Hi everyone! I wanted to post this yesterday, but was going through its usual glitch where reviews don't show up and I got 4 within the time span, so I wanted to be able to see those comments. This is really late, and technically a Sunday post, but here it is...nonetheless. I sincerely hope next week's post will be on Friday.

So, not sure of how many of you have read The Selection, but for awhile it's going to mirror the events pretty closely...then after awhile, it will feel familiar to things, but will obviously be with a twist and other events will begin to intersperse as we get into the world. I at first thought this would be a straight up simple fic, but as I'm rewatching the series as research, one thing I loved about it when I first watched was the seriousness this managed to put into a kid's show and there are certain elements I really want to keep. So, this is going to go more 'war' in parts that I had expected, but I'm very excited with the outline I have so far! Don't worry, there's still pleeeenty of romance!

Thank you SO much to the nine of you that reviewed, I mean, really this response has just been so good to me and my muse: MomofPhoenix, Amanda, JoinTheDarkSideofMagic, 25Carin, DeannaBear, hepchaton, Avidfan13, KrazyBird13, and 94.

Amanda: Well, Ty Lee will be in the story moving forward, so not a bad intuition, actually! And good guesses...I'll suppose you'll just have to see ;)


The next two days flew by quicker than Katara expected it to. She was awful with free time so she thought the hours would drag on, but that wasn't the case; mostly because she slept. She didn't realize she had the capacity to sleep so much until she didn't have anything to wake up for and food would always be there when she was hungry. She didn't have to go out much, but she did so she didn't seem strange. She also wanted to feel how crowded the halls were getting as more and more girls arrived. In some ways, this packed halls felt like her village, to say everyone was living within short proximity. That is until she saw the items the girls were bringing.

Some she saw dragging what looked like their entire lives through the halls, but she was sure that was just a small portion. Others were a little more like Katara, just with a simple bag or two. As far as Katara could tell, but not like she was the expert on it because until she met up with Yue for the day and Yue insisted Katara meet this or that, they all seemed more proper than Katara was.

Until Toph.

She was perhaps one of the youngest here, maybe scarcely 16, which was the age minimum for applying, Katara later found out. The first time Katara saw her, she was being followed around by an attendant that whispered in her ear at all times and stood a little for any normal person to be okay with until Katara realized that the young girl's eyes were like a film of milk and she was blind. The attendant made more sense now.

Toph seemed like any other high-class girl, despite her disability, if not better than most because whispers and bows followed where she went. Katara got the feeling that if Princesses were more common in the Earth Kingdom, Toph would be pretty close. Katara wondered how she looked so well put together for being, well, blind.

Katara kept an eye on her for a while, because she felt like someone should be watching for the 16-year-old blind kid if no one else was going to. It didn't seem right. So, Katara was hyper-vigilant of Toph's movement. Maybe it gave her something to do since free-time was such a strange concept. Maybe that's why Katara so fiercely grasped onto this. And she wasn't even sure that Toph knew that Katara was following her around from a distance, in fact, she was sure that she had no idea, until the night after one full day of Katara's (in her opinion) masterful stalking.

Katara, when everyone else was asleep, had silently slipped into the gardens, unable to get comfortable. With the pond in the corner, it was perfect for her to just do a couple basic water-bending techniques to calm Katara down. She practiced every day and hadn't a chance to do much today, so that's what she was sure was bothering her.

As she was in the middle of arching the water up into a continuous circle, she noticed a figure in the corner of the garden. Shocked and momentarily terrified, the water dropped onto the grass. Then, as the skies cleared, she startled.

"Toph?" She echoed, "How did you...what are you doing out here?" She said, walking across the grass. She knew from her stalking Toph's window was barred because a blind girl getting lost and falling and drowning in a koi pond would not be a good Prince's Choice.

She stopped short, confused. Toph was now wearing much more casual looking attire, something that Katara would be comfortable wearing, and her hair was pulled up into a casual ponytail. Also, she was smirking, an expression Katara was 100% sure had not been on the girl's face all day.

In fact, Toph had only given demure smiles and looks and spoken softly like speaking too loud would startle herself.

