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Thoughts (depending on the character POV)

Flashback

Flashback thoughts

Dream

Chapter 1

Last time…

Katara's POV

"I want to apologize for anything that the both of them did to you, and I will try to work out some arrangement for your people to be happy."

I nodded, taking in the words that he spoke to heart. He was always good to his word, and I know that he would never intentionally hurt me.

"You do not have to apologize my Lord. You did not know what was taking place at the time; it is not your fault."

I could feel a wave of heat encircling me, "Would you stop being so formal with me? We are the only ones in this room. I just wish that you could be real with me, and not something that your tribe molded you to become."

"I am being real with you right now. You just lost your best friend and your fiancé for the other, I mean, I am only trying to be a little considerate toward your feelings right now."

"I don't want you to be like that! I want the real you, not some trained dancing monkey."

I took a few steps toward him, "Well, this is the real me! This is who I have become, I grew up after five years."

He began getting closer to me, "No, this is what you have been developed into after five years. The real Katara would spar against me right now for even accusing her, but the only time you ever waterbend is when your angry. The real Katara would yell at me for accusing her of being someone she isn't. The real Katara would even water whip me just for good measure. The real Katara would…"

"Shut up! This is me; this is the 'real Katara'. You are just going to have to face the facts that-"

He cut me off with his lips pressing aggressively against mine, and pretty soon, we began making out in his office. I couldn't remember why we were fighting…

Then, snapping open my eyes, I looked at our present situation: I was sitting on top of his desk my dress opened in the front with his hands roaming over my entire body. My legs were wrapped around his waist and my arms were grasping onto his shoulders as if they were pulling him closer to my body. Suddenly realizing myself, I pulled away from the close contact and shuffled past him, trying to pull together what little dignity I had.

After correctly situating my hair and dress, I turned back around to Zuko and saw that he was hurt by me rejecting him. I couldn't help but sigh and look at the floor, studying the design of the rug in the room.

"Katara," he whispered, edging closer and closer to me.

I slowly brought my eyes up to look at him, but I couldn't help but blush at his stare. His eyes practically tried to melt me with their smoldering look, and I couldn't take it anymore, so I did what according to him I apparently do best…

I ran…

It's not that I didn't want to feel something when I kissed him or anything, but I just couldn't deal with the fact with if I did. I didn't want to go through the same heartache that I did after I left him the first time. I didn't want the little box that I put him in at the back of my mind to open up and flood me with so much hope that in the end I knew I would get hurt. I didn't want him to love me like he did with Mai and to just forget me, leaving me to feel empty and alone like she did.

I kind of understand why she felt so betrayed…

I can't say that I don't want to be with him because I desperately do. Yet, with all of these newly confound complications that have just popped up, it will be impossible. His people would never accept me as anything but his own personal whore, if that. I mean, what if we had kids? They would be known as impure and mongrels… because of my heritage… because of my genetics…

When I made it to my set of rooms of the palace, I hurriedly made my way over to my bed and began to sob, thinking of all of the worst possibilities that could happen if Zuko and I were to ever get together. They formed a mantra in my head:

Impure… Whore… Wench… Filthy… Murder… Death… Assassination… Impure… Whore… Wench… Filthy… Murder… Death… Assassination…

The words keep haunting me as I continued to cry, and it wasn't until Yori came up from behind me and patted me on the back, speaking soothing words into my ear.

"There, there… Everything is going to be just fine… Don't fret…"

Getting up from where I was lying as a heap of nothing on my bed, I turned over to look at her, "How can you say that? Everything is going to shit!"

She flinched at my words, knowing that whatever was upsetting me was clearly a very big thing.

"Katara, I am going to say something, and I want you to hear exactly what I am saying, without interruption… Get over yourself! I know that you probably don't want me saying this or anything, but honestly you need to learn to get over your problems and face them head on. Don't get in this pathetic wimpy little "princess" attitude that your "people" forced you to become. You are not Yue, and you never will be-"

I glared at her, "Yeah I know because she was perfect and gave herself to become the moon to save the world. I get it! I could never be her-"

Snapping, she said, "I said no interruptions! You didn't let me finish! You are not Yue and you never will be because you are Katara, Master Waterbender of the Southern Water Tribe. You do not bow to anyone's whim without a fight. You are kind, gracious, and intelligent. You are not some doll that your father or Arnook can dress up and pretend to be her. You both are willing to give your lives to people who take you for granted.

"As for that boy, he is a fool to not see that you still love him enough to protect him from what would happen if you both had gotten married all those years before. Yet, you are the fool to not risk that chance for your own happiness. I am proud that you would willingly sacrifice every bit of happiness for those you love, but I am ashamed at the fact that you would do it knowing that you could never enjoy your own life. You are a young girl in love, take a chance with him!"

I stared at Yori gravely, thinking how she could never possibly understand what was going on.

"What? What is the big reason that you won't do something for yourself for once in your life?"

Sighing, I said, "Do you really want to know? I mean, do you honestly want to know why I am so upset? I am angry and sad all the time because the guy I loved couldn't marry me because of whom I was. I was frustrated with the fact that I couldn't have him all to myself when I knew that somewhere deep down he still has feelings for someone else. Just before I came here, we were in his office kissing, but I ran off because I knew that I was just something he could cling to that was nothing like her. He still loves her in some small way, or he would have never let her go. You could never know what it feels like to watch some guy who claimed he didn't love someone else go off and get married to her anyways."

