Tokka Week Collection

AN: A rather depressing addition to Tokka Week. ARGH. For those of you who don't already know, I'm still suffering severe writers block, but I'd feel guilty if I didn't write for Tokka week... If you're expecting some amazing, dramatic return, sorry... I'm currently using Tokka Week to uncap myself, so I'll try and improve as the week goes by. On the other hand, even though I suck at art (XD) I've actually been rather compelled to draw, so you're welcome to see my dA account, DustBunnyThumper. Wish me luck!

In the best regards,

ThumperMiggles.

"Betrothal"

By: ThumperMiggles

It's been four years.

Four years since Aang brought the world to peace.

Four years since I've set foot on a battleground.

Four years since I've felt an explosion, since I've heard the cry of one cut down in battle, four years since I've last seen them.

And to tell the truth, life as a wanderer is fun.

Surrounded by friends.

People to laugh with.

People who love me.

Though, I can't help but miss the ones who loved me first.

Toph looked up at the gate of her old prison. It was far more impressive than when she last remembered it, but perhaps that was because she had seen and slept outside, and in cheap inns for the past four years. Turning up to the man who guarded the gate, she yelled up rudely,

"Let me in already, will you?"

Wei Ran was not used to one speaking to him with such a tone. He peered down to see what sort of person who would dare oppose his strong, muscled arms, and was about to yell angrily back, but almost let out a startled yell instead, and pulled on the rope which opened the gate as fast as he could. It would appear that the mistress was home.

After an entire day of her parents gushing over her (mostly her mother) and angrily yelling at her for running off (mostly her father), Toph had had enough, and headed up to her room. She fell asleep almost immediately, for walking to Gaoling had been tiring. She did, after all, have a feeling that she was in for living hell in the day to come.

Her parents had always been protective. They chose when she slept, what she ate, and where she could go. They chose to whom she could speak with, what rooms she could set foot in. They chose her caretakers. They chose the frustratingly delicate silk robes that could touch her skin (Honestly, who could earthbend in such cloth?). They determined the path of her life, and she had always assumed it would be forever, that her life would continue on a cursed trail of decisions made for her. Though, none of the outrageous judgments her parents had ever made, none of them made her quite as angry as the one to follow.

After her brief taste of freedom, there was no way she could throw it away and return to her previous life...

"You've chosen my HUSBAND?"

"Toph, we can't have you running off with that silly monk and his companions. At least with a husband, we can keep you-"

"Is that it? You want me to stay here for some crazy man I've never met before? I come back after the war to see my parents and I get this? A husband?"

The room was silent for a single moment before all chaos broke out.

"Toph, you have no choice in the matter! You will marry this man. He is of a rich heritage, and will be able to take care of you! As long as the dowry is generous enough, I'm sure he'll take a blind wife! Think of the deal you're wasting! You would-"

Toph cut her mother off with an icy glare.

"I'm not marrying him."

"Toph, w-"

She threw out the phrase that had rung through her ears since childhood, the words that had roped her down ever since she remembered.

"My decision is final."

The room was quiet for the second time that night.

And this time, the only thing that broke it was the rattling slam of a screen door,

footsteps walking themselves to a room that they knew so well,

and the slow, dumbfounded breathing of a mother who stared ahead, desperately attempting to understand her daughter, which she thought she had known so well.

Toph awoke the next day to find that her mother was, indeed as expected, waiting for her at the breakfast, but this time, with her supporting army.

"Toph."

Toph once again raised her clouded stare to where her fathers face should have been. She replied the only way she knew.

"Good morning, father. I trust you slept well?"

She could not see, yet she could feel her fathers eyes rest on her, and suddenly narrow into a determined glower.

"I don't understand! What sort of thing would keep you from wanting to marry this man?"

Letting out something that was close to a laugh, she fingered the jade stone she wore on her neck, and spontaneously untied it, and hanging it on her finger for her parents to get a nice look, said,

"Do you know what this is?"

Her father pursed his lips, and sighed.

"Is he kind to you?"

Toph looked at her father in surprise, and regaining her composure, nodded.

"How old is he?"

"Nineteen."

Looking her straight in the eye, he said,

"Does he love you?"

Replying without hesitation, Toph replied,

"Yeah."

She was stunned when her father laughed.

"I'd like to meet him sometime, Toph. Bring him here next time you're in town."

Her father left without a word, and her mother looked back at her daughter in confusion, but faithfully followed her husband.

Understanding that she had her fathers consent, she smiled, and whispered a silent thank you.

After all, Toph never did understand men.

The first people to love me

Always loved me the most.

And I guess that he understood

And maybe loved me more than I expected

Because he wanted me to be happy?

Because he was okay with me marrying into a family without wealth?

Status?

Power?

Because he wanted to stop capping me off from the world?

Maybe because

There were always three people who love me most?

Toph finally reached her fathers room, and said quietly through the closed door,

"I love you."

Lao Beifong turned over in his bed, and smiled.

After all, all he wanted was for her to be happy.

Besides, he knew that he couldn't keep her by his side any longer, no matter how much he wanted to.

A/N: ARGH. Please don't hate me. I actually think it turned out a lot better than I expected for me, so please don't flame me... I'm already afraid to post this anyways. At least I tried? Constructive criticism is welcome though! I just don't want any "YOU SUCK". :D... I'm so sorry everyoneeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. -Cries-

I look forward to reading everyones submissions! Also, thanks to all the participants! I'm really loving to see us gather! Happy shipping, tokkips!