Disclaimer: Never have I and never will I own Avatar: The Last Airbender

A/N: This is the first chapter! Woot woot. I am so proud of it and I hope you all liked it. c:

P.O.V

If someone would've asked me where did I think I would be a year from now, I definitely would've told them that I'd still think I'd be at home, in Si Wong Desert. Never would I believe that I would actually be in the Fire Nation, in the Royal Fire Nation Academy for Girls, surrounded by noble, Fire Nation girls after living most of my life raiding the desert. It seems surreal to actually be here and every day, before I go home, I pinch myself. To be honest, it seems less like a dream and more like a nightmare. Most people would call me crazy for missing my life back at the desert, but it was the life that I had known for so long. And my mother is still there. She's the reason why I'm here in the first place.

"Now, can anyone tell me who was the twelfth Fire Lord?" Miss Yeoh asked the class, her eyes scanning to see who was actually paying attention as she spoke. I made sure to act as if I was writing something so that she didn't pick on me. If you looked active enough, she would've skimmed over you. "Ah, Chunhua, can you answer the question?"

I mentally sighed but physically rolled my eyes. Chunhua was my friend, but she didn't care about class. She never cared about her grades. Mainly because she was spoiled, so even if she failed out of school, her parents wouldn't care because they were rich. Not only that, she was a third child and the older two were well off and inherited anything of importance of the family, so she literally could slack off if she wanted.

"I honestly do not know, Miss Yeoh. And I honestly don't care." She so bluntly said to our teacher, which made the class burst in a quiet, giggling fit while Miss Yeoh didn't find her humorous in the slightest.

"I'll have you know that history is important, Chunhua. You should know each and every Fire Lord that reigned over this nation—"

Before she could continue, the bell had rung to indicate that it was lunch time. Miss Yeoh sighed, deciding that Chunhua wasn't worth the lecture and began to gather her things. Meanwhile, I and some of the class had stood to go the cafeteria. Most kids had their chefs prepare them lunch even though the chefs in the Academy's cafeteria was already top notch.

I exited the class with a slow stride, arms behind me as I then waited for Chunhua to come scrambling out of the class room, wiping the little bit of drool that was at the corner of her mouth. "You know, just because your family is rich, that doesn't mean you shouldn't care about your education."

I don't know why I thought that Chunhua should tighten her bootstraps and care about this. She literally didn't have to, but after being in the desert and remembering my friends who weren't well-educated, I figure that maybe I wanted to prove how lucky she was to be in school.

"C'mon, Miuna. I already heard enough from Miss Yeoh-Yeoh, I don't need it from you too." She practically whined to me. Sighing and with a shrug, I decided to let it go. It was no use to talk to a brick wall. "Anyway, did you hear what Princess Azula did to Rila last period?"

I wasn't into the gossip, especially when it came to the princess. Azula, Princess of the Fire Nation, with a wicked smile and a black heart. Many girls tiptoed around her, other girls and teachers adored her. I wasn't interested in Azula because I didn't want to deal with her devilish spirit.

"No, I don't want to hear what she did to Rila last period. Remember last time you told me about what she did? And how that girl had to be sent to the colonies?" I asked, still bitter that Azula had the power to kick you out the nation or even send you to the coal mines if she wanted to. If she was bored enough too.

Chunhua frowned, obviously disappointed that I didn't want to hear the dirt and because now she had nothing to talk about. That would've been the conversation that kept us from talking in silence until we got to the lunchroom.

Now that there was no conversation to distract me, I could finally think about that assignment I had to work on. Mr. Takao gave us an assignment to speak about what we loved and I knew that I, someone who is not born and raised in the Fire Nation, would have to step it up. The way the Fire Lord had this school system was basically to dismiss anything that was not Fire Nation related. Speaking of my home was discouraged. I literally found nothing to love about the Fire Nation during my whole year here. My father was nothing as I expected him to be and our relationship was plain terrible. My grandfather, who I do like, is very strict and no-nonsense, like my father. My grandmother, who I also like,I could write about, but it is too cliche and childish to speak about loving my grandmother.

