Disclamer: I don't own Avatar or yada yada, but Rosalie, Danil, The Shiek, and Tiger Bear are all mine.

Running Free

I sighed in contentment and softly patted Appa. I feel so free, now that I'm free of the prison my parents call home. I feel as if I can do anything, just like the first time I ran away…

Seven. I was seven at the time. I had just been grounded to my room because my parents found out that I had made a friend (since I'm supposed to act invisible). How unfair is that? I had only been friends with the other girl for nine days. My friend had given me clothing for my birthday, clothing that she herself had made. My parents had discovered us in my room the day of my birthday. I don't think I'll ever forget that day, not if I lived to be a million years.

"How do I look?" I asked as I struck a fighting pose.

"Awesome!" Rosalie exclaimed. She giggled. "But the outfit is a bit big."

I shook my head. "No matter. I'm sure I'll grow into it. It feels perfect for fighting in."

"I'm sorry that it's too big. That was my first attempt at sewing."

"Stop apologizing. It's the best gift I've ever received." I hugged Rosalie. "Too bad I can't wear it all the time." I changed back into my uncomfortable everyday dress. I placed her gift in my closet. "Are you ready for me to teach you that earthbending move?"

"On your birthday?" Her surprise showed in her voice.

I placed my hands on my hips and glared at my friend. "Earthbending would just make my birthday even better."

"If that's what you really want…"

"Of cour…" My eyes widened. "Rosalie, you have to get out of here, my parents are coming."

Needless to say, Rosalie didn't make it out in time. Now I was stuck in my room for a week, but I didn't plan to stay here for the entire time.

I quickly changed into the clothes Rosalie had given me and pushed the window open. The guards outside my door coughed and I froze, but after a few seconds it was apparent he hadn't heard me. I carefully climbed out of the window.

Many would say that running away is foolish and only has bad results, but I disagree. I don't think I would have become a master earthbender or been qualified to teach the Avatar if I had not run away. Rosalie had once told me about an earthbending tournament and that was where I was headed now. I had no idea where the tournament was at, but I knew how to find it. First, though, I had to escape from my "home" without being seen. That was easier said then done.

I inched along the wall, mentally calculating how many more guards had been added and where they had been positioned. My father had added about twenty more guards outside and at least two were stationed at every entrance and exit. I paused at the corner and cracked my knuckles. This was going to be fun.

I "saw" a guard about to turn the corner. I raised up a large piece of earth and hit him in the head as he turned the corner. He fell to the ground, unconscious. I rolled my eyes. He was way too easy to be any fun. I needed a challenge, a real challenge.

I would take too much of your time telling you about how I escaped because it was really easy and really boring. Basically, I went through a tunnel to the other side of the wall. Anyways, once I got out of my "home" I started walking. I had no idea where the tournament was, I just knew I would feel the vibrations when I got close. I knew it couldn't be too far away since Rosalie went there quite often.

"Hey there," a voice called out. My eyes narrowed. The voice belonged to a boy not much older than me. He was a little on the chubby side and was standing six feet to my right. "What's your name? I'm Danil." He took a couple steps toward me.

"Get lost, loser," I said. "I'm not interested in making friends."

"You're going to regret that." His anger was very clear in his voice.

He grabbed my arm. That was the last straw. I kicked my leg to the side. Danil was shot several feet into the air as the earth under him shifted. "Don't bug me." I smirked as I "saw" him scramble to his feet and run away. "And don't come back!" I shouted after him. I turned and sauntered down the path, ignoring the stares everyone was giving me. Hey, I may be blind, but I'm certainly not stupid. Any idiot can tell when someone is staring at them.

Well, it wasn't too long before I started to feel the vibrations. I followed them down to the tournament. I walked over to the edge of the arena and waited until the current fight was over. I believe it was against The Shiek (the champion back then) and Tiger Bear. As soon as the fight between them was over (with The Shiek as the victor) I entered the arena.

"Hear me out!" I shouted before anyone could object. "Let me fight this one round. If I lose you will never see me again. But if I win… you must let me join the tournament."

"I'll make sure to go easy on you, little kid," The Shiek's deep voice ground out. He was large and every inch of him was covered with muscles.

"There's no need for that," I answered and turned to face him. Before he could register what was happening I threw three large boulders at him. He dodged the first two, but the third boulder scraped his side. Yes, I usually do fight defensive, but I knew he wouldn't attack first. Anyways, I don't want to gloat, but I beat The Shiek in less than two minutes. The fight was really easy. By the time he realized how skilled I was it was too late.

I had to force myself into several more fights before they would finally enter me into the tournament. I won against every opponent I faced and it wasn't long before I was crowned the champion. I did end up sneaking back into my room and nobody had even noticed I was gone. I think it was the sneaking out occasionally to participate in the earthbending tournament that kept me from going insane. It was because of that tournament that I was qualified to teach Twinkle Toes earthbending. And it was through that tournament that I became free.