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"You dirty, low-down, stinking cheat."

Since the accusation carried a tone more of wonderment than anger, Mushi folded his slim arms into his simple yellow and green robes and satisfied himself with a simple "Thank you."

"You don't have to look so smug."

"I'm not." He smirked.

"Liar."

He looked across the low table at his diminutive companion as she scowled at the custom made stone chess set, trying to backtrack and figure out how he'd fooled her. Lady Toph Bei Fong had been in residence for only a few weeks. Since he had only moved to Gaoling a few months before, those weeks were his sole exposure to the young woman behind the legends. Yet, a few things were readily apparent to him. Two of these occupied his mind at that particular moment.

It was true that due to her unique talents, a person's body betrayed them to her with every twitch of their fingers; every beat of their heart. But the mind? Ah, even to her, the mind was impregnable.

He looked up from his contemplation as Lady Poppy Bei Fong entered the room, trailed as usual by her maid. He rose from the couch and bowed.

"Come to join our game, my Lady? It's been some time since we played."

She smiled as she walked towards them, and his heart stirred. Ah, yes. A man's body: his great betrayer.

"Not today, my friend. I have a small matter I wish to discuss with my daughter."

"Well, then- don't allow me to stand in your way. I believe I'll seek your husband out before I leave, though: I have something I'd like to bring to his attention. Ladies- enjoy the tea." He bowed to both women, then took his leave.

As he walked away, his earlier train of thought came back to him. His body may betray him at every turn, but at least he was conscious of it. But the young earthbender? Ah. Her weakness betrayed her in every action; yet she remained unaware.

It would be intriguing to see what would force her to face it.

In the spacious chamber he'd just left, Poppy's mind was on far more mundane matters as she smiled at her daughter's scowl.

"Lost again, I see?"

"I can't believe it! I'M usually the one who beats others at these games, but I've only been able to beat him once!"

"Give yourself some time, my dear. He's been playing this game far longer than you've been alive. You've only learnt it in the last two weeks." Her smile widened as Toph's scowl deepened. "Now, what was this about tea? Has my old friend brought a new sample today?"

Toph gestured to the tea set to her left and her mother obliged her curiosity by pouring them both a cup. "Not really a new blend- it's one I've heard of only once before, from the greatest tea maker I know. But I never got the chance to taste it."

"Until today?"

"Until today." Toph took the fragile teacup the was handed to her, enjoying the delicate aroma for a few moments. In silence, she sipped. Poppy watched the pain in her daughter's eyes flare, and it near broke her heart.

"I do hate to see you like this, Toph."

"Like what? Nothing's wrong with me."

"Toph- I'm your mother. It may have taken me longer than some to truly see you, but I do like to think that I've grown to know you a bit better than to believe that." She replaced her own cup, keeping her focus on her only child, sitting across from her and clad in a green and yellow dress. A thick band much like the one she wore for training held her thick mane of hair away from her face. And, of course, her feet were bare. "I know when my child isn't happy. And ever since you and your friends defeated the Fire Lord two years ago, you haven't been."

"Mom, I'm fine. It's great being home again."

"Don't you miss your friends? I thought you would have left by now to rejoin them."

Toph snorted."And have to look on at Aang and Katara going smoochy all the time? Please no- I had enough of that the first few months after Zuko was made Fire Lord."

"What about visiting the Fire Lord?"

"Not in the mood for Fire Nation politics. And he and Mai are not a much better option than Aang and Katara." Toph finally looked up to glare at her mother. "I'm completely fi-"

She spun away, a familiar sound having reached her ears. The leap of joy in her heart told her what the faint sound had been long before it came again. Her former scowl melted into a wide grin as she ran from the room, shouting back as she went, "Sorry, mom- but it looks like I didn't have to go see them after all!"

Her mind turned inwards, Poppy mulled over the problem she could sense. Absentmindedly, she reached for her cup of tea, sipped- and the jolt shook her into awareness. She stared at the dark liquid, wonder in her eyes.

"Oh. That was good."

"Twinkle toes!" Toph raced across the courtyard as the ten ton bison bearing her friends landed in the massive gardens that surrounded her home. A much smaller form touched down gracefully not far from it- and straight into her ambush. The young Avatar's laugh rang out.

"Hi, Toph! It's good to see you too!" A second form landed, and Toph's attention shifted.

