Chapter 34

Katara

She lay in the tub for a while after he left, long after all her wounds healed, and the water began to get icy. The steam was gone, and all that Katara was left with was her clouded thoughts and swirling emotions. She didn't feel the coldness at all. Her fingers skimmed the surface of the water, creating ripples that carried from one end of the tub to the other. She inhaled the lingering scent of the flower petals that Zuko had sprinkled along its surface. The steam was supposed to calm her, to ebb away her nervousness and anxiety, but all she felt was confusion.

"I feel like I barely know you Zuko. And what's more…I feel like you barely know me."

"Oh, you're mad at me now?" Zuko had said sarcastically. "I'm sorry, I could hardly tell. What with you basically insinuating that my love for you is meaningless." He had sounded hurt. And Katara had almost wished that she could take her words back.

Almost.

Katara felt a lump of guilt form in the pit of her stomach.

He had a point.

Katara grimaced, her hands splashing the water violently, making it surge over the edge of the tub, wetting the floor. Her hands ran through her already soaked hair, getting caught in tangles that had accumulated throughout her time in Ozai's dungeon. The knots in her hair just made her even more frustrated at the way things turned out for them.

They didn't know each other well at all. Not the personal things, or the itty-bitty little quirks that made people uniquely them. What were his habits? Did he sleep with the window opened or closed? What dish did he eat first at a meal? Did he prefer to wear his uniform, or his formal clothes more often?

Then again, she was also in the wrong. It's not like she could expect him to tell her. You found out these things by spending time with someone. Time that they didn't have. Things in this palace were too fast paced, too competitive.

She knew Zuko was the one for her, but if someone asked her why… what would she say? What could she say?

He's kind…he's understanding…he's determined…he's incredibly stubborn…

He makes me smile…He is the reason behind the strange emotions I feel…He's clever…

And time would tell if they were truly meant to be.

She was too harsh with him. That was the conclusion she'd come up with. Zuko had been in a relationship before. But Mai was from the Fire Nation. They were more similar than she knew, they had the same complexion, the same clear, golden eyes…they shared the same history, the same customs, the same traditions. She could never hope to have or understand all these things. The point wasn't how similar Zuko and Mai were, or how different she and Zuko were, but rather that Zuko had probably liked Mai for a while, since they were kids.

And as much as that stung her chest to admit, Zuko had probably never experienced having to change himself for someone else. He never had to.

"No, I get it." She said dismissively. "You don't care about anyone else that's here. So long as you get your girlfriend, the rest of us can die for all you care."

She'd been so angry when they'd spoken that day, the moisture in the air started to crystalize and chill where she stood. But maybe that was Zuko's personality. To deflect once the apology had been said, to drop issues and never speak of them again. Is that how he and Mai had interacted? Every time they argued, did they just leave the issue alone to fester underneath their skin? That wasn't healthy, and it couldn't make for a good relationship.

She had to apologize. They had to sit down and talk about what was said. Everything. Their feelings, their thoughts, hopes, dreams, histories… It had to happen, no matter how awkward it was going to be.

Katara raised herself up and reached for the stark white towel that she'd placed next to the edge. She wrapped it around her body, relaxed by its softness. Tucking in the corner to keep the towel from slipping, she stepped out of the tub, drying the excess water from her body. Walking back into the main room, she sat at the vanity packed with bare necessities. Taking a brush from the minimal cosmetics lined up on the vanity, she began to brush and brush her hair.

If I'm going to apologize, I might as well look better than he's seen me.

The knock on the door startled her. Aside from Zuko, she didn't know if anyone knew that she was in here. Tentatively, she called out to the person on the other side. "Who is it?"

"Smellerbee, Princess Katara." The young voice on the other side of the door said. "May I come in?"

"Yes, of course." Katara turned in the chair to face Smellerbee fully as the young girl slid open the door.

She looked different from the last time Katara had seen her. She looked healthy; she wore a well-fitting red and black uniform, Azula's personal insignia embroidered on her shoulder. Her cheeks were fuller and her hair, although still spiky short, was well groomed. She looked more like a child, and Katara smiled at the girl. Apparently working for Azula didn't have a negative effect on her, yet.

"Are you feeling better?" Smellerbee asked, giving Katara a slight bow.

"Yes. Much." Katara nodded, before turning her attention back to her hair. While she brushed out the tangles, she talked more with Smellerbee.

