A Kiss in Ba Sing Se

[A/N: What if we could see what we used to be or even who. We may not like what we find.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Avatar: The Last Airbender

Enjoy.

Comment if you wish. All feedback is welcomed.]

Chapter 55

Ghosts of the Past

The ground beneath his feet had launched him high into the air and he descended with a thud unto his backside. Aang was surprised there was no pain associated with the impact as if the earth had absorbed the full force of his fall. Still it shocked him from his tantrum and he recalled that he was truly in the spirit world.

He now stared up at the princess with more than a little awe. "She looks so regal... and why is her dress, blue?" he asked himself, half-dazed. "I thought it was brown before, in the other world, but that color really does suit her," he realized with a quirky grin.

Toph pinched the bridge of her nose. "The boy has lost is frigg'n mind!" she huffed not knowing what to make of his irrational behaviors. "And why are you grinning at me like that you… you… dunderhead! I swear it was almost better when I couldn't see you!"

"He is just a little put out, my gracious liege," Hidimbi spoke up with a tight nervous grin. "These events I guess are proving trying, even for the bridge between our worlds. I pray you would have patience."

Toph scowled, "I am not known for my patience... Hemi. But my anger... that's another story."

The man-eater swallowed hard. "Y-yes your Highness. I-I understand completely. I will moderate this situation and..."

The small spirit felt her whole body suddenly be pinned to the earth as if it had become many time heavier. Nothing was atop her or had grasped her in any way. The pressure was almost bone crushing as she reeled and groaned under the immense weight.

"I am not pleased right now and I don't think you understand what you have wrought upon yourself, descendant of Rakshasi," the princess hissed as she tightened her fist, increasing the pain and pressure. "I will not tolerate any more failures. I will cast you to the Fog... or worse, am I clear, Hidimbi?" she said as she released her.

The man-eater's body shook as much with relief on the outside as she did with fear on the inside. "Purr-perfectly clear my liege," she replied from her servile position. "I-I will not fail... I live to serve you!"

"Did you trip and fall?" Aang suddenly asked the small being naïvely. "Here, let me help you up, uh, what was you name again? I am the Avatar, the bridge between your world and mine."

"I know," she replied shyly. "My name is Hidimbi, and thank you Lord Avatar," she said as she graciously accepted his outstretched hand. She actually needed his assistance to get to her feet. This was the first time in eons that she had felt true weakness or pain. "You are most kind."

Aang nodded politely as he helped her. "Not really, but I'm working on it, right Toph?"

The earthbender glanced away, "Sure Twinkles... whatever you say... sure," she replied in a melancholy tone.

"Avatar, what are your intentions towards... her majesty, if I may ask? Surely you know now that she is not entirely… human," Hidimbi stated outright, glancing cautiously over at her sovereign who turned to look at him.

Aang fixed his gray eyes towards the motionless princess as he took in a deep breath. "I love her… and whatever, whoever she is, nothing I think will change that fact," he reeled out to Toph's surprise. "By the Winds, I'm the Avatar so I'm not entirely human myself, am I? I just wish I could bend here. That's totally unfair Sifu!"

"Now it's your turn, your highness," the spirit informed her. "Tell... your Highness!" the petite creäture screamed as Toph just about trampled her to get to her lover.

Aang extended his arms to catch the rocketing earthbender as they both toppled upon the amazingly soft ground. The two were once more naked as newborns.

Instantly the man-eater turned her back, "I... will give you some time to ponder your answer, my liege," she said over her shoulder as she disappeared from sight.

Aang stretched out beneath her as she maneuvered her hips over his, allowing him to enter her as her back arched in pleasure.

"Wha… what about the others," he huffed as she ground down upon him slowly. "Don't... don'cha... think they are still see us?"

Her eyes and her hair were once more all aglow with the golden light that streamed out to him ad she smiled at his sexily.

"They've already seen the opening act Aang... why deprive them of the main show?" she asked.

Sokka was happy that his sister wasn't awake as his two young friends, under the spell of the accursed game, laid upon the floor and Toph proceeded to mount his sister's boyfriend unceremoniously as the mystical lights swirled about them. He could hear the gasps from the others in the room as the earthbender rocked down upon the red-faced air nomad. The expression upon the princess' face was strangely reminiscent of the one he and Suki had viewed in the park.

"Maybe this spirit is trying to show us that these two are meant to be," he thought with a sigh, looking down into his troubled sister's face. "Why did this have to happen to you of all people, sis?"

