Chapter 18

Sorry I can't find the og artist

(Feel free time comment)

(Wait what? An original episode about (Y/n)'s past? Who am I?)

Word count 4613 words

(Y/n) POV

I tended to the fire as Toph sat across from me looking bored as ever.

Everyone else fell asleep about an hour ago and I was on first watch.

"So like what's the deal with you Smarty pants?" Toph asked me making me zone back into reality.

"Huh?"

"Why are you so tense all the time? I can feel it in your heartbeat. You seem scared, like all the time" she told me.

"Uhhh, I'm not scared. I'm pretty mellow if you ask me" I lied.

"I can tell you're lying"

"What? How!" I loudly whispered.

"Your heartbeat. I can feel the vibrations in your heart. It's spiking" she explained.

"Oh..." this is gonna be hard.

"So tell me. Why are you so tense Fire Queen?"

"What's with the nicknames?" I raised a brow.

"What's with the secrets?"

"Oh so that's how it's gonna be" I smirked.

"Yup. Now spill"

I sighed, "You really wanna know my life's story?"

She nodded, "Yup. I already know the other three's, but then again their's are like an open book. Sugar queen's life revolves around your dead mom, twinkle toes the Avatar and Sokka's, Sokka," she shrugged. "You are different. I have no clue who you are, or what you stand for. Everything about you is like a sealed bottle. So open it. Open the past of (Y/n)" she explained.

I sighed, "Ok fine. To make this work we need to start at the beginning"

"Enough stalling, get on with it"