"If we knew you'd be this happy to see us, we'd have come earlier." Releasing Aang, she was quickly enfolded in Katara's arms. Happy chittering warned Toph just before a somewhat heavier lemur glided down and perched on her shoulder.

"Katara! Momo! Man, am I glad you guys are here! Even though someone's put on some weight." Momo chittered as if in protest, and a flash of memory caused Toph's smile to fall. Despite the joy of the occasion silence reigned for a moment. Aang didn't allow it to last.

"So Toph, you need us to rescue you?" Putting an arm around his former teacher, he allowed her to lead him away from Appa- experience had shown him that his bison was in good hands with the Bei Fongs' servants.

If he'd deigned to look behind him, however, he would have understood the mischievous smile that flitted across Toph's face. One of the servants had made the mistake of coming too close to the bison holding a basket of moon peaches- and was understandably upset when the bison stole the lot.

"Surprisingly, no. My parents haven't driven me that crazy yet." Toph fell silent. Her focus turned away from her friend and back toward his bison. Seeing her distraction, Aang laid a hand on her shoulder.

"I'm sorry he didn't come, Toph." His voice was only a whisper. She replied in kind.

"So am I."

"I'm sure that he would have- NO, APPA! Spit him out RIGHT NOW!"

"But it wasn't as difficult as Zuko seemed to have thought. The dealings between Earth Kingdom and Fire nation in that area have been friendly, for the most part."

A murmur of understanding from her father caused Toph to sigh. Yes, they'd saved the world. Twice. Yes, he had allowed them to stay in his home. Yes, similar to that long-ago day when they'd first met, they were having dinner together. But it was still all too clear that he still wasn't happy about her friends. What more could he possibly want?

"But from what I understand, it's mainly due to your influence that those friendly relations exist in the first place," her mother added. Toph could sense her friends' surprise, and it brought a smile to her face. Even if her father was still stuck in the mud, at least her mother was now willing to accept them.

"Thank you, Lady Bei Fong. But I'd like to think that I only showed them what they themselves were already capable of. People always underestimate the depths of their own hearts. It's up to us who are charged with their well-being to help them see that potential- and rise to meet it."

"Well said, young Avatar."

Lao turned to Poppy, as if wishing to disapprove of his wife's tacit acceptance, but unsure of how to do it. When he merely summoned a servant to clear the tables and bring in dessert, Toph knew he'd merely put it aside for another time.

Still. She was proud of her mother for making her friends feel welcome. For saying the absolutely right things. For telling them, in her own subdued way, of her approval.

"So, Avatar. You've just returned from the South Pole?"

Three people at the long dining table winced. Nice going, mom, the earthbender thought, go ahead and make me take back all those good thoughts. Toph focused on Katara, who'd been… quiet… ever since their arrival. The earthbender frowned. It was Aang who answered her mother's inquiry.

"Yes, Lady Bei Fong. We spent some time with the Chief. It was a welcome break, seeing our friends again."

"I would have thought that your brother would have come with you if he'd known you were coming here, Princess Katara. It has been some time since his last visit."

Three jaws dropped. Was she… no, she couldn't be.

Could she?

"I'm afraid Sokka's been rather busy helping rebuild his home, my lady." Once again, it was Aang who spoke up. That fact caused Toph's slight frown to deepen. "The war hit the Southern Tribe the hardest. It's going to take a lot of work to rebuild what the former Fire Lord's armies destroyed."

"I understand," Lady Bei Fong said as the servants brought in their dessert- a delicacy recently discovered by her cooks called chocolate. "Still, I know that Toph would have been glad to see him."

Toph groaned and wished she could get away with making the earth swallow her. She couldn't believe that her mother was, of all things, trying to play matchmaker. With her and Sokka.

Who else would she use? her conscience whispered. Zip it, Toph replied.

While Aang tried to maneuver his way through that minefield, Toph's attention turned from her inner debate to Katara. Her father's silence she could understand. He still had issues with his helpless little blind girl saving the world. But Sweetness? Quiet for an entire afternoon? And then there were the… incidents.

Soon after their arrival, Mushi had asked after Sokka, and she'd burst into tears. The same thing happened when another of the servants asked if it would be acceptable for them to prepare stewed sea prunes during their stay. Minutes later, when dinner ended and everyone separated for the night, the troubled earthbender focused on Katara as she almost ran from the room.

"I'm on to you."

