The Palace (Ongoing)

by LittleMartian

Novel Length. Things go on behind closed doors in palaces, everyone knows that. But when it is decided that Prince Zuko and Prince Lu Ten need to find wives, will the selected girls have what it takes to get past the secrecy and revenge that goes on where the royal families lie? Will Princess Katara have the strength? Zutara and many surprise pairings AU

26. Chapter 26

Chapter 26

I dedicate this chapter to: AiMila and KodeV Thank you~

Katara

"You know," Suki was saying as she bit into a piece of apple. "I'm actually sort of surprised that I'm not overwhelmingly jealous." She cast a sideways glance at Katara and Song. The Water Tribe girl's hand froze halfway towards the bowl of apple slices.

Katara eyed Suki skeptically. "Considering what I know about you and Sokka, I'm not surprised." As soon as Katara mentioned her older brother, Suki's expression froze, and she turned from the group, embarrassed. Katara placed a gentle hand on my "Why are you guys so scared to tell my parents? Or your grandfather?"

Suki's face fell, eyes downcast. "My grandfather wants me to be happy, but if I leave Kyoshi, he'll be by himself. I don't want him live alone. If I ended up marrying Sokka and I move to the Southern Water Tribe…he'll have no one left."

"So then why are you here at the Hana Matsuri?" Song asked, raising a thin brow. "If you have someone you're already in love with?"

Suki shrugged, auburn hair blowing gently in the breeze. "All my life I've never left Kyoshi, I was just using this as a…vacation, I guess. I didn't think I'd actually make it."

"Same here." Toph smirked, munching loudly on an apple. "This whole thing is ridiculous. Once I got over my parents practically throwing me out the door, I wanted to stay so I'd never see them again. Maybe I won't go back?" She mused thoughtfully. "Suki, what's Kyoshi like?"

Suki chuckled. "Pretty cold."

"You're going to just not go home?" Katara asked incredulously. "Don't you think your parents will be worried about you?"

Toph shrugged nonchalantly. "If they do, I don't care." Her voice grew hard as she spoke. "They didn't care about what I wanted. Only how to get better connections. If I do go home, they'll probably say…'Oh Toph, such a shame you didn't marry one of the princes, so sorry you were miserable the whole time and your cousin is in jail, we never liked her much anyway—perhaps you could speak to your Crown Princess friend about sending us some money?—or something like that." She muttered under her breath.

After a few moments of an angry and awkward silence, Suki cleared her throat. "You know," Suki said wistfully as she peeled an orange for Toph. The younger girl hit her hands away, muttering something about being able to do it herself. Suki just rolled her eyes and left her alone. The girl was probably the most stubborn person any of them had ever met. "I don't think I ever expected it to be me anyway. I think I always knew it was going to be Katara. And maybe even Song."

Katara and Song exchanged looks.

Toph laughed heartily. "Better yet, we should have just refused to get on the ship in the first place. Would've helped me."

"Wait, huh?" Katara looked across the blanket at her two friends.

Song stared at her friends, confused. "I don't really understand, Suki."

Suki looked between Katara and Song incredulously, pointing to Song's crown princess robes and Katara's ornate gown so generously donated to her by the Fire Lady herself. "Um, just the fact that both of you're about to become members of one of the most powerful families in the world?"

A dusting of pink rose on Song's face and Katara's cheeks reddened. She looked around, anywhere besides the knowing looks on her friend's faces. "Zuko and I haven't really talked about it…marriage, I mean."

"Well why not?" Suki asked her. "Song's practically already married, and I don't think Zuko plans to wait very long."

"And just how would you know that?" Katara countered.

"Because everyone knows about yesterday, Katara. Everyone knows about what the two of you did yesterday…or what you didn't do." Suki pointed out and Toph nodded her head in agreement. "You should hear the rumors…"

"Rumors like what?" She asked. "Who's spreading them?"

"Servants, most likely." Song said simply, as she daintily sipped from a goblet of cool water to ease the redness in her cheeks. She gave a pointed stare at her own servant holding the tray. The girl shuffled over, and Song placed the water goblet back on the tray. The girl backed away from the party, eyes not leaving the ground. "You don't have servants in the Southern Water Tribe, but you should know this. If you want to know the latest gossip, ask a servant. If you want to know a forbidden secret, ask a servant. If you want to know who hates you, ask a servant. They know everything."

"You're actually really lucky that you have Gu Zhi, Katara." Suki told her with a grin. Katara looked to her left, to find Gu Zhi standing a little bit off in the distance, close enough to hear if her name was called, but far enough away to be out of mind. To avoid being caught staring, Katara turned her head back to Suki. " Apparently, she's worked in the palace since she was eight years old, I think she's around the same age as Fire Lord Iroh. Can you guess how much drama that woman has seen?"

She examined Gu Zhi's face closer. Perhaps the lines and wrinkles on the old woman's face were not from age, as she had once thought, but rather from stress. Fire Lord Iroh's reign was relatively young in its age, a time frame only spanning three years. The previous Fire Lord, Azulon, she knew from history books, had a reign of 38 years. And Fire Lord Sozin even longer than that. Gu Zhi had definitely been working in the palace for more than 50 years. She must be near sixty at the very least. Suddenly Katara thought it rude of her never to ask.

