After this, I probably won't post any more for a few DAYS, maybe I'm not sure yet. It all depends on my other story, and if I happened to write more to it. Hope you like this chapter though, it's longer than the others. Review please!

Disclaimer: I don't own ATLA

~Chapter 3: Choices~

"I know your not supposed to cry over spilled tea, but. . .it's just so sad!"

-Uncle Iroh

"What?!" Katara screamed, losing all control over her waterbending. Everyone's drinking glasses broke, the water spraying in every direction. "You want me to marry that-spoiled prince?!"

Zuko frowned, he didn't like being called spoiled, because he was far from it. He didn't want to marry the stupid peasant either! His uncle forced him to be here, to search for a suitable wife. It was actually the council's idea to marry out of the Fire Nation, to being peace again to the world.

"Katara that's enough, you have a choice-" Hakoda was cut off by his daughter's deadly glare.

"No! I won't be married off like some. . . .thing on the market!" Katara shouted, throwing her arms to her sides.

"Katara," Her Gran-Gran spoke, standing up. "think of the sake of your tribe. We are in a crisis. Your brother, is doing everything he can to make sure our people don't starve. He's out there right now, risking his life and others to make sure you get food on your plate, on your family's plate. It's time you start doing something to help your tribe. It's time to stop grieving over Aang."

"What about you Gran-Gran?" Katara turned the spotlight over. "Last I heard it was you who left your tribe because you didn't love the man you were arranged to, the man you were forced to marry."

"Katara, you will not speak to your grandmother that way." Hakoda stood, ordering his daughter to stop.

"You stop speaking to me like I'm nothing!" Katara pointed to her father across the table. " 'Oh Sokka is protecting his tribe.' 'Sokka is doing everything he can for his tribe.'"

"Katara-"

"Who protected Sokka huh? Mom couldn't, and you certainly weren't there to." Katara closed her eyes in defeat. "Who protected Sokka from himself, the Fire Nation, and others who've tried to hurt us? Who took care of our family when you couldn't; when you wouldn't stop grieving over mom!"

"You had a choice, but now you have none. Katara, you will marry this man to save your tribe." Hakoda spoke sadly to his little girl.

Katara's fists shook in pure anger and rage. "Fine! If you want your daughter to go away so badly you could have killed me yourselves!" Turning, she ran as fast as she could, away from the nightmare's and terrible future.

Passing Toph, Katara grabbed her hand and dragged her to the cliffside where the two girls liked to sit and talk. Toph loved the feeling of her feet dangling over the edge, and Katara loved the water that washed up on the sides, feeling the push and pull. Most times they just sat in silence, but Katara wanted to talk to her about this proposition.

"Honestly, even though I think they could've done a better job at coming up with a better solution, this is good for everyone, for the world." Toph kicked her feet back and fourth, leaning back on her hands.

"I just don't want to leave the South Pole, I don't want to marry my enemy." Katara hugged her knees to her chest, wrapping her arms around them. "Why are they making me do this?!"

"You didn't seem to have a problem leaving the South Pole when Aang came along." Toph closed her eyes, no sense in keeping them open.

"That's different, he needed my help saving the world." Katara whispered, more to herself than her best friend.

"And now you're helping him save it again, only on different standards."

"It's not the same, you and my family are all I have left, I don't want to loose you all at once."

"Why not take me with you?" Toph teasingly asked, trying to cheer her up. Toph was sick and tired of this icy fortress, and wanted to get on some real land, but she also didn't want to leave her friends and now family.

"I couldn't ask that of you Toph, it's painful enough to be in the enemy's territory, but to live there after Aang. . ." Katara pushed the coming tears away, she refused to cry. She hasn't since he died and she wasn't going to start now.

"Katara, if being there keeps you sane, I'll go anywhere you want. You're my best friend, and girls like us have to stick together." Toph pounded her fists together, smiling slightly.

"Thanks Toph," Katara hugged the little earthbender. "You're the best."

"Yeah, I know." Toph commented, grinning huge. "When is Sokka supposed to be back?"

Sokka was out with the other young men from their tribe to collect meat for the next month, a hunting trip.

Sokka had taken a lot more responsibility when they returned to the South Pole. He was elected the leader of the hunting trips, he trained the Northerners the fighting style of the South, and he protected the tribe from any attacks, but he also has help with the other warriors.

Some girls and boys of Katara's age traveled to the Southern Tribe to live there, and some didn't take to kindly to Katara's ways of living and fighting. They disagreed and looked down at the thought of a woman fighting instead of healing. If people had a problem with it, they didn't say anything, afraid of Toph's screaming and yelling.

"A few days maybe?" Katara shrugged, missing her brother. "I'm not sure, it depends on the weather."

"Well, the sun's been nothing but radiant this week!" She retorted, waving her hands around in the air.

Katara laughed and looked at the sky, it was covered in nothing but grey clouds. The sun was no where in sight.

Review please!

~EZ17