Nobody sees what we see
They're just hopelessly gazing

XO, Beyoncé


The gold leaf itches on her face. Anna's hands yearn to scratch it off, to take off the suffocating silk dress, to get rid of the uncomfortable shoes. A glance at her mother's stern face stills her hand.

Soft lanterns light the path towards the inner courtyard. Fire lilies bloom under the low light, bright red petals that shimmer with thin green stems. Her mouth curls into a smile as she sees them. The nobles are dressed in their finest silks, masks covering their faces as they enter into the ballroom. Some wear masks of bright pinks and greens shaped like butterflies, others look like freshly plucked birds. Anna tries not to laugh.

A gasp escapes her mouth as she enters the main room. Soft wisps of fire float in the air shaped like lilies. Fire lilies cover the archways and columns. Streamers of lilies are tied to the crystal chandelier in the middle of the room, forming a giant flower on the ceiling. Anna has never seen anything so beautiful. The sweet smell of summer hangs in the room.

General Iroh and his son sit closest to the Fire Lord. The crown prince is handsome. His mouth pulls into an easy boyish grin that reaches his warm eyes. Anna can easily see why the girls in the Fire Nation are in love with him. He carries himself proudly and yet his eyes meet the servants' as he thanks them. She thinks of Sirius and what he said once. If you want to know what a man's like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals. Prince Lu Ten would be a wonderful Fire Lord.

She greets Fire Lord Azulon first, ducking into a low bow. The Fire Lord is tall and old, his white hair shining brilliantly underneath the firelight. He glances at her with a blank indifference, a crease forming between his eyes as he glances at the lightening scar on her face. His eyes dart away towards her mother when she looks up. He is warm and gracious and everything a Fire Lord should be but it doesn't feel right. Her skin feels tight under his gaze and her parents shift uncomfortably. They are simply toys for this man to play with. Anna does not like it.

Anna wonders away catching the eye of General Iroh. She watches in slight awe as he makes the flames dance like butterflies around him. It is trick, seemingly simple but one that only a master can do. He laughs, loudly and fully, at her gasp of awe.

"Come here, child," he motions, his voice soft like the honeyed wine they drink at dinner. It is only when she is near him that he recognizes her.

"You look just like your grandfather," he smiles, the kind of smile you only see once in a lifetime and remember always.

"Thank you," Anna says. It is the first time someone has not spit an insult at her grandfather's memory.

"Are you a firebender," he asks.

"Yes," she hesitates, "Prince Zuko has been helping me and my Sifu Sakiko." He does not look surprised at her mention of the prince. He motions for her to sit and she glances hesitantly towards her parents. They are still speaking to the Fire Lord.

"Do you like tea, my dear?"

She nods. His smile brightens. Iroh asks her about Zuko, about her home in Shu Jing and listens as she describes her tiny village, her friendship with the prince, and the warm fire that lives in her.

"How do you like the Capital?"

"It's…different."

"Different is one word. I'd say it's dangerous, wouldn't you?" Iroh says no more on the Capital, a knowing gleam in his eyes as he casts a glance towards his father. Anna does not like it. He distracts her with tales of dragons. She's heard the rumors that he killed the last of the mighty beasts but, that is not the story he tells her.

"As I walked up the stairs, carrying my small flickering flame, it goes out. I panic, of course. The sun warriors behind me jeer and laugh. I am surely to die. The last step looks bigger, a mountain to climb but I do it. The masters, they spoke of, are not men. Out of one cave comes a glittering red beast, scales as large as my body. Out of the other, a deep blue beast with scales like sapphires. Dragons. They circled, dancing around each other like new lovers. Then I knew. I performed the Dance of the Dragons, though it looked silly with just me. When I was done, they breathed out a flame so bright, so beautiful that it is hard to describe. It was like looking at the stars at night, the sun rising painting the sky with streaks of color."

"You killed them though."

He winks and takes a long sip of tea.


It is late in the night. Everyone is fully watered and fed, an air of lethargy hanging over the ballroom. Anna is sneaking in spiced chocolates when Zuko spots her. Her mouth is stuffed full, and she greets in a mumbled voice that has him laughing.

"You could've asked one of the servants to take them to your room," he tells her, a mocking grin on his face.

"I didn't know. We didn't have these growing up." She shrugs her shoulders, brow creasing as she sets the chocolate down. Zuko stills her hand calling to the waiter that passes them. There are three boxes, stuffed with the finest sweets sent to her room.

