A/N: This was a challenge posted by Vanguard Ziggy on Evilevergreen's Avatar challenge forum.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Avatar. If I did, Zutara would be canon and Ozai would be tortured painfully by being made to listen to 'It's a Small World' nonstop. Plus there would be more dragons and Iroh would be Zuko's father.

"Ty Lee!" Her father's voice commanded her presence at the table. Sighing, she came down from the handstand she was practicing against the wall and trudged to the dining hall.

At the table sat her father, mother, brothers, and…Commander Zhao? Her father indicated that she was to sit next to Zhao. Suppressing a shudder, she did as she was told. Almost immediately his hand rested on her thigh.

"Ty Lee, we have some exciting news for you.' Her mother said. "Commander Zhao has asked for your hand in marriage!"

"WHAT?" Ty Lee screeched. "I mean, why would a great commander like Zhao want little-old-me?"

"You WILL be quiet, and you be grateful someone has asked for your hand at all! What with your cartwheeling and acrobatics and other such nonsense."

"Yes, father." Ty Lee knew she had to get out of this. She knew that if she wed Zhao, she would be treated like a concubine. Zhao was a sick and disgusting pervert. She had to get away…

Later that night, after tossing and turning for hours, Ty Lee came up with a plan. She climbed out of her window and descended like a squirrel-monkey onto the grounds. Then she vaulted the wall, knees buckling slightly upon impact. Without a backwards glance, she ran down the street.

She was off to join the circus…

A/N: Yeah yeah yeah, it was short. They never specified a certain length.