A/N: New story! I have been trying a different strategy on workflow with my stories and began writing out multiple chapters before publishing. I think I like doing it this way because I can adjust as new ideas come to mind and I don't have to feel like I'm just throwing the plot to the wind. I really hope you like this story. I like it. I would love to once again hear from you if you have any thoughts, ideas, concerns, worries... Anywho, I'm going to put a short summary description below and you can tell me if it helps or not. Disclaimer: Fanfiction is for Zuko...
Summary: The Hundred-Year War was over, but conflict remained a constant presence in international affairs between the Earth, Fire, Air and Water Kingdoms. Fire Lord Ozai surrendered at the Battle of Sozin's comet on the eastern shore of the Earth Kingdom. He was no match for the young yet old Avatar Aang and his friends (including his daughter Zuko) despite having the comet's power and influence. Though he resented losing to a child, he gladly played the necessary Pai Sho to maintain his hold on his kingdom.
His people and the kings of the other nations granted him permission to maintain his throne in the Fire Nation but created an airtight treaty that would never allow him the power once possessed by his predecessors Azulon and Sozin. Ozai felt he had failed his father and grandfather miserably, but never one to look a gift horse in the mouth he took his new circumstances with the mindset that he would regroup and once again return his rightful place in the top of the world.
Meanwhile, Princess Zuko Kasai of the Fire Nation longs to just be a normal girl. Her father Ozai named her Zuko after an obscure ancestor when he found out she wasn't his boy or the fire bender he had been expecting. Zuko knew from there the kind of relationship she was destined to have with her father. Her mother Ursa left the Fire Nation when Zuko was 7 and her sister Azula was 5. The only reason their father gave was that it was her choice and probably the best one under the circumstances. Zuko worked hard to please her father, but she never measured up already at a disadvantage just for being a girl. It is discovered that she is a fire bender but not like her sister Azula who turned out to be a natural talent, a prodigy.
In fact, everyone she seemed to know in this blasted palace was a prodigy: Her cousin Lu Ten, her sister, her secret crush Prince Sokka Kuruk, Princess Katara Kuruk and Toph Bei Fong her best friends, and even her sister's friends Mai the blade specialist and Ty Lee the Acrobat. Hell, even the cooks, guards and maids all seemed to be more talented than she. Zuko just wanted to be good at something and loved and accepted by her father. When life takes a tragic turn Zuko has to discover that her true talent and gift are not giving up when things get difficult. Zuko learns to love and be loved on this incredible journey of winning and losing, losing and finding. Enjoy!
Chapter 1 Truth or Dare
"Hmmn, Truth or dare, Katara." Princess Zuko said smugly. She placed her arms across her chest and waited. Katara knew any dare the Princess of the Fire Nation gave her would be hell to pay. "Truth! Truth! Oh, Gods!" she whined. Zuko smirked, "Who would you kiss-Jet or Haru?" Zuko smiled biting her lip in anticipation.
"Ugh, I guess Haru, I've already kissed Jet…" Toph chimed in for maximum embarrassment. "Among other things. Ha Ha!" Zuko gagged dramatically. "Oh, my Gods, you really kissed Jet? Like with your mouth? Not at all knowing where those lips could have been or what they had been doing prior to knowing you?" She sat up in realization. "Wow, war makes people desperate... Wait—what? Katara, what else did you do!?"
Zuko looked at Katara sharply. Katara covered her face with her hands muffling her voice. "Things I'm not proud of, OK? Really, really, embarrassing things that I will NOT share in this forum! I will take them to my grave. So, don't' ask…" she warned.
Zuko and Toph laughed throwing their heads back against the headboard of Zuko's bed. The grand bed was large enough to fit Zuko and several of her friends if she had more than the two. Toph poked Zuko with her toes as she cackled making Zuko laugh harder. Katara was not amused.
"Yeah, Ok. Are you guys done now? You two had your little laugh at my expense? It's my turn." She said. Zuko and Toph froze immediately. Zuko knew without a doubt she was next. "Ok, then who's next?" It was Katara's turn to smirk. "Princess Zuko…Truth or Dare." Katara sat up primly knowing she was going to make Zuko squirm with her dare.
"Dare, I choose dare," Zuko said assuredly tossing her hair behind her and raising her nose proudly. She never chose truth because she didn't like getting so personal even though Katara and Toph were like sisters to her even more than her actual sister Azula.
