It was a long time before Toph Bei-Fong returned to Ba Sing Sei. She walked beneath the caverns, where Iroh had been captured by the Dai Li and Aang had nearly been killed by Azula, refusing any sort of escort, except the returning Earth King. She tapped the crystal, and felt for the echos -- it gave a pure tone, musical.
"What are you doing?" the Earth King asked. Toph felt the echos from his voice through the crystals, as clear as if he had been standing next to her.
"Listening," she closed her eyes, cutting out the feel of him standing by her coming through her feet, and focusing on the crystal beneath her hands. Above, she felt the palace, hearing the work at returning the building to the state before the Fire Nation had conquered the city -- the sounds of workmen and the voices of courtiers, echoing through the crystals like a song. "You better put some guards down here, Your Majesty. This is a nice place for spies."