A/N: Hi everyone! I'm back :D I had lots of exams and I was really sick for a while, but I'm alive! Here's an awesome chapter about the powers of female friendship and Katara's personal development! :D

3.5

Her world was upside-down and all previous laws of gravity no longer existed. Yet it was strange that in this particular moment, Katara felt free. Though she had no control over the situation, she was not resisting the change of events. Instead, for the first time in a while, she felt weightless as she soared under the bright lights above her. However, the laws of gravity were reinstated as she crashed back to reality seconds later and thudded hard on the mat.

"Jeez Toph," she moaned, "I said I would pretend to be a criminal, but it's just–you know–pretend."

To the side of her, her blind friend let out a hearty laugh, "Sorry Sugar Queen. Guess I'm excited today."

Katara stood and rubbed her now sore shoulder, but smiled softly, "I can tell. I take it your classes are going well?"

Toph walked over to the bench and grabbed her towel and water bottle. Even wiping the sweat from her brow and taking a swig of water, her toothy smile refused to wane. Katara found Toph's smile infectious and felt her own growing wider. As she ambled towards the bench, she mused, that there was nothing better than seeing her friend looking so fulfilled.

"You have no idea!" Toph announced with pride. "The feedback is amazing and I'm helping other blind people feel like they are in more control. Like I know that they'll most likely never need it, but knowing that they can defend themselves is such a big deal for them and for me."

Katara hummed in agreement as she settled on the bench. Training with Toph after her shifts from the hospital left her exhausted. It was a good exhausted though–like she wasn't prisoner to gravity. And if her being thrown around was helping Toph help others, then Katara gladly welcomed the pride that was also swelling in her chest.

"Well, I'm really happy for you, Toph. It looks like you found your calling."

Toph grunted as she lowered herself on the bench, "If you can call this a calling! Who knew I would be teaching blind kids self-defense!" She stretched out her short legs and wiggled her toes, looking utterly relaxed.

She took another swig of water and asked casually, "So, what's eating you?"

Katara narrowed her eyes warily as she responded, "What makes you think something's bothering me?"

"First, that defensive attitude that's rearing up," Toph shot back. Katara let out a frustrated breath, but her friend continued, "Second, when I was tossing you all over the place, you were as heavy as boulder!"

Though she was taken by surprised, she bit out, "Are you saying I gained weight?"

Toph crossed her arms and smirked, "Ha, no. I'm just saying you're usually more flowy–like water. And while I Iike rocks just fine, it's weird for you to be so stiff."

"I'm not stiff; I'm exhausted," Katara sighed as she rested her elbows on her knees and cradled her face in her hands. "This internship is really draining me."

"Well," Toph drawled as she cracked her neck, "Working in a hospital is tough work."

Katara barked out a dry laugh, "You don't need to tell me twice. There's just not enough hours in the day to get everything done…"

"But that's you dream, right? To be a doctor in a big hospital?"

And even if Toph's question was innocent and more rhetorical, it was the very same thing that Katara had been worrying over about for the last few days. Becoming a doctor and working in big hospital was her dream, right? That's what she always wanted to do, right? Of course, or why would she be doing this internship before she applied to medical school? Being a doctor was everything that Katara wanted. She wanted to heal people–help people! Then how come every time she looked over that dream it felt heavier and more like an obligation than choice?

Those were answers she didn't know and ever since discovering that Doctors Without Borders had a junior fellowship program for aspiring doctors, she felt like her world was changing. Working in a big hospital was nice, but there were people out there she could really help–really heal–that didn't have access to basic healthcare. And the thought of gaining hands-on experience gnawed at her constantly, teasing her ambitious nature about doing something unique. Because despite that Katara wanted everyone to succeed, there was another part of her that craved to be better than everyone else and this opportunity only made her hungrier.

Katara shuffled through her backpack and riffled quickly for her wallet. When she found it, she abruptly took out the business card and pressed it in Toph's hands.

"I'm going to assume what's ever eating you is on this…lovely piece of cardstock?"

"Oh," Katara felt her cheeks heat up, "I forgot."

Toph shook silently with laughter, but grinned good-naturedly, "Wow. Whatever it is, it must be awesome if it's make you this spacey."

Katara took a deep breath, "I think I want to join Doctors Without Borders."

If Toph was drinking, Katara was positive that she would have it spat it everywhere. With wide eyes and a shocked expression she asked, "You're what?"

"Yeah. There's this junior program for people who haven't gone to medical school yet. It's brand new and it looks great on applications plus the experience…" She began stroking her damp braid, anything her hands could fiddle with as nerves started eating at her again.

Toph nodded her slowly as she took in all the information. A minute or two ticked by and silence settled over the pair. In the background, they could hear the shouts and grunts from Suki's taekwondo class. Over all the noise was Suki's sharp voice as she directed her students into the next drill.

After a few moments, it seemed like Toph decided her opinion on the matter. "Well, I think you should do it!" Toph punched Katara's arm, her way of affirming her approval.

"…really?"

She laughed again, "Of course! Sugar Queen, this would be amazing for you! You're always talking about being passionate about things, but I think this is the first time you've ever got swept up by a dream before."

A wry smile started to form on Katara's face as she teased, "And you have?"

Toph stuck her tongue out at her, "Ha ha. You know I have. Look at my self-defense class. I mean, I'm not the cuddliest teacher ever and I don't baby my students just because they're blind, but nothing can replace how good it feels at the end of the day."

"Wow, Toph. The way you keep talking about your class, it sounds like you actually have a heart," she joked.

Her friend punched her again, but this time as a warning. "Hey, don't go around spreading lies. I have the blackest heart in all the world. It's as dark as my vision."

"Oh my god! Toph!" Katara exclaimed as she fought back shocked laughter, "You that's terrible."

"Well, I'm kinda blind after all," her friend replied cheekily. "I can make all the blind jokes I want."

"Yeah, I guess," she giggled. After a few moments passed again, she asked, "So, you think I have a shot of getting in if I apply?"

"Oh yeah. You're a major overachiever and social justice warrior of the world. They'd love you." With that, Toph stood up and stretched her hand out towards her friend, "Now, let's go do a few rounds and we'll call it a day."

"Ugh. Okay," Katara started as she reached for Toph's hand, but started laughing again as she felt Toph start to pull her up quickly only to push her towards the mat.

Unlike when they first started practicing that evening, Katara moved like water. With one less problem to worry about, it was easy to be free as stream as she flowed with the drills.