In fact, she didn't know anything about Gu Zhi, other than the fact that the older woman practically managed every aspect of her life in the palace, and while it was often annoying, the woman did seem to truly care about those she had in her charge. She'd helped raise both Lu Ten, Zuko and Azula after all.

"She's the Fire Lady's personal assistant, you know." Suki told them, and Diyi huffed impatiently, sipping her tea loudly. Suki gave a quick, irritated, glance in Diyi's direction, but continued anyway. "She makes sure that all of the Fire Lady's rules and regulations get carried out. She helps the Fire Lady run the palace. She's essentially, the Fire Lady's right hand."

"So, if that is the case, then why exactly do I have her?" Katara wondered.

"Because Princess Ursa convinced the Fire Lady that my purposes were better served elsewhere." Gu Zhi said. Katara looked up from her spot on the ground to see Gu Zhi, now standing closer, and Katara thought Gu Zhi would be upset that Katara was essentially talking about her right in front of her face, but she gave Katara a small smile instead, wrinkled cheeks tightening

"Princess Ursa?" Katara asked.

Gu Zhi nodded. "You know that Princess Ursa takes a lot of pride in you. Especially as a potential daughter-in-law. Moreover, I'm loyal to the Crown. It doesn't matter which branch of the Royal Family it is."

Katara didn't miss the nasty look that Diyi had sent her way, although the older girl had hidden it well from the rest. What was her problem?

"But servants can be bought, you know." Toph chimed in. Katara imagined that Toph would have had a lot of experience with servants, being a Bei Fong. Katara had never seen the girl's mansion, but she imagined it would be huge. "All it takes are a few bags of gold, and a servant will say anything you tell them too."

"True loyalty can never be bought, and no one wishing to keep their dignity would ever accept a bribe. Before Fire Lord Iroh's time, Fire Lord Azulon used to deliver harsh punishments to disloyal servants. Gossips had their tongues removed; those who stole lost their fingers, and those who tried to seduce a member of the royal family to raise their status—,"

"Were put to death." Song whispered grimly. "I know. It's the same in the Earth Kingdom."

Katara's mouth dropped open. Surely, the Earth Kingdom and Fire Nation were not so cruel. "Doesn't that seem a bit…extreme?" Katara asked sheepishly. Diyi looked at her as though she were stupid. Even Suki and Toph thought her ridiculous for asking such a thing. Katara cleared her throat nervously. "I mean…can't the people they work for do something?

"They're just as much trouble as the servants. I have seen too many of my father's concubines disgraced, exiled or killed because they trusted the wrong person." Song added softly. "My father had twenty-seven concubines, and many illegitimate children. I have 12 half-brothers and 7 half-sisters, all too young to ascend the throne. Fortunately, my brother has chosen to keep his court less complicated. He has a Queen and a concubine, but that is all."

Katara couldn't help but think of Azula's servants, who always seemed to be constantly changing on a day-to-day basis. Perhaps Azula had not found servants that were loyal enough or brave enough. Azula often chose the 'threaten' approach when dealing with those who served her, and she wondered how easy it would be to sway someone to a different side.

"I was wondering…" She started quietly, checking to see that all the servants were quite a distance away. And they were, all of them, Katara's, Toph's, Suki's, and standing close enough to the group to hear their name, but still technically out of earshot. "How loyal do you think Azula's servants are?"

"Pretty loyal, I'd say." Suki asked. "They're all probably scared of her, if you ask me."

"But if servants really are as loose lipped as you say, then shouldn't she not want to replace them every day?"

"Azula probably doesn't even let them get close enough to her to learn any of her secrets." Suki replied.

Katara thought about this for a second, and then nodded. Turning to Song, she said, "You mentioned something about your brother having his Queen, and one of his concubines. Is she recognized? What's the requirement for gaining that recognition?"

"Well…the Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom are very similar when it comes to things like this. Typically, it comes down to benefitting the country in some way, like having a military background, or money, or having a child. It all depends on how much the King—or I suppose in our case it would be the Fire Lord, likes you."

"But then that begs the question: If Lady Tiang gave birth to Azula, then why doesn't she have recognition?" Katara wondered aloud. Suki shrugged, not really knowing the answer, and even Song, who was an expert on palace etiquette, had no idea. "Gu Zhi," Katara called softly, knowing the woman would hear her.

Gu Zhi was there immediately. "Yes, Princess Katara?" she said in her gravelly voice and punctuated it with a deep bow.

Would Gu Zhi ever stop being so formal about everything? Katara thought. No, probably not.

"I'm not sure if you would know something about this, but…" Katara paused, unsure of how to proceed. "Why isn't Tiang officially recognized?"

Gu Zhi looked appalled, as though someone had slapped her across the face. The old woman even took a step back in shock. "Mistress Tiang? Oh no, that would never happen, Princess Katara. To be recognized would mean that you're on par with an official member of the royal household, such as a daughter of the realm or Fire Lady herself." Gu Zhi attempted to recover from the shock. "Prince Ozai wouldn't let such a thing happen."

"Why not? He seems to love her enough. If Tiang gave birth to Princess Azula, shouldn't she be deserving of a title? Even a lesser one?" Katara asked curiously. Perhaps if Tiang received a title, she'd give up on poisoning Iroh, and then maybe, the Palace, could exist in peace.

