Aang floated peacefully around his personal zen bedroom. Right now, Aang was in his happy place. All his chakra points were tension free and his spirit channels were stable and serene. This was a kind of training he had developed for himself to keep his soul pure, untainted by the stress and cruelty of the world.

"Hey, TWINKLE-TOWS!"

Aang winced. This ought to be good.

Toph stomped right into Aang's zen room wearing a scowl.

"Twinkle-tows, get down. I can't see you if you float. I need to talk to you."

Aang inhaled and exhaled deeply. He would be angry, but unlike most people, Aang knew the difference between Toph's fury and her exasperation. It's so hard to differentiate between the two that those who don't know her assume that she had been born mad. Aang descended slowly from his seat on the ceiling arch.

"Toph, what is causing you such irritation?"

She snorted. "Now that I think about it, you couldn't help me could you, Twinkle-tows? You're Mr. Sing kum-bai-ah by the river. Let's all eat strawberries on a rainbow with pretty flowers, right?"

Aang raised an eyebrow. "Spit it out, Toph."

Toph sighed then sat down cross-legged. This was embarressing. Especially for her. But after tons of thought, she came to the conclusion that Aang was the best person to talk to. Being the Avatar, his mind was already open to other's ideas. He truly understands, and if he doesn't then he tries his best to relate to the matter. No matter what it is.

"Aang, do you ever get claustrophobic? Do you ever wish you could leave and go somewhere by yourself for a while?"

He thought on it. "I think everyone feels that way at some point, even the Avatar. But after a day or two, you start to miss the person or people you care for most. Why? Do you feel this way?"

"It's just...everyone's been so snuggly and lovey with each other. When I see all the love, I start to feel wierd. I've been fine with it up until now. Everyones been kissing and hugging for nearly three years. But now, it just makes me feel like purposely starting a fight with the first guy who offers me his arm. These feelings are starting to confuse me. I don't know what to do."

Aang visibly softened. "I think you're lonely, Toph."

"Exsqueeze me? Lonely? How could I be?"

"What I mean is, when you see Katara, Suki, and Mai so happy beacause they're in love, you subconsciously wish you had a special someone too."

Toph blinked. Was this guy seriously the Avatar? She wished that she could have a special someone? That had to be the funniest thing she had ever heard. Toph wasn't laughing, though.

"Nah, I don't think that's it, Twinkle-tows. Believe me, I've met plenty of guys. Didn't matter how strong they were, or how funny, or how smart. I wasn't interested in any of them. All the boys I meet are just fun friends to hang around with."

"I think that I'm right, Toph," said Aang, his tone emitting an all-knowingness. "Besides, why didn't you ask Katara? She's a woman. She'd know more about this kind of thing than I do."

Toph grimaced. "If I asked Katara, she would have her heart set on finding me a boyfriend and would make me read those romance novels that she loves so much."

"You're right," Aang laughed.

"Of course I am," she smiled, "Thanks. I feel alot better now. I think I'll go get me some lunch. See ya later, Aang."

"See you, Toph," smiled Aang as the teenager rocketed out the door. He shook his head, then gazed straight up at the ceiling. Girls. Why are they all so emotional?

Mai, the single most unemotional girl in the world, had a problem.

She sat at the head of the Fire Palace meeting table. The room where the table resided was hardly used now because it intimidated all who entered. The room was bleak and unnappealing in almost every way. But Mai could not see why anyone thought as such, and came to the dreary place often to think. Today, a deep frown creased her forehead, a motion her muscles were not used to. She slumped down into her chair, her legs propped up on the edge of the table.

Something has been bothering Zuko lately, she thought. He's been so distant and agitated. But to be fair, he's usually always like that. He'll just start spacing out for hours...like an old man or something. He can't be having mide-life crisis. He's only twenty. And what's with him and talking with his little security guards? When he talks to them he acts so serious. Like it's a matter of life or death.

That wasn't the only thing that had her worried. She stared blankly down at the scattered papers on the table. About a year ago, her uncle had retired from his rank as Boiling Rock's Warden. All of his previous duties fell to her. Mai's family not only dealt with Boiling Rock, but controled all prisons in the Fire Nation. Mai knew every criminal that ever passed through the Nation, even when she was a little girl. Since she was told to sit quietly at dinner, all she could ever do was listen to adults. Dinner was always a business transaction. Men with hardened faces and long scars dined with her family on most nights. Because of these cold men, Mai learned the meaning of the words "murder" and "rape" as a toddler.

For the past two months, overseers at one of the Eastern Prisons have been sending her irate letters. Apparently, Mai needed to raise the salaries of the workers at that particular prison. Apparently, because so many guards were relieved of their post, the ones that remained didn't recieve a large enough sum for their hard work. Apparently, twenty prisoners is too hard to handle even for thirty armed fire-bending soldiers.

Apparently, they are all pansies.

Just as she was thinking this, Toph walked in carrying a collosal plate of food. Toph could care less if anyone, let alone Mai, was in the middle of something important.

"Hey, Mai. What's up?"

Mai glanced up for half a second. Toph was probably the one person in the world that could truly understand Mai's feelings. Mai never portrayed any emotions on her face or through any body movement. But Toph is blind. She doesn't have to see Mai to tell what she's feeling. All she has to do is listen to Mai's heart. Her heart beats quickly when she's happy, and more slowly when she's depressed. It's very easy to read, in her point of view. Besides, 'what's up' is the closest statement Toph could come up with to show concern.

This explain's why Toph knew that Mai was stressed out. Mai emitted an irregular heartbeat.

Mai sighed, "Nothing. Just some pathetic soldiers crying to me about their salaries."

Toph chuckled, "If they have you stressed, then they must be pretty angry. You might want to send someone over to shut them up before someone decides to start protesting the government."

An idea spawned and formed inside Mai's mind, like a lightening crack that started a small fire. Her head snapped up and she turned her torso so she completely faced Toph. I'm a genious, she thought hopefully.

Mai's sudden movement alarmed Toph. "What?"

"Toph, you've been wanting to get away for a few days, right?"

"Eh. Yeah. Why?"

"I just thought...that if you wanted to travel a little...you could maybe go to Zrok province and shut the pansy soldiers up for me."

Toph just stared at Mai. Going away was one thing. Delivering a message from Mai to a bunch of pissed soldiers was another.

"Mai. You're my friend. You should know that I might start a civil war within the Fire Nation."

"Exactly! You're my friend! I can trust you with a task like this, and only you. You can pass my point along perfectly. And think about it! You'll have your alone time for a few days. It all works out for everybody."

It did sound good. Almost to perfect. The only problem is that Zrok is halfway across the country.

"Mai, how exactly am I going to get there? I can't exactly steer Appa."

Mai leaned back in her chair, almost smugly. "You can go by train. A few weeks ago, the railroad tracks were set down near the capital. You can go by train, enjoy some time by yourself, and get rid of some of the annoying thorns in my side. It'll be fine. Besides, you already know the way to Zrok province, don't you? You've been almost everywhere in the fire nation."

The former heiress nodded her head slowly. "Alright. I'll do it."

"Excellent. First I'll send for your train ticket, then you can go."

Toph abruptly stood up, her face flushed. She bowed once quickly and skidded out of the room, leaving traces of her soil scent in the room. Mai could have sworn she saw her smiling as she went out.