"What? You get to watch me all day and I can't watch you? Double standard much," She snorted, and Katara felt her jaw hang open and stay open. She blubbered incoherently for a moment, completely sure now that the girl standing in front of her was a twin of the girl she'd watched all day, somehow blind as well…

"How did you…" Katara weakly asked, unable to even finish the question. It was preposterous to imagine that Toph had managed to get anywhere in her state.

"With these," Toph lifted her foot gleefully, showing Katara her exposed toes and flexing them.

"Your feet," Katara echoed, "You want me to believe that your feet managed to...see me?"

"Yep."

Katara sent Toph a look of disbelief before she realized that the girl couldn't see, so she gave a more audible huff.

"So, what, are you like two different people, then?" Katara asked, "You seem completely different than all of today." Katara thought she knew this girl pretty well after today. Apparently not.

"Sorta." Toph said, moving her toes around in the dirt, "I mean, this is me, but then there's the other me that those stuck-up rich people like seeing. If they knew I cut the feet off all my shoes, they'd have a heart attack…" Toph trailed off, laughing.

"And you think I won't?" Katara crossed her chest with her arms, trying to size up this girl, seeing her 'true self' now. Katara wasn't sure, after spending all day with more pretentious people, how to handle Toph.

"Listen, Sugar Queen," Toph waved a hand around, rolling her eyes, which Katara was sure for dramatic effect more than anything else, "While you spent all day sizing me up, I was doin' the same. And if there's one thing I know I'm good at picking out, it's at people that don't belong. I've been putting on that act my whole life so don't even try to argue. I just do it better than you." Toph said smugly. It wasn't said unkindly, as though she was trying to one-up Katara, but more in a way that said she had Katara all figured out. And she likely did.

Katara tried to think of a sufficient argument for a while before finally caving, "Fine, I'm not like them and I couldn't care less if your feet are all muddy. So what's it to you?" Katara questioned.

Toph blinked, as though it were clear. "I don't want to be in this alone, and I don't think you do either. I know because you've been trying to make nice with those prissy Water Tribe girls and you're just not that." Toph said.

"A...allegiance?" Katara said hesitantly.

"Great spirits, what is it with you people and politics. A friendship, numbnuts." Toph said, extending a hand. Katara took it with a sigh of relief and noticed a fine coating of dirt all over the girl she was positive hadn't been on her before.

"You're absolutely dirty," Katara said.

"I try." Toph's smile was as bright as the sun, "Back home, my parents would leave me alone for longer and I wouldn't have to dress up like I'm some doll. But here? That attendant thinks I'm deaf and two years old. It took me forever to get my layer of earth back on me," Toph scowled, "I'm sure it will be all washed off tomorrow by force…" She grumbled unhappily.

Katara turned to a garden bench, almost offering Toph assistance, but Toph seemed to know exactly where the bench was. She sat down, putting her hands in her face.

"Why are you here then? You don't seem to happy about it all." Katara said, "Most of these girls act like this is the literal best thing that happened."

"Another reason I liked you," Toph said, raising a finger, "When Prince Zuko's name was said today, you frowned a little instead of turning into a quivering pile of jelly," Toph said, "Which tells me...you're like me. Probably by force."

"Opposite, actually," Katara raised her legs to her chest. She hadn't felt confident in trusting Yue, strangely, but Toph she felt as though this was a friend she'd had years, "I mean, in a way. I ran away to come here. But only because my tribe would have had to triple our shipments here if not and even though my dad didn't want me here we just can't afford it."

"Cities that sent a selected member get a nice thank-you," Toph said, nodding, not informing but reading where Katara was going, "You're a better person than I am."

"My tribe is everything," Katara said forcefully, "I am their humble servant. I do what needs to be done."

She expected Toph to make fun of her, but instead Toph gave something that looked like an attempt at an actual smile, "I wish I was that passionate about something," She said, then paused, "Well, I mean, expect earthbending," She added and clenched a fist and a sliver of earth shot up from the ground.

Katara bounced in her seat, "You're an earthbender!" She said, gasping. And it seemed she was a competent one.

"Yes….that's what I just said…" Toph stared at Katara strangely, "And you're a waterbender."

"You can 'feel' that?" Katara asked, shocked.