"Wow, their really going at it aren't they?" Suki whispered over to Mai who was now leaning forward in her seat at the spectacle. "Lot of work for a dry fuck don't you think?"

The corner of the half inebriated woman's mouth lifted. "I wouldn't call this, "dry", by any means. Take a look-see," she retorted as she directed the Fan Master's eyes with her nearly empty glass.

Suki noticed as Toph swayed up, allowing her skirt to uncover her foot, that her bare toes had held of Aang's trousers and underwear. She had apparently pulled them down to his mid-thigh at the same time she took her place. The brown dress that draped over him kept this mostly hidden.

Mai shook her head as she continued to stare. "Wonder if she really is being forced into this... don't you?" the knife wielder speculated as she refilled her glass. "That took some real skill, even for her I would think. You hardly can call it accidental. Kind of makes one think what kind of a virgin would pull such a move or even be able to ride that well on top. Ripping your own maidenhead is one thing, but to ride him like a mongoose dragon without a saddle, I couldn't have done that," she sighed. "I'm impressed."

Suki's jaw tightened as she heard the all too natural sounds. "You're drunk Mai, you shouldn't be spouting shit you know nothing about," she replied back in a menacing whisper. "They could be doing whatever to save their lives... wouldn't you?"

The golden-eyed lady sighed. "No, I would never do... whatever, even to save my life. And knowing that little princess, I don't think she would either. I think... she's just fucking him because she want's to. And what's really funny," she paused staring over at the scowling warrior, "... you agree with me, don't you?"

Suki felt as if her face had suddenly caught on fire. "I-I-I most certainly don't!" she shouted as she bolted to her feet. "That 's absolutely a... a stupid thing to say Mai! Why would I agree with you on anything?" she continued to rant as she stomped her foot loudly.

"Wha... what's going on," Katara mumbled lightly as she lifted her head off her brother's chest, rubbing her teary eyes. "What's all the noise about Sokka?"

"Nuthin... nothing at all Katara... just go back to sleep," he cooed softly even as he shot his girlfriend a reprimanding slant of his cool blue eyes.

Suki looked back, appalled and offended that he would give her the stink eye. She pointed one finger at herself and then immediately pointed it towards the tall raven haired woman who sat in the adjacent seat.

As he looked Mai's direction, she smiled and winked at him. An action that caused him to jerk and turn away suddenly, jolting the napping waterbender upright.

"Hey, what gives?" she asked as she grimaced up at him, suddenly hearing a long shuddering moan emanating from behind her.

Katara could tell the voice was Aang's, but what would ever cause him to sound like that, she had only imagined in her most heated dreams.

Her brother placed a hand on her forearm. "Please sis, trust me. You don't want to see this," he implored her, his own eyes glistening. "You know they would never..."

Before he could continue, she had spun about on his knees viewing all there was to see. Her first expression stunned him. She appeared more curious or enthralled by what she saw than anything. Her blue eyes shifting about as if to capture every detail.

"Uh, sis... are you okay?" he asked softly touching her back.

"How could she do this to me?" Katara answered him in a trembling low voice. "I-I knew... I knew she liked him... she's liked him for a while now, b-but this... this is more than I can bear."

He took in a deep breath, his mind racing trying to find a way to answer her. "Sis, you know their both under a spell... in the spirit world right? No telling what is making them behave this way. Maybe they believe they're married and... and home right now... or something like that," he postulated hoping it would make her think.

He watched as her jaw tightened and eyes narrowed.

"I don't know what's going on Sokka, but this isn't right!" she shouted as she stood and sent a barrage of water from various basins and pitchers at the couple, mainly targeting Toph.

As the water came into contact with the light that surrounded the enchanted pair, each stream vanished as if entering a hole in the air, only to return to their original containers.

There was a singular group gasp of surprise as everyone was now on their feet.

"By Tui and La! I've never seen anything like that before," Sokka stated in total amazement as his eyes looked to the full articles, almost expecting them to turn on them.

"Please Lady Katara, do not attack the energy that surrounds them or the game!" Lili cried out as she threw her arms around the stunned water bender. "Thank the spirits that the barrier was benign. I have seen firebenders burnt to ash and earthbenders crushed trying to break such as this. Physical attacks are useless. Only a shaman or one adept in the mystic arts would have a hope. I know this is hard for you to see..."

