placed it down and grabbed another. She felt the inside. Soft, clothlike...this was it! The headband!

Hana titpoed quickly back to her room and collapsed on the floor. She put it on, and looked in her mirror. The moonlight hit her so it illuminated her face, the headband covering her eyes and made them look smaller. If she could find some face paint, she wanted to put streaks under her eyes to make herself look tougher and sneakier.

I like it. I'll show Dad that girls can be just as good, even better. Mom will be so proud of me and Jiro won't make fun of me anymore. Maybe even Kotaro won't ever snitch on me ever again.

I'm not going to be an unwanted flower anymore.