Disclaimer: Don't own ATLA or Disney.

AN: So this was going to be chapter VI of What If, but it's gonna be it's own thing instead, a short two-shot (maaaaybe three-shot). Oh, and there's bending but Toph can see.

AN2: Thank you to Fruipit for looking this over! It makes a lot more sense now. =D

The time of benders had passed. The old ways were gone, forgotten, lost along with those who had carried their secrets.

Or so the majority of the world believed. There was one who knew this to be false. One who wished to keep such potentially destructive, but ultimately powerful knowledge for himself alone. After he found a way into the mythical library of Wan Shi Tong and there, learned all there was to know of what had become of the Avatar and various legendary spirits, Zhao renounced his high position in the warring Kingdom of Fire and traveled to the peaceful Kingdom of Air.

That was where his malice truly began.

Since no one was supposed to know of the Avatar, the Air Nomads told no one about the only child born in the Temple the day the previous Avatar died. They simply announced it to the world by launching a single, flying lantern into the sky. But Zhao had done extensive research, both in the library and through his travels, listening to various accounts throughout the lands. And exactly eight years later, he broke into the Temple, stole that child, and just like that...gone.

In the dead of night, he ran, taking the young boy with him to an abandoned tower deep within the forest. He was determined to keep him hidden at all costs. Raising the child as his own in hopes to reap the benefits later, Zhao deceived the little eight-year-old.

"Why can't I go outside anymore?"

"The outside world is a dangerous place, filled with horrible, selfish people. People who want the Avatar dead. You must stay here where you're safe. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Zhao."

He went on to tell the boy the monks wanted it this way because they wished to protect him. The child, young and trusting, believed the lies.

But, the walls of that tower could not hide everything. Each year on his birthday, the monks released thousands of lanterns into the sky as a symbol, a beacon calling the Avatar to return one day.

...

"This stupid necklace better be worth it!" Toph muttered. Being caught bending was punishable by death in most kingdoms. The Kingdom of Air was said to be different, but she didn't want to find out. She rather liked her head attached to the rest of her body.

"Trust me, Bandit, it is," Jet assured her.

She couldn't remember the last time anyone called her by her actual name, but that was fine by her. The less people knew about Toph Beifong, the better.

Standing behind him, Smellerbee's brown hair swooshed back and forth as she nodded in agreement. "Unless you're too scared to go after it?" she sneered.

"Pfft. Do I look like you?" Toph taunted. The last heist they tried to pull was a bust. Smellerbee froze and they nearly got caught. The Bandit wasn't about to let her forget it anytime soon.

Jet stepped between the two women. "It'll be an even cut. Three ways. That'll be more than enough for each of us."

"Good," Toph grinned. With her own cut she could finally leave. Get the hell out of the kingdom and go anywhere she wanted. And if she kept the necklace all for herself - which she planned to do - well then, she would be set for a very, very long time. "Alright, let's do this."

...

Necklace in hand, they barely made it out of the Air Temple in one piece. Guards and monks alike pursued them long past the Temple grounds. All three thieves ran as fast as their legs could carry them towards the vast forest just beyond the bridge.

Within minutes of entering the safety the trees offered, they paused to catch their breaths.

"I thought they were supposed to be peaceful monks!?" Smellerbee cried, collapsing to the ground where she stood.

Jet smirked at his long-time partner.

"Obviously not when we're trying to steal from them," he said.

"It wasn't the monks, it was those guards the King of Omashu sent to protect the necklace," Toph growled, leaning against a tree trunk. "And didn't I tell you to keep your big trap shut!?"

"Screw you," Bee snapped, her thighs ached and her lungs burned, desperate for air. She was not in the mood to hear the other woman's accusations. "I couldn't see a thing in that dark tunnel and it was so damn dusty."

"You sneezed, your fault."

"Ladies," Jet spoke, coming to stand right in the middle. "We made it out alive. We got the necklace. It's a win-win."

Reluctantly, Smellerbee had to agree. The Bandit bit back her retort when she caught sight of a wanted poster nailed to a nearby tree. It was an artist's rendtition of her. Similar wanted posters of Jet and Smellerbee hung side by side on the next tree trunk.

"The Blind Bandit?" she asked ripping the paper off. "Is this supposed to be me?"

Jet came up behind her. It was the same long braid, the same bangs hiding away most of that pretty face, and the same devilish smirk.

"Sure looks like you."

"Except for that blindfold over my eyes!" she said incredulously. "Who comes up with this stuff?" On one job she wore a bandanna to keep her stubborn bangs out of her face. It slid low over her forehead and somehow someone thought that meant she was blind? Shaking her head, Toph shoved the poster into the satchel she carried. The satchel which also held the wooden necklace they stole. Who would've imagined that a necklace carved from an old tree would be worth so much?

Still lying on the grass after having caught her breath, Smellerbee's head snapped up when she heard that distinct gallop.

"Are those ostrich horses?"

"We should get moving," Jet told them.

Without another word exchanged, all three got up and ran.

...

"I understand why he had to go, but I wish he didn't have to so soon."

Zhao bit his tongue. The boy was exceeding sentimental. It was something that had not diminished in the near decade they had lived together.

"You know the rules the monks have set, Aang."

The young man sighed. "I do. I'm here for my protection."

"It was simply Bumi's time to leave. He taught you all the earthbending you needed to know. He fulfilled his duties to help you fulfill yours."

"And I'm grateful," Aang promised, smiling because he had made two amazing friends. Gyatso, who was incredibly warm and kind, taught him to airbend when he was twelve. He told Aang as much as he could of their people. Gyatso had even given him his tattoos once he had become a master airbender. Then there was Bumi, who not only showed Aang how to earthbend, but also made him laugh and told him to open his brain to the possibilities. Only Pakku, who Zhao had brought as a waterbending teacher, never really clicked with the young Avatar.

