The Fire Nation looked to their Fire Lord with impatient expectations and needs. Their hearts disgusted Toph, and she hated "her" people's wavering loyalties and desperate lust for power and protection. Though blind—she could still see them with her heart. She could feel them all too easily—and hear them speak so boldly.

Whispers were ripples in a once calm pond. They extended and reached further each time.

"Her Highness cannot sire the Fire Lord any males. What a shame!"

"He's been ripped off! A man of his status shouldn't have married a child!"

"She's a child-bride, a whore to the royals and unproductive!"

"At least his concubine can see! What a pity a mother cannot see her child's face!"

"I heard that the Fire Lord and his concubine have had a romance since the beginning!"

"Soon he'll have concubines from all over the continent!"

Toph pushed further into the shadows, her hands clamped tightly over her ears. The constant voices never stopped penetrating her, they dug themselves deeper each time. Zuko never took heed to his wife's pleading face, he was too distracted by the slender woman standing before him so willingly.

"She won't be able to sleep in his chambers anymore! The Fire Lord and his concubine will be at it for days!"

"Isn't she pregnant with his child? Scandalous to know your husband is spilling himself within another woman!"

Zuko... make them stop. I know you can hear them! I know you can hear what they're saying! Please! Husband! Please! Make it stop!

The voices never left her alone even when she had bended thick rock walls to shelter her. Of course no one noticed their 'Fire Lady'. Toph shouldn't have to hear their evil remarks and gossip! She shouldn't have to put up with this sort of verbal abuse by people she was suppose to govern. Toph wished it stopped there... She wished they would talk about someone else... And not about Zuko or her or their daughters.

"And they married for love? Hah! That love barely lived two years and he's already lost interest!"

"A daughter born on the month of their marriage? Hah, so the throes of war weren't enough of a pleasure?"

They would always say things. This she knew, but that didn't give them a right to abuse her and her family for their mere amusement. If she had the strength to; Toph would have destroyed the Fire Nation right then and there. Her anger would be sufficient enough to destroy the city in one go.

To feel the tremble of the earth as it was willed to take lives as much as it saved. The War was forgotten and a feud was about to be birthed in its place. The many sacrifices of those who had lost their lives seemed to have been spat on by the selfish filth known as the Fire Nation.

"I am pleased to announce the Fire Lord's concubine, Mai Ziao!"

A roar of people shout in satisfaction. Hands clap together. And the council look on in pride at their leader taking action, finally!

But no one truly sees nor do they feel just how strong of a connection Mai and Zuko have... Except Toph.