Disclaimer: I do not whatsoever in any way, shape, or form, own Avatar or its characters. I just incessantly ship them (well, two of them)...
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A/N: Yay, another fic (which I didn't get around to heralding on my main page...yet). Warning: Major Urzai here (not surprising, knowing me). ;) Not yet, but this is a multi-chapter fic. Also, I've tried to keep everyone in character, but I haven't made Ozai as evil/jerkish as he's portrayed a lot of times. (Oh, he'll get jerkish all right...but that's later.) Speaking of Ozai's evilness, I want assure readers of With Hope Rekindled (my immediately-post-banishment Zuko fic) that I haven't forgotten that fanfic, and I intend to finish it at some point. I'm just still not sure when. Thanks to everyone who has read and enjoyed it, though (and especially reviewed).
Now, back to this fanfic. Have I scared you away yet? Good! (I mean, it's good that you're not scared away. ;) lol) Now enjoy, and I'd love to hear what you think! (Cookies for anyone who can guess who Ursa's two friends are supposed to be... You can tell me in your review... -hint hint- lol)
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"Come on, Ursa!" Ting Yan urged, all but dragging her through the broad avenues of the Fire Nation capitol city.
"What is it?" panted Ursa, struggling to keep up.
"Knowing Ting Yan, it's probably something not worth our time," Dai remarked, her prim reserve unruffled by the brisk pace that keeping up with their friend required. As they turned a corner, Ursa recognized the public training grounds, where firebenders and warriors could practice without any criterion besides available space. She remembered that a low stone wall surrounded the arena in front of them, but today this was entirely hidden from view. Packed densely around it, what must have been the capitol's entire population of young noblewomen were intently focused on something Ursa couldn't see.
"There--look," Ting Yan instructed breathlessly, pointing at the scene before them.
"What's going on?'" Ursa asked again, still confused.
"Isn't it great?" her friend enthused by way of explanation. With Dai and Ursa still in tow, she pushed her way to the front of the crowd. "The princes are training here today instead of in the Fire Palace, so we can watch them!"
Suddenly the commotion made sense; it seemed as though every girl in the Fire Nation incessantly swooned over one or both of the Fire Lord's sons. Multitudes idolized charming, wise, and considerate Prince Iroh, and cherished dreams of becoming his Fire Lady. A thousand others fantasized about seeing past the aloof reserve of mysterious, darkly beguiling Prince Ozai. Watching the two royal brothers execute a complicated training regime, Ursa could understand why everyone had gone crazy over them. Although one of the few exceptions to the princes' fangirlbase, she had to admit they were certainly fine to look at. To train, they were wearing typical agni kai garb, and she could see their muscles rippling as they carried out the exacting firebending forms.
"Wow, they're both amazing," Ting Yan sighed, breaking Ursa's reverie. "But if I had to choose which one to like best..." She paused to scrutinize the two firebenders. "I'd probably pick Prince Iroh. He's so funny, and sweet, and super friendly. Plus everyone knows he can totally make the best tea, like, ever! Don't you like him, Ursa?"
"I respect and admire the Crown Prince," admitted Ursa, "and who could not like him? But it's hardly appropriate for me think of marrying him--I'm far too young!" Ting Yan made a face--whether at her friend's reluctance or at the idea of matrimony, Ursa could not tell.
"We're not talking about marrying anyone--we're only fifteen! I just want to know which one is your favorite." Much to Dai's irritation, Ting Yan fell into the "both" category when it came to the brothers; she'd been wavering back and forth between them for weeks.
"Oh, look!" she suddenly exclaimed, once more riveted by the arena. After flawlessly performing a particularly difficult-seeming move, Prince Iroh had looked up and winked at the spectators, who went wild (Ting Yan right along with them).
"They are both worthy, so I could hardly choose between them," Ursa replied evasively as soon as she could make herself heard. When Ting Yan wanted an answer that Ursa didn't have, she was thankful for the soft-spoken diplomacy her mother had instilled in her.
With a pitying shake of her head, Ting Yan eagerly rounded on Dai.
"How about you, then?"
With unperturbed logic, Dai explained, "The only reason I would swoon over someone is if I thought they were going to seek my hand in marriage, and I'm planning to marry wherever it most benefits my family. My being Fire Lady would certainly elevate our status, but it's unrealistic to think that Prince Iroh would choose me. All things considered, I don't know that I'm suited to be the Fire Lord's wife."
