Avani didn't return home all day, starting to worry Ela pacing in front of Asami, who had explained everything about Avani being the Avatar

"Ava doesn't take to long to return home when she's upset" Ela passed her hands through her hair anxiously "She must get home soon"

"Don't worry" Vydia said calmly, smiling reassuringly "We just overwhelmed her. This isn't your typical, I'm upset situation. She has to digest all the information she found of herself"

Ela sat in a chair, suddenly drained, her face seeming to age ten years, "My daughter. The Avatar" she murmured, shaking her head to herself in disbelief "Who would have thought my anti Avatar child was going to be the Avatar herself?" At the Order of the White Lotus' questioning looks, Ela began to explain "Avani's grandfather, my father-in-law Haru always loved stories, ones he read to his son and my husband, Jahn. Haru had spend more of his adult years traveling the world, gathering all he could about the Avatar after apparently Avatar Aang saved him and his father from a prison rig when he was a teenager. He took all that information and turned them to stories for Jahn to read who in turn used them to read to Ava. I thought these stories were doing her good, showing her heroes but it wasn't until I began receiving letters from school that she was picking up fights with other students about Avatars being the reason people had trouble, this began worrying us. Jahn and I sat her down to discuss why she was picking up fights with other kids over the Avatar. After she explained her point of view, my husband stopped reading her those stories, not wanting to fill more her mind with ideas that the Avatar was a villain when instead they've always been a hero"

Asami and the others stayed silent, contemplating Ela's words with what they had seen with the young girl

"I see" Kesuk spoke softly, now understanding why the girl was so against being the Avatar

Screaming interrupted their silence and everyone looked up, startled.

Ela stood, panicked seeming to have an idea what it was about "The Revolution"

The White Lotus exchanged knowing looks

"It seems the War has reached your village" Kanan told her, using seismic sense to recognize several earthbenders attacking the village

"I think I know why" Ela grimaced. "It was this boy's arrest. He was part of the revolution, he made that clear"

"They just think this village is pro war" Kimiko realized "That you all are anti benders"

Ela shook her head, worriedly "Mining village has never wanted to be part of another war since what happened at the Hundred Year one. If nothing, everyone here is anti-war"

Kesuk grimaced "That's worse, Ms. Ela. The Revolution and the anti-benders don't care about anti-wars. They want them to pick a side. If the revolution is here and they know all of you are non benders..." He exchanged a look with Kimiko, sorrow in her eyes as she shook her head, sighing silently "They'll kill everyone"

Ela placed a hand in her mouth in shock, realizing "Ava. I need my daughter safe"

Vydia blocked her way, looking at her sympathetically "I'm afraid you can't leave the house. Being a non bender, you're in danger for the revolution to think you're an anti-bender. If anything, your daughter will be safe if she's found"

Ela shook her head "You don't understand. Avani's in danger because she won't give up. She won't reveal she's a bender and if she does, she'd never pick a side. She's anti-war till the end" Asami even while worried, couldn't help but feel pride for the girl "She's stubborn and thick as a rock as you'd expect one bender of her element to be. She won't twist her words only to be safe. Haru was right before he passed away before Ava's fourth birthday. She'd always help people in need at her own way. If Ava sees someone in danger, she won't hesitate to act. And if it's a non bender, that won't end well with the revolution"

~8~

Avani was nearing the village, returnin home, dreading the moment she did so, because she knew Ms Sato and the others already informed her mother about who she was and they'd have to take her. It was nearing night when she left the forest and when she heard the first scream.

Her eyes widened seeing some of the houses burning up, people screaming to get to safety when the earth beneath them tripped them.

"The revolution" Avani whispered in realization, suddenly remembering the boy being arrested that morning. The motive of his rebellion was now clear, he wasn't only lashing out, he wanted recruits, he wanted to see who were Revolutioners, anti benders or anti-war. How didn't she see it coming? She could have seen the signs of the revolution infiltrating the village with that boy. She should have. Another reason for knowing and accepting she wasn't going to be a good Avatar

"Ava" a gasp and the familiar footsteps from her best friend made her whirl around, catching him mid air "I thought they got you"

Avani passed his arm around her shoulders, "What happened?" Ryuu sighed, shaking his head "They got to you? But, I thought you wouldn't have trouble being a bender" Ryuu stayed quiet "Wait. Did you tell them you were anti benders or anti revolution?"

"I said nothing" Ryuu answered. Avani gave him an exasperated look "Which apparently that's also bad and attacked me. I couldn't have been more grateful for our sparring, thanks to that I knew how to face off with an earthbender and leave without injuries"

Avani sighed, opening her mouth when a scream of a little girl caught her attention "Daddy! Help!"

