Lady Ursa chuckled from where she sat on a spectator's seat of the Royal Arena. "Be gentle with your niece, sweetheart. Remember, she's only five." Kiyi had instigated some kind of game of hide-and-seek, but for some reason, sparks were involved when someone was found. From the constant laughter, it must be fun, but Ursa dreaded Izumi accidentally getting hurt because Kiyi became too enthusiastic, which she could do at times.
Her son had been gone for some time now. It was unusual for him to spend so long on one of his rare free days away from Izumi. But it wasn't really unexpected- he had just reunited with one of his best friends, his only friends, after so many years- of course they would want to spend time together and catch up.
Some instinct made her glance towards the arena gates, and she began to smile as Zuko and Lady Katara approached, with a tiny little girl- Katara's daughter Ursa presumed- toddling in front of them- perhaps eager to meet new people, as many little ones were. Ursa tilted her head. The child looked familiar, though she couldn't put her finger on why. Her welcoming smile soon faded as she took in their body language. Zuko's shoulders were hunched like he carried the weight of the world upon them and his gaze was locked on the floor, his whole posture radiating shame and guilt. Katara was wringing her hands and biting her lip, as if she felt truly nervous or worried about something.
Something was wrong. Ursa didn't know what it was, but there was definitely something going on. She donned a smile nonetheless for her son and his guests, then turned to the two young girls chasing each other around the outdoor arena.
"Kiyi, Izumi. Our guests have arrived." Kiyi raced straight over to them, greeting Katara with an exuberant hug, but Izumi hung back, dragging her feet. Ursa resisted the urge to sigh at her granddaughter's reticence- the child really needed to be more social. It was worrying to see her so withdrawn around new people.
She placed the scroll she had been reading on the table beside her and got to her feet. "Izumi, go on," she said with a chiding undertone, "Aren't you excited? You finally have a friend your age to play with!"
The little princess looked down at her feet as she walked over to her father and his guests, stopped before them and mumbled a quiet "Welcome."
Katara greeted Izumi kindly, of course, but it seemed the child had company in being shy. Katara's own little girl, who had seemed so eager a few minutes ago, was now hiding behind her mother.
Kiyi approached Izumi, whispering encouragement to her, then leading her forward towards Katara and her child. "Hi, Kya," she spoke gently. "I'm Kiyi. This is Izumi. It's nice to meet you. Izumi and I wondered if you wanted to come and play tag with us?"
Ursa's heart swelled with pride at her daughter's instinctive kindness with children. Little Kya looked up at her mother, and when Katara nodded encouragement, Kya toddled over to Kiyi and took her hand. Kiyi led both girls away to play, and Ursa turned back to Zuko and Katara.
Zuko still hadn't looked up, not once. Ursa folded her arms as she stepped closer, speaking in a low voice that only the three of them could hear. "Alright, what's going on?"
The same Fire Lord that could make his council shiver in their boots with just a look sheepishly glanced at his friend from the corner of his eye, then his gaze locked back on the ground. "Why don't we go inside, Mother? We'll talk about it over tea."
Ursa nodded, although a worried crease appeared on her brow. No-one spoke as Zuko led them indoors and tea was served. As the maids stepped out of the room, leaving the trio alone, Ursa gave both young adults pointed looks. "So what is all this about?
The silence grew heavier, more awkward, until Zuko finally let out a sound between a sigh and a groan. "It's... complicated, Mother. But," he glanced at Katara once more, "It's about Kya, and Katara and I..."
Ursa's eyes narrowed. Here two people sat before her, terrified almost of whatever was going on- one of them the mother of a child that looked familiar in some way Ursa couldn't quite place- talking about their 'complicated relationship' with each other as well as with said child.
She levelled a steely glare at Zuko, knowing she'd get answers more quickly from her son. "Complicated how?"
He flushed, then swallowed hard, clearly struggling to find the words, refusing to meet her gaze. Katara, too, was suddenly very interested in studying the content of her tea cup.
"It... it wasn't Katara's fault, Mother." Zuko reminded her of a younger version of himself, trying to take all the blame, all the punishment, for something he and Azula had /both/ done. "It... four years ago, at the Peace Summit, Aang- the Avatar- wasn't there. It was just after Mai had left and I-"
Footsteps pounded outside and the door was flung open, startling all three of them. Kiyi burst into the room, her eyes wide. She carried Kya on one hip, her other hand tugging Izumi along. Ursa (and the other adults) all quickly checked the children for injuries, but thankfully no-one was bruised, bleeding or crying.
Kiyi's eyes fixed on Katara. "How come your daughter's a firebender?"
Ursa started at that, then took her first good look at little Kya, and abruptly, she knew why this child had seemed familiar. Despite her darker skin tone and blue eyes, her facial features, the shape of her chin, that pointed little nose... they were exactly the same as Zuko and Azula's in their infancy. And now she turned out to be a firebender? Ursa looked at Zuko and Katara, who had both returned their gazes to the floor and turned beet red. And as the realization set in, the weight of the world crashed down on her like an avalanche.