"I've been looking for you everywhere," he takes her by the hand. A motion that is done so smoothly, so casually that Anna is slightly blindsided. There's a girl watching them as Anna is led to table. The sharp grin and same shade of gold eyes gives her away.

Princess Azula is beautiful. It is the first thing Anna notices about her, the second is the sneer that pulls her lips downward. Her eyes are cold steel that cut through the air. She has none of the softness that Zuko does. This girl is all Lord Ozai.

"Who's this, Zuzu? Your new toy?"

"Azula," Zuko says his voice tight. Anna's face burns under the girls gaze. There is something ugly that lurks in Azula's eyes.

"I'm Anna Zoeller." Her last name hangs in the air before Azula laughs, sharply. It is a laugh that is fake, that is meant to belittle Anna. She knows this game already. Draco had played it well, better than this princess could.

"Zoeller? You mean your grandfather is the crazy old man that nearly destroyed the fire nation? No wonder Zuko hangs out with you."

"Crazy or not, he managed to do what your grandfather couldn't."

The princess glares, a ugly thing that distorts any beauty she had. She leaves in a steely silence. Zuko's eyes are wide as he stares at the space his sister left behind.

"Sorry," Anna says, at last.

His hand in hers, the familiar smell of cedar wood and heat.

"Azula's never walked away before."

A smile, boyish and soft. A smile that Anna would fight to see. A smile that devours her world.

They sit in silence, her head on his shoulder as her eyes slip closed slightly. She listens to the soft tones of piano, a violin chasing after its melody. The song plays in her head like a loop. A waltz that she's danced a lifetime ago.

"You look beautiful," Zuko says. Anna turns a bright red beneath her face paint. She knows the scar that covers half her face is ugly, lightening that travels from one corner feathering out. But she knows that her smile is pretty and her eyes a nice color and her hair a wavy, black mess.

"Thanks," she whispers back.

"Did you see that lady wearing the blue peacock feathers," there's a laugh in his voice. They sit for hours mocking the other guests. Zuko, at one point, stands up and reenacts a colony governor's fall as he tried to bow to Lord Ozai. It has Anna in near tears.

There's a silence that falls over the room as Zuko walks back to his mother for the final dance. She finds it strange how formal the dancing is here, how rigid like its something to suffer through rather than enjoy. The whole capital's like that. Anna sees it, in the weariness of people's faces, the fear that blankets, news that comes from rumors. There's a shadow coming over their nation and she's not sure she wants to be here when it comes.

Some one pulls her out of her thoughts, sending her towards the dance floor where she stumbles into people until she comes to a stop.

Her father is there, his hand tight in hers.

"I want you to lead, just like I showed you." Her mouth falls open, protest on her lips.

"I couldn't possibly."

"I'm right next to you. I won't let anything happen. You know all the steps, Anna. Everything will be alright."

"I can't."

"You can," he looks earnest, proud. A wide grin on his face and his next words cut off as the music starts. Anna's world pivots and shakes. A tsungi horn shrieks, a flute shouts, someone on her left hisses as a heel hits the floor loudly. She steps forward, her foot in the air for a moment before the steps float out. Three steps forward, one back, a lift.

"Dad?"

"I'm here," his grip tightens.

Eight paces forward, a box, a spin. A roar of noise as the symphony grows louder. Twelve steps and they switch. It is Zuko's hand in hers now, his mother whisked away by her father in a shroud of red. The pressure is gone, replaced by a steadily growing confidence. Zuko stumbles as she leads but falls into step effortlessly afterwards. He lifts her, a quiet strength in his arms.

"Hi," she whispers. Her eyes shine.

"Hi." There's no fear now as they finish the dance.

She can do this.


So this chapter is quiet continuous. The other chapters were setting the scene. The time jumps were because Anna is very much a child. The things she remembers most clearly are the things that had the most impact: leaving her home, finding Zuko, her parents and the Hallows. This chapter doesn't have much touching on her past life. As we progress, Anna's status as Master of Death will be thoroughly explained as will her finding of the Hollows and her death. Just be patient.

By the way, reviews are always welcomed. I love reading your critiques, comments and questions. It helps me plan the story out and tweak events that I have already written out. Also, thank you to everyone who had favorited, followed and reviewed this story.