"Naw, heard someone talking about it. It's amazing what people say around a blind person. I already pretty much have dirt- the best kind- on everyone here, Sugar Queen."

Katara looked Toph over, "So...how can you see me?" She finally asked the question that had been killing her since Toph had revealed this side to her.

"See this dirt?" Toph said, lifting up her feet, "I can feel through that. You know, like badger-moles see underground. They're who taught me, actually, back when I was yea big." Toph moved her fingers apart an inch, "Now it's incredible what it can do. I can tell who's a guy, who's a girl, what you're wearing and what you're not, feel what people are doing, tell when someone's lying, feel when someone's embarrassed-,"

"Woah, go back. Repeat that last one."

"When someone's embarrassed?"

"No...lying?" Katara repeated incredulously.

"Uh-huh. I mean, it's good to have, since people are really shitty to blind people, actually. And everyone is lying here, basically. Trying to make themselves look better than they actually are. You were doing it...I was regrettably doing it. But in this whole conversation with me, you've been solid," Toph punched Katara's side and actually the punch really hurt, "That's why you're cool. There've been a few other girls I've picked out that might be like us so far, you know- not mindless idiots- but I need to stalk them more first." She teased, nudging Katara.

"You're sixteen and blind! I think I was the only decent person to worry!" Katara said hotly, and Toph snorted.

"I got enough supervision at home and I'm getting a helluva lot more than I want here. I didn't need it," She paused, "But I suppose the thought was nice." She added in a long drawl.

"You're just a ball of sunshine, aren't you?" Katara said sarcastically and Toph grinned wide.

"Awe, sarcasm my friend."

Katara snorted, "You'd love my brother," She muttered. Katara looked up to see the moon already past half-point in the sky, "We should probably get back to our bedrooms. One more day of stalking I guess before the games actually begin. And with any luck, I'll be going home quickly." She added.

"You and me both," Toph said empathetically.

Katara turned to go back to her own room, but then turned back around, "Wait...your room has bars on the window...how did you get out here?" She asked.

"Oh," Toph said, looking a little red, "Well, metal bars...metal is earth...ergo, I can bend it."

Katara shook her head, "No way." She realized belatedly Toph would have no idea she was shaking her head, "That's not...earth benders can't do that."

"Well, I can!" Toph said proudly, "It's something new I've been working on." She added, a little more unsure, "I might be the first. I don't know. In all honesty, it took me most of the night prying the bars apart." She said.

"Well, won't your attendant know your tricks if it's not perfect by the morning?" Katara said, concerned that she might lose the one really good friend she was making.

"I guess that means I better make it look perfect then. Incentive and opportunity for practice," She seemed excited. Katara couldn't help but share a knowing sort of grin. She wished she had times like that to practice her own craft, but alas...it seemed waterbenders were far and few between.

"Night, Sugar Queen," Toph said, "Or...should I say, Sugar Princess?"

"Urg, don't." Katara was sure she'd heard the whole exchange at least five times today of someone greeting Katara as 'Princess' and then Katara murmuring 'Chief's Daughter' under her breath while plastering a smile.

Toph just chuckled, nodding to Katara and heading across the field. When Katara returned to her room, she found sleep to be much easier found than before. It might also be the fact she didn't feel so alone here anymore.

The next day she didn't get much of a chance to talk to Toph personally. Toph was dressed up like a china doll again, perfectly white skin, dewy cheeks, rosy tulip-like painted lips...it was so unnerving knowing how Toph truly was. And that attendant hovered even more than yesterday. Katara wouldn't have managed to talk to Toph if she wanted for the attendant was making sure that Toph talked to 'the right people'. Katara was sure Toph wanted to punch the attendant deep down; punching things seemed to be her response to everything. It wasn't a bad response.

Toph tried to communicate with Katara, though. She would give head inclinations or little coughs toward the people that apparently Toph was staking out to see if they were friendly too. Katara would make a small sound to let Toph know she understood (the first time, Katara nodded and Toph's attempts to let Katara know sent tea nearly into the girl's lap, Katara learned that while Toph could see with things, around the halls the attendants had wrestled footed slippers on her and she was just blind once again). But, Katara decided to let Toph do all the deciding. Apparently, Katara wasn't as good at stalking as she'd thought.

