A/N: Attention(!): Bad fighting scenes ahead! Read at own risk!


For the last time tonight I stepped into the mansion and immediately strived for my room. Outside the night sky already revealed a beautiful dark blue canvas with white sprinklers all over it, and we would most likely not be back before midnight or even later. The nightgown I had dropped earlier this evening still laid there untouched in front of the living room. Now these were not of interest, correspondingly leaving them on said place. They would have done the same in my bedroom; getting thrown in no specific corner in my room and lay there until I had the leisure to put them where they belonged. As I entered my room, I made no effort to put the lights on, relied solely on the ones in the hallway. I knew we would fight and there was no way around it, especially with the Avatar they held in their hands. Aang would make a good price and they would without a doubt take advantage of that. But still, 500 gold pieces for Xin Fu who had someone so powerful in their toll, was a really cheap price. Suspicious.

I never walked bare-footed around, always having something on my shoes unless I was home. To connect better to and through the earth, earthbenders who served their country mostly walked without shoes on, which gave them more stability and surface to work with. And that whole 'I don't like barefoot' thing being said, I kept only one pair of shoes I used during training and practice fighting. Even though they didn't give me too any direct contact with the earth - what would be the best option - their soles were thin and still did a reliable good job. However, still better than nothing.

I took the shoes from one of the upper shelves and pulled them over my feet. They were slightly dusty and the usual dark brown leather had a gray tint to them.


"And where is this arena exactly?" Dad asked as I came back together with the rest of the group. During my absence, everyone had prepared themselves well and even an escort in form of a horse-drawn carriage was ready for the takeoff. Not that we needed that; the arena wasn't far away from her and easily reached by just foot with no problems. However, with the carriage moving faster than we could in running speed, choosing a carriage had been the best option we ordered.

"Alongside the river is a small empty warehouse. I'm not sure if we can easily enter it since it's always guarded, but in the basement is the arena." I explained. It always fascinated most people that went to a match for the first time or at least saw the location itself, how something so small could look so big. The arena wasn't built with just bare hands of normal civilists - many benders had made their marks too.

Dad nodded to the chauffeur who redirected his horses into the right direction and let us get onto the wagon in the back. The ride to the arena was quiet and the only sound you could make out were the crickets chirping through the night. Master Yu and Dad had been exchanging whispering words frequently too, but they were too faint for me to understand. And before I knew what happened, we arrived at our destination.

"We're here, Sir." The chauffeur said and the whole carriage came to a halt. He himself jumped down from his seat in the front to open us the door. With the years passing by the whole front side of the house was now covered in small green leaves, leaving only open some windows and the entrance door. Some areas balder than others.

Quickly we hoped off; first Katara and Sokka, following me and last but not least Master Yu and Dad. I murmured a small 'thank you' to the chauffeur who nodded in response.

"Wait here, we won't need long," Dad told the man who just drove us here, earning him a bow. I didn't think they would clear this matter in a few minutes, but keep on being positive... I guess.

There was something off here. The entrance door of the warehouse was spread wide open with no guard in sight. Whilst everyone else wandered in with little care, I kept an open ear. Luckily we weren't ambushed and made our way straight for the arena that rose just a few feet underneath us. With the Water Tribe siblings in the front leading the way, gave me the time to cover the back. The lights were high and bright in the arena, letting the rest of the hall fall into a cool dark blue. It got chilly around here and I cursed internally for not bringing something warmer with me. We altogether sprinted the high stairs up into the ring with me in the front this time, skipping steps easily and with familiarity. Being the first to step into the ring I took in my surroundings. With me in the ring were too other familiar figures, both I didn't fail to recognize; Xin Fu and The Boulder. They had their gaze directed to the top and said something I didn't catch. Following their heads, I noticed two metal cases, each one with a small opening in the front, covered with metal sticks to prevent someone from escaping. And I was pretty sure that is where both Toph and Aang were trapped in. Those bastards.