"Harder than you know Lili. He's my boyfriend, my boyfriend," Katara cried into her shoulder.

"Understood, but we will also have to dispose of the water that touched the barrier as soon as possible milady. They have become accursed and can curse a person if they drank or even touched it," she warned all in the room, looking closely at the curious Sokka. "Milady, we will need you and Fire Lord Zuko's help to dispose of it all. Mei Mei will bury the tainted vessels once they are empty," she explained as she stepped away from the still weeping waterbender.

Katara stayed staring at the love locked pair. "Wh-why her? That should have been me! He-he loves me… he told me so. Why is he looking at her like that… like she's everything to him… why?" she complained pounding her chest

"Possibly… an illusion… just an illusion," the countess exclaimed as she also turned to look at them. "Under the spirit's control, he may actually believe that she is you. Often, one's desires are reflected upon another as a… punishment or for the amusement of the spirit that has captured the pair. They are the only ones who know what they are going through. You will have to trust them, and help them cope once this is over," the conflicted countess instructed them as she held back her own tears.

Katara turned to look at the saddened face that so resembled her best friend's it made her shudder. "Really… he could be thinking that?"

"See sis, I told you so," Sokka exclaimed reassuringly as he stepped up beside her. "You know old baldy there has been all gooey over you since he first laid eyes on ya."

"Right now, he just went all "gooey" in her," Mei Mei pointed out with a sneer as Aang clearly seized and shook violently, his cheeks ablaze and his eyes tightly closed.

"Mei Mei!" Lili shouted as she bared her teeth.

The mouthy look-a-like shrugged her shoulders. "What, did I say something wrong?"

Toph collapsed upon his heaving chest. The lights that emanated from their bodies at the chakras now formed a cocoon about them. They flowed one to another and all the little princess could feel was contentment.

"Did I please you?" she asked kissing his breastbone.

"Like I've never been pleased before… wow, you were, amazing!" he exclaimed as he tilted her head in order to see her face. "We'll have a lot of explaining to do when we get back, but trust me my love, I choose you," he declared forthrightly. "I mean, how could I not. We're more alike now that I know you're a spirit being too. So, what spirit lives in you… or with you?"

She took in a deep breath as her mouth moved side to side. "Uh, Twinkle Toes… ya see… it's not like she live in me or with me," she began to explain. "I am that spirit. Me… the Toph me, is called my robe. I became spiritually aware of my true self when I turned 12, I guess right before letting you out of that ice-cube."

Aang now sat up all the way carrying her with him. He was staring into her face with awe. "So you're the one! You're the one she meant… force of her will, she told me! The one that hid me, and sent Katara and Sokka to wake me up too, am I right?" he asked almost in anticipation.

Toph nodded.

Aang's tears began to flow in huge streams as he hugged her. "Thank you, thank you, thank you," he repeated over and over again.

"You're welcome Twinkle Toes," she whispered back enjoying his gratitude.

After a few moments of weeping and exchanging tender kisses he gazed back into her face. "So you're Zhinü," he declared to her astonishment and glee.

"Uh… yeah, but how did you know?" Toph gasped open-mouthed.

"The Book of the Way speaks of the Jade Emperor's daughter and how her will can make all kinds of strange things happen like that tornado in the swamp or even sending Yue to help a struggling avatar out at sea."

Toph blushed, "Oh, you figured that out too… but she was eager to help," she confided

He rubbed her wet warm cheek. "Well, you also mentioned this… beautiful robe, that allows you to be here in mortal form and with that spirit calling you her liege, I don't have to be Sokka to figure out only one being fits that description," he ended with a passionate kiss. "So now there is nothing between us. You know me and I know you Toph, isn't this wonderful?"

The small creäture approached her, "Your highness, remember, this is all about truth and true love is based upon truth and not fear. Cast your fear aside. This was part of your pact with your father, his highness. No shadows, no doubts, only walking together in the light of love. Isn't this what you really want as well?" she asked.

For the first time since coming here she looked into his eyes and she wished she were blind again as he stared at her with such deep emotion. With a long sigh, she started, "Okay, I hear ya, ya little troublemaker!" she huffed. "Just can't leave well enough alone. Eh Twinkle Toes?"

"Yes, Toph?" he replied innocently with a smile.