"Do you always have to be so pessimistic?" Ting Yan sighed. Brightening, she then suggested, "How about Prince Ozai? He's young, and you wouldn't have to be Fire Lady."
"He'd certainly make a good political match, but I doubt he'd choose me, either. Besides, I don't think I'd want to handle his temper." While the younger prince had largely gained mastery over himself, the explosive anger of which he was still capable was almost legendary.
"Well, I think he's handsome," Ting Yan asserted, returning her attention to the brothers.
"I thought you liked Prince Iroh,"' Dai reminded her shrewdly, raising an eyebrow.
"I do, but they're both good-looking. Right, Ursa?" she added suddenly, as though hoping to surprise an answer from her friend.
"Um, yes," Ursa murmured distractedly, although her attention had been diverted elsewhere during her friends' exchange. Unlikely as it seemed, she could have sworn Prince Ozai met her eyes for a fraction of a second as he sent a sidelong smirk in their direction. As the second prince's fangirls rivaled his brother's in noise level, Ting Yan dreamily went on comparing the two.
"They're both so muscley--I guess they have to be, what with firebending and fighting in the war. And they both have such pretty eyes. Prince Iroh's are that nice, warm amber color, and Prince Ozai has eyes like a golden fire."
Briefly she paused, then another thought occurred to her. "And I like Prince Iroh's beard. It's good that he keeps it really short--he'd look like an old man if he had big sideburns. But Prince Ozai looks good without a beard--his jaw is so strong and square--"
"Be quiet, Ting Yan!" Dai cut across her, sounding irritated. "They're about to have a sparring match."
A hush fell over the spectators as the princes walked to opposite ends of the arena, each stopping to kneeling on the ground. When they rose to face each other, they seamlessly incorporated the forms they had practiced into the duel. Even to Ursa's untrained eye, the differences in their styles were apparent, as they moved through forms that were at once beautiful and dangerous.
Iroh, the elder, beloved Crown Prince of the Fire Nation, appeared to caress the flames he drew forth, as though his element were not a tool but a dear friend that willingly obeyed him. Despite his mastery, which bordered on that of a prodigy, he used it wisely and with restraint. Even in his fiercest moves, the fire blossomed almost peacefully under his touch, and Ursa could imagine a smile returning to his face at any moment.
In contrast, Prince Ozai approached the duel with deadly concentration. Alert to his brother's every move, he circled Prince Iroh with languid, catlike grace. When they started bending, he seemed to rely on instinct rather than mastery, as though his element simply manifested the intensity of his spirit. If Prince Iroh's firebending inspired reverence and wonder, Prince Ozai blazed with a terrible glory. Despite his bending style's ruthless majesty, however, Ursa discovered she could not look away. Mesmerized as by a bed of glowing coals, she felt a tremor run through her, whether of exhilaration or fear she could not tell.
The battled raged hotter and faster--Ursa shuddered involuntarily as bolts of fire shot by each of the princes that would have hit if they had moved just an eyeblink too late. With unrivaled skill, Prince Iroh wove a blazing network of intricate lace around his brother, searching for weak points in his defense. With equal determination, Prince Ozai blocked him every time, long black hair flying wildly behind him. Suddenly he unleashed the raw fury of his element, sending a massive firewall towards the firstborn. Although Prince Iroh bent the flames in an arc around him, he appeared to be retreating, and Ursa thought she detected a feral gleam of triumph in the younger prince's eyes.
Then, everything changed in a heartbeat, as Prince Ozai made some mistake too minute for Ursa to catch. All at once the fight was over, the flames extinguished—Prince Iroh had pinned his brother's arms behind him and pulled his head back with the same hand, the other fist raised as though to strike. On his knees in the dust, Prince Ozai stared up at the blow that would never fall.
For a moment longer, silence reigned. Then, the greater part of the crowd erupted in cheers, for all things told, the elder prince had a somewhat larger fanbase than the younger did. However, Prince Ozai's fangirls made up for quantity with ferocity as they booed and hissed for the defeat of their beloved secondborn.
The firebenders also relaxed---Prince Iroh released Prince Ozai, and laid a friendly hand on his shoulder. After the younger prince had stood up and brushed himself off, they made the traditional bow to each other. More casually, the brothers clasped hands, Prince Ozai lightly punching Prince Iroh on the arm as he said something Ursa couldn't hear.