"Toph!" Dad shouted who took his place aside me, now arriving at the tops too with the rest of the group. Both of the males' attention went to us. Why couldn't I just punch them in the face? What was keeping me from that? Right, nothing. But I couldn't act so recklessly, not when there was so much important involved here.

"Here's your money. Now let them go." Sokka said, dropping the green bag with the said price in it on the floor. Master Yu took a stance, slapping his bare feet to the floor, sending the bag to the other side of the ring, right before Xin Fu's feet. Said man lifted the sack up, checking its content. It didn't take him long and when he was pleased with what he saw, Xin Fu turned around, waving to someone in that direction, letting one of the two metal cases down slowly with care. When it just hovered over the ground, a kind of shutter opened and Toph fell down out of the metal case, making her way towards us running.

Dad put a hand on Tophs shoulder as she arrived, leading her away and out of the ring. Toph got a hold of my thumb, signalizing me to follow. And I did, but I felt so unbelievingly bad. I followed but shrieked back when I heard a loud rumble from the ring. The other participants from the tournaments I hadn't really cared about before, were lining up together. There was Hippo, two guys with masks and even this weird Fire Nation guy. So, they're in cahoots together or what?

"Go. I'll be okay." Aang reassured from the tops and both the Water Tribe siblings backed off worried.

I was having a dilemma right here. On one hand, I really wanted to fight to get Aang back. Not because I depended on him, but I knew Katara and Sokka were. They were his friends and even in such a short period had done so much together. It kind of felt bad to just leave this right here. On the other side, I was too afraid to blow up our cover and wanted to go with Toph. In the end, I left. I trailed directly after Master Yu, gaze to his feet and following his every step. Why did everything had to be so complicated?

Then I stopped. No. "Wait," I called, making Dad, Toph, and Master Yu stop. I bit my lip. "Sorry, but I can't leave. These are not my friends, no, yet I know that the Avatar is important to them a-"

"Saanvi, I really envy that you are always this caring, but please listen. They caused us so much trouble. They took Toph because of them! Don't you understand the situation?" Dad interrupted me.

"I do! It's just... it's like leaving a comrade behind. It feels wrong.." I mumbled the last part, head hanging low.

"And what do you think? Can you take them out alone? I don't doubt your bending skills, Saanvi. But don't get ahead of yourself, you are being restless." Shut up!

"She doesn't have to, we fight too," Katara suddenly exclaimed from behind me, making me turn around. "But we need an earthbender. Maybe even two." She added with a smile towards me.

"My daughter is blind," Dad said angrily, "She is blind and helpless and fragile. She cannot help you. And so can't Saanvi. Don't get them more involved into this than they're already." And with that, he was about to turn around and leave. But Toph snatched her hand out of Dads.

"Yes. I can," Toph said, confidence in her voice "And if I can do it, Vi can do it even better." Please, don't make me cry in front of everyone, you idiot. Dad just looked shocked at his youngest daughter as she talked back at him and left to go with Katara and Sokka. My heart was still beating fast with anger, but I couldn't get the 'sorry' out of my throat.


We arrived in the ring just in time as Xin Fu lead the group out of the ring towards the stairs. The big guy - Hippo - had the metal case with Aang inside supported onto his shoulder, carrying it around like nothing. Toph made a step forward, moving her feet and created a wall of jagged rock in front of Xin Fu's group. She stood in between Katara and Sokka with me standing next to the Water Tribe girl.

"Let him go," Toph pointed to into Hippos direction, "I beat you all before, and I'll do it again."

"The Boulder takes issue with that comment." Boulder pointed out, rising a finger at us or specifically Toph. Please hold me or else I'm gonna freak.

Hippo then threw away the metal case to the side, earning hurtful sounds from Aang. What do you expect when you just throw someone in a metal case around? That they are all fine and happy? I don't think so. I went into a defensive stance, whilst Katara and Sokka were about to run off in Aangs direction. Toph spread her arms, making them both halt.