Aang spun to face Toph as she leaned against the shadowed doorway of his room. A sense of déjà vu crept over him. "Are you going to make it a habit to ambush us after every dinner we have here, Toph?"

"Funny. Spit it out."

He tried again. "What do you mean?"

She straightened. "I mean, Twinkle Toes, that something's up- and like the scared little airhead you are, you're trying to dodge me." Katara turned away from her spot at the bedroom window. From his perch on her shoulders Momo glanced around, twitched his head, and scampered outside as a low, contented bellow reached their ears.

"But nothing's wrong, Toph. Why in the world would you think so?"

"Well, let's see." She started ticking them off as she stomped across the room. "Maybe it has something to do with your claim that you came to see me fight in Earth Rumble eight- which is almost a month away. Or the way you've looked depressed ever since you got here. Then there's the fact that the guards and servants are terrified of setting off another one of Miss Mopey here's crying jags." A jerk of her head in Katara's direction as she came straight up to Aang and pulled his round face down, making him stare straight into her sightless eyes.

"It's nothing, Toph!"

"Damn it, Aang, you know I know you're lying! Tell me right now before I have to-"

"It's Sokka."

Toph froze, her grip on Aang's tunic tightening as she absorbed that blow, delivered in Katara's gentle voice. She closed her eyes, her body trembling. After a while she seemed to recall herself and near threw him away from her.

"He's.. he's..."

"He's what, Katara!"

"He's getting worse."

Still with her back to them, she pushed further, her voice a tad muffled. "What do you mean?"

Katara sighed and moved towards her bed, Aang's eyes following her. "He's so... bitter. And cold. I tried to help him, I really did."

"So why aren't you still there? I know you, Katara. You don't give up so easily."

"I didn't have a choice, Toph! Sokka banished me!"

"And he banished me" Aang piped up. "Again."

"He WHAT?" Toph spun; Aang moved towards her, as light on his feet as ever. She brushed him off. "He did what!"

"I know, I know. Maybe he just.. needs some more time alone?" Her uncertainty enraged her friend.

"How can he just kick you out? That's your home! Your tribe! He's your brother!"

"And my brother knocked Aang head over heels when he tried to protect me! If Bato wasn't there to hold him back, I don't want to think about what would have happened!" In the silence that fell her sigh echoed their own worries. "Honestly? I don't know, Toph. I just... I just don't know."

Almost two years had passed since the day Sozin's comet had arrived. Their battles were over, and the world was gripped in a tenuous peace. But events since that time had shattered their little group, and Toph secretly wondered if anything would ever be the same again.

"I was hoping that maybe Master Piandao would be able to help," Aang continued in the silence left by Katara's saddening confession. "Sokka respects him."

"But Aang, we have no idea where he is. Fat told us he was off somewhere with the White Lotus members. And I don't think he'd forgive us if we get them involved. "

Toph barely listened as they debated the pros and cons of getting the White Lotus involved as her mind whirred. It didn't take as long as one would have supposed. Perhaps, from the time that she'd greeted her friends and noticed Sokka's absence, she had already made her decision.

"Why bother, guys? I'll go."

"But Toph, you'll be blind again!" Aang protested.

"So? I'll cope. I did just fine last time." But they continued- flinging one excuse after the other at her.

"Will he even see you?"

"Do you really want to leave now? Things are just starting to get better with your mother!"

"You hate the cold!"

"You have to train for Earth Rumble 8!"

"WHAT!" Aang already regretted saying anything- even before she pinned him against the wall with a well- placed earth spear. "You can't be serious!" She flew across the room and glared up at him. "You expect me to put some stupid fight before my best friend!" She released him- and it pissed her off even more that he floated to the ground instead of falling. "I'm going to go see him. Now, are you guys going to help me, or not?"

While Aang and Katara made their way North to meet with Chief Arnook, arrangements were hastily made for Toph to use one of Zuko's ships to get to the South. No more than two weeks later, she said farewell to her mother on the docks of Gaoling- her father had refused to come see her off- and boarded the armored vessel. Minutes later, they cast off.

Cradled by the bow of the ship Toph stood alone, balanced on the edge of her world, her thoughts on words of wisdom from old friends. On the emotions that almost choked her at the thought of seeing him again. On the wounded warrior each second brought her closer to.

Yes, the world was at peace. But the land- and its people- still bore too many scars.

