Disclaimer: I don't own ATLA... yada... yada... yada...

Chapter 7

Soon after leaving the Jasmine Dragon, Aang arrived back at his house and went straight to the kitchen. "I'm taking a trip tomorrow morning, and I'll need food and supplies. I don't know how long I'll be gone, so prepare for at least a week." He said to the young maid in the kitchen.

"Of course Master Avatar. I'll get on it right away." The maid said, bowing to him.

Aang then headed for his room. 'Toph said Katara was living on Kyoshi Island with Sokka and Suki. So I guess I'll start there.' He thought to himself, as he gathered what he needed for the trip. Momo flew in through an open window and landed on his master's shoulder, curling his tail around Aang's neck. "How would you like to take a trip with me Momo?" He asked the flying lemur. Momo began chirping and chattering excitedly, like he understood what his master had asked. "I'll take it that's a 'yes'." He said, laughing at the lemurs' antics.

Once he had packed, Aang got in to bed. 'Better get plenty of rest. It's going to be a long day tomorrow.' He thought, rolling over on to his side. "Katara..." He whispered to himself, then drifted off in to a deep sleep.

Aang was up with the sun the next morning. Gathering up his things, he headed toward the stable behind the house, where Appa was kept. "Good morning Appa." He said cheerfully to the animal. Appa grunted at him in response, licking his face with his large tongue. "Okay... okay. I'm happy to see you too." He replied to the bison's greeting, laughing. "I hope you're rested up buddy, because we're heading for Kyoshi Island today." He said to his companion. Appa snorted in response.

Aang disappeared back in to the house to collect the supplies the kitchen staff had put together, then returned to the stable and began loading everything on to the bison's back. Leading the animal out of the stable and in to the courtyard, he mounted himself on the bison's head, a gust of wind assisting him to his perch. "Yip, yip." He said, and the bison ascended toward the sky. "To Kyoshi Island." He whispered, then smiled.

The ship docked in the Earth Kingdom early the next morning, and the group disembarked.

"I'll go secure transportation to Gaoling." Sokka said. Handing Kya to Suki, he headed off toward the crowded plaza.

Kya snuggled up against her mother's chest, and rested her head on her shoulder. "Why don't we browse some of the shops while we wait?" Suki suggested.

"Sure." Katara replied. Holding Tenzin, propped on her hip.

"Whatever." Toph added. Then blew her bangs out of her eyes.

They shopped for a while, buying a few trinkets here and there, when Sokka reappeared. "Okay. I've rented a carriage to take us to Gaoling." He said.

"Sweet." Toph replied, smiling.

They traveled for about an hour before finally arriving in Gaoling. Toph gave the driver directions to her school, and he let them off there.

"Wow! I'm impressed Toph. You've got quite a place here." Katara said to her friend, surveying the place.

"Thanks, Sugarqueen." Toph said, grinning widely. "Let me show you around, then I'll show you where you can bunk for the night." She added. "I have a few extra guest rooms you can use." She finished, smiling.

Toph showed her friends around the complex, stopping to introduce them to a few of her students. Haru had been covering her classes while she was away, and was doing a spectacular job. He had learned a lot from Toph over the last few years. And seemed to be quite smitten with his Sifu. Once settled in their rooms, they sat down for supper, provided by the staff at the academy.

"This place is amazing Toph!" Suki said, enthusiastically.

"Yeah, you've really outdone yourself!" Sokka added.

"Thanks guys. That really means a lot to me. I've worked hard to make this place a success." Toph said, full of pride.

"So... What's with you and Haru?" Sokka asked Toph, elbowing her in the side. A devilish grin on his face.

"What! Nothing! He just helps me run the place!" Toph exclaimed, blushing.

"Yeah... right." Sokka replied. Winking at her, then snickering.

After a few minutes of awkward silence, Suki broke the ice. "So... I guess we'll be heading for Ba Sing Se in the morning?" She asked.

"Yep. Bright and early." Sokka answered, then took another bite of his noodles.

"But, we hardly got to spend any time here... with Toph." Katara interjected.

"That's okay Sugarqueen. I've decided to go to Ba Sing Se with you guys. Haru can handle things here a little while longer." Toph said.

"Are you sure?" Katara asked.

"Yep... I wouldn't miss this, for anything in the world." Toph said, chuckling under her breath.

"Oh... okay." Katara said, shrugging her shoulders.

After supper, they stopped in to visit with Toph's parents for a while, then headed back to the academy and prepared for bed.

"Goodnight Suki... Goodnight Kya... Goodnight Katara... Goodnight Tenzin... Goodnight T-" Sokka started.

"GO TO SLEEP ALREADY!" Toph shouted. Cutting Sokka off and startling him. Soon after that, they all drifted off to sleep.

Aang landed on Kyoshi Island well after nightfall. An excited crowd gathering around him as he dismounted his bison. The villagers were happy to see him, and thanked him for all he'd done to end the war and restore peace. After spending some time addressing the crowd, he decided to settle in for the night. Finding an Inn in the center of town, he booked a room for the night. Hoping to get an early start on locating his friends the next morning. A nearby stable had offered to house Appa for the night, which he graciously accepted.

The next morning, Aang headed in to town and asked some of the villagers where he might find Sokka ,Suki and Katara. He was directed to the far side of the island. He decided to head over there on his glider, rather than take Appa. His heart fluttering in his chest and butterflies in his stomach, he took to the air. 'This is it.' He thought, as he sailed over the island toward his friends' residence.

A bit later he landed in front of a large cottage. Not an extravagant dwelling, but a nice, cozy place. He stepped on to the porch and knocked lightly on the front door, his palms sweating. No one answered. He knocked again, this time a bit louder. Still no answer. Walking around to the back of the cottage, he knocked on the back door. Again, no answer. "Where could they be?" He asked himself, then decided to head back toward town.

Arriving back in town, he located the dojo where the Kyoshi Warriors practiced. Then stepped inside, and looked around.

"Aang!" A female voice yelled out, it's owner giving him a big bear hug.

"Oh... Hi, Ty Lee. How've you been?" Aang asked the girl, breaking free from her embrace.

"Wonderful! I love it here!" Ty Lee replied, grinning widely. "What brings you to Kyoshi, Aang?" She asked curiously.

"I'm looking for Sokka, Suki and Katara. I went by their place, but no one was home. Have you seen them?" Aang replied.

"No. Not for a few days. I think they left for the Earth Kingdom... on vacation." Ty Lee answered.

"Oh." Aang said, disappointed. "Did they say where they were going in the Earth Kingdom?" He asked.

"Hmmm... I think Suki said they were going to Gaoling with Toph, then maybe to Ba Sing Se." Ty Lee replied.

"Toph's with them?" Aang asked, surprised. His eyebrows raised.

"Yep. She'd been here visiting for about a week, before they left." Ty Lee said.

"Oh, okay. Thanks Ty Lee. Nice to see you again." Aang said, smiling.

"You too, Aang. Don't be a stranger!" Ty Lee said, winking at him. Then cartwheeled away.

"I won't!" Aang yelled after her. 'Well, I guess this trip was a big waste of time. Might as well head back to the Earth Kingdom. Maybe I'll find them there.' He thought to himself, dejected. Then headed back to the Inn to collect his things.