Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar, The Last Airbender. If I did, it wouldn't be TV-Y7. xD

Chapter 1: A Sympathetic Visit

Oh…I've been here before! I know where I am!

"I ask myself all the time why…why I'm here…"

Let the spirits guide me to where I'm supposed to be.

"Spirits, tear me apart. Consume me in this hell. If I'm meant to be here, continue to mock my very existence."

I see so much good all around me. Even in the places other people might not.

"Everything is a lie."

I am loved. And I want it to be for who I am, not what I am. I'm confident that I am loved for who I am.

"No one loves me. Everyone's stabbed me in the back. There is no hope."

There is always hope.

"I've done too much. It's gone…everything's gone."

Don't ever lose hope. I won't let you lose hope.

"Then love me, hold me, guide me, protect me."

I will. I promise.

*

Aang turned away from his comrades, drifting off to sleep.

"Aang…"

The bald youth gazed upward, looking into the gentle yet worried eyes of his past life, "You look worried Roku."

Avatar Roku heaved a mighty sigh, "I am Aang."

"What's wrong?"

"Aang, I am both proud and happy. You have restored balance to the world and fixed my mistakes."

"But why do you look so sad?"

"Aang there's something that I ask for you to do for me."

Aang looked up with a wide smile. He'd do anything for Roku. There was so much that he couldn't have done and figured out without his help. He vowed that after he died, he wanted to be just as great as a spirit guide for the next Avatar, who would be born from the water tribe. Understanding that whatever Roku wanted him to do had to do directly with him being in the physical world, he knew it had to be of the utmost importance.

It hadn't been very long since he'd saved the world. Actually it'd only been months that had passed. He still had dreams about the events. He remembered every detail. He remembered Fire Lord Ozai. His every move, facial expression, every word; every last detail. He knew that he'd never face a battle like that ever again, "Okay."

"At the cost of the world getting its balance back, there is a person who has lost their balance. They mean a lot to me. I want you to get it back. Bring them to peace once again."

Aang quirked a brow. Someone losing balance? "Did someone fall?"

"Very very deep into a seemingly unbreakable abyss."

Aang closed his eyes and breathed calmly, accepting the visions given to him by his past life, "I understand."

Avatar Roku nodded, "I think they deserve another chance."

"I will do all that I can. You have my word."

Avatar Roku smiled a little, "I cannot ask the same of the other. They need their time to heal. And if time does not do it, then perhaps the helping hand of another can. But it cannot be your hand."

Aang nodded, immediately understanding. He bowed humbly, "Thank you."

"No Aang. I thank you."

And with that, he vanished.

His eyelids opened slowly and he waited for his eyes to absorb the light fully. It was another day and he was looking forward to it.

Then he remembered his dream.

"That was no dream. I was in the Spirit World."

A figured stirred next to him and he gazed over at Sokka with a smile creeping onto his face. He knew very well that if he got up before everyone else, he'd get the chance to play the first prank on the sleeping teen. He chuckled a little as he heard a rather loud snore. Flicking his wrist, he snaked it under the blankets and ran his hand down the boy's front slowly.

"Mmmm Suki…"

Aang stopped, eyes curious. So Suki played pranks on Sokka like this too? His hand stopped at his stomach, then easing its way to his hip and his smile grew even more. Oh yes, he knew very well that Sokka tried to hide the fact the he was ticklish all the time. But that couldn't get past the young Avatar's watchful eye.

Feeling a smooth gentle hand touching him, Sokka kept his eyes closed even after waking up. Ah yes, he remembered the previous night well. Looks like he'd forgotten to get back to his original sleeping place, but it wasn't like that mattered. He turned over, smiling and reaching, grabbing the hand at his hip. As it tensed, he whispered, "You don't have to be shy now my little pandalily."

Aang quirked a brow. Was he dreaming or was Sokka still dreaming? Either way, he couldn't tickle his friend now that his hand was grabbed. "Eh…" Once a forehead leaned against his, he widened his eyes. Maybe it was a nightmare! He yanked his hand up and away from his friend's, getting a surprised reaction quick enough to avoid a not really wanted kiss, "SOKKA WAKE UP! IT'S ME NOT SUKI!"

