Every night she stared towards it, the Fire Lord's Temple. She had been there at his wedding to Mai, she had been there when he passed her on the streets of Ba Sing Sei, starving and alone with no family. She had met him as a child, banned from the private gardens because she was not of pure blood. Not tonight, it wasn't the right time to strike. She retreated back into the streets where she had been raised at. But she didn't stop, not even when picking up her collections from her early day performances. A few silver coins, just the right amount for her bread and cheese. Cheap food wasn't always the best but it had helped her to survive. In the past, the thief had gone to lengths of picking the royal guard's pockets. It was a specialty of hers. But she had to lie low, for her current mission right now was to sneak inside the castle and tell the fire lord of her suffering. Let him know…
She passed the sleeping vendors still by their stocks and left the Fire Nation capitol with her money jingling in her pocket. The girl traveled down a secluded path teeming with grass and flowers. There the moon rose behind a crumbling temple, her home and sanctuary. She opened the bolted door made of fused steel and entered her small abode, a circular shaped temple with a lean-to bed made from stolen blankets and chicken feather pillows. The moonlight arrived into the center of the floor from the window fashioned in the very center of the roof. And the statue that stood in the very back of the temple was the reason for her name. One of the Great Spirits that was said to live eternity and be reborn each year. It spread its wings across the circular area with flames resting by its feet. She had maintained it and polished the copper shine each day for it was the reason she had been given life. Her name was Phoenix much like the Great Spirit who had saved her from dying and given her hair and eyes a red flaming color.
She bowed to the statue and then stood straight up, looking into the moonlight. "Tonight is beautiful for flying." The flames danced and swerved until the made a triangle around her feet. They became higher, covering her body fully. They shifted onto her back creating the illusion of fiery wings that actually hosted her into the air and carried her from the temple. She danced around in the air with grace, making the flames follow her every command. It felt so good to be in control, to know she at lease was important for something. As she flew, she forgot that she was a poor girl struggling to survive. Instead she was a dancer, a person of carefree and heartfelt attitude that couldn't be stopped or helped.
A young traveler started her journey the morning after. She was from the Earth Nation, wearing clothing that reflected her heritage and a headband to match. Her hair was a dark black color which was rare for most and even more extraordinary was her emerald green eye color. She had scars lathering her cheeks like whisker markings and a slightly darker skin tone. On her shoulder was her pet ocelweasel, a female one named Kon-Kon that had been with her ever since she was a child. With pressure she slung a heavy sack over her shoulder and waved to her parents. "Well, better go find the little quirt. I've been itching to say hello but she hasn't come back."
Her father looked into her eyes with concern. "Aki, be careful."
"I'm a tough girl. Who do you think taught her to be rough and tough? Who introduced her to the underground fight club? Me, Aki of the Earth Nation. Now excuse me father but I am sixteen now. Off to face the world soon anyway. Keep a good eye on King Boomy though, he might miss me."
This was Aki, a girl that had long been known as a mentor and sister-figure to the great earthbending master Toph. The two had known each other since childhood, despite their defenses in family life. Aki as said had made Toph the tough person with a hard attitude she was known as today. But another important key in her lessons was that softness of the heart has its own weapon that can strike any person down. And as the sun rose, she smiled to the skies and raised her fists to the air, "Ready or not, here I come!"