From the wall on the opposite side of arena, they retrieved two lightweight summer robes. Prince Iroh belted on his robe over the agni kai uniform, but Prince Ozai merely threw his own over one shoulder. Then it was the Crown Prince's turn to make an inaudible comment as he gestured with a grin towards their audience, and his brother shrugged in seeming compliance. They approached the now ecstatic crowd, and split up to let their admirers speak to them (with varying levels of coherence).
As it happened, Prince Ozai came in Ursa's direction, accepting the fans' adoration in his coolly gracious manner, an understated remark now and then revealing his dry sense of irony. While also powerfully built, he was more long and lean than Prince Iroh was, and he towered over nearly everyone around him. Watching him (along with everyone around her) Ursa felt a little nervous about being so close to the younger prince (who was, admittedly, very handsome, but that didn't mean she was rabid over him).
Ting Yan, on the other hand, could not contain her excitement.
"Look--he's coming this way!" she squealed practically in Ursa's ear, making her friend wince.
"Shh! He'll hear you," cautioned the politically conscious Dai.
When reached their section of the crowd, Prince Ozai came to a halt. His face unreadable, he captured Ursa in a hawk-like golden gaze.
"Good afternoon, Lady Ursa," he addressed her, his voice liquid velvet. Although startled by his use of her name—it's been years since the last time--Ursa tried not to neglect her manners.
"G-good afternoon, Your Highness." Apparently, her surprise was universal—piqued whispering surged through the girls around her. Pursing his lips slightly, Prince Ozai silenced them with a look.
Then he regarded Ursa thoughtfully, murmuring, "It's been a long time, hasn't it?"
"Yes, it has," she agreed, lowering her gaze as was proper (wouldn't Dai be proud). It was easier to concentrate when she didn't have to meet the prince's piercing, flame-colored eyes, but she still felt a little overwhelmed by his rather imposing presence. Wishing she could induce her friends to help her carry the conversation, Ursa peeked quickly at them beneath her lashes. However, Ting Yan was busy staring in thrilled awe at the younger of her idols, and Dai kept her expression carefully respectful and blank.
Perhaps the prince had caught her covert sideways glance after all.
"But I digress--won't you remind me of your companions' names?" he inquired politely.
"Oh--of course," said Ursa quickly, glad to have a duty to fulfill. "This is Ting Yan of the Yu household, and Dai is of the Zhong family."
"Pleased to meet Your Highness again," Dai replied demurely, sweeping an elegant curtsy.
"It's always an honor!" Ting Yan asserted with dauntless adulation.
"I'm glad to hear it," the prince replied, the corners of his mouth turning up in mild amusement. Before Ursa could wonder whether she ought to have curtsied as well, His Highness turned to Dai. "But please, let's dispense with the formalities."
"Very well, sir," Dai assented.
Acknowledging her obedience with a nod, he regretfully observed, "As much as I enjoy making myself accessible to the enraptured multitudes, I suppose it's time Iroh and I returned to the Fire Palace--that is, if my brother has gotten his fangirls under control." As though on cue, the prevalent squealing increased by several notches, and all of them looked over to see a particularly enthusiastic knot of girls extolling the Crown Prince's victory.
"Wow, Your Highness, that was amazing!" one of them gushed.
"Oh, it was nothing," Prince Iroh modestly assured her.
"You don't have to say that—everyone saw how you won the match." The prince laughed, a carefree, lighthearted sound.
"Still...I'd be scared to meet Ozai in a real fight."
"But he's nothing compared to you," the girls insisted.
"That's very sweet of you," their idol told them, pretending to blush.
Watching this exchange, Prince Ozai's cordial aloofness momentarily gave way to the barest of frowns and an infinitesimal tightening of his jaw. Then his sardonic charm returned so completely that Ursa wondered if she'd imagined the glimpse behind it.
''I guess I'd better go tear him away--there's a state dinner tonight, and we certainly can't go like this." He cast a resigned glance down at himself. After the rigorous sparring match, the prince was covered in sweat and dust, tousled hair falling out of his topknot. Judging from the starry-eyed giggles of his admirers, however, they didn't find anything wrong with his current state of grimy dishevelment.
"You'll be there, I presume?" While he addressed all three, it was Ursa's gaze he held, and she once more found herself staring into the heart of a bonfire.
