disclaimer: I don't own ATLA
Last Chapter on Toph's memory I swear.
And my editor stated that: "You're loosing the basic grip of the original character's personalities." Sorry about that...It's probably Toph though. And if you think so too then I'm sorry. Truly I am. I would rather not want this story to turn into some crazy 'Mary Sue'. I'll try to keep that in mind for in the future though. (:
Toph's memory
I stood their dumb founded for a while before yelling, "What?!"
"I thought you would be happy?" Shida said, in kind of a shaken voice.
"I am, but where's the fun in planning my wedding. Where I book the band, my brides maids, my dress..."
I trailed off, not quite sure what to do as the need to run around, like-a-chicken-without-a-head, consumed me.
"I don't really know what a bride's maid is, and there's really no point in booking your own band..." Shida started and I looked in her general direction. "Here in the Water Tribes the weddings are always the same, so there's no real need to plan. And the Chief has already chosen your dress, so that too it already taken care of."
"Then what will happen? I mean if all the weddings are the same."
She laughed a little, thinking it was cute that I was worried about my own wedding. But I didn't think it was cute at all.
"Well, first there will be the feast, massive spreads of traditional water tribe foods. Second is the ceremony, where you two will say your vows. And then..." She faded off, and awkward silence fell on the room.
"Then?" I asked on the edge of my seat, as if she was going to tell me that Sokka would devour me alive.
"...Then he will take you to his sleeping quarters and make your union final. "
That had, honestly, been that last thing on my mind. I was not ignorant and my mother made it perfectly clear what happens between a husband and wife behind closed doors. But to have it shoved in my face like that... it made me take it into consideration. My face flushed at the thought of Sokka bedding me in only a few short hours.
Shida had moved behind me and cautiously began to unbutton my blouse. But I didn't fuss, for now I knew what she was doing and why. I never really cared about my appearance to others, since I was blind, but as I stood there naked, my mind flooded with embarrassment and I wondered what she thought on me. She lead me to the washroom and helped me into the previously warmed bath. She lathered my body with soaps that smelled of peppermint. My tense body relaxed as Shida massaged my knotted mussels. We had very light conversation, but nothing really too important or personal.
Once the bath was over Shida, who I found was a water bender, pulled the water from my body and hair, drying me instantly.
"Well that comes in handy." I said. And she laughed in agreement.
A loose, but firm, breast band was placed on my chest, and the same type of undergarments were applied. She helped me into a tight parka dress that seemed to just barely fit me. The top of the dress stopped right before my breasts so my shoulders, chest, and neck were exposed. I could feel a thick fur material on each of the openings (top, bottom, and arms), but it also felt different from the other furs I had felt on the clothes.
Shida began to comb my fizzy hair when I heard a commotion outside. Apparently she had heard it too, for she stopped combing me and walked over to the door to see what was going on in the hall. Although before she could even reach out to the knob, the door came bursting open with a blast of water and an angered woman came storming in.
"To think the nerves of those guards Sokka placed here. Won't even let me see my own soon-to-be sister-in-law!" Katara's angered voice came yelling into the room.
"Oh, sorry..." she sheepishly apologized, realizing that she had said that out loud. "Shida you may leave until later."
My assistant bowed her head slightly and then walked out, through the shattered door and then she put it back in place, so Katara and myself could have some privacy. And with that the water princess picked up the brush and started where Shida had left off.
She began to hum a sweet song, and I just had to know for sure. "Katara, does your brother really like me?"
The stroke from the brush jerked for just the silent second before continuing it's pace.
"So, you've heard the rumors?" all sweetness taken out of her voice. And i ducked my head to tell her that I had.
"Don't listen to their lies! They just don't want to accept that an earthbender will be their next Mada. (chief's wife) My brother my not show it in public, but he really dose care a lot about you. " She paused, not quite sure if she should continue. But I'm glad that she did.
"After our father died, and Sokka became our new Chief, he would escape the pressure of the world's governments and sit on top of the ice wall and look out to the world outside of our city. When I finally got up the courage to ask him what he was thinking about, he would only say your name and nothing more. Then as I looked out in the direction of where he was looking, I realized he was turned in the direction of the Earth Kingdom. I had also become the person he would let out his worries on. The oddest question and scenarios would come from his lips,"
"Like: ' well what if her parents are mistreating her because she wants to practice her earthbending?'
'what if she gets an arranged marriage to some guy who only wants to push her around and satisfy his needs?'