Now that I was thinking of family, it makes me wonder if my father would be home today. His job requires him to spend a lot of time out at sea, especially because he's a captain. He's been fighting tooth and nail to be promoted to Commander, but Grandpa keeps telling him that won't happen any time soon, which makes my father irate and then let out his frustrations on me.

"Well, if isn't Water Tribe." Chunhua had immediately stopped walking the same time as I did. Both of us had slowly turned and with forced grace, bowed to the royalty before us.

"Hello Princess Azula." I said rather dryly, irritated that I had to encounter her right before lunch or at all today.

Beside the princess were the usual faces, her only friends; Mai and Ty Lee. Ty Lee, well, she was disliked by association but she wasn't a person you wanted to dislike. She was actually very likable but considering who she hung with, it made you second guess. The same could actually be said about Mai, Mai minds her own business but if Azula told her to join her in one of her distasteful banters or jokes, she would without hesitation. At least you could tell Ty Lee didn't like doing it.

"I heard you scored second in the nation wide academic test." The smile on her face was off putting, and it made me uncomfortable. "Congratulations."

"Thank you." Azula was first and she wanted to rub it in, but who wouldn't guess that she was first? First off, if she wanted, she could burn all the smartest people test papers without even getting in trouble. She could easily tell them to make her number one if she had declared it,, but I couldn't deny that she was smart. She wise actually insanely intelligent. I was second because I'm pretty I screwed myself over in the math section of the standardized test. "Congratulations on getting number one, but that's to be expected of you anyway."

I wasn't sure if she had liked my answer or not, her face was unreadable but she kept her usual smirk. She must've not been too angry, but I really didn't want this conversation to escalate into something worse.

Chunhua was silent beside me, not saying a word. Azula must've noticed because then her eyes shifted to the right of me, "And I heard you were number, uh, what was that? 30? Chunhua, do you even try?"

Setting my jaw, I looked at Chunhua to see how she would reply. She looked as if she was spacing out, but then she finally opened her mouth to speak. "Yeah, I wasn't trying but I'm still surprised I made it on the list."

Maybe it was a good thing that Chunhua didn't care if people thought she was stupid. Her remark made it unable for Azula to tease her about it. It had certainly made Azula recalculate some, "That's a shame. But the dumb just keep getting dumber, don't they?"

"Well, if you can excuse use, Princess, we're on our way to get something to eat." I bowed once again to show my respect and grabbed Chunhua's wrist. I didn't want this to become something more and I most certainly didn't want to keep standing there and watching her try to rip Chunhua and myself apart.

Azula had spoke again, making us stop in our tracks as we listened. "You know, I was never fond how a half Water tribe girl managed to weasel her way into Fire Nation high society." I slowly turned, looking at the princess from over my shoulder. "But you've got nerve." Was she complimenting me? "I'd like you to invite you to my birthday party this weekend."

There was no way that Princess Azula was actually inviting me to her birthday party. My eyes were as big as two rice bowls as I fully turned, stunned. "If you want to bring your friend, I don't really care. It's a once in a lifetime celebration, you'll enjoy it, I'm sure."

I felt torn. She would be insulted if I objected, and my father would be angry upon finding out that I insulted the princess by declining her invitation. I was curious to go however, and Chunhua gave me pleading eyes, which meant she wanted to go with me. Nearly everyone in the hall was staring at me, wondering what my answer would be to an exclusive, high class party. Chewing my bottom lip, I gave in. "It is an honor, Princess Azula. I'd gladly accept your invitation."

With an odd smile, I watched as she walked towards me and we stood shoulder-to-shoulder. "See you there." And with that, she walked down the hall as Mai and Ty Lee followed behind.

From just that interaction alone, I was wondering if I made the right decision.

Chunhua was looking at me as if she saw a shooting star, her eyes big as her mouth was gaped open as if she was letting out a silent scream. I rose a brow, not understanding her enthusiasm as Azula had called her dumb few minutes prior of the invitation talk. Other girls in the hall were whispering, probably going to spread the news of my invitation of the royal party, which made me uncomfortable. I didn't like to be the talk of the school, I usually kept to myself but I always found myself in odd situations such as these nearly all the time.

