Hey Readers… I'm working on trying to figure out where to bring combustion man in. The next few chapters are not really going to follow the order of the show. There will also be some changes to the script as well. You'll see what I mean. I'll definitely get back to the show when Hama comes in. Anyway… This is a chapter I have been eager to write for a very long time. I hope you enjoy.

Chapter 54: Ashes

Staring at the horizon, I could see the stretch of land in the distance. Sitting beside me in the saddle, I heard Sokka and Zuko talking about swords. Toph was napping against the side of the saddle across from me. Katara was chatting with Aang up at the front of the saddle, who was guiding Appa towards the island. Momo was on Aang's shoulder, chattering in his ear at the same time.

I brushed my hand on Yuna's feathers as she napped in my lap. My heart was tight as I stared at the approaching land in the distance. From where I was, the place didn't seem at all familiar. However, I knew once I stepped foot on the soil, I would be where it all had started.

A day and night had passed since we left the village where Sokka had trained with Piandao. We had stopped at another island halfway through the night for a small break, and then we were moving again. The sun was starting to lower as we reached Shuhon Island.

The closer we got to the place of my beginning, the more I thought about my past. I thought about my mother… Tu Lan… the estate… It had only been a year ago since I was last within the walls. A year ago…

I shut my eyes tight and touched the stone that I had been gifted a few days ago. I had Katara help me stitch the stone onto the leather of my water belt so that I would have it with me. The carving of the polar bear dog made an image of my mom flash through me.

"Amara… What's wrong sweetie?" My mom hugged me close to her as I sniffled. I was five, so I fit well into my mom's side on our moldy cot.

"I want to go outside," I whimpered. "I want to see the sky… See the sun…"

My mom hugged me even tighter, and she pressed her face into my hair. "I want to see them with you… I wish we could both go out and see the world… I pray one day you will be free from these walls, Amara… Free from Gru… and Zhao and Xi… I want you to meet your grandma… your aunt…" She sniffled. "I'm so sorry I brought you into this prison…"

I shook my head. "I… I have mommy though… at least I can see you…"

She gasped a sob. "You are my only light in this dark place, my love… I wish I could tear these walls down… Just so you can live…"

"Alright! Check out this place!" Aang's exclamation made me jump from my past. We were coming closer to the island. The sand sparkled in the distance. The trees were thick past the sand. I could see as we got closer, shapes in the distance from what appeared to be a large city. Beyond the city were other shapes of buildings and winding roads.

"Would love to," Toph muttered. "If you land."

Appa went down towards the forest, and we landed concealed within some trees. There was a cliff with a waterfall, and a river that flowed towards it from the direction of the town. Once Appa landed, the group started to gather their things. As they got off, Zuko moved over beside me where I was grabbing my own bag. He placed a hand on my back, and I was surprised when he touched me that I was shaking.

"Amara… We don't have to land here… I can tell Aang and the others we need to mo–"

I interrupted him. "I'm okay… It's just for the night… Appa needs to rest and we need supplies."

Zuko seemed unsure if he should believe me. The others were already off of Appa now, trying to scope a good spot for camp. Yuna and Momo were playing in the trees, enjoying getting to spread their arms and wings.

"If this becomes too much though… I just don't want you to become overwhelmed… Being back here…"

I glanced over at him and gave him a small smile. "I don't even recognize this place, Zuko… I never actually saw Shuhon Island when I was here… I'll be okay."

He still seemed to not believe me. However, he decided not to press on it. He could see I didn't want to talk about what he was bringing up.

"Okay. I just worry about you." He moved his hand to a strand of my hair, brushing it back behind my ear. "At least we won't be here long."

I gave him a small nod. "Yeah. But let's enjoy being on land for a little bit… I think Aang and Toph want to go check out Fire Fountain City. We should just have fun. I don't want to think about the past."

He still seemed worried, but he gave me a small smile. "Okay. I'll help you with your stuff."

Once we were off of Appa, Aang practically begged that we go into town. He grabbed Zuko's arm and started pulling him towards the direction of Fire Fountain City. Zuko snapped that we should at least get our disguises on before we go running into town. We knew he was right. As Zuko put on his cloak to hide his identity, the others straightened themselves up to look more civil for our trek into town.

I stayed quiet as I stroked Yuna who was on my shoulder. I saw the delight on my cousins' faces as they thought about another new place to explore. I tried to smile when Katara glanced over at me. She seemed convinced I was as excited as the rest.

As the group started to head towards the city, I stayed behind for a moment. Toph noticed I was falling back. She turned and headed back my way. Once the others were out of ear shot, she asked softly, "Are you sure about this, Kitten?"

I let out a heavy breath. I looked at the backs of my family, Aang, and Zuko as they headed away from us. Looking at Toph who was waiting for my answer, I said softly, "I'm sure… I need to do this, Toph. I'm ready."

She seemed to want to protest, but she knew that she had to let me go. "If the others find out, I can't stop them from coming after you."