Sokka's eyes darted open and he withdrew his pursed lips. He shot up, wiping his lips off, "UGH UGH UGH! TELL ME I DIDN'T!"

"Um no Sokka."

"WHAT THE HECK DUDE WHY WERE YOU TOUCHING ME!?"

"I was trying to tickle you!"

"I almost kissed you! Ugh my MIND! Wait!" He looked around the room, "Where's Suki? I was with her last night! I fell asleep next to Suuuki!"

"Oh I think she brought you back here after you guys were done talking."

"We weren't…" he noticed Aang's quirked brow, "Eh never mind." He sat back down on the bed, heaving a sigh, "Ya know, next time you try to pull a fast one on me, don't do it that way okay?"

Aang chuckled, "You call her your pandalily Sokka?"

"SO NOT THE POINT!"

Aang chuckled more, springing up and wrapping his arms around his friend to give him a morning hug. Honestly, Sokka needed more hugs than anyone gave him. The feeling in his gut told him that, so he'd follow it.

Sokka quirked a brow, "Okay…I love you too. What you had a bad dream or something?"

Aang thought back to his dream, "No but…I have a surprise for you."

"Please…I don't need anymore surprises from you."

"But Sokka it's a really good surprise!" He pulled away and looked away from his friend bashfully, twiddling his digits together nervously.

Sokka definitely looked curiously at the Avatar. He didn't get why he was acting so weird with him this morning. Then a thought ran through his mind that he didn't want to swallow, "Hey Aang."

"What is it Sokka?"

"Keep in mind that I'm pretty happy with Suki."

Aang blinked in surprise, then broke out into a fit of laughter, wiping small tears from his eyes, "Sokka it's not like that at all. Anyway, I'll bet you'll hug me the minute you see the surprise!"

The Watertribe teenager rolled his eyes before rolling out of bed, "Yeah okay." Honestly it couldn't be all that big could it?

Aang watched as Sokka left and went to get ready for the day with a smile on his face.

*

Everyone gathered into the dining/kitchen area of Iroh's apartment. The war had been over, but none of them were ready to part from each other yet. For Zuko, it was a lot easier since he had a lot of duties to attend to, but for him, Katara, Sokka, Toph, and Suki it really wasn't as easy.

Iroh was glad to have all the company over, even though he had to buy more blankets and makeshift room for everyone.

Everyone ate while talking, though Aang couldn't stop thinking about his dream.

After breakfast, he decided that he wouldn't hold back any longer on an anxious Sokka.

Toph nudged Katara, "This is gonna be rich, watch."

Katara looked over from Aang to the expectant Sokka, wondering to herself. Was he going to break the news to Sokka about them? Sokka was after all…oblivious. After the war ended, things could never be the same between her and Aang. They kissed at the Jasmine Dragon and she'd meant it, knowing that he meant it too. It'd been his wish for them to be together and she'd happily oblige. But she had to admit, his attitude towards Sokka took a sudden weird change.

She understood that he wanted to tell Sokka and for her brother to not catch a hissy fit. But did Aang have to constantly be around him? Trying so hard to make her brother content enough? She honestly didn't think Sokka's approval mattered but there was no changing Aang's mind on it apparently.

Sokka quirked a brow, "Well, what is it? What's the surprise?"

Aang smiled widely, "Look behind you Sokka."

In an instant, he felt Sokka's arms around him excitedly, "Aang!! I could kiss you!"

Aang just hugged his friend back, chuckling, "You're welcome."

"I can't believe THAT's why you left for so long! You really didn't have to. But thank you so much! I can't believe you got my boomerang and space sword back!"

Aang nodded. It took a lot of searching and he'd brought Toph with him for help. Together they found both the sword and boomerang in the wilderness, "Toph helped."

Iroh approached, looking at Sokka's sword admiringly, "Oooh what a neat sword!"

Sokka beamed, letting go of Aang to gloat, "Made it myself out of space rock!"

As they went into deep conversation about his sword, Aang turned away and walked back over to Toph and Katara, reaching and rubbing the back of his head sheepishly.