"I can't believe Azula invited you to her party!" Chunhua grabbed my wrist, pulling me back and forth in glee. I stood there, not understanding and contemplating if this was something I should be happy about.

Azula has been snide to me since I came here. As she said, my heritage bothered her and it did bother most Fire Nation people. I've seen my grandfather look at others as if daring them to say something about me, but because of who he was, they usually just gossiped with hushed voices. My father, well, when he first met me, he told me how he didn't like it.

A Year Ago

The carriage ride was quiet. The only sound you could hear was the horses heels galloping away on the road towards Fire Fountain City. My eyes continued to stare out of the small window, looking at my new surroundings that we rode past as my mind was filled with many questions and an overwhelming sense of hurt. I was upset for many reasons even though I was supposed to be excited about where I was going and who I was going to meet at the end of this ride. I was going to meet my father for the first time after twelve years. I always wanted to meet my father, but if I had knew the risk of meeting him would be the fact that in order to gain him, I would have to lose my mother then I would've fought harder than I did to stay with her.

I argued against it, knowing how stubbornly close I was to my mother. I loved her, I loved her to the moon and back but she argued that I had to know my father. This father of mine who had nothing to do with me for twelve years. I only resented him because meeting him would make my mother and I distant, but there was no use in putting my foot down. She said I had to meet him, I had to form a relationship now. She and I would have to be separated for some time but we could always write to one another. As if letters were better than seeing her face… As if letters were as warm as her embraces whenever I felt inadequate or self-loathed. Letters would never be enough and yet they would have to do.

My hands felt cold despite it being such a warm day in fall. It was odd but it always happened, especially when my palms felt moist from me sweating. I was obviously nervous about meeting my father because this would be the first time I would meet him and I had built so many expectations of him since I was a child. I take it that my father was some talented Firebender and probably tall too. He probably had a stern face and I had secretly hope that he had a soft heart. The carriage slowed down and then came to a complete halt. My heart felt like it was racing, wanting to leap out of my chest at this very moment. The carriage driver had opened the door for me, escorting me safely down to the ground. "Welcome to Fire Fountain City." He said, which made me nod reluctantly.

The air of the city was polluted, outright disgusting. The smoky air had assailed my nostrils, making me frown deeply and go into short-lived coughing fits. The people here seemed more than accustomed to it, which made me immediately miss Kingdom air was pristine but that's because it was free of factories unlike this small, small island.. In a way, I felt as if this was a warning sign that I would not be able to fall in love with the place.

In the city's center, men were at work to build what appeared to be a statue. I was curious but it wasn't near completion to decipher what it would be a statue of. If I had to guess, I believed that it would be a statue of Ozai, who had been Fire Lord for two years now. Either way, this had nothing to do with me. I had to look for my father's home, which was in a map given to me by my mother.

Opening the parchment after retrieving it from my satchel, I realized that the map was hand drawn by my mother. It made me wonder if she had remembered where he live or he simply told her or did he not know of my arrival? I would hate to come unannounced. Just stopping the wheels of his life by my presence, but what could I do now? I was already here. And he was the only person I was sure that would take me in. This place didn't even look remotely safe enough for me to keep traveling on my own with such naivety.

My feet marched in the direction shown on the map while my eyes remained glued to it. I used my hearing to make sure I did not bump into anyone or was in the middle of the road. The city was loud, people's chatter and the sound of metal against metal rung into my ears, which made it difficult to key my hearing on what was before than all around me. It seemed strange that this would be something I would have to grow accustomed to. After a few paces and a quicker stride, I found myself in front of a home that I had believed, hoped, and marked on the map was my father's.

I raised my hand, hovering it over the door with restriction and unbridled nervousness. What if my father was nothing like I hoped him to be? What if I was at the wrong door? What if my father did not know of my arrival and chooses to send me away? All those thoughts stirring and stirring inside my mind, making me wonder if I could just go back to the Earth Kingdom. I doubt I could. I doubt my mother would be pleased by my actions if she knew I just ran away. And so with that in mind, and a tiny bit of courage, I knocked softly on the door.