Plus, she was sure her and Toph were looking for the same things in people anyway; either people like them that were in the Prince's Choice for things other than power or the prince (the two things the girls seemed to be split between, some were painfully obvious they were only there to try to climb the ladder of influence) or people that weren't fake about their intentions. If you were here because you wanted to marry and be the Fire Lady, fine, but it was less than four days in and Katara was sick and tired of all the faux-giggling and arrow-like glares being sent around the room. She knew girls could be catty but this was something totally different.

Katara made an effort, though, to talk a little more freely. Her discussion with Toph in the garden the night previous had made something clear; she wasn't going to get through this without allies, even if she only intended to be here a day or two. But she'd go mad without anyone, and she couldn't talk to Toph.

The Water Tribe girls from the other side of the pond were more manageable today, perhaps because Katara was insistent on trying to make an effort. Once she engaged them in conversation about things other than trying to prove herself so different, they had lots to talk about, unsurprisingly. She could tell Yue had deep and well-reasoned thoughts about politics, a topic Katara wanted to poke around a little more with her at a later time. Eva and Katara didn't talk about waterbending, but swapped stories and myths. Kilee and Katara discussed the best way to hunt, skin, and save meat and shared their own personal experiences with tips to cooking. Katara asked Saoirse about the city layout and Saoirse wanted to know about the military training the Southern Water Tribe children received. Tapessa was deeply interested in the education that went on and the role Katara played. In all, by the time the morning had gone by, Katara hardly noticed.

A little after mid-day, it seemed all the contestants had arrived. Katara felt this because she was very aware of how swelled the places seemed compared to yesterday, so she was hardly surprised when Zhi appeared and told the girls to gather in the casual space of the women's room to go over the rules of the competition. She spotted Katara and her mouth pulled down into a frown; Katara had somehow managed to avoid Rini and her 'makeover'. She was hoping the subject would be dropped. From the scribble Zhi made on a notepad that apparently wasn't going to happen. Bummer.

A collection of dresses had begun appearing in her closet; she was up to five now. She didn't think she'd get much more to begin with. Why create an entire closet full for a girl who might only be there a day? Of course, no one knew anything, but still. She had never thought much about fashion, but as she gently ran her fingers over the softness of the robes and the detailing of the quills, she wondered if perhaps she was missing out on something.

And, since she had little other options to wear, she decided to put it on. It was the least ostentatious of any of the gowns...she felt like she shouldn't even touch those, for they may shatter.

Katara arrived in the casual space and saw it was nearly full. Her fellow Water Tribeswoman were in the back, and Yue waved her over with a graceful hand motion. Katara was a little shocked to see they'd thought to save a seat for her. She saw Toph across the room, as dressed up as a doll, and the blind girl's head swiveled to Katara. For a tiny second, she flashed her a goofy grin before her face slid back into the picture of perfection. Katara longed to be able to sit by Toph; she was so much more comfortable. But, Toph was surrounded by other Earth Nation girls and it was nice that Yue was calling her over.

"That dress," Eva sighed, touching the finishing, "It's gorgeous!"

"Shi made it for me." Katara said, blushing, "I didn't have any other clothes."

"You look like you fit in with us now," Tapeesa blurted, then blushed at Yue's hardened gaze, "Not that you didn't before-,"

"There's a lot of people here." Katara broke into her apology.

"Thirty-five," Yue said, nodding in agreement, "It will be hard for the Prince to get to know all of us, although I'm sure his father has imparted some knowledge on how to deal with this."

"He probably knows what he's looking for." Kilee agreed, "Hopefully a stunningly beautiful Water Tribe girl with light brown hair," She said, flashing a grin. From her tone, it was clear she was half-joking, not entirely serious about it. Katara felt a giggle rise up in her throat.

"Ladies!" The sharp tone of Zhi quieted everyone at once. She stood at the front of the room, with Wei standing next to her, holding a large scroll that seemed to be nearly as big as he was. Zhi had a long pointy stick and tapped her feet while she waited for the murmurings to quiet down.

"One must be attentive immediately when attention is called," She said distastefully in her airy voice, "I expect more prompt responses next time when I say I need your attention," She glared at a couple people up front in particular.

