Here's the next chapter. I hope you all enjoy.

~faithy waithy


Standing in the small shop of what seemed to be a bag store, I shook my head in disbelief when I saw my brother place a strap over his shoulder that was attached to a ridiculous green bag. Kale stared at it with disbelief, while Katara looked annoyed. Aang sat on the floor of the shop looking bored out of his mind, his straw hat hanging over his face a bit as he tried to stay awake.

"Sokka… Can I ask you what exactly you plan on using that bag for?" I asked, crossing my arms to keep from ripping it off his shoulder. "You have a pack and tons of bags on Appa."

It had been three days since we'd left Chin Village, and for the last three days we'd been stopping at every village we passed to see if there was an earth bender who could teach Aang. Every earth bender we ran into, Aang would always snap, "Their not the one!" Then we'd get back on Appa and fly away losing more and more time and getting closer and closer to Sozins Comet.

Now we were at a city known as Gaoling, and Sokka had rushed into a shop full of bags picking up a huge green one that looked ridiculous on his shoulder. He'd been standing there for five minutes debating if he should get the bag or not. We needed to move along, and he was taking too much time.

To answer my question, he held the bag up as if letting me see it closer would answer the question for him. Tapping my foot, I waited for a real answer. "I can use it to carry important stuff in," he said, dropping the bag at his side and crossing his own arms.

"Like what? You're socks?!"

He scowled and stubbornly said, "No! Other things! Like my maps, and- and an extra shirt just in case I fall in the mud! There are a lot of things this bag can be used for."

Rolling my eyes, I grabbed the tag on the side of the bag to show Sokka the price. "That's a lot of money Sokka for a pointless bag. Money we need to save for when we need to buy something important like food or supplies."

Sokka yanked the bag away. "The mayor gave us money to last a while. I don't think buying this one bag will make us dirt poor."

Letting out a sigh, I said in defeat, "Fine… If it makes you happy Sokka, then get the bag that I find utterly pointless."

He narrowed his eyes. "Fine! I will!" Then he turned to walk away, but paused and looked back at the bag. "Though I guess it is a bit pricey… but at the same time I really like it."

Kale jumped in feeling impatient himself and ready to leave the shop. "Then get it. No one's stopping you."

In the end Sokka finally got the bag and we left the shop with utter relief. As Sokka paid inside, we stood at the entrance and waited for him to catch back up to us. As we waited I noticed all three of them looking at me with question. At once I felt self-conscious and backed away so I could try and get out of their gazes. "What? What did I do this time?"

Aang immediately looked away, and Katara pursed her lips not sure what to say. Kale smiled weakly. "Um… Not much… Just... you seem a bit more aggravated than usual."

Scowling, I snapped, "I'm not aggravated… Why would you think that?"

Katara was the one to speak up. "It's just... this morning you started snapping at everything we said to you, and you've been sort of in a far off place. What's going on?"

Staring into my sisters concerned eyes, I sighed and crossed my arms with a frown. "I just haven't been sleeping good… I have a lot on my mind... I'm sorry for my attitude."

"You're not having night-" Katara began to ask but was cut off by a man who was holding a flyer in his hand. The man had walked over to us cutting into our conversation. As the man told Aang and Katara about an earth bending school, I thought about what Katara was about to ask me. "You're not having nightmares again, are you?"

Closing my eyes, I hung my head in defeat. Katara could always see right through me.

Last night when we all nestled down in our sleeping bags at our small made campsite, I fell asleep and dreamed. In my dream I was at the palace and I was running from something. Every hall I ran down seemed to never end, and when I turned onto another hall I found it would always take me back to the first I started in. Why I was running was a mystery to me, and every now and then I'd try and look back to see if I could find anyone chasing me. The halls were dark and empty, and the candle light seemed to only shed light on the wall and nothing else. Whatever I was running from, it had my dream self terrified. When I tried to light a flame in my hand, I couldn't even get a spark. Why couldn't I bend? The inability had me terrified. Freezing in the hall, I'd looked down at my hands which were shaking terribly. When I looked back up to run again, I saw the Spirit of Fire Huo standing in front of me with a grin. "There's my flame," he said, and as he reached forward to grab me, I gasped and woke up.

The dream terrified me more than ever. I think it was because of the simple fact that Huo had called me his flame. He gave me life, and because of that I would forever be part of him. He could probably rip my spirit away from this world if he wanted to, and that very thought terrified me. What if he did take me away from this world? No one could stop him, not even Roku. Would Huo do something like that? Would Huo try to control me more than he already was? I was terrified of being taken away from the human world to the spirit world. Something had already forced me into the past. I wasn't ready to be forced into another realm altogether. Then I'd never see my family and friends again. The thought of being torn from them made me sick to my stomach. What was Huo capable of? What was his plans for me?

"Do you want to talk about them?" Kale asked. "The nightmares?"

I shook my head and crossed my arms for comfort. "They're nothing. I'll be fine."

Warm arms encircled me, and I tried to relax in Kale's loving and protective hold. My body was still tense in uncertainty though. "You don't seem fine."

A tear threatened to spill from my eye and I only closed them tightly. "I am fine… I promise." Kale wasn't convinced one bit, but when he pulled away and saw I didn't want to talk about it he dropped it which I was grateful for.

When Sokka finally rejoined us, Katara and Aang showed us a flyer for some Earth Bending school taught by Master Yu. They seemed to believe this guy Yu could be Aang's future teacher, and since we were given a free lesson we decided to go ahead and see.

As we walked through the street toward where the Earth bending school was, I looked over at Sokka feeling a bit ashamed about my attitude earlier. He'd done nothing to deserve my wrath. "Sorry for snapping at you before Sokka… I was being a jerk."

He smiled and looked at me with those loving brotherly eyes I'd known for many years. "It's okay. I know you have a lot on your mind right now. Plus, my indecisiveness got on everyone's nerves, not just you."

"That still didn't give me a right to have an attitude toward you," I said, hanging my head with guilt. "I'm just a little on edge and wanted to blow off some steam."

"You're forgiven," Sokka promised, giving me a one armed hug as we continued to walk down the street. "No need to apologize sis."

Eventually we managed to arrive at a large gateway created by two stone walls with a sign beside it reading Master Yu's Earth Bending Academy. As Aang went in to see about his free lesson, Kale and I decided to take a walk and see the town some more. Telling Katara and Sokka we were just going down a few streets and back, we both left heading toward the busy shops. Sokka shouted behind us to stay six inches apart, and Kale shouted back that he couldn't hear him. I giggled.

As we walked, I felt Kale take my hand in his and I returned the favor.

"I really hope Aang finds his teacher here," Kale began. "Because I'm starting to get tired of looking, and were getting too close to the comet."

"This time is much harder than before..." I looked down at my feet in dismay. "We've never had to actually search for Aang's teacher before. He immediately had Katara as a water bending teacher until he got more assistance from Pakku, and before that he had the monks at the air temple to be his air bending guides. Now we're looking for an earth bending teacher and Aang's being really picky. This could take another week or two before we find the right one."

Kale sighed. "At least he has a fire bending teacher once he does master earth. That problems solved."

I grimaced and looked at a few shops we passed remembering something Aang had said a long time ago, back when we were meeting Jeong Jeong for the first time.