Katara smiled. "Zuko you have to go find Sokka wherever he is and say, "I like you Sokka" and then you have to kiss him. A real kiss not a peck or on the cheek but a real kiss on his lips. That is all…" Zuko sat stunned.
Katara knew that Zuko had a crush on her brother Sokka and that she had never been kissed. Zuko thought she would die right then. This is why Zuko doesn't choose truth. It creates ammunition to do these dastardly dares that ruin lives and reputations.
She glared at Katara. "You know, this is why I never choose truth, Katara! You're using the information I shared with you against me. I don't like this…" Zuko whined. Katara crossed her arms and cackled. "You have one hour to do it or you must choose a truth, a good one. Oh, and you may want to brush your teeth before you go. We did have garlic and squid at lunch today. Good Luck!" she said her voice overly bright.
Katara was a savage. She was highly competitive and showed no mercy in games of truth or dare. Zuko looked to her friends one last time for amnesty, but Katara pointed to the bathroom and then the door leading to the corridor. Zuko sighed.
When Zuko left the room Katara whispered to Toph. "Follow her from a distance and make sure she follows through. Use your seismic sense, and I'll let you choose the truth if she doesn't do it, Ok?" Toph grinned maliciously. "Ok…"
Toph was a blind wonder. Though raised as a rich nobleman's daughter she bucked the culture and learned earthbending from Badgermoles that lived underground. She knew how to conduct herself in royal courts and played the politics well as Toph's blindness didn't stop her from seeing things as they were. Her savviness was one of the reasons she and Zuko were such good friends. The princess needed someone who could look out for her kind and sometimes naïve personality.
Zuko tried to use up most of her time looking for Sokka so that she would force herself to just do the deed. She hated Katara right now. So much. With about five minutes to spare Zuko found Sokka and some of the guards on break playing a round of kuai ball. Zuko was an expert player of kuai ball…but that's not what she was here to do she reminded herself shaking her head. She waited until there was a lull in the game and walked up to Sokka hesitantly.
Sokka looked over at Zuko and stared at her staring at him. "You need something, Zuko?" Sokka asked with a little concern. Zuko stammered. "I uh, w-well, um what I, uh. IhavesomethingtotellyouandIneedtosayitfastorIwon't." she sputtered in a rush. Sokka looked at Zuko strangely. "Uh, Ok. Go ahead."
Zuko stepped closer. "Sokka, I—" At that moment the kuai ball came whizzing through the air having been launched by a player's feet and hit Zuko squarely on the side of her face bouncing off and landing outside of the circular court. "Oh, fudge nuggets! You hit the princess in the face!" someone cried out. Zuko wobbled a moment her eyes fluttering before collapsing in Sokka's arms. "Oh shit!" Sokka cried as he gathered the princess in his arms.
Sokka hurriedly made a direct path to Zuko's bedroom. Two guards followed while one of the others went to get the royal physician. Sokka burst into Zuko's bedroom and gingerly placed Zuko on her bed. He looked squarely at Katara. "You guys need to stop playing truth or dare! It's not a safe game for her. Don't you remember what happened to Zuko the last time?"
Katara did remember what happened the last time. Zuko broke three bones in her wrist when she had to hold a handstand on a retaining wall for 30 minutes. She had almost completed her time when a turtle duck came up to her and began nipping at her fingers because the little creatures were used to her always having bread for them. Zuko lost her balance and the result was a cast on her arm for several weeks.
The Fire Lord was none too pleased to hear about his daughter's proclivity to inane gameplay with her friends. He was surely going to ban Katara and Toph from the palace after this. Katara stared. "What the hell happened? Her face is swelling like a balloon! I need water…" she shouted as she drew water from a pitcher nearby.
Sokka rolled his eyes. "Kuai ball. You may want to help her before the physician gets here. You know how he feels about water healing techniques." Katara nodded. "Right." Katara moved swiftly the water glowing blue in her hand. She placed her water gloved hand on Zuko's face to assess the injuries. "Dammit! I think she may have a fractured jaw. Stall the physician; it's going to take a minute."
Sokka sighed, "The things I do for you girls. You really should stop playing that game…" he admonished.
When the Dr. Ishi arrived, he was pleased and surprised to see that the swelling was minimal though Zuko's jaw was stiff. When he was normally called to aid the princess, the damage was severe: Broken bones, torn muscles, lacerations that require cauterization or stitches or any combination of injuries. The princess was quite lucky this time; a kuai ball can do a lot of damage if hit in the right way with the right amount of force.