I nodded. "I know… All I need is a head start… Just… Take care of Yuna for me while I'm gone."

Toph frowned. "How are you going to find the place?"

I moved my hand to my pants pocket where my mother's necklace was. I had grabbed it from my bag and put it in a few moments ago. "My father was a well known Admiral… I'm sure someone in town will point me in the right direction to his estate."

Toph sighed. "I still don't like this… But I know it's something you need to do on your own… Just… be careful… okay sis?"

I nodded and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I will… Just give me a head start. That's all I ask."

Toph nodded. "Okay. I'll stall the best I can if they notice. But I can't make any promises."

"I know," I said softly.

"Hey! You two okay?" Katara had noticed we weren't following. She shouted at us past the trees.

"We're coming!" I said. "Just forgot something!"

Toph and I moved to catch up with the others. Zuko looked at me when I came into view and immediately went to ask me if I was okay. I quickly reassured him that I was fine, and I grabbed his hand pulling him along with me through the forest.

When we got to the city, we could see the streets were still busy as people bought food for dinner and hung out around the large fountain. The fountain in the center of the large city had a giant statue of Ozai. Fire was jetting out of his mouth and from his fists.

Aang was horrified. He looked over at Zuko, asking, "Is your dad really that terrifying?"

Zuko stared up at the statue with a frown. "Don't be afraid of him. He acts like he's all powerful. But he's just a man." He glanced over at Aang. "You can take him down."

Aang gave a small nod. "Yeah… I guess so." Momo peaked his head out from where he was hiding in Aang's shirt. His ears drooped at the large statue. "Maybe once we defeat him, we can put your statue in its place."

Zuko shook his head. "I don't want to follow in my father's footsteps. If I had my way, I'd replace it with a statue of my cousin… Lu Ten… he never got the honor he deserved. He was the true heir to the throne…"

"Amara told us about him," Katara said. "She said his death changed Iroh's heart. You really looked up to him, didn't you?"

Zuko nodded. "He was like an older brother to me when he was around. When he died, I felt my heart harden for the first time. He was one of the three people that cared about me in the palace."

I grabbed his hand and gave it a comforting squeeze. "Now you have people who care about you outside the palace too."

He smiled over at me.

A few moments later, my family decided they wanted to go check out some of the shops. The sun was starting to lower. I knew it was time to make my move.

"You kiddos go ahead. I'm going to hang back here. My feet need a break," Toph said. She walked over to the edge of the fountain and sat on it. She sighed with relief.

"Okay. If you're sure," Katara said.

I added. "Um… I'll hang out with Toph. So she's not alone.."

Zuko looked over at me with concern. "Do you need me to stay too?"

I shook my head. "No. Toph will look out for me. Go ahead Zuko. I know you really wanted to check out that weapon stall we passed earlier."

Zuko seemed unsure. However, he let out a heavy breath. "Okay. But stay with Toph. I don't want you by yourself in this city."

"No worries, Sparky. I've got her." Toph waved him off.

He sighed. "Okay. I won't be long. We'll find something to eat when I get back."

I nodded. "Sounds good."

The group walked off then. Sokka and Zuko headed towards the weapon stall while Katara and Aang went another direction.

Turning, I walked back over to Toph. She had stood once the others were gone. "Amara… you can still change your mind about this. We know how strong and brave you've become. You don't have to do this to prove anything."

I glanced at Yuna and pointed at Toph's shoulder. Yuna whined on my shoulder, but she did as I asked her to. Once Yuna was on Toph's shoulder, I said to her, "This is something I need to do… not just for me… but for my mom too. I need to face this, Toph…"

She let out a heavy breath. Then she gave a small nod. "Okay… please be careful… The others won't take long to figure things out. But… I'll stall as long as I can."

I frowned. The only part that I regretted with this plan was the worry I would cause everyone. However, this was something I needed to do. It was time for me to finally be seen by Admiral Gru and his family as more than just a weak and hopeless child. I was going to become more than just the illegitimate daughter of an Admiral… Xi and the estate would see me for my true self at last.

I was a dualbender. And I would not be weak this time.

"Thank you, Toph. I owe you for this. I'll be okay. I promise." I moved forward and pet Yuna on the head between her ears. She purred. "Behave for Toph, Yuna. I'll see you soon… promise."

I turned and left then. I moved through the crowd, getting as much distance from my family as I could. I was aware that the estates were outside Fire Fountain City to the west. If I could get to the edge of the city, I had a feeling I would be able to ask someone for directions to Admiral Gru's estate.

A good twenty minutes passed. I finally reached the outskirts of the city. I saw a Fire Nation man beating a mat in front of his house. I walked over, asking him if he knew where Admiral Gru's estate was.

He was puzzled by my question at first. However, he decided not to press much on why I was looking for it. He pointed towards the woods in the distance. "There's a path that heads west. When you get to the fork, go to the right. You'll go over a bridge and up a hill. Admiral Gru's estate is in the lower part just past." I thanked him. I went to head that way. "You do know there's only Admiral Gru's brother now, right? The rest of his family is dead."

