After we left Chin Town, we arrived at a different village the next day. Knowing that not everyone likes the Avatar, I made sure Aang wore his hat that hides his arrow, and made it clear to him that he is not allowed to take it of. For my safety as well, I made double sure that my tattoos are covered well. Right now, we were in a shop, staring at a green purse like bag. Not for me or Katara, but for Sokka.

"It's pricey... but I really do like it." Both Kai and I groaned in irritation as we listened to Sokka as he tried to talk himself in to take the bag, but then talk himself out of it again. "Then you should get it, you deserve something nice." Katara said to her brother with Momo on her shoulder. "I do, don't I?" Sokka said as he turned to face his sister. Please, just take the bag already so we can leave this shop! I swear Sokka's shopping addiction is worst than Iroh's!

"But no, it's too expensive. I shouldn't." Sokka said with a mopey, disappointed, sad voice. I rolled my eyes in frustration, while Kai growled his. Growled! That's how annoyed the fire ferret is! "All right, then don't." Katara said, and before Sokka could change his mind again, Aang and I stood up from our seats and followed Katara out of the shop. "You know what? I'm gonna get it." Oh for crying out loud!

Not wanting to do something both Kai and I would regret, I walked out of the shop even faster. As we waited for Sokka to pay for his bag, a man walked over to us and showed Aang a flyer. "Psst, psst! Hey, you kids love earthbending? You like throwing rocks? Then check out Master Yu's Earthbending Academy." The man said and handed the flyer to Aang before walking away. I watched the man leave with a frown while Aang and Katara read the flyer.

"Look! There's a coupon on the back! The first lesson is free." Aang said, getting my attention. I turned back to him and looked when he showed me the coupon. "Who knows? This Master Yu could be the earthbending teacher you've been looking for." Katara said with a hopeful smile. Sokka then came over with his new bag and read the flyer over Aang's shoulder. I took the flyer from Aang and reread it with a frown. No offense Katara, but I don't think this guy is meant to be Aang's earthbending teacher.

***

Keeping my opinion to myself, the four of us went to Master Yu's academy. Aang went inside alone, while the rest of us waited outside. We barely waited 10 minutes when Aang walked out with other students, dressed like a student as well, with a student hat along with it. I looked to Aang with full attention as I waited for his opinion on Master Yu. Aang shrugged to me and started hitting his right ear to let rocks come out of his left. "Ehhh, he's not the one." Called it!

"I think The Boulder's going to win back the belt at Earth Rumble Six." One of the students said to his friend as they walked away from the academy. He was bald with a small patch of grey hair, while his friend had brown locks. "He's going to have to fight his way through the best earthbenders in the world to get a shot at the champ." The friend said, getting both mine and Aang's attention even more. Aang smiled bright with hope and runover to the teenage boys.

"Excuse me, but where is this earthbending tournament, exactly?" He asked them, stopping when they stopped and turned to face him. "It's on the island of Noneya." The first one answered as he and his friend looked down at Aang, slightly taller than him. I frowned at his answer and was about to question him, when he spoke his next comment. "Noneya business!" Both teenager boys burst into laughter and left.

I shot a death glare at their backs before walking over to a disappointed Aang. Sokka walked over as well, laughing his breath away. "Oh, I got to remember that one!" Sokka said as he wiped a tear away. I shot Sokka a glare before looking to Katara. She nodded to my silent message before placing her hands on Aang's shoulder. "We'll take care of this." Katara said to him and nodded over to me. I nodded as well and handed Kai over to Aang.

"Hey, strong guys! Wait up!" Katara called out as she and I run after the teenage boys. We turned around a corner where nobody can see us, and spotted the boys. They stopped when they heard us, and they were both smirking smugly. "Can we help you ladies with something?" The brunet one asked before showing off his 'muscles'. I mentally rolled my eyes before giving them both a sweet girly smile. "You can say that..." I said, playing with my hair. "But first."

Catching them by surprise, I send an airball at their feet, tripping them. They both cried out in when they fell and was about to use earthbending to catch themselves. Before they could, I airbended them up and made them knock their heads together. As I airbended them in the air, Katara waterbended some water around them and froze them on the walls. They cried out again and tried to get out of the ice while they're head at head.

Katara and I high fived each other before walking over to the boys. They stared at us nervously and in fear. I shot them a glare as I crossed my arms along with Katara. "Now, my brother asked you a simple question." I said and took a slight step forward. "And he asked it nicely." Katara added with her own glare. The boys eyes widen more in fear as they stared at us. "So, we're going to ask the question again." I said as took another step forward before Katara spoke. "And you're going to answer it, without sarcasm!"

They both immediately answered. Both Katara and I smirked in victory before with a high five. "Hey! What about us?!?" One of them yelled as we walked away. "I think you should think about your manners while you two are hanging around!" I said to them over my shoulder with a smirk. Katara giggled at my comment before running over to Aang and Sokka when we saw them again.

"You ready to find an earthbending teacher? Because we're going to Earth Rumble Six!" Katara told them excitedly while I took Kai back from Aang. Aang looked to us surprise before asking, "How'd you get them to tell you?" Katara and I looked to each other and smiled before shrugging as if it was nothing. "Oh... a girl has her ways, right Asami?" Katara said as she smiled to me knowingly. "Right." I said as I returned the smile and petted Kai.

***

We arrived to the location of Earth Rumble Six in nightfall. The place was packed with many excited people. Aang was still dressed is his Earthbending school clothes. Usually I would wear boots or longs pants, along with a long sleeve shirt or long sleeve gloves to hide my tattoos. But since it was so hot tonight, I decided to hear shorts, and a short sleeve, open back green shirt. To hide my tattoos, I wore a very thin cape that covered my body.

When we finally got to the seats, I noticed that all the front row seats were open. "Hey, front row seats! I wonder why no one else is sitting here." Aang said as we all sat down. But the second we sat down, a huge rock crashed right next to us. An inch closer and we would have been crushed. "I guess that's why." Sokka said after we all jumped up from our seats and stared at the rock with wide shocked eyes.

Our attention was brought back to the fighting ring when a man with long straight black hair appeared on an earth platform. He earthbended the platform back, and leveled the arena before speaking to the audience. "Welcome to Earth Rumble Six! I am your host, Xin Fu!" The host, Xin Fu, said with his arm raised up. The audience cheered in excitement, while we just watched.

"This is just going to be a bunch of guys chucking rocks at each other, isn't it?" Katara said in boredom as she played with her nails while sitting next to Aang. "That's what I paid for." Sokka said with a big happy smile, sitting next to me. I rolled my eyes before crossing my arms and laid back with Kai on my shoulder, and Aang sitting on my left side. "Their smack talk better be good." I said as I got comfortable. "They do smack talk?" Sokka asked me excitedly, making me blink at him surprised.

Before I could answer him, Xin Fu started speaking again. "The rules are simple. Just knock the other guy out of the ring, and you win!" He jumps up and lands on the podium above the fighting ring. "Round one: The Boulder vs. The Big Bad Hippo!" Xin Fu said as a tall, muscular man stood in the fighting ring with his arms raised as the audience cheered him. A big fat guy jumped into the fighting ring, and roared, showing us he only had 4 teeth. Two on the top and two on the bottom, like a hippo.