"Spirits alright!"

~~~

"Come on (Y/n)! If you're not fast enough the sea-lions will get you!" Sokka told me as we ran around the village.

"Ha! Good luck to them! You can't catch me, I'm the Southern Water Tribe Princess!" I yelled throwing a snow ball at him hitting him square in the nose making him fall over.

I heard a swarm of chuckling, looking over to see the council laughing at us, "Great throw (Y/n)!"

"Thanks!" I smiled before running over towards my little brother.

"(Y/n) make sure you're carful, I'd hate to see someone get hurt!" I heard my mom yell to me.

"I won't!"

My dad chuckled, "Kya stop worrying. Our little Chief can protect herself" my dad put an arm on her shoulder.

She sighed, "I know. I'm worried for her brother"

I snickered at them before running after Sokka. 'Where are you?' I thought going behind multiple igloos searching for him.

After about ten minutes of continuous searching I slunk against the back of one of the igloos and looked up at the sky seeing the daylight fading.

I felt a shiver down my spine as the sun began to lower. I started to rub my hands together to try and create some heat before I felt a shock run down me.

"Ow!" I yelped pulling my hands apart. What was that?

I rubbed the insides of my palms as the cold became stronger. I sighed putting my hands together again to try and generate some heat, before feeling it... but it was a stronger feeling.

I raised a brow in confusion before opening my palms to see a small and delicate ball of blue flames between them. I gasped, it was so beautiful.

I smiled in astonishment bringing closer towards my face, 'I did that?' I thought to myself as the flame turned orange.

"(Y/n) it's dinner time!" My mom called from the other end of the village.

"Coming!" I said before turning back to my hands seeing it was now gone.

"Oh" I frowned before getting up to have dinner.

———

It's been about a year since that event and I haven't been able to recreate the flame, but I didn't care.

I didn't tell my parents about my fire thing I did, because I didn't want them to think I was a liar. I'm gonna be Chief one day, and an honest Chief is a good one.

As I was about to run out to join but my parents stopped me, "(Y/n), wait a moment" mom called me.

I turned around, "Yes?"

They both smiled, "Would you like to help us make dinner tonight?

I looked up to them wide eyed, "Really?"

I know it might not sound like a big deal, but this was a very special meal the Chief and their family for the Tribe once a year. It was the new year festival and was a giant honour to be invited to help.

"If you'd like" dad smiled.

I ran over towards them, "Yes! Yes! Yes!"

They both chuckled as I slid on the ground to join dad by the fireplace.

"Ok so we just need to get the fire going and I'll show you how to cook the fish" dad explained.

"Ok dad" I grinned.

As mom began to gut the fish dad continued to work on the fire, but couldn't lite it.

"Damit" he swore under his breath before standing up.

"Is everything alright?" Mom looked to him.

"Yeah, it's just the flint isn't working well" he sighed.

"Well it is the middle of winter" She chuckled making me as well.

"Yeah when you live in a desert that can happen. I'm surprised we can all live down here considering the cold" I smiled.

Dad smirked messing up my hair, "Well I'll be right back smarty"

"Where are you going?" Mom asked.

He smirked leaving the house, "Just going to get some flint from Bato. Be on second"

"What am I gonna do with him," mom sighed. "(Y/n) do you think you could make a better fire than him?" Mom joked around.

I looked up to her and smiled, "I think so!"

She chuckled going back to her fish, "Ok then my little Chief"

I looked at the logs and then to my hand. I put my right hand out and took my thumb and grazed it across my middle finger. Nothing happened. I tried a couple more times, snapping faster until I did it. I made a flame.

I put on a gigantic smile before placing the flame onto the logs. It slipped off my hand like water. I smiled in victory until looking up to see my dad staring at me in terror.

"Dad?" I lost my smile and raised a brow, "Is everything ok?"

He snapped his head towards my mom and became enraged, "Did I just see that happen?"

I looked to my mom and she was staring at me in horror.

"Mommy?"

That's when the fighting started, and I don't like to think of them yelling at each other.

————

I sat between mom and dad as Gran-Gran began to tell us a very important story.

"I think it's time I told you about your grandfather Hakoda" she sighed.

"And what would that be?"

"My father wasn't from this Tribe. He was from... the Fire Nation," she told us making my parents gasp. "He never mentioned having any bending abilities, but I guess we had a trait" she explained.

"Why would you never mention him? Why not tell me about his... nation" he looked down.

"Because he died when I was a little girl," she told us making dads neck snap up. "When I was about ten years old, the Fire Nation raided our village. My father tried to intervene, but in retaliation they killed him. I really don't like to talk about it, but I believe it needed to be said"

My parents looked to each other, "I think it's best that we don't let anyone else know about (Y/n)'s bending" dad told her.

"I agree. What if the Fire Nation comes, they could take her away and make her a soldier in their army" mom shivered at the thought of it.

Dad nodded, "Then it's settled. Nobody, not even her brother and sister will know. Ever"

They continue to talk like I wasn't there. I didn't have a voice. I didn't have a say. My future was decided in front of me. Part of me wonders what would happen if I actually listen to what they told me that day. What would've happened if I listened and never showed anybody my bending?

————

After that day I was never allowed outside unsupervised. I tried to help mom in the kitchen, but she would never let me. I tried to help Dad with starting fires but he for bid me from doing anything of the sort, or ever let me go near fire.

As I was sitting by the window watching the fun my siblings we're having that I wasn't allowed to, I saw something very strange.

Katara put her hands up and I saw a small string of water come off the ground.

I guessed as I saw the entire tribes surround her. They all began to clap and for her.

They proclaimed her the last Waterbender of the Southern Water Tribe.

That night they had a giant celebration for her. They are surrounded her with gifts and praises about how lucky she was. They said it was a very rare talent and only A few were chosen to receive this lucky gift.

I thought to myself, 'I could have that. I could have all of that, just like her. I'm special, I am the first Firebender of the Southern Water Tribe. That has to be something, right?'

I'll tell you what it is. It's pain, fear and a whole lotta blame and shame for things you didn't do.

————

"So you like watching her bend?" I asked the council as I sat in my chair listening in on the meeting.

"Of course!"

"It's an ancient tradition, it's a gift"

"A rare on here"

I sighed before becoming confident, "I can bend"

Father's face became a mixture of fear and anger, "No you can't"

I raised a brow, "Yes I can"

"(Y/n) you know not to lie. It's very wrong to-"

"Dad. You know I can bend. You watched me been most of my life. You always talk about how great Katara is, but you never like it when I do it" I frowned.

The men all looked at him like he was insane, "Why didn't you tell us?"