'what if she falls down a well and dies because no one comes looking for her?' "
I was glad that Katara was behind me, so she couldn't see my face blush. Did Sokka really worry about me that much?
"But what I'm now about to tell you must never leave this room. I'm not really sure if Sokka wants you to know this or not."
her voice was even sterner than before. I nodded my head in agreement. What did Sokka, maybe, not want me to know?
"You were actually engaged to a high ranking Earth Kingdom general."
"WHAT?!!" I yelled out, only to have Katara's finger press hard against my lips as she shushed me.
I quieted down before she continued:
"We didn't know, of course, at first, but news like that can spread threw a crowd like wildfire. We, my brother and I, traveled to a group of Earth benders where he was seated, Haku Momoto was his name if I remember correctly. He was fat, with way to much arrogance as he bossed around his servants and he was eyeing the waitresses. When he began to boast proudly to the crowd about how your father had excepted the arranged marriage and how he was to met you that night at the meeting. "
"So that's why I was there..." I had blurted out, not even realizing what I had done.
"What?" Katara asked confused.
"Nothing. Go on..." I said in a rush, almost embraced at what I had said.
"As soon as we heard that we both split up and searched the mansion for you. I found you first though and luckily you hadn't met Haku yet. Then, as you should remember, I took you right to Sokka, but I was also careful to avoid the general and his men. Although once you and my brother were finally together, Haku had spotted us, and I left abruptly to stray him away. The meeting was soon announced though and he slipped away from my sight. In a desperation I rushed over to the entrance of the war room, but thankfully Sokka was pulling Haku into the war meeting, and away from you.
After the meeting, Sokka quickly asked me to distracted the idiot, which I did, until he had gotten you out of the mansion. After a while I looked over Haku's shoulder to see my brother pitch you up and carry you outside. I made a scene so the crowd would take Haku's attention away from my own as I slipped away from him and met up with my brother outside. I still can't believe you fell asleep on him. "
she let out a small laugh as I grew even more embraced that some else saw my faults.
"During the days Sokka would spend his entire time with you. Yes, he wanted to catch up with his old friend, but also wanted to make sure Haku had no part in your life. Haku would dare attack the Chief of the Southern Water Tribe, possibly starting another world war. And even when he wasn't able to be with you I would secretly watch you, and draw Haku and his men's attention away with what ever means necessary. So not only was my brother keeping Haku away, but he was also slowly claiming you as his. Which made Haku furious, for whatever he tried, Sokka was one step ahead and had a way to keep you with him.
"Though the general was not a novice and had a few aces of his own. He had gotten your parents on his side of the fight. Sokka had even tried to reason with them, saying that Haku didn't even like you, much less love you. But your parents only cared about his money and his position in the government to even care. So they threw us out and put more guards around your home. But we traveled with the avatar, Sokka's an experienced hunter, and those guards where easy to get around.
"the last meeting finally came, and Haku used his last card on Sokka. Which I thought was a bad move on his part, thinking Sokka would just roll over and take it. But something else tells me that maybe that is exactly how Haku wanted Sokka to react."
She trailed off in her own thoughts ...
"And then what did he do?" I finally asked after a moment of silence. She snapped back, mortified that she had left me hanging like that, then she continued:
"Oh, right. My brother was already nervous and tense that evening. Both of us where required to be at the meeting and the men had to prepare the ships for owner trip back home shortly after. Leavening you at home, surround by Haku's allies and not his own. He tapped his foot, and fingers, he couldn't sit still, and he kept fighting with his hair and goatee threw out the entire meeting. You were so close to being his and I knew that he was kicking himself pretty hard for not excepting you to be this vulnerable.
"A recess broke and Sokka ran to the front entrance to leave and check on you himself. But armed guards stopped him and told him that he was not allowed to leave. And in turn Sokka only grew more nervous as he dowelled on what Haku could be planing. Without realizing it, Sokka had paced his way back into Haku's presence, I tried to stop him from showing how worried he was about you, but it was too late and Haku's plan was already unfolding. They swarmed us. Haku pulled Sokka away and his men distracted me. We took the defense of course, and we watch carefully for any signs of folly. I didn't hear their conversation, but Sokka has told me that he taunted him with you. Saying that in two days would be the wedding and then he would ravage your tiny body. And how once you grew nub to the pain he how make you one of his many concubines...and I dare not tell you what my brother told me Haku actually said. "
Her last sentence was but a faint whisper. And my sightless eyes grew slightly wider at Katara's words.