I stopped walking. I looked back at the man, who was still confused by my planned destination. I said to him with resolve, "Admiral Gru didn't just have a son… You should know that by now. Rumors spread across the four nations."

He was shocked. Then his eyes widened. "Wait… you mean the rumors are true? Admiral Gru is the father to that dualbender who was traveling with the banished prince?"

I turned away from him again and started to head the direction he told me. I said as I left him, "That dualbender has a name… Amara. Make sure to spread that to the world."

Third person POV

Toph frowned as she stroked Yuna's wing. "The group is not going to like this."

It had been a little over half an hour since Amara left. She knew the others would be coming back any second and notice she was gone. Toph already had a plan to tell them that Amara had walked off to buy them tea, and she lost her in the crowd. She knew the group would be furious with her. However, she had promised Amara she'd give her a head start.

Toph understood Amara more than the others though. Toph had once felt so weak and helpless too… trapped. If it wasn't for her double life as the Blind Bandit, she would've felt caged too. She could tear the walls of her estate down any day she wanted and leave.

Amara had been chained. Locked in a small room. Treated like a prisoner.

Toph didn't blame Amara for wanting revenge. She would've wanted the same if she were in her shoes.

"Toph! We're back!" Aang exclaimed. He walked over with Katara following behind. As Aang approached, he was puzzled to see Yuna on Toph's shoulder. He looked around with confusion. "Hey… where's Amara?"

Toph quickly lied. "She went off to get us some tea. She should be back soon."

Katara was horrified. "What?! You let her go off on her own?! Are you crazy!"

Toph stayed composed. "She's a big girl, Katara. She's traveled the world. She can—"

"She barely knows about this world! She's… she shouldn't be alone! Something could happen to her!"

Aang tried to calm her. "Katara… it's okay. Amara has grown up a lot since Zuko and Iroh saved her. She can handle going to buy tea."

Katara went to argue. Then she let out a heavy breath in defeat. "I guess… I just worry about her. Especially being here. You all know this is the island where she was born. Some dark memories might come up…"

Toph stayed quiet. She knew all about this place being where Amara was born. It had been a little less than an hour… had Amara gotten directions by now? Was she already at the estate?

Another five minutes passed. Zuko and Sokka arrived then, both of them seeming unamused by their finds.

"Well that wasn't as exciting as the last shop we went to," Sokka stated as he approached. "The swords looked like twigs."

Zuko spoke. "Well, to be honest a lot of the nicer weapons have been shipped to Fire Nation harbors at the Earth Kingdom."

Sokka sighed. "I guess." He then noticed Yuna on Toph's shoulder. His eyes shot around the group. "Hey… where's Amara?"

Katara frowned. "She should be back by now. Toph? Are you sure she was going to get tea?"

Zuko was horrified. "Wait! You let her go off on her own?!"

Toph tried to stay calm and not show her guilt. "Kitten said she wanted to go on her own. I wasn't going to stop her. She's older than me."

Katara argued. "She may be older than you, Toph, but she's only gotten to be a teenager for a few months. She doesn't know all about the dangers of the world!"

Toph scoffed. "You sound like a mom. Amara is okay. She's not the same girl you all remember. She knows what she's doing."

Zuko furrowed his brows in confusion. Toph's complete calm over Amara's absence was very strange to him. "Toph. What are you hiding?"

She pursed her lips. She knew she wouldn't be able to stall long. It had been almost an hour… maybe that had given Amara enough time.

Yuna whined on her shoulder, sensing Toph was conflicted.

Sokka sighed. "I'm going to head around the tea shops and—"

Zuko gasped though. The group looked over at him in confusion. Toph cringed, knowing he figured it out.

"Toph! How could you let her do this?!"

Toph stayed quiet.

Katara sensed the urgency in Zuko's tone. "What's wrong?"

Zuko stared at Yuna. He stared at Toph. He then stared to the west where the direction of the estates were outside of the city. He looked back at Toph with terror. "Why didn't you stop her?!"

Toph played dumb. "She wanted tea. Why would I—"

"Don't lie to me, Toph!" Zuko snapped. "She'd only leave Yuna behind if there was a possibility she could be hurt! She went there, didn't she?!"

Sokka finally understood. "Wait! Are you saying she went there?! Why would she go to such a terrible place?!"

Toph defended herself and Amara. "Because she has every right to!" The group looked at Toph with shock. "Kitten deserves her revenge! She spent her whole life forced to do what others made her. This is her choice! Let her have this moment!"

Zuko snapped, "Do you hear yourself?! Amara is heading to the estate where her uncle is! There's no telling what that man will do to her!" He shut his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. "I knew coming here was a bad idea. She kept mentioning wanting to face him… I never thought she'd actually do it…" He let out a heavy breath and looked over at Aang. "We need to get to Appa. I know which way to go. I've studied the area. I know how to get to the estate. Maybe we can get there before her."