"Why are you ashamed?"

"You have two Waterbenders. That's amazing. Why would you keep it from us?"

"I'm sorry but she's tired, she can't bend. She just likes to pretend she can. To make her feel better Kya smashes water around and plays with (Y/n). It's all make believe"

"Dad I can! I can show you! Look!" I stood up and ran in front of everyone, deep breath in and made a fist before sending a large slash fire across the room.

The room became dead silent, before all hell broke loose.

—————

About a week later I stood in front of the council, "(Y/n) we have all come to a decision regarding your bending," father told me. "As of today, you aren't you never use your bending. Ever again"

"What?!" I gasped making them all flinch. I glared as I saw one of his men with a bucket of ice cold water ready to drench me.

"It's too dangerous for you to use your powers anyway. So for the safety of our people, you were swear to never use it again"

"And if I don't?" I snapped at my dad.

Dad looked contemplated on what he was about to say, I watched as he glance between his men with an upset look plastered on his face.

"Also... The council has decided that it's our best interest that you are to remain on house arrest"

"WHAT?!"

"We have prepared a location that is far enough away that we can see you, but can't be any trouble in"

I stared to hyperventilate as he continued, "You will only leave our Supervision to hunt. Is that clear?"

"NO ITS NOT! This isn't fair!"

"(Y/n) this is for the safety of my people-"

"They're my people too!"

"This isn't up for negotiation. You will do what the council says"

"Screw the council! I didn't do anything wrong!"

"(Y/N)!" Dad stood up from his seat and it sent a shiver down my spine, "Until the war is over, you will not use your bending. You won't leave our sights. Do you understand?!"

"I-I"

"(Y/n) this is for your own good. DO YOU UNDERSTAND?!"

I looked down, "....I understand" I squeaked as I felt tears streaming down my cheeks.

———————

It's been about eight or nine months since my father banish me to the hunting stop.

I recently become quite good at sculpting things out of Ice, and I've been giving them to my mom.

All I need to do is pick up a large chunk, I close my eyes and focus on an image and then it melts perfectly into that shape. It took a lot of practice, but I guess I mean ice melter? I don't know what to call it.

Once a week mom comes out to see me and we spend a couple hours together playing in my mini Ice Ba Sing Se I created.

"You're sculptures are amazing (Y/n)!" she smiled holding the mini her I made this morning.

"Thanks mom, I try. I mean I have to do something while I'm out here. They're not that good though, I can't do face is yet see" I shrugged pointing to the sculptures blank face.

"Well I think they're amazing" she hugged me.

"Thanks mom"

"You should make some more for the village kids. I know sure as hell Katara would love one about the avatar"

I chuckled, "I know..." I sighed, "Do you think the Avatars really gone? Like. Forever?" I asked.

She shook head, "No. I don't. I believe fate doesn't want him or her to review themselves yet. I think this war had to happen, because after every war is a clean blank slate. Only with a blank slate can you have peace"

"So you think this had to happen?"

"I do. I really do"

I looked down, "So it's fate for me to be banished?"

She sighed, "(Y/n) I don't agree with this at all. You're too young to be out here by yourself for most of the day!" She looked back to the Tribe, "Men. Are they ever like to do with bossing around and tell them what to do because make them feel stronger. I understand where they're coming from though," she sighed. "They want to protect you from the Fire Nation and they think doing this is the only way. Fate and destiny are very tricky (Y/n). Even I don't understand it, but everything happens for a reason. It may not seem good at the time, or may never seem like it should've happened. But everything will and does happen for a reason"

—————

About a year later after that talk I was sitting and playing with Mom. As we were talking she began to tickle me, and that's when I learned how she truly felt about me.

"Mom... stop!" I laughed.

"Oh! Come on! The tickle monsters got you! There no escape!"

"Mom!"

Mom then stop tickling me and gasped. I sat up confused until looking at my model seeing Ba Sing Se underwater.

I looked to mom who had a look of fear plastered onto her face, "I-I-I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to! It was an accident!"

"I-I-I-I-it's fine (Y/n)..."

"Here! L-l-let me remake it!" I exclaimed jumping down pressing both hands firmly on the ground at the close my eyes.

My body shock if I try to concentrate Ba Sing Se in my head. After about five minutes and feeling the heat I looked up at my model and saw it was now above us. I saw the entire area surrounding Mom and I down three feet.

And I looked at me and shared hair as I have apologized over and over again.

"(Y/n) it's ok. Just breath. Jest bre-" she started to put her hand in her coat as I cut her off.

"Maybe I'm just hungry! It was an accident I sw-" i then noticed her hand in her coat, "What's that?"

She looked at me scared before pulling her hand out and put both above her head showing nothing, "It's n-nothing. I had an itch"

I titled my head, "Then what's that" I saw a small cap poking out.

"(Y/n). It's nothing"

I ran over to her and tried to pull it out. She tried to stop me but when my hands went near her she flinched away.

I gasped pulling it out and looked up to her, "Why do h-have this?"

She looked ashamed, "(Y/n) it's not a big deal-"

"Why do you have this?" I ask with venomous tone.

"(Y-y/n)-"

"Why do you have an emergency icy water bottle hidden in your coat?!" I yelled at her.

"(Y-y/n) it wasn't my choice! Your father said in order for me to come out and spend time with you I had to have it on me at all times-"

"Don't bring him into this! Why do you have this?!"

"..."

"You lied to me! I thought you actually want to spend time with me! I thought you actually cared about me! Ever since you all found out about my bending you've treated me different! I thought I thing out together out here with your way of making up for it, I though you actually cared about me again!"

"(Y-y/n)" she shook.

"You gave Katara your necklace! The council gave Sokka my birthright! Everyone hates me here! I thought you were the one exception! I thought that even if everyone hates me at least my mom loves me enough to trust that I won't hurt her! Here I am looking like an idiot! Thanks Kya!"

"(Y/n)!"

"Get out!" I spat as I felt the leather on the bottle start to burn, "I'm not some charity case you can pretend to care about but are actually racist towards.. I HATE YOU! GET OUT!" I yelled making a giant flame appear from my palm disintegrating the bottle.

With that she left me. I collapsed onto the ice and began to violently sob. I thought I could trust her, I thought that I had at least one person who loved me still. But I guess I was wrong, I was so wrong. No matter what I do with this world people always fear what they don't know.

So I'll just sit here and wait. And wait I did, for an hour before I felt a piece of soot land on my nose.

I began cooking a fish to calm myself down as I saw a black substance land on my nose, "Huh?" I raised a brow.

I looked back toward my Tribe to see a large ship dock our premises.

"No!" I yelled running towards the village.