"But like I said, I hadn't heard what Haku was telling my brother. All I knew what that Haku's men wanted Sokka alone with their pompous leader. The next thing I knew, there was a loud pop that made everyone in the room, including myself and Haku's men, snap their heads in the direction of the sound.
Haru was now sprawled out on the floor and Sokka stood over in a threatening stance as his eyes were going crazy with rage. Haku cupped his check were Sokka had hit as he hissed:
'How dare you strike me!'
'How dare I? How dare you! How dare you even talk about a woman like that, much less Toph!' Sokka's now booming voice, echoing through the crowds of kings and generals, who had little idea what was going on.
They both exchanged a few more choice words before Sokka lashed out again. Jumping out at the startled Haku and throwing him on the ground, almost cutting off all his bending. The other generals tried to break them up as they continued to roll around on the floor exchanging blows. Sokka obviously taking the early upper hand for he was better at hand-to-hand than Haku.
Some how though Haku broke threw Sokka's grip and popped up to and earth bending stance, simultaneously hurling a bolder and my brother. It was originally going for his body, but he moved just right to send the clump of earth smashing into his left temple. Sokka staggered as the once bustling crowd froze with whispered gasps. A blow like that could have killed a man, and everyone in that room knew that both of the water tribes would not take kindly to the murder of one of their chiefs.
Haku then cockily dropped his stance and stood towering over my kneeling brother. As if he were a God looking meekly at an insect. When my brother jumped up with blinding speed, but this time his sword was draw and slicing threw the air. The blade was sideways though as it took it place on Haku's throat, propping him up against the wall so his feet dangled lightly from the gowned. Sokka slid the blade, light enough not to cut the flesh, but enough to irritate the skin, symbolizing that he had won the match. My brother drew in close to Haku, and what he thought was a whisper in his disoriented tones, was actually more like a quite yell :
'she is no longer yours...' "
I cursed Sokka. How dare he put himself in danger like that in some stupid fight over me! But then giddiness began to bubble in my stomach, becuase Sokka was in a fight over me.
"As he sheathed his swords he walked off and called after me. I quickly came to his left side and got a better look at his wound, and of coarse, it was worse than what it lead on to be. A huge gaeping slit went across his temple so blood flowed freely down the side of his face and neck, as it mingled with his hair and shirt. The guards moved quickly aside with out Sokka even having to ask them. We walked down the street, away from gossiping eyes, before he finally stopped and let me heal him. It wouldn't heal as I had hoped and a scar was left over, but it was all I could do to stop the bleeding. Although with all the blood that he did lose, it left him unusually pale and weak. We spilt up soon afterwards though, I went to the ships, to tell the men what had just happened. While I knew that he went back to get you. And sure enough, three hours later he came running back to the docks with you in his arms. "
Katara walked off to the wash room, ending her story. A question had been on my mind for a while and now was as good as time as any to ask.
"So is that why he wants it so soon?" I asked.
"Wants what so soon?" she shot back in in confusion as she reentered the room.
"The Wedding. Did he plan it so soon so I wouldn't have to worry about Haku trying to take me as his?"
"Well he will probably always worry about Haku taking you, but yes, that it most likely the reason."
"Okay then, one more question. If we just got to shore, and there's supposed to be this big huge party, how in the world do they expect to be ready in time?"
"Well actually, right after you said yes to Sokka's proposal he sent ahead a messenger Hawk telling everyone in the village. So everyone has actually be preparing since yesterday. "
That made some sense...I guess. And that would also explain how the people on the ship knew only moments after I had told Sokka yes.
"Oh one more thing..." Katara started.
What? More? gezze woman you might as well tell me how to waterbend.
"I've already told you not to believe the men's lies, but don't believe the women's lies either."
I felt an odd, confused look grown on my face.
"Sokka isn't the scrawny, teen he once was. He's grown and matured. His attitude is perfect, he's a master swords men...okay what I'm trying to say is that Sokka in a beef cake hottie to the young women of our tribe. Many of them want Sokka for there own, some want his power, but they all hate you, for you are not them. So they will lie, cheat, and steal as much as they have to, to get Sokka as their own. "
My mind once again began to wander. Was Sokka really that attractive? And if he was, then why choose me, I'm sure there are other, way more attractive, girls here than myself. But my thoughts were interrupted by a light knock on my door.
Okay hopeful that will shine some light on a few things, and you guys are hopefully not confused any more. And if you are then please message me and I will be more than happy to answer.
haha...beef cake hottie...oh how I crack myself up with my nerdyness. :p