Aang nodded. He looked over at Toph. "We understand you did this because she asked you to, but this was a terrible risk, Toph. Amara could be captured. Or killed."

Sokka spoke. "Let's not stand around and wait for that to happen! Let's get back to Appa and find her! Who knows what that monster could do to her!"

Toph frowned. Sorry, Amara… I tried to stall. It's on you now. Good luck.

Amara POV

The estate… With the setting sun, I could see the estate in the distance. The sun behind it gave the place a horrible glow. The thick tan wooden walls were high with dark red slanted roofs. The building in the center stood about the same height as the walls, its wood and roof matching the colors that surrounded it. I could see the stables to the right of the house. I could see the storage shed where the terrible cellar that Zhao had shoved me inside was. I saw with the fading light of the sun that a guard was stationed at the large black wooden gate. He looked bored as he leaned against the wall beside it.

I stood there for a moment, staring at the place where my mother had been brought almost twenty years ago. I pictured Admiral Gru's men dragging her through the opened gate, her eyes wide with terror as she realized there was no escape. I pictured myself within the walls, running towards the gate to try and escape the prison that held me for sixteen years. My eyes moved across the prison that once held me and my mother, and I felt my determination grow.

The place was made of wood… Soon… Soon it would all be ash…

Shutting my eyes, I moved my hand to the necklace that once belonged to my mother. I had put it on as I walked the path the man had pointed me towards.

I felt mom's presence with me. I felt her strength combine with my own. Mom… I'm ready… I'm ready to free us both… forever…

I started to walk towards the estate. I felt my determination build with each step I took. My blood began to pound as I got closer to the place that once caged me. Many of the monsters that dwelled within were gone. Admiral Gru… He was dead. Zhao… He was gone too. There was only one monster left.

"SILENCE YOU BRAT! I'LL BEAT YOU TO A PULP!"

Xi's voice echoed through my head.

"We should've killed you when we killed your mother!"

My fists tightened. I grit my teeth. My eyes narrowed.

"You are just a filthy bastard! Nothing more! My brother was a fool for letting that wench have you!"

The guard at the gate saw me approach. I finally recognized him as I got closer. Tou… The man who had stopped me from escaping so many times in the past. I was surprised he stuck around after Zhao died. I suppose Xi was paying him a lot to stay.

Tou moved from the wall, not recognizing me at first. "It's too late for visitors. What do you–" Tou stopped. His eyes widened when he finally saw who I was. His jaw dropped and he took a step back. "Amara…?"

I stopped a few feet away. I felt my heart pound, but only because I was ready to face everything. "Open the gate."

He was stunned. He didn't know what to say at first. Then he finally said, "I heard you were with Prince Zuko… What are you–?"

I whipped my water out in front of me from my pouch and held a stream to warn him. "I said, open the gate!"

He was amazed as he saw the water hovering beside me. He didn't ignore my request this time though. He moved to the gate and knocked quickly. The latch on the other side of the gate was lifted, and the door opened. Another male guard looked out, wondering what was going on. Tou shoved him back and forced the doors open.

"What are you doing?!" The other guard asked. "Xi said no visitors tonight!"

Tou glanced over at me, and the other guard did as well. He was clearly a recent hire, because he did not know me and I did not know him.

He saw my water hovering in front of me. He gasped. "Hey! Waterbender!" He jerked his spear in front of him and went to charge at me. I shot my water at him and forced him back into the courtyard beyond the gate. He fell on his back, stunned by the force. Tou stood still in shock, not sure what to do. He had never seen me fight back before. He didn't know i possessed such strength.

I moved forward. I headed towards the gate. Tou looked at me with uncertainty. "Amara… Please… Don't do anything you'll regret…"

I stopped as he stepped in my path. A flame dagger shot from my fist as I snapped, "Take me to Xi! Now!"

He was bewildered by my change. Astonished by my courage. Horrified by my power. He backed away from me quickly, and then headed towards the main building of the estate.

I extinguished my flame. I walked past the guard who was still on the ground, watching everything in bewilderment. His voice shook as he said, "You're her… the dualbender…"

I said nothing to him. I walked past him, following Tou across the fine cut yard. As I passed by the stables where my only childhood friends had ever been, I grabbed water from the trough and put some in my pouch. Then I headed up some stone steps to the wooden door of the dimly lit building.

The door opened as we both approached. I was not surprised to see the servant named Lin who had also stopped me from escaping so many times before. Lin looked older, and a little more feeble. Her eyes stared at Tou with confusion and then towards me. She was carrying a basket with some sheets, probably to go hang them to dry. Her face was stricken with terror. She dropped the basket in shock. Sheets spilled out.

"A…A … Amara…?"

Tou asked the stuttering woman, "Master Xi… where is he?"

She looked at him with bewilderment. "I… I saw him in his study… He's writing…"

Tou nodded. He looked back at me, and I moved forward again. I stepped beside him and Lin at the entrance to the door. I was on familiar ground now. I knew where to go. "Stay outside. Don't follow me."

