Disclaimer: I don't own these characters but that doesn't mean I can't have a little fun with them.

Chapter 1

I rise with the sun.

I was the first one who woke up from the gang. I walked with light paces - not wanting to disturb the others - to the little fountain. It had become a habit for me to meditate here, calming my soul as I thought about the things that had happened this past week.

I had teamed up with the Avatar, the one I swore to capture to regain my honor, and his gang. I was now training the Av- no Aang, I corrected myself, to become a Firebending master. Not that I was one, I noted dryly. No, my sister was one, my uncle was one, my father was one but not me. I was the failure in my father's eyes, and the irony from it all was, I just wanted for my father to acknowledge me, the real me.

I sigh, this wasn't really calming my soul, not at all. I have to think happy thoughts. Yes, happy thought, the ones I had from my mother, my uncle and all other things that brought a smile to my lips. My mother, oh how I missed her, was still alive out there. I swore, after I fought my father with the Av- Aang and his friends and after we had taking over, I would search for her and my uncle.

"Hey Scar-face, I see that you're awake."

My eyes shot open as my gaze fell on the little Earthbender. The blind girl was standing a few feet away from me, her eyes a little off focus as she looked to my direction. I sigh for the second time. Couldn't these people leave me alone for once when I was trying to meditate?

"Indeed."

I stated simply, annoyed, as I closed my eyes again, trying to block the other out as I got in the lotus position. A rock shot out behind me, poking me in the rear annoyingly. I growled out of frustration as my eyes fluttered open.

"What's your problem?"

I asked as I kept my voice calm, not wanting to give away the wrong expression to the girl. I was still trying to get their trust and shouting to one of them wasn't going to help me on that matter. She smiled with fake innocents as she walked to me.

"The question is rather, what's your problem? You've been tense for days now."

She noted bluntly to me. I resisted the urge to sigh for the third time this day. No, this few minutes as I gave her a stern look, not that she could see my expression.

"It's nothing."

I lied to her. She didn't have to know what bothered me or to know about my past. When I was still on the ship after my banishment I kept all my problems to myself, not even my uncle could get anything lose. The Earthbender gave me a knowing grin.

"I can tell you're lying Sparky, just tell the truth and I'll stop bothering you."

The girl had nerves to get into my personal space just like that with those questions of her. What did got my attention was the fact that she could tell if the others were lying or not. I might as well start a conversation with the Earthbender to get her away from the awful painful topic she was just poking at.

"How can you tell if someone is lying, anyway?"

I questioned her as I kept my position on the ground, the rock still poking me in the back uncomfortable. The annoying knowing grin turned into a smug one as she replied with a bored voice.

"I can feel vibrations through the ground. Heartbeats, movements, you name it and I can feel them."

I was quiet surprised at this. What was her name again? Tot, Tess, or was it something like Toph? Whatever he name was I was impressed by her skills in Earthbending.

"So if I do this;" I shifted slightly on the ground but still kept my pose. "You can feel it through the ground?"

She nodded. Interesting, I thought as another question came to my mind.

"So that means you can't "see" things that aren't connected to the ground."

I merely stated as I stud up from the lotus position.

"That sound about right."

An awkward silence fell between us as I searched for words. If I didn't kept this conversation up Toph would most likely end up asking me the same question again. I opened my mouth to say something, but closed it abruptly as she beaten me to it.

"So are you going to tell me what's going on or are we going to keep talking small-talk."

She stated bluntly as she sat down with a soft thud, dust flying away from her as the wind blew it from the ground. This time I did sigh, defeated, as I sat down again. This was going to be a long day…