Description
"You dirty, low-down, stinking cheat."

Since the accusation carried a tone more of wonderment than anger, Mushi folded his slim arms into his simple yellow and green robes and satisfied himself with a simple "Thank you."

"You don't have to look so smug."

"I'm not." He smirked.

"Liar."

He looked across the low table at his diminutive companion as she scowled at the custom made stone chess set, trying to backtrack and figure out how he'd fooled her. Lady Toph Bei Fong had been in residence for only a few weeks. Since he had only moved to Gaoling a few months before, those weeks were his sole exposure to the young woman behind the legends. Yet, a few things were readily apparent to him. Two of these occupied his mind at that particular moment.

It was true that due to her unique talents, a person's body betrayed them to her with every twitch of their fingers; every beat of their heart. But the mind? Ah, even to her, the mind was impregnable.

He looked up from his contemplation as Lady Poppy Bei Fong entered the room, trailed as usual by her maid. He rose from the couch and bowed.

"Come to join our game, my Lady? It's been some time since we played."

She smiled as she walked towards them, and his heart stirred. Ah, yes. A man's body: his great betrayer.

"Not today, my friend. I have a small matter I wish to discuss with my daughter."

"Well, then- don't allow me to stand in your way. I believe I'll seek your husband out before I leave, though: I have something I'd like to bring to his attention. Ladies- enjoy the tea." He bowed to both women, then took his leave.

As he walked away, his earlier train of thought came back to him. His body may betray him at every turn, but at least he was conscious of it. But the young earthbender? Ah. Her weakness betrayed her in every action; yet she remained unaware.

It would be intriguing to see what would force her to face it.

In the spacious chamber he'd just left, Poppy's mind was on far more mundane matters as she smiled at her daughter's scowl.

"Lost again, I see?"

"I can't believe it! I'M usually the one who beats others at these games, but I've only been able to beat him once!"

"Give yourself some time, my dear. He's been playing this game far longer than you've been alive. You've only learnt it in the last two weeks." Her smile widened as Toph's scowl deepened. "Now, what was this about tea? Has my old friend brought a new sample today?"

Toph gestured to the tea set to her left and her mother obliged her curiosity by pouring them both a cup. "Not really a new blend- it's one I've heard of only once before, from the greatest tea maker I know. But I never got the chance to taste it."

"Until today?"

"Until today." Toph took the fragile teacup the was handed to her, enjoying the delicate aroma for a few moments. In silence, she sipped. Poppy watched the pain in her daughter's eyes flare, and it near broke her heart.

"I do hate to see you like this, Toph."

"Like what? Nothing's wrong with me."

"Toph- I'm your mother. It may have taken me longer than some to truly see you, but I do like to think that I've grown to know you a bit better than to believe that." She replaced her own cup, keeping her focus on her only child, sitting across from her and clad in a green and yellow dress. A thick band much like the one she wore for training held her thick mane of hair away from her face. And, of course, her feet were bare. "I know when my child isn't happy. And ever since you and your friends defeated the Fire Lord two years ago, you haven't been."

"Mom, I'm fine. It's great being home again."

"Don't you miss your friends? I thought you would have left by now to rejoin them."

Toph snorted."And have to look on at Aang and Katara going smoochy all the time? Please no- I had enough of that the first few months after Zuko was made Fire Lord."

"What about visiting the Fire Lord?"

"Not in the mood for Fire Nation politics. And he and Mai are not a much better option than Aang and Katara." Toph finally looked up to glare at her mother. "I'm completely fi-"

She spun away, a familiar sound having reached her ears. The leap of joy in her heart told her what the faint sound had been long before it came again. Her former scowl melted into a wide grin as she ran from the room, shouting back as she went, "Sorry, mom- but it looks like I didn't have to go see them after all!"

Her mind turned inwards, Poppy mulled over the problem she could sense. Absentmindedly, she reached for her cup of tea, sipped- and the jolt shook her into awareness. She stared at the dark liquid, wonder in her eyes.

"Oh. That was good."

"Twinkle toes!" Toph raced across the courtyard as the ten ton bison bearing her friends landed in the massive gardens that surrounded her home. A much smaller form touched down gracefully not far from it- and straight into her ambush. The young Avatar's laugh rang out.

"Hi, Toph! It's good to see you too!" A second form landed, and Toph's attention shifted.