"Listen up, Hippo. You may be big, but you ain't bad! The Boulder's gonna win this in a landslide!" The Boulder said to the Hippo with a smirk. I groaned at his smack talk, while Kai facepalmed himself with his front paw. "Me too Kai. This smack talk is not impressive at all." I said to the fire ferret as I waited for Hippo's comeback. "Hippo... mad!" Hippo roared his anger and stomped his foot. Great... Another not so bright earthbender. The Boulder bended a few large rocks up and fired them at Hippo.

They crashed right into Hippo, but he stood strong and didn't even move an inch. He even catch one of the rocks in his mouth! Hippo chewed the rock into small pieces before spitting it out. He then started jumping up and down, rocking the arena like a boat with each landing. This caused the Boulder to lose his balance. "Unbelievable, ladies and gentlemen! The Hippo is rocking the boat!" Xin Fu said to the audience while the Boulder tried to get his balance back.

Just as he reached the edge, the Boulder earthbended a small platform which stopped him from falling off the ring. While Hippo had his back turned to the Boulder, waving his arms to the crowd in victory, the Boulder grabbed the platform he made and threw it. The platform crashed right into Hippo's back. Hippo turned around and glared at the Boulder. But before he could attack, the Boulder bended the earth under Hippo's feet. He raised the earth up with Hippo still on it, and threw them both out of the arena.

"The Boulder wins!" Xin Fu cried out to the audience while the Boulder waved his arms to the crowd in victory. "How about The Boulder? He's got some good moves." Katara asked Aang as she watched the earthbender. Good moves? I can take this guy down with my eyes closed. I thought to myself as I watch the Boulder with an unimpressed expression. Aang shrugged to Katara as he watch the Boulder with uncertainty.

"I don't know. Bumi said I need a teacher who listens to the earth." He said to her, before smiling jokingly. "He's just listening to his big muscles." I laughed at his comment before nodded in agreement. "What do you think, Sokka?" Aang asked as we turned to Sokka to hear is opinion. But instead of getting an answer, Sokka was standing on his seat as he cheered loudly to the Boulder. "Oh brother!" I said as I rolled my eyes along with Kai.

"What do you think Asami?" Aang asked me for my opinion when he turned to me. "With the way he smack talks, I don't think he is all up there." I said as I pointed to the side of my head, indicating that the Boulder isn't so bright. Katara and Aang both thought about it for a moment before nodding in agreement. "And with the way he fights, I also agree that he is listening to his muscles." I added as I crossed my arms again.

"And personally, I can take this guy down with my eyes closed." I said, making Aang smile as he and Kai nod to me in agreement. "Say what!?!" Sokka snapped as he turned and glared down at me. I rolled my eyes before looking up to him with a glare. "Oh now you listen!" I said with a scoff, before shaking my head and looked back the fighting ring. Before Sokka could snap and argue with me, Xin Fu announced the next Match.

"Next match! The Boulder vs. Fire Nation Man!" Did he just say... Before I could finish the question in my head, a man dressed with Fire Nation clothes walked into the fighting ring while waving a Fire Nation flag. Oh dear ginseng tea help us all! I thought as I facepalmed at the earthbender's costume and stage name. Out of all the costumes and names he could have taken, he just had to name himself after the Nation everybody hates.

The audience, Sokka included, booed at Fire Nation Man. "Please, to rise for Fire Nation national anthem!" Fire Nation Man said to us before placing his left hand over his heart. Oh please don't! Please don't throw your name even further away! I begged, but unfortunately he started singing. "Fire Lord! My flame burns for thee!" He sang, even going down on his knees as he sang. You're just making them hate you more.

The audience booed even louder and started throwing rocks at him, proofing my point. "Go back to the Fire Nation!" Sokka yelled out and threw his rock, hitting Fire Nation Man right on the head. The rest of us stared at Sokka in surprise. Fire Nation Man glared up at Sokka in anger. Before he could do anything, he was suddenly sunk chest deep into the ground. When he looked up, he realized it was the Boulder who earthbended him into the ground.

The Boulder then earthbended a tall pillar with him on top of it. Fire Nation Man's eyes widen in fear when he realized what the Boulder is going to do. "No... No, please!" He begged as he stared at the Boulder with petrified eyes. The Boulder just grinned before leaping in the air with a serious expression. He held his feet back and hit the ground with his knees. A pillar then shot up from under Fire Nation Man and send him into the air.

Fire Nation Man screamed as he flew in the air before crashing on the rock next to Sokka. "Yeah! Wooo!" Sokka cheered as he flew up to his feet and pointed at Fire Nation Man. "The Boulder knows how to put the hurt in the dirt!" He exclaimed and started making taunting faces as he continued cheering. "Yeah! Woohoo!" Both Kai and I groaned in annoyance before looking back to at the arena.

When we looked back, we saw a badgermole making the arena smooth again. Then the next match came one after the other, and in each match, the Boulder won. With every win, the more Sokka cheered. I'm surprised he hasn't screamed his voice away yet. Anyway, I also noticed the more the Boulder won, the bigger his ego grew. The more I watched his fighting, the more I knew that this guy is not going to be Aang's earthbending teacher.

After the last match, Xin Fu spoke as a spotlight appeared. "Now, the moment you've all been waiting for. The Boulder vs. your champion... the Blind Bandit!" The crowd went wild and started chatting the name. In the spotlight, small girl with black hair and wearing green Earth Kingdom clothes along with a green cape appeared. She was no older than 12 and she was holding a championship belt above her head.

I looked to the girl with surprise, impress, and also respect. She must be really good if she's the all time champion. I thought to myself as I watched her hand her championship belt to one of the assistant ladies while the other on took off her cape for her. Not many people can fight well in battle, let alone a young short child, let alone a young girl. That makes me respect her even more! Wait a second, did he just say blind?

"She can't really be blind." Katara said, sharing a surprised expression with Aang and I. "It's just part of her character, right?" She question while I focused on her eyes. "I think she is." Aang answered while I nodded in agreement. That little girl is really blind. Now I'm even more impressed! "I think she is..." Sokka started saying before shouting and made a downward gesture with his hands. "Going down!" Both Kai and I shot him a glare before looking back to the fighting ring.

"The Boulder feels conflicted about fighting a young blind girl." The Boulder said to the Blind Bandit standing on his side of the fighting ring. Why does he always to in third person's? It's just 'the Boulder this' 'the Boulder that'. I thought after rolling my eyes in irritation at the Boulder's speech. "Sounds to me like you're scared, Boulder!" She said as she made a mocking scared position. "Oooh!" I said with a smirk, while Kai yip in excitement.

The Boulder was stunned by the Bandit's words before he glared at her. "The Boulder's over his conflicted feelings, and now he's ready to bury you screen in a rock-alanche!" He said, making me roll my eyes at his terrible smack talk. "Whenever you're ready, The Pebble!" She said pointing at him with a smirk and then threw her head back as she laughed. ""I love this girl!" I said while laughing when I heard the Boulder's nickname. Kai was laughing as well in his own fire ferret way.

"It's on!" The Boulder exclaimed as he glared at the Bandit. While the two did a stare off, I moved slightly forward on my seat to get a better view. This is a fight I want to watch with full attention. The Boulder battle cried and took a step forward. The Bandit got into her stance and stood there calmly with a neutral expression. Just as the Boulder was about to take his next step, the Bandit send a small kick to the ground. A line of earth rumble formed and headed straight to the Boulder.