"You must understand, that although Princess Azula is a part of the royal family, her mother is a…well…she was…a…"

"A what?" Toph asked impatiently. "Don't just stand there, spit it out."

"A prostitute." Song said weakly. Everyone turned to look at her. "I've been doing reading on Fire Nation politics. What I have found is that…much of the nobility…looks down on such…professions. And Prince Ozai, nor the Crown of the Fire Nation can afford to lose the support of the Noble Factions."

"They don't respect prostitutes but keep going to them anyway. Right." Katara murmured to herself. She turned to the elderly woman. "Thank you, Gu Zhi."

The old maid nodded and then returned to where she had been standing, as silently as she had approached them. Katara was so lost in her thoughts about what she knew about Tiang and trying to form a plan that she barely missed what Suki was saying.

"I guess it goes to show that you can't always rely on passion to secure your place in a man's heart."

"Sometimes it takes a brain." Toph chortled, dropping the remainder of her passion fruit on the cotton blanket. "And we all know Tiang doesn't have that. But why should we even have to?"

"I don't know guys…it seems that things have worked out so far for her." Katara was talking about Lady Tiang's brain, but Suki obviously mistook it for something else.

The older girl snickered. "I'll bet. How much do you want to wager that it didn't take much for Prince Ozai to jump in bed with her and promise her the world? She probably didn't put up too much of a fight." She only laughed louder, her short auburn hair blowing in the gentle breeze.

"I think the real person we have to worry about is Katara." Toph smirked while Diyi looked on in disgust.

Katara raised an eyebrow, but then reminded herself that Toph couldn't possibly see what she was doing, so she said. "You're kidding right? I'm nothing like Tiang."

"In most ways, yes. But you should hear the things the servants say about you and Zuko." The twelve-year-old tapped her ears gently. "These things hear a lot. Even things that people want to hide."

"Me and Zuko?"

The younger girl nodded and then elbowed Suki in the ribs. "Ow!" Suki cried. "I'm right here! If you wanted to get my attention you could have just said my name."

"But this was easier." Toph pointed out matter-of-factly. "Tell her what you heard yesterday when she and Zuko didn't come back."

"I was going down to the kitchens for a late-night snack, when…" Suki's voice dropped to a low whisper. "I heard someone say that you and Zuko…aren't exactly strangers beneath the covers...if you know what I mean."

It took Katara a minute but then realization dawned on her about exactly what Suki was saying. Her mouth dropped into a perfect 'O'. She hit Suki lightly on the knee. "No way! Zuko and I are not like that. Not really."

"Right. Okay, Katara." Toph snorted in an unladylike manner. "Everyone can see the tension between you two when both of you're in room together. Heck, I can see it, and I'm blind."

Katara defended herself and attempted to shift the focus of the conversation away from her. "Yeah, so what. We've kissed and stuff, but like you said, Song and Lu Ten are practically married by now."

She still didn't like all of the attention that everyone was now placing on her relationship with Zuko. There were times she wanted to scream how much she felt about him from the tallest tower in the palace, and yet there were times she wanted to avoid all of the attention that would inevitably come with loving—and consequently marrying a prince of the Fire Nation.

Now it was Song's turn to redden, but Suki and Toph wouldn't be deterred. The Kyoshi Warrior narrowed her eyes at the Water Tribe Princess. "Lu Ten hasn't touched Song like he has all of the other girls."

"Other girls?" Song asked quietly, but Katara was sure that she was the only one who heard her, because Suki was still questioning the 15-year-old.

Guilt formed in the pit of Katara's stomach. Did she not know about Lu Ten's…dalliances with other women? His prior experience? Instantly, Yue's letter flashed before her eyes and she didn't know what to say.

Should Katara tell Song about Yue's pregnancy? Would she accept it? Break of the engagement? After all…Yue could be lying...but would she have the audacity to lie about something as important as this? Perhaps it would be better to see the way the currents moved before taking any action, because now, Song was so happy, so elated to be marrying Lu Ten that the smile was practically written all over her face. Song was her friend, but Yue was her cousin. Where did her loyalty lie?

"So, then what do you do when you're together?"

"Are you sure you want to hear about this, Toph?" Suki snickered, elbowing Toph in the side. "It might burn our sensitive ears."

"You guys!" Katara said, in half-hearted protest, still consumed by her thoughts. "Zuko and I just talk to each other, you know? Sure we've kissed…but nothing like what you're thinking."

Suki snickered. "You don't want to know what I'm thinking."

Despite Katara shaking her head in denial, the deepening of the blush on her cheeks said otherwise. Suki and Toph laughed even louder after that. Katara turned to Song for help, as they were in the same situation, but Song too had a ghost of a smile on her lips. Soon Katara couldn't help herself and joined in, shaking her head at Suki and Toph who were now leaning on each other for support.

"What's so funny, guys?" A high lilting voice asked, standing out amongst the chaos.

Katara looked up and there was Jin standing before them, a little way off from the trunk of the tree. Her face wasn't as thin as it was, before, and although it was apparent that she had gained some weight since Katara had last seen her, Jin was still obviously very underweight. She was wearing a red cotton robe that looked two sizes too big on her, threatening to swallow her thin frame before looking as though it was closer and closer to falling off her form with every step she took. She held her hand up in a wave when the dress slipped off her bony shoulder before she awkwardly dropped her arm, the long sleeves and hem trailing near the ground, getting dirt on the fabric.

