Sorry about the late updates, I lost the flash drive that held these stories so I'm working on writing more. Hope to get both Manners and Family up tomorrow.

Balance

Aang didn't want to complain but it was hard being the Avatar. On the surface being the Avatar is prestigious and a title that earns you the respect and attention of most people in the world. Being able to master all four elements also seemed like an incredible thing to do right? Well that was just a glance, but if you really look at it, it was a difficult job given to just one kid. Aang had to train rigorously in the elements, admittedly some of them being easy for him, but for earth and fire bending, the training was just back breaking and frustrating. The title had given him the respect and attention it normally called for in people, but it also distanced him from his own people. The airbender could never forget the pain he felt when his friends didn't want to play with him anymore because it would "unfair" for anyone playing against Aang. He was still the same kid they knew and grew up with, he wasn't any different than he was the day before; he was still the same ol' Aang. But none of them could see that, they just continued playing their game without him.

To top it all off, he was the person people looked to to stop the Fire Nation. It was unreasonable, how could a twelve year old boy, Avatar or not, be able to defeat the Fire Lord with an army of fire benders behind him!? And now people accused him of being coward, not that he could blame them though, he had run away after all.

Why did things have to be the way they are?

The monk sighed and opened his eyes to look at the top of his tent. What he wouldn't give for things to be different. It was no use thinking about it now he thought, he just had to make the best of the situation and do his duties as the Avatar. As he got up to exit the tent he couldn't help the fleeting thought, 'I wish I could still be a kid too…'

The sunlight glared at his face, causing him to cover his eyes while they adjusted to the brightness of their surroundings. He gave a quick look over of their camp site to see if there was anyone else up. Sokka's and Katara's tents were still up and Sokka was definitely asleep because Aang could hear his loud snoring from his own tent. Katara might be up and getting ready for the morning, but so far there were no signs of her being awake. When his gaze turned to Toph's tent, he found nothing but disturbed earth in its place. 'Guess that Toph's awake,' after having completed his inspection he looked for a pouch and fished a couple of fruit from it. He didn't so much as eat his food as much as he absent-mindedly nibbled on it. His mood was still down from his thoughts early in the morning, which was why he didn't expect a young earthbender to appear behind him. "Whaa," a rough hand had slapped onto his shoulder causing him to spit some pieces of fruit from his mouth. The startled airbender quickly swallowed and turned his face to look up into the face of Toph Beifong.

"What's up Twinkle toes?"

"You are sifu Toph."

She snorted, "No duh, but really what's going on with you."

He turned his face away looking down on the fruit in his hand, "Nothing" he mumbled.

The earthbender removed her hand and crossed her arms. "Sure and I can't tell if you're lying." She said dryly.

He looked sheepish for a second before resuming his sullen mood. Toph waited for a second before shrugging and uncrossed her arms. "Whatever its your life," and with that she strolled over to the pouch where the meat was at as the other two members of the group were finally rising from their sleep.

-2- Second Day -2-

It was sometime in the afternoon when Toph had dragged him for his eartbending lessons. Literally she dragged the arrow-tattooed monk with a fistful of his shirt while he was feeding Appa and Momo. Aang had let out yelp and dropped the fruits in him arms, causing them to crash into the floor where an eager lemur quickly pounced on it.

"Toph you know I can walk right?" he spoke as his legs dragged across the Earth. He had learned a while ago that no matter how much he struggled he would never get free from her grip and that she would eventually earthbend his behind straight to the training spot if he kept it up.

"I know Twinkle toes I have eyes don't I." Her answer caused him to roll his eyes, leave it to his sifu to give a joke instead of an answer. They said nothing else for the remainder of the trip, save for the occasional ow Aang gave when his legs bumped over rocks.

The pupil soon heard the sound of water but paid it no mind since Toph usually chooses areas where there were rocks and more chances of getting broken bones. "Well here we are," and with that she unceremoniously let go of his shirt and let his back fall to the ground. He was always annoyed when she did that. Nevertheless he got up and forgone wiping his pants of the dust and dirt they gathered as they were just going to get dirty again whenever Toph was involved. He stood in his spot and noticed that they were the river he had heard.

"So what's on today's lesson sifu?"

"I'm not telling you yet but for now close your eyes."

He would be lying if he said that the idea didn't scare him. There were so many things that she could do to him while he couldn't see. She could punch him in stomach, earthbend him in the air, sink him in the ground, or lock him place, all while she didn't have to worry about him reacting fast enough to evade what she was doing. Soon though she began glare at him with those grayish jade eyes. He shivered under her blind scrutiny. Knowing better than to defy her for long, he snapped his eyes shut and prayed she wouldn't hurt him too bad.

He heard her move around a bit, but other than that there was no sound. Not even the sound of rocks coming up from the ground. He was curious as to what she was doing, almost enough so to peek, but he kept them close like a good potential victim.

"Okay you can open them now."

And just as he was opening them, brown filled his sight.

"Aghh! Toph what is this!" he yelled as he was swiping the substance from his eyes.

"What does it feel like Twinkle toes," he could hear the smirk in her voice.

He didn't answer immediately as he was too busy to get his sight back. When he finally did and saw what covered his hands he spoke.

"Mud…"

The earthbender rolled her eyes. "What you thought I threw something else at you."

The airbender however just looked at her thought, "Really Toph mud."

"Yup and there's more where that came from!"

This time the squishy earth found its mark on his shirt.

He frowned, "C'mon Toph stop that."

"Nope" and another slop struck his chest.

"Toph"

Another struck.

"Really"

Another

"Toph"

Splat

"STOP!"

"Then come and get me." She grinned

Having had enough of her antics, he ran to the riverside where she's been getting her ammunition from, while dodging more of her shots.

He came out when a few more stains on him, but he finally made it to the river. He quickly scooped a handful of mud and threw it as fast as he could.

It landed right on her shoulder. It felt good to finally get her.

She merely looked at and shrugged. "Good shot," and then she threw another piece of mud, barely missing him from his ear.

Seeing that the game was still on, Aang decided to remain on the offensive. He sent another barrage at her just as she was sending her own.

It wasn't long before Aang's anger dissipated and he found that he was getting into this. They ducked and jumped to the side to avoid the other's shots and retaliated with their own when they could. It was nice letting loose like this. They soon got to bending up cover to take refuge from their opponent, making the game look like more snowball fight with mud and rocks. Eventually chuckles and laughter escaped their lips as they popped out from behind their cover to pelt each other with mud.

When the game finally ended they were both covered from head to toe in mud. They didn't care though as they fell to the ground across from each other, their arms outstretched and laughter filling the air.

They laid there even after they stopped laughing, relaxing from the "lesson". Aang for the first time today had felt happy and had forgotten about troubles with being the Avatar.

"Hey Toph"

"Yea"

"Thanks for cheering me up." He smiled.

"Don't mention it Twinkles." A smile was also on her face too.

With that he closed his eyes and thought that maybe being the Avatar wasn't so bad, after all he had Toph there to balance out all of the seriousness in his duties with moments like this.

"Hey Aang"

"Yea"

"Wanna go prank Snoozles"

Yup he thought, being the Avatar wasn't all that bad.