Chapter 8: Family Feud

My father had nowhere to run and nowhere to hide. Then he did something that surprised me, and he smiled at me. "Mia…I didn't want to do this, but it seems you leave me no choice. I have received the finest earth bending training money can buy. Have you ever trained your bending? Listen, if you just give up now and get off my boat, I won't hurt you." I looked around the boat and saw he had rocks on the deck, probably so he'd be able to defend himself if he met with pirates or something. My father maybe an ass, but he's smart. He knew all too well if he was caught out at sea on his boat, he'd be defenseless. I didn't care in the least. "Alright 'dad', I'll tell you what. If you face me one on one and beat me, we'll leave quietly. If I win, I chuck your sorry ass off this boat, and Rikon and I go on our merry way." This benefited my dad, saying if he didn't agree he'd be facing two opponents. He nodded and took a fighting stance. Rikon took a seat on the side line, if he was concerned he hid it well. I also got into a battle stance, and I motioned him to take the first shot.

He rose two rocks in front of him and kicked on high and one low. Hoping to either trip me up low, or hit me directly in the face. I spun to the right to avoid both rocks and ran to close the distance between us. He moved his arm in a sideways motion, sending a stream of rocks to intercept me. I slid so that the rocks went over my head, and my slide took me right into Charan. My feet slide right into his shins, tripping him so that he fell. I rolled back to my feet and we were a lot closer now, so I went for a medium kick to his side. My dad however had rolled onto a knee, foreseeing my follow-up attack, and was therefore in position to send a rock like an uppercut at me while I went for the kick. The rock caught me right in the gut so that I doubled over. He then spun his leg for a leg sweep which tripped me to my back. He was about to try a ground and pound, but I lifted both my legs and kicked up and out, sending air at him. The air caught him in the mid-section sending him up high in the air. In the same motion as my kick, I jumped up to my feet. I timed it right so that when I jumped in the air, boosting my height with air, I was just above him to deliver and air slice down on him as he was falling. This sent him crashing into the metal deck with more momentum, his whole body dented the deck. I could see Rikon grimace at the impact.

I underestimated my dad, thinking him done after a blow like that, and I walked up to him. I fell right into his ploy and from his down position he sent a rock right into my face. The rock collided with my head, and I was down. The rock had knocked the Dai Li hat off of my head. My head was suddenly ringing, my head was already damaged, probably concussed. I tried to open my eyes, but my vision was blurry. Everything was disoriented. I was confused, I had no idea where I was. Even as I fought just to make it to my feet, Charan knocked me right back down with a vicious kick to my head. The rain had already begun to make my headband loosen and slip, the kick, while knocking me back down, also took my headband off and it fell into the ocean, Lost forever. I barely knew where I was, but I felt the blood run down my face. His rock had cut my head, it must have been a nasty gash. Rikon must have thought I was surely done, and he wasn't about to sit idly by and watch him kill me.

It took all of my strength, but I got to my hands and knees and managed to call weakly out. "N-No, Rikon, I'm not f-f-finished yet. Don't you d-dare get involved!" My father was toying with me now, letting me slowly rise to my feet. He hit me with a rock in my right shoulder, which made me do a stupid twirl. Then he made a rock jagged and sent it to my upper tight, cutting a jagged cut into my leg. I fell to my good knee. I felt him use a rock to cut me across the chest, so I yelled out in pain and agony. He was up next to me now. I tried to fight back, but my head was throbbing.

"Give it up Mia, you lost, don't make me kill you."

Rikon yelled fiercely at me, "Mia, dammit don't give up, he hasn't beaten you yet. I believe in you. Now get up!" Then my dad sent a rock at Rikon out of nowhere, and it caught him right in the side of the head, and he fell.

I was furious, "H-He never even had a chance to defend himself, Charan you b-bastard!"

I was bruised and bleeding, internally and externally, but Rikon's words penetrated my haziness. 'I believe in you! Now get up! GET UP!'

