Her fingers flew across the keyboard, striking every note and chord, breathing life into the ancient hall. She swayed to the music, singing along now and then. Her voice was a pure and blissful sound. It was the reason she was known as the Songbird of the Fire Nation, the Blossoming Flower of the West. Her prodigious skill was what kept her alive, without it she would have perished along with the others in the small Earth Kingdom village she had lived in. It was her gift, her curse.
"Get the girl and then burn this dump to the ground!"
An elderly woman hid in the shadows, the quivering figure of a small girl was next to her. "They want to take you, Tori. Go now! You can be saved!" The woman whispered, softly urging the child out of the small crevice. "Grandmother, you have to come with me!" The girl pulled on the silky sleeve of her elders dress. "They do not want an old woman like me; they want a strong and talented child like you! Only you can be saved. Now go, my little Songbird!" The child hugged her grandmother one last time and then ran out of the small hut.
"Chan, I've got the girl. Let's get out of here."
The small girl sat on the army vehicle, watching her home burn to the ground. Tears streamed down her face. "Good-bye." She whispered.
"Tori, the Fire Lord has requested that you perform at the Royal Palace. Tori, are you there?" A boy waved his hands in front of her face. She looked around, her expression dazed and eyes clouded. "Oh, sorry Tansei, I was just daydreaming." The boy chuckled, his deep brown eyes sparkling. "I'm sensing the need to repeat myself." Tori growled at him and then sighed, "I suppose you will have to repeat what you said." Tansei smiled victoriously and then began, "Our great Fire Lord Ozai has requested that you, the lame Tori Ichida, perform at the Royal Palace for the opening of a new wing." Tori got up and gently closed the top of the piano. "Well, oh great messenger, inform the Fire Lord that I would be honored to perform at such an event." Tansei bowed and then replied, "I will inform him immediately." He turned and sprinted up the aisle of the music hall and out the door. "Come back here!" Tori screamed and then tore after him.
She pulled up her skirts and then sprinted across the velvet carpet, turning corners so sharply that she almost fell over. All of a sudden, Tansei was in front of her and they collided with a thud, falling to the ground. They both burst into a fit of laughter and then Tansei helped Tori get up. Tori smoothed his black hair so that it looked orderly. Then, she grabbed some pins and pulled her hair back into its silky bun. After a few minutes she managed to get every chocolate brown strand back in its place. The two hooked arms and then walked out of the music building. The duo headed towards the Ozai Academy for the Youth, the best school in the Fire Nation. A severe looking woman with her black hair pulled back into a bun at the nape of her neck, came bustling towards them. The two immediatley bowed to show their respect. "Well, have you finished practicing, Tori?" The woman looked at Tansei with hawk-like eyes, her face twisted into a disapproving expression. Tori nodded, "Yes, Madam Sunai." Madam Sunai looked pleased and then led Tori towards a noble looking building decorated with the Fire Nation insignia. "Tommorow we shall leave for Sugamashi. When we get there you will be able to prepare for your performance for the Fire Lord. I'm assuming he told you." Madam Sunai tilted her head towards Tansei. Tori nodded.
"Come along, you must finish your school work." The mistress needled Tori into the girls dormitories. Tori turned and waved good-bye to Tansei. The two females wove through gaggles of girls and finally stopped at a cozy looking dorm with large windows. It was rather luxurious compared to the other dorms. Large wooden mats stretched out across the floor and in the corner was a bookshelf filled with stack after stack of music. A large bed was in the other corner and there were two large mirrors and a vase of pink cherry blossoms. Tori sat on the bed and Madam Sunai started to braid Tori's long hair. "You know I don't approve of that boy, what's his name? Tanee or something. You are fourteen, and have great beauty. You're also the most talented musician in the world. You should be courting with Warriors not Messangers." She clucked her tongue impatiently. "Madam Sunai, I'm not courting with Tansei." She replied, putting extra emphasis on Tansei. "He's just a friend, and, you know, he's fourteen just like me. I don't care that he's a Messanger!"