"You were fortunate this time Princess, nothing is broken, but I do recommend you use cool compresses on your face until the swelling subsides. Perhaps that is something your waterbending friend here can help you with, soft foods tonight, and uh, try not to talk too much as it could aggravate your injury." Dr. Ishi said looking at the three friends in her room critically. Zuko nodded fiercely. "Thank you, Doctor Ishi," She murmured through clenched teeth.
Dr. Ishi bowed gently and escorted himself out of the bedroom. Katara furrowed her brows mocking the physician. "Perhaps that's something your waterbending friend here can help with… Ugh! What is his problem with me?" Katara growled as she made a cold pack for Zuko's face. Sokka laughed. "Job security, probably."
Sokka turned to Zuko. "So, what were you trying to tell me before you became a target princess? It seemed important." He said smiling at her. Zuko blushed slightly and shook her head. She shrugged and then pointed to her mouth reminding Sokka the doctor ordered her not to talk. She took the cold pack Katara made and placed it tentatively on her face.
Sokka chuckled. "Oh, yeah that's right. Can't talk…" He reached up and rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "So uh, I'm gonna…go? Feel better Zuko. I'll um, see you girls at dinner." Zuko waved as Sokka left to clean up for the evening meal. He waved back and closed the door behind himself quickly.
Toph groaned. "Oh for Agni's sake! You two are in the most awkward mating dance I've ever had the displeasure of listening to. Your heartbeats are in a continual race to see who will die from overuse first. Just tell him you like him! It's clear he likes you too. Be brave for once in your life Zuko!" Zuko looked away in shame. "I am brave," she whispered.
Toph shook her head. "Not when it comes to matters of the heart. You're a big Komodo chicken when it comes to love. You really should tell him." Toph walked towards the door. "I'm going to go take some semblance of a bath so that I can be acceptable in the sight of your father," Toph teased. "You two stay out of trouble, please? And maybe Sokka's right; we should stop playing truth or dare. See you at dinner." She said and was quickly out of sight as she closed the door.
Zuko looked up at Katara. "You think she's right don't you?" Zuko mumbled. Katara didn't respond. No answer was an answer but to what Zuko couldn't say. Katara took a deep breath. "I'll help you get dressed for dinner, Zuko. I'll draw the water if you heat the bath, OK?" Zuko gave a lopsided smile and went to the bathroom to light the drum that heated the bathwater.
Dinner was a daily affair in the Fire Nation palace. The Fire Lord welcomed his ambassadors, their children, his family, and a few favored nobles to partake in the evening meal together. The young people were all seated near one another with Zuko and her sister Azula sitting closest to their Father.
Katara had done Zuko's hair in an intricate braid with a pearl comb that matched her white and red kimono and red shoes with a mother of pearl inlay around the heel. They avoided makeup since Zuko's face was still quite sore and it would have done nothing for the swelling on the left side of her face.
Sokka walked near Zuko and leaned down to whisper, "You look nice tonight. Too bad the swelling hasn't gone down yet. Eat soft foods, yeah?" Zuko looked up at her handsome friend and smiled crookedly. Her face hurt too much to give him a full smile. "Thanks, I'll try." She gritted out. Sokka touched her shoulder gently and went to sit between two of his friends he made of the noblemen's sons.
A few curious lords and ladies noticed the interaction between their princess and the prince of the United Water Nations and wondered what there was between them as they murmured to themselves. Azula looked over at her sister with disgust. She couldn't understand how she could be attracted to a former enemy and an uncultured barbarian at that. She was convinced she needed to be the one on the throne after their father.
No doubt if Zuko became Fire Lord, she would find a way to marry the water peasant and raise half breed children for the throne. It would bring the country to ruin. This intermixing was not the way of the Fire Nation. Azula began formulating a plan to interrupt their little romance before the fire burned too bright.
A bell indicating the approaching Fire Lord rang. No one had permission to eat until the Fire Lord himself was seated and had taken the first item for his plate. Ozai sauntered in shortly after the last dish was placed on the table and greeted his guests. He noticed Zuko's swollen jaw. He raised his eyebrow in question but said nothing as he took his seat.