Katara finished with her hair and reached for a clip to pin it up. But her fingers were clumsy after months of not styling her hair on her own. After several failed attempts to pin her unruly locks to her head, Smellerbee appeared behind her in the vanity's mirror. "I could help you with your hair." She gestured to Katara's towel clad body. "And with your dress."

"Fine." Katara nodded, feeling both upset at herself and the Fire Nation for making her forget how to take care of herself.

Smellerbee picked up the plain jade clip she held in her hands and frowned. "This is too plain."

"Am I going somewhere special?"

"Well, Crown Prince Lu Ten has returned successful from crushing the rebellion, and the Fire Lady is having a celebration dinner. So, you need to look your best. We can't let Lady Mai spoil it." Smellerbee said, looking through several tiny drawers.

"Rebellion?" She asked first, before the end of Smellerbee's sentence dawned on her. "Mai is going to be there?" Katara choked out as she felt her lungs tighten.

Smellerbee nodded. "Yes, at Princess Azula's insistence. A-ha! Found it."

"What did you find?" Katara asked, leaning forward.

"This." Smellerbee held up an azure and coral hairpin, covered in jewels. She held it up next to Katara's face, and the blue of the design matched her eyes. The clasp was silver, and the decoration was in the shape of a coral dragon. The body and inner wings were pink amethyst, while the eyes, claws and tips of the wings were sapphires. The pink and blue had a lovely calming effect to it, and as Smellerbee moved it back and forth to show Katara the glinting gemstones, the dragon almost looked like it was flying. Silver tendrils hung down from the dragon's perch on the pin and when the pin moved, they twinkled and clinked together, creating a pleasant sound.

Katara's mouth dropped open. "Zuko said this room wasn't decorated yet! How was that there?"

"This room wasn't decorated for you yet." Smellerbee said, opening more drawers and pulling out expensive looking cosmetics. "I'm pretty sure Fire Lady Iyla's things are still in here."

"Fire Lady Iyla?" Katara asked as Smellerbee worked on her hair, twisting and tying it up into an elaborate bun on the top of her hair. She left two strands of Katara's hair in the front to form the loops later.

Smellerbee shrugged. "I'm not sure exactly, but when Prince Zuko carried you here, I heard one of Princess Azula's other servants mention her. I think she might have been the wife of Fire Lord Azulon."

Fire Lord Iroh and Prince Ozai's mother? Zuko's grandmother?

"Where is she now?" Katara asked.

Again, Smellerbee shrugged. "Dead, I think." Reaching for a few smaller pink clips shaped like flowers, she pinned the extra strands of Katara's hair to her head, forming a tighter version of her hair loops.

"That looks great! Where did you learn to do that?" Katara exclaimed.

"Princess Azula ordered someone to teach me." Smellerbee ran a hand through her spiky hair, blushing in embarrassment at the compliment. "Unfortunately, that's about the only thing that I can do, so don't be surprised if you and Princess Azula have the same hairstyle."

"Speaking of Azula…" Katara murmured before speaking louder. "I'm not saying this to be rude, believe me, but why are you here? Shouldn't you be with Azula?"

To her surprise, the young servant blushed deeper. "Princess Azula is a bit…preoccupied at the moment. I shouldn't have to attend to her for a while."

"Preoccupied?" Katara asked, bemused. "How exactly is she…Oh? Never mind." Katara felt her own cheeks pink as she thought of how exactly Azula was preoccupied. Jet certainly had his work cut out for him, didn't he? "Was there something you wanted to tell me?"

"Yes." Smellerbee looked nervous for a moment, "Your…guest has arrived."

"Really? How?" Katara inquired.

Smellerbee smiled brightly, almost proud of herself. "That was my idea. I asked Jet to distract Princess Azula, so I could get the servants out of the way in order for me to slip away. I ran through the kitchens to get her from our apartment over Mr. Wu's shop."

"And Shuzen just let you in the kitchen?" Katara frowned, remembering the unkind head cook.

"When you work for Princess Azula…" Smellerbee pointed to the sewed-on patch of blue flame surrounded by orange fire on her shoulder. "…Everyone pretty much lets you do whatever you want." She sounded happy about that.

"And you like working for her?"

Smellerbee nodded. "She's not cruel…to me. I'm pretty sure she only treats me nicely because of Jet."

Katara nodded. That sounded like Azula. "What do you think about Jet's…relationship with her?"