Lin tried to speak. "Wha– what are you doing here? I heard… I heard you were finally free from these people. Why would you come back? You should go! Now!"

I looked over at her. Every part of me wanted to destroy her too. She had stopped me and my mother from escaping. She was part of my imprisonment. However, I knew she wasn't truly the one to blame.

"I'm here because I'm Admiral Gru's daughter. This estate belongs to his children. It belongs to me." I narrowed my eyes. "You spent sixteen years trying to keep me within these walls. Now you want me to leave?"

She was stunned by my words. Stunned by my maturity and strength. She glanced at Tou, who was still watching me in silent awe. She then glanced back at me, saying, "Amara… Everything we did was because of–"

"I don't want excuses," I cut her off. "Or apologies. I want to speak with my uncle. Alone. Move."

Lin hesitated. "Amara… Please calm down. Leave before he knows you–"

"I said move!" Sparks shot from my fists, giving Lin and Tou a warning.

They moved aside to let me through. I stepped in, and I shut the door behind me. A dimly lit foyer was before me. There were candles around the perimeter to light the way. I remembered stepping through these halls. I remembered the fear. The hopelessness. I remembered not knowing anything about the world outside. All I had known was the estate. The walls that held me in. All I had known was that I was not supposed to be. I was a mistake that had to be hidden away.

Walking across the foyer, I recalled being dragged by Zhao. I heard my screams echo through my mind. I heard my mother's cries from upstairs. I heard Zhao and Xi, shouting. All the shouting. The pain.

I walked through the sitting room, and towards the hall that led to the stairs. The sitting room was uninhabited. The cushions looked well beat of dust, but there was an emptiness. I could tell Xi did not spend much time in the room. Everything was perfectly placed. As I moved forward, I saw a portrait of Zhao by the fireplace. There was a fire in the stone square, and I assumed the servants had kept it going. I walked over to the image and grabbed the canvas off the wall. I stared down at the smirking monster, his gold eyes just as I remembered. Heartless. Cruel.

Gone… Zhao's gone…

I tossed the canvas in the fireplace. The material began to burn and then catch light. Zhao's image was consumed by flames. I held my hand out, and I intensified the flames so that he would turn to ash faster. Once he was nothing, I continued on my mission.

Stepping out of the sitting room, I headed down another hallway towards some stairs. Walking up the wooden steps, I arrived at the second floor. This floor I knew more than the other: This floor was where I was dragged down often to be taken to the washroom… I was forced into the study to be scolded by Zhao or Xi… I was dragged to the end of the long dark hall, up the rickety stairs, and into the attic above where chains and a moldy cot waited.

I stood at the start of the hall for a good minute, everything seeming to come to a stop. This was where it all happened. Where I was beaten daily… humiliated… where I lost my mother… where I was born… This was the path to what was once my prison. My cell…

My hand moved to my necklace again. I gripped the charm that once belonged to my mother. Tears burned.

Mom… The last thing she knew was this hall… The last thing she knew was the dark attic above…

A cough sounded from the room a few feet away. I recognized the sound to belong to the monster that still plagued me. The monster that was the last obstacle to my freedom.

Stepping across the hall, I grabbed the door handle. I saw the glow from the candle light inside under the crack of the door.

Mom… This is for you…

I opened the door and stepped inside. Xi was at the desk in the center of the room, and he held a quill as he was writing something on a parchment. I saw the portrait of my father behind him. I saw the image of the evil man that had taken my mother from everything she loved. He was dead too. There was only one monster that still lived, and he was a few feet from me.

Xi looked like he had aged ten years since I last saw him. He had no hair anymore on the top of his head, and his beard was white. He looked thinner too, probably from the stress of realizing his whole family was dead. He looked up when he heard me enter, and his dark eyes glinted in the candle light. When he saw me though, the life in his eyes seemed to fade. His body went pale and stiff. He dropped the quill, ink splattering across the parchment.

"Hello, Xi… It's been a while," I spoke calmly. "I see you're still alive."

Xi was silent in horror. His body shook a bit. "Wha— Why…" He couldn't find his voice.

I stepped further into the room. I tightened my fists. The flame of the candle on his desk grew. "Don't be surprised to see me… This was once my home, wasn't it? I am Admiral Gru's daughter, aren't I? I can be here as much as you can, right?"

He seemed to try to compose himself. He managed to stand from his chair, although he was pretty unsteady. He pointed at the door behind me. "Get out! How dare you come here! You are not welcome! Get out of this place! You have caused nothing but suffering for this family! Your father! Your brother! They're all dead because of you!"

I narrowed my eyes at him with frustration. Blame… all he had ever done was blame me for all of his problems. I wasn't going to let him anymore.

"Because of me?" The flames grew again. "Admiral Gru was killed in battle. Zhao drowned in the North Pole waters. They are the reasons for their own demise. They were both fools, fighting a battle they would never win." I scowled. "And you're a fool for not dying with them."

