Chara Province had been the most feared and depressing place in the Fire Nation. Next to Boiling Rock, it had been the place that made children cower beneath there bedsheets, promising to their mothers that they would never misbehave. Many of the stories that originated in Chara were very far from the truth, but it still made shivers run up and down your spine when just spoken in whispers. Even Fire Nation soldiers hated being posted there. It was once rumored that a soldier was dragged into the ground by a Gargoyle-like demon with copper skin. There was another rumor that a beautiful woman stalked the Province at night carrying a scythe.
Chara was described as the hell where black roses bloomed under a bleeding moon.
With all this talk, it was a wonder that anyone lived there, let alone survive. But astoundingly, people did.
On this particular night, a shady figure was running down the slopes of Chara Province, making it's way towards the Mine. Despite it's reputation, Chara contains an excellent source of ore. If not for the Ore, Chara would have probably been abandoned long ago.
The figure was swift and soundless. It needed to be. Anyone seen approaching the mine could be shot by a ball of fire. Ore was highly valued in the Fire Nation. But this was not a problem for the figure, for it soon was out of the open and safely inside the mine. In the blackness the shadowed person reached inside the cloak tucked around the their body.
A feminine face emerged from the light of the candle. The girl blinked several times for her eyes to adjust, then briskly started to move again. Deeper down the tunnel of the mine the torches were still lit from the earlier miners. No one was there now, but she was still cautious in her movements. The cloak furled and waved behind her, the only piece of clothing she wore that wasn't dirty or tattered. Her skin was a deep brown, but it was not clear whether that came from the sun or if she was just extremely filthy. Her hair was also very brown, as most of those of the fire nation, and pulled back into a long braid.
She smoothed the wall on her left as she walked. She stopped abruptly when her hand hit a rock jutting out of the wall. Her natural frown deepened as she steadily pushed part of the wall forward.
Beyond the door was a cell. It was a strange sight to see in the Mine, or anywhere in Chara Province. Instead of the usual wall of earth, the walls were wooden and painted red, and the floor was carpeted. The room loked altogether comfortable.
"Mother?" said the girl, walking up to the cell bars.
Inside the cell, a beautiful woman lay on a bed. She was middle-aged, but the years had been good to her.
Her eyes fluttered open, and then she smiled. "Noemi."
Noemi sighed, then broke into a huge smile. Her mother was alive and well for another day."Mother, I've brought some bread. Please eat with me."
Her Mother's golden eyes shined with happiness. She nodded.
They ate together and Noemi talked about how her day went, almost as if they were normal people in a normal place. A few years ago, Noemi had dicovered this very cell trying to find a place to hide. She had stolen an apple in her hunger and the fruit merchant had given chase. Times were very bad back then. Imagine Noemi's surprise to find a refined lady trapped within the mine; it made her question her own sanity.
But the lady spoke and was kind. "Hello... Are you alright? This must be a surprise to you, as it is for me."
Surprise? That was an understatement. In Chara Province, a person was lucky to have clothing that fit. To be well fed and healthy was nigh impossible here. This beautiful person that stood before Noemi had long flowing crimson robes and an expensive looking pin to tie up her hair. Her figure was curved pleasantly and plumply. She was not fat at all, just filled in in the right places.
Noemi was sure that a Queen stood before her.
"My name is Ursa. What is yours?"
"Noemi," she sputtered out. For some reason, Noemi felt like crying. In happiness.
Afterwards, the Queen and the commoner came to know each other very well. Noemi's parents had died long ago from illness, and her only family left was a sickly uncle who could never leave his bed. Noemi had been sure that she was cursed. But somehow, a God somewhere had taken pity on her and given her a new Mother. Since then, Noemi has visited Ursa every night, motivated to live another day just to hear the sound of her voice.
Noemi did not remember when she had started to call Ursa 'Mother'. All she knew was that she wished to be by Ursa's side forever.