A/N: Here's the second prolgue-y thing! Sorry, I'm big on back story. I mapped it out and there will be five of these! (yeah, yeah, I know...but at least they're short) Enjoy!

THREE YEARS LATER:

Mina and her personal servant had just gotten back to her room from dinner. Three years living in the palace and she hadn't adjusted to the lack of privacy. Of course, it didn't matter now: how much privacy does a seven year old need? However she was curious about how she would feel about it when she was older.

"It's time for a bath Princess Mina." The servant said.

"I'm not a princess." Three years in the palace and everybody thought she belonged there. They thought she was princess. She always had to remind them otherwise. The servant just rolled her eyes and made a mental note to stop trying and just call the little girl Mina from now on. She drew some water into a basin and heated with firebending. Mina squirmed until the servant gave up and let her bathe herself.

After her bath, Mina put on the pajamas her servant laid out for her, then she allowed the servant to brush her hair for her. "Is there anything else you need before I retire for the night, miss?"

"No you can go to bed now if you want." The little girl didn't see a reason for any formality. The servant bowed, then left the room. Mina climbed into her bed and waited for Aunt Ursa to come tuck her in and kiss her goodnight. The little girl was forever grateful that the powerful woman had bothered to take her in three years ago. Ursa told her children to think of Mina as a cousin and so they did. Azula wasn't very fond of her but even at the age of five Azula wasn't very fond of anybody. In return, Mina referred to Ursa and Firelord Ozai as Aunt and Uncle respectively. She even regarded Iroh and his son as Uncle and cousin.

There was a knock on the door and Aunt Ursa came in. She hugged the child, kissed her forehead and tucked her into bed. "Good night my darling, Mina." She extinguished the candles lighting the room and closed the door almost all the way, allowing a small sliver of light to shine through. "Good night Aunt Ursa." Mina drifted off to sleep.

Suddenly she was torn from her slumber by a loud boom. It was storming outside. Ever since her parents died, she had been terrified of thunderstorms. She used to go the Ursa and Ozai's bedroom and wake her aunt up but the after the last storm, Ozai forbade her to do so. He said she was too old to be afraid of "a little thunder."

The thunder rolled again. Where could she go. She could go find her servant, but the servants' quarters was all the way on the other side of the palace. Azula's room was closest, but there was no way Mina was going to let Azula know she was afraid of thunderstorms. That left two choices: She could stay in her room or go wake up Zuko. Waking up Zuko was the only viable option.

She hopped out of bed, left her bedroom, and tiptoed down the hall. She had just entered the young prince's bedroom when the thunder rolled again. Mina jumped and produced a small yelp. Zuko sprang out of bed. "Who's there!"

"Hi Zuko," she said nervously.

"What are you doing in here Mina?" he asked confused.

"I'm scared of the th-th-thunder and Uncle Ozai said I can't go to Aunt Ursa in the middle of the night anymore." she explained. The young prince sensed the girl's fear and understood why she had come to his room.

"Do you want to sleep in here tonight?" he offered. "I won't tell mommy or daddy."

"Thank you Zuko." she was grateful for his kindness.

"My bed is big enough for both of us. Just make yourself comfortable."

Within a few minutes both children were fast asleep.

A/N: As you all wonder what the hell this has to do with anything. Patience my friends. R&R! I'm going to try and post the last three back story chapters tonight.