Smellerbee walked away from her and towards the closet. "It's not my place to say." She said simply. She opened it, and her voice was muffled through the door. "While I think he's absolutely crazy for having feelings for Princess Azula…If he's happy, I'm happy."

Katara smiled. "How noble of you."

"I don't think it has anything to do with nobility," The younger girl mused. "I think that…family members should support each other…even if it's hard sometimes."

This girl seems far older than 12.

Smellerbee returned, holding up lavender gown accented by blue and pink. While pink wasn't Katara's color in the least, it matched the beautiful hairpin. And besides, if she was going to live here, she should get used to wearing such colors. It was covered in rhododendrons. Purple, blue and pink swirled and danced along the dress and long sleeves, one color melded into the next, and she couldn't tell where pink started, and the blue began.

"I see."

Smellerbee held up the dress. "When Prince Zuko sees you in this, he's never going to let you go."

If he forgives me...that's all I really want.

She didn't reply.

Zuko

Zuko hadn't made it far. Each footstep was harder and harder to take. His boots seemed to weigh a ton, and it was a struggle to get them to move from her door. But he kept walking, no matter how difficult it was, nursing his wounded pride. He made it to one of the doorways leading to the garden inside of the Main Palace but couldn't bring himself to open it. So he stood there, head down, feeling all the more a fool with each breath he took.

She'd rejected him and pushed him away! A snarky little voice in the back of his head whispered: Mai never did that. And it was true. For the most part, Mai never pushed him away except that yes, yes, she did when she broke up with him. He wanted to apologize, but his pride wouldn't let him. After all, why should he have to apologize? He'd treated Katara the way she was meant to be treated. Like his future wife was meant to be treated…right? Was he supposed to apologize?

He didn't have many people to go to for a reference. His uncle was still unwell, Lu Ten was still off crushing the rebellion, and there was no way that he was going to talk to his father. Absolutely out of the question. He couldn't apologize. Apologizing meant admitting that you were wrong, and wasn't he wrong enough over the years? Hadn't dozens of people told him that he was always going to be wrong?

His tutors told him he was wrong as a child, his father told him he was wrong for existing, and he already knew that he was wrong for the throne. What's more, everyone told him he was wrong for loving Katara. His pride rebelled at the thought.

The fact remained, he still did. He still loved her and wanted her to be by his side always.

But did she have a point? Did they really know each other?

He tried to picture something that Katara did, a little quirk or habit…but he couldn't. Her eyes didn't crinkle when she laughed, she didn't have dimples or a distinguishing habit…what made her unique? What made her uniquely Katara?

He imagined that Katara's friends were there, consoling her…Toph was strong, and that much was obvious, despite having spent so little time with her. Suki was the realist, Jin, he didn't know her at all. Song was noble, graceful and proper…everything that his aunt wanted in a daughter-in-law.

But he couldn't go back there. He couldn't bear to see her face streaked with tears. She was probably crying. He never meant to make her cry. This was supposed to be a happy reunion, one that he'd longed for over the past few days.

The gate pushed open, causing Zuko to stagger backwards before a thin arm grabbed his wrist to steady him. Straightening, he looked up to see Longshot, looking at him with impassive eyes, but his hands were quivering as he helped Zuko stand firmly. "I'm sorry, Prince Zuko."

Zuko waved it off, not really paying it any mind. He had other things to think about. "It's alright. Was there something you needed?"

Longshot nodded. "Yes, I was sent to find you. I figured you would be with Princess Katara." If Longshot noticed Zuko's expression falter at the mention of Katara, he didn't say anything, to Zuko's relief. "Prince Lu Ten is back. And he wishes to speak with you in the library."

"That's fine. Tell him I'll be right there." Longshot nodded before starting to leave. "Oh, Longshot?" Zuko called him back.

He turned, halfway out the gate. Zuko took a step forward. "Have you seen Jet lately?" Did Longshot, Jet and Smellerbee have the family reunion they so desired? If Zuko's own family had nothing to do except burn in their own discontent…then could the makeshift family of unrelated teenagers be content with their lives?

The male servant shook his head. "I haven't seen him. I was called to serve Prince Lu Ten on the battlefield."

"Oh." Zuko tried and failed to keep the disappointment out of his voice.

But Longshot offered the prince a soft smile. "But from what I've heard from Smellerbee, is that he's doing just fine. Thanks to you and Princess Katara."

"It was nothing." Zuko said, mouth drawn. "It was all Katara, I didn't really do anything."

