A hardwood floor. White walls. Bleachers surrounding a circle of occupied chairs.

"Welcome," says the person at the head of the circle, a smile plastered on her obviously bored visage. "This is the first meeting of Denial Therapy Anonymous. Please rise and say something about yourself."

I stand up slowly, my stomach all aflutter. "Hi," I am able to stutter nervously. The therapist nods encouragingly. "My name is Enomys," I say, and from the rest of the group comes the dull murmur of "Hi Enomys." My spirit slightly bolstered, I continue: "My name is Enomys and I…" I stop, suddenly unable to continue. The therapist interjects, trying to help me along: "You what, Enomys?"

"I…I…I…don't…"

The therapist leans back in her chair with a sigh, and looks at the papers in her lap. "Alright then, should I just say it for you?" I don't answer, but with one look at my scared face she makes her decision. "Okay, what Enomys is trying to say is this: she doesn't own Avatar. Isn't that right Enomys?"

I nod slowly, my breath coming in gasps. But before the therapist moves on to the next person, I jump up. "You're wrong! I do too own Avatar!" Overcome with emotion, I run from the room, screaming at the top of my lungs. The therapist sighs. Oh, boy. This is going to be a long story.

Not clear enough for you? Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar: the Last Airbender

Chapter 1

The Song

Toph couldn't take it anymore. There were just too much couple-y feelings in the room. Aang and Katara were holding hands, Suki had her head faced toward Sokka (probably looking deeply into his eyes), and Mai glanced at Zuko so often that it was enough to make anyone sick. Yet still she sat there, tapping her foot and feeling left out. No, not left out, disgusted. Can't the lovers see that they were being way too open with their affections? Apparently not. And Suki and Sokka's heads were getting closer by the second…

Toph jumped out of her seat. "I'm going to take a walk," she declared in a loud voice. "Good idea!" exclaimed the ever exuberant General Iroh, Dragon of the West. "All you young folk need to get out of here so that I can ready the shop for the evening rush."

"But Uncle, I can help you," said Zuko reproachfully.

"No, no Zuko, I can handle it. Besides, you heroes need a break! Go! Roam the streets! Have fun!"

And so they left, an annoyed Toph in the lead, and a grumbling Zuko at the rear. They walked down the main streets of Ba Sing Se's inner circle for about ten minutes before Toph stopped and proclaimed "I'm bored," in a sulky voice. She pointed in the direction of one of Ba Sing Se's inner walls and said "Why can't we go to the outer circle? The inner circle is so boring. Everyone here is an aristocrat of some sort, and all they do is laugh and gossip and ride in their fancy carriages."

Aang, the ever sensitive, noticed the tone in Toph's voice. She was angry about something. From past experiences, he knew that it would be best to appease her. And fast.

"Sure, Toph. We can leave the inner circle. Anybody else coming?"

"Heck yeah!" exclaimed Sokka. "The lower circle has the best stores. I'm in!"

"Sure," said Katara. She saw what Aang was doing.

"Sounds fun," commented Suki. "I'd love to be shown around."

"Fine," said Mai. "Anything for some action."

Zuko said nothing, but his bored expression shifted somewhat.

Once in the slums of Ba Sing Se, the gang slowed down. There was so much more to look at. Or, mainly, there were so many 'good bargains' that Sokka just couldn't pass up. He jumped and squealed his excitement at every new stall. Suki was laughing at Sokka's every move. Zuko and Mai were looking about, Mai with a bored expression, and Zuko with a look of distaste as he saw that Sokka was exactly like his uncle. Katara made sarcastic comments about Sokka's shopping habits, with Aang laughing at each one. But Toph was still not satisfied. She had wanted to go on this walk alone. Why did she have to stay with these lovey-dovey couples? Out of boredom, she practiced her 'seeing'. She ignored the familiar feel of the people surrounding her, and let the sounds of the marketplace fade away as she felt for other objects. Like the cabbage man moving his cart five feet away. And the lady shaking out her laundry in the alleyway. And the…wait, what was that? The earth was vibrating strangely beneath that person. Suddenly she could hear it too. She snapped back into reality. There was a soft strain of a song slipping through the hustle and bustle of marketplace sounds. Abruptly she turned toward the sound. The music was coming from the next street. She began to move toward the sound.

"Hey Toph, where're you going?" said Aang, who noticed his friend's strange behavior.

"The next street. There is a singer over there." And with that, Toph set off at a run.

Aang started to run after her, with Katara in hand. Suki followed, dragging a protesting Sokka, and behind them, Mai ran swiftly with a small smile on her face, followed by a bewildered Zuko.

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