"If we knew you'd be this happy to see us, we'd have come earlier." Releasing Aang, she was quickly enfolded in Katara's arms. Happy chittering warned Toph just before a somewhat heavier lemur glided down and perched on her shoulder.

"Katara! Momo! Man, am I glad you guys are here! Even though someone's put on some weight." Momo chittered as if in protest, and a flash of memory caused Toph's smile to fall. Despite the joy of the occasion silence reigned for a moment. Aang didn't allow it to last.

"So Toph, you need us to rescue you?" Putting an arm around his former teacher, he allowed her to lead him away from Appa- experience had shown him that his bison was in good hands with the Bei Fongs' servants.

If he'd deigned to look behind him, however, he would have understood the mischievous smile that flitted across Toph's face. One of the servants had made the mistake of coming too close to the bison holding a basket of moon peaches- and was understandably upset when the bison stole the lot.

"Surprisingly, no. My parents haven't driven me that crazy yet." Toph fell silent. Her focus turned away from her friend and back toward his bison. Seeing her distraction, Aang laid a hand on her shoulder.

"I'm sorry he didn't come, Toph." His voice was only a whisper. She replied in kind.

"So am I."

"I'm sure that he would have- NO, APPA! Spit him out RIGHT NOW!"

"But it wasn't as difficult as Zuko seemed to have thought. The dealings between Earth Kingdom and Fire nation in that area have been friendly, for the most part."

A murmur of understanding from her father caused Toph to sigh. Yes, they'd saved the world. Twice. Yes, he had allowed them to stay in his home. Yes, similar to that long-ago day when they'd first met, they were having dinner together. But it was still all too clear that he still wasn't happy about her friends. What more could he possibly want?

"But from what I understand, it's mainly due to your influence that those friendly relations exist in the first place," her mother added. Toph could sense her friends' surprise, and it brought a smile to her face. Even if her father was still stuck in the mud, at least her mother was now willing to accept them.

"Thank you, Lady Bei Fong. But I'd like to think that I only showed them what they themselves were already capable of. People always underestimate the depths of their own hearts. It's up to us who are charged with their well-being to help them see that potential- and rise to meet it."

"Well said, young Avatar."

Lao turned to Poppy, as if wishing to disapprove of his wife's tacit acceptance, but unsure of how to do it. When he merely summoned a servant to clear the tables and bring in dessert, Toph knew he'd merely put it aside for another time.

Still. She was proud of her mother for making her friends feel welcome. For saying the absolutely right things. For telling them, in her own subdued way, of her approval.

"So, Avatar. You've just returned from the South Pole?"

Three people at the long dining table winced. Nice going, mom, the earthbender thought, go ahead and make me take back all those good thoughts. Toph focused on Katara, who'd been… quiet… ever since their arrival. The earthbender frowned. It was Aang who answered her mother's inquiry.

"Yes, Lady Bei Fong. We spent some time with the Chief. It was a welcome break, seeing our friends again."

"I would have thought that your brother would have come with you if he'd known you were coming here, Princess Katara. It has been some time since his last visit."

Three jaws dropped. Was she… no, she couldn't be.

Could she?

"I'm afraid Sokka's been rather busy helping rebuild his home, my lady." Once again, it was Aang who spoke up. That fact caused Toph's slight frown to deepen. "The war hit the Southern Tribe the hardest. It's going to take a lot of work to rebuild what the former Fire Lord's armies destroyed."

"I understand," Lady Bei Fong said as the servants brought in their dessert- a delicacy recently discovered by her cooks called chocolate. "Still, I know that Toph would have been glad to see him."

Toph groaned and wished she could get away with making the earth swallow her. She couldn't believe that her mother was, of all things, trying to play matchmaker. With her and Sokka.

Who else would she use? her conscience whispered. Zip it, Toph replied.

While Aang tried to maneuver his way through that minefield, Toph's attention turned from her inner debate to Katara. Her father's silence she could understand. He still had issues with his helpless little blind girl saving the world. But Sweetness? Quiet for an entire afternoon? And then there were the… incidents.

Soon after their arrival, Mushi had asked after Sokka, and she'd burst into tears. The same thing happened when another of the servants asked if it would be acceptable for them to prepare stewed sea prunes during their stay. Minutes later, when dinner ended and everyone separated for the night, the troubled earthbender focused on Katara as she almost ran from the room.

"I'm on to you."

