Hey, this will be the third part of the story I'm now rewriting. I have also decided to add five move parts to the overall story, to bring it up to twenty parts. I hope you like this part of the story. If you have read the two parts before this one, then I should say that, this one is going to have a much lighter tone to it. If you have not read the other parts then you should still be able to understand this one, but if there is anything that you don't get, then just ask.

The air outside the room was cool, as a gentle autumn breeze swept through the city of Omashi. Inside the council room there seemed to be a lack of fresh air, and the overheating of the lords tempers was increasing the temperature of the room. The seven lords of the earth kingdom, each in charge of a area of the earth kingdom had been in this room for what seemed like days, trying to reach a decision.

"can we place…reach a decision, that we are all agree with" lord Sho, lord of a area of land in the south west of the earth kingdom, were Toph had grown up, got to his feet as he spoke, cutting through the tension in the air.

Lord Hura, the lord of the largest region of the earth kingdom, in the east, let out a sigh "we will never be able to come to a decision that we are all in agreement with…..we will have to go with the majority" his head feel to the floor in front of him as he asked the question "all those in favour raise your hands" four hands went into the air "then that is that"

"no!" lord Sho had not raised his hand, was again of his feet "the ambassador, should have a vote as well….as they are the one that will have to take out decision to the water tribe ambassador"

The eyes of lord Toro, who was sitting next to the ambassador feel onto her. He was sure that she had not been listening to anything that had been said, and doubted that she would have any interest in there decision. She had made it very clear that her job, was simply to hear there decisions then bring them to the other ambassadors, and find a way to make everyone happy.

"ambassador Toph, are you in favour"

Toph's head shout up, as her name was called. As lord Toro had though was true, she had not been paying any attention to the conversation, arguing that was going on around her. Her mind had been going through all the possibility's of how her next engagement was going to go, it could all go very wrong, and she didn't know if she was ready to deal with that yet.

For the first time since the ball in Ba Sing Sa after the war, her hair was pulled into a bun, revelling her face, as her bangs had also been pulled back. She was wearing a deep green rope, with fine gold detail. When she had first entered the council room that morning she had caught the eye, of some of the younger lords. Including lord Toro, who was now able to look at her, without feeling like a fool.

"what" her voice sounded so bored, like she had just woken up from a long sleep.

Lord Sho was sure that Toph would vote in his favour forcing a stalemate, that was the only reason he has insisted of letting her have a vote, he would rather keep her out of the decision making that he took part in, as he could not stand her flippant attitude.

Lowering his head and, and rubbing his forehead lord Sho asked the question again "are you in favour…ambassador Toph Bei Fong" he begrudgingly used her full name.

Toph now moved herself, so that she was sitting up straight, also realising that the meeting was going to be over soon, she was getting ready to leave "there is no need to call me names" using her full name had become a real insult to her now. Knowing all that she did, about her real mother and how her father had lied to her all this time. There was also the fact that after the war, over a year ago she had been disowned by her father, meaning she was no longer Toph Bei Fong, she was just Toph "no I am not in favour…" the remaining three lords that had not raised there hands, let out a sigh of relief, till " the earth king is unhappy with me because, I didn't go to Bosco's last birthday party, and I am sure I'm not in favour here, as you just used my full name" even thou she was making a joke, the tone in her voice when she said the last part, and the look she gave to lord Sho's direction told them all not to mistake her uninterest for ignorance.

"I meant… are you in favour…. Of the action proposed" the strain he was using to say every word so clearly, so there was no way she could pretend to mistake what he said again, almost made Toph laugh, despite herself.

"oh……No!"

The room was silent for a few seconds, they were waiting for her to say more. Everyone else had made there positions clear, and why they believed them to he the right way to act. Surly she couldn't expect them to let her have the final say, by just saying no.

"why" lord Toro, who had noticed Toph start to get to her feet, clearly planning on leaving now she had answered the question, and that should be an end to it, finally got the nerve to speak.

Letting herself sink back into the chair, Toph spoke again "because, we don't need Watari island. It is more important to the south pole, so they have a place to stop when they are trading with us and the fire nation. They have set up homes there…"

"So have we"

"two!…two families out of twenty four that live there, are originally from the earth kingdom. Both of those families consider themselves to be part of the water tribes, not the earth kingdom. There is nothing to be gained from reclaiming the island"

Lord Haru, who had interrupted her before took the chance to speak again " I don't expect you to understand a twelve year old girl. Our history, and our honour have to be upheld. You have no pride in your nation, you should learn some, before you presume to tell us how best to conduct our action with the other nations"

Toph felt the anger rush over her whole body, but she had to contain it. One thing she had leaned recently, was not to let her anger take over. She had, had to learn that the hard way.

After she let out a deep breath Toph calmly retaliated " I will be fifth teen in the spring, and I now more about the earth kingdom than most of you. I am no longer the heir of the Bei Fong family, but I am still of noble birth, and a lady. I have great pride for my nation, when they use all the recourses and power that they have to help other nations, and to help maintain the peace, and balance between the nation that so many died to bring about. It is making bounders and walls that lead to war, in the first place. What we need now, is peace, we are not going to get that by acting like the fire nation did. Or have you forgotten how they reclaimed the ember islands" it still took Toph by surprise herself that she was able to speak in such a formal way in these meetings. She had been raised to be good at it, but had tried to forget all that she was taught, it seemed that no matter how much she wished it would, she could never erase all of the influence her childhood had on her.

Lord Toro thought he could see her eyes watering a little, and hear pain in her voice as she spoke of the war, and those that had died. She was the youngest person in the room, the only female and the only one that had fought in the war, that didn't seem right "ambassador Toph…..has been through a lot…..we should…. Take her advice and….input as what we should do"

As he spoke Toph thought his heart was going to burst through his chest. The room was now in silence as they thought over all that had been said. There were a few that wouldn't chance their mind now their pride wouldn't let them.

"fine!" Toph was now again on her feet. She had had enough of this "if you are going to listen to what lord Toro has said" as she said is name, she felt his heart almost skip a beat "then I will make the chose, as you cant make your minds up yourselves. We are going to leave Watari island as it is. We are also going to provide an area at the port of Haron, for the water tribe sailors to stay when they are trading with us. If they want they can make it their home, with their families"

Now that the matter had been settled, in her mind Toph walked away from the table. Most of the eyes in the room where on her, as she walked the sort distance from her chair to the door. Just as she was about to open the room to leave, she stopped in her tracks. If they could see her face, they would have seen a grin cross it.

"I will also inform the fire nation ambassador, that we are going to be sending at lest sixty solders to help rebuild the west of the fore nation. It was be ignored in favour of the east since the end of the war"

Before a word of objection could be spoken, she was out of the room. There was no way that she would ever be able to get those stiffs to agree to giving that much add to the fire nation, that's why she had left it till the last minute,. If she was forced to be dragged into their silly little argument, then she might as well use it as a chance to do something that she knew would do some real good. The part however about talking to the fire nation ambassador, Zuko had been a lie. If she had to then she would speak to him, but she was going to do her best to avoid that, she wasn't ready to talk about her mother, and what happened with Kenshi yet, and that is all he would want to talk about.

There was a carriage waiting for her outside the palace. It would take her to the port of Haron, where she would meet Katara's boat. They would then take the boat to Kyoshi island for Sokka and Suki's wedding. Where she had to face everyone.