When the Boulder placed his foot down, the rubble was under that foot. In a split second, the earth rubble moved his foot, and made the Boulder do a perfect split. Both Sokka, Momo and Kai flinched at the split. The Boulder cried out in pain, while Aang and I were still staring wide surprised eyes. The Bandit took a step forward, and with her right hand, she made a chopping motion. Three sideway pillars formed out of the ground, hitting the Boulder and shot him right out of the fighting ring.

"Your winner, and still the champion, the Blind Bandit!" Xin Fu announced while the Bandit waved her fist in the air in victory. Sokka started crying at the Boulder losing while Kai jumped up and down on my shoulder, yipping his cheer at the Bandit's win. I chuckled at my fire ferret before looking to Aang with a knowing smile, which he returned. "Well I'm impressed." I said, getting a yip of agreement from Kai.

"How did she do that?" Katara asked as she smiled at the fighting ring, also impressed. "She waited." Aang answered with a smiled and looked to me. I smiled as well before adding to his comment. "And listened." Kai yip his excitement again and just stared at the Blind Bandit in admiration. You and me both Kai! I thought with a soft chuckle and petted Kai behind the ear. Kai groaned in pleasure, but he refused to look away from her.

Xin Fu jumped down from the podium and lands next to the Bandit. A green bag in his left hand, he lifted it up and showed it to the audience. "To make things a little more interesting, I'm offering up this sack of gold pieces to anyone who can defeat he Blind Bandit!" Total silence. Nobody stood up and volunteered to go against her. "What? No one dares to face her?" Xin Fu asked with a fake surprise voice. I waited a few moments before standing up and opened my mouth.

"I will!"

My eyes widen in shock. It wasn't me who just spoke, it was Aang. Before my very eyes, I saw Aang entering the fighting ring with a smile. Xin Fu frowned in disappointment before jumping back up onto the podium. "Go Aang! Avenge The Boulder!" Sokka cheered excitedly, making Kai and I glare at him, but he didn't notice our glares. "What are you doing Aang?" I questioned silently as I watched my little brother.

"Do people really want to see two little girls fighting out here?" The Bandit asked with a smirk, making the audience 'ooh'. That was a pretty good roast. I don't know if I should laugh, or feel offended for my brother. Aang frowned at her before raising his hands slightly up in surrender. "I don't really want to fight you. I want to talk to you." He said before putting his hands back down. Both Kai and I facepalmed with a groan. Seriously Aang!?!

"Boo! No talking!" Sokka exclaimed with a glare. "Hey!" I snapped and slapped him behind the head. "Don't boo at him!" Katara said to her brother as she glared at him in disappointment. Sokka frowned while rubbing his head. I shot him one last glare before handing Kai over to Katara. "Keep an eye on him." I said to her while taking off my cape. Both Katara's and Sokka's eyes widen in surprise when saw me taking off my cape, showing my tattoos for everyone.

"Asami, what are you doing?" Katara asked with wide eyes. "Stopping my brother from doing something stupid." I said and started marching towards the fighting ring. "But your tattoos are visible!" She exclaimed as I kept walking. "I know!" I said without turning around. I didn't want to take off my cape and have my tattoos visible. But the cape is just going to get in my way if I'm going to fight. Which I strongly believe I will.

On my way to the fighting ring, I saw Aang taking a step forward. As he took his step, I saw the Bandit smiling the second his foot hit the ground before she stomped the ground with her left foot. A shock wave headed straight to Aang before the earth rise up under his feet. Seeing the wave, Aang quickly launched himself into the air before the large rock could hit him. He slowly floated behind the Bandit and softly landed on his feet.

Being an airbender, both Aang and I are able to float slowly down like feathers when launched up in the air and land softly on our feet. The audience were impressed with Aang's light feet landing. But the Bandit, she was annoyed. The second Aang landed, she turned around and shot Aang a death glare. Her glare made me quicken my pace, knowing that my brother won't fight back. He's just going to avoid her attacks by floating while he tries to talk to her. Which is just going to annoy her even more.

"Somebody's a little light on his feet!" She said as she glared at him. "What's your fighting name? The Fancy Dancer?" She asked in sarcasm. Aang grinned sheepishly to her with a shrug. But his grin quickly fell when felt the ground shake underneath him. Knowing that she's going to shot a pillar under him, I launched myself up in the air. I quickly airbended myself over to Aang and grabbed him. We flipped in the air before landing back on the ground.

The audience gasped when they saw me, while the Bandit gritted her teeth in anger. "Two girls now!?! Seriously!" She exclaimed in frustration while Aang and I stood up. "Asami, what are you doing?" Aang asked me in surprise but I was staring at the Blind Bandit, inspecting her. "Don't fight her sis. I just need to talk to her." Aang said as he tried to get me to leave the fighting ring. But I just kept ignoring him as stared at the blind girl. Feeling my stare, the Bandit shot me a glare.

"Where did you come from?" She asked before scoffing and shook her head. "You know what? It doesn't matter! Because I'm going to take you both down!" She exclaimed before she got in earthbending stance. "Please! I just want to talk!" Aang said before she shot two pillars up from under us. "I don't want to talk!" She snapped after Aang and I launched ourselves up and floated behind her before we landed softly on our feet.

"You're light on your feet as well. Looks like we have a Dancing Duet!" The Bandit said as she turned around and glare at us. "Let me guess, you're fighting name is the Dancing Queen?" I smirked at the stage name she gave me before getting in battle stance. "No... the Protector." I answered before grabbing Aang and flipped over the rock she shot at us. After we landed, I took a step forward and spoke.

"I'll fight you."

"Asami no." Aang said behind me but stayed quiet when raised my hand up. "I'll fight you... and if you win, you'll get the opportunity of a life time." I said, keeping my eyes on the Bandit. "IF I win!?! You're really full of yourself!" She snapped as her glared deepened. "No, I've just been trained my whole life to take anyone down." I said and got in battle stance. "Oh yeah? Well take this Bodyguard!" She exclaimed and shot a boulder at me.

Before it could hit me, I airbended an air bubble around, stopping it before shooting it off the arena. The audience gasped at my move while the Bandit frown in confusion, most likely sensing that I didn't use earthbending to move the large rock. "Yeah! Take her down Asami!" I rolled my eyes as I heard Sokka's voice cheering from the audience. But I couldn't help but smile as my heart warmed up from hearing my friend cheering me on.

"It's Protector." I said as I ignore Sokka's cheering. Well, ignoring as best as I can. "And is that the best you can do?" I asked smirking, pushing her buttons a bit. The Bandit gritted her teeth, but she calmed herself quickly. "I'm just getting started." She said as she waited for my next move making me smirk proudly at her. Good... She has a temper but knows how to control it. "We'll see about that." I said without breaking my smirk as I got back into my battle stance.

"Everything alright back there little brother?" I asked as I looked my shoulder to make sure Aang was still there and okay before facing the Blind Bandit again. "I seriously think you need to stop fighting her Asami." Aang said from behind me. The Bandit rolled her blind eyes while I just sighed. "Like I was saying earlier," I started off, ignoring Aang as I spoke. "If you can take me down, you're not only keeping your title as champion, but you'll get the honor of training someone very important."

"Not interested in training some spoiled kid!" She snapped and earthbended a rock up and shot at me. Both Aang and I dodged the rock before standing straight. Aang was watching with worried eyes, while I was learning the Blind Bandit's fighting style. "He's not spoiled." I said as I got back in fighting position. "Far from it actually!" I added with a chuckle before smirking again. "And... You only get to train him if you win against me." I said, pushing her buttons again.