I only knocked twice. I was afraid a third time might be too eager and demanding, and once could go unheard. My arm immediately went back to my side as I waited, my heart beating so roughly from it's quickness as I waited. A few seconds had gone by and then another two, and before I knew it… The door opened.

With no choice due to the height difference, my head tilted back as my blue eyes looked up at the older man. His hair was pulled back in a topknot with a receding hairline and prominent sideburns that matched his dark brown hair. A scowl was on his face and this already let me know that things would not go as I had always dreamed. Unless he wasn't actually my father after all and I went here by mistake.

"Who are you?"

He must have not been aware. If things could get ant worse… "My name is Miuna. I'm..." I paused, not for dramatic effect but because this was going to be some surprising news for him. Not only that, I was even scared to say it, "your daughter."

There was no use sugarcoating it though. I outright told him the truth and his scowl immediately went to a look of shock, which nearly frightened me. "Daughter? I don't have any children. If you think it is wise to mess with me, child, then you must be foolish."

"My mother, Aika, sent me here." Again, surprise devoured his features. His eyes remained glued to me as if to check if I was actually real. His hand reached out to me, grabbing my face as he tilted my head back more. His bronze irises stared so intensely into my own, searching for something I couldn't fathom what he could find in them. And finally, he let me go. "That woman…" He mumbled under his breath rather angrily. "A half water tribe bastard."

My heart immediately plummeted upon hearing that. So that was what he thought of me already? I knew I was a bastard because my parents weren't married, but to hear your own father recognize you as that was still a knife in the heart. "If… If you want me to go then I will." My mouth felt like it moved on it's own, spilling what my heart felt. "I don't have to be here."

With a harsh and deep side, he moved his head to signal me to come in the house, "Get in." Surprised, scared and confused, I followed after him in his abode. My head was down, already feeling shame for what I was because of his obvious disgust of me. I wanted to cry but I knew that crying could possibly aggravate him. "Aika bears me a half Fire Nation, half Water tribe bastard and keeps it a secret for nearly twelve years. Not only does she not even give me a boy, she gives me a girl with her eyes."

I have never felt ashamed for my heritage or looks. My mother always told me what I was and told me that there will be people who will judge me. My mother had always said that the Fire Nation was filled with arrogant, racist people but I never knew that my own father would be. Why did he have any kind of relationship with my mother if he had such hatred in his heart?

"If you're ashamed of me then why won't you let me leave?" I finally asked, unsure why I had to endure this abuse when I could simply go back home to my mother. I could easily just tell her that my father hated me and wanted nothing to do with me since he made it abundantly clear that he was ashamed of me.

He seemed surprised by the fact that I spoke more than what I had said. He fully turned to me, arms behind him in such a militant stance that I found myself shrinking. "You're my blood and no matter how I feel about you, you have every right to be with me. Your mother obviously sent you because she knew that if I had known I had a child, I would've sent for you."

He was contradicting himself. Maybe, deep down, he did care even though he wasn't satisfied. "I understand."

"Don't you ever speak like that to anyone." My eyes immediately looked up at him as he had spoke, "You never cast your eyes down, you never speak with such weakness in your voice and stance. You are from the Fire Nation, you show weakness never."

"Yes, father." It felt difficult to just utter the word. He was my parent, my father, but I had already felt disappointed that he was. I still believe that there was something within him that could change my mind, but as time went on, I was becoming wary that such a thing would happen.

Slowly, but with conviction, he walked in a circle; surrounding me as he eyed me in observation. "Can you read?" He questioned.

"Yes." I answered.

"Can you write?"

"Yes."

"Mathematics? Science? Culture? Traditions?"

Biting down on my lip, I didn't want to admit that I had trouble with mathematics. "I know them, but I'm not proficient in mathematics. Culture and Traditions of the Fire Nation, I am not accustomed to."

"So you will need to be put into schooling." He didn't sound too disappointed but I knew that he hadn't liked that I said I lacked proficiency in one of the subjects he mentioned,. The idea of school did excite me however. I never thought I would be going to school. "I will be sending you to the Capital to live with your grandparents, and then you will signed up for school."

