Chapter 1

The wind was loud and strong, it wasn't the kind of weather that the fire nation usually endured. Rain fell in wet, fat drops, and the trees swayed in the wind, making snapping sounds that would worry any passerby. Water flowed off the roofs of the houses and fell onto the roads, making the whole village wet. It was so cold that it was a miracle that the rain hadn't turned into snow, which was something the fire nation hadn't gotten in hundreds of years.

An infant's cry rang out into the whistling wind, but it was quickly muffled by the crackling of lightning. Thunder boomed in the distance, which only made the small baby wail louder. The poor child was soaked down to the bone, the basket and blanket she was provided did little to shelter her from the weather. The quickly weaved basket that was holding the newborn was placed at the steps of the Fire Lord's castle, in hopes that someone of the royal family would find her.

The Fire Lady Ursa woke to the sound of her children crying. Or at least, she thought it was her children. The more she focused on the noise she began to realize the cry was shriller than Azula's and Zuko rarely cried anymore. She propped herself up from her bed and shivered. Why is it so cold? She thought as she sparked a small flame on her palm for light and warmth. Her feet made soft thuds as she walked against the cool tile. The crying continued, and she felt herself grow more and more worried. She stopped in Zuko and Azula's room just to check on them.

Azula was curled up into a ball, there was no sweet smile on her face like most children her age had when they were asleep. Instead she wore a smirk, and it chilled Ursa to her bone. She turned her flame towards her son, who was sprawled into a strange position. He looked like a turtle, his legs tucked into his tummy and his arms spread out to his sides. His mouth was open in an O shape, and his small even breaths could easily be heard. Ursa smiled at him, he reminded her of her father.

She turned away from the door and continued to investigate the seemingly non-existent crying. The sound rung through the walls, and Ursa could not pinpoint the origin. She searched every corridor, even the throne room for the owner of the sound, but could not find one. She even searched the servant's wing, in case a servant gave birth. She felt her flame sputter out, and in her confusion, felt herself walking to the front door.

The wails of an infant could clearly be heard then, and Ursa knew it was a child in distress. She tilted her head side ways and listened.

Left.

She turned left and began to walk with purpose down the endless halls. The cries got louder and louder, and the front door came into view. Ursa raised an eyebrow and pushed the door open, exposing herself to the elements.

Her hair slapped her face as the wind continued to rage on, and her nightgown seemed all too thin as she shivered against the cold air. It bit into her skin and she rubbed her arms to warm herself. She looked down at the steps, and a basket came into view. It was poorly made, and falling apart now that it was in the rain. An ornament of some kind was tied on the handle, but no, as Ursa began to observe it closely, she realized it was a necklace. She untied it quickly and saw it was a dark blue choker necklace with a pendant placed in the middle. The pendant was carefully carved into the symbol of the water tribe, and it appalled Ursa at its raw beauty. She turned it in her hand, surprised to find something was engraved on the back.

Katara

The Last of her Kind

Ursa furrowed her eyebrows at the note, but as she saw the pendant again, it all clicked. She remembered in school how they told her that the last few Fire Lords besieged the Southern Tribe and wiped out all the benders. The last waterbender of the Southern Tribe, she thought, I must keep her safe. I'll tell Ozai that she is a non-bender I found on the streets. She searched the area as if she'd find the parents, but no such luck. She looked down at the dripping infant wrapped in the moth-eaten blanket.

She swayed her back and forth, smiling at her. "Hello Katara," she said gently. The baby cooed in return. She had tousled brown hair and dark skin, and that chubby look newborns have. Ursa took the necklace and tucked it into her nightgown. And, as she picked up the basket and Katara, she walked back inside, closing the door behind her.

She bounced the infant up and down. "What am I going to do with you, baby girl? How can I deal with two two year olds and a baby? Ozai will be most displeased that you're not a boy. He clearly does not want my son to be the heir, and I would not trust Azula with the power a crown can bring." She smiled at Katara fondly. "Maybe you can steer her in the right direction? And give my Zuko some company while you're at it. She hates him, that's one thing that's for sure. He'll be lonely with only servants to keep him company.

"Azula summoned her first flame yesterday, oh, how it scared me. So quick. Ozai taught her, and by the way most firebenders bend today, it's so sad a child her age could carry such anger. My Zuko, I hope he becomes a fine young man. But his jealousy towards his sister is immeasurable." Katara cooed and reached for Ursa's nose. Ursa sighed. "You listen so well, I forgot that you don't even understand a word in saying."