"Wait." The others started running towards us and I saw the siblings get slightly uneasy.

"Just wait," I told them with a cool undertone in my voice.

"They're mine," Toph said, turning her head back.

"Sorry, but today I think you have to share," I told her with a grin and took a stance sideways, arms angled and slowly rising upwards. The earth underneath rumbled and when they were in immediate closenesses, I rose up an earth wall from the floor, launching just a bit forward with it at my side and made it move like a wave towards Xin Fu and his group, swinging it to the right to cut their way off to us. The Water Tribe siblings used this opportunity to free Aang, who now was on our side of the mid-high wall that rose in the middle of the ring. I tried to hold the wall longer, but it just took to much effort when from the other side multiple people tried to take it down.

"Hurry up!" I shouted in their direction, sweat running down my temples. Sokka took one of the rooks that had emitted from the ground and slammed it onto the metal, clirring sounds filling the arena.

"Hit it harder!" Aang said distressed, whilst Katara tried to open it with the sheer force of her own bare hands.
"I'm trying!" Sokka retorted.

I grunted, trying to readjust my feet but I couldn't let go of the ground. That was the problem with earthbending. It bound you to the earth at any costs and made you less flexible. You had to stay your ground continuously. The wall cracked up and there was no way I could hold it any longer. Toph the whole time prepared herself, finally slammed a foot and curled up hand forward and with the incoming Shockwave, my wall blasted away, with its force taking the others and me to the ground. A big cloud of heavy dust filled the other side of the ring, not attempting to fade away soon.

Toph made her way slowly into the dust cloud. I stayed back for one simple reason; when it came to sensing through vibrations and listening, completely being on neutral jing, Toph is the best bet you can have. With me in that cloud, I would end up losing badly. I don't really know how to work with vibrations - I can sense them to some extent, but can't actually use them to my advantage. And I relied more on my eyes than I did on my ears. With my vision being blocked like that, I'm screwed.

From inside the cloud, you could hear the fighting, rocks were thrown around, rumbles of earth making the ground shake. I knew that my sister had everything under control because here and then you could hear someone screaming and soon crashing heavily into the ground or the walls around. No worries here. So back to the actual problem; Aang in the metal case. Katara and Sokka didn't really achieve much. There were dents all over the upper metal side where its gray color chipped off. Katara's fingers slightly bled and Aang just looked extremely uncomfortable.

"Step aside." I told them then turned to Aang, "Could get a little tight in there." He nodded in response.

I didn't have super strength, but I had enough for this metal bar to crack even if it left a big tent. Aang didn't take all the space in its room and would most likely be not affected by it at all. So I took a steady stance, stabled myself, and slapped my right foot on the floor whilst my arm lunged forward, rising a spear out the ground behind me, and slammed it down onto the metal bar. It cracked and when I lifted the not so big spear up to throw it aside, you could see a pointed tent. Like I predicted, it took some space but Aang managed his escape through the now open shutter at the bottom just fine.

"Thanks," Aang said. No prob, kid.

Out of the smoke ran Hippo with a cry, holding up a large earth plate with his hands. Shortly after him followed The Boulder who rolled his way forcefully out. I took the same spear I had created just a few seconds ago and tossed it with all my strength and with the help of earthbending into the hole of the earth plate Hippo was holding, sending him directly into a nearby wall, knocking him out. I grinned to myself. Hole in one!

And whilst I did my part, Toph also successfully took down The Boulder and this other mask guy, throwing them out of the ring with a simple handshake. Her still raised arms bend down slowly and at the end swifter, making the cloud fade away to the sides of the ring.