It's just you learned fire bending on your own, and I think it's better for me to find someone-

Aang had tried to tell me that day before I cut him off that he wanted to find someone who was trained and more knowledgeable with fire bending. Not someone like me; I was a girl who woke up one day with no memory and had to learn fire bending all on my own. Aang was wise not to want me to be his fire bending teacher in the future. What I could do with fire came to me by instinct, not training. If I were to teach him how to fire bend, I wouldn't even know where to start.

When I was six, I didn't know I was a fire bender until a month after I woke up with no memory. I started out completely fearful and unable to control my abilities. The people of the tribe made my father Hakoda keep me at our igloo home in fear that I would burn their children. During my days of solitude in the tribe, my mother and father tried to find ways to teach me how to calm myself from fire bending. The fire would only sprout out of control when I felt anxious or scared. That's why Hakoda taught me how to read and write at a very young age. He wanted me to find calming methods to cool the fire inside me. Over the years my book collection increased, and I also managed to find a control over my more I could control my ability, the more the villagers welcomed me among them without fear. It wasn't until I hit my teens that I passed the practice of control and taught myself attack moves. I didn't hit actual fire bending training until I was eleven. Four years of fire bending practice wouldn't be enough to help Aang.

He needed a real fire bending teacher. Once he mastered earth bending we would have no choice but to seek out Jeong Jeong's assistance.

"I don't think I should be Aang's teacher for fire bending… I barely know how to teach myself. He needs a master..."

Kale was a bit surprised. "What are you saying? You're the most powerful fire bender I know! You can bend purple fire! No master compares anywhere to your strength!"

Pulling from his hand self-consciously, I crossed my arms as my frown deepened. "It's just not a good idea. Aang needs someone who knows how to teach. I don't know where I would even have him start."

He was surprised by my words, and I saw from the corner of my eye he looked at me with understanding. "You're scared you'll disappoint him and the others."

I was amazed that Kale could see right through me. I tried to deny it. "What... that's ridiculous!"

"So that is the reason... Please stop putting yourself down like that. You can do it. I know you can! You have a gift and I know you can teach Aang with it."

I stopped walking, and Kale stopped beside me. We were in the center of the street, but there weren't many people. "It's not a gift... It's a curse."

Kale cringed at the pain in my tone. "You don't want it, do you?"

My eyes filled with tears. "What's there to want? Sure the purple fire is cool and unique, but it was only given to me to accomplish Roku and Huo's bidding. I don't want to have these abilities just so I can kill with them. I want to be free… I want to be free to choose my own path, and to be who I want to be." I took in a heavy breath. "I feel like that can't happen though, because no matter how far I run, or how hard I try to escape, I'll always be part of some inescapable spiritual thing. My link to Roku and Huo will never be broken, and because of that I feel so trapped. All I want is to be… to be…" My throat went dry as I went to say the word. Then I finally managed to break it out, "...human."

Kale suddenly grabbed my shoulders and turned me so I was pressed against his chest and he was wrapping his warm arms around me. My tears slid down my cheek but his warmth kept me from breaking down. "You're so hard on yourself," he whispered. "Who cares if your part spirit… You're more human than anyone I've ever met. You care for others and your heart is pure." He pulled from me and grabbed my trembling hand. He then turned it and forced me to touch my chest over the area of my heart. My heard grew faster as his warm hand firmly held my own. "I don't think spirits have a heart, and yours is definitely there. You're definitely as human as any of us." He then inched forward again while his hand still pressed my own to my chest. I felt my heart quicken as his forehead pressed against my own. "You have a heart, Amber. Don't forget that."

He kissed my then, and I shut my eyes welcoming his warmth and love. When he pulled away my hand still pressed against my chest where my heart steadily beat. A human heart… My lips tingled from his kiss, and I felt him brush a few tears with his thumb.

Smiling slowly, I looked up at Kale and saw he too was smiling at me. "Why are you always so good at comforting me?"

He cupped my cheek. "It's my job, isn't it? I'm your boyfriend last time I checked."

I blushed at his comment. "Sokka would argue against that."

He laughed. "He always will!" Then he stepped away from me pleased to see I had cheered up. "Come on," he said. "We still have some time before Aang's lesson is over. Want to go check out a shop?"

Nodding, I felt him take my hand again and pull me into one of the shops nearby. As his warm hand encircled my own, I felt both of our pulses as we walked through the doorway.

Human… Kale saw me as a human…

When we got back to the others a few minutes later we arrived and found Sokka and Aang standing in front of the school entrance with no sign of Katara. Aang was wearing a green outfit which I assumed he got from the school. "How'd it go?" Kale asked, walking over while I followed behind. My eyes were still a bit red from crying before, and I hoped Sokka wouldn't notice.

Aang smiled weakly. "He wasn't the guy… I don't think I could learn anything from him even if I tried. He was too fast paced."

"Sounds like were back to the drawing board," I said. "Maybe we should just start putting up flyers and have the earth benders come to us." My last sentence was a joke.

Sokka rolled his eyes. "Alright. You do that. And while your at it prepare tea for the Fire Nation soldiers when they come along with the earth benders. I'm sure the avatar's location will get us great publicity."

Kale smirked at my brother. "I think she has a great idea. We'll just change the flyer up a bit and put down the Avatar is a sixteen year old guy with a boomerang. That way when the Fire Nation comes they can chase after you, and Aang can pick out an earth bender from the remaining participants. You'd be a great distraction Sokka. It would give you a chance to get a workout in too."

My brother glowered at him. "That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. If anything, I'll be putting you on the flyer and changing the topic to 'Wanted: Guy who's really a hog-monkey". Then the authorities will come for you and lock you in the nearest zoo."

Kale grinned. "You're just jealous you didn't think it up." He then looked over at Aang and nudged him with his elbow. "What do you say Aang... ready to see an elite water tribe warrior running from a herd of men? I think it would be pretty entertaining."

Sokka crossed his arms. "I'll be visiting your pen at the zoo, irritating hog-monkey."

"You won't have time to. You'll still be running for dear life until your fifty," Kale joked. "Or maybe even longer."

Aang laughed and I giggled. I always enjoyed when Sokka and Kale went back and forth. Their harmless spats were entertaining.

"Hey! I'm back everyone." Katara suddenly ran up behind us and stopped beside me. She spoke to Aang. "You ready to find an earth bending teacher? Because we're going to Earth Rumble 6!"

Aang grinned. "How did you get them to tell you?"

There was a look in Katara's eyes… almost a look of mischief. "Oh, a girl has her ways."

I was unsure what they were referring to, and so was Kale. He asked out of curiosity, and Katara explained about the two guys she went to question. She didn't tell us how she managed to squeeze the information out of them.

Sokka decided to comment. "And this my dear friends is why men are scared of my youngest sister."

Katara narrowed her eyes at him and yanked the water from her pouch shooting it at his foot. She froze him to the dirt and turned to leave. "Come on everyone. Better get some dinner before the show." She started to walk off, and Kale and Aang laughed following from behind.

"Katara!" Sokka whined. He yanked his boomerang from behind him and began to hit at the ice. I had started to follow the group, but decided to be nice and waited. Once Sokka was free from the ice, he sulked over to me. "I hate it when she does that."

"You make it too easy," I stated. Then I took my brothers hand and pulled him along so we could catch up to the gang. He muttered inaudibly behind me.