Toph smiled, "I knew he was gonna be surprised Twinkletoes."

Katara nodded, blushing a little, "I'm glad you guys found it. Those things mean a lot to him ya know." Her eyes met Aang's, "So do you think?"

Aang shook his head with a small smile, "Not yet. We can give him time."

Toph stirred a bit, knowing full and well what they were talking about. They were together now and she had no problem with it. Actually, coming up with jokes about them was pretty fun. Saying smart remarks like "Wow I didn't think Katara was so into girls!" Or, "Bald kids", was very entertaining. Though she really couldn't believe Sokka didn't see that of all things coming.

Aang's smile dropped a little, he had news to relay to everyone, "Um you guys. I know that Toph and I just got back from searching for Sokka's things, but there's something else that I need to go do and I need to do it alone."

Katara quirked a brow, "What's that Aang?"

Aang stiffened up a bit, "Well I can't say right now, but I will when the time is right."

Toph nodded, "Just don't go off too far Twinkletoes."

Katara blinked, "Aang can we talk in private for a minute?"

He blushed as she grabbed his arm and together they walked outside.

Katara sighed, "Aang, I'm happy that you went and did that for Sokka but why do you have to leave again? You spent so much time away already."

"I'm sorry Katara. But I had a dream last night. Well, I think it was a dream, but it felt more like I was in the Spirit World. Avatar Roku has something he wants me to do."

"But…do you have to do it alone? I'd like to go with you."

He leaned in, closing his eyes as he kissed her sweetly, "I promised Roku. Don't worry, I'll be back before you know it."

She blushed a little and kissed back, letting out a contented sigh, "Okay, but this time Momo stays here with me."

Aang nodded, chuckling, "Okay."

*

As he entered the Fire Nation on Appa, he was glad to know that he was visiting and he could just be himself without there being any problems over the matter. With the Fire Lord as one of his closest friends, life was pretty sweet. They were indeed building a better tomorrow together just like they promised each other after the war ended.

But right now, the better tomorrow seemed a little farther off than they'd imagined.

Not everyone in the Fire Nation favored Fire Lord Zuko's rule. Some people still wanted the Phoenix King. These groups of people were getting out of control rapidly. If things kept up, Zuko might have to construct a second Boiling Rock.

These people were dangerous and had to be stopped.

Then there were people in the Earth Kingdom who still held so much animosity for the Fire Nation.

The Water Tribes were too busy trying to rebuild and repopulate the South Pole to what it once was to meddle into the matters of the other countries. And the North Pole was entirely reconstructed and expanded a bit.

It seemed that not everyone could be happy, even in an era of peace. Henceforth, his and Zuko's jobs never ended.

The Earth King was still traveling the world with Basco, and the Dai Li had no leader since Long Feng was once again behind bars. So under Aang's declaration, Toph sat in the seat as ruler of Ba Sing Sei, the Earth Kingdom capital, and head of the Dai Li till the king returned. Though that still didn't stop Toph from having tea at the Jasmine Dragon with everyone or helping him find Sokka's sword and boomerang.

The people of Ba Sing Sei surely seemed happy with the decision. And that was fine by him.

His eyes settled over the royal city and he smiled as he knew that with what he was going to do, he would need Zuko's permission first.

*

"Aang, it's good to see you."

Aang bowed.

Zuko chuckled, "You don't have to be all formal with me you know."

Aang laughed, "Well your Fire Lordy-ness, how have things been going?"

The Fire Lord's smiled turned upside down, "It's been a bit chaotic Aang. These people never quit. They're crazy to think that my father led a good rule. People up and quit their jobs, there's been a couple of riots. Someone tried to assassinate me. And I think Mai is pregnant…"

Aang blinked, "Whoa."

"After manhandling the assassin by herself she asked a servant to get ice cream and pickles as a snack!"

"Yuck!" Aang winced, "That reminds me of…onion and banana juice…"

Not seeing any connection, Zuko sighed and slumped in his seat, "I need your help."

"Actually, I came here to ask you for something Sifu Hotman."

"Please don't call me that." Zuko looked curious, "What do you need anyway?"