"We are here to go over the rules of the Prince's Choice. They are many and strict, so you all must commit them to memory and follow them wisely if you so wish to succeed in this game." She said. Most girls nodded as though her word were gospel, Katara just tried not to make a face.

Wei opened the scroll a tiny bit to show the first rule. Zhi slapped the parchment with her stick so hard the sound reverberated around the room.

"A lady cannot leave the palace on their own accord. It is up to the prince to decide when to dismiss you."

Katara frowned; what kind of guy was the Prince to keep the ladies here against their will? Although, she doubted anyone but herself or Toph had reason to want to leave.

Wei continued to unroll the parchment at each rule and Zhi read through them.

"There is no timeline to the selection. The prince may take however long he chooses to pick a wife- it could last two days, it could last two years. Traditionally, it takes about three months."

"Years?" Kilee mouthed excitedly. For a lot of girls, living here like this with a Prince would be a dream. They may want years. Katara did not.

"The Prince must ask you to set up an individual or smaller group meeting. You are not allowed to facilitate this yourself. Contestants that are found to be sabotaging another girl's chance will be disqualified by the Prince immediately; this includes passing along false information, stealing from another girl, making a girl miss their meeting, causing stress to another girl, hitting them and a number of other offenses. As a general rule, you should only care about what your relationship with the prince is like and no one else's. The Prince will decide what counts as sabotage on a base by base situation, but I would not tempt him."

Katara nodded appreciatively, for she was sure there were some girls here who would like nothing more than to sabotage each other. In fact, a couple girls looked downright crestfallen! How awful for them, Katara thought, that their plan of action was to make other girls look bad!

"The ladies here may only have a relationship with the Prince. He is here looking for a wife and cheating is looked upon most unfavorably, so I would forget about any boyfriends back home. You are fighting for a Prince," Zhi said as though that explained everything.

"I left an advantageous marriage proposal for this," Tapeesa whispered to Yue.

"I know. I wish you luck, of course." Yue said nicely, but Katara wondered if she meant that. She was kind enough she probably did.

"You may not eat any food that comes from outside the palace. This is for your own safety girl, as we have a most helpful system to detect poisons. You would be surprised what sort of low-life people would take pleasure in harming such lovely young ladies. You must allow, when not in these rooms, any photographers, painters or journalists to approach you or ask you questions. In having a chance to win the Prince's heart, you must give up a little of your privacy. Everyone else wants to know who their future Fire Lady is too, after all."

Katara sighed. She was used to having little privacy, being a chief's daughter and all- she was always needed somewhere- but she doubted this would be much of the same causes. It would be much more...fake.

"If you are asked to leave, you will be able to take any gifts or dresses given to you during your time here. And, all girls here will be compensated for their service. The chart here-," Wei pulled another scroll down from the wall, "Outlines what sorts of compensation's your village or town will receive on a week by week basis."

Katara's heart dropped to her chest. She would have to stay here at least a week to gain any sort of anything for her tribe that wasn't something that would be cool for only a day. Plus, she would have to stay at least three weeks for anything of substance that would help her people to be given! Three weeks was not in the plan! She couldn't survive that long, could she?

Her heart raced and she felt a sweat begin to bead on her forehead. This was not what she thought it was going to be.

She vaguely heard Wei continue- something about being an Elite- a term that her representatives had talked about when they first dropped her off- but she didn't internalize it. In fact, she didn't snap back into focus until Wei was rolling back up the sheet.

"And finally, not a rule but perhaps a helpful hint," At least three-fourths of the room leaned in with anticipation, "If the Prince asks you to do anything, it would be wise to say yes, whether this is a kiss, dinner...or something more." She said with a sly smile. A girl in front of Katara fanned herself and sighed something that sounded dirty.

Katara, however, reacted in near revulsion. What sort of Prince was this? Was this whole contest just one big event so he could sleep with thirty-five girls?

Katara didn't care how badly her village needed food, that wasn't going to happen, even if it caused her dismissal!

"One can only hope," Eva giggled and Kilee made a growling noise in the back of her throat.

"Girls," Yue sighed, "Be soft. I'm sure the Prince doesn't want an over-enthusiastic girl." She said sharply, and the two quieted but both spotted a deep blush.