Later that night we found ourselves at a large cave entrance just outside the town walls. Sokka paid for our tickets as we all walked in, and I noticed Momo was in Sokka's new bag which surprised me. When had Momo managed to sneak into Sokka's bag? Why wasn't the little lemur with Appa? I went to tell Aang about our furry little guy being snuck in, but then I let it slide. Momo wouldn't hurt anyone. Deciding it wasn't a problem, I grabbed Momo's tail gently and helped him hide it further in the bag. Sokka and the others didn't notice.

Eventually we followed everyone into the cave where we arrived at a huge arena made out of rock. The arena had rows and rows of seating that circled around the whole place, and in the center was a huge rectangular stage that was raised off the ground creating a big trench around it. The fighting platform had a circle in the center that was painted with earth kingdom greens.

"Wow! This looks amazing!" Kale shouted over the chattering crowd, while Sokka and Aang looked around with excitement. Katara and I both shared a look of disbelief with one another as we followed the three boys down the steps to the bottom rows where no one seemed to be sitting. As we sat on the second row, I sat on the very end beside Katara who looked as uncomfortable as I felt. Katara appeared to be regretting this decision.

"I wonder why no one else is sitting here," Aang suddenly said. "This is great seating!"

A boulder flew out of nowhere then landing right beside Aang and making an indent in the spot beside him. Katara and I looked over with worry to make sure he was okay, and when we saw he was we sighed in relief. Kale, who sat in the middle of all of us, asked Aang, "Did that answer your question?"

Aang rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah... I think so."

"Good evening!" Looking back at the arena I saw a man was being raised from the earth stage about ten feet in the air so everyone could see him. He was tall and lean, with long brown hair. "Welcome to Earth Rumble 6! I am your host, Xin Fu!" The crowd burst into applause as the competition was about to begin.

As he spoke, and the battling started, I felt myself lose interest with the competition. I didn't like watching men get thrown around and possibly injured. Fighting like this was foolish and unnecessary. It kind of reminded me of Zuko and Zhao's Agni Kai. All these things were for was to prove someone was more physically strong than the other.

My thought went back to the Agni Kai and I frowned remembering how determined Zuko had been to win. I could slightly understand why he wanted to accept that challenge. He was banished by the Fire Lord because of his weakness in refusing to fight the man. He felt the only way he would ever make it home was to show he was strong and no longer weak. He could've died in that Agni Kai if things went wrong.

Agni Kai... I would hate to have to ever do an Agni Kai against anyone...

A memory from the past suddenly flashed through me.

"Amber! Come on!" Ty Lee cried, taking my five year old hand in hers. "It's about to start!"

There was an Agni Kai today, and it was between my father and a soldier. From what mom had told me earlier that morning the soldier had refused to bow to my father, and when my grandpa found out he ordered that an Agni Kai would settle who was right and who was wrong. Ty Lee tried to pull me toward the palace arena where the fight would occur, but I yanked from her grip. "No! I don't want to see dad hurt someone Ty Lee!"

She pouted. "Come on, it will be fun! Mai, Zuko, and Azula are already there!" She then grabbed my hand again and pulled me once more down the Fire Nation palace halls, through an open door, and into a crowded arena. The arena had stone bleachers on both sides that stretched to the very top of the wall. The ceiling was arched above with fire nation banners stretched across. In the center was a large space of rectangular earth used for the fighting. When we arrived a guard escorted us to the very front row where Zuko, Mai, and Azula already sat.

The arena was used for entertainment purposes usually. This time it was being used for punishment.

Sitting beside my older brother Zuko, I pulled my knees to my chest as I watched father and the terrified soldier walk onto the fighting ground. "I don't want to watch this," I whispered, looking over to see my grandfather was seated on a gold throne at the very front of the arena. My mother kneeled beside the throne, her eyes filled with pain as she watched what was about to play out. Her eyes met mine, and I saw her smile weakly at me. Immediately, I looked away knowing just how she felt. We didn't want to see anyone get hurt.

"What do you mean you don't want to watch this?! This may be the only chance we see dad fight in an Agni Kai!" Zuko exclaimed, inching on the edge of his seat filled with excitement and eagerness for the fight to start. Mai seemed bored while Ty Lee was bouncing in her seat. Then there was Azula, who grinned like a girl who just won the prize of her dreams.

The sound of the gong rang across the arena as the fight began. Closing my eyes, I didn't want to see what came next. Every once and a while I would open my eyes and see fire being shot from all corners of the arena. After what felt like an hour of grunts, and shouts of pain, silence fell over the crowd. Ty Lee jabbed me with her elbow and whispered, "Here it is Amber… The final blow."

Looking up, I watched with horror as I saw the soldier on his back staring at my father with terror. My dad grinned down at him as he lit a flame in his hand and prepared to fire at the man's face. No! Please don't hurt him! Tightening my fist, I concentrated as my father shot a blast of fire toward the man's face. STOP! The fire suddenly evaporated before it could hit the man who had shut his eyes waiting for his death.

Gasps escaped the crowd as the fire vanquished before coming three inches near the man's sweating face. Father tried again, but once more I cried out in my head 'No!' and the fire vanished once more. The crowd gasped again.

My grandfather stood in fury. "What is the meaning of this Ozai! Are you a coward? Finish him off!"

My father growled and tried again, but the fire stopped once more. He tried again a good ten more times, but every time he did I shouted in my head for the fire to stop. When father finally gave up, he turned to the Fire Lord who looked enraged. "Father… I am not responsible for this. Someone from the crowd is-"

Azulon stood and narrowed his eyes. "Silence my son! If you can't finish this man off then I will." Then he turned to the guards. "Take this traitor to The Boiling Rock! I want him locked away forever!"

The man who was still lying on his back, tried to get up and run but the guards rushed over and grabbed him. Then he was dragged away, screaming for help and pleading for a second chance. When he was gone, grandfather started to leave the arena, six guards surrounding him to protect him. "This fight is over!"

As the arena began to clear out with half the people disappointed, and the other half relieved, I smiled weakly. Thank goodness that man wasn't killed. "What a bummer," Azula muttered, grabbing Mai and Ty Lee by the shirts and pulling them out of the arena.

Zuko sighed, a bit disappointed. "I'm going to my room."

As I went to follow him out of the arena, I heard my father shout, "Amber!" Jumping in surprise, I turned to see my father staring over at me with fury. "You did this you freak!"

Mother stood from where she still sat by the throne and immediately rushed over. "Ozai, please… We don't know that she's the-"

"Silence, Ursa! Leave before I call the guard to take you away," father snapped at my mom, and I saw her torn between staying to protect me, or listening to her husband to avoid his wrath. At once I backed away realizing mom was scared, and that meant I should be horrified myself.

"Please Ozai… Don't hurt her… I beg you," my mother pleaded. "There's no way she did this! She's just a child!"

Ozai growled. "I'm not a fool Ursa!" He then called for a guard who immediately rushed over. My mom was forced out of the room, but I saw her look back at me with great concern. "Please Ozai!" my mother cried, making one last attempt to pull from the guards. "She didn't do it!" They yanked her out of the room though, and I was left watching with terror.

Just as I turned back to my father, I felt his hand smack into my cheek knocking the wind out of me and causing me to fall on my knees. As my vision was blurred, and my cheek stung terribly, I tried to hold in my tears as my five year old body shook terribly. "I know it was you freak! I could see your reaction when the man was taken away alive! You were relieved, and I know that means you were the cause!" He grabbed my hair then and yanked me back up so I was standing again. "How did you do it?!"

Screaming, I scratched at his hand to try and get him to release his hold on my hair so it would stay in my scalp. "I didn't do anything! Daddy! Stop!"