All the air that Yori held inside of her for so long was released as she stared at me with such melancholy in her eyes that made me want to hold her, but I remained firm in my place on the bed.

"You're wrong… I do know what it is like to watch someone love you and take it back, giving it to someone else."

My eyebrows raised by this point, and she responded to my unspoken question, "About thirty years ago, when I was your age, I was friends with a man who was strong, charming, and a real gentleman. At about that time, he was dating a young girl. Soon after many years off getting to know each other, we fell in love and he left her. Yet, after his father died, he became the Chief and was married to a Tribal chieftain's daughter, the very same girl he was dating when we were younger. Then after a while they had a beautiful daughter, and I became her lady in waiting."

I widened my eyes by the end of her story, and I whispered, "You were in love with Chief Arnook?"

She nodded solemnly at my little revelation, and we just stayed like that for hours, staring at each other, seeing a connection that could never be mistaken…

Zuko's POV

After she left me to myself in the room, I felt anger swell and rise up within my body. In a giant breath, I released all the heat I had inside myself, and in flames and smoke, the room became almost like a giant furnace. Knocking was heard from the outside of the door, and I went over to open it and yell at the person who was disturbing me only to find my uncle standing there looking worried.

Backing out of the doorway to let him in, I closed the door with one hand while the other was scratching the back of my neck, "Uncle! What are you doing here?"

"Well nephew, I came to see how you were fairing with what just happened."

Sighing with irritation being evident, I said, "Well, I guess you could say that I am doing quite fine, but, I don't know, I guess I am a little frustrated with the whole thing."

Nodding as we walked over to the chairs that sat in the room with us, he said, "I expected so, but that comes with losing a very close person to you, well, two very close people. Yet, I do wish to know as to what you are going to do about this whole affair. I mean, you are the Fire Lord, and there will be very many people who will be angry about the arrangements being canceled."

Gripping my hair in my hands, I moaned out, "What can I do? My engagement was completely ruined because my best friend stole her from me, leaving Katara and myself to deal with the controversies of our nations. It was easy for the Council to accept Mai because of her nobility and her status within her family's society. Now I have to find a new wife that the council will approve, not to mention that I actually can stand."

Suddenly, Uncle got this very weird look about his face, and I desperately wanted to know what he had planned for me because right at this moment, it does not look to good…

Iroh's POV

If we were to somehow prove to the Fire Council that Princess Katara is a refined lady and a good match, we may be able to produce a marriage between both her and Zuko.

After the little discussion Zuko and I had, I began walking my way over to the dining room where I had left Chief Hakoda. As I walked into the room, he came up to me immediately and asked as to what Zuko was going to do next.

Calmly and patiently, I waited until the poor man was finished with his constant questioning, until he realized that I wanted to say something. It was then at that moment that I told him of my idea that would actually help both of the nation with their predicaments of peace and prosperity.

"Well, what is it then?"

Getting rather testy with his impatience, I said, "Katara is going to have to prove her worthiness of being able to be married to a nobleman's son, since her engagement to one of them was canceled, it is likely that they won't think of her as a suitable match for any of their sons. Zuko's birthday is coming very soon. In fact, last year, we threw a giant ball for the occasion. I don't believe you and your family attended it? Well, anyways, we should throw another one here at the palace and have a go at that. Then, with all of the council members being there, it would be the perfect way for her to prove herself to being sophisticated in a Fire Nation society."

The younger man looked a little weary at the whole idea, but quirked his brow in question at what I had just said, "How do you suppose we do that? Katara was resilient when it came to learning her own culture's need of a Princess, why would she do it for someone she doesn't know?"

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes at the whole thing, "She will do whatever is necessary for her people. If that means learning more about etiquette from another land, then she will do it. Lady Toph of the Bei Fong has already told me that she has taught Princess Katara the mannerisms required in the Earth Kingdom's high society rather quickly. I do believe that she can catch onto one more nation's."

If we can get the Princess to learn the different styles of the Fire Nation and present her in front of the council, I think that they may consider her to become Zuko's wife.

"If she does happen to agree to do this, do you really think that they will approve of her to becoming one of their son's wife?"

Looking into the Chief's eyes, I saw that they had the look of a worried father and a somewhat desperate man, "I can definitely guarantee one man will wholeheartedly agree to the marriage between your daughter and his son…"

That is figuratively speaking…

The worrisome expression that was written along his face was gone as a small smile took over, "I ask for your help in training her in the arts of Fire Nation etiquette."

I smiled, "It would be an honor…"

I only hope that this plan goes well…

AN: Hey guys, I just wanted to say thanks again for reading my story. I made this chapter a lot longer than was to be expected, but I do hope that you liked it. Now to clarify some things: the prologue is told in the present time, meaning that this chapter was told in the past right after my last story, so you guys bare with me hear on this. Anyways, the next chapter will have to deal within the same time as this chapter, so it will be a few chapters before I get onto that. But anyways thank you very much!