"I'm serious, your highness." The look that Longshot gave him was steady, and unwavering. His eyes glinting with some sort of determined emotion that Zuko couldn't place. "We're in your debt you know. And we freedom fighters always pay our debts."

Katara

Katara stared at her beautiful cousin, who, even in a plain green dress and a thin black cloak covering most of her body, still made Katara feel so inadequate. Her white hair shone, even in the darkness of the tunnels that crisscrossed under the palace.

"Well?" Yue asked, waiting for an answer. "Aren't you going to say anything?"

"Are you sure you're pregnant?" Katara asked quietly.

"Katara, I think I would know if I was pregnant. And I am." Yue nodded, confirming Katara's worst fears. She was relieved by Yue's small belly, she wasn't showing yet. Katara had held on to some slim hope that Yue was perhaps mistaken. There were stories of false pregnancies, but those were rare, where the mind could quite literally make you believe that you were in fact, pregnant. A woman could show every symptom, but there would be no child. Even so, Katara had never seen the young woman more certain of anything in her life. Yue stated proudly, "I have not had my Moon's Blood since a week and a half before Lu Ten's arrival."

"But still, you could—." Katara tried to find something to say, but Yue took a hand and placed it on her belly, offering Katara a soft smile. Katara couldn't understand how Yue was so calm about this. Didn't she understand how much trouble she was in – how much trouble they both were in? Yue had no idea what kind of viper's nest she was walking into headfirst.

"Katara." Yue said firmly, holding her cousin's shoulders tightly. "Why would I lie?"

"You..." Her voice was hollow, without the joyous inflection she should be showing. But this really was almost a nightmare come true. Lu Ten was here. Yue was here. Song was here. The worst thing that could happen—

Oh no.

If Yue and Song met face to face…and Lu Ten didn't know…the results could be disastrous. They couldn't run into each other. They just couldn't! No one could withstand the fallout.

"Of course I do, silly." Yue said, giggling. Her mood displayed very clearly that she had never considered the idea thought that Lu Ten would reject her. In Yue's mind, there was no way that Lu Ten wouldn't instantly claim her—and their child. But Katara chose to remain silent, walking quickly to get Yue out of these tunnels and into her room, where no one could see her. As they moved further into the tunnels, Yue coughed, stopping in her tracks. "Ugh, what's that stench; it smells like someone died down here."

"You'll be fine. Just cover your nose with your sleeve." She said, taking her cousin's hand and leading her towards the exit into the garden.

She paused at the door, opening it slightly, peeking her head through the metal doorway. The garden was empty, with the exception of a lone servant carrying a package of some sort from the Concubine's Quarters into the Main Palace. Katara winced as her eyes adjusted to the incoming light. The sun was bright in the early afternoon, and Yue's hair, white and pure as snow would stand out like a fire on a cold winter's night. Turning to her cousin, she quickly yanked the hood of the cloak over Yue's head, covering her hair. A few snow-white strands stuck out in front of her ears, and there was no denying her white eyebrows, but it would be enough, hopefully.

But as soon as the hood was on, Yue yanked it back down. "K-Katara! What's the problem?"

"Keep it down!" Well, Katara thought. At least she has the hood on. "We could be caught out here."

Yue shot her a suspicious look. The young woman wasn't stupid. There was a question in her bright eyes and a prepared interrogation on her lips. She knew something was wrong, and her furrowed brow said she was only a few seconds away from asking it. But they didn't have time. Not only would the guards be doing shift-changes soon, but she had to hide Yue away before anyone saw her.

They walked through the garden with speed, Katara not releasing Yue's hand until they reached the gate to the Main Palace, where Katara and Zuko's future room would be. Along the way Yue remarked about how splendid the garden was, and what kind of flowers she would add once she was married to Lu Ten. Everything was just splendid. Katara resisted the urge to snap, remembering that Yue didn't now the entire situation. Opening the large wooden door, Katara pulled Yue through. The entryway was deserted, Suki and Toph were probably helping Song with wedding plans, adhering to Zuko's request to allow her some peace and quiet.

"Follow me." Katara said quietly.

They walked to her room in silence, or well, relative silence as Yue just about gasped at everything in the entire place.

"Who are all of these rooms for Katara?" She asked quietly, still in wonder. "The Fire Lady?"