He growled. "You may think you didn't, but I know the truth. You're a little freak, and soon you'll get what you deserve!" He smacked me again and I cried out in pain. Then he dropped me on the ground, kicked me hard on the side, and left me curled in a ball crying my heart out. "You will never be my daughter," he hissed as he left the room. "Your not even human." More sobs escaped me as I took in my father's hate.

"Now, the moment you've all been waiting for. The Boulder versus your champion... The Blind Bandit!" My mind immediately brought me back to present as I watched a young girl of maybe twelve arrive in the huge arena. She was about to face off against a giant man with round boulder sized muscles. As they prepared to fight I felt as if my chest was constricted and I couldn't breathe.

Looking over at Katara, I saw her amazed by the girl. "She can't really be blind. It's just part of her character right?"

"I'm going to get some air," I said to no one in particular. As I expected, no one heard me. As Katara and the others continued to watch the fight before them I knew if I left they wouldn't notice I was gone. I had to get out of the hot and crowded noisy cave. Standing up, I clutched my head as pain suddenly surged through it. I could hear the fighting in the background and the crowd cheering, and I quickened my steps. Heading up the steps of the arena, I ran out of the cave entrance till finally I was back outside and could breathe. Falling against the side of the cave, I leaned against it as my head pulsed in pain again. Sinking to my knees, I let my memories take me back once more.

"Daddy's gonna send you away!" Azula said, smirking at me with those evil five year old eyes. "He told Zhao to get rid of you."

Trying to walk by her to enter my own bedroom, I snapped, "Mom would never let that happen, Azula!"

She followed me into my bedroom as I climbed on my bed. "It's true. I heard him talking to grandpa about it. If you don't believe me ask dad yourself. He'll tell you." She stopped at the foot of my bed crossing her arms. "You're nothing to him but a daughter who's too much of a coward to fire bend. I bet he wished I was the only daughter in his life."

Scowling, I pulled my bracelet higher on my arm and then got under my covers. "Go away Azula before you get in trouble for being up too late!" Then I pulled my covers over my head wishing she would just leave.

"Don't be surprised when I'm right," Azula snapped, then I heard her leave the room with a skip.

She had to be lying right? Azula always lies. Father wouldn't send me away. No matter how much the man hated me he wouldn't force me from mom... right...?

That night when I fell asleep I had a dream. A dream that a huge shadowed figure grabbed me with his big hand and yanked me away from my mom and Zuko. They both tried to reach for me and save me, but as they ran toward me I was yanked faster and soon they were nowhere to be seen in the black fog. In my dream I heard the monster constantly shout, "You're never going back home!" When I woke up with a cry, I found my heart racing rapidly, sweat beading across my forehead, and sobs were escaping me.

Jumping out of bed, I ran from my room across the hall into Zuko's room. "Zu!" I cried, running over to his bed. My cries startled him, and with speed he jumped out of his bed, landed on his feet, and got ready to attack the person who was invading his room. Not afraid he'd burn me, I rushed forward and threw my arms around him sobbing in terror.

When Zuko saw it was me, he sighed in relief. "Amber. You scared me!" He could feel my body tremble and pulled me closer to him. "Let me guess… nightmare?"

Pressing my face into his night shirt I cried, "It was so scary! A monster came and took me away from you and mommy! He kept saying that I was never going back home! I don't want to be taken away from you!"

Zuko sighed. "Nothings coming after you sis. You don't have to worry about anyone taking you, Amber… I promise I'll protect you."

Nodding, I tried to smile and whispered a small okay. Still, I felt this dreadful feeling that Azula was right. That someone would take me away very soon.

"Can I stay in here with you," I begged. "I'm scared."

He smiled and nodded. That night I slept in Zuko's room, hoping no monster would come and take me away from my family.

The memory passed, and with it brought a headache. I opened my eyes to find I was on the ground and my arms were holding me up as I shook terribly. My head was splitting in the spot where the metal bar had hit it nine years ago. I winced when I tried to move because it made the stabs worse. Why were my memories coming at me again? They hadn't come to me like this in a very long time. Zhao was dead, and I knew who I was. Why did I still have to be plagued by the memory of my painful past?

Trying to stand from my knees, I clutched the side of the cave as I held my aching head in my hand. Leaning against the rock beside me, I tried to compose myself and looked up at the stars to calm my shaking body. Why was I letting all of this get to me...? I already knew my father hated me, and I knew he was the one who sent me away. Why did these memories have to flood through me so suddenly? I just wanted to forget about the past.

The rock beside me suddenly began to shake, and I gasped pulling away from it as it lowered quickly and a girl stomped through the new opening. The opening closed behind her with a jerk of her hand. She was the same girl I saw in the arena; the one whose name had been announced as 'The Blind Bandit". The girl was maybe twelve, with black hair she kept back with a head band and green eyes that almost looked out of focus and hazed. Her feet were bare as she stomped my way. "Move it Princess! Or you'll get caught in a landslide!"

Princess?! My eyes widened when she spoke and I stepped out of the way watching her stomp by. Did she know who I was? Or was she just calling me names?

Watching her go as she furiously headed toward the town, I watched her go with a mixture of curiosity and irritation. Who was that rude chick?

Sighing, I turned and headed back toward the entrance of the cave. I was certain the others had noticed my absence since the match was over. When I got back to the entrance people were already filing out, some of them looking disappointed while others were amazed. "That strange kid knocked The Blind Bandit straight off the stage without even letting her touch him! So cool," a guy our age exclaimed, pumping his fist in the air. His two buddies added their own comments as they wandered by.

Watching the crowd go with question, I finally saw the others emerge from the entrance. Sokka was grinning like a mad man, and Aang looked disheartened. Katara and Kale rushed over to me as Sokka held up a belt and waved it in Aang's face. "Where'd you go? You missed Aang fighting and defeating The Blind Bandit!" Kale said, grabbing both my shoulders with excitement.

Katara met my eyes then, and I saw she could see something was troubling me. 'What's wrong?' she mouthed. Looking away, I smiled weakly at Kale. "Sorry. I just needed to get some fresh air. Guess I left at the wrong part."

That night Sokka used the winnings from Aang's victory to pay for us to stay at a very nice inn. As Katara and I went to the women's washroom to clean up and get ready for bed, I noticed Katara looked like she wanted to ask about earlier, but wasn't sure how to start. So instead, I decided to speak.

"I know your worried, but I'm fine… I'm just having flashbacks again. It's no big deal," I said, wiping my face with a rag the inn keeping lady gave us. "I'll get through it like I always do."

Katara began to braid her hair having already scrubbed the dirt off her skin. "I thought you were done with flashbacks ever since Zhao died...?"

Sighing, I threw the rag in the wooden basket by the door and started to head back toward the room I was staying in. "I thought so too."

The next day we spent the whole duration of time trying to find out who this Blind Bandit chick was. Aang had high confidence that she was the one that was supposed to teach him earth bending, so we had no choice but to search. After a while we ended up questioning two boys from the Earth Bending Academy who seemed a bit uncomfortable when they saw Katara. I had a feeling they were the two guys Katara cornered the other day.

"In my vision, I saw a girl in a white dress with a pet flying boar. Know anybody like that?" Aang asked the guys who looked about Aang's age.

The tallest one clutched his chin in thought. "Well, a flying boar is the symbol of the Bei Fong family. They're the richest people in town, probably the whole world."