~~~

I looked back to Toph as she became very interested into the story, "Toph..." I glanced at my family who was all asleep, "Can you promise me something?"

"Yeah. I can" she sighed.

I looked down, "What I'm about to tell you. Stays between us. You can't tell any of them this, do you promise?"

"I promise"

I sighed "Ok,"

~~~

I was able to dodge all of the fire and ran into my house. I saw my mom inside and I ran into her arms.

"(Y/n) you have to leave!" She told me.

"No I'm not going anywhere this time. I need to help you-"

"You should probably listen to her kid" an erri voice told me.

I looked up to see an older looking Fire Nation solider, "Wh-wha"

"Stay behind me (Y/n). It's going to be ok" mom told me.

He chuckled, "It will be over quick"

"Mom!" We heard a frightened little voice on the other side of the house, seeing Katara.

Mom shook her head looking up to the man, "Just let them go and I'll give you the information you want"

He smirked turning to Katara, "You heard your mother. Get out of here!"

"Mommy, I'm scared" she told her.

"Go find your dad, sweetie. I'll handle this," mom comforted her as she left. Mom then turned to me, "(Y/n) you too"

"But-"

"Go!"

As I was about to stand up the man made himself fire daggers, "I said she could leave. I never said anything about her"

"What?!"

"Give me my information. And I'll let you both live"

"Mom let me help!" I cried as she held me back.

"No sweetie it's gonna be ok" she reassured me as we both huddled together in that tent.

"Now tell me, who is it? Who's the waterbender?" The scary man demanded.

"There are no waterbenders here. The Fire Nation took them all away a long time ago" she told him holding me close.

"You're lying. My source says there's one waterbender left in the Southern Water Tribe. We're not leaving until we find the waterbender!"

My mother looked out towards the exit where my sister ran off from, "If I tell you, do you promise to leave the rest of the village alone?"

He nodded.

She sighed pushing me back, "It's me. Take me as your prisoner" she extended her hands out.

I watched as an evil grin appeared on his revolting face, "I'm afraid I'm not taking prisoners today..."

Mothers eyes widened before she pushed me back before.... I watched him send a large ball of fire into her chest... killing her instantly.

I tried to run towards him but he slapped me away. I fell wrong and passed out, only regaining consciousness when my father woke me up.

"(Y/n)?! (Y/n) please not you too!" I heard him yell at me.

I dimly open my eyes and saw his face, "D-dad?"

"Oh thank the spirits!" He hugged me tightly.

"W-where's mom?" I looked around.

"No," he snapped my head forward. "Don't look"

"What?"

"Please don't look"

I pushed him off of me turning my head to the side, seeing my moms body laying across our tent.

"Mom?" I asked crawling towards her, "Mommy? Mom wake up," I pushed her. "Mom come on. It's time to wake up. Mom. Mom! Mommy wake up!" I yelled crying, "Wake up! You can't leave me yet! Mommy please! Please don't do this to me! MOM! Please no! MOM!" I screamed as I felt my hole body become overflowing with energy, "MOM!" I cried as I felt the energy become stronger, until it overtook me.

I felt the heat around me expand, before a completely surrounds me in the body. I hugged onto her as tight as I could as the fire became larger and larger and larger.

I looked up for a split second, inside that my once orange flame became a dark shade of blue. That's the last thing I saw before I felt cold water splashed on my face knocking me out.

That was the worst day of my life. I didn't get to apologize to her. I didn't get to tell her hi loved her. I didn't even get a chance to hear why she had the water with her.

I was so focussed on my anger that I didn't see my mom there. The last thing I actually talk to her about was yelling at her saying that she didn't love me and I told her I hated her.