But nothing was won just yet. There was still Xin Fu on the other side, cracking his neck angrily. He took a stance as Toph spat to the floor. Disgusting, girl. Toph took the same defensive stance, and the circled around the much larger earth plate in the middle of the ring, nobody daring to attack. Only moments later, Xin Fu was the first to launch an attack. He aggressively raised rocks from the ground, swirling around, always heaving up from the ground just a little. Toph blocked all of these by creating two shards of earth that connected together like a tent. Then one shard was punched at Xin Fu, sliding over the floor. He dodged, jumping sideways, hand slightly dissolve into the ground, rising it up moments later with a cry and made rocks launch into Tophs direction. Who simply took a step aside, dodging them. With a last movement of Toph's hand, she slammed it to the ground and I couldn't even look that fast, Xin Fu was out of the ring, slammed right in between Dad and Master Yu who both jolted.

"Yes!" I screamed and ran to Toph, Aang and Katara following closely.


We came back home an hour after midnight, dismissing the chauffeur and thank him for his service. Mom was at the entrance, taking Toph and me into a tight hug, crying into our shoulders. I patted her back slightly not sure of what do exactly. I was exhausted, tired, just wanted to sleep.

"We meet in the meeting room, immediately." Dad hissed at us and took his leave.

"Hey guys, thank you again for saving me," Aang said, feet nervously shuffling on the ground. "And sorry for causing you trouble."

"It's fine really, no big deal. I can handle some extra chores." I said with a smile. "Not that I have to do anything else or anything." I grinned sheepishly and looked at Toph who stood a bit away from us.

"I think I'm gonna tell them, they'll ask either way." She said, head low.

"I'll be there with you," I reassured her, guiding her and the rest of us inside. We put off our shoes in the gekan and Yogam - our servant - lead us all to the meeting room. We all sat opposite Dad and Mom, whilst Toph stood in the middle of the room, the center of attention. Dad exchanged a few gazes with me, trying to get someone to talk in this so quiet room. Then, Toph eventually started.

"Dad, 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 earthbender. And I'm really, really good at it." Toph started with confidence, smiling to herself, "I know we kept my life secret from you, but you were keeping me secret from the whole world. You were doing it to protect me. But I'm twelve years old and I've never had a real friend. Vi is always there, but it's not the same." She murmured the last part. I know that wasn't supposed to hurt, but it did anyway. Not in a jealous way, but knowing you're the only person she can trust is a hard thing to tell. "So now that you see who I really am, I hope it doesn't change the way you feel about me."

"Of course it doesn't change the way I feel about you, Toph. It's made me realize something." Dad said softly.

Toph's eyes lit up. "It has?"

"Yes," Dad continued, "I've let you have far too much freedom. From now on, you will be cared for and guarded 24 hours a day. And Saanvi will no longer have permission to escort you around alone." I wanted to cry.

"As for you young lady," Dad turned to me, "You should've told me. I love you Saanvi, but you disappointed me today. I will cut off your training and your homeschooling will have a tighter schedule. And no wandering around the city alone anymore."

I was just about to open my mouth when Dad interrupted again. "Don't talk back to me now, this isn't something light chores like cleaning can justify. I'm sorry." And there, the tears were falling. I rubbed them off instantly. Crying in front of everyone was just humiliating, made me feel weak. There was a calm hand on my lower back, rubbing up and down slowly. I bet it was Katara's.

"We are doing this for your own good." Mom said stern.

"Please escort the Avatar and his friends out. They are no longer welcome here." Dad said with a strict tone in his voice and gestured Yogam to take Aang and the Water Tribe siblings outside. Aang turned his head around.

"I'm sorry." He said sadly.

"I'm sorry, too. Goodbye, Aang." Toph replied with a quivering voice, tears escaping her eyes.

I just waved a silent hand at him, unable to say anything.


Toph and I were together in my room. I had been pacing up and down whilst Toph played many strings of my guzheng standing in one corner. It had an awfully inharmonic sound to it, but I didn't even care. We weren't here for too long, probably just a few minutes and I had been furious. I wanted to scream and punch something.