The other kid added, "Yeah, but they don't have a daughter."

Aang smiled. "Flying boar is good enough for me." He glanced back at us. "Let's check it out."

As we began to walk away I heard one of the kids mutter, "Yeah… you better leave."

Katara turned and gave them a hard look. "Hey! I've got my eye on you." They seemed to pale when my sister said this.

As we walked away I tried not to laugh. "You definitely sent a chill through those two kids back there."

Katara smirked. "You have to keep them in line somehow.

Laughing, I nudged her in the side. "Always a charmer, sis."

She nodded. "I do my best."

After asking around on how to get to the Bei Fong mansion we finally found it. From the distance we saw a huge stone building with a ten foot gate surrounding the vast perimeter. The building inside the gate was huge and lavish with flora all around the yard. The building was formed by steady stone and was probably the length of fifty igloos put together. As we walked toward the metal gate we saw on the arch above the symbol of a flying boar. Just as we reached the fence, an earth kingdom guard stepped in our path.

"Halt! Visitors are not allowed without invitation. You kids get lost," the guard ordered. "The Bei Fong's aren't expecting anyone today; surely not a bunch of snotty kids."

Aang stepped forward to try and explain. "Sorry for barging over sir… But you see... We're here to speak to-"

The guard scowled. "I don't care who you are or why you're here. You have no invitation; therefore you are not allowed to pass this gate. Get lost!"

As Aang went to argue, I grabbed him by the shoulder and whispered in his ear, "We'll just climb over the wall."

He liked this idea and looked back at the guard bowing with respect. "Right! Sorry for intruding. We'll be on our way."

The guard huffed and gestured for us to move along. Aang motioned to follow him, and the rest of us did just that. We rounded around the perimeter till we got to a spot where there were no guards anywhere. Then we began to hoist one another up. Aang was way too excited as he flew over the gate and left us all behind. Eventually we made it over the gate and landed easily on the other side. As soon as we did the earth underneath us pushed upward and we flew a good three feet in the air before we landed in a heap on the ground. As we tried to collect ourselves, we saw the same girl from last night walk toward us.

She was dressed differently than before. She still wore a headband, but instead of a shirt and trousers a dress was framing her skinny body.

"What are you doing here Twinkle Toes?" She asked Aang, not happy to see him. "Wasn't beating me enough? Now you have to rub it in?"

"How did you know it was me?" Aang was amazed the blind girl could recognize him.

Sokka cried, "Don't answer to Twinkle Toes! It's not manly!" We all glanced at his bag still on his shoulder and tried not to roll our eyes.

Kale muttered under his breath, "Say's the man with the purse."

"How did you find me?" the girl spat, trying to get answers. "No one in this town is supposed to know where I live!"

Aang stood from the ground he was still lying on and the rest of us followed. "Well, a crazy king told me I had to find an earth bender who listens to the earth. And then I had a vision in a magic swamp and..."

Katara quickly broke in, placing a hand on Aang's shoulder to stop him. "What Aang is trying to say is, he's the Avatar, and if he doesn't master earth bending soon he won't be able to defeat the Fire Lord."

She frowned and crossed her arms. "Not my problem! Now get out of here before I call the guards."

Sokka scowled and stepped forward. "Look! We all have to do our part in the war, and yours is teaching Aang earth bending!"

The girl was surprised by Sokka's words. However, she smirked and turned her head. A shout escaped her across the garden area we were in as she called, "Guards! Guards help!"

We freaked out and rushed back over to the wall, climbing back over and landing quickly on the other side. When we got to the ground safely, I snapped, "That little spoiled rotten brat! When I get my hands on her-"

"There's no need Amber," Aang suddenly said, landing beside us with a smirk. "I have an idea."

At first we weren't sure what Aang meant, but when we returned to the guard at the gate a bit later who looked furious that we came back, Aang tore his hat off to reveal his air nomad arrow tattoos. "Before you send me away just hear me out. My name is Aang and I'm the Avatar. You wouldn't mind taking me to the Bei Fong's right?"

He was a baffled by this reveal and seemed ashamed for turning away someone so important. Somehow, by some matter of sheer luck, we were seated at the long table of the Bei Fong's eating dinner. After we were escorted by the guards to meet the Bei Fongs, the middle-aged couple named Lao and Poppy insisted we stay the night with them. They offered for Appa to stay by their stables at the back of the mansion. Kale and I volunteered to retrieve Appa and bring him over. Once we returned and made sure Appa was being cared for, we rejoined the group at the dining hall with the Bei Fong's.

As we sat at the table, I stared across it at the three other people besides the girl named Toph. There was Toph's mom, her stern looking father right across from me, and the teacher Yu from the school Aang had attended yesterday. As we started to eat, Toph's mom said with a smile, "Avatar Aang. It is an honor to have you visit us."

Lao nodded in agreement. "In your opinion how much longer do you think the war will last?"

Aang answered, "I'd like to defeat the fire lord by the end of summer, but I can't do that without finding an earth bending teacher first." His eyes shot over to Toph with plea.

Lao immediately gestured toward Yu. "Well, Master Yu is the finest teacher in the land. He's been teaching Toph since she was little."

Aang smiled, and I knew he was up to something. "Then she must be a great earth bender. Probably good enough to teach someone els- OUCH!"

We all jumped when we looked over to see Aang glaring daggers at Toph, who just continued to eat her meal calmly.

Yu quickly responded, "Toph is still learning the basics."

Lao nodded with sad eyes. "Yes, and sadly because of her blindness I don't think she'll ever become a true master. She can only do the small stuff right now, and frankly I don't think she'll reach anything above basic."

I looked over at Toph as her father spoke about her like she wasn't even in the room. Her fists tightened on the table and I saw her misty eyes moisten. Placing my tea cup down, I said slightly irritated, "Sounds to me like you don't have much faith in her." Her father looked at me in shock. The table went silent and I saw Katara signaling for me to not get involved. I already started, so I decided to end. "How do you think this talk affects her? Your her father. You should be encouraging her, and not belittling her."

Lao narrowed his eyes at me. Toph's mom Poppy picked up her tea to keep silent. Yu looked uncomfortable. Toph's mouth was open in surprise.

"How dare you think that?" Lao snapped. "I'm her father and know more about her than you'll ever know. Besides... What would you know about fathers, Princess Amber? The Fire Nation has a warrant out for your arrest. Seems to me your father isn't intending on welcoming you home with loving arms but iron bars."

Scowling, I scooted my chair out and stood with rage. "The Fire Lord can rot," I hissed. "He isn't my father! I am the daughter of Chief Hakoda of the Southern Water Tribe. Don't change the subject on me and my family problems. Focus on your own! You won't even tell the world you have a daughter! Why… because you're ashamed? If that's the case then maybe you don't deserve a daughter like Toph!" Stepping away from the table, I snapped, "If you love your daughter so much, then treat her like an equal and not some helpless little girl!"

Turning, I left the room a bit enraged at the man Toph called father. He was blinder than Toph. Instead of going to the room we were given, I stormed out into the mansion garden and plopped down on a stone bench staring into the dark night. As quiet fell over me, I breathed in and out calming my blood which was boiling. I knew I'd overreacted in there, but when he'd brought up my birth father it made me want to sock him in the jaw.

About an hour passed, and I'd finally calmed. Soon I was lying on the soft grass beside Appa at the back of the mansion and staring up at the stars.