~~~

I looked back to Toph and sighed, "They only came because they found out a Waterbender was still there. They came to kill Katara, and my mother sacrificed herself" I sniffled.

"I'm so sorry about that"

"Why?" I asked her, "You didn't kill her"

"We can stop if you-"

"No," I cut her off. "I need to continue"

"Ok, then" she sighed.

"After that, it unlocked something in me. I never told anyone this, but after that day I could only blue Firebend. Before my fire's colour changed from time to time. Then the council discovered my full power.. and my destiny," I gagged using that word. "The Southern Dragon" I sighed.

"The girl born with blue fire's bending will grow and grow
But so will her anger and darkness and so. On the day to determine the fate. Will be the day she takes the bait. Unless someone causes a scar to burn. She will never think to turn," Toph recited. "Everyones heard of it"

"Yeah... that's me," I sighed. "The council then made me promise to never use my bending ever again, even after the war. So that means even after all this is over, they'd want me to return a prisoner"

"Why?"

"Because they don't want me to get scarred. They don't want me to turn on them" I sighed.

"I thought you had to get scarred" she told me.

"What?"

"Well the prophecy says 'Unless someone causes a scar to burn. She will never think to turn' doesn't that mean you have to get scarred or you'll turn on us?"

"I thought it was the other way around!"

She ground falling back onto the ground, "Prophecy's are stupid. They can go either way. You could get scarred and turn on us, or not get one and turn on us. Hell you could turn on us now if you wanted to! Prophecy's are just stupid"

"You've got that right"

We became silence as we listen to the fire crack, "Thank you"

"I'm all for getting thanked for things but what did I do?" Toph asked.

"Thank you for listening to me. It's hard to get that these days"

She smirked, "Anytime Smarty-Pants. If you ever need someone to vent to, tell me. I like the tea"

"That what?"

"The drama"

"Oh... ok," I smiled. "Thank you"

"Don't mention it"

—————

A couple hours after my big venting session, I made my way to the fourth to try and find some small game for us to eat.

I slumped back onto one of the trunk of a tree and basically contemplated my existence.

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

No matter how much I hate it we're all born with these stupid parts to play. Some of us are these stars while the rest are just in the dam way.

I just know I was meant for glory, but that's not my story brings. I just have to wait.

No matter how much passion I have and drive, my moment never comes. It's almost like a stage, and I'm just left there waiting in the wings!

I heard my cue, but I was told to wait. I know what to do, but I was just kept waiting. I watch as other people take my part and sing... while I'm left waiting in the wings.

I stood up and started to walk back. I'm gonna keep on moving on. Every single time I have a chance to do more I blink and it's fucking gone.

I'm always overlooked and pretend it doesn't sting. But it stings, it stings!

But I won't stead any tears, I'm just gonna have to keep on waiting. And when my time come and no one cheers, I'll just keep on waiting.

I don't care how loud the silence rings!

Just like at a play. I will keep on waiting. Waiting in the wings.

•••