Aang often wondered what became of his teachers. And, if they missed him, too. What he couldn't possibly know was Zhao told each master they would be training the Avatar (in secret for the boy's protection) and none had an idea what their fates would be once their instruction was no longer necessary.

Gyatso, a traveling Air Nomad Zhao met in the high mountains of the Kingdom of Earth, would have been the greatest threat had he kept in touch with the monks at the Temple. However, when Gyatso left in search of true enlightenment, he cut all ties with his one-time family and thus knew nothing of Aang's kidnapping. However, Gyatso soon grew suspicious of that very thing, but whenever he asked Aang, the boy complained of nothing and insisted Zhao, though not naturally warm, had always treated him well. Appeased for the time being, they continued with their training. Still, the doubt lingered in the old man's mind.

"We can't concern ourselves with what was," the older monk whispered to Aang while he inked the boy's chi paths. Zhao had made the rare mistake of leaving them alone for more than a few minutes - usually guarding them with utmost vigilance so that nothing transpired without his knowledge. Gyatso did not waste that precious time. "We must act on what is. Remember, Aang, let the lanterns guide you."

"The lanterns?" the boy asked, hoping for an explanation. "Is this one of those Air Nomad riddles you were telling me about?"

No answer was given to his question because Zhao returned. The look in his golden eyes told them both he had indeed overheard their short conversation.

That evening was the last Gyatso spent with Aang. By daybreak, he was gone. No goodbye, no nothing. Later, Zhao explained the older man was called back to the temple. Only twelve at the time, Aang believed the lie. Now, at nearly eighteen, he still did.

...

Reaching a small canyon, the three thieves stopped in their tracks.

"How are we gonna get over that? Nice going, Bandit!" Smellerbee spit out. "And it's my turn to carry the necklace. Hand it over."

Without any argument, Toph eased the satchel over her head and smiled as she gave it to the other woman. All the while, her eyes twinkling. Jet who never missed a thing, noticed the exchange and watched the green-eyed girl closely.

"I say we run down," Toph suggested. "Then, set up camp at the bottom. The guards won't be able to follow us."

Smellerbee cursed. "You nuts? We'd die trying to get down there. Those sharp rocks might break our fall but only after breaking our bones," she muttered sarcastically.

"You really think so?"

"I know so," Bee insisted with a rueful smile curling one side of her lips. "But don't let me stop you. You think you can do it, be my guest."

Toph's smirk turned to a full-blown smile.

"I think I will," she replied, snatching the satchel and jumping into the canyon.

"Bandit!"

Smellerbee and Jet ran after her, stopping at the edge before they fell over, too.

"She's...she's an earthbender!" the girl cried, watching in a mix of awe and disgust as the Bandit rode a slab of earth all the way to the bottom of the canyon.

"Of course she is," Jet replied unfazed. It's the reason he decided to work with her in the first place.

"And she took off with the necklace!"

"We were going to do the same to her. C'mon, let's find another way down there."

...

Zhao was often gone for days at a time, sometimes weeks. Aang was used to it. And though he was lonely, he wasn't alone. He had his scrolls, a few paints and brushes, and Momo to keep him company. Momo was a lemur that flew in through the window one day. Gyatso had taken the opportunity to tell his pupil that lemurs were usually friendly creatures who loved sweet fruit. Aang shared the peach he had been eating and the little guy stayed around ever since.

Still, even with Momo keeping him company, some days Aang simply wanted to go outside. He wanted to fly. The wind rushing around the tower called to him. It danced and swirled, trying to convince him to leave the safety of the only home he remembered well and ride the air currents like he was meant to do, like he was born to do. Aang never did, of course. Too many people had risked so much for him to throw it all away. If anyone saw him flying...he didn't want to contemplate the horrible possibilities.

But there was one thing he thought might be possible: seeing the floating lights (lanterns?) up close. They were something that lived in his memories, like faded dreams, from the time he lived at the Temple. But ever since Gyatso had mentioned them, they were seared into his brain. He needed to see them.

Because as often as Aang dreamt of the lanterns, watching them float up into the sky where he would chase after them on the glider Gyatso gave him and his old master would join him, flying between and around hundreds of them that lit up the sky like stars, whooping with laughter because they were together again...they were but dreams. Upon waking there would be a smile on Aang's face. But as soon as he would take in his surroundings, remembering he was alone in the tower and not surrounded by his friends, the smile would vanish. If only he could see the lanterns...Aang was certain that empty feeling he carried inside him would disappear.

He had to find a way to see them. And, since his birthday was coming up, Aang knew what he would ask Zhao for. The way he figured, he'd never asked his guardian for anything on any of his previous birthdays, there was no way Zhao could deny his fairly harmless and simple request, right?

"It's dangerous out there for you, boy."

"But I'm almost a fully realized Avatar. You told me so yourself. I only need to learn firebending. And, you said you would teach me that after my eighteenth birthday. With three elements at my disposal I'm sure I'll be fine," he insisted, with his usual warm smile. "Besides, I won't use any bending. None. Unless absolutely necessary. No one will ever have to know it's me."

The young man was certain his argument was a rather compelling one. After all, most people didn't know about the Avatar or bending anymore. But if he had to, Aang could easily defend himself against any thug or ruffian who tried anything. He would finally see the lanterns and then return straight home.

Zhao turned to him, golden eyes narrowed to slits, nostrils flaring. "I said no!" he growled. The room's temperature suddenly grew unbearably hot. "You are not leaving this tower! Ever!"

Shrinking back, Aang nodded once. He didn't dare ask again.

His desire to see the lanterns, however, did not diminish.