"Hey, Princess!" My eyes shot over to the dark shadow of Toph as she walked over to me easily in the dark. "You caused a bit of a scene at dinner."

"Whoops… My bad," I muttered. "Hope I didn't sour the dessert."

"No... It's okay. That chick Katara explained everything to us. Sorry about my dad's stupid mouth." She walked over to me and I heard her plop down beside me. "He can be a bit of a jerk sometimes."

Sighing, I put my hands behind my head as I stared at the constellations above. "Why don't you tell him the truth?"

She scoffed. "Tell him I secretly fight every week against really buff men as some chick named The Blind Bandit…? I think I'll pass. All my dad needs to know is I'm a blind girl who does whatever she can to make her family happy. If dad found out the truth I'd never see daylight again."

"Then why do you stay?" I asked, sitting up and picking at a piece of grass absentmindedly.

She sighed. "Because they're my parents… I don't want to break their hearts."

"So in the process you'll just break your own… You'll be a poor obedient blind girl during the day, and at night sneak out if and whenever you get the chance so you can be your true self. So all in all you only get to be the real Toph for what… maybe five hours? That sounds like a wonderful life to have for the rest of your days Toph."

Silence passed, and I could tell she was taking in what I'd said. "Okay…" she whispered. "I get your point. It's hard hiding who I truly am, but what am I supposed to do? I don't want my dad to lock me up forever."

Smiling weakly, I pulled my knees close to my chest. "Being locked up is a lot better than being sentenced to die."

Another moment of silence passed, and I heard Toph say, "It was sad what Katara said, about how your dad sent you away to die. I think that's the point where my father really regretted saying what he said to you. I could never imagine having a father who would want me dead."

"At least you don't… Which is why I think you can tell him the truth. Tell him who you really are Toph. No one likes to live two lives… believe me, I would know."

Toph nodded then, and I heard her stand and turn to walk away. "Thanks, Princess… You're the first person in a while I can actually talk to."

"You could talk to Aang too, if you tried," I said.

She laughed and walked away, saying, "Sure… I'll go speak to Twinkle Toes."

"Let them know I'm okay," I called after her, knowing she heard. As I was left alone again, I sighed and lied back to look up at the stars once more.

It seemed like only thirty minutes passed till I heard something. The sound of Toph shouting, "We're being ambushed!"

Jumping up alert, I ran through the shrubs and across the garden till I reached the large gate and saw the Earth Bender competitors from before had put Aang and Toph in two metal boxes. The men surrounded them with grins.

"Looks like we'll have our money in no time," the guy dressed as a miner said.

I scowled. How dare they capture two kids?!

"Hey! Let them go!" I ordered, racing forward. "What do you think your doing?!" Quickly I shot a hot flame throwing it in the space between the men and the steel prisons. The men stumbled back from my fire and all turned to look at me with surprise.

The man dressed in Fire Nation attire shouted. "We can't have witnesses!"

"Boulder! Get her!" The one in the coal miner outfit shouted, and suddenly the earth below me stretched up and tried to wrap around my body. I jumped in the nick of time and shot a harsh blast of fire from my foot. It traveled toward the men who quickly scrambled out of the way.

More earth shot toward me, but I lunged to the side hitting the ground hard and rolling. Using my upper body, I pushed myself back up to my feet and shot a volley of flames at the men. The heaviest man out of the group jumped forward and shot a wall in front of the group blocking my attack. While the wall was up I took that as an advantage. Running to the side of the wall, I maneuvered around it with agility and shot more fire at the group of men. My fire hit the heavyset man and he flew back hitting the ground hard.

The Boulder stepped forward. "The Boulder has had it! The Boulder will stop her!"

Third person guy slammed his hands to the dirt and the ground shook underneath my feet. I gasped as the dirt rose in front of me and I tripped falling on my hands and knees. Then the dirt wrapped around my hands and legs locking me to the ground.

"No!" Aang shouted. I heard him slam on his steel cage. "Let her go!"

The men snickered. Chubby guy managed to get to his feet and was furious. Miner guy snapped, "Let her go? After what she just did she's lucky we don't bury her in the mud!"

I tried to yank my hands from the hard dirt that trapped me. Looking up at the men, I hissed, "Why don't you?"

Aang shouted with disbelief, "Don't encourage them, Amber!"

The Boulder walked over to me with a smirk. "Hey… The Boulder's heard of you… Princess Amber… The Boulder thinks we can make a profit off of this one too."

"Why do you speak in third person?" I asked a bit annoyed as I struggled to escape the earth that kept me prisoner.

"The Boulder can speak however he wants to!" He knelt in front of me and snapped in my face. "You're coming with us!"

Before I had a chance to fight or escape, the Boulder released me from my prison and yanked me from the dirt. He quickly grabbed my hands and restrained them behind me in a painful rock cuff. As I kicked and struggled the miner guy came over and did the same to my ankles. Then I tried to scream for help to alert the guards. One of the other men managed to gag me with a rag to cut off my distress signals. Once I was restrained, the Boulder dragged me and the boxed up Toph and Aang down below the earth in a tunnel. We walked underneath the town, though I was being hauled on The Boulders hard shoulder the whole time.

As we walked under the earth with the only light coming from a torch carried by The Boulders other hand, I heard Toph smashing against her steel box and screaming, "When I get out you're all so dead!"

Somehow, after what felt like an hour of walking, we ended back up at the arena from before. When we got on the stage, I saw by turning my head that the arena master stood in the center with an evil glint to his eye. When he saw me, I saw him a bit surprised. "What's this? I only ordered you to capture the boy and the girl!"

The Boulder dropped me on the ground and I winced from the sting that erupted in my side when it met rock. Glaring up at the man, I wanted so much to just burn him and give him a taste of his own medicine. "We were caught by this girl, Xin Fu. She shoots purple flame and is traveling with the avatar. That means she's the Fire Lords daughter," the coal miner dude explained.

Xin Fu walked over to me, his forty year old slender face looking down at me with greed. "Really… Well then she'll fetch a hefty price if we sell her to the fire nation."

He then grabbed me by the shirt and dragged me across the arena while the other men hung Toph and Aang's prisons above the arena with a steel chain. With rage, I lit the hottest flame I could. The rocks on my hands exploded from the pressure, and I did the same with my feet. When my restraints were off, I yanked my gag off and shot fire at the man still dragging me. He released me flying forward with an 'oof'.

Quickly I jumped to my feet and prepared to fight the man who looked back at me with fury. His shirt was singed and he had a burn mark on his arm. "You little freak!"

As he got back to his feet and put his hand forward to fight me, I lit another flame ready to defend myself. The ground beneath me began to shake, and I jumped back just as the rock shot upward. He'd tried to launch me but luckily I was faster. Throwing my fire at him, he ducked and thrust his hand forward. A boulder shot toward me and I fell to the ground feeling it miss me by a hair. The ground shook below me, and I swiftly rolled to the right as the earth fell below. Rolling back onto my feet, I shot another flame toward Xin Fu. He ran forward dodging it, and shot another boulder at me. This time I was too slow and the hard rock smashed into my shoulder causing me to fall back. My whole body vibrated in pain, and I gripped at my shoulder as it pulsed with pins and needles.

"Look out Amber!"

Aang's warning had me moving again, but this time I was only able to roll to the left and use one hand to help me up. Turning, I shot another blast of fire at The Boulder who was charging at me, and was relieved when I hit him and sent him flying backward.

