A hidden past, secrets, conflict, sacrifice... They will yearn for each other and hurt for each other... This is the cruel destiny of star-crossed lovers.
The magnificent golden gates of the Fire Nation palace were bathed in sunlight as a procession of gaudy palanquins passed underneath. A trumpet sounded as a particularly elaborate palanquin came into sight, decorated with golden phoenixes against bright crimson. Rustling clothes could be heard as a lined mass of red and black which had come to observe moved in swift prostration.
Running footsteps and panting resounded through the air as one eight-year-old boy dressed in noble attire pounded the ground with his feet to push himself forward. A wide grin came over his face when he saw the familiar phoenixes, not noticing that he was wearing through his extremely expensive shoes, or that the crowd was staring at him out of the corners of their eyes. Glinting metal spears clashed before the boy's face, blocking his path. "Your highness…" The prince easily slipped past the guards and threw the curtain aside.
"Mother, welcome home!" An elegant robe moved inside the palanquin as the princess turned in surprise to lay eyes on her son for the first time in seven months. Her long hair swayed behind her back, apart from the bun on which lay a golden, flame-shaped crown. She closed her eyes and gently placed her hand on her heart before stepping out and embracing him.
"Oh, Zuko, you really don't care about palace procedure, do you?" She put her hands on his shoulders and smiled down at the cheeky boy. "I appreciate the enthusiastic reception, though."
A plump, long-bearded old man in similar robes to the princess ran towards them with a worried look. "Princess Ursa, I'm so sorry about the young prince's behaviour. He has caused the entire procession to be delayed, and is not welcoming you home to the palace in the proper manner."
"Hmph!" Zuko crossed his arms and turned to him, smiling cheekily. "Don't talk to me about welcoming my mother home properly when you're not even bowing, Prime Minister Chen."
He immediately dropped to the ground and kowtowed repeatedly, his eyes wide with fear. "Please forgive me, your highnesses!"
Zuko laughed as Ursa lifted the old man to his feet. "Chen, you should know you don't need to be rigid with me or Zuko."
Princess Ursa glanced over to two dark-skinned figures clad in blue Water Tribe clothes that had come out of another palanquin further back, and were making their way over. The whole assembly was staring at them. "Ursa, what's going on? Why have we stopped?" asked the woman with a Water Tribe necklace shining in the bright light. She was holding the hand of a girl with looped brown hair, who was staring at everything. Katara was half-curious and half-intimidated to find more people than her entire village kneeling in one huge square.
"I was talking to my son and the Prime Minister here." She turned back to Zuko and Chen and saw their puzzled looks. "On my trip I made friends with Kya, the wife of the Southern Water Tribe's chief, and I decided to invite her and her daughter to live here in the palace for a while."
Kya bowed to them. "I'm honoured to make the acquaintance of the prince and Prime Minister of the Fire Nation."
The worried look returned to the Prime Minister's face. "Princess Ursa, are you sure about this? What would Fire Lord Azulon say about inviting guests from an area we are trying to conquer? It was difficult enough to convince His Majesty to allow you to travel when most princesses remain within the palace gates."
Ursa's face turned grave. "I'll just have to hope he doesn't find out. Don't mention it to the Fire Lord." His mouth dropped open, speechless.
Ursa walked behind the wide-eyed little Water Tribe girl and placed her hand on her shoulder. "Zuko, this is Katara, Chief Hakoda's daughter. Katara's only two years younger than you, so I'm sure you two will have lots of fun together from now on."
The girl gave a little nod, and flashed an innocent smile in his direction. "How do you do, Prince Zuko?"
Zuko looked at her for only a moment before crossing his arms and turning his head away, leaving Katara to stare in surprise and confusion. He refused to associate with a filthy water peasant, especially if she was the daughter of an enemy to the Fire Nation. Even if Katara was the daughter of a chief, the village was so small she didn't have anything to show for it and was completely below him.
Ursa and Kya exchanged worried looks. Then Chen reminded the princess that the rest of her family was still waiting inside to greet her, and they all walked toward the looming red palace in awkward silence.
It had been two weeks and Zuko still refused to even say a word to the new girl. Whenever his mother mentioned her he'd say he didn't want to be associated with a "girl like that". Ursa and Kya, who had gradually become close friends during the princess' stay at the South Pole, were discussing this over tea in a pavilion. The garden around them was beautiful in the height of spring, the trees covered in cherry blossoms, the birds chirping. But none of this lifted their spirits.
Ursa sighed. "I'm so sorry; he's normally a sweet boy. I don't know why he's acting like this."
Kya gave her a sympathetic look. "It's ok, Ursa. It's just bad luck if he doesn't seem to like her."
The princess stared with a slight frown into the cup she held with both hands. "I was so hopeful that they'd get along. If things had gone to plan, Katara would have steered Zuko on a different course to his father and grandfather. I wanted him to learn to be more open-minded about people from outside the Fire Nation and not as fortunate as himself, so he could be a better role model for our people."
Kya stopped just as the cup was about to touch her lips and looked at her friend with a serious expression. "Don't feel bad about it, Ursa. We're so grateful that you came and said you wanted to establish diplomatic relations with the Southern Water Tribe. We were so surprised to see you come off one of the black ships; our tiny village had nothing to offer you. We are so lucky to have someone like you on our side, Ursa. Imagine coming all the way to the South Pole for our sake when Fire Lord Azulon and Prince Ozai were against it."
Ursa returned a sad smile. "Thank you, Kya. But I still failed." She turned back to her cup and saw her own reflection before a background of dainty cherry blossoms, swept off their branches by the warm spring wind. Their season had been much too short. "If only things were different…"
Author's Note: This story was inspired by my own interpretation of events that actually happen in the Avatar canon, and I thought I just had to write a version of Zutara that technically doesn't contradict the canon from their childhood to old age. It will show you a whole new perspective on the events of Avatar: The Last Airbender. My goal is to write an amazing heartfelt story that co-exists with the canon, and I save the best for last. Hope you enjoy it!
Also, if you any constructive criticism at all, please leave me a review - I'm very eager to make my work the best it can possibly be. In particular, since I'm Australian, please be understanding and let me know if I make a mistake with American spelling. Thank you! (^.^)