"My… father… not Lao, my earthly dad, but the other one, he uh, set some conditions on my being here to help you… help us," she started to explain and wring her hands. "Not everybody was in favor of me coming back here. In fact, most of the top spirits had something to say. My father, the emperor told me if I accepted the conditions that I could return during the last course of your life… ya know, being that you're folded into the Avatar now. He wanted to make it tough on me so that this other spirits wouldn't think I was just getting my way."

Aang's eyes looked at her with concern and compassion. "You did this for me?"

"I would do anything for you Aang. Anything!" she boldly declared. "I knew without my… help you would become something you wouldn't want to be, something dark and evil. Sozin didn't understand… he was being used and those spirits wanted me out of the way."

Hidimbi cleared her throat. "Perhaps that story is best saved for another day your Highness. He should know the full truth of who you are… the both of you actually."

Toph nodded and as she stood, a red flowing gown appeared that was shimmering like a thousand stars and very sheer.

The air nomad's heart began to beat wildly, "Gorgeous! That's absolutely incredible Toph!"

She smiled sheepishly. "They don't call me, Weaver Girl for nothing."

"My liege… stay the course," the man-eater prompted her once more. "Avatar, as distracting as she is, please listen."

Aang nodded.

The princess rolled her head on her shoulders as if trying to alleviate some tension. "Okay… I'll get to the point. So, my father said I had to be born blind, well my robe had to be."

"Why?" Aang asked.

"All she lays eyes upon is subject to her will," Hidimbi interjected. "If her robe could see, then her will would be absolute. It has happened before. A two thousand year reign of darkness and great loss for both spirits and humans. This world was almost entirely destroyed. Kindly, your history is mostly silent on this era."

Aang's face became sullen. "Not all history is silent on it. The rule of the Blood Queens you're talking about. Four Elementals, four queens and the most powerful and ruthless of them was the Earth Queen, Ci Quan. The ancient nomad script has some of it. In the end, the Water Queen kills the other three and is herself killed by… her… lover," he finished as if recalling a memory.

"Yes, but what history doesn't tell you is that the lover was the Earth Queen's. He killed the Water Queen out of revenge. He then became a terrible tyrant and ushered in a time of war between spirits and men. He was so grief-stricken over his loss he wanted everyone to feel the same. He became petty and cruel until his dying day… almost 4 centuries later," Hidimbi remarked stroking her furry chin. "That's when her Highness sent the Lion Turtles to save your kind because you were losing the war and on the verge of extinction."

Aang stood to his feet. His was face stern as he looked at the princess. "Toph, you were also Ci Quan?"

"Obviously," she answered slowly. "I underestimated the pull of that robe. It was a gradual slide that I didn't see coming. One pleasure after another. One small compromise leading to a bigger one and then… and then, I had no care or concern for anyone but myself. I used my powers freely to do whatever I wanted. Human or spirit, they were all the same to me. I was totally seduced into thinking everybody loved me and I surrounded myself with those who told me only that, until you came along. You were begging for your village not to be destroyed for some stupid reason. I don't even know how you got into the throne room but it was the way you called out to me… I recognized you. My first love from back then when I came to this place the first time. Thousands of years had past… I could hardly believe it. I was ashamed of what I had let myself become even though you didn't recognize me, I knew you hadn't changed. I started to make things right, then and there… but a few years later, I was betrayed… encased in the center of that iceberg at the edge of the Si Wong desert…"

"You mean… the one we get those refreshing drinks from every time we go out to the oasis?" he asked looking a bit queasy.

She giggled lightly. "Yep, that's the one Twinkle Toes, a little of me in every glass. Where do you think I got the idea for you? I was alive in that thing for almost 100 years myself before deciding to crossover. You never forget that kind of cold," she espoused crossing her arms. "Uh, what's the matter now? You don't look so good… maybe you should…"

He stuck out his tongue. "Ugh… and they were so tasty! I just didn't know I was drinking old dead woman juice! Toph, you could have warned me!" he cried trying to wipe out his mouth.

"Don't be such a baby! Everything, including those dumb plants you're so fond of munching down like a rabbiroo has a bit somebody in them!" the Earth Queen declared with a smirk. "Hello… cycle of life! You ate me when I was alive back then… you eat me now… I don't see the big deal?"

His eyes widened in shock, "Alive…don't you get it! You are alive Toph! I'm not a cannibal! I'm a vegetarian… licking is not the same as eating or you would be hollow by now!" he clarified pointing to her midsection.

"Oh, I guess you do have a point. But, I wouldn't mind a nimble... you know when you're down there," she remarked with a wink.