"I need you to let me onto Munto Island."

The Fire Lord's lips became a thin line, "What would you need to go there for?"

"I had a dream…or a vision. Not sure which, but there's something that Avatar Roku really wants me to do for him."

"At the insane asylum?"

"I didn't get it before either. But he showed me something and I know what I have to do. It may be a great help for you and the Fire Nation."

Zuko shook his head, "I don't know Aang."

"Please!? I know that he's your great grandfather and I know that he cares about you. But this time it's not about you. You found your path already."

He couldn't understand Aang's actions, nor would he try to, but the argument was convincing...slightly, "Okay fine. But I'm sending someone with you."

Aang nodded, "Thank you so much. You won't regret this at all!"

*

Ming looked over to the Avatar bashfully. Was it her luck that somehow she got to meet people who were legendary? She remembered a while ago of how the great General Iroh was locked away in prison and she'd been kind enough to go out of her way and give him extra food while he was locked away.

Now here she was, traveling to Munto Island with the Avatar.

None of the others were gonna believe this.

All the coupons she got for tea via messenger hawk for The Jasmine Dragon in Ba Sing Sei were nice too.

"Can you tell me everything that you can about Munto Island?"

Ming gulped, looking over at the bald kid sitting next to her. They were traveling on his bison, also something she wasn't too sure about. This day was too full of surprises, "Well it's a remote island not too far from the prison I worked at in the far corner of the royal city. We should be coming up to the island really soon. It holds the largest mental asylum in the world. After the war, the asylum had to go under construction to be expanded. We actually sent a lot of people there just this past month for treatments. I've never been there, but rumor has it that it's where our former princess is."

Aang frowned a little, "You mean no one thinks of her as a princess anymore?"

Ming shook her head, "People hate her. Oh! There it is!"

Aang looked down to where Ming was pointing to see a vast white building sticking out like a sour thumb on a tropical island. Appa started heading down towards it.

"May I ask…um…your Avatar-ness, why we're coming here to Munto Island?"

He looked to Ming sympathetically, "Personal reasons."

"Do you know someone who was locked away here?"

He looked as the building was getting larger as they descended, "Yeah…I do."

After Appa landed on the outskirts of the island, Aang spun and opened his new glider, "I don't really feel like walking all the way and Appa's got a bad feeling about this island so he won't get any closer."

Ming blinked, not understanding, "So..uh what-?" She gasped as he opened the glider, grabbing her hand and drawing her close. Being so close, she blushed a little. The Avatar surely had a way of getting someone's attention directly. As he came before her, holding the handles of his glider and kneeling, she had to snap herself back into reality as he asked that she grab onto the wings of the contraption which she'd never seen before. The instant she did, she had to fight back a scream as they took flight.

Aang chuckled. It was always fun to see people's reactions to flying for the first time. Ming seemed like a really nice girl too. He wondered how she ended up a soldier…a prison guard at that. But he wouldn't ask, not while he knew the girl was trying to fight off a panic attack.

Ming's heart lept in her chest but the instant she saw the creepily while building drawing nearer, her mind got off the fact that her feet were nowhere near solid ground. She widened her eyes, "So the rumors are true…"

Aang looked ahead, "Where's the front door?"

They swooped around high, Ming looking around, "I think the front is…" she wanted to point, but she grasped onto the glider wings tightly for fear that she might fly off or fall.

"Don't worry, you're safe."

She wanted to trust the Avatar on the matter, but decided to chose logic first, "You see those really big doors up ahead?"

"Okay!" In an instant, he swooped them downwards so they would land in front of the enormous grey doors.

As they landed and Ming could feel the ground beneath her feet again, she wobbled and almost collapsed, catching a hold of herself and shaking a little, "C-can we walk back when you're done in here with your visit?"

Aang looked back, reaching and rubbing the back of his head, "Um yeah sure." He turned, then reaching to see how they were going to get in.

Before he could blink, the doors were opened and women in white greeted them.

The first smiled, "Welcome. I am Loki and this is Gina. Please come with us."

Aang and Ming looked to each other before Aang shrugged and they followed the women inside, jumping a little at the doors slamming behind them.