Katara tried to hide amongst the sea of leaving ladies, but Wei reached in and he caught her by her arm.

"There she is!" He said proudly, hauling her in front of Zhi.

"You need your makeover, dreadfully." Zhi said while writing something down on her clipboard, "Wei, be sure she makes it to her room and to Rini who is waiting here. She seems quite adept at evading us," Katara couldn't have been sure, but she thought she might have seen a small smile when Zhi said that.

Wei was a little rougher than Katara would have liked, dragging her to the hall. Katara snapped her arm to her chest.

"I can walk myself. I'm caught, I get it." She snapped.

"Testy," Wei narrowed his eyes, "I hope you don't talk like that around the Prince," He said in an overly annoying tone.

"Oh, you just wait," Katara muttered to herself, but Wei didn't hear. Wei hovered until Katara was back in her space sitting on a chair with Rini's tools spread out in front of her.

"You can go, Wei." Rini said in a dry tone.

"Well, what if she-,"

"I'm not going anywhere. You think I want to jerk around when there are scissors in my face?" Katara said, throwing her arms out. Wei narrowed his eyes but left.

"He's…" Katara grunted, shaking her head.

"Yes, agreed." Rini said without Katara having to finish, He wouldn't even be the assistant if Zhi didn't owe him a favor, one I'm sure she's now regretting," Rini's hands pressed on Katara's face, "I think a deep exfoliation first." Katara was sure she was talking to herself, not asking Katara's opinion.

It's rather enjoyable, she begrudgingly admits. It's deep cleansing of her entire body, and nothing- not even the waxing- hurts too much. Everything but the waxing is, dare she say it, enjoyable even. And the best is that Rini seems to be not at all concerned with trying to make small talk. It's not that Katara hates talking to people, it's just that it seems that there's only one topic anyone wants to talk about...and she can understand why, but it doesn't mean she hasn't tired of pretending to be excited about Prince Zuko. She doesn't want to make it seem like she hates being here already and she wants to make allies and learn about everyone politically so her days of have been filled with small talk starting with 'can you believe' and revolving entirely around a certain firebender. Katara is far too tired tonight to continue that charade.

It's not until Rini gets to Katara's hair that they have a disagreement.

"But I think you would look stunning with a short bob!" Rini pulls her hair back to the length just below her ears to show her in the mirror. Katara admits she does look good, but…

"No, I like my hair loops. It's...it means something to my tribe." She says. Lie; it means absolutely nothing. It's just a convenient hairstyle her mother fashioned Katara in when she was a child and it's been easy and hassle-free her entire life.

"But-,"

"Rini, I feel as though I've been very agreeable with everything else done," Katara's voice is firm and steady, like a river, "So, I think I know when I get to turn you down."

"Of course." Rini seems a little shocked. Perhaps all the other girls just nodded along with whatever Rini wanted, "I appreciate someone who knows when to put their foot down," Rini says after a moment and a warm feeling fills Katara.

The rest of their session is spent with Rini smudging lip colors and rogues and bases of makeup on Katara's arms to match her with the best possible combinations for her skin tone. She has, apparently, a gold undertone- whatever the heck that means. Katara thinks it all looks equally good on her, but after a couple colors Rini would make a puckered face and throw it back in her bag.

"I don't know how to use any of this…" Katara spreads her hand out over the table now littered with little bottles galore.

"Aiga will assist you," Rini says kindly, "And she'll teach you too. You seem like the sort of girl that must dislike a handmaid."

Katara pulls a face somewhere between embarrassment and a smile. Rini doesn't seem like she's set out to make any judgments about Katara though, nor speak on who she thinks should be with Zuko. She's just here to do a job. Katara can respect this.

It seems like it's been all night by the time she leaves. Katara knows she should sleep...they meet the Prince tomorrow for breakfast, the first time many of the girls here will see him, Katara included. She rolls around in her bed for a long time before giving up and going to the garden. She's used to practicing her waterbending before bed and while she hates she's been cycled into this, it's soothing. Water is often soothing.

Not even Toph's light is on in her room. She can't imagine that anyone of these overly-excited girls could have gotten to bed. She wants to know their secret because it seems no one is up. Katara is a little jealous.