Katara shook her head. Looking at the dozens of doorways, ornate vases filled with every color of flower imaginable, decorating the entire hall, it was easy to see how Yue could be in awe. It reminded her of the first time she came to the palace herself. "No, these rooms are for children and other family members. The concubines live in another section of the palace. Some are larger than others, depending on the status of the concubine."

"Really?"

"Yes." Katara said quietly. "My room is currently in the Concubine's Quarters."

Yue nodded in understanding before smiling slightly. "You live in one of those rooms? You're someone's concubine? Oh, I can't believe it! Seriously? You?" Yue sounded slightly giddy at that. Katara frowned.

Katara's patience was wearing thin. There were bigger problems to worry about than whether Katara was a concubine. Zhao was now imprisoned, but with only a few of the men under his control captured, those that remained free still posed a serious threat. What's more, Tiang was still free. Her powers diminished, but still free to do as she pleased. And that was a nightmare. Ozai on the other hand, Katara couldn't figure out. He seemed almost euphoric during her trial. A complete switch from his behavior when she was in the prison.

Of course, Yue didn't know that…but still.

"No. I'm no one's concubine." Katara said stiffly. The hall was empty. Every servant was probably preparing the dining room for Lu Ten's celebration dinner. But should she tell Yue that?

The 19-year-old looked around in confusion. "Then where are all of the other girls? Isn't the Hana Matsuri still going on?"

"Um..." Katara winced. "No, most of the other girls went home a long time ago."

"Then what are you still doing here?" Yue asked pointedly, zeroing in on Katara's face. She could feel the weight of Yue's stare, and the surprising antagonism that went with it. "Don't tell me that you—,"

Yue's voice broke off as they arrived in front of Fire Lady Iyla's room. She ran her fingers over the gems embedded into the wooden frame of Katara's new room. Dozens of little, tiny pearls rubies glowed in the afternoon light. Ignoring her cousin, Katara slid open the door.

"I'm staying here." Katara told her, but Yue just pushed past her and into the room. Whether or not the 19-year-old heard her was something else entirely.

Katara helped Yue pull the hood off her head and unbutton her cloak. The older woman's light eyes roamed over Katara's plain room, a disapproving frown on her beautiful face.

"This is your room?" Her cousin asked, laughing to herself. Katara frowned. The room wasn't decorated because no one lived in the room yet. It was quaint, cozy, and but the extravagance was hidden beneath its surface. She thought of the dragon-pin embedded in her hair.

Katara shrugged. "No, not yet. But it will be."

Yue, she was another story entirely. Her voice was loud and cutting, like a knife through Katara's skin. She probably spent the past two months imagining what kind of life she would have with Lu Ten, and Katara. "Oh this would never have worked for me. Even in the temple I stayed in a better room than this." She cut Katara a patronizing glance. "I'm just…so sorry, Katara."

Funny. Her voice didn't sound sorry at all.

"I'm valued around here more than you might think." Katara retorted coolly, taking Yue – and herself – by surprise.

Had Yue always been this way? Had her smiling, laughing, kind-hearted cousin always given such a demeaning look? When had the cousin that she loved so much, the older sister that she never had become so cruel to her? For as long as she could remember, Yue had been the best friend, the confidante, the girl she loved more than anyone else, save her own parents. Yue was the first person that Katara was ever jealous of. She was older, more mature, beautiful and graceful. She'd even become a priestess, something that Katara had wanted for the longest time. And even now, the candlelight reflected off Yue's white hair brightly, casting her in an otherworldly glow.

And even now, Katara felt so inadequate. Yue practically shined, and Katara couldn't help but feel dull at the comparison.

But as she'd been doing a lot today, Yue ignored her pleading words, stepping fluidly to Katara's mirror and examining her face in the reflection, releasing her hair from its braids and shaking it until it was wavy and flowing to her lower back. She reached and opened one of Katara's few makeup containers and started applying rouge to her cheeks. Katara couldn't help but feel a little bit insulted that Yue just picked something up that didn't belong to her and started using it.

"But why are we hiding?" Yue asked, primping. She applied color to her lips and then smirked at her reflection satisfied. "I thought Lu Ten would be holding a feast in my honor or something."

"There is a feast tonight, but um…" How could she say the words, you can't go? Katara had never seen Yue this happy.

"Excellent." Yue grinned wider, if possible. "I'll wear one of your dresses then."

"Yue I—,"

"That's if I can fit into them." The older woman smirked.

