A girl was walking along the streets of Fire Fountain City from the Royal Academy for Girls. Although, one might wonder why this girl was attending such a prestigious school, seeing that she is coming from a middle-class working family with a single mother and a brother.

Taavi is 18 years old, a graduating student from the Academy. The day was long for her. A biology paper, a physics exam, and a theatre technical rehearsal abused her weary form. To top her day, Taavi received the college admission results she had been anticipating since the testing date. As soon as she set her bag on the couch Tamara, her mother greeted her with an excited voice.

"Tav, your test results are in," she said.

Tav's eyes widened, heart rate suddenly shooting up and her hand getting clammy by the second. She shot a look on the letter and saw the seal of the University of United Republic. It's really here. She reached out to Tam and held the letter tightly, wet leaving handprints on it due to her sweaty palms.

"It's really here," she breathed. With shaking hands she tore open the envelope and slowly pulled open the test results out. Taking a peek at her mother, she could see that Tam was just as anxious. With a final breath, she opened the paper and glanced.

"So?" she heard her mother ask.

She glanced at the paper, unsure of how to react. She needed to score good since the exam was based on percentile ranking, which forced high school students to really work their hardest to qualify for a spot in the University.

Tav scanned the paper, "I don't see my score," she squealed. "I-I can't see it. Where is it?"

Tamara approached the worried teenager and took a look at the paper as well. She placed a calming hand on Tav's shoulders and tried to settle her. "Honey, look—page 1 of 2—your results are on the second page."

"Oh…" A wave of relief swept over Tav's body as she flipped to the next page. There they were, the figures she has been so worried to see. Silence came over and Tav was speechless. Tam waited for her daughter to speak but a minute has passed Tav still didn't speak.

"Honey?"

Nothing.

With a look of resignation, Tav turned her head to face her mother. "I…"

"What is it? Did you fail?"

Tav's mouth was still open and getting dry, her face still unsure of what to show. "96. I got 96."

"Oh!" Tam exclaimed and leaped with excitement. "You did it honey."

"I'm going to college! I'm going to college!" Taavi kept mumbling. The excitement was overwhelming and the results felt so surreal. She settled herself and hugged her mother tightly. This was it. The start of her dream… kind of. "I am going to college…" she breathed out once again. "Oh. My. Goodness. I am going to college."

"Congratulations, sweetie."

"I- I, uh, I need to lie down."

The door opened and in came Taavi's brother, Yanis. He is her age, and goes to the public coed science high school, The Fire Fountain Science High School. Yanis' interests have been on paleontology, and just a week before he got a whooping 99 on his admission test to the Fire Nation Institute for Science and Technology, commonly known as the Royal Institute. He set his pack next to Tav's on the couch and joined them. "What's going on?"

"Your sister just received her college admission test results," Tam answered as she went back to the kitchen. Tav got up from the couch and followed her mother.

As they sat down at the dining table, Yanis cracked a smile and read the nearly crumpled paper. "Ooh, a 96. This is great. Do you know what this actually means?"

"Duh, of course," Tav replied.

"Only 4% percent is smarter than you," he pressed on. "You know, if you would apply to the Royal Institute, you could get in on their paleontology program. Their cut-off is 90 and they actually give special scholarships to people who get—hey! This isn't from the Royal Institute." Yanis, gave a look of confusion at his sister and mother. "This is from Republic City."

"You only realize that now?"

Yanis nodded, confused as to why his sister would apply for a school half a world away.

"Honey, please set the table," Tam ordered from the corner. Tav complied and set the plates and sat back.

"I didn't apply in Royal Institute," Tav confessed.

"What?" Yanis asked, flabbergasted. "Why? They have the best paleontology course there is. This is an outrage, Tav." He raised his hands in defeat, shaking his head at his sister's decision. "Why in the world did you—I can't believe this!"

Tav rolled her eyes at his remark. "Stop being so over dramatic." Sometimes, Yanis just couldn't stop being so ardent desire for the branch of science. "To start with, I don't like paleontology. Number 2, I…"

"You what? You prefer artsy fartsy classes? Theatre?"

"…kind of don't know what to do after high school," she confessed, suddenly ashamed of her admission. Sure, she was glad that she qualified to enroll in every course and degree the university can offer. But after repeating the mantra that she was indeed going to college left her yearning for another fantasy letter that would contain the program that was right for her.

