A/N Trigger warning: Short conversation on death penalty. Skip if you'd like. :) Also, this is basically just a reposted chapter. I took it down for ease of transitioning from the old storyline to the new one, due to the layout of the doc manager. Some editing was done for grammar and spelling.
Katara takes a deep breath of the late summer air over Kyoshi Island, as Appa lands gently by the docks.
All around her, there are merchants from the Earth Kingdom, Fire Nation citizens (no soldiers, she notices), and several people from the Northern Water Tribe.
She's never seen people from all the Four Nations in one place before, her travels with Aang notwithstanding.
"Wow! Look at this place!" Aang exclaims. "It reminds me of back when I'm from! Katara," He pulls her close. "This is what it used to look like in every major port, even the Southern Water Tribe's!"
"It's amazing, Aang. I wonder who we'll meet here."
As they wander the harbor streets, looking at the various vendors' wares, Suki and Sokka go off to find Oyaji, to see about a marriage ceremony arrangement.
Appa stays outside the village this time, as it's now a bustling town and he's a bit too large to wander around comfortably without accidentely stepping on something.
Momo, as usual, sets off to find something to eat, and inevitably comes flying back every so often, screeching indignation at whatever critter or merchant is chasing him down at the time.
"So...Katara." Aang starts, his tone hesitant.
"Yes?" She picks up a watermelon and examines it.
"Your dad had a talk with me, when we were at the North Pole. He was worried about you being safe at home, if we got married and I got called away. He was also kinda worried about you not getting the credit you deserve, or the chance to put your experiences to use in restoring harmony between the Nations. What do you think?"
Katara puts down the melon she was looking at and follows Aang to a bench under a tree, in front of what looks to be a new book store.
"I don't really need monuments or anything, as long as you're happy." She begins.
"That's what your dad told me that you'd say. I told him I'd build you a whole shrine myself! Nobody will ever forget you!" He interrupts.
"A SHRINE?!" Katara barks out a laugh. "I think that might be just a bit much!" She tries and fails to smother her giggles.
"Yeah, that's what he said too. But still, you wouldn't be forgotten. I promise."
"And I can take care of myself." She says, moving on to the next obvious issue.
"I know, but what about... What about when we have kids to protect too?"
She understands what he's getting at.
"We could just ask Sokka and Suki to visit. Suki and I can raise the kids, and none of the children will lack for friends, and Sokka can protect us until we can stand on our own again. And I'm sure between Suki and I, we'll have at least one Bender." She laughs, imagining a little Earthbending boy and little Airbender girl, playing at defending their family against invisible enemies in the twilight. She imagines herself calling them in for dinner, brushing aside their complaints and pleas for "just a few more minutes".
"That would sure be something to see." Aang agrees. A moment of comfortable silence, briefly broken by Momo screeching and flying past, followed by a cabbage merchant screaming about his cabbages.
"But... Momo doesn't even have a cabbage." Aang tries to reason with the man. The man's already halfway down the road, and hasn't heard him. Momo seems to have safely disappeared.
"Can Momo even carry a whole cabbage?" Katara asks.
"I don't think so."
They look at each other and laugh.
"So, my dad's not a fan." She sums up the point of their previous discussion.
"Not really, but he said he might be alright with it later. When we're both older. I think he's worried that I'll find someone else and break your heart."
"My Gran Gran talked to me about us being a bit young to date when we're so far apart in age. She says our world views might be too different to make things work right now, and that we should consider growing up a bit more and finding out where we can compromise and where we can't before we get too serious about each other." Katara looks away and starts playing with her hair loops.
"And?" Aang doesn't like how she's avoiding his gaze.
"I think she could be right." She murmurs, thinking of when she and Zuko went after her mother's killer.
"But she could also be wrong! You never know." She amends quickly.
"I think we can make anything work, so long as we each understand each other's point of view and are willing to meet in the middle." Aang asserts.
"What about things that we can't agree on? Like forgiveness for horrible crimes." She asks.
"You mean you still haven't forgiven that man?" Aang's voice isn't really angry, but it does take on a bit of an irritated tone.
"I've said it before: I'll never forgive him. I don't think I can. Some things really are unforgivable." Katara can hear the irritation crop up in her own voice.
"But without forgiveness, there can be no healing."
"This is what I mean, Aang. Both of us are right and both of us wrong." Her tone is calm, but her heart is turbulent.
"How's that?" Aang raises an eyebrow in confusion.
"You make a good point that there can be no healing without forgiveness, and I made the point that not all things are forgivable." She says.
"Right. So, we're both correct?"