Her stance is sloppy and she's doing poorly at best, at least in her standards. If she were a teacher watching her movements, she'd be furious. She hasn't practiced as much as she'd like since getting here. She's met other benders, but few seem so religious about it as she has. Only one other girl- a firebender named Bhairavi- seems as devoted as she, but Bhairavi scares her a little bit and her firebending is used to further her own power other than just merely mastering it.

Something on the roof catches Katara's eye as she's turning. She stops instantly, staring intently at the triangular rooftop and sees a figure moving swiftly across the top of the palace. He's wearing all black and a mask and has a bag in his hand.

"A thief!" Katara hisses under her breath and she's so used to acting at home that she forgets where she is for a second and she hardly knows what she's doing until she has a surge of water knocking him off the roof and into this courtyard.

She is momentarily shocked by her own actions, but seeing that bag in his hand makes her furious for a royal family she hasn't even met yet, merely because she thinks thieves are despicable, and the water she used to knock him over harden as she clenches her fists. The person is wheezing and groaning from falling two stories and hasn't the chance to react as they are frozen to one of the trees in the area.

Katara stares at him afterward; what now? Should she call a guard? Deal with this herself? She really did not think this through.

She first takes the bag laying out on the side of the tree and opens it, finding food inside. A couple loafs of bread, some almost molding fruit, a now squashed pastry...if someone was going to rob the royal palace, why wouldn't they get better food? Maybe they were just a lousy thief, she thought.

The person, now a little more aware, was struggling against her ice restraints. She knew he wouldn't be able to get through, as she'd used this technique on her prey at home many times, just so that she could kill them as painlessly as possible. He's wearing all black, as she saw when she first spied him, with gray gloves. There are two swords on his back, and they do look sharp and dangerous. Tied around the person's head is a mask of a blue dragon spirit, something Katara's seen in legend books.

She considers going back for a guard, but what if he escapes? So, she decides to deal with him herself. She's not afraid; she's dealt with more terrifying enemies before.

She takes the mask off and throws it away from her, and is entirely shocked when she comes face to face with a man that can't be older than her brother. His dark hair hangs in his eyes and his glare is menacing. As he turns, steam coming from his lips as he snarls- which lets Katara know he's a firebender- she notes two things; first, his eyes like a golden sun, and second, scars marring his left eye...they look like it's from fire. Was he foolish enough to hurt himself with is own fire, or is there something else?

"Let me go!" He finally manages to speak, fury and disbelief lacing his sharp tones. He sounds much more put together when he speaks than a common thief, as though he's used to addressing people.

"Unlikely," Katara crosses her arms, "You really think I'd let a burglar go?" She says. He sputters for a second, shaking his head.

"Burglar?" He echoes.

"Yes," Katara wonders how someone stealing can be uncertain of what it makes one, "You were fleeing the castle with this all dressed in black in the dead of night!" She argues.

He's silent, staring at her with widened eyes- at least as wide as his left eye can go.

"So, how do they punish your kind here? In the Southern Water Tribe, we haven't ever needed to punish thieves, but if we did, it would be by freezing their hand off." That's also not true, she doesn't even know the protocol if someone did steal something, but she likes that he seems momentarily afraid.

"I'm not a thief!" He insists, "Agni, who the hell are you anyway?" He asks.

"Katara, of the Southern Water Tribe." She says though she thinks it's stupid he wants to know her name. The man's head whips around and he gives a grave laugh, one in which Katara is not entirely sure it's about humor.

"You're one of the Selected for the Prince's Choice, aren't you?" He manages to ask through his dry chuckling.

"And if I am?" She challenges.

"And you really don't know who I am?" He asks, scrutinizing her. Katara falters momentarily. Are thieves particularly well known around here?

"Am I supposed to?"

The man hangs his head in frustration, "Look, if you just let me go, I can prove to you I'm not a thief and you're going to feel really stupid for doing this." He says.

"How do I know you aren't going to just run away again?" She asks, "Or hurt me?" Her eyes land on his swords.

"Go on, take them. And somehow, I think you'd nearly break all my bones if I tried to run again," He points out. Katara considered these comments for a long moment before she reaches out and unsheaths both the swords, throwing them far behind her.

"Just unfreeze my hands," He says, "I'll thaw myself out."