"Listen to me!" Katara ordered her cousin. Yue's mouth closed in surprise. Katara's tone of voice surprised her. Her voice was forceful. Angry. But could anyone really blame her? Since Yue got here, all she'd been doing was grating on Katara's nerves. "You can't go to this dinner."

Yue's eyes widened as she slammed the makeup container down in anger. "Since when do you tell me what I can and can't do Katara?" Yu stalked forward, and Katara forgot just how much taller Yue was than her.

"I'm not…" Katara started, backing away slightly. Maybe yelling at her wasn't a good idea. "Yue, I'm doing this…for a really good reason, I promise."

"Oh!" Then Yue gasped, her hand flying to her mouth in surprise. "Does he not know about the baby?" Yue asked, trailing behind her as Katara opened a window. No need to mention who he was.

Of course not. Katara wanted to scream. Lu Ten isn't even here right now.

"No." Katara whispered softly, forcing herself to remain calm.

"Then you must want to surprise him! Wonderful idea Katara, I'm surprised I didn't think of it myself." Yue clapped her hands wildly before smiling brightly at Katara.

Was something wrong with Yue? How could she not have even the slightest inkling that something was wrong with Katara. "No, I don't want to keep it a secret…for that reason. The real reason is—," Yue's personality changed at the drop of a hat and it unnerved Katara more than a little. So she was wary of telling her cousin this. "Lu Ten is marrying someone else."

"Lu Ten is getting married?" Yue looked like she could barely breathe. Her legs buckled beneath her and Katara had to rush to help her to a chair. She struggled; Yue was heavy. But finally, Katara gave up on the chair and led Yue over to her bed where she sat with a large thump. Yue let out several choking gasps, and only until several moments later she was able to form words. "But I thought—,"

"Yue, he hasn't mentioned you at all. I didn't even know that the two of you were seeing each other—,"

Yue bit out, "Exactly. You don't know anything!" Yue suddenly snapped at her. "He loves me. I know he does. He said he would be my hope, my salvation in leaving behind the world that locked me away to rot in some temple."

"Why are you so focused on marrying Lu Ten?" Katara asked her.

"Because it's rightfully mine." Yue cried, sounding close to tears. "Everything that I've ever coveted, ever wanted in life has been ripped from my hands. I deserve him. I will bear his child. He and everything he is should be mine."

"If you truly love him, then you'll want nothing more than his happiness, no matter who it's with." Katara told her softly.

Yue scoffed, her arms folded over her chest. But then at Katara's serious expression, she sighed, rolling her eyes. "What's the point? You'll never understand."

"I might understand, if you'll just tell me what you're thinking."

But Yue paid her no mind. "Who is it?" Yue asked blandly. Katara looked away, unsure if she should tell Yue. The young woman huffed in annoyance. "I'm going to find out anyway since I'm here."

"Princess Song of Ba Sing Se." Katara said directly, losing patience with her cousin. But as Katara spoke, Yue's expression darkened and Katara didn't know what to make of it. She looked in shock, but then as her brain processed the information, Katara saw Yue's eyes narrow, and grow more filled with hate. "Yue…" Katara said as a warning not to get stressed because of her child.

But Yue was far past stressed. She was angry. She stared out the window towards the garden with hate-filled eyes. "Of course, it was a princess. I bet she was waited on hand and foot back in the Earth Kingdom, and then came here and did the exact same thing. I left all that I ever knew.?" Katara didn't like the possessiveness in Yue's voice.

"Yue," Katara tried. Yue turned her angry eyes on her now, her white hair whipping around her face. "Song is one of the nicest people—,"

"I bet she's just like you Katara." There was so much spite in Yue's voice that Katara took a step back. Why was Yue saying these things? Yue's blue eyes flashed with anger. "She's probably spoiled, undeserving and ungrateful for all that she's ever had."

Katara couldn't believe what she was hearing. Katara was risking her own neck, bringing Yue into the palace where people were plotting her death even at this very moment. "I'm grateful, because there's so many others who don't have anything." Jet, Smellerbee and Longshot were perfect examples of this. "You don't know anything about what I think. I've changed since coming here, I—."

But Yue shook her head, a wicked smile on her face. "I know that, in the end, you'll travel back to the South Pole, ashamed. Just like what happened with Hahn.

Katara glared at her cousin, and for a moment, it looked as though Yue didn't believe what she was seeing. "Just shut up, Yue. You have no idea what I've been through since I left the South Pole. I've seen death and disease, been locked away for a crime I didn't commit! I've felt pain that you couldn't imagine. Must you be so self-centered that you can't see the danger you're putting us both in just by being here!?"