He growled. "How dare you! You insolent child!"

He grabbed his cane which was leaning against the desk beside him. He pointed the end at me. I didn't flinch. I wasn't afraid. The stick meant nothing to me. I could turn it to ash in seconds.

"Freedom has made you forget who is in charge! You will not speak to me with such disrespect!"

I felt my hatred grow. "Disrespect? Disrespect?! You! Zhao! My father! You all are the only ones who have ever shown disrespect! Admiral Gru raped my mother! You and Zhao beat us daily!"

The fire on the candles shot up almost to the ceiling. Xi saw the burst and stumbled back in terror. His chair knocked over, and his back hit the wall where Gru's portrait hung.

"You monsters are the only ones who were ever disrespectful! My mother and I were obedient! We stayed quiet! But you monsters still beat us! You beat us for no reason!" Fire sparked from my hands. Tears burned in my eyes. "You killed my mother! You destroyed my childhood! Don't you dare accuse me of anything! You're the one who should be thrown into a pit! Locked away forever!" My flames shot out from my fists. "You locked me away! You deserve everything you did to me!"

He was horrified. He looked terrified. I was satisfied. I wanted him to fear me. I wanted him to know that I was not the same girl he last saw.

"I… I did that for your own good… You… you are the child of a waterbender and firebender. An anomaly. You shouldn't exist. If… If the Fire Lord learned about you, we would've lost everything. Our family would've been dishonored for my brother's crime. That waterbender should've never been here! She should've been locked up with the others! You're lucky my brother wanted her! You're lucky I didn't kill the wench when she was pregnant with you!"

I saw red. "Stop calling her that!"

I whipped my water from my pouch and thrust a stream at him. He was forced back against the wall again. He dropped his cane in the process. I froze the water around him, trapping him to the wall. He gasped and struggled, his whole body trembling with sudden fear.

"It… It's true… You… You can bend two elements?" His eyes were wide. His skin was white. I knew he was afraid of me, and this gave me relief. I wanted him to be afraid of me. I wanted to be the one in control this time.

"Just tell me one thing…" My eyes became clouded with tears as my heart pounded in my ears. "When you killed my mother, did she beg you to spare her?"

He struggled in the ice still, and he shut his eyes. "Please… spare me… Everything I did… I only did it for Gru and Zhao. I told them to get rid of you both. I never wanted any part of this. I swear!"

I lit a flame in my hand as I continued to keep the ice around him. He was pinned to the wall, and he stared at the fire in terror.

"You didn't answer my question! Answer me! Did my mother beg for her life?!"

He flinched. He nodded slightly. "Ye… Yes. She begged. Pleaded… When she knew we would not listen, she instead begged us to let you live… She said you would not cause trouble… She begged for your life more than her own."

Tears fell down my cheeks. "You let a defenseless woman beg you to let her live, and you still killed her… You truly are a heartless monster…" I moved around the desk, and I suddenly held a flaming dagger towards him. He cried out and shut his eyes in terror. "Give me one reason why I should spare you when you didn't spare her?!"

He whimpered. "You… You are too good… You can't… Your mother would not want this… Amara… please…"

The tip of my flaming spear brushed his cheek. He cried out in pain as it burned his flesh. I took it back down, and he gasped from the pain.

"You're right…" I whispered. "I am good."

I extinguished the flame. I moved my hand over to the water of the ink on the table. I lifted the dark water, surprised that even with the extra element inside I was able to keep the ink floating. "My mom wouldn't want me to kill you. All she ever wanted for me was to be free of this place. All she ever wanted was for these walls to no longer keep us in." I heated the water and the black liquid started to boil. Xi had opened his eyes again and was staring at the boiling liquid with terror. "She wanted me to be free. To be able to waterbend and firebend without fear of being killed."

I moved the boiling liquid towards Xi. He whimpered as he felt the heat radiate off of it. I held it inches from his face.

"Now… I can do that. I'm not afraid of you anymore."

He whimpered again. "Please… don't…"

I hated him for not putting up more of a fight. I hated him for acting so weak now. I would make sure he lost everything. I would take away everything from him like he did to me.

"Don't worry, Xi… I'm not going to kill you. I'm not a killer. What happens to you after this is out of my control though… If you make it out of here, then that means fate wants you to live a little longer… I won't argue with fate." I moved the boiling and steaming ink up then, shooting the liquid onto the portrait of Admiral Gru. The black bled and boiled into his face, staining the man's prestige and displaying his darkness.

I froze the ice more around Xi, knowing once I completed my final task the ice would start to melt. By then, I would already be gone.

"I usually say goodbye… but you don't deserve anything good. So instead, I'll just say good luck."

He realized he was frozen and I was leaving. "You… You can't leave me here!"

I turned and walked back out the way I came.

"Amara! Get back here!"

I shut the door.