"Jin!" Song rose and ran over to their friend. She looked better than before, and although there were thick, dark circles under her eyes, Jin smiled brightly as Song embraced her. Katara and Suki stood as well and made their way over.

"Hey cousin!" Toph bounded over. Jin let go of Song and enveloped Toph in a hug. Toph grimaced, looking squished even when surrounded by Jin's thin arms. However, after a moment or two, she softened, tentatively wrapping her arms around Jin's slight frame. "I still hate hugs…but I'll make an exception…this time."

"It is good to see you nearly back to health, Jin." Song said sweetly. "I'm sure you haven't had a good meal in a while. Come, sit down, and join us." The young woman extended a hand out to Jin.

Jin nodded and took Song's hand while helping her to the blanket. Jin limped along, favoring her left leg until she reached the red picnic blanket. She practically fell to the ground, catching herself with her hands, breathing heavily. Katara and the remaining girls shared a concerned look. One of Song's servants placed a bowl in front of her filled with rice, vegetables, and some meat.

"How are you feeling?" Katara asked her, not wanting to bring up her injured leg directly. Jin tucked a lock of hair back into her ponytail, revealing a large bruise across her cheekbones

Jin smiled sadly, but then shrugged. "As well as can be expected. These past few days, they fed me a lot better. And I think that might have something to do with you—one of you, really."

Katara's eyebrows furrowed. "Us?"

"I remember…sort of…but it's mostly a blurry mess in my brain...you all came to see me…after one of Prince Ozai's sessions…" Jin shivered, her too-thin frame looking like it was going to collapse, or her bones would snap.. "I-I didn't understand what they wanted from me. I couldn't have given them anything they didn't already know. And they knew so little."

"So then how did it stop?" Toph asked her.

"A couple of days ago, Prince Lu Ten ordered the guards to stop…questioning me." Jin shuddered. "Prince Ozai wasn't exactly pleased."

Song asked. "What do you mean he wasn't pleased?"

"It seemed like…like he was almost taking pleasure out of torturing me…like it made him happy to hear me scream." Jin shook her head while picking up a chopstick. Lifting a piece of meat to her lips tentatively, she put it in her mouth, chewed and then swallowed. "The days and nights shifted into a huge blur…I didn't know what time it was, I think I even lost sight of who I was. But that all changed when I heard Prince Lu Ten's voice yelling at someone. After that, I was moved to a different cell. Cleaner …but still…I was in prison."

"If Lu Ten made a change," Katara said, "Then you should be thanking Song, not me. She and Lu Ten are…" Katara trailed off with a hasty look at Song, unsure of how to finish.

Jin looked confused for a moment, but then she gasped, and her hands covered her mouth in shock. "Song! You and the Crown Prince?!" She grinned, and Katara could see the days of pain and torture leave her eyes a bit. "I mean, I wish it was me…I've always wanted to be a princess, you know…but I mean—don't think that I'm not glad it's you."

Song chuckled, accepting a cup of tea from her maid's hand. "I know what you mean, Jin. But as long as Lu Ten loves me, I'm not blaming you."

"You aren't worried about him?" Suki asked. Her voice lowered to a whisper and she said quietly, "I mean…the prince has been known to have a…wandering eye."

"And hands." Toph added in. "Don't forget about his wandering hands."

So Song would find out the truth from them. Katara felt a weight lift off her shoulders as the girls spoke. One potential betrayal stopped, one crisis averted.

If Yue's pregnancy was true, then did she have no doubts about his faithfulness and loyalty? Would Lu Ten stop seeing other women and commit himself solely to her? And what about Yue's baby?

But Song didn't seem daunted by the possibility of Lu Ten's licentious lifestyle. "As long as I have Lu Ten's love, then the rumors and misconceptions of the general populace are of no consequence to me." She smiled peacefully at the rest of them, seeming not to have a care in the world. "Lu Ten loves me, of that I'm sure."

"I don't know how I could be so positive, Princess Song." Diyi said, taking a piece of fruit from a bowl resting on a flat stone. Her tone was pleasant, but there was a certain…malicious tone to it. She wondered if it was only her imagination, but then saw Toph's mouth set in a hard line. She felt it too. "Especially considering Prince Lu Ten's reputation. I have heard that he has slept with every maid in this palace, and that he has dozens of illegitimate children. Why, just yesterday my maid Tari was telling me about her escapade with him. They spent an entire week together at the Royal Family's summer home. Hearing this, do you not have any doubts?"

For one brief moment, Katara saw Song's carefully placed smile waver. For only a second, the calm mask of the perfect princess was shattered for an instant. But it was only a flash of emotion across her face. Gone before she could even really register what it was. And then the calm exterior was back, the only proof that Song felt anything other than the façade she showed everyone was her tightened grip on the goblet of water that her maid hurriedly passed to her, and the hardening of her eyes.

But everyone knew how the older woman felt then, and they all could see the guilt in Toph and Suki's faces. They were thinking that perhaps they had gone too far, and maybe in this one instance they had. But Diyi was undisturbed by Song's change, if the way she held herself was anything to show for it. She smirked while sipping from a teacup like Song would. The image of the perfect princess.