Aang spun to face Toph as she leaned against the shadowed doorway of his room. A sense of déjà vu crept over him. "Are you going to make it a habit to ambush us after every dinner we have here, Toph?"

"Funny. Spit it out."

He tried again. "What do you mean?"

She straightened. "I mean, Twinkle Toes, that something's up- and like the scared little airhead you are, you're trying to dodge me." Katara turned away from her spot at the bedroom window. From his perch on her shoulders Momo glanced around, twitched his head, and scampered outside as a low, contented bellow reached their ears.

"But nothing's wrong, Toph. Why in the world would you think so?"

"Well, let's see." She started ticking them off as she stomped across the room. "Maybe it has something to do with your claim that you came to see me fight in Earth Rumble eight- which is almost a month away. Or the way you've looked depressed ever since you got here. Then there's the fact that the guards and servants are terrified of setting off another one of Miss Mopey here's crying jags." A jerk of her head in Katara's direction as she came straight up to Aang and pulled his round face down, making him stare straight into her sightless eyes.

"It's nothing, Toph!"

"Damn it, Aang, you know I know you're lying! Tell me right now before I have to-"

"It's Sokka."

Toph froze, her grip on Aang's tunic tightening as she absorbed that blow, delivered in Katara's gentle voice. She closed her eyes, her body trembling. After a while she seemed to recall herself and near threw him away from her.

"He's.. he's..."

"He's what, Katara!"

"He's getting worse."

Still with her back to them, she pushed further, her voice a tad muffled. "What do you mean?"

Katara sighed and moved towards her bed, Aang's eyes following her. "He's so... bitter. And cold. I tried to help him, I really did."

"So why aren't you still there? I know you, Katara. You don't give up so easily."

"I didn't have a choice, Toph! Sokka banished me!"

"And he banished me" Aang piped up. "Again."

"He WHAT?" Toph spun; Aang moved towards her, as light on his feet as ever. She brushed him off. "He did what!"

"I know, I know. Maybe he just.. needs some more time alone?" Her uncertainty enraged her friend.

"How can he just kick you out? That's your home! Your tribe! He's your brother!"

"And my brother knocked Aang head over heels when he tried to protect me! If Bato wasn't there to hold him back, I don't want to think about what would have happened!" In the silence that fell her sigh echoed their own worries. "Honestly? I don't know, Toph. I just... I just don't know."

Almost two years had passed since the day Sozin's comet had arrived. Their battles were over, and the world was gripped in a tenuous peace. But events since that time had shattered their little group, and Toph secretly wondered if anything would ever be the same again.

"I was hoping that maybe Master Piandao would be able to help," Aang continued in the silence left by Katara's saddening confession. "Sokka respects him."

"But Aang, we have no idea where he is. Fat told us he was off somewhere with the White Lotus members. And I don't think he'd forgive us if we get them involved. "

Toph barely listened as they debated the pros and cons of getting the White Lotus involved as her mind whirred. It didn't take as long as one would have supposed. Perhaps, from the time that she'd greeted her friends and noticed Sokka's absence, she had already made her decision.

"Why bother, guys? I'll go."

"But Toph, you'll be blind again!" Aang protested.

"So? I'll cope. I did just fine last time." But they continued- flinging one excuse after the other at her.

"Will he even see you?"

"Do you really want to leave now? Things are just starting to get better with your mother!"

"You hate the cold!"

"You have to train for Earth Rumble 8!"

"WHAT!" Aang already regretted saying anything- even before she pinned him against the wall with a well- placed earth spear. "You can't be serious!" She flew across the room and glared up at him. "You expect me to put some stupid fight before my best friend!" She released him- and it pissed her off even more that he floated to the ground instead of falling. "I'm going to go see him. Now, are you guys going to help me, or not?"

While Aang and Katara made their way North to meet with Chief Arnook, arrangements were hastily made for Toph to use one of Zuko's ships to get to the South. No more than two weeks later, she said farewell to her mother on the docks of Gaoling- her father had refused to come see her off- and boarded the armored vessel. Minutes later, they cast off.

Cradled by the bow of the ship Toph stood alone, balanced on the edge of her world, her thoughts on words of wisdom from old friends. On the emotions that almost choked her at the thought of seeing him again. On the wounded warrior each second brought her closer to.

Yes, the world was at peace. But the land- and its people- still bore too many scars.