They turned to the noise, seeing Mara, the village leader backing away from a firebender crackling a fire whip, menacingly walking closer. It made something snap inside Avani as she dropped Ryuu's arm from out her shoulders, starting to walk closer

"Ava" Ryuu hissed, worried and incredulous for his friend's actions "Stop and get back"

The firebender smirked seeing the fear in the little girl's eyes, about to throw her the fire when the earth shifting under him made him lose balance, throwing him harshly to the ground, stunned, looking  up seeing the little girl was no longer in front of him. It took him a moment to notice the earth in front of him where the girl was standing was moved, recognizing the work of an earthbender, following its tracks in anger, cursing to the one who stopped him from making the girl an example for the people who got in there way, seeing a girl pickin up the little girl in her arms, her green eyes briefly meeting his golden ones. Enraged for the girl stopping him, he bended a bolt of fire, throwing it against her fiercely, smirking at the startled expression in her face which soon faded when a wall of earth materialized in front of her, protecting her and the little girl.

The firebender stood, stunned and shocked. A bender, against the revolution. Suddenly, his hate to mining village grew.

~8~

"You saved my life!" Mara grinned up at Avani, who smiled nervously, worried about what she had done. She had bended, in public. She had broken her promise twice that day, "Are you the Avatar, Avani?"

Avani tripped, stammering "W-what? No, of course not"

Ryuu laughed "Avani? Really, the Avatar doesn't exist Mara, right Ava?" Avani nodded nervously, playing with the tips of her braid. Mara nodded in disappointment, sighing "Don't worry, Avani's still your hero tonight"

Mara perked, hugging the girl "I know! Thank you"

Avani looked up, suddenly pushing Mara behind her, taking on a defensive stance, looking around the trees. Ryuu looked on confusion

"And here I thought you were lying, kid" A man walked out of the shadows, scowling at Avani "But I see this so called revolutionist stands up against us for low garbage" Mara whimpered in fear, holding Avani's clothes. Ryuu picked up a fighting stance as well, though more reluctantly. The man looked at Ryuu "Is this the girl you said was easily going to accept being part of us?"

Avani dropped her stance, looking at Ryuu incredulously "Wait, what?"

Ryuu sighed. "You as me hates this whole no bending rule, Ava" Avani shook her head, "It was about time we did something. If the avatar isn't showing up anytime soon to help us then we have to take matters in our hands"

"Well said kid" The man grinned, turning to Avani "Come kid"

Avani shook her head, ignoring him "Ryuu. This is not the way. There are different ways to stop this war"

"Stop it?" Ryuu repeated, scoffing "I don't wan to stop it. I want it to end and the only way is for benders giving it an end. We'd no longer live on fear, don't you want that? Being able to earthbend without being afraid, being able to freely ask for people help on mastering metalbending or traveling to Republic City without having to lie on your motives"

"This is not the way" Avani stressed, "If the Avatar were here, they'd say the same!"

"The Avatar" The man scoffed, "Is no more than a weakling. Worse than non benders, by not standing up for what he can do, supporting his kind, they've become even worse than people against the war, than non benders. If the Avatar is not with us, then is against us"

Ryuu held his hand to Avani, "Come, bestie. With them we no longer have to hide"

Vain stared at his hand coldly, "You're forgetting a crucial fact about earthbenders, Ryuu" Ryuu raised an eyebrow "We aren't forced to change our minds" she slapped his hand away from her. Ryuu stared at his best friend in shock, sad and incredulously "You can't force me to choose the revolution when I want this war to stop, the same you wanted even until this morning!"

"I've always wanted it to end" Ryuu pointed out, angry at her for rejecting him "Not to stop. There's a difference. You want no war, and I want benders, benders like us to win and be the only ones winners"

"That's not peace" Avani told him

"Who said anything about peace?" The man asked "We'd be free of garbage weak people like that one" he pointed at Mara, who hid behind Avani. "And if you're against us, you're with them. And knows what happens to anti benders garbage?"

Avani met eyes with Ryuu, pleadingly "Don't do this. We've been together always, you can't do this to me"

Ryuu looked at his best friend sadly, "I'm sorry, Ava. But I can no longer live like this" he stepped back, joining the revolutionist, "He said it. You're not with us, then you're against us. I'm sorry"

"Me too" Avani told him sadly before swiping her leg on the ground, sending a slab of earth toward the revolutionists, throwing them out of balance, grimacing at herself for being the first to attack, never being the one to do so. She turned, picking up Mara and running away, sending boulders with one hand toward the firebenders behind her to slow them down and stopping the fire for reaching her and Mara, all the while feeling guilty for how things turned out between her and her best friend.