"I am going to win!" The Bandit snapped and shot a pillar under me. I backflipped away from the pillar before landing with a smirk. "We'll see about that." I said with a cocky smirk, making the Bandit grit het teeth in anger. The Bandit shot another pair of pillars under Aang and I. We both launched ourselves in the air and floated a little longer in the air. "Where'd you go?" She said as we floated before finally landing behind her again.

"Please, wait!" Aang begged, giving ourselves away before she could even sense us. "There you are!" She exclaimed with a smirk. She then bended two large rocks up and send them right at us. Before the rocks could hit us, I launched myself in the air and flipped over the rock. Aang on the other hand, used his airbending to stop the rock. Unfortunately, his airbending send a blast at the Bandit, and it knocked her right out of the ring.

Great... Nice going Aang! Now she's never going to listen! I thought to myself as I groaned at my brother's stupid move and facepalmed myself. If that wasn't bad enough, the audience started cheering for Aang, which definitely bruised the Bandit's ego even more.

"There goes your earthbending teacher." I said as I crossed my arms and gave my little brother a pointed look. Aang blinked at me in surprise for a moment before running over to the stairs, where the Blind Bandit fell. "Please, listen!" He called out to her, running halfway down the stairs before stopping. "Like my sister said, I need an earthbending teacher, and I think it's supposed to be you!" He added, but the Bandit just continued marching away.

"Whoever you and that girl are, just leave me alone." The Bandit snapped before stopping in front of a wall. She earthbended a doorway and entered through it before turning around and bended it closed again. "Wait!" Aang called as he run after her, but unfortunately didn't reach her in time. I slowly followed after Aang before stopping behind him. "We'll find her." I said as I placed my hand on his shoulder and gave it a slight squeeze. Aang nodded sadly to me before we walked back to the arena.

Once we arrived back, Xin Fu was standing in the arena, holding the Champion belt and the bag of gold. Sokka and Katara also came up onto the fighting ring. Sokka run over to Xin Fu and hugged the earthbender before grabbing the money and belt from him. "Way to go, champ!" Sokka said to Aang as he wrapped his arm around Aang's shoulder and held the belt in the air to show the crowd. Aang just sighed in sadness and looked down.

***

The next day came soon after, and we were walking back to the Earthbending Academy where Aang tried out the previous day. Aang was back in his air nomad clothes and his hat. I was wearing the same clothes from last night, along with my cape. "I've got to admit, now I'm really glad I bought this bag. It matches the belt, perfectly." Sokka said as he played with the big belt around his waist. "That is a big relief." Katara said in sarcasm while I rolled my eyes at her brother with Kai on my shoulder.

"If we want to find the Blind Bandit, the Earthbending Academy is a great place to start." Aang said as we neared the academy. "Don't worry Aang, we'll find her." I said as I placed my hand on his shoulder. He smiled up to me before we entered the academy. As we entered, we noticed the two boys from yesterday. They were each busy punching into a large vase full of sand, but soon stopped when they saw us.

"Oh great, you again." They grey haired one said with a slight glare. Both Katara and I shot them a death glare and threatened to step forward. They both screamed in fear and jumped back. "Yeah, I didn't think so." Katara said while I crossed my arms with a proud smirk. "Nicely done." Sokka said with a proud smile to his sister. Kai yipped softly his proudness to me before rubbing his cheek against mine.

"Hey! You're the Protector and that kid who beat the Blind Bandit!" The brunette boy said to Aang and I before he and his friend walked over to us. "We need to talk to her. Do you guys know where she lives?" Aang asked them with a hopeful voice. "The Blind Bandit's a mystery. She shows up to fight, then disappears." The grey headed boy said, making frown slightly at his dramatics. Aang looked down, sadden at the intel. Both Katara and I frowned before she moved over to him.

"Let me handle this." She said to Aang after placing her hand on his shoulder. She then moved in front of the boys and gave them a death glare. "You're not telling us everything!" She exclaimed as she pointed her finger at them. My eyes widen at her while the boys held up their hands in defense. "Whoa there Katara! Ease up on the threat." I said as I grabbed her and pulled her slightly back. Katara looked to me with surprise eyes but stayed quiet.

"Now I'm sure you boys know a bit more." I said as I stood in front of Katara. They both stayed silent until both Kai and I gave them death glares. "Right?" I questioned with my glare, making them hold up their hands defensively again. "No, no, I-I swear it's true. No one knows where she goes, or who she really is." The brunette quickly answered. This made Aang quietly sigh in defeat, before he suddenly spoke behind me. "That's because we're asking about the wrong person."

I frowned as I turned to face Aang. "In my vision, I saw a girl, in a white dress, with a pet flying boar. Know anybody like that?" He asked, making me frown in surprise. Flying boar? That's the Beifong family symbol. "Well, a flying boar is the symbol of the Beifong family. They're the richest people in town. Probably the whole world." The grey haired spoke, confirming my suspicion. "Yeah, but they don't have a daughter." The brunette soon added, making me huff a chuckle. Of coarse they don't.

"A flying boar is good enough for me. Let's check it out!" Aang said to us excitedly before exiting the academy. "Yeah, you better leave." The grey headed boy said quietly as both boys tried to act tough as the glared at us. "Hey! I got my eye on you." Katara warned as she pointed at them walking out the exit. "Water Tribe." Sokka said with a proud voice as he walked out backwards. I rolled my eyes at Sokka before giving the boys a warning glare. They both jumped in fright, making Kai and I chuckle as we followed after the others.

***

We soon arrived at a beautiful country estate with a huge beautiful garden with ponds. What caught my attention was how walled up the estate was. The way the wall is build, you can clearly see it was build to keep in, not out. "That's the flying boar from my vision." Aang said and pointed at the flying boar symbol that was hanging above the gate. "Come on!" He said excitedly and moved behind the estate.

Aang airbended himself over the wall before waiting for me. "You guys ready?" I asked the Water Tribe siblings. They both nodded yes as they stood ready. I nodded back before airbending each of them up and over the wall. Aang quickly used his airbending to catch them and landed them softly on their feet. Once Aang gave me the thumbs up, I airbended Kai over before bending myself over.

Once my feet hit the ground, I took Kai from Sokka before we all moved deeper into the garden. We moved around the trees and bushes as we searched for the Blind Bandit. As we looked around, I felt a sudden vibration underneath me. "Oh cabbages..." I mutter, grabbing onto Kai from my should before all five of us were launched into the air.

We all screamed as we flew up in the air. When gravity came in, I quickly airbended an air bubble around Aang, Kai and I. Aang, Kai and I landed safely on the ground with our air bubbles, while Katara landed on a soft flower bush. Sokka, on the other hand, landed face first on the ground. He groaned in pain before looking up. "Couldn't air bubble us as well Asami?" Sokka asked me with a glare. I just shrugged as I sat on the ground.

Before I could say anything, the Blind Bandit suddenly stood in front of us. Only this time, she was dressed in a nice, beautiful white and light green dress with her hair tight up nicely. "What are you doing here, Twinkle Toes?!" She asked as she stood in front of Aang, who was looking at her upside down on the bush I landed him on. "How did you know it was me?" Aang asked curiously without moving from his upside down position.