Katara realized that she was waiting for Song to say something. And when the older girl cleared her throat, Katara wondered if she was going to give up on Lu Ten all together. But she shouldn't have been concerned. People from the Earth Kingdom were nothing, if not loyal. To friends and family alike.

She looked at them with practiced ease. Her hands were folded in her lap, back straight, a lovely smile on her face. "The Crown Prince and I have nothing to fear in our relationship. He loves me, as I love him. And no matter what rumors may surface, as invalidated and spiteful as they may be—," Katara didn't miss Song's pointed stare at Diyi; the other girl just huffed and looked away, pouting. "—I will stand beside him as a proper wife should."

Katara hoped Song couldn't see the way they glanced at each other uneasily. Was she being deliberately obtuse?

"That's…really mature of you Song. And very kind of you." Suki said quietly. "Lu Ten is lucky to have you."

Song smiled at her, and though it touched her eyes, Katara was convinced that in the back of Song's mind, there was some doubt as to whether Lu Ten would really remain faithful to her. "I will be his wife. It is as it should be."

The pit of guilt grew larger in her stomach until she thought it was going to eat away at her. Song was so gentle, so nice, how on earth could Katara expect Yue to show up in the Fire Nation and everything be absolutely okay? Things wouldn't be okay. Lu Ten couldn't know about the baby. Not yet. Not until she had time to come up with a plan. And if Lu Ten couldn't know about the baby, then for the time being—neither could Song.

They continued the rest of their meal in silence, with the occasional comment about the ceremonies from one of the two girls.

"Song, Katara, this question is for either of you really," Jin said through a mouthful of food. "how are you going to combine Earth Kingdom—or Water Tribe—wedding customs into the Fire Nation wedding?"

"I will follow what Lu Ten wishes." Song said simply. "Although I have been allowed to have some input, I would much rather if the Fire Lady arranged everything."

"Oh-kay…" Jin said slowly, casting a nervous look at Song. Katara knew what she was thinking. What woman didn't want to plan their own wedding?

Song sensed their questions and chuckled softly. "It doesn't matter what my ceremony is like. All that matters is that by the end of the day, I'm married."

"That's one way to look at things…" Suki said, contemplating. They all turned to Katara. "And you, Katara?"

"Well I—," Katara started, before she was interrupted by the sound of shoes crunching on grass and the swishing of fabric.

She looked the other girls confused before turning around to see a passively irate Mai coming from the part of the palace where Lu Ten and Zuko's rooms were. She wore a black bathing robe, and her hands were balled into fists, as she charged at the group. Katara braced herself. Would Mai attack her here? No…too many witnesses around. Immediately, as the girl approached, Gu Zhi went to intercept her by standing in front of her, blocking her path.

"Get out of my way." Mai hissed. She went around Gu Zhi to the right, but the older woman was immediately there, effectively blocking her off, once more.

"Now Miss Mai, this is a private lunch." Gu Zhi said calmly as Mai tried to go around her again. But Gu Zhi was right there going the opposite direction, stopping her from getting past. "If you wish to speak to Princess Katara, you may do so at a later time."

Mai shot the woman a steely look. "I'd like to see you try and stop me." She said and pushed the woman aside. In the meantime, Song and Katara helped each other to their feet, and the other girls did the same, Suki and Toph standing next to her protectively. Mai's eyes zeroed in on her, and she stalked over to her, much like a moose-lion would do to its prey. Mai's golden eyes were cloudy and hate-filled, and the sneer on her red lips wasn't unlike they were in the bathhouse.

"You." The 16-year-old pointed at Katara when she reached her.

Katara shrugged. "Me." This caused snickers to break out from Suki or Toph, she didn't turn to look. Katara's eyes never left Mai's, showing that she wasn't scared of the older girl. If Mai thought she was going to try and intimidate Katara, then she was sorely mistaken. But once Mai found out about their relationship, Katara knew that they'd have to confront each other eventually. She wasn't going to let Zuko go on Mai's behalf. "What can I do for you, Mai?"

"You can start by undoing what you did to Zuko." Mai spat at her.

"What did I do?" Katara asked sweetly, taunting Mai. She saw Zuko's face, and the pain behind his eyes when he told her of their breakup. Zuko had said that Hahn didn't deserve her. Well she thought that Mai didn't deserve him.

"You stole him away from me! He was mine until you came along." Mai sneered. "You got into his head…or maybe he got between your legs."

"What, you're upset that Zuko likes girls with a personality?" Toph smirked, and Mai was about to say something back at the girl when Katara spoke first. This was a fight between the two of them. No one else had to be involved.

"Zuko told me what happened." Katara took a very sick pleasure in watching Mai's eyes grow wide in shock. "From what he says, Zuko told you how he felt. He would have done anything for you—and yet you threw it all in his face."

"You don't understand, we'd been betrothed since we were 4. All I'd ever known was that I was supposed to marry him. And then…he burned Azula and my parents made me give him up. But I was 14! I'd never had a choice." Mai said quietly, her voice lowering and hands shaking. "You couldn't understand what I was going through.