Charan tried to send another rock at my head while I was down, but this time I slapped it away. I sent it of course with air and it went overboard. I used my other hand to send a strong blast of air at Charan, who didn't think I had anything left. He was surprised and hit and sent back a few steps. I rose to my feet, fury blazed inside of me. Not even through my control, air billowed around me. My arrow was showing, proudly, that I was an AIRBENDER. The air around me blew my hair and my clothes, stained with my own blood. I felt the wind blowing around me, and the storm's winds fueled me. The ship was rocking back and forth due to the winds and waves. My fists were clenched and I ran forward jumping. I brought my leg up for a jump kick, blasting air with my foot that caught Charan in the face and sent him to the ground hard. As he rose I did a side kick which sent a current of air into his face again. He ended up rolling across the deck. He jumped to his feet, starting to worry now and he sent rock after rock in my direction. I pushed them of course, swiping them away like pebbles with my left and right hands. I jumped high in the air and Charan figured I was jumping to land on him, so he shot a rock up to catch me. I jumped up and over, which I intended, and landed behind him. Then I did a twisting kick which caught him in the gut. I gave him one two combos, left and right punches to the body and face. He was stumbling back, trying to counter attack. He managed to catch my right fist, and my left. Just when he thought he had the advantage I blew air out of my mouth, which sent him to the ground hard. I then stomped on his chest hard so the he cried out. I then was on top of him, viciously punching him in the head again and again. I got all my frustration out, everything he had done was almost literally pounding in my skull. He was bloody and bruised, I delivered one final good shot to the face and got up.

"That was for my mother!"

Charan was defeated, moaning in agony. Rikon rose to his feet, holding his head. I could see a trickle of blood flow down the side of his head.

He kicked Charan in the head which caused him to roll on his stomach. "Son of a bitch."

I crouched in front of him and lifted him up to face me.

He coughed before saying, "What, are you going to kill me?"

My head was killing me, but my adrenaline was still running high. "No, I think it would be funnier to watch you swim home."

Rikon lifted him up, with strength I didn't know he possessed. "N-No wait! Please! I can't swim!"

Rikon smiled, "Don't worry, with all your money, someone will rescue you."

He then unceremoniously chucked my dad overboard. I heard the satisfying splash, but my adrenaline was wearing off and I started to fall, before Rikon caught me. "Mia? Mia? MIA!" With that I lost consciousness.

When I woke again, the storm had stopped and I was in a bed. It must have been a couple of days. It was the second time I was out for an unknowable amount of time…I felt the bandages against my head and body. My head wasn't throbbing as bad as it was before, and I got up. When I went above deck, I saw Rikon looking out to an approaching island. Finally, we had made it to Whaletail Island! He turned to greet me and we had a long tight embrace. I pulled back from the hug and leaned in to kiss him, which he returned happily. We kissed for a long time before I pulled away, I must have had a sad look, because Rikon asked, "Am I that bad a kisser?"

I shook my head, "No, it's not that…I just can't be with you Rikon…"

He looked at me astonished, "W-what do you mean? Why?"

I sighed. "It's not that I don't want to…You deserve better. Wait let me finish." Rikon was about to interrupt, but I cut him off.

"Not only did I betray your trust, but I think, overall, I'm just not ready yet. I have a lot of training left to do, and a lot to learn…I hope you understand, but I feel I have a lot of growing to do before I'm ready to be with you."

Rikon looked glum, but he nodded, showing that he understood. "I think you're making a great start right now."

We docked at Whaletail Island shortly after that, my bandages covered my tattoos well, but I wouldn't have them forever. I bought a new red head band, which I would soon tie around my head. Overtime my wounds healed and I was back to normal. It was rough at first, we had little money to start a life here. We both worked hard however, and as months passed we were able to rent a small house. Before that we had been sleeping in fields. I was pretty used to it, and Rikon managed. Over this time, when all we had was each other, Rikon and I only grew closer than ever. We had decided we had to build our life here, before we could be ready to do anything to help the rebellion against the firenation.

One day, while I was working in the field, I saw something I couldn't believe. A sky bison landed in an area of field nearby. I saw three people descend from that bison. Two of them were most likely brother and sister, both of the Water Tribe. Or perhaps the girl was his wife, as she had a betrothal necklace around her. Then there was a young boy, wearing air nation clothing and he had an arrow on his head. I ran over to them and introduced myself, I didn't tell them right away I was an airbender. I learned that this kid was the Avatar. I had thought the Avatar had died out years and years ago. I introduced them to Rikon as well. Rikon and I saw this as our chance to finally get involved in the fight. We could help this boy learn the elements and defeat the fire lord. When alone I showed them my arrow tattoo. We talked for a long time, and when Aang offered for me and Rikon to join him on his journey. We humbly accepted. That next day, we were all on Appa the sky bison, and we flew off into the sunset. I know I said before Rikon was my only friend, but I guess that was an exaggeration, because soon I had three more great friends. The future was bright, and I was ready to do my part to take the firenation down. Not just for my people, but for everyone they ever stepped on. I am Mia the airbender, and this is how my journey to save the world began…