"Don't answer to Twinkle Toes! It's not manly!" Sokka snapped as he shot Aang an annoyed glare. Both Katara and I rolled our eyes at him as we stood up. "You're the one whose bag matches his belt." Katara said while I pointed to her with a nod of agreement. Kai yipped his agreement before climbing out of my arms and climb up them to my shoulder. "See? Even Kai agrees!" I said, pointing at Kai, which earned me a not amused glare from Sokka.

"How did you find me?" The Bandit asked with a no nonsense voice, which made me like and respect her even more. "Well, a crazy king told me I had to find an earthbender who listens to the earth." Aang answered as he used airbending to get himself off the bush and stood up straight in front of her. "And then I had a vision in a magic swamp, and-" He continued speaking, making the Bandit raise her eyebrow up in disbelieve, before I stepped in and covered my brother's mouth.

"Slow down little brother." I said to Aang while Katara sighed in relief for me cutting him off before she spoke to the Blind Bandit. "What Aang is trying to say is, he's the Avatar. And if he doesn't master earthbending soon, he won't be able to defeat the Fire Lord." Without even showing an expression of what she just heard, the Bandit just showed her hand to Katara's face. "Not my problem." She said, making Kai yip in surprise for all of us while started walking away.

"Now, get out of here, or I'll call the guards." I scoffed at her as I crossed my arms before speaking. "Well aren't you stubborn." She just ignored me as she continued walking away. "Look, we all have to do our part to win this war, and yours is to teach Aang earthbending." Sokka spoke, making her stop. It looked like she was thinking about what the Water Tribe boy said, but the second she opened her mouth, we knew it wasn't. "Guards! Guards, help!"

"Why you little brat!" I said through gritted teeth before using airbending to lift all four of us, Kai included, up and moved over to one of the houses and landed softly on the roof. Two guards arrived soon after while the Bandit put her side layer hair behind her ears, out of her face. "Toph, what happened?" One of the guards asked her, while the other looked around for any sign of danger. "I... thought I heard someone. I got scared." The Bandit, or Toph as we now know, said pretending to be scared.

"You know your father doesn't want you wandering the grounds without supervision, Toph." The guard said to her before escorting her back inside the main house. "She's good." I said with a slight smirk as I my head from what just happened. Aang, who was laying next to me on the roof, watched Toph and the guards walk away before suddenly getting a cheeky smile. "Uh oh... I know that smile." I said with a half smile and a half worry frown. "What are you thinking?" "I got a plan!" Aang said before climbing off the roof.

***

So, my brother's great idea was to invite himself and the rest of us inside the Beifong's home. At first they didn't like us for coming unannounced, but when they heard the Avatar was here, they soon invited us for dinner with open arms. Once we entered the dining room, the table was full of food. From roast duck, to rice, to jam filled buns, to even fish! We sat down and waited to be served when the Beifong family entered along with earthbending master Aang saw the other day, Master Yu.

We all were busy eating peacefully, well all except Sokka. He was devouring his as if he hasn't eaten for a month, while we all know he hasn't eaten for at least 15 minutes. I was about to tell Sokka to slow down before he chokes when a servant walked in and placed a bowl of hot soup in front of Toph. Before Toph could even pick up her spoon to eat her delicious soup, her father ordered the servant. "Blow on it. It's too hot for her."

I frowned slightly at how her father is babying her, but held my opinion to myself. "Allow me." Aang said before making a small tornado with airbending and send it over to Toph's soup, cooling it off immediately. I smile softly and shook my head at my little brother's showing off, while the others clapped their hands in impress. "Show off." I said to Aang with a smile as I nudged his elbow with mine. Aang smiled brightly to me before looking in front of him when Toph's mother spoke.

"Avatar Aang, it's an honor to have you visit us." Aang nodded his thanks to her before looking over to Toph's father when he spoke next. "In your opinion, how much longer do think the war will last?" I looked to Aang and gave a warning look, but he paid me no mind as he answered. "I'd like to defeat the Fire Lord by the end of summer, but I can't do that without finding an earthbending teacher first." Aang said as he gave Toph a knowing look, which she noticed even though she's blind.

"Well, Master Yu is the finest teacher in the land. He's been teaching Toph since she was little." Toph's father said with pride as he looked over to Master Yu. "Then she must be a great earthbender! Probably good enough to teach someone else!" Aang said with a big smile, making me mentally facepalm myself. I was about to pinch his arm to stop him from talking, when I felt a small vibration on the ground. "Ow!" Aang yelled out and jumped slightly up.

When he jumped, I saw a small rock had suddenly formed under Aang's feet. I looked over to Toph and saw her smiling as she ate her rice. I couldn't help but smile as well with a small giggle. Toph's father gave each Aang and his daughter an odd glance before Master Yu suddenly spoke. "Toph is still learning the basics." I frowned in confusion before frowning more when her father spoke. " Yes, and sadly, because of her blindness, I don't think she will ever become a true master."

I'm sorry, what? I thought to myself while Aang, Katara, Sokka and I each looked to each other in confusion. "Oh, I'm sure she's better than you think she is." Aang said, making me sigh and shake my head at him. He's trying to hard. Not a second after Aang spoke, his chair suddenly moved forward, causing his face to fall into his soup. Katara and Sokka frowned in confusion at Aang while I tried not to laugh. It doesn't take a genius to know that Toph earthbended Aang's chair.

Aang lifted his face up before removing the bowl off his face. Everybody, except Toph and I, were frowning in confusion, while Toph and I were smiling as we ate our rice. Aang rubbed the soup out of his eyes and off his face when he suddenly smirk. Recognizing his mischief smirk, I quickly stood up just in time when he sneezed on purpose. The second he sneezed, a strong air blast came out and was heading straight for the food.

Knowing that Toph, her mother and Master Yu will get hit by the food, I quickly used my airbending to grab Aang's sneeze and airbended it out the window. Everybody around the table were shock at the sneeze and sudden airbending, while Aang looked nervously over to me. But I just shot him a disappointed look. Sneezing on purpose to send food flying into their just to get back on someone in front of their family is very childish!

"Aang, I'm very disappointed in you!" I said as placed my hands on my hips. "For that move of yours I should airbend that sneeze right back into your mouth!" I exclaimed as I pointed at him, scolding him like an angry teacher. Aang gasp in surprise before quickly closing his mouth and covered it with both hands. Yeah, you better keep it close! I can get that sneeze back right now and put it back where it came from.

"I'm sorry, but did I just see you airbend?" Toph's father asked, getting my attention. "Yes sir." I answered with a nod before sitting down again. "Asami is Aang's older sister." Katara said with a proud smile, while Aang nodded to Katara in agreement while still holding his mouth close. "She's his Protector!" Sokka added with a mouth full food. I rolled my eyes at Sokka before blushing shyly when all attention was on me.

"The Avatar's Protector?" Toph's mother said in both shock and awe. "I've only heard rumors about the Protector." She added as she looked to me with a bright smile, which I returned with a blush. "Is it true that you can fight against a whole army without even using your bending?" Toph's father asked. I smirked proudly at the question as I raised up my cup of tea to my lips. "With my hands tied and blindfolded." I simply answered before taking a sip of my tea.