She carried Katara to her children's room and set her down next to Zuko. Zuko's steady breathing stopped, and Ursa's breath caught. The young child sat up and rubbed his eyes, his disheveled black hair almost made the Fire Lady laugh. His gold eyes swept over the room, he scowled at Azula's sleeping form but his eyes softened at the sight of his mother. He looked down beside him, his eyebrows furrowed as he saw a stranger in his crib. "Mommy? What is that?" He asked, pointing at Katara, his face screwed up into an expression that Ursa can only liken to disgust.

"That's your sister, Zuko," Ursa whispered, as to not wake Azula. He shook his head. "No it's not. That's my sister." He pointed a chubby finger towards his sleeping sister.

"She's your new sister," Ursa replied softly.

Zuko glared at Katara. "She's ugly," he scrunched up his nose, "Put her in Azu's crib." He shied away from the sleeping infant.

"I can't," Ursa whispered, "I..." It hurt her to say those words, "I don't trust her, Zuko. I need you to protect Katara while I go talk to daddy, okay?" Zuko nodded, and yawned. He curled up next to the baby, and his small arms engulfed the newborn, as if to shield her from the world.

Ursa looked at her son affectionately. She leaned down and kissed him on his forehead. "Protect her with your life, little Prince." She straightened up and swept away to find her husband. It was still late; Ursa guessed the Fire Lord was still in bed. She walked quietly down the halls, only to be stopped by a voice.

"Ursa."

The Fire Lady turned around abruptly, and was met with the cruel face of her husband. He wasn't exactly bad looking, but she was thankful her children didn't look like him. His hair was up in the usual hairstyle, his lips were pursed. "I was about to call for a search party. The servants said that they hadn't seen you. Nor have the guards." He reached out and caressed Ursa's face. "I worry about you, Ursa. I love you. Don't leave me like that, please. Tell me, where were you?" Ursa looked at him, her expression completely neutral. Ozai sighed. "Is this about Azula again?"

Somewhat, Ursa thought. She shook her head anyway. "No, it's not. I heard a noise and I woke, thinking that it was Azula, or maybe Zuko. But... I found a non-bender's child on the edge of the streets. That's why they couldn't find me. You needn't worry, I'm fine now."

Ozai raised an eyebrow, not quite believing his wife. "Ok then. Is it a girl or boy? How old is it? Where is it?"

"She has a name," Ursa said emotionlessly, "Katara. It was written on a note that was placed in the basket where I found her." She fidgeted with the necklace as she lied to her husband's face.

Ozai raised an inquisitive eyebrow. "Okay, then. Where is Katara?" Ursa's eyes fell to the floor. "She's with Zuko and Azula right now. They're asleep. Can you wait until morning?" Ozai looked at her sadly and lifted her gaze by placing his fingers under her chin. "Ursa...how many times do I have to tell you...I love you."

You are incapable of loving, Ursa thought sadly. "I don't want this divide between us. We have three children now. They need both of us. They can't have a busy Fire Lord as a father and a checked out mother." Ursa nodded. "Now, come on, let's go to bed."

Zuko slept soundly, but Katara didn't. She fidgeted in the crib, her cloth she was swaddled in was highly uncomfortable. She cried out, but no one came. She wailed louder, and that woke both Zuko and Azula up. Azula rubbed her eyes. "Zuzu you little baby, stop your whining."

"Not me," Zuko said. He looked towards the child he held in his arms. "Shhh, quiet. Uhh...shut up? You are my sunshine...?" Zuko tried to comfort her but he failed miserably. Azula lifted herself up from the crib and covered her ears. "Shut her up or I'm going to cry!"

"Katara I need you to be quiet," Zuko said. Katara's wails got a little quieter, but not by much. "Pwetty pwease?" Zuko asked desperately. Katara cried indefinitely, and soon Azula joined her. A servant by the name of Huna walked in, and calmed Katara down, though she was clearly confused who the strange baby was. She attempted to comfort Azula, but Azula would not buy it. She pounded her fists against the poor girl's chest and screamed for 'daddy.'

"Hush little baby..." Huna said, bouncing Azula up and down. "I...want...daddy!" Azula screamed. Huna set her down in the crib, and, shaking her head, left the room.

"Calm down, Azu," Zuko chirped.

"Finawy, she shut up," Azula said, glaring at baby Katara. Zuko placed his hands on her ears protectively. "Don't talk about her like that," he scowled at Azula.

She rolled her eyes. "Zuzu, always the softie." "I'm not soft!" Zuko objected. "Yes you are," Azula said in a singsong voice. "Leave me alone!" Zuko said angrily, "And leave Katara alone, too!"

That was the first time, and definitely not the last, that he defended himself and his new sister from Azula.

A/N: So what did you think? I wrote this about two years ago, and only now have I discovered it...

This used to be in my "Scrapped Stories" folder, but I thought this was an interesting Zutara story, so I thought that I should try it out.

Tell me if I should continue writing this in the reviews or Private Messages, please!