"Let's go." Toph suddenly said.

"What?"

"Let's go. Get away from here." She repeated.

"You're okay?"

"Listen, I know you want that as much as I do. Our parents just took the freedom of you too why not just get it back?" Toph exclaimed, turning in her chair.

"And how do you imagine that? Leaving behind everything without an explanation and expect it to turn out good? I don't think that's how it works, Toph."

"Aang made me an offer yesterday. He said I could travel with them, even with you. So why are we still here?" I did get her point. It must be incredible to be this free, do whatever you want and just, live.

"Saanvi, please," Toph begged. I didn't know until now how badly she wanted that. I did know that she despised our parents' behavior, but she fought against it multiple times and just lived on. Yet with her being watched every hour, day, and so on, I think it triggered a really sensitive point. She couldn't be herself anymore. The Toph who liked to fight and be able to prove people wrong when they said she was weak. She wouldn't have any of this anymore. Would most likely take breathing exercises every day until the only thing she does it literally breathing.

What did I want? Yes, freedom. But also the feeling of safety. Out there were so many dangers. Here, we could just come back and celebrate not getting hurt. Yeah, what a life. Yet it was one of a human biggest needs and wants. Hierarchy of needs. One of the biggest points would also be boredom. I did nothing these days, other than listening to Toph breathing and taking exercises here and then - now completely shut down of course. Not that fighting was something I wanted to do. Nor was bending necessary to live for me even though I loved it. I just wanted to do something. To walk around on different sidewalks as the day passes by and not on the same lame tatami mats.

"And when do we leave?" I asked carefully, looking into my room trying to find a bag.

"Yeah!" Toph exclaimed excited, jumping from the chair and went for the door. "Right now!" Huh?


We ran through the night after tricking the guards out and made our leave. Toph didn't give me much time to pack and all I really had in my bag was some water, a brush, hair ties, and two or three silver pieces. I found them someplace in my drawer and seriously; I hadn't even known they were there. You couldn't buy yourself a lot with it, but it was a worth a good meal.

"There they are!" Toph said, speeding up with her own bag in her hand.

"Not so fast!" I shouted after her. Tired, got damn tired.

We both panted heavily as we were almost there.

"Toph! And Saanvi! What are you two doing here?" Aang asked confused even though there was a layer of happiness in his voice. Toph came to a rather elegant hold, whilst I almost fell over, arms stemmed onto my thighs. I waved him off, trying to catch my breath.

"Our Dad changed his mind," Toph said, "He said we were free to travel the world." I would be really glad if that had been what he actually said, but Dad was Dad and there was no fun involved.

"Well, we'd better get out of here," Sokka started, "Before your dad changes his mind again." Toph agreed.

"You're gonna be a great teacher, Toph," Aang said. Oh yeah, I had forgotten about this whole teaching thing. Whatever.

"Speaking of which, I want to show you something," Toph said slyly and Aang made his way down. Then Aang landed in a tree, hanging down from there by one leg. All, of course, the result of Toph's bending.

"Now we're even," Toph said satisfied, "Um, I'll take the belt back." She held out her hand and waited for the item to be dropped into them. Sokka - who did not like to give away his belt - sadly unhooked it from around his waist and threw the belt down. No matching belt-bag here, sorry. Where it hit Toph straight on the head, explaining her pained cry. Should I be laughing? No. Did I? Yes. Did Toph like it? Well, I think the red spot on my upper arm answers your question just fine.


EXTRA

"I know you two are very different..." Lao said, "...but I believe you have a common interest." In front of him sat Master Yu and Xin Fu. At his last words, Servant Yogam brought in a casket. As he opened it, it shone with the force of thousands of gold pieces. Both men looked at each other.

"The Avatar has kidnapped both my daughters. I want you to do whatever it takes to bring them back home." Lao ordered, voice strong. Both males bowed, accepting the offer.