Tamara set down the rice and the hot soup on the table, giving Tav a concerned look. As she sat, Yanis chuckled at the confession he just heard from his sister. "You're screwed. Graduation is just a month away."

"Language, Yanis," Tam scolded and then quickly reached out to hold Tav's hand. "It's quite alright, sweetie. You still have a month left in school, another 2 months for summer break, and—

"—Application starts in 3 weeks, Mom." Tav didn't mean to sound disrespectful but her worries made her interrupt her mother. "I mean, all of my classmates know what they want to do. Yanis knows that he wants to work with freaking dinosaurs. Princess Sheba knows that she'll join her brother in the United Forces, even General Min's son from Yanis's school knows what he'll do—for the record, he's not the smartest chap I know." She stopped and hung her head.

"He got a 7 out of 65 in our math test today," Yanis added.

"See?"

"You'll figure it out soon," Tam assured, offering another comforting squeeze on Tav's hand.

"Yeah, you'll figure it out," Yanis affirmed. "Probably after a year."


After dinner, Tav silently washed the dishes, unusually silent enough that Tamara couldn't help but let out a noticeably loud sigh. "Would you just let that college thought go? Just for tonight. It's late and you are not usually this quiet."

"Let the college thought go?" Tav turned and set the plate she's been wiping dry on the counter. "How can you say that? You know how I feel about academic things."

Tav has been striving to be the epitome of excellence in the Academy. All her years studying, she has worked herself up to be on top of everything she wanted. She joined mathletes, a poetry group, and even the future leaders' organization that Princess Sheba dragged her in— all to prove that she could be excellent, worthy of appreciation.

"You know I want to be great, Mom," she pressed on. "You know that whatever I do, I need to be the best… because she didn't think that I was even good for her."

Tamara walked over towards Taavi and pulled the latter in for a tight hug, hopefully a comforting one. In that moment, Tamara regret the day she told Taavi about her real mother. The situation was just so complicated that Taavi needed to grow up away from Republic City, away from the triads' clutches, and away from the judging eyes of the city's society.

"You know why you're here with me," Tamara whispered softly.

"Because she couldn't bear the thought that her daughter is a bastard?" Tav knew who and what she is at the age of nine. She was intuitive, precocious and curious. She asked questions, explored old boxes, read letters from Gazit, Tam's husband. And then, she found it—a photograph of a lady clad in a metal uniform. Taavi got the truth from Tamara that night, and the name of the lady.

"Honey, she loves you."

"She doesn't," Taavi insisted and shook her head. "She left me with you." The words came out harsher than she thought. "I-I didn't mean—"

Tamara raised a silencing hand. "It's alright. It's hard not growing up with your real mother, but Yanis and I love you. Papa loved you when he was alive." Tamara stared into her eyes, trying her best to let Tav sink in her sincerity. "We can't imagine our life without you in it."

"She has never visited me, not even once," Tav stated, forlorn lining her words. "Not even a phone call."

"She's spending for your school and your stuff," Tamara tried to reason, even though she knows materials things could not fill the emptiness that was inside of Taavi. "She sent you birthday gifts, and she sent you greeting cards."

"I don't need her money or her gifts. I'm not a charity work. I'm her daughter. Can't she see that?" Taavi's eyes filled with tears, overcome with self-pity and her evaluation of her worth. "Am I not qualified to be considered one of them? Am I not 'Beifong' enough?"

Tamara was out of words, out of answers. Since learning about Lin Beifong, Tamara has kept on telling Tav that she is with her because of Lin's job as the Chief of Police. Protection—that has always been the reason. However, Taavi's questions kept on evolving, changing through time; and her answers became invalid as time went by.

"If she really did have even an ounce of love for me," Tav pressed on, "I would have already called her 'mom' to her face."

Taavi got up and finished the remaining dishes, and Tamara said nothing more. Yanis entered the kitchen, clutching an apple in his hand, and the tension somehow dissipated. The boy glanced at his sister and mother before informing the former of the Fire Princess's presence in their home.

"Tav, Sheba's outside."

"It's Princess Sheba for you," Taavi corrected. She's not a fan of royalties, although for some unknown reasons, Princess Sheba entered her life and the two became the best of friends. Sleepovers, palace strolls, study nights and even intimate birthday dinners of the Royal Family have been attended by Taavi.