"You can fight blindfolded?" Toph asked, speaking for the first time tonight, while her parents and Master Yu looked to me with disbelieve. "You can't possible fight tied up and blindfolded!" Yu said, making me smirk behind my cup. Aang and the Water Tribe siblings chuckled in amusement while took another sip of tea before putting my cup down. "Is that a challenge Master Yu?" I asked him with a daring smirk. Yu's eyes widen in slight fear before gulping and shook his head no.

***

Dinner went on after that, and it went well with no further incident. We even had dessert! After we ate, we went to our room the Beifong family gave us to sleep in for the night. Right next to our room window, was Appa, who will be sleeping outside. "Good night, buddy." Aang said, petting the flying bison's head. While he was busy petting Appa, I heard small soft footsteps behind us. I turned around and saw Toph leaning against the doorway.

Aang must have heard her footsteps as well, because he turned around as well. The second he saw her, he screamed in slight fear and surprise before jumping into defensive position. "Relax." She said as she laid against the doorway. I chuckled at Aang's jump scare before sending Toph a smile, even though she can't see it. "Look, I'm sorry about dinner. Let's call a truce, okay?" She soon asked and waited patiently for an answered.

Before Aang could get out of his defensive position and speak, I stood up with Kai on my shoulder and walked over to her. "Truce." I said and placed my hand on her shoulder and gave it a slight squeeze before looking over my shoulder at Aang. "Right Aang?" I asked and gave him a pointed look. Aang gulped before nodding yes as he got out of defensive position. "Yeah, truce." He said and walked over to us.

***

After we all declared truce, I convinced both Aang and Toph that the three of us, four including Kai, should go outside in the gardens and talk. Once we got to a bridge, Toph jumped up onto the side and walked down it, with her arms open wide for balance before speaking. "Even though I was born blind, I've never had a problem seeing." She said before jumping down when she got to the end of the bridge. "I see with earthbending. It's kind of like seeing with my feet." Toph said with a smile.

I smiled when I saw the young blind girl's smile and listened with full attention as she continued explaining how she 'sees'. "I feel the vibrations in the Earth, and I can see where everything is. You, that tree, even those ants." Both Aang and I frowned started looking around for the ants, but we didn't see any. Kai suddenly yipped from the ground, getting our attention. We turned to him and saw him sitting next to an ant nest.

"That's amazing." Aang said with a bright smile as he turned and faced Toph. "Agree!" I said as I picked Kai up and placed him on my shoulder. "My parents don't understand. They've always treated me like I was helpless." Toph said as her expression sadden. Mine did too as I realized that her story is not so different from mine. Toph's parents kept her locked away to protect because they believe she's helpless. While I was locked up by the Monks because I had to put the Avatar first.

"Is that why you became the Blind Bandit?" Aang asked with a sad frown. "Yeah." She answered, making my expression sadden more while Kai softly yipped his sadness for her. "Then why stay here where you're not happy?" Aang asked, making me sigh at my brother. Oh Aang... just because you're unhappy with how you live and being treated doesn't mean you can so easily walk away from it.

"They're my parents. Where else am I supposed to go?" Toph asked, making me have flashback of the Monks. How I wanted to leave them and the way of the Protector, and have my freedom back. But if I left, I would have left Aang, Appa and Monk Gyatso. And even though I hated living the life of the Protector, doesn't mean I hated being the Protector. Just wished I could have more than just 'the Avatar', even though I love my brother so much.

"You could come with us." Aang said with smile, which made me smile at my brother's kindness. "Yeah. You guys get to go wherever you want. No one telling you what to do, that's the life. It's just not my life." Toph said with sad and wanting voice, making me sigh. "Story of my life, huh Kai?" I said as I petted Kai. The fire ferret hummed in slight agreement as he rubbed his head on my head. I smiled softly at Kai from my shoulder before looking down.

"What do you mean?" Toph asked as she slightly turned to me with a confused frown. Aang was staring at me with confusion as well before it suddenly clicked him. "Your and Asami's story aren't so different from each other." He said, making the blind girl frown even more in confusion. "Really?" She asked in surprise. "Yeah, I can relate with you about losing your freedom and having your life controlled." I said before hugging Kai when he climbed down into my arms.

"But you're the Avatar's Protector." She said, making me huff in amusement. "Yeah, well, being the Protector ain't sunshine and roses." I said, while both Aang and Kai nodded in agreement from my statement. "One of the first and most important rule of being the Protector, is that the Avatar comes first, for everything." I said, which made Aang look down in shame, feeling guilty. I smiled sadly to my little brother and gently squeezed his shoulder, silently telling him that I don't blame him.

"When you say everything-" Toph started but got caught off by me. "I do mean everything." I said as placing Kai back on my shoulder. "Protectors aren't allowed friends or relationships. It's claimed that having them are distractions from the Avatar's safety. My childhood only involved training and Aang. The monks locked me in my room when they found out that I was in love and that I was planning on marrying him. They did everything they could to make sure that I lived the Protector's way."

"That sucks!" Toph said, making me chuckle as I nodded in agreement. "Tell me about it!" I said while Aang and Kai giggled softly. "How did you get away from it? How did you get your freedom?" Toph asked, and if you listened closely enough, you can hear a slight bit of hope in her voice. "I run away." I answered with a smile and slight shrug. But my smile soon fell when I realized that everything was quiet... Too quiet.

Just as I was about the question the silence, Toph kneeled down and touched the ground. "We're being ambushed!" She exclaimed before standing up and run over to Aang. She grabbed a hold of his wrist before they started running. I quickly checked around to see any danger before following after them. Suddenly, the ground shook underneath us when earth rubble formed behind us and circle around us.

We all stopped when the rubble got in front us, when the Gopher from Earth Rumble jumped out of the ground with an evil smirk. Both Toph and I got in battle stance when I suddenly heard something above us. I looked up and saw a few other fighters from Earth Rumble, and they were holding three metal cages. "Watch out!" I yelled out before rolling out of the way when the fighters drop the cages. I moved away just in time, but Toph and Aang didn't.

My eyes widen in worry when I saw them in the cages before glaring when Hippo jumped down and stomped his feet on the cages, making sure they were locked up tight. Before I stood up and run into battle, I put Kai down on the ground and looked him in the eyes. "Go and get help!" Kai nodded to me and immediately run back to the house. Meanwhile I charged right to the earthbenders that was holding my brother and his future earthbending master captive.

"I think you kids owe me some money." Xin Fu said as he stared at the cages with an evil smirk. "I don't think so!" I exclaimed, getting all of their attentions. I stopped right behind them and got in battle stance as I waited for them to face me. "Let them go!" I ordered as I shot them a warning death glare. "Let them go and I'll promise not to hurt you!" "You? Hurt us? Ha! Don't make us laugh! You're completely outnumbered by us!" Xin Fu said as he gave me a smirk that remined me of Zhao.

"Yeah, but you are completely outmatched!" I said to the soldier, get a split second of deja vu of Iroh, as I readied myself for battle. Xin Fu shot me a glare before looking over to his earthbending fighters. "Get her!" He ordered through gritted teeth. Fire Nation Man gritted his teeth and charged at me before the others could. I smirked when I saw him coming before doing a split and twirled on my back. As I twirled, I formed a small air tornado and send it off at the earthbender.

Fire Nation Man screamed in surprise as he flew in the air and crashed right next to Aang's metal cage. Aang smiled proudly at my performance while the other fighters stared at me in shock. "Anyone else?" I asked with smirk after jumping back on my feet. "Or am I going to send each of you dirt benders flying?" All of them gritted their teeth in anger while Aang laughed out in amusement, while Toph smirked hers. "Dirt benders! Hilarious!" Aang laughed, making me smirk more.