To the Capital? I thought I would be living with him in Fire Fountain City? Did he live here by choice? "Don't I need to spend time with you?"

"Do you think I have time to be sitting around chatting?" He questioned, eyebrow raised and a frown on his face.

"No, I suppose not." I didn't speak again because I obviously never knew the right thing to say. Instead, he told me to go in the empty room and rest or more like to "stay out of his way".

Just about anything felt better than disappointing him continuously and I did feel tired from the long travel. Once I got got comfortable in the cot, I found myself wondering if I should feel excited about meeting my grandparents. They might not like me because of what I was. They might be just like him. Either way, I guess I should be happy at the fact that I had grandparents.

Current Day

Until this day, that meeting still stings my heart. We have a better relationship than we did then, but it is not something to brag about.

"Chunhua, I really don't see how this is a big deal. All it is going to be is people of high class with fancy dresses, fancy food, and fancy drinks." I said, not seeing the deal about a royal celebration.

My friend looked at me as if I was craziest person in the planet, shocked that I did not realize the importance of this. "Hello! You're forgetting fancy appetizers and also, fancy connections!"

I cracked a smile, chuckling at hearing fancy appetizers. She did have a point about fancy connections, but what did I need those connections for? Who wants to network with a half Fire Nation, half Water Tribe girl?

"You could at least be a little excited, Miuna." She sighed, placing her hand on her hip, freeing me of her deadly grasps on my wrist.

I shrugged, scratching the back of my head. "I'm sorry, Chunhua. I'm just a plain desert girl, you know. The only thing that used to excitement me was knockin' some heads with my Mama and finding shiny things."

She looked at me as if I spoke a different language, but that was to be expected. Even when I did find a friend, I was still someone that could never, fully fit in. I was different. I was from a different place. I'd never understand their joyment over things they were privileged with since birth.

"Anyway, can we hurry up before lunch is over?" I asked her, pointing towards the end of the hall. I was really hungry.

End P.O.V

: : :

School had felt unreasonably long, but at least she was finally home in the noble resident in Caldera. The door was opened for us by the family guard as she sighed heavily upon smelling the fruity, summer-like aroma that was the natural scent of her home. Miuna watched as one of the few servants shuffled towards her to remove her shoes, but she still hadn't gotten use to them constantly tending to her every need, even basic things like removing her shoes. Raising her hand, she shook her head to indicate she could take her shoes off on her own.

The woman bowed and shuffled away, allowing her to let out a long sigh and head off towards the dining room. "Grandma, I'm home and I've got some news to tell…" Now opening her eyes, she noticed that her grandmother wasn't the only one in the dining room.

Sitting at the low, black table was her grandmother, grandfather, and her father. "Good afternoon, Miuna." Despite the awkward and visible tension in the room, her grandmother remained unfazed.

With a slight bow, she walked towards her grandmother and sat down on the pillow seat with her head slightly bowed. Her grandmother leaned in, whispering sweetly in her ear. "Calm down, you're not in trouble."

It felt oddly relieving to hear that, and made Miuna push her shoulders back to fix her posture. "Miuna."

"Father…" She replied back hesitantly, slightly grateful for the open acknowledgement.

Her eyes then looked towards her grandfather, who had a very unreadable expression. He was the epitome of elegance. His hair was a pristine white, revealing his old age but his features, despite wrinkled, were quite smooth. His cheekbones were high, his nose round yet pointy and his chin invisible because of the long white beard that reached the middle of his chest. His hair was pulled back in a half topknot, the rest cascading down to his waist; neatly combed without a tangle or stray hair in sight. His eyes were closed, masking the work of his slant yet prominent and pale, honey irises.

Meanwhile, her grandmother still had color in her hair. It was a pale, graying black but it never lost it's luster and silkiness. Miuna figured she had gotten her hair from her since it was dark and naturally straight. Her grandmother had very soft features, a button nose and a heart-shaped face. Her eyes were narrow yet round, a yellow color that would resemble a honeybee.