"Whatever," Yanis shot back. "She still has my kuei ball jersey. Tell her to give it back."

Taavi wiped the tears off her face and proceeded outside. She needed someone to talk to—her best friend.

A single glance was all it took for Sheba to conclude that something was up, something serious.

Sheba was accompanied by two body guards and as soon as Taavi sat down beside her, she gestured them to give her and Taavi some privacy.

"You look dreadful," she commented.

"Spot on, Sheb." Taavi rested her head on the Fire Princess's shoulder and a tear escaped from the corner of her eye.

"What's wrong?"

"I, um, I just received my test results from Republic City." Her news prompted Sheba to jerk her shoulder and faced her.

"You didn't fail, did you?" the princess asked in a worried voice. "Because, I need someone to accompany me to my brother's academy. Mom already agreed that I can join the United Forces if I pass the exams."

Taavi shook her head. "It's not about college that's kept me a little depressed."

"Is it about your mom?"

Taavi nodded in reply. "My real mom."

Sheba shifted in her seat and faced Tav. The story is all too familiar. The two has been friends since they were five, and Sheba knows that Taavi's "real mother" issues have some serious effects on her friend. She gave an inquiring look at Taavi, urging her to continue. "So? Who is she? Did Mama Tam tell you her name?"

"I knew her name since I was nine—"

Sheba winced, unsure of how to react. "You knew? Who is she, then?" The Fire Princess shook Tav's shoulders, a little excited to know her best friend's mother's name.

"Lin Beifong," Tav simply stated as if this Beifong lady is an ordinary person, a commoner.

"I know her!" Sheba exclaimed. "I've met her!" Sheba clamped her hand to her mouth, regretting her outburst knowing the Taavi never met the woman. "Sorry, I didn't mean to brag. It's just…I did meet her some months ago."

Sheba noticed Taavi's face light up and then revert back to what they called 'sad face' mode.

"Really?"

"She's the Chief of Police in Republic City, metalbender, and she's Toph Beifong's daughter."

"I'm Toph Beifong's grandchild." A small smile crept between Tav's lips. "What was she like?" The question was an admittance of Taavi's desire to get to know the woman. Taavi is familiar with Sheba's political involvements, and political gossip were her expertise. Sheba knows almost everything about almost every leader; including even the concubines and custody battles of some of the previous Earth Kings when the Earth Kingdom was still a constitutional monarch. A series of questions followed. "Is she strict? Is she married? Dating anyone?"

"Well, she was kind of…stern. She lead mom's security group," Sheba answered. "I bet mom knows her, although I don't know if she's married or not. I mean, I only saw her for like two minutes and then that Prince Wu guy invited me to dance—and may I add?—terrible dancer!"

Taavi remained silent, contemplating on her thoughts. What is this woman like? And why has she never met Taavi?

"You know, I really don't know what to do in college, but I think I want to meet my real mother."


Ring! Ring! Ring!

Lin Beifong cracked open a drowsy eye and reached for the telephone on her bedside table. After switching on the lamp, she picked up the phone and greeted the caller with a slightly annoyed voice.

"Beifong."

"Lin? It's Tamara," the voice on the other line spoke. At the sound of her name, Lin suddenly sat up and paid more attention to the caller. "Tamara? What is it? Is something wrong? Is Taavi alright?"

"She's very much alright," Tamara replied. "I just called to inform you that she passed the admission test for the university."

"That's good news," Lin remarked, a feeling of pride pooling inside her. "I'm sure she'll do well in the Royal Institute."

Lin heard a breath coming from the other line and her brows furrowed in curiosity.

"Lin, she's not attending the Royal Institute," Tamara informed her, unsure of how Lin will feel about the news. "She's planning on attending college there in Republic City."

"Really?"

"Really."

"Thank you," Lin put down the receiver.

For a moment, Lin was unsure of how to react. She was elated at the thought of seeing her daughter for the first time in 17 years, but the thought of Taavi despising her kept her awake until sunrise. She forced herself to drive away the lingering feeling in her core with a cup of coffee, but it persisted throughout the day.

Taavi will be coming to Republic City soon. She can feel it.


Author's note: Hi, Sheen here. Um, this is my first fanfic on the site and I hope you liked it.