"Run!" Aang shouted. "Go get help!"

I knew Aang was right. I was hurt, and fighting one handed would do me no good.

"Oh no you don't!" Xin Fu hissed, and suddenly earth came up on all sides of me encasing my body so that my head was only free. The earth dug against my shoulder and I cringed as it pulsed from the pressure.

"I've had it with you! You better know your place Princess! You're in no position to be fighting us right now! I can kill you and forget about the money," Xin Fu snapped, storming over to me with narrowed eyes.

Sighing, I hung my head not wanting to argue with Xin Fu anymore. He smiled in satisfaction and turned back to the other men. Did he not realize that I could just destroy the rock around me if I wanted to? Deciding not to immediately break out of my prison, I decided to play along for a little bit and listen to the conversation the men started to have. They were discussing what to do with Aang and I, talking about the best places to sell us where they could make the most profit.

"We're splitting the cash, right?" the miner man asked. "I didn't go to all this trouble for nothing."

The Boulder scowled. "You weren't the one who just got burned! The Boulder deserves more than the lot of you! He has burns on his skin!"

"You men will all be paid for your services as soon as the Bei Fong's come to retrieve their daughter," Xin Fu said. "I always hold my word."

Toph cackled from her prison. "You're all a bunch of idiots! My parents aren't going to give into your demands like that! And even if they do I'm going to get the money back as soon as you release me from this stupid prison! You're all drowning in quicksand when I'm through with you!"

"Shut up kid!" Xin Fu ordered. "You're in no condition to threaten me! Have you forgotten that with one flick of my wrist the princess over there will be encased in rock and suffocated."

"Ha!" I laughed. "Do what you want with me! I'm not scared of a coward like you! Besides, my dad wants me alive, so killing me wouldn't benefit you all very much!"

Xin Fu scowled pointed a finger at me. "Shut up Fire Nation brat! Don't make me gag your mouth again!"

"Why would you do that?" I said with a smirk. "I'm enjoying our little chat."

He growled. "Shut your trap! Don't try to distract me! I'm not letting you get the chance to escape."

After another hour passed, I decided I'd been in my prison long enough. My shoulder was still pulsing in pain, but I managed to use my right hand despite my injury. Lighting my hands with hot purple flames, I shot a blast at the rock that wrapped around me and pieces of it broke flying forward. As soon as there was a hole for me to jump over, I took my chance and landed quickly on my feet.

The earth benders were irritated to find me free once more.

The miner growled. "What does it take to restrain this girl?!"

I smirked saying, "Nice try boys… But you're gonna have to knock me out before you can actually capture me. I don't do well in restraints."

Xin Fu sneered. "Good tip... Looks like a knock on your head will do you some good then."

"Leave her alone!"

The Boulder ignored Aang and stepped forward ready to fight. "The Boulder is annoyed at this girl's cocky attitude, and he wants to shove her face in the dirt."

Getting into a stance, I prepared to fight. I was tired, but I wasn't going to lose to any of these men. "Bring it on."

With an outraged shout the Boulder prepared to send a wave of rocks toward me. Xin Fu rushed forward and stopped him. "Enough! We need the girl alive, just as she said. There's only one way to do this without killing her." He looked at me with clenched fists. "Your about to take a long nap!"

"Oh yeah," I said with a smirk. "Good luck trying to hit me."

Xin Fu grinned and approached me. "I don't think it will be much of a challenge. You're already injured. One hand won't protect you." He stepped closer which made me back away knowing he meant business.

I increased the flame that enveloped my hand and stood my ground. "Stay back or I'll shoot you off the stage!" It was a threat I hoped would scare him enough to make him leave me alone.

He seemed unfazed as he approached, and I knew I had to attack. With a quick thrust of my hand, I shot a flame at him taking a step back. He dodged and rushed forward, his hand in a fist as he punched me in the stomach causing me to gasp and fall to the earth. The wind was knocked out of me and I coughed for air.

"Amber!" Aang cried. "Stop! Don't hurt her!"

Quickly, I twisted my body and kicked the man off his feet making him fall back on the earth beside me. Jumping up, I tried to ignore my pain and turned to fight again. The earth underneath me shifted and I felt my feet get tripped out from under me causing me to fall on my side. Smashing into the arena stage once more on my bad shoulder, I shut my eyes tight as the pain intensified. Trying to ignore it, I attempted to get on my knees so I could stand again.

"Not so tough now," a voice hissed above me. My eyes widened when I looked up at an infuriated Xin Fu as he pulled his foot back and prepared to kick me square in the face. Shutting my eyes I knew it was coming. As soon as his foot slammed into my head, I felt only pain scream across my scalp. I fell back to the earth with my eyes shut and my body still. Then my vision and mind blurred as I momentarily lost consciousness.

When I came to it was because I felt some type of warm liquid on my forehead. Opening my eyes weakly, I saw Katara leaning over me and her blue glowing hand was pressed against my scalp. She smiled with relief when she saw my confused eyes meet hers. "What happened?" I asked, and then winced when my head felt like it was being stabbed. Katara continued to press her healing water against my forehead.

"It's okay… Toph's taking care of the earth benders. Sorry we didn't get here fast enough," she said. "After the three of you didn't return we went to look for you. We saw burn marks and the earth torn up in the garden. There was a note on the ground telling us where to find you."

Trying to sit up, I felt Katara's healing waters leave my forehead as she supported me. "How long have I been out?"

Katara helped me to a stand while I clutched my aching head. My shoulder was still pulsing but I ignored the pain worrying about my knew injury.

"Only a few minutes," Katara answered. "The arena leader just knocked the wind out of you. You had a nasty bruise which I easily healed." Rubbing my forehead where I could still feel the pain from Xin Fu's strong foot, I looked over to see where he was.

There was nothing but dust flying around the arena, and I could hear rock crashing inside the blinding dirt. The earth bender dressed as the guy from the Fire Nation suddenly went flying out of the cloud of smoke and into the dugout beside it. Looking at the seats of the arena, I saw Toph's dad and the Earth Bending teacher Yu watching with bewilderment as Toph took down each Earth Bender one by one.

"Could use a little help over here," Sokka suddenly said to the two of us. I turned to see he was trying to open Aang's steel prison with a rock while Kale was trying to pull the cage door apart. Katara and I approached quickly. I noticed Aang was also shoving against the inside of his prison trying to escape.

"It's not working! This lock won't budge," Sokka said with dismay.

Managing to light a flame, I said, "Move… I'll get it." Kale and Sokka stepped out of the way as I melted the lock on the cage and yanked the door open. Aang jumped out with air bending and fell on his feet prepared for battle. Sokka stopped him from attacking; telling him this was Toph's battle. We continued to watch as Toph fought the earth benders with nothing but her hearing and the vibrations from the earth.

As Xin Fu fought Toph, and the other earth benders groaned from the dugout area they fell in, Kale pulled me into his warm arms relieved to see I wasn't killed from Xin Fu's attack. "I'm glad you're okay."

Smiling weakly, I leaned into his hold resisting the urge to cringe from my aching shoulder. "I'm glad you guys made it in time."

The sound of someone crashing into the side of the arena brought all of our attention back to Toph. She'd won, and we looked over to see Xin Fu had crashed in between her dad and the other guy Yu.

"She won!" Katara exclaimed, relieved that Toph had made it out okay. "She has to be the most powerful earth bender I've ever seen!"

Toph came back over to us with a smirk. "Of course I won. I beat them all before, so it wasn't hard to beat them all again."