Both her grandparents were, what she considered beautiful and taken from a painting. Sometimes it was hard to believe that her father was their child because his features were very strong, very masculine.

"I have news if I'm allowed to speak." She hurriedly said, making note not to aggravate her father by mumbling or stumbling over her words. She knew how much he hated to make her repeat herself.

Zhiyong had also glanced towards his granddaughter, "News? How important is it?"

"Royally important." She said clearly, making sure that they knew the severity of it.

Cinta, her grandmother, placed her teacup down to give her granddaughter her full attention. "Royally?"

"Yes," Miuna nodded, "I was invited to Princess Azula's 11th Birthday celebration."

Cinta wore her shock while the men remained stoned face. Her father looked down at his steaming cup of tea, "A verbal invitation but not a physical one?"

She had not thought about that. Shouldn't there be an actual written invitation? Was Azula just playing with her and Chunhua? "It was a personal one and I'm sure she'll be receiving a physical one before the party." Zhiyong spoke up, not worried about the ordeal as his son was. "The question is, will you be attending?"

The young girl didn't seriously think about it every since she was given the invitation. She honestly did not want to go, but she knew that the only way Chunhua could go is if she went. Not only that, she might get seriously blackballed if she didn't show up after being invited by the princess herself.

"Of course she is going." Her father butted into the conversation. "Princess Azula is a gem to our nation. Why would we ever disrespectful?"

It certainly strike her odd to hear her father praising another person, especially another girl. It made her feel inadequate, jealous even, but she knew that it was because Azula possessed the conviction and the strength that was similar to his that he tried to teach her.

"Miuna does not have to go if she does not want to." Hearing her grandfather come to her defense lifted her spirits some, but that quickly fleeted away when she felt the aura around her father grow warm in anger. "I have searched the Fire Nation Army nearly all my life, I have established my place here. Miuna is my grandchild, if she does not wish to do anything that requires her to make a stamp in this nation then she does not have to."

"So you would rather her be just former Admiral Zhiyong's granddaughter? Not her own person?" His son argued.

Miuna's eyes shifted to her grandfather, who seemed as if he did not quite care for his son's willingness to argue. "Even though you're Captain, you're still called Admiral Zhiyong's son. Until you prove yourself as well, nobody will acknowledge you as any different. Besides, aren't you pressuring her to do the same?"

A lot of their arguments were about her, she had realized that for the past year. Sometimes they worked in her favor and other times they did not. It made her wonder why her grandfather felt the need to defend her, but later on would scold her for not defending herself. And she herself never wanted to confront her father. She would rather be neutral.

And there it was again, that tension that would fill the entire room and make her body freeze in fear. The nervousness she always felt pooling into her hands, glazing them with thin sheets of ice. "Grandpa, Father." Miuna blurted out in panicked hurry. Both of them slid their gaze towards her direction, an icy expression on her grandfather while a look of anger was on her father's. "I will attend the Princess' party. She invited me and it would be rude to reject. I too have other reasons why I'll go."

Standing, she bowed quickly. "I… I have an assignment I must work on, so may I be excused?" Picking up her satchel, she quickly left the room so that she wouldn't have to deal more with this family drama. It was exhausting, and scary.

"Zhao," Zhiyong spoke with much authority, making sure that his grown son would not overtalk him or disrespect him once again, "I raised you to have your own ambitions. I raised you to be your own person, and I will not allow you to shape my granddaughter when I allowed you to be who you wanted."

"Father," With a clenched jaw, he un-tightened it to speak clearly, "she is my child. You raised me in a shadow that was quite hard to get out of, and I am still fighting to get out of it. How can I ever make my mark when people look at me and see you? I am better than you. Softhearted, 'Live as you want' kind of lifestyle will not be influenced by my daughter. I refuse it."

Cinta frowned her son's words but remained silent. Her son then gotten to his feet, "I will have a road of greatness and I will not let my lineage be tarnished by your shadow any longer."

The house was ominously quiet as soon as Zhao had left the home, leaving Zhiyong and Cinta in the dining room with racing minds and heavy hearts.