"You're drifting again your Majesty," the man-eater commented with a roll of her white-less eyes.

"Sorry," she acknowledged with a nod, "So you see Aang, you saved me back then and this also proves all female waterbenders are actually evil at heart and can't be trusted."

"No they're not and you can't prove that!" Aang fired back placing his hands on his hips.

"Oh yes I can," Toph replied wagging a finger at him. "And I'm not only saying that because one of them put me in deep freeze to become a tasty beverage!"

The monk put a hand to his bare stomach, "Can we not bring that up again?"

"Sure Twinkle Toes, you gonna get dressed anytime soon or are you trying to make Hubcap here hungry? You do know she is a man-eater, and I'm not talking about licks here, those pointy teeth aren't for chewing lettuce."

Instantly his clothes reappeared. "Sorry Hidimbi... didn't mean to uh, tempt you... and all."

The little being seemed to flush, even though her fur. "It... it was of no concern. I was not hungry master Avatar. I only consume real flesh and not of sentient beings," she assured him.

"Then Twinkle Toes should be at the top of your menu!" Toph jested. "Nothing sentient about him!"

"Hardy, har, har, very funny Toph, I thought you liked me?" he exclaimed crossing his arms.

"And I thought you chose me... defending Katara after making love to me, are we?" she asked accusingly.

"No, I just said she's not evil and you couldn't prove it was all. A few bad experiences doesn't condemn everyone," he stated philosophically. I know the Northern Water Tribe didn't train women to be benders based on the example of the Water Queen, but Katara was able to show them the error of their ways."

"That's only because she was the reason it was banned in the first place Aang," Toph commented as she looked towards the ground. "Who better to fix the issue right?"

Aang appeared as if someone had suckered punched him in the gut. "Ka- Katara... the Water Ripper? She was..."

Toph moved closer to him. "Take it easy Aang, you weren't Mister Nice guy back then either, remember? Do you recall your title? In this place memories and dreams can seem as one. You became, I made you into an energy bender. You could take any bender's abilities at the cost of their lives and use it yourself. Your were my Khan... and I did dance for you... in veils like these," she proclaimed as her gown morphed into multicolored glistening silk scarfs."

"Qin Shi Khan," he muttered shaking his head. "The Spirit Killer. That's who I was in that time... that past life?"

"Take heart, now you are the Avatar, the Bridge and Restorer of Balance. You are making atonement, as well as you're friends," Hidimbi said softly. "This is the cycle and the time to rebuild. You took... and you have suffered great loss. Yes, Agni came after the airbenders because as Qin Shi you devastated the Sun Warriors and hunted the fire spirits without mercy. You knew fire was the power of creation so you sought their power as your own and used it to subjugate all the other spirits, seeking to become immortal. For over four hundred years both man and spirit groaned under your heel until your personal army... the Air Walkers, rebelled and with great loss of life, ended you. I fought beside them that day as did many spirits. They were gallant and brave and that is why they committed themselves to peace after serving such a cruel tyrant, becoming the monks of your day."

Aang bowed at the waist to the small creäture with his fist in his palm. "Thank you. Thank you for explaining this all to me. I know, I am no longer Qin Shi, I am Aang. Just as Toph is not Ci Quan or Katara whoever she was back then. We all have changed and lived many existences over the centuries, learning the better path."

Toph shook her head. "Blah, blah, blah... really Twinkle Toes? Do you really think that the Jade Emperor's daughter keeps coming back to fix her mistakes or learn something new? I'm only here until you finish this thing and then we're outta here. Yeah, I made a couple of bad decisions..."

"A couple? he gasped throwing up his hands. "Toph... you nearly destroyed the world!"

She rolled her glowing eyes, "But I didn't, now did I? Plus my dad put some things in place to safeguard... well mainly the spirit realm, but it works both ways."

"Like your being born blind right?" he retorted.

"Yeah, that was one. The other was my robe had to mature in knowledge and power naturally. No hocus-pocus like I did in the past. I used to bond to a robe and then instantly the infant and I were of one mind. I must admit, this was a learning experience. Especially when she... the Toph me, decided to run away and go into a badger-mole cave. Badge-moles are scavengers and a lost child is just a snack to one of those giants. Luckily it sensed my presence and so my robe wasn't consumed. I was able to summon help in time. I was sweating trying to come up with how I was going to explain to my dad why I needed a new robe. Trust me, he's not the easiest guy to talk to. Lao is a pushover in comparison."