"You're right." Katara acknowledged, and she almost relished in the surprise on Mai's face. "You shouldn't have had that pressure on you." —Azula, she said—Well…it doesn't matter what she said, but Zuko wasn't supposed to get over me." Then all at once, the confidence was back. "You were the second. Zuko still loves me. They say you can never forget your first love."

"What a load of—," Toph started, but Katara interrupted her.

"No, I suppose you can't forget your first love." Katara said conceding, remembering how she felt about Hahn. But Katara smiled. Learning from her mistake with Hahn was "But sometimes we have to give up what seems right at the time, for something better to come down the line."

But Mai could only remain fixed on one thing. "You love Zuko?"

Truly, hiding behind Mai's cruel mask, was a sad girl who was denied the one thing she actually wanted. "Why do you think I'm still here?"

But Mai didn't answer her question. "He said—he said he loves you too." Mai appeared to be in shock. "He had all of these waterbending scrolls and he said he loved you and he was going to spend the rest of his life with you—the life I wanted. The life I deserve. The life I dreamed about—,"

Zuko told Mai that he loves me. While it was almost as good as a confession, Katara couldn't wait until Zuko said the words to her himself, and not just through Mai.

"The life you lost when you left him." Katara said a little more snidely than she originally intended.

Mai's eyes narrowed in on her again. "My father—Azula—Prince Ozai…they made me do it. He fought with Azula and to punish him, they took me away. They made me break up with him in front of the entire court. Have you ever had to deal with that kind of pressure?" Katara couldn't say that she ever had. " You don't understand what that's like. What Azula is like. I must be with Zuko. I just have to be."

"If you loved Zuko that much then you should have fought for him. Do you think that anyone wants to see us together?" Katara asked her. Mai remained silent, looking at her with barely concealed disdain. "But at least the two of you had the same culture. I'm prepared to move halfway around the world, give up my family, friends, and everything that I've ever known—for him. Can you honestly say that you would do the same?"

Mai remained silent, before saying "Y-Yes."

"As if we believe that." Suki cut in.

"If it took you that long to decide..." Katara said quietly, "Then you don't deserve him."

Mai was quiet for a long time after that, a few minutes at least. She seemed to be consumed in thought. Finally, she looked up, and smirked at Katara, although Katara detected almost no hatred in the look. "Maybe you do have what it takes after all." Katara didn't say anything, waiting to see what the girl would say next. "I've always loved a good challenge, Katara."

"Then consider your challenge accepted." Katara told her simply.

Mai smiled wistfully. It was a smile filled with a bit of comfort, sadness, and regret all in one. "Then this should be interesting." She started to turn away, before pausing and looking back at Katara.

"If I lose...take care of him for me. I've always been selfish you know, being an only child for so many years, I got whatever I wanted. Then, it seemed like with Zuko being a Prince; he was the one thing I couldn't have. And that only made me want him more. And then when he confessed to me—I didn't know that it was going to be in front of everyone—But then all of a sudden…the chase was over. I'd gotten what I wanted."

"I understand Mai." Katara said softly.

"Of course not. But if you break his heart like I did—because he loves you more than he ever loved me—you'll have to answer to me." There was a smile on Mai's face.

For some strange reason…Katara smiled back. "I wouldn't expect anything else."

"Well then." Mai turned to leave, without saying anything to anyone else.

Katara felt there was some strange understanding between herself and Mai now, and she wasn't exactly sure how it came about, but Katara didn't mind it actually. Not one bit. Because it was obvious that Mai cared about Zuko, in her own misguided way, even if she didn't love him like Katara did. And Katara understood that Mai was subject to certain pressures that Katara would perhaps never understand. Like Azula for instance. Azula was a force all on her own.

"Mai?" Katara called. The older girl turned around.

"What are you doing?" Toph hissed in her ear. "She was leaving!"

Katara chuckled at her friend and shook her head, shortly forgetting that Toph couldn't see her. Mai stood patiently, ignoring Toph's comment and looking at her friend with a sense of disdain. Katara couldn't help but wonder, "Are you ever going to tell Zuko what you just told me?"

Mai looked at her sadly. "Maybe someday when we're old and gray and he doesn't hate me so much."

Katara wanted to say that Zuko probably would forgive her—with a little prodding, courtesy of Katara—but Mai spoke before she could say something. "But…Right now, I'm going to let things continue as they are…because…I really just don't care anymore."

As Mai walked away, Katara knew that the older girl was talking about the pressures of being with Zuko, and not Zuko himself. And that was fine. Katara had been prepared to defend her love for Zuko to Mai, but she never expected something like this. But Zuko loved her, and that was all that she needed to hear. And there would be no more contest from Mai, which was a plus.

Suki asked warily. "Is she going to be a problem from now on?

"Doesn't matter, I'm too hungry to care." Toph snorted as they sat back down.

Song

As everyone began to go their separate ways after eating, the maids that had brought the food stayed behind to clean up. Song didn't feel bad about using them, it was just the way things were. Katara and the others were planning to help Jin get settled into the room next to Toph's, but Song decided that she would enjoy the beginnings of the sunset for the moment. It was early evening, about 5:00, and the sun was setting behind the mountains behind the Fire Nation palace, casting nearly everything with a red-orange glow. It really was remarkably pretty, and Song was sure that she would have many opportunities to watch such a beautiful display during her life in the Fire Nation.