"Yes, because both those things are true. But we're both wrong in where our idea of the results lie. You want me to heal, because you don't want anyone to hurt. You're sweet like that. And you want true justice, which is what happened in the man's case. But what about when justice isn't peaceful?"
"There's always a peaceful way." He insists.
"And I believe that sometimes, there are cases where killers and war criminals shouldn't be left free to do whatever they want. What if Ozai or Azula gets out of jail? What then? If they do it once, they can do it again." She isn't ready to give up, either Aang or her view. But how can the two be reconciled?
"You're saying that a violent end is the only way." His disappointment in her is evident.
"In cases like that. Yes, where they can keep hurting people." She affirms.
"I don't know, Katara."
"Neither do I."
"Let's hope we never have to answer that question." He tries to end the conversation. By evading the issue. Aang will make an excellent politician if he ever decides to run for anything. Not that he could, being the Avatar.
"I would like to anyway, just in case." Katara needs this, for her own peace of mind. What Gran Gran had said is really starting to get to her. And it's starting to look like she was right after all.
"I guess we are both wrong then. Because if we kill anyone, we set a bad precedent for peace, and killing won't make the anger go away, or undo any of the damage they did." Aang says, picking off an imaginary burr from his clothing.
"But if we don't kill them and they can just manipulate or bribe their way out, then they'll just keep killing and creating imbalance. And you have to think of what it feels like in those cells too. Do they even give them anything to do? How does the Fire Nation treat lifetime prisoners?"
"Not well. Not even in my day. But we didn't have so many who needed it back then. Punishments used to be more strict, and simple theft got you a few years in jail with community service and reform school. Murder was almost unheard of."
"Because of a...death penalty?" A cool breeze catches them both by surprise, and couldn't be better timed, although it's just a normal late summer evening brush of air.
"Yeah. It wasn't ideal, but it worked. And lifetime in prison costs the Nation money. It's kind of a difficult position." Aang stares up at the clouds, trying to find a better way of explaining. He'd been so young back then. Katara realizes that Aang probably only had a passing knowledge of how the different governments worked.
"So, we're both right and we're both wrong." She sums it up, trying to end the discussion so Aang wouldn't be so tense. They are supposed to be having some fun. This is their last official rest stop for quite some time.
"I guess so." Aang says, not sounding pleased with how the conversation was ending.
"Maybe we should ask Sokka. He seems to know more about political debates." She suggests. And while he's not as good as the Fire Nation at politics, he is good at strategy and reasoning.
"Sokka as a marriage counselor. Just what has the world come to?" Aang exclaims, smiling.
They both get a good laugh out of that one, and their tension from before is momentarily forgotten.
((page break)) ((page break)) ((page break))
In the evening, when the markets are closed, and all the excitment and chatter from the day fade and are gone, Katara lays awake in her bed, relaxed, but not able to sleep.
She thinks over what Gran Gran said, and about her conversation with Aang.
Maybe Gran Gran is right, that we need more time to figure out what we think and how we feel. She thinks. She turns over and stares at the Moon.
Then, she looks at Aang, asleep and peaceful. No Fire Lord to fight, no end of the world scenario. For once, he looks just like what he is: A nearly thirteen year old boy.
She rolls back over and faces the wall.
There is no denying that Aang is incredible. That he's so determined to do the right thing, and what's best for those around him. He usually manages to make both happen, even when the two at first appear to be opposites.
Maybe if we just give it time.
She sees again his smiling young face, when he tried to impersonate an old man to get into Omashu, and again when he just wanted to be a kid and go to school (nevermind that the school was in the Fire Nation!).
He is too young. I'm too old. We're too different.
But...they both care about others deeply. They both want to see the world restored. And, as far as Katara can tell, they both want a family later on, when they are ready to be good parents.
We're still similar enough to try to make it work.
She hears something move, and sits up.
Toph wanders out of the door, closing it with a very quiet sound behind her.
Katara decides to get up and follow.
A cold breeze blows her untied hair back behind her as she walks. Autumn isn't far off now.
She follows as far off as she can to avoid alerting Toph to her presence. It doesn't really work. Within a moment, Toph turns in her direction.
"What are you doing, Katara? I don't need your help. I just need some fresh air." She says.
"I could use a bit myself." Katara replies. She isn't really lying either.
"Fine. Come on." Toph decides after a few seconds.
"Where are we going?"
"There's this cool little starwatching rock. I don't have much use for it that way, but it's a nice rock, and I can feel everything more clearly. I thought it would be the safest place if I were out on my own and not paying attention."
"That's good thinking."