"I can just-,"

"I can do it," He snaps and Katara raises an eyebrow at his temper, but nonetheless unfreezes his hands. He takes little work to melt away the ice from his body, shaking himself off. Katara draws the water from his clothing and he sends her a look and she likes annoying whoever this person is, even if what she did was helpful.

"Talk." She demands.

"Commanding, aren't we?" He mutters, rolling his eyes and then reaches into his pocket, "You know, I guess I shouldn't be mad. If I were a thief, you'd really show me a lesson. Here I thought all you girls would be prissy and afraid to touch grass outside." He chuckles. His words don't make a whole lot of sense to Katara until he unearths a Fire Nation Royalty hairpin from his pocket. And even then, not a whole lot of sense.

"So you stole the Prince's hairpin?" She says dryly, "Not making a good case."

"Agni woman! I am Prince Zuko!"

Katara stares at him, unsure if she should believe him. He could just be lying. There's no reason he couldn't be lying. And if he isn't, this isn't how she expected the Prince to be at all. If he is, she has to admit that he is unconventionally attractive, as everyone says.

"That proves nothing," She says firmly, crossing her arms, "Why isn't it on your head? Don't Fire Nation men grow their hair out?" She makes a motion of her palm at her shoulders.

"Erm, my sister accidentally burnt it off in a spar last year. It's just growing back now," He admitted a little quietly, gingerly touching his hair that hung down past his eyebrows.

"I still don't know if I should believe you," She said adamantly, "If you are the Prince, why the hell are you leaving the palace with this dressed like that?" She demands.

"When I get antsy at night I- why am I explaining this to you?" He begins but then shakes his head halfway through.

"Because if you don't, you're going to wish all I'll do is freeze your hands off." Katara bares her teeth. He chuckles, nodding.

"Fine, because I guess you could call me a vigilante of the city. I also bring food the kitchens were going to throw away and give it to the homeless around town."

"A Prince with a heart," Katara says slowly, but she's still pretty sure this isn't the Prince. Even if she is a little impressed, prince or not.

"And you're a princess, are you not?" He says, and yes it's strange that would know that, but still.

"Daughter of the chief, I'm getting tired of making that distinction."

He seems unconvinced, "Right. Well, goodnight."

"You think I'm just going to let you go? I don't think I believe you at all!" She says, throwing up an ice wall between his destination- a door to the halls and him. He melts it easily.

"Yes, you are." He says, in a tone that is quite demanding and quite authoritative. If Katara were a weaker person, she might be sighing and moaning at his voice right now, "Because if I'm just a liar we both know you'll find me and bring me to justice, or whatever." He says.

"Give me the hairpin at least," Katara demands, "Because if you are the Prince, I can give it back to you. If you aren't, I'm not letting you leave with that. Take the food, fine, but give me that." She demands.

The man plays around with the hairpin in his fingers for a second before grinning.

"Aren't we clever," He says, "A girl with a brain. How refreshing." He says and throws it her way, "I will need that back, of course." He says, "But I suppose you can just give it to me tomorrow." His grin is absolutely infuriating. He picks up his swords and his mask and walks through the door to the palace where Katara can't follow like he owns the place (which, if he's not a liar, he does).

Katara seriously hopes she hasn't made a huge mistake.

The rest of the night she doesn't sleep either but rolls the hairpin in her fingers. It's so nice, made of thin metal and painted just a little bit. She is a little amazed that the one thing she knows is true is she is holding the Prince's hairpin.

In a way, she does hope it was him a little because otherwise returning this to some guy will be very awkward. But, as much as she hopes, as she nods into a short nap at dawn, she is 99.9% sure that wasn't the prince.


So the two members she met were Toph and...Zuko! Haha no one guessed him ;) I'm sure you all thought I would give you a proper warning before we meet him the first time but NOPE. I wanted you to be JUST as surprised as Katara was. And, if this scene isn't a classic zutara, like, no you're lying. This is Zuko and Katara in a nutshell.

How did you like Toph, by the way? I'm really worried about writing her, for some reason, although I admit I have a lot of fun...

So, it would be really great to get nine (or more) reviews again, and if so I will really do my best to update on Friday, barring any more stupid site glitches.