Being the future Fire Lady didn't frighten her at all. She had always known that as the sister of a king, she would marry someone of high standing. However, she had always imagined it to be King Bumi's grandson, a second-born son of his eldest daughter. Apparently, that wasn't going to happen. Tomorrow she would begin training for the protocols of her Fire Nation wedding. In a few years, she would begin training on how to run a country.

Song wasn't going to push the issue of including some of her Earth Kingdom traditions in her ceremony. After all, the Earth Kingdom and Fire Nation were similar enough with their customs. And there was political strength in immersing herself in her husband's culture as well. From the age of 5, Song had been educated in political strategy, and giving herself up fully to the Fire Nation was a sure sign to the nobility that she was committed to being Fire Nation in everything but ethnicity.

Katara would have it more difficult, she supposed. As Song took in the 15-year-old girl, who was so against arriving here in the Fire Nation in the first place, she didn't think that anyone, even Katara herself, could have foreseen that she would fall in love with a Fire Nation prince. However, people of the Fire Nation didn't really like the Water Tribe very much, and their lifestyles were much, much too different. Would the nobility even approve of her once the official news was released? Would it even matter?

Her years of training really didn't give her an answer. Zuko was a first-born son, but not the eldest prince. In addition, for that matter, the line of succession for his branch would die out once Lu Ten had a child. Lu Ten's child would inherit the throne, provided he was legitimate, of course.

Song stopped in her tracks.

If Lu Ten had illegitimate children out there somewhere, would he tell me about them? What if we never have a child? Song wondered, hoping the concern didn't show on her face. How long would he wait after our marriage to marry a concubine?

Song wasn't a fool. She knew very well of Lu Ten's behavior towards a beautiful woman. All highborn men were like that, her brother included. But in the Fire Nation, it seemed that extra-marital affairs were more open. Rumors went around that there were more brothels in the Fire Nation than schools. And Song supposed that the restrictive lifestyle of Fire Nation women was the cause of it. Song wouldn't oppose her husband in most things, but acquisition of a concubine was one of them. At least for the first year of their marriage.

After that…well…who knew what would happen?

But maybe she was enough for Lu Ten. Maybe he loved her just enough. The rough, gravelly voice of Gu Zhi broke her out of her thoughts. "Princess Song, are you quite alright?"

Song looked past Gu Zhi and saw Katara standing some little ways off, talking to Suki. Song had never spoken to the woman personally, unless it was to give an order. The fact that Gu Zhi was one of the only servants allowed to approach someone of higher status directly, said just how much power she had.

Song cleared her throat and tried to wipe the worry from her face. "Yes. I'm. Is there something that I may help you with?" She asked politely.

"Well…" Gu Zhi looked behind her to see if Katara was listening in, but she was still talking to Suki for the time being. Gu Zhi turned back to Song with a nervous look on her face. Song didn't think that the elderly woman could be nervous. She always seemed so calm.

"What's it?" Song asked. "Is there something wrong with Katara?"

Gu Zhi looked almost insulted for a moment. "No, no, Princess Katara is fine, Your Highness…at least…I believe so. I was hoping to discuss a matter of importance." She took a breath and then began to speak. "As the Future Fire Lady, you have considerable power within the Court. Your power is almost equal to the Crown Prince Lu Ten's and will be equal to him once you're married."

"I know." Song replied, a bit wary of where Gu Zhi was going with this. "What of it?"

"This afternoon, a few moments before you arrived to ask her to a late lunch, Princess Katara received a letter from an unknown source. The letter seemed to cause her great discomfort. It is not my place to say this, but I'm concerned about her wellbeing and wondered if you might speak with her about it. It may make her feel better."

Katara was upset? Song looked at the smiling girl next to Toph, Suki, Jin and Diyi and didn't see any sign of distress. But perhaps Katara was just that successful as hiding her pain as any princess had to be. "Alright." Song told the old maid, smiling. "I will speak to—,"

"There is something else, Your Highness." Gu Zhi said nervously, even more so than before. "I witnessed, after you all left for the picnic, Lady Diyi return to Princess Katara's room and steal that letter."

What? Song had known Diyi since she first arrived on the ship. She seemed like a kind girl, although a bit too ambitious for her own good. "She wouldn't do that."

"I saw it with my own eyes, Your Highness." Gu Zhi said firmly. "I wouldn't lie. Not about a matter of this importance."

Song looked at Diyi, who was standing away from the group with malice written all over her face. Perhaps Diyi wasn't the person that Song thought she was. Perhaps Diyi had something sinister planned for Katara. Something to do with that letter.

"Very well." Song said simply. "I will speak to her. However, do not let Katara know until the time is right. Occupy her somehow. Encourage her to spend some time with Prince Zuko."

Gu Zhi nodded, and turned away but let out a large gasp, before turning back to Song practically in shock. "Princess Song!"

"What happened?" But Gu Zhi didn't have to say anything. Song already knew from looking around. Diyi, was gone from the garden. More importantly, she took Katara's letter with her.