Standing in the hall for a moment, I let out a heavy breath. I couldn't believe I had actually done that. I had faced Xi. I had showed no fear.

One last step mom… Then we'll both be free…

Xi still cried for help on the other side of the door. I ignored his cries and headed down the dark hall towards the stairs that went to the highest floor. Stopping at the foot of the stairs, I saw the darkness above that lingered at the door of what was once my cage. Heading up the stairwell, I arrived at the door and grabbed the handle. Unlike the past, the door was unlocked. I opened the door and it creaked on its hinges.

Stepping into the attic, I couldn't see at first. I lit a flame in my hand and illuminated the darkened space. The sun was almost gone outside now. I found a lantern on the floor by some wooden boxes, and I stepped over lighting the wick inside. The room illuminated with light then.

I could see they were trying to erase that a mother and daughter had once been held captive up here. The cot that was once on the floor was pushed up, leaning against the wall. There were still the hooks on the wall where our chains used to be even though the chains were gone. The rafters were still there from where Zhao had restrained me and burned me. The dust was still around, consuming. The cold. The darkness.

This time I could leave though. This time, nothing was keeping me in this room.

Mom… This is for you…

I walked into the center of the room. I shut my eyes. I pictured my mother, hugging me in the corner of the room. I pictured Tu Lan, showing me a stone he found when he was visiting town. I pictured myself, alone, staring through the cracks of the attic roof and praying that one day I would be free. Praying that one day I would find my family.

I had found them… My cousins… Uncle Hakoda… Bato… I had found new family too… Aang… Toph… I would soon have Iroh again once he was safe from his prison.

Appa… Momo…

Yuna…

Zuko…

I had found my family. And I was going to destroy the last place that could take me away from them. The darkness of my past… I was ready to destroy it all.

I moved my hand towards the cot, thrusting a blast of fire at the fabric. Flames started to eat at the material. An object that held nothing but pain… sorrow… hopelessness… The flames began to turn it all to ash. Turning, I shot more fire at the rafters. The roof started to take light as the wood ignited. The temperature began to rise as flames started to spread.

Turning, I walked back out of the door. A red glow was behind me, and I could smell the smoke trailing behind me. As I headed back down the steps, down the hall, past the study where the monster was shouting inside, I stopped one last time and looked back towards the direction of my past. I saw the glow grow as the fire turned my attic prison to nothing.

I spoke to the darkness in the hall past the fire light, tears falling as my heart filled with relief. "You thought you could hide me from the world, Admiral Gru… you were wrong. I wasn't born to be caged. My mother and I are free from you… free forever… and your walls won't ever hold me again."

I shot a blast of fire with both hands this time, the flames smashing into the wood of the hallway. The fire took a moment to eat at the wood, but once the flames caught the hallway turned bright and hot. I shot more fire at the rug on the floor that stretched before me. More light took over. Light finally consuming the darkness.

Servants outside and inside started to scream as they started to see the flames and smell the smoke. I made my way back downstairs and once I got back to the ground floor, i turned and stared up at the steps again. I heard Xi screaming for help. Pleading to be saved.

I shot more fire at the stairs, and the hot element attached to the banister, then started to crack the wood.

Turning, I headed back towards the entrance to the building. As I did, I almost ran into Lin who was carrying a pot of water. She stared at the blazing stairwell with horror, and then at me with bewilderment.

"Amara… what have you done?!"

I met her gaze. I answered, "What I should've the day they came to kill my mom… I've set us free. These walls can't hold us anymore."

I walked past her then. She did not move to follow me. Instead she raced to the blazing stairs. I heard water splash. I knew her efforts would be useless. The fire intensified as I headed back through the sitting room. More servants started to run past me with buckets, but when they saw the intensity of the flames they evacuated only a moment later. I saw Tou forcing Lin out of the building as well. He looked at me with astonishment as they passed. I was standing in the center of the room. But the scared and helpless child he remembered was no more.

"Go!" I ordered.

He quickened his pace, dragging the traumatized woman out. I was alone again. I heard the fire breaking up the wood above. I heard floorboards starting to fall.

Looking at the sitting room one last time, I shut my eyes as Xi screamed somewhere far in the distance.

It didn't seem fate would be on his side today.

I stepped over to the largest portrait to the right of the room. The portrait was of Admiral Gru, his late wife, and a young teenage Zhao. They were a family that never accepted me. They were a part of me I was ready to leave behind.

"We're free from you monsters at last… these walls can never hold my mother and I again."

I shot more fire, this time at the bottom of the canvas before me. The fire began to climb up the material, burning away the faces of Zhao and the monster that had destroyed my mother.

Free… we were finally free…

I left the building then. I walked back into the courtyard where servants and guards were standing and watching the flames with terror. They looked at me as I passed, and I could see they were too afraid to say anything. They could see from my expression that I was not in a conversing mood.

Walking over to the stables, I stared at the cow-pigs, duck-hens, and koala sheep. They were restless from the flames they could see nearby. Grabbing the gate latch, I said to them, "You can be free too."