Praying her voice wouldn't squeak, she affirmed shyly, "We all will, Your Highness.'
"Splendid. Then I shall look forward to seeing you there." Favoring them with one more reserved smile, Prince Ozai strode gracefully toward his brother. As they stared after him, Ting Yan voiced the general mood.
"Wow. I know I said I'd choose Prince Iroh before, but now I'm just not sure."
"You shouldn't fall for everyone you see," Dai admonished disapprovingly. "None of the young men will want you if you chase after whoever charms you most at the moment."
"I'm not chasing after either of the princes--just trying to figure out which one I like best. Besides, even if I was serious about marrying one of them, I'd be out of luck with Prince Ozai, because he's obviously got his eye on Ursa."
"What?" Ursa gasped, feeling the blood rush to her cheeks.
"Don't be shy," Ting Yan encouraged. "Everyone saw how couldn't take his eyes off you. And you seemed quite infatuated yourself,"' she added slyly.
"I was nervous because he's a prince," Ursa defended herself. "I'm not used to being around royalty." How could her friend have jumped to such a radically different conclusion?
"But we used to play with him when we were children, when our parents visited the Fire Palace," Ting Yan persisted.
"Yes, but that was a long time ago. I haven't seen him much since he enrolled in the Royal Fire Academy and my family moved to Hai Fen Island." For the past several years, they had lived at her mother's old country estate, which had become very dear to Ursa. However, a few months ago her father had been promoted to a position that required him to spend more time in the court of the Fire Lord. As a result, Ursa's mother had insisted on moving back to the capitol city so that he could return to them more quickly
"So maybe he's amazed at how you've transformed into a beautiful young woman from the little girl he used to play with," Ting Yan conjectured dreamily. "And soon he'll be madly in love with you..."
"How should anyone know his opinion of me?" Ursa interrupted, feeling the need to halt this fantasy before her face grew any redder. "From the little I know of Prince Ozai, it's very hard to tell what he's thinking. Besides..." She hesitated, reluctant to divulge a piece of evidence that would probably embarrass her as much it supported her argument.
"What, Ursa?" prompted Ting Yan curiously.
Deciding it was too late to go back, Ursa revealed self-consciously, "I wasn't always on the best of terms with Prince Ozai—once, he took my hairpin, and I got so angry that I...I punched him in the eye. I hardly think he'd fall in love with me after that." Although Ting Yan appeared unconvinced, it was Dai who answered.
"I'll agree that hitting royalty is a terrible (and possibly fatal) way to gain favor, but it was a long time ago, and you were just children. As strange as I feel saying this, Ting Yan's idea might still be possible." Smoothing down her perfectly arranged hair, she continued, "I'd keep your eyes open, Ursa. If Prince Ozai really is interested in you, it could be a very good thing for your family, especially with your lineage."
"Thank you, Dai!" Ting Yan beamed. Realizing that she it was futile to dissuade them at present from envisioning a royal marriage in her future, Ursa let the matter drop with a sigh.
A/N: Ursa's in for a surprise, isn't she? But maybe it will be a pleasant surprise...or maybe not. You'll have to keep reading to hear my version of the story.
Speaking of which, did anyone catch the references to the show? I guess a fairly obvious one is how Ozai almost wins his and Iroh's match (like when he usurped the throne), but then Iroh defeats him (like he helped to do in the finale). The ending pose was also kind of a reference to Sozin's Comet, since in Ozai's and Aang's final battle there's also a "blow that never fell" (when Aang decides not to kill him).
I have this idea that Iroh and Ozai were really...y'know, hot when they were younger, and (like I said in the fic) that "every girl in the FN incessantly swooned over one or both of them." :) I have to admit, I was hyperventilating right along with "Prince Ozai's" fangirls (being one myself), so that was kind of a reference to real life. I could sympathize with their reaction to his defeat, too... (It's so confusing when you like characters on opposite sides of a war.) Oh, and I was psyched that I'd figured out a way to mention their current facial-hairstyles, since it seemed too trivial to point out in the narrative. You gotta love that Ting Yan... lol
So, did anyone figure out who Ting Yan and Dai are? It's probably pretty obvious, but feel free to guess in a review, as well as telling me what you thought of the chapter. ;) Not sure when I'll update, but hopefully the plot bunnies will keep biting (if that made sense)... Haha, hurray for mixed metaphors.