Azula

Azula sent Mai on her way to Zuko, and then went to give her unwanted greetings to her mother. It wasn't that she didn't want to see her mother. She actually did, despite popular opinion, but she just couldn't stand being in the same room as…Zhao. She wasn't scared of him—there was hardly a person alive that she was truly scared of, she just didn't like the way he looked at her. It was so possessive, so lecherous that Azula felt uncomfortable whenever she was around him.

Then there also was the fact that her mother had practically ate Zhao's face off the last time she saw them together. Her mother was cheating on her father, Prince Ozai. While she knew that her father no longer loved Ursa, she at least hoped that her parents were in love with each other. Obviously, that wasn't the case.

Then again, her mother was a cunning as they came. Perhaps she was only using Zhao to achieve what she wanted. Maybe it was all part of some weird plan to achieve the crown of Fire Lady. It was a stretch to think about, and if this was her mother's best solution to the problem at hand…well…Azula could have come up with something better.

Whatever crazy mess her mother had landed herself in—had landed them both in now—Azula would help with. Because her mother needed her—much as the woman hated to admit it.

Azula needed her mother just the same.

But when Azula reached her mother's rooms, she had to wonder exactly how private all these schemes were. Because standing outside of the entrance to her mother's suite of rooms, was a girl from the Hana Matsuri that probably should have been on her way home with the rest of them. Her name was Diyi or something like that. The girl was unmistakable; she stood out like a sore thumb with thick heavy makeup, long black hair and bright green eyes. Most Fire Nation women preferred a more subtle look, even in their vanity.

The girl was fiddling with her hair, brushed back over one shoulder, and clutching a white slip of paper in her right hand. Every so often, the girl would stop, unfold the crumpled ball, scan it quickly with her eyes, and then fold it back just as fast. Afterwards, she would break out into a large grin and Azula had to wonder just what made the girl so giddy. Whatever it was, it was obviously important.

"What do you have there?" Azula asked when she grew tired of watching the girl.

Diyi jumped, Azula had obviously startled her. She turned and faced the Princess with wide eyes. "Princess Azula! What brings you here?"

"II live here." Azula said calmly, stepping closer. There was no trace of irritation in her voice—yet. The girl said nothing, and Azula stepped forward again. This time, Diyi took a step back. "I don't make a habit of asking things twice—I've done that too much today as it is—now what do you have there?"

"It's a letter. F-For your mother." The girl stammered. "I found it and I thought she might be interested in its contents."

Ah. So Azula had been correct form the beginning. She walked closer. Only 4 or 5 paces separated the two girls. Azula could see the beads of sweat start to form on the girl's brow. Good. She was afraid of her. This time, when Azula spoke, she let the menace drip into her tone, which would rattle the girl further. "How do you know that my mother would want to see you in the first place?"

Diyi's eyes widened and she took another step backwards, her free hand clutching the wall for support. Swallowing thickly, she looked up. "I-I've been employed in your mother's service ever since the Hana Matsuri began."

Ouch. That hurt a little bit. Did her mother not trust Azula? Is that why she only confided in this outsider to do a job that Azula could have easily completed? Probably with a lot more finesse, as well. Then, suddenly, it all made sense. During the meal preparing test of the Hana Matsuri, the reason the food-taster died wasn't because Azula messed up. It was because this girl did the exact same thing, only with her mother's guidance.

"Oh really?" Azula asked, patronizingly. "Well, your services are no longer needed. I'll take that letter off your hands."

"N-No." Diyi said firmly, but with caution. She stood up straighter and sent a defiant glare Azula's way. "It's mine. I-I found it."

Azula couldn't believe what she was seeing and hearing. Why did no one fear her anymore? Was she losing her touch? Did she not command and demand the fear and respect of others like her mother and father did? No, it couldn't be possible! She wasn't overly good and sweet like Zuko, but if she couldn't strike fear into the hearts of those beneath her, then what was the point of it at all?

"I don't think so." Azula said, near fuming at this point. She narrowed her eyes at the older and taller girl. Azula stalked over and gripped the girl's wrist before the other could even blink.

"I—," Diyi nearly dropped the paper in fear when Azula tightened her grip, squeezing the girl's bony wrist enough to bruise.

Azula stared into Diyi's fearful brown eyes and hissed with a small amount of satisfaction, "Give me the letter now, or I'll break your fingers to get it. Make your choice."

Diyi's fingers opened almost immediately. Azula plucked the letter oh-so-gently from Diyi's palm, and then pushed the older girl onto the floor. Turning away from her, so as not to see the squirming, Azula turned around and unfolded the letter. She scanned the document until she found the words that would make her mother proud of her for once.

I have to tell Lu Ten I'm carrying his baby. With any luck, I could become Fire Lady!

Azula smirked. Yes, her mother will love this. And Azula couldn't wait to ruin Lu Ten's life. She'd get revenge for what he said to her on the way to the South Pole.

"Father legitimized me…Grandfather Azulon approved it…he—," Azula stammered, losing her hot air.

"Doesn't change who your mother is." Lu Ten said, rising. Azula took a step backwards, but Lu Ten kept advancing. "Don't tell me you aren't ashamed of it."

Lu Ten would be groveling at her feet for what he said. She was more than the daughter of a concubine. She would make sure the entire world knew it if she had to. Azula didn't care if it had been the drunken nonsensical babbling of her cousin. She didn't care if he didn't really mean what he said.