Ozai chose a few items to eat and gave the prayer of "itadakimasu" in thanksgiving for the meal and the guest began to fill their plates. Zuko remembered the doctor's warning about eating soft foods and saw a bowl of pureed mango next to Azula. She knew it would be considered foul manners to reach over her sister, so she tried to ask clearly. "Zula, Kin you pss da mngoss, pls? Zuko asked softly trying not to draw attention to herself.
Azula never missed a chance to put her sister in the hot seat. She knew about the kuai ball accident and knew that her father didn't approve of Zuko playing since she was so prone to accidents.
"Zuko, are you talking? I didn't understand a word you said. Speak clearly." Azula said with disdain. Zuko closed her eyes and exhaled. She knew it would be too much for her sister to just be kind and pass the damn mangoes! She shook her head. "Nvrmind, sister." She said bluntly.
Azula saw Zuko's frustration build. "I would help you Zu Zu, but I don't honestly know what you want. If you could just speak a little more clearly or is something wrong? Your face is quite swollen."
Ozai sighed feeling another year of his life fade into oblivion with the conflict between his daughters. "Azula, enough. Zuko, would the swelling in your face have anything to do with a certain kuai ball accident I heard about this afternoon?" Azula smirked. Zuko rolled her eyes and took a deep breath. She nodded and gritted out. "I wasn't playing. I was in the wrong place at the wrong time." Ozai looked at his daughter curiously.
Ozai quickly addressed Katara and Toph who were eating and ignoring the conversation every guest at the table stopped eating to listen to. "You ladies wouldn't have had anything to do with my daughter's poor judgment on the kuai ball field today, would you?" Both girls stopped and looked at or in the direction of the Fire Lord. Lie? Tell the truth? Lie? Tell the truth? Lie. "Uh, no sir." The girls said in unison. Katara added. "I wasn't even there when it happened."
Ozai hummed. "I see. Zuko, it's clear you can't eat the sumptuous meal prepared for us tonight. You may excuse yourself and see what soft foods the kitchens can prepare for you. I think your friends should accompany you so that you don't have to aggravate your injury further by speaking. We'll all talk about this tomorrow. You may go." Ozai said his tone brooking no argument.
Zuko nodded and bowed to her father as she made her way out of the dining room toward the kitchens keeping her face as impassive as she could manage. Katara tapped Toph who was still eating and made her get up from her seat. Katara bowed quickly to the Fire Lord and pulled an obstinate Toph along to check on Zuko. The guests shook their heads at the story of what was sure to be the result of immature antics from the three friends.
Ozai began talking to a few of the ministers and pretending as if the conversation with his daughter never occurred. Sokka watched sadly as Zuko walked away in humiliation. His friends laughed and joked around him about the events of the day as he continued to eat in silence.
Zuko sat in one of the chairs around the small circular table servants used to take breaks or have their meals in the kitchen. She wiped silent tears from her eyes and avoided looking at her friends. The kitchen staff heard what the Fire Lord did and felt sorry for the princess. She was always at the receiving end of her father's ire.
The chef made a few extra soft treats he knew were her favorites including mango sorbet. Katara felt awful! She never meant for her friend to get hurt nor did she want for the Fire Lord to embarrass Zuko so badly in front of all his guests. She really hoped they wouldn't be separated from Zuko by her father. It would be his right after all, but Zuko needed them as much as they needed Zuko.
"I'm sorry Zuko, we never should have pushed you to talk to Sokka like that. You would not have gotten hurt in the first place." Katara mourned.
Zuko shook her head. "I should know better by now. Father is probably going to put me in advanced etiquette classes. I'll be a true lady in no time…" she laughed lightly avoiding putting stress on her jaw.
"I'll do another healing session on your jaw tonight if you want." Katara offered.
Zuko nodded. "Thanks, Kat. I don't blame you guys, you know. My father is right to expect more of me. I'm supposed to be a princess." She scoffed then grew quiet. Her friends sat in silence with her.
A few moments later, servants brought three large dishes of mango sorbet with candied mint and chilies on top. The girls perked up and oohed at the sweet and spicy treats. Zuko turned to the servant girls gave them a Fire Nation bow placing her fist in her opened upright palm. The servants blushed at the honor and scurried back into the kitchen giggling between themselves.
Princess Zuko was nothing like her sister or father. The common people of the nation highly approved of her kind demeanor and down-to-earth manner. Just like the servants, many hoped she would one day become Fire Lord.