When Toph arrived back in Ba Sing Sae she was amazed at how different it was from what she remembered. The recently liberated city was full of life and cheer. Music played in the streets, children played freely and there was laughter wherever you went.

Changes had also occurred on the larger scale. The walls that used to separate social classes had been torn down and with them the restrictions of the past. Peasants flocked to the enormous royal gardens, the rich mingled and haggled in the markets and the poor were given food and housing by the newly established charity groups.

For what might have been the first time since the walls went up citizens could talk openly about problems and the general consensus was that Rockus the first was a true man of integrity, fairness and grace.

Toph entered the throne room of the Earth Palace still slightly awestruck by the palpable excitement of the population.

"Toph Bei Fong, champion of the Earth Kingdom. And Sokka of the Southern Water Tribe, son of Hakoda. It is my sincerest honor to have you both here so soon after your heroic victory against Ozai- the tyrannical despot."

Something was wrong, the young girl just couldn't tell what it was.

Suddenly Sokka's voice broke out from besides her. "Thanks for having us your majesty."

"Rock- call me Rock." The King began to approach, the rich silken robes falling from his shoulders as he came- leaving an unassuming outfit built for agility and ease of movement. "...After all- we must be close friends if we are to usher in an age of peace and harmony between the nations."

"You're lying." Toph's words were accompanied by a sharp pain in her neck, she heard a small cry from beside her. She failed to see Rockus's head tilt and a sharp smile cross his face before her mind was overcome by darkness.

--

Waking up was abnormally painful. The world seemed to beat rhythmically. The unmistakable texture of rope bound her wrists above her head. She apparently stood on the grainy texture of wooden planks. And for some strange reason she could recognize the unmistakable sounds and scents of the outdoors.

"Sokka?" The question seemed like the only reasonable choice for the situation in which the young girl found herself.

"You're awake." The heavy relief that filled Sokka's voice would have been endearing to Toph if she wasn't so distracted.

"You always did have a knack for stating the obvious-" Despite herself Toph couldn't keep the worry from her voice. "...King Pebbles was lying."

"You always did have a knack for stating the obvious." The words were mocking and calming, said in a way to assure her that everything would be okay.

"Why can I hear birds?"

"We're outside. I don't know why... He's coming."

Rockus approached the pair carrying a bladed pair of clippers. Sokka eyed them worriedly.

"During my imprisonment I found that I missed gardening the most. Shaping life- watching it grow." Rockus gave a few small clips to the nearest bush as he was talking. "...I suppose you want to know why I attacked you."

"Actually we were wondering when lunch would be ready." Sokka deadpanned. "...We're hungry."

"When I was given the throne I was also granted access to the extensive files of the Dai Li. Amongst those files I found..."

"He ignored me completely." Sokka managed to sound genuinely hurt before turning to his comrade. "...Toph can't you do the woosh bam thing and get us out of here?"

"Not without touching the ground." The girl gave a few tugs at the tight ropes to demonstrate the problem.

"-and that's how I tamed an octopus." Rockus concluded- his face the image of neutrality.

"What?" Both Sokka and Toph were caught off guard.

"Fine, forget the long version if you're both not going to listen." Rockus stood up sharply, his expression one of exasperated annoyance. "...Let's make this simple. Your new found friend- Fire Lord Zuko-" Rockus traced his fingers down the left side of his face to indicate that he knew the person of which he spoke. "...Ozai marked him in a vicious act- an evil act. Ozai deserved to be punished, he was an evil man?"

"Yes- we killed the evil man. Hooray for us. Now if you could just-"

"To kill- to mark- to scar without cause. These people and the people who protect them must be stopped- must be destroyed?" The King's movements were becoming increasingly erratic.

"I don't understand- what do you want?"

"I want- I want to know why. I want to know why she is free. I want to know why she is alive!" Rockus' eyes were aflame; he approached Sokka in a way that made the boy wary of hidden weapons.

"What? Who? I don't-"

Rockus unhinged his collar- allowing his shirt to float to the ground.

Sokka saw the horrible circular scarring that covered his chest. It was barely human- the skin had healed poorly into a thick reddish crust. The most noticeable thing however was the very centre of the burn- a neat outline of a delicate feminine hand deeply etched in to flayed skin surrounding it.

Sokka suddenly knew what was happening- he had seen that hand up close. "...Toph- I think we have a problem."