Xin Fu shot Aang a glare before moving his glare over to me. "You may have gotten a lucky shot now, but you can't take all of us at once!" He exclaimed as he pointed at me. "Oh, I can! And I will!" I said as I readied in fighting position. "So either you release my brother and my friend, or I'm going to bruise your egos so hard when you guys get beaten by a girl!" "The Boulder is not going to get beaten by a girl!" Boulder exclaimed before he and the Gecko charged at me.

I rolled my eyes at the Boulder's comment before I backflipped when a pillar formed under my feet. After avoiding the pillar, I landed on a kneeling position and one hand on the ground. "You were." I said before jumping up and flipped over them both. The Gecko shot two pairs of large stones at me, which I easily dodged and avoided before blast an air blast him, sending into a tree. Before anything else could happen, I kicked my war fans out of my boots.

The fans open in the air and landed right into my hands. I spun around quickly and made an air slice when Boulder shot a large boulder at me. I sliced the rock in half before shooting a blast of air at Boulder's feet, making him trip and fall face first. Before he could stand up again, I formed an air bubble around him and shot him over the wall. "And you just got beaten by a girl again!" I called out to him as he flew over with a smirk.

Feeling the vibrations, I jumped up just in time and kicked Gopher in the face as he appeared from under the ground, knocking him out. After knocking him out, I turned around just in time again when Hippo shot a boulder at me. Instead of slicing it, used my vans to send a strong wind blast at it, sending it right back at Hippo. He was surprise when he saw his boulder heading right back at him, but caught it with his hand before it could hit him.

Knowing that was what he was going to do, I send an air blast at his feet, making him trip backwards and fall down, also making the boulder fall down on his chest, knocking his air out. I stood up straight with a proud smirk and turned to Xin Fu who was glaring at me. "Last change." I said as I held on van in front of me and the other behind me. "Let them go, and I won't hurt you." I said with a serious expression as I waited for his move.

Xin Fu death glared at before shooting multiple rock and boulders at me. I flipped, dodged and used airbending to move them away from me. But after jumping up, flipping over the last one, Xin Fu caught me by surprise. Once I landed, Xin Fu soften the ground, which made me sink into it like it was quick sand. I cried out in surprise from the sudden sinking and before I could try to get out, Xin Fu harden the ground again, making me stuck in the ground.

"You're good." Xin Fu said as he walked over to me and smirked down at me. "But not good enough." He added while I glared up at him. "Oh yeah?" I asked before freeing one of my hands out of the ground and punched a strong air blast at him, sending him crashing right into the metal cages. I then tried to free my other hand from the ground, when something suddenly hit me behind the head. Before I knew it, everything was black.

***

Once I woke from whatever knocked me out, I realized I myself was in a metal cage. Not only was I held prisoner, but hanging above the arena from Earth Rumble. "Of coarse they brought us back here." I said to myself and rolled my eyes. "Asami!" Aang cried out in relief from the metal cage hanging next to me. "I was worried!" I send my little brother a smile, before flinching when I felt pain behind my head. "I'm okay Aang!" I said, flinching in pain as I rubbed the bump behind on my head.

"They caught me by surprise!" I said through gritted teeth, annoyed at myself. I should have paid more attention when I was trying to free myself. Shouldn't have gotten stuck in the earth in the first place! Can't believe I got myself trapped and knocked out by earthbenders! If the monks were still here and found out, they would have scolded me, put me in time out, and then put me in serious overtime protector training.

Breaking me out of my thought, Toph punched the cage she was hanging in that was hanging next to me. "You think you're so tough?" She asked in anger before putting her arm through the bars and pointed down. "Why don't you come up here so I can snap that grin off your face?" She snapped as she pointed at Xin Fu, who was staring up at us with the Boulder. "I'm not smiling." Xin Fu said, making me roll my eyes.

"You won't be able to smile when I'm done with you!" I snapped at him, receiving glares from him and the Boulder when Toph's father, Yu and the Water Tribe Siblings entered the arena. "Toph!" Her father exclaimed when he saw her hanging in the air in a cage. "Here's your money." Sokka said and placed a bag that was most likely filled with gold on the ground. "Now let them go." He added before Yu earthbended the money across the fighting ring, right to Xin Fu.

He picked up the money and examined the money. Okay with the money, he then signaled with his hand and Toph's cage was send down. As her cage lowered, I noticed that neither Aang nor I were being lowered, we were still hanging in the air. Once the Boulder opened the cage and released Toph, she run back to her father. He checked her before they and Yu left the arena. Okay, so they have their money now, and they released Toph! But what about Aang and I? Why aren't we set free yet?

"What about Aang?" Katara asked as she also noticed what I have. "Yeah, and Asami?" Sokka added as both siblings glared at Xin Fu. "I think the Fire Nation will pay a hefty price for the Avatar. As for the Protector, there is a nice bounty on her head from the Fire Nation princess." Xin Fu said as he showed then two wanted posters of us. I immediately flinched when I heard about the bounty and mentally glared at Azula for placing that bounty.

"Now, get out of my ring." Xin Fu said with a glare. The Water Tribe Siblings glared back and was about to attack when all the other Earthbender Fighters came up onto the ring. They were completely outnumbered, and as much greater fighters Sokka and Katara are, they won't be able to defeat all of them. Both Aang and I looked to each other through the bars before nodding in agreement. "Go, we'll be okay." Aang said as he waved his arm in a go away motion through the bars.

Sokka and Katara stared up at us with worried eyes before leaving. Xin Fu smirked in victory before signaling to lower both Aang and I down. "Traitors!" I snapped through gritted teeth when I saw the earthbenders. "Are you really going to give the Avatar, the world's last hope, to the Fire Nation! The enemy!" I exclaimed in anger as I slammed my fists against the cage. "Not to mention giving them the worlds last two airbenders as well." Aang added as he glared at the earthbenders in disappointment.

"For the right price, I would give up my own mother!" Xin Fu said with an evil smirk, making me glare at him even more. Before I could give him a piece of my mind, Hippo and Boulder picked Aang and I up, still in our cages, and carried us across the fighting ring on their shoulders. They were about to walk down the stairs when a wall formed in front of them. They turned around, and saw Toph and the Water Tribe Siblings standing on the other side of the arena.

"Let them go! I beat you all before and I'll do it again!" Toph said as she pointed at them. "The Boulder takes issue with that comment." The Boulder said before he and Hippo and threw us off their shoulders, across the fighting ring. Both Aang and I grunted as our cages landed hard on the ground. "That's it... They're dead!" I muttered through my gritted teeth as I rubbed the bump on my head that hit against the cage when we landed.

Suddenly, the arena shook, and before I knew it, I saw and smelled dust everywhere. "Aang! Asami!" I looked through the bars and saw Katara and Sokka running over to us. "Don't worry buddy!" Sokka said as he picked up a rock and started hitting the lock on Aang's cage with it. "We'll get you and your sister out in no time!" He added as he hit the lock with the rock. Katara picked up a rock as well and started hitting the lock on my cage.