I opened the gate and the animals raced out towards the opening that showed the forest. The main gate was open to give room for servants to look for water, so the animals took that route for their escape.

I turned and started to walk out of the estate again, following the freed creatures. However, I stopped by the storage shed… the one with the cellar inside. The one Zhao threw me in. The dark place with bugs. Another cage that needed to be burned. I threw a flame at the door, and fire took over the frame. More smoke rose to the sky.

"Stop! Please!" Lin cried to me. "This is our home!"

I turned and faced her. The other servants and guards stood around her. Some were familiar faces. Some were new.

I spoke to her with resolve. "This isn't your home. This is a prison that kept us all locked inside. Now… These walls can't hold any of us anymore."

Lin was shocked. "Amara! Why? Why would you do this? We took care of you! Ever since you were born!"

I stayed calm. Although her statement made me frustrated. "All I ever asked you to do was let me go. But you all were trapped under Zhao and Xi's control. Now… you all are free from them too. So, you have no reason to stop me this time."

None of them said anything. No one followed. The fire raged behind me as I walked away again. The building started to crumble. As I reached the open doors of the outer estate wall, I turned and looked one last time at the scene before me.

Light… warmth… the place that once held so much darkness was finally crumbling. Flames roared towards the dark sky. The sun was gone. Night had fallen. But it was a beautiful night… and the moon hovered above.

With one last task, I shot fire at the two doors that were open on both sides of me. Flames started to dance on each, celebrating our freedom.

I walked away. Every step I took brought on more tears. However, they were from relief. I wasn't really paying attention to where I was going. I was kind of just following an unknown path before me. I could still smell the smoke in the distance. I pictured the walls cracking and becoming cinder.

Mom… you can be free now. Those walls will never hold you again.

At some point I ended up at a cliff that overlooked the sea. I saw on the cliff what was a beautiful bush, its blue flowers seeming to glow in the moonlight. I was not sure how I had found the place. I wanted to believe the spirits had guided me. I wouldn't be surprised anymore after knowing Aang.

Stepping over to the bush, I let my hand trace one of the blue hydrangeas. I imagined Tu Lan had once stood here, doing the same thing. I picked one of the blue flowers off the bush, and stared down at it in my hands.

"We're free… we did it… those walls will never hold us again…" My eyes burned. "I love you mom… always…"

I let my lips brush against the petals. Then I stepped to the edge of the cliff and let the breeze pull the flower away. It drifted out towards the sea until I lost sight of it in the dark.

I fell on my knees then, and my sobs escaped me. However, they were not from fear. They were not from pain. They were from my relief. I was at peace… at last…

I wasn't sure how long I was there. After I had stopped crying, I just sat cross-legged and stared out at the sea. I knew the fire was still raging in the distance. I could still smell the smoke.

I wondered if Xi had escaped…

I hoped fate had not been on his side.

A groan sounded in the distance. Appa suddenly landed on the surface behind me. I heard the others quickly slide off. I heard a parade of footsteps run across the grass over to me.

"She's okay!" Katara cried. "Amara! Thank the spirits!"

I was suddenly pulled into her arms as she dropped beside me. She hugged me with relief.

"We saw the fire. We asked the men and women in the area. They said you left. Headed south. You had us worried sick!"

I hugged her back, saying softly, "I'm sorry for worrying you. I'm okay."

Sokka came over on the other side of me, trying to check me over even with the dim light from the moon. "Are you hurt?"

I looked over at him. I shook my head. "No… not a scratch."

Aang asked, "What happened? The whole place was in flames?! Did your uncle attack you?"

I moved to stand. Katara and Sokka stood with me. I turned to face Aang, Toph, and Zuko. Yuna was on Toph's shoulder. Momo was on Aang's.

"No… he couldn't hurt me anymore. He could see he would lose the fight." I shut my eyes. "I won… I beat him… they're all gone. It's all gone… turned to ashes… they won't ever cage me again. They won't ever hurt my mom again…" I opened my eyes as tears filled them once more. "We're free."

Aang was astonished. Then he understood. "Amara…" He stopped though. He had no avatar wisdom to give me at the moment.

Zuko said nothing. Instead, he moved forward, breaking the distance between us. He pulled me into his arms, hugging me close.

We stood like that for a good minute. Finally, Zuko spoke. "I was so worried. Don't leave me like that again."

"I'm sorry…" I said sincerely. "I didn't mean to worry you… I just had to do this on my own."

Zuko pulled away just enough to press his hand to my cheek. His thumb brushed a tear. "Let's get out of here. There's an island a few miles out. We can rest there. You look exhausted…"

I moved my hand over his. "Zuko..."

He looked at me with concern.

"Thank you. You were the first light… the darkness became warmer and safer because of you. You helped me start to destroy it all." I shut my eyes and moved against him again. He hugged me once more. "Thank you for lighting my world. Thank you for helping to free me from the darkness…"