As we congratulated Toph for her victory, we heard her father run up to us and pull his daughter into a hug. "Toph! Thank the spirits you weren't killed. Come on… Let's get you home."

Later that evening we all gathered in the meeting room at the Bei Fong's home. As we sat on a long cushioned bench we watched as Toph stood in front of her mother and father preparing to tell them the truth. They'd been quiet since we'd returned, and I had a feeling it was because they didn't know what to say. Now as we sat in the same room together, I saw their eyes were hard as they were prepared to listen.

"Dad," Toph began. "I know it's hard for you to see me this way, but the obedient little helpless blind girl that you think I am just isn't me. I love fighting. I love being an earth bender. And I'm really, really good at it. I know I've kept my life secret from you, but you were keeping me secret from the whole world. I know you were doing it to protect me... But I'm twelve years old and I've never had a real friend. Amber's right dad... I want you to treat me like I'm equal to everyone else. So now that you see who I really am, I hope it doesn't change the way you feel about me." Toph's eyes looked down as she felt her father's gaze on her.

Her father sighed and smiled weakly at his daughter. "Of course it doesn't change the way I feel about you Toph. It's made me realize something..."

Toph was surprised and looked up at her dad with question. "It has?"

He nodded folding his hands and narrowing his eyes. "Yes. I've let you have far too much freedom. From now on you will be cared for and guarded 24 hours a day." My eyes widened and I clenched my fists in fury.

"But dad-" Toph began.

Mrs. Beifong spoke then, trying to sound motherly while at the same time strict. "We are doing this for your own good Toph."

Toph's dad Lao then stood and gestured for the guards who approached from the side of the room. "Please escort the Avatar and his friends out. They are no longer welcome here."

As the guards began to force us to leave, I turned toward Toph shouting, "Don't let them depict who you should be Toph! Choose your own path! At least you have a choice! Aang needs you! The world needs you!" A guard grabbed me roughly by my bad shoulder and yanked me out of the room. I hissed in pain and tried to jerk from him. As I did I caught Toph turn her head toward me to show she'd heard me. I knew it was a lot to ask of her, but she had to know how much we wanted her to join us.

The guards dragged us all the way to the garden and made us get on Appa. When we were loaded up, Aang wistfully set Appa to fly out of the Bei Fong home. When we were at the very end of the town walls, we landed on a hill and stared at the buildings before us with pain filled eyes.

"That's terrible," Kale said softly, standing beside me as I stared at the dark town feeling pained for Toph's imprisonment because of us. "Her parents are monsters... She's better off in a cell."

Aang sighed as he came and stood on my other side. "This is terrible... She was the one… She was supposed to teach me Earth Bending. Now I don't know what I'll do."

"We'll keep searching," Sokka said. "We won't give up till we find you another teacher so we can stop the Fire Nation once and for all."

Aang sighed heavily. I placed a hand on his shoulder to comfort him. "Don't give up Aang... The perfect teacher is out there. Just be patient."

He frowned. "That's easier said than done." He walked off heavyhearted toward Appa. Kale and I watched him go.

Running a hand through my hair, I said softly, "He just needs to be patient. We still have tons more earth benders to cross paths with."

Kale nodded. "It does suck though... I could tell Aang was eager to have Toph as his teacher. He's really disappointed."

"You can't change how parents see their children... I learned that from the Fire Lord."

"That man..." Kale muttered. "He doesn't deserve you as a daughter. Chief Hakoda scored a prize when you landed on his doorstep. You're better off being his daughter than the Fire Lord's any day."

"I'm not Kaya anymore though... He may not accept me as his daughter."

Kale placed a hand on my good shoulder. "He will. Sokka and Katara told me about your father. Hakoda doesn't sound like the man to dump you in the sea because of your bloodline."

I smiled weakly. "Yeah... You're right."

"I'm always right," he said, nudging me in the arm.

Eventually we all loaded up on Appa and prepared to head out. While we prepared for departure, Aang hung his head as he took hold of the reins.

"Don't worry. We'll find you a teacher. There are plenty of amazing earth benders out there," Katara said, trying to lighten the mood.

"Not like her," Aang muttered, turning Appa to start to leave.

"Wait!" A voice cried, and we all turned in surprise looking at the edge of the hill where we saw Toph arrive. She was wearing her earth nation two piece green clothing and had a pack on her back held by straps.

We all were astounded and relieved to see her. Aang smiled brightly as his hope returned. "Toph. What are you doing here?!"

She smiled and clutched her bag tighter. "I took some advice from a friend and decided to choose for myself." This made me smile glad she'd chose the right path.

Aang looked back at me grateful, and I blushed looking away.

"You're gonna be a great teacher, Toph," Aang said, glad that she'd decided to come.

She smiled and I saw a look of mischief as she said, "Speaking of which, I want to show you something."

Aang excitedly hopped off of Appa and landed on the earth below. As soon as he did Toph used her bending and caused the ground under Aang's feet to throw him up and cause his body to hit a tree. We all laughed when he got stuck holding onto the tree limb. "Now were even." She then held her hand up in the air toward us on Appa. "I'll take the belt back."

Sokka frowned and removed the green belt from his waist he'd gotten from Aang's victory during the competition the other day. Throwing it down at Toph, it fell on her head and she crashed to the earth. "Ow!"

Sokka cringed and shrunk a bit in embarrassment. "Sorry."

Rolling my eyes, I slid off of Appa and helped Toph off the ground. Aang had fallen from the tree he'd been stuck on, and rubbed his neck as he climbed Appa again. As I helped Toph in the saddle, she sat beside me when the giant bison took off and began to fly in the air. Wind rushed past us as we headed away from the town that was Toph's home.

Toph suddenly spoke after a few minutes of being in the air. "Thanks, Princess… It's because of you I finally came to my senses and decided for myself. I feel free for the first time in my life."

Looking at the twelve year old earth bending girl with a smile, I leaned forward and hugged her. At first she was surprised, but then she relaxed. "I'm glad. Welcome to the family Toph."

She beamed at my words. Then she noticed something. "You're injured." She pulled from me and I felt her press her hand on my shoulder.

I cringed and jerked from her. "It's fine... I got hit by The Boulder. I'll live."

Katara slid over to me. She quickly took some water out of her pouch. "It's your bad shoulder..." She started to work her healing magic and I sighed as the pain eased slightly. "Your previous wounds from a while ago left some damage, so being attacked must've tore some of the weak repaired tissue."

"You guys must get into a lot of trouble then," Toph said with satisfaction. "My life will finally be interesting."

As Toph began to converse with everyone, and Katara finished healing my shoulder, I sat back against Appa's saddle looking at the moon that was barely the tip of a fingernail. Momo came over to me and curled up on my lap as I sat crossed legged. Closing my eyes, I remembered what I'd spoken earlier to Kale.

"I want to be free… I want to be free to choose my own path, and to be who I want to be."

If Toph was able to choose her own path and be free, then I had no doubt in my mind I could choose my own path too. If Toph could break away from her father, then I knew I'd find a way to break from Huo and all the other spirits trying to control my life. No matter how much control the spirits had on me, I'd fight them and find a way to be free. One day I'd make my own decision and choose the path I wanted to follow. Just like Toph, I'd fight till the last battle.

Even if I happened to be half-spirit, I found a way to accept I was still human. Being human was something Huo, Roku, and the other spirits could never take away from me.