"Thanks. I do a lot of that. Y'know, in between throwing rocks around and yelling at the idiots in the world."
Katara smiles.
"So, what brings you out here, since it's clear that we're going to have a long, deep discussion? I'd rather just cut to the chase and get it over with." Toph sits down on the rock and Katara spreads out beside to look at the stars.
"Let's start with you. You're worried about seeing your family again, aren't you?" Katara asks. She isn't ready to say anything about her and Aang. She isn't sure that she really knows how. Or even if Toph could understand where she was coming from.
"I want to go back to my parents. I had this idea that my Metalbending Academy could be in my home town, and that my parents might finally realize that I'm not just some helpless little girl. Now that I've trained the Avatar, and have become the first Metalbender, they might take me seriously. I wouldn't be a burden to them. They might even be proud of me!" Toph stares blindly out into the night, but pointedly faces away from Katara.
"Of course your parents will be proud! How could they not be? As you've said yourself, you're literally the most powerful Earthbender anywhere in the world! Just think what more you could do when you get older! You aren't a burden, Toph! You bring honor to the Beifong name." Katara insists.
"Yeah, but what if they don't give me a chance to explain all that? What if they just lock me up again? I don't want to disappoint them. I followed their rules before because I loved them, and I thought that maybe one day they could love me. It maybe wouldn't have happened until I grew up or something, but at least they would have eventually seen me as a fellow citizen." She Bends a chunk of rock up and tosses it out into the field.
"You won't be a normal wealthy citizen of your village, Toph. You weren't meant to live that way. You can't. You weren't made to be that way. Your family will just have to accept that."
"And if they don't?" Toph leaps off the rock and stomps her foot.
"Well, then you can just stay with us." Katara suggests. "We're fun people."
"Yeah, but I'm not really doing anything useful with you guys. You'll be teaching a bunch of random people how to be Nomads and how to Airbend. I'm not much use there. You guys almost forgot that I was even with you at the Southern Air Temple the first time!"
Katara is about to deny it, but she realizes, they had forgotten that Toph was there. And Toph hadn't really had much to do.
"You can bring your Academy to the Air Temple." She suggested.
"Sure, and accidently knock down Twinkle Toes' old home? You told me how he flipped out the first time that someone destroyed part of the Northern Air Temple. Can you imagine what he'd do if one of my students accidently ruined part of the one he lived in?"
Katara winces at her tone. And the mental imagery.
"Yeah, ok. You've got a point. But there are lots of uninhabited mountains in the area. You could Earthbend the perfect fortress! Then you could teach to your heart's content." Images of a moving sky fortress start to fill her mind.
"Hm, it does sound tempting. But some of my students will be starting from scratch. How are we going to get them up there and keep them out of trouble until they can take care of themselves?"
"Again, good point. I guess we'll just have to wait and see. But Toph, don't worry. I'm sure your family will want you back. And I'm sure they'll respect you now. You're an incredible person. And they're your family! They'll understand."
"We'll see." Toph says through a sigh. "How about you and Twinkle Toes?"
"What?" Katara looks over at her in surprise.
"I'm blind, not stupid. You two have been off since we've landed on Kyoshi, and I'm pretty sure I picked up some sort of tension befor we took off, but it was all a little weird because of the ice."
"My dad and Gran Gran think that Aang and I need to stay friends for a while because of how different we are, and because we're still young and figuring out what we believe. I tried to talk to Aang earlier and he sort of just sidestepped the problem. And I think maybe he thinks a little too much of me. I'm not perfect, but he suggested building me a shrine to make sure that the world doesn't forget me." She says. She brings her arms back behind her head to stop the stone from digging into it. She stares into the stars as if they can provide her with the answers.
"A shrine, huh? I would have taken him up on it." Toph remarks.
"I know you would have. And you totally deserve some sort of monument. But I'm Human, not a Spirit. I can't help but feel like he's got me on a bit too high of a pedestal, and one day, when I can't match up, he won't love me anymore."
"Sort of like with me and my parents. They had an idea about me being small and weak, and they had the idea that when they did show me off, I'd be some perfect little quiet rich girl, waiting for a guy to come marry her and take her off to higher social circles in Ba Sing Se. And when I didn't match up..."
"Exactly."
"Yep, you're headed for trouble." Toph says succintly. She leans back against the rock.
"Gee, thanks." Katara mutters. No advice? Is it really that hopeless?
"Welcome."
Katara isn't too sure what to do. She doesn't think anything about her situation has changed, but she does know she doesn't really want to be hanging around with Toph anymore.
