This is dedicated to the lovely ShoeNinja for being my 500th reviewer for The Undying Fire. You asked for Urzai, a 'practical joke' theme, and humour. I have tried to deliver. Needless to say, I am ignoring any 'canon' that has arisen from the comics.

An Informal Introduction

It was just a practical joke. Or at least that was what the noble girls told Ursa after ensuring that she fell into one of the ponds, leaving her drenched and red with humiliation. She had opened her mouth to retort—to put the stuck-up city girls in their place once and for all—but the words got caught in her throat. Instead, she felt the horrifying sting of tears burning her eyes. This was just one cruel trick too many.

Desperate to save some of her dignity, she picked up her wet skirts and made a retreat for one of the rooms adjoining the garden. Her tormentors' laughter followed her like a mocking shadow, and it was with relief when she finally pushed aside the doors and escaped the prying eyes of the other guests. At least, she had thought she was alone until she tripped over something and landed on a man's lap, hands splayed on his chest.

"I am so sorry," Ursa began in a flustered voice, and then she froze.

She had finally raised her eyes to look at the man's face, and what she saw made the colour drain from her cheeks. His black hair was long and pulled into a half-topknot to allow the flame-like hairpiece to rest on his head; his features were angular and exceedingly handsome, drawing attention to a pair of rather piercing gold eyes. She didn't much care for the thin beard he was sporting, but there was still no mistaking him. She had fallen on top of the Fire Lord's younger son.

"P-Prince Ozai!" she stammered, trying to scramble off him yet only succeeding in stumbling again.

Hands clutched at her waist, steadying her so that she did not fall. Ursa let out a shaky breath, feeling the heat rush to her cheeks as she met his intimidating gaze. Spirits, she was getting water all over him, and here she was just a country nobody—even if she was Avatar Roku's granddaughter. People were probably killed for less.

Ozai's mouth curved into a faint smile. "You're very clumsy, you know that?" he observed, releasing her waist.

Ursa's cheeks went from red to a deep plum. "I-I'm not normally—I mean, I just, uh—" She swallowed and lowered herself to her knees, bowing her head as was customary. "It was an accident."

"So I gathered," he responded evenly, standing up from his chair so that he was towering over her. "However, that doesn't explain why you are wet or why you chose to run into this booth in the first place."

Ursa lowered her head even further. "It's a long story, Prince Ozai. Nothing that would interest you."

"Try me."

She risked a glance up and saw that he was staring straight at her, his gold eyes glinting with curiosity. Nothing could be more awkward than to be drenched from head to foot and have the full attention of Prince Ozai; especially when she considered that the whole reason she was wet was because the other noble girls did not like the 'new, country girl' whose bloodline was better than theirs, and (according to gossip) whose beauty had caught the eye of more than one highly eligible bachelor.

Ursa bit her lip and lowered her gaze back to the hem of his robe. "It was just a silly prank. It happens when one is new to the capital."

Ozai's mouth twitched. "That is not such a long story."

"I do not wish to bore you with my problems, Prince Ozai."

He laughed lightly, and as she risked another glance up at him, she couldn't help but wonder why he had been hiding in the booth. For now that she thought about it, the prince should have been out there celebrating with his brother—not cooped up in this little room with only a drink and a bedraggled girl for company. Perhaps he had also not been enjoying the festival.

Ozai held out his hand to her, giving her no choice but to accept and let him raise her back to her feet. "What is your name, woman?" he asked, meeting her gaze with those intense gold eyes.

"My name is Ursa, Prince Ozai. Daughter of Jinzuk and Rina."

"Ursa," he repeated softly. "I will remember that."

Her heart gave an odd flutter in her chest, and then he was releasing her hand and walking through the doors, leaving her alone in the booth. Ursa stared after his retreating figure, struggling to make sense of what had just happened and the tangled mixture of feelings burning inside her.

When she left the booth, she could still feel the imprint of his hand clasping hers.

Phew, finally got this one finished. I actually started this intending it to be a really awkward 'hey, I like you' conversation on Ozai's part (because Azula and Zuko had to get it from somewhere), but somehow it turned into this instead. Hopefully, you liked it anyway. ^_^