Western Air Temple
No one's POV
Katara, Aang, and Toph were near the campfire having dinner. They were talking about their plans for the next day. "We should leave tomorrow to go to the South Pole to drop off Katara, then me and Toph will go to Ba Sing Se to drop her off to the Jasmine Dragon. After, I will go visit Zuko in the Fire Nation." Aang announced. Just then, a messenger hawk landed on his arm. "Who's this from? "he asked, then took leeter from hawk. " It says Katara... Here you go." he said, handing the rolled letter to her. Katara read the letter. She said it was from her fatehr. After reading it, Katara went pale."What's wrong Sugar Queen?" Toph asked, with a smirk on her face. "My dad is forcing me to... marry. someone in the Fire Nation." she said sadly. "What?! You have to marry someone in the Fire Nation? What about us Katara?" Aang said angrilly. Before he could say anymore, Katara ran to her tent, in tears."Don't worry Twinkle Toes. Sugar Queen will try to find a way out of it. You know by now she is a fighter." Toph said reassuringly. "Thanks for trying to cheer me up. It didn't make me feel any better. You are always a good friend." Aang said sadly. Aang then ran and went to Katara's tent. "I wouldn't do that if I were you, Twinkle Toes. Right now she needs to be alone. You might make her mad. " Toph said. "But.." then Aang knew she was right. He went back to the camp fire and put his head down. Toph felt worried for her friends. 'What are we going to do?' she thought.
Katara's POV
Katara was laying in her bed, crying. 'What am I going to do?' she thought. She didn't even know this guy and she had to marry him. Why was her dad making her do this? She knew she would never love this man. 'What if this man was against peace?' she thought. Even though they overthrew Fire Lord Ozai and brought peace, there were still some nobles against the new change. 'How am I going to deal with all of this? I am still with Aang. Don't people know that. I don't want Aang to get hurt. I don't want to get hurt.' she said to herself.
Then she just stared at the floor and then fell asleep.
Katara then woke up to the sound of her father. "Katara, wake up. I need to talk to you." he said. It must have been mid day because outside was filled with light.
"Yes, dad. What do you want to tell me?" she asked sleepily. "What do you mean 'what do you want to tell me'? Katara, when I sent you the letter I meant for you to leave first thing to go to the Fire Nation. I realy want you to listen to me,ok.Our tribe needs to have you marry a nobleman in the Fire Nation.If you don't we might have another war coming on soon. You see, Some of the Warriors are thinking that the Fire Nation is tricking us and they want to get them. So, if we made an alliance with them, then the problem will go away." he replied. " Why won't you explain to them that the Fire Nation is tricking them. I mean, its been 3 years since the war ended and nothing bad has started." she explained. "Well, I tried Katara. You know I wouldn't do this to you for no aparent reason. So just do it please? Do it for your tribe. Do it for me and your mom." he said finally. " But... Fine. The only thing I am going to worry about is how I am going to break it to Aang? I mean, we are still a couple." she said quetly." Well, I don't know what I can do. Try to find a way, ok?" she said, then kissed her forehead and went out of her tent. Now she was wondering, 'Who am I going to marry?
Zuko's POV
He couldn't believe it. He was so angry at the noblemen. They said that he might be marrying a woman from the Southern Water Tribe. He might because the Water Tribe still didn't believe that the Fire Nation wanted peace and that they were going to strike them any minute now. So, they would need an alliance. He didn't know what to say.'I guess I will do it. For my country's safety. But I wonder what she looks like?' he thought to himself.
He decided to get a good night's sleep and except the offer.
The next morning when he told the noblemen that he approved, they said they were on their way and coming tomorrow. He became very excited and nervous. The father and the daughter would be coming along with a few other people on a boat. He was excited to see his new fiance because he had some hope that he would try to love her. He was nervous to see the father though. He probably still didn't trust him with his daughter, but the guy would have to live with it. Their wedding would be in 3 months. He had three months to try to get to know his fiance and fall in love with her. He knew he wouldn't fall in love with her though. He never was in love with anyone. He tried to convince himself that he loved her as a wife, but he couldn't imagine a life with her. He did sort of have a crush on Katara. She had beautiful birght bliue eyes. They always sparkled at night. He always dreamed about her for some reasona and could think of lfe with her, but he knew they could never be. He knew she loved Aang and she didn't like him. SHe thoguht of him as a friend. He would have to live with that, so he tried to get over it. It sort of went away for a while, until the nobles started to talk about his Fire Lady.Oh, he wished she could be her Fire Lady.
Katara's POV
She was so mad at herself for hurting Aang. 2 days ago, they left for the Fire Nation to find her new husband. She explained to Aang that she had to do this for her tribe. SHe said that if he had to do it, then he probably would. He said that she was right and that he had to get over it. He kissed her for the last time on her cheek and hugged her so tightly. She could see in his eyes that he was torn up inside.She couldn't do anything to help him though because lately he has been ignoring me. He was suppose to come anyway to the Fire Ntaion, so he tagged along with us. He has talked to everyone but me. I feel terrible about the whole situation and he isn't talking to me. Well, at least he is spending some time with Toph. Toph decided to just tag along too because she was hoping to stay with Aang. I knew that Toph had a crush on Aang, but she never admitted it. Now she was hopeful because Aang now had someone that he could love for instead of me.
The next morning, they arrived at the Fire Nation. They were to go to the Fire Nation Palace to see her new fiance. She couldn't wait to see him. She knew that he wouldn't be too older than her. She was told that a dozen men were asked to marry her and one answered yes. Her father didn't know who her new fiance was either. He didn't even know who was asked. He just wanted everything to go through already like she did. When they went off the boat, they were greated by some advisers from the palace. Then they turned around to show her who she would marry. There stood a pretty tall pale man. It looked familiar to her. "Zuko?" she said surprised.