Well, Toph was usually pissed on a regular basis, but today she seemed especially pissed. The fact that Toph couldn't put her finger on what she was pissed at in the first place made her all the more pissed. She was just in a bad mood, and earth benders in a bad mood are quite scary.
The fifteen-year-old stomped through the palace hallway in a huff. What was making her so foul?
Zuko had insisted that everyone come visit him when he last visited Ba Sing Se, which was about two weeks ago.
"I'm getting married!" he said, an excited smile on his face.
Aang was the first to speak. "You're getting married? Thats great!"
"Are we invited to the wedding?" asked Suki.
"Of course," said Zuko, "Everyone is invited. I wouldn't have it any other way."
"Now, hold on," said Sokka, striding right up to Zuko and bringing his face an inch away from the other man's, "You're getting married, and you consider me and Ang two of your best guy friends, right?"
"Er, yeah..." replied Zuko, not sure where this was going.
"Then, you would consider, you know, one of us planning your bachelor party, right?"
The expression on Zuko's face clearly read "crap."
"Oh Sokka, don't pressure him!" chided Katara. "It's his wedding, and he should be able to plan it how he wants to."
"It's alright, Katara, Sokka can plan my bachelor party-"
Sokka then punched the air and made triumphant sounds, which caused many in the room to sigh. Katara frowned.
"But I think I should ask her first, before everyone goes off talking about weddings and clothes and cakes," he said quickly, looking around anxiously, like a child admitting that he had broken a vase.
Toph burst out laughing. "What? You haven't even asked her yet?! What were you gonna do, invite all the nation's leaders, buy white dresses and robes for everyone, order tons of the finest delicacies from all around the world, then suddenly say to her, 'Hey! Lets get married today!'"
Zuko didn't appreciate the humor. "No. There were plenty of chances to ask Mai, but I took one look into those gold eyes and I just couldn't do it!"
"You can battle your own father, and perform a dance in front of two giant dragons, yet you can't ask your true love to marry you?" said Aang incredulously.
"It's harder than it looks," Zukko mumbled.
Suki sighed dreamily,"That just means you're in love, I suppose."
"Yeah..." he said, his face red with embaressment. "But what I finally thought was, that if everyone was there with me when I proposed, then I'd have the courage to finally ask her! I have the ring and everything."
"Poor Zuko," mused Sokka, "Reduced to a nervous wreck by a woman."
This brought hard glances from Suki, Katara, and Toph.
"You'd be amazed by what some women can do, Sokka."
"Yeah, I wonder who it was that saved you when that boulder nearly crushed you, remember, when you screamed like a girl?"
This brought laughs from everyone, and it was agreed that the whole party would go back to the Fire Nation's capital with Zukko.
Though Aang had to stay behind for a few days to oversee the government system in the Earth Kingdom. Official policies were still shaky in this particular nation, after the previous policy of 'nothing is happening outside of Ba Sing Se that we should care about'. Whenever Aang remembered this, his eyes clouded over in sadness. "The opposite of love is not hate," he said, "It is indifference." Since he took away Ozai's firebending, Aang's sense of morality and righteousness had brought him close to that of a Saint. He forgave everyone and everything, and believed that purposely taking a life for any reason was wrong. The intentions in his heart had always been good, but now, somehow, he is completely pure. The way he is now is better for all the Nations.
And here we are, thought Toph.
Toph exited the hallway and made her way towards the palace center garden. Being surrounded by earth always gave her a sense of calm. She took one step onto the grass and awareness immediatly washed over her. Toph would never be able to see the beauty of the earth around her, but at least she could feel and hear it's being. Even now, she could "see" Ramerain Trees and White Hibiscus in full bloom, and could definitly sense the gap in the earth where a glistening pond lay.
She sighed and sat under the largest tree. Toph was no longer the small twelve-year-old she once was. Peuberty had taken it's toll on her and given her the appearance of a pretty young woman, with breasts and everything. She had grown at least a foot and her black hair now stretched down her back, but her bangs still covered her milky white eyes like a veil.
She crossed her legs then leaned over to rest her head on her fist. Toph's thinking stance. Okay, by the position of the sun, I'd say it's three o'clock. What happened since the moment I woke up, till this exact moment to make me feel so irate?
I woke up, got out of my luxurious king-sized bed, walked out of my amazingly huge room, got lost because this place is so huge and the floors are carpet, then Sokka found me and guided me to the main dining room. Then Suki came to breakfast and started kissing Sokka. Then Zuko and Mai came in holding hands (I think) and ate with us. I ate bacon and eggs. After breakfast I went to the training grounds. Aang and Katara were already there practicing there bending, and I started practicing my earth bending. After an hour or so, Aang and Katara started playing around, I did too, but then they kissed and hugged and stuff, so I left. I went back to the palace, walked into a room where Zukko was filling out some papers, then Mai came into the room and wrapped her arms around Zuko, so I left again feeling really angry. I wandered around for a little bit till I ended up here.
Now, where in all of that did I feel like punching stuff? Oh, almost the entire time.
Everyone has been really cozy and lovey dovey since we got here. I don't get it! I was okay with it before! Well, there has been alot of talk about marriage and love. Maybe I'm just sick of all the love.
As Toph sat in the garden, thinking herself into a migrain, Zuko sat in his office, reading various requests from his citizens and signing them. Well, some of them.
Who in the world would want a firerat engraved on every house in the Western Provinces?! Zuko mentally screamed. There are some seriously messed up people out there! What's the next one? Outlaw garden hoses?
At that moment, a soldier entered the office. "Sir! I have urgent news for you from our informates in the North!"
Zuko immediatly sat up and put on a formal face, "Good or bad?"
"Um," said the old soldier, "It depends on how you see it, sir, but I personally think that it's good news!"
"Okay, than what is it then?" he groaned, rubbing his temples. It didn't matter what kind of news it was, he had to much to deal with already with a country to run and an impatient girlfriend.
"Until three years ago, Princess Ursa had been living in captivity in Foren Province. But after Ozai's defeat three years ago, mass hysteria erupted from those still loyal to Ozai and she was moved to an unknown area."
Zuko froze. "Go on."
"We believe that we have found her, sir. For the past three years, we believe that your Mother has lived in Chara Province."