As they were hitting the locks, I heard fighting in the background. "What's going on out there?" I asked with a frown. "Toph's fighting Xin Fu's fighters!" Katara answered as she continued hitting the lock with the rock in her hand. "Alone!?!" I exclaimed in shocked, before laying down flat on my back and started kicking the door. "She can't take them all on alone!" I exclaimed through each kick, trying to get out even quicker to help the blind earthbender girl.

"Hit it harder!" Aang exclaimed as he also started kicking his cage's door. "I'm trying!" Sokka exclaimed as he continued hitting the lock. "Well try harder!" I exclaimed and kicked the door with both legs at the same time. "Not helping Asami!" Sokka snapped at me before he continued hitting the lock on Aang's cage. Both of the siblings gave the locks one hard hit, and the locks broke, freeing Aang and I.

"Finally!" I exclaimed as I jumped out of my cage and got in battle stance. But. once I saw the small pile of earthbenders outside the arena, I stood up straight with a smirk. "Well I'll be, she can take them all on alone." I said as I crossed my arms and watched, impressed. Aang soon after jumped out of his cage, also in battle stance. Before he could go in battle, Sokka stopped him. Sokka shook his head and pointed at the dust cloud.

Out of the dust cloud, Hippo came out with a big, flat, round rock, shaking it around, trying to hit something. Once he noticed that there was nothing and that he was out of the cloud, he stopped. Not even a second later, Boulder flew out of the dust cloud and landed next to Hippo with a grunt. He growled in anger as he stood back up and got in battle stance. Out of the dust cloud, Toph stepped out and we all were able to see her clearly.

Hippo and Boulder charged at Toph, each holding a large earth object in hand. Behind Toph, Headhunter was swinging on a rope right towards her, holding a large rock. What the idiot didn't realize, is that his battle cry gave away his position. The second Hippo and Boulder got on the center ring, Toph used her earthbending to turn the ring. Once she turned it, Hippo and Boulder was standing were she once stood, which caused Headhunter to crash right into them.

Aang, Katara and Sokka stared in shock while I smirked in impress. Toph smiled slightly before earthbending the three earthbenders off the arena, sending crashing right down onto the previous fighters she defeated. She then cleared the dust cloud, and she was facing Xin Fu, who was standing on the other side of the arena. Xin Fu cracked his neck as he readied himself for a fight. Toph spit out a spit before the two earthbenders got in battle stance and started circling around the center ring.

Xin Fu glared and started shooting multiple large rocks and boulders at Toph, exactly like what he did with me back at the Beifong's garden. But, instead of dodging them or bending them away like I did, Toph bended an earth shield around her. Once all of them were gone, Toph took on part of the shield and shot it at him. Xin Fu dodged the attack by jumping up and span in the air. Instead of landing on his feet, Xin Fu landed on one hand and used that hand to fire a large rock at Toph.

Toph dodges the rock before firing her own attack and shot Xin Fu right out of the arena, crash landing right into the stairs. Not just on any part of the stairs, but right between Yu and Toph's father, who were staring at the knocked out earthbender in shock. Sokka stared with wide shocked eyes before collapsed on his back. Meanwhile Aang, Katara and I moved over to Toph to congratulate her. Hopefully after seeing that battle, Toph's father will now stop babying her.

***

We were back at the Beifong's home, and we were all in the living room. Toph was standing in front of her parents, while we sat behind her and listened as she spoke her heart out and told them the truth. "Dad, I know it's probably 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. I know I've 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."

Our small group looked to each other in surprise at Toph's statement before looking back at her and continued listening to her. "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." Her father answered her, before adding more to the comment. "It's made me realize something." "It has?" Toph asked as she looked up with a hopeful expression.

"Yes." He answered, making me smile. But my smile soon fell when I heard his next words. "I've let you had far too much freedom. From now on you'll be cared for and guarded twenty-four hours a day." Excuse me! You got to be kidding me! I thought to myself as I and the others watched in shock at what Toph's father was saying while her mother nodded in agreement to each word he said. "But, Dad!" Toph argued while I bit my tongue to stop myself from saying exactly what I thought of her parents.

"We're doing this for your own good, Toph." Her mother said, making me roll my eyes as I scoffed. "Taking away her freedom isn't good for her!" I snapped at them, earning me a glare from her father and a frown from her mother. "Please escort the Avatar, his Protector and friends out. They are no longer welcome here." Toph's father said as he stood up and pointed to the exit. I shot him a glare before standing up with the other and walked to the exit.

"I'm sorry, Toph." Aang said over his shoulder with eyes full of apology as we walked away. "I'm sorry too. Goodbye, Aang and Asami." Toph said as a tear slid down her cheek. I stared at her with a sad expression before sighing and stopped walking. "Goodbye Toph Beifong, you are a great earthbender, better than any earthbender I have ever seen before. May we meet again... May you get your freedom one day." I said to her before exiting the living room completely.

***

We were outside and were getting ready to leave on Appa. Aang was standing near the end of the hill, staring at the Beifong house. "Don't worry, we'll find you a teacher. There are plenty of amazing earthbenders out there." Katara said as she stood next to him. I sighed at Katara's words as I petted Kai, who was sitting on my shoulder. "Not like her." Aang said before sighing and walked over to Appa with Katara next to him.

I airbended myself up and landed in Appa's saddle. After landing, I raised my eyebrow at Sokka, who was polishing the championship belt that was around his waist, with Momo on his lap. "Seriously?" I asked, but Sokka just gave me a wide, toothy grin. I rolled my eyes before looking over to Aang when he and Katara got up onto Appa. Aang took the reins and was about to order Appa to fly when we heard panting.

We both looked to the direction where the panting was coming from, and to our surprise, it was the our favorite blind earthbender. "Toph!" I called out in excitement. "What are you doing here?" Aang questioned once she stopped next to Appa. "My dad changed his mind. He said I was free to travel the world." Toph answered with a big smile. "Oh did he now?" I asked her with a big smile, not believing her for a second, but I'm sure not going to stop her from coming with us.

"Yep!" She said with a knowing grin, making me chuckle. Sokka looked to me, asking silently what to do. I simple just shrugged with a smile before nodding a come on over. Sokka smiled and looked down at Toph. "Well, we'd better get out of here, before your dad changes his mind again." He said, making me chuckle again. "Good idea." She said, her smile not breaking not even for a second.

"You're going to be a great teacher, Toph." Aang said with a happy smile. "Speaking of which, I want to show you something." Toph said, but something in her voice made me frown slightly. "Okay!" Aang said excitedly and jumped down, landing in front of her. The second Aang landed, Toph stomped her foot and a rock shot under him, which send him up flying in the air, before crashing in a tree. "Now we're even." She said, making me chuckle as I shook my head.

"Anything else before we go, Blind Bandit?" I questioned with a smirk. Toph smirked as well before holding her hand up. "Yeah, I'll take the belt back." She said, making me laugh before looking to a pouting Sokka. "You heard her! Hand it over!" I said while Kai yipped in amusement from my shoulder. Sokka sighed before taking the belt off and tossed it down. Unfortunately, instead of catching it like we thought she would, it hit Toph right on the head, knocking her right down.

"Ouch!" She exclaimed, making us all flinch as we watched her fall. "Sorry." Sokka said before screaming in pain when I slapped him behind the head. Not a second later, Aang fell out of the tree and landed with a grunt. I rolled my eyes and shook my head along with Kai. "Well then, are we all ready to hit the road then?" I asked, only getting a grunt answer from both Aang and Toph.