Aang looked around and suddenly wondered, just why he agreed to do this of all things. The place was huge but he still felt…trapped and suffocated. Glider closed, he used it as a walking stick as he looked around.

Loki and Gina led them to what looked like a reception area.

Ming tried hard not to react. The place was so clean and spotless and everything was so bland that she couldn't stand it.

After being led to a man sitting at a desk writing rapidly, he stopped and looked up to the guests, "May I help you?"

Ming bowed, "I am here with the Avatar for a visit to one of your patients. She is allowed no visitors, however, the Fire Lord himself urged that the Avatar may see her personally." She handed over a sealed scroll written by Zuko himself.

The man blinked, opening the scroll and ripping it open to read, "Well…this is authentic enough. Though I have to warn you, she's been receiving around the clock care and has gone shall we say mello. Seeing anyone familiar might set off a fit of rage. She's still dangerous even though firebending on this island is banned."

Aang nodded, "I think I can handle it."

"Mister Avatar, I'm not saying that you can't. I'm just saying that the instant she gets out of line, well…you just let us take care of that. Loki will take you to go see her now and she will explain the visiting hours to you along the way."

Ming asked curiously, "And you are?"

The man blinked, "Call me Dr. Toma."

They nodded, seeing Loki approach, they followed her as she beckoned.

Loki immediately began, "Visiting hours vary every day of the week depending on the status of the patient and what they are in here for originally. The patient that you asked to see for example has been allowed no visitors because she is at the highest degree of paranoia and an un-sane state. However, there is another patient, Jong Li, who gets visitors all the time for 12 hours a day because he has greatly recovered from heavy depression."

Ming blinked, "Well that makes sense I guess."

Loki continued, "Our facility is as organized and maintained as the Boiling Rock. I trust that the Avatar knows about the most top notch prison in the Fire Nation?"

Aang nodded, remembering everything Sokka, Suki, and Zuko told him about that place when he'd asked about their time there.

Loki nodded, her hands behind her back as she walked with ease, "The staff here try to maintain a very light and neutral atmosphere. What's very interesting and going under further study is that when the human mind is off its natural balance, it cancels out the ability to bend, there is only one exception who's proven our theories on this matter incorrect. That is the patient that you're going to see."

Aang blinked. So she could still firebend, "Um Miss Loki…"

"Firebending is not permitted on this island, not for patients or for staff members. So most of our staff members are unable to bend."

Ming nodded, "The people who work directly in the palace are not to bend within its walls unless they work in the kitchen."

Loki nodded, "Though it's been a bit hectic for us here with all of the new arrivals. We're getting more patients than we have staff by the masses. I understand that your jails are filling up and quickly at that. This is troublesome, especially when we get patients who are most definitely faking mental illness just to not go to jail. It turns out quite a number of our new patients are good at that."

Ming widened her eyes, "I'll be sure to relay that information to the Fire Lord as soon as we return."

"We already have then in separate quarters and they are going to be transferred directly to the Boiling Rock."

Aang listened intently, looking around as they walked through the narrow halls. As they walked, he felt even more suffocated and uneasy. To give himself the will to even take another step, he had to keep thinking of his promise to Avatar Roku.

As they came upon a section of the building that needed clearance from Loki herself, they noticed the walls around them seemed to get getting grayer rather than white, like every other area and object in the building. As they came up to what seemed like solitary confinement, Loki stood before a door, standing on her tip toes to peer inside a slit at the top. Standing firmly once more, she turned around and faced Aang and Ming, "She's been prepped for this visit. You may enter."

Aang looked over to Ming, seeing her shake a little. Reaching, he touched her shoulder gently, "It's okay. You don't have to go in."

"Why do you even want to see her?"

He shook his head, "It's a little complicated. But overall, it's because I want to."

Ming nodded, looking to Loki, "I'll stay out here."

Loki nodded in return, "In the meantime, come with me and I'll give you files you should bring back to the Fire Lord about our situation here."

Ming sighed, looking back to Aang for a moment before following Loki away.

Aang reached to the plastic handle on the door and let himself in.

The sight that met him made his heart drop.