"Wow, the way Toph explains it, you and it just had a natural thing..." he exclaimed with a shrug.

"Natural, sure, after it was possessed by an earth spirit, it was as gentle as one of your air bison that is," Zhinü explained. "To the mind of a child, that's the only way it made sense."

"Huh, but doesn't the Toph side of you know this now?" Aang asked not sure of his lover's sanity.

"She/I do understand now. I admit, I was confused, but only at first. I got past it. What was I gonna do, punch myself? As I get older, we merge more and more and I understand that she is me," Toph said with a half-smile. "It's was because of the Zhinü side of me I understood that I could get out of that metal box and it was her that kept me from being roasted like a turtle-duck on that airship when I was in that armor. But it was Capt. Boomeraang and Fan Girl that saved our ass when we, I mean, I was dangling over the water... she can't take any credit for that."

Aang nodded his understanding. "Wow Toph, I guess I'm the luckiest guy in the whole world. You are really special. Is there anything else you want to tell me? By the Four Winds, my head is already swimming. Will I remember any of this when we get back?"

"Most of it," the man-eater told him as she gazed into his eyes. "Over time. it will become as a dream and it will become difficult to tell which was and that which was dreamed. That is the nature of this place, even for you Avatar. Please tell him the rest my liege, our time here is coming to a close," Hidimbi informed her.

Toph rubbed her forehead, "Okay so here's the quick rundown Twinkle Toes. Dad says, not Lao but emperor, you want to protect him, you must behave yourself and not hurt other spirits or upset their domains in this world. So... the blindness and the abiding by natural laws. I have to request and barter with other spirits for help, like that spirit water. That stuff is not cheap. I have friends and allies, but I also have enemies who would like nothing better than to see you hurt Aang. The Fire Clan is no friend of mine, or my fathers. They fear him, but if they could kick him off the throne, they would. Zuko and uncle, first fire ethereals I've ever been close to. I told you about Sweetness. What I didn't tell you, she killed me because she was jealous of you. We were lovers before you showed up... close your mouth and not a word more. That was almost ten thousand years ago."

"More like fifteen... your Majesty," Hidimbi corrected her. "We have had a convergence since."

"Oh yeah, almost forgot about that," Toph exclaimed tapping her chin. "Twinkle Toes... that's when your predecessor screwed up royally. And why are you still gawking at me? Didn't I tell you to shut your pie hole? No questions, gutter boy!"

Aang complied as the many dreams also faded into the back of his mind.

She resumed her synopsis. "Let see, um... okay, 12 realized I wasn't just a regular blind bending genius. I met my other half and Soo Ming showed up, I'll introduce you. Trust me, you've spent a lot of time with her already. Uhm, I was born to a royal family here because my father wasn't going to have me born in poverty. My grandmother made a pact with my father so that the Bei Fongs would be successful even during the war. See, it worked out well. Aang, there was one more condition my father imposed so that I would never be loved or accepted by people again."

He looked truly bewildered. "But Toph, everyone loves you. You're a national hero, their princess and dare I say it, the world's greatest earthbender, not to mention metalbender," he lauded her.

His praise didn't seem to cheer her up as her veils turned into a dark body hugging dress.

She started pacing back and forth. "None of that matters Twinkles. Think back through all the times you were an earthbender or anything else. Think about all the earthbenders you've ever known in fact. Could any of them tell if someone were lying Aang?"

He stroked his chin, thinking back as far as he could possibly go, "Eh, can't say that any could. You've been the very first one I've ever known. But that just shows how exceptional you are... right? I mean, if you weren't the Jade Emperor's daughter you wouldn't be able..."

The princess stopped pacing. "Yes I would Twinkle Toes. My mother, Poppy, she can also do it, as well as her mother. Do you know of any particular group of people that can tell truths from lies Avatar Aang?" she posed to him in a trembling voice as she saw the uncertainty cross his face.

Again Aang thought for a moment, "Um, well yeah, but you can't be one of them," he responded shaking his head incredulously, with a lean smile. "That would be totally impossible, I mean really, utterly ridiculous!"

Toph's heart sank in her breast, "Why impossible Aang? Why would it be utterly ridiculous?"

The monk looked at her with a steely glare. "Because, my love... they're evil monsters!"

Toph swiped at a tear, "Hidimbi, send me back. Send me back now!"

Without hesitation, Toph vanished and Aang stood alone with the rather angry-looking man-eater.