I think everything you need to know for this is described by it. After the war.

First attempt at any kind of FanFic, but I don't think it's too horrible. Let me know if I ruined everything :oP

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Sixteen years is a long time to wait. Then again, it's nothing compared to the hundred that came before it. It took years to clean up after the war had finally ended. Some of us could do nothing but lose ourselves in the effort, though. If we stopped for one moment the memories of our great sacrifice would return in the form of the cacophony of motion and destruction that erupted from the throne room. Ozai fell that day. The war ended, Zuko took the throne, and we trusted him. He earned his seat. He's lead his nation out of the shadow of war with a strong will and a hardened heart, but even he can't hold back the tears when he's forced to recall the sight of Twinkle-Toes lying motionless on the ground. His father's last act succeeded in tearing apart the brittle sinews holding each one of us together. Our family fell apart, one by one. I felt the little fluttering heart beat fade away as Aang's body grew heavy on the ground. Heavier than he ever was in life. Before anybody even thought to look into that room, I knew the outcome. Two bodies, a freshly ended war, and a heartache more powerful than any of us were prepared to bare. Peace in this world required sacrifice. We knew that before we went in, but we didn't think it'd be like this. Any one of us would've been happy to have laid our lives down for each other, for the world, for peace, for the avatar… but it was his destiny, not ours.

I guess you can say I snapped. I felt around for the first fire nation soldier I could find. Bingo. Next room over, and he's still fighting. I shifted my stance, stomped my foot into the ground and when I realized what I had done, I collapsed onto the ground. Katara says it was the most gruesome thing she'd ever seen - a man, suspended by a jagged piece of rock shooting out of the ground, coming to a sharp point under his helmet and forcing its way through his throat. When she described it to me upon my awakening the next day I didn't know what emotion to show: Pride in my deadly prowess, shame for not being able to hold my rage in check, sorrow for the death of the boy that I came to know all too well. In my indecision all I did was sit there and stare blankly at the ground beneath me.

Sixteen years is a long time to wait, but today his new life is announced to the public, and I stand here at the gates to the fire palace to get my first look at my new pupil and old friend. Odd place for a water bender to be on her birthday, but considering I wouldn't be able to see her in either of the poles, I guess I'm thankful for the odd circumstances that landed her here.

At the age of 8, her original teacher at the South Pole, sifu Pakku, fell sick and was no longer able to instruct his pupils. Some he sent to the North Pole for further instruction while others began teaching themselves as best they could since they didn't have the resources to make the journey. Nini was different, though. She was never told why, but Pakku sent her to see a special teacher. Her family got on a water tribe boat and was sent to the fire nation, where they were greeted by the fire lady herself. Katara, was to be Nini's new master.

When I arrived at the palace, myself, I was greeted with similar enthusiasm from the whole royal court. The first to greet me was the ever ebullient Ty Lee, landing what must have been a marvelous double flip onto my big toe before embracing me. I almost felt bad for sending her flying back to where she came from as soon as the pain in my foot registered. Mai was there as well, as were Iroh and Sokka. When I felt the familiar footsteps of Katara rushing towards me I opened my arms and forced the ground underneath her to hurry up and reach me. Then I felt something… different. A girl, no doubt a water bender judging by the weight placed on her heels. They seem to be born in a defensive stance. She was a new presence in my memory, but somehow familiar.

"Is that Nini?" I whispered to my sister, giving a slight nod towards the girl.

"Toph, there are a lot of people in that direction. Can you be more specific?"

I twisted my foot little by little, and a pillar of Earth slowly grew under the girl I was trying to indicate. She jumped up, a little startled.

Katara giggled a bit and confirmed my suspicions.

I broke free from Katara's death grip of love, and approached her. She was shy, and felt uneasy as I came closer. I bowed deeply, smiled, and greeted her: "Happy birthday, Twinkle-Toes. It's been a while."

Sixteen years I had waited to see my old friend. Not even the horrible memories of the land I stood on could remove the smile I tried desperately to hide.