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Thoughts (depending on the character POV)

Flashback

Dream

Chapter 1

Katara's POV

A few days ago…

The cold bitter air hit me as I left my house. My people have been working hard after these last five years to rebuild our new tribe, with the help of our sister tribe. Waterbenders from the Northern Tribe have been kind enough to devote their time to help us build a better wall to protect us from any of the members of the Fire Nation Rebels…

The Fire Nation Rebels are only that as their name calls them, the rebels of the Fire Nation, who still wish to follow under the former Fire Lord Ozai. After Ozai's death from his dying will power is what Aang said, more and more of the people have been joining into ranks with the Rebels. Fire Lord Zuko and Aang have been working hard to ward them off of us, but they still only grow angrier.

Being the daughter of the Chief, I held more responsibilities, especially since Sokka left to be with Sukki on Kyoshi Island. Dad wanted me to learn to be more sophisticated and more proper in the ways of ladyship considering how I was now the only Water Tribe Princess. After Yue died, the Water Tribes had decided that any Princess, whether she be of the North or of the South, should learn etiquette and poise like she had and resemble who she was.

Now, considering how I am a Master Waterbender, you would think that I would resent my father and run away from home, but I did not. Instead I chose to remain here with my father, and watch over the Southern Water Tribe. The other stuff, like acting like a total priss was not entirely my idea, but I consented with the fact that I would one day be married off to a man who would become the next Chief…

I did not, however, think that dad had today in mind…

"Katara? Where did you go?"

Deeply sighing in exasperation, I turned around with the biggest smile I could muster, and called out, "Outside dad.'

He came up from the shadows hallways inside the house. Years of long battles and harsh conditions show greatly on his face. His eyes were duller then they used to be when mom was still here, and his skin showed the scars of one hundred battles. He looked a little weary as he walked to where I stood.

"Katara… You now you shouldn't leave the house without an escort, someone could kidnap you or worse kill you."

Turning around so that he wouldn't see me rolling my eyes, I said, "Oh dad, I know, I know. As the princess of both of the Water Tribes, I hold the duty to my people to remain able to protect them. My duty is to serve my people…"

Feeling his hand on my shoulder, I turned toward him. His eyes held a semblance of worry or sorrow, and I did not know whether it was to the fact that I was stuck in this icy prison.

"I know that you may feel like you are alone and stressed, but I think that you should know that I am only doing this because I love you. Although you may not have thought that the war would force you into this type of life, but it is what it is. I am sorry if this isn't what you had in mind of the perfect 'happily ever after.'"

Sighing deeply, I smirked at him with my rose-colored stained lips, "Dad, honestly, this was not what I had in mind, but it is something that I know what must be done as the princess. I only wish that I could do more than just stand around and be pretty."

Chuckling, he scratched the back of his neck and said, "Well, there is one thing that you could do for the good of the Tribes. It requires a lot of sacrifice, but it is only if you are willing to do it for us…"

I swallowed the bile that rose in my throat from the fear that I held within myself. If the future of the Tribes was at stake, who was I to not help my tribe?

Glancing up to my father's solid blue eyes, I spoke softly with what little voice I had in me, "Anything for my tribe, what, may I ask, must I do?"

Without giving me another look, dad said, "You must marry a member of the Fire Nation Council…"