"Hey! What are you two doing up here? Are you alright?" Aang's voice carries up the hill to their rock.
"Yeah! We're fine. I'm coming back in now." Katara says, shooting the blind girl a glare, even though it's pointless.
"I'm not." Toph states.
"Why not?"
"I just want some fresh air. See you losers tomorrow."
((page break)) ((page break)) ((page break))
"I'll meet you guys back down there." Katara says, heading back. Aang can tell something is wrong, and he can't really pretend that he doesn't have a guess as to what, but Toph seems to be more of an immediate concern right now.
She sits with her knees drawn up to her chest, like she does when she's thinking a lot.
"Toph?" Aang reaches for her.
"What do you want, Twinkle Toes?" She snaps.
"If I know what's bothering you, then maybe I can help." He says. He sits beside her.
"I'm just thinking." She says, noncommitally.
"About your parents?"
"What else? What if they lock me up again?" She asks.
"Then, you just bust out again. You're the most powerful Earthbender in the world. They can't keep you there. And you'll have us, if you want us. We can always help bust you out."
"True, but I intend to build an Academy there. You guys can't stay with me for the rest of my life. What if they just don't want me anymore? I can't be the little painted girl every time there's company. I can't fit their idea of a perfect daughter." She hurls another rock out into the hayfield below them.
"Are you angry at them, Toph?" Aang asks, quietly.
"Of course I'm angry! How could they do that to me?! All I ever wanted was for them to see me as capable. To show me off in the village and say, "Look what our daughter can do!". But did they do that? No, they locked me up in the house and kept guards on me and only let me practice basic Earthbending! You bet I'm angry!" She takes a nearby boulder and throws that too.
"Toph! Calm down! You might hurt someone! I thought I heard some people going to work a little while ago." Aang waves his arms to deflect the pile of dust she tosses at him.
"Listen, Toph! You're angry about something that happened in the past. Maybe it wasn't very far off into the past, but it isn't here in the present anymore. Your family locked you up, and tried to bring you back when you ran away. But they still thought you were helpless. Now, people have to have heard of you and how you taught me Earthbending. They definitely heard about how you can Metalbend. I bet that was the first thing that came to mind when those guys were let out of the cage." He says.
"It could just happen again. Remember the first night you were at my house, and I proved to them how well I could Earthbend? How I told about my fights?"
"Toph, you have to forgive them. It's the only to stop being afraid of it happening again. You're afraid because you're still hurt over how they treated you last time."
"I have to forgive them, because they're my family, right? Because deep down, they really love me? Because I still love them?" Toph blows her hair away from her face in a show of irritation.
"No. That's part of it. But even if you hated them, or they hated you, you have to do it because it's the right thing to do. And nothing will go the way you want it to until you face your destiny. Sort of like how nothing went right for Zuko until he joined me and nothing went the way I wanted it to whenever I tried to get out of sleeping or fighting the Fire Lord. The rules can be bent, Toph, but they can't be broken. And you can't move on until you forgive." He hugs her briefly, and she punches him in reply.
"I'll keep that in mind." Toph says.
Aang spots Sokka coming up the hill, and decides to head back to their little hut to check on Katara.
As he leaves, he vaguely hears Sokka advising Toph on leveraging her parents' money and status to start her Academy.
There goes my advice. He thinks. So much for the right thing.
He slips back into his sleeping bag in their little wooden hut, and Katara snores softly across the room from him.
He rolls over to look at her.
Her face is outlined by her hair, but it's lit up by the Moon.
Her soft little snores are very cute and endearing.
He knows they think a bit differently. But there should be enough similarities to allow for compromise.
He loves Katara. He knows this. He also knows that she loves him.
But they are both stubborn, and there are some issues that neither of them are willing to budge on.
She's so perfect though. Beautiful, smart, kind, honest, motherly. She even managed to pass for a Spirit once.
He rolls back over, remembering the first time that he ever saw Katara, when he came out of the ice.
We can make it work. You can do anything, Katara. I know you can. I know we can. We'll make it work. Like they said in the play, you're my girl. I'll do whatever it takes to keep you. You're perfect.
Content for the moment in his daydreams and memories, he drifts off to sleep.
A/N Did I get Toph in character throughout this story? Just wondering. Also, sorry about the death penalty conversation. But Aang and Katara would certainly have differing viewpoints, this was a good way to show it (Southern Raiders being a good example of this debate to a lesser degree, since it was a kid show). This conversation will probably factor in at some point later in the story. Feel free to leave a review or shoot a pm and tell me what you think! Constructive criticism is always welcome. :)