The 15-year-old couldn't help it. After all the love Katara had shown her, her cousin treated her like this? Katara shook her head angrily, storming away from her cousin. She could feel the hair on the back of her neck tense, she could feel in her anger, each droplet of moisture in the air surrounding her quiver and shake. She needed to calm down.

"Katara, I—," Yue still looked dumbstruck, but knocks on her door stopped her from saying anything. Katara cooled, listened, counting them. She moved towards Yue, wanting to see if she should shove her cousin into the bathroom or if it was fine for Yue to be seen. The person on the other side of the door knocked again. Four knocks in very slow succession.

Katara walked to the door and slid it open. Smellerbee stood on the other side, bowing to Katara, a large smile on her face. Clutched in her hand was a pure white card.

"What's got you so excited?" She asked her as she invited Smellerbee inside.

"Well, when I left you and…" Smellerbee cut Yue a dirty look, not saying her name. Yue glared back. Turning back to Katara, she smiled again. "I ran into Longshot who—,"

"Yes? Can you hurry it up?" Yue interrupted. "Katara and I were in the middle of something."

Katara ignored her cousin. "Go on Smellerbee, you were saying?"

Smellerbee cleared her throat and continued talking. "Prince Zuko told Longshot to give you this, Longshot gave it to me instead." She held out the small white card.

Katara unfolded it, and a smile lit up her face as she read the words.

Katara,

I was being insensitive. Lu Ten… talked me out of my idiocy.
I'm sorry, and you're right. I shouldn't make you change who you are,
just to make me happy or just to fit in. You should be yourself,
regardless of what I think—regardless of what anyone thinks.
I have a surprise for you. I think you'll like it.

Maybe. I hope.

I love you, Katara,

-Zuko

"So?" Smellerbee asked excitedly. "What does it say?" But then she caught herself. "That's…if you want to tell me your highness."

"Zuko has a surprise for me tonight…I wonder what it could be?" Katara murmured, more to herself than Smellerbee. She gasped. "I have to find Song. Or Suki. Do you know where they are, Smellerbee?"

"No…I…" Smellerbee started to say before she trailed off.

Smellerbee wasn't looking at Katara. She was looking at an annoyed Yue.

Yue shifted her weight, leaning on one leg. She raised a white eyebrow. "Prince Zuko…?"

"Yes…" Katara said, stepping forward. "Is that a problem?"

Yue didn't even pay attention to what he was saying. Her eyes were trained like a messenger hawk on the white card. Looking up, she glared at Katara. "I see the two of you are quite close." She bit out, her voice holding more venom in it than Katara had ever heard. "I must confess that I never saw this coming."

"They're closer than you might think." Smellerbee said quietly, standing in front of Katara as though Yue might pick up something and throw it at her.

Yue laughed a spiteful, angry laugh. Katara's eyes widened. She'd never heard Yue like this. Not even as children. "Oh, I imagine so." Yue's sharp gaze focused on her now. "I bet you couldn't wait to latch onto him. Because you get everything you want, don't you? You're the precious one. The innocent. Nothing bad ever happens to you."

"That's not fair, Yue! Why are you so angry with me?" Katara questioned her cousin.

"Because you're so perfect!" Yue spat. "You have no idea what it was like growing up in the wake of your waves, Katara. And you know what? Life is never fair."

Smellerbee stiffened at her side, and Katara wondered if she'd ever felt this way. Or if Zuko had felt this way, when Azula was labeled a prodigy. Probably. But the difference was, was that Katara had always shown Yue love, and thought that she was getting love in return, Azula and Zuko shared nothing but animosity.

"You think it was easy for me to grow up with you?" Katara fought to keep her voice calm. "Yue, you're like a sister to me. I love you."

It was true. She still loved Yue.

But it became clear that Yue didn't exactly return those feelings. She scoffed, rolling her eyes, hands on her hips. "I know you do. But it won't take away the fact that you ruined my life. I lived the life of a princess before I turned twelve. But once I did, and I became a priestess in that stupid temple… it was all ripped away from me. It's all because of you that I have a Heart of Black." The tears began to flow down Yue's cheeks.

A heart of black? From the legends? What?

Katara's hands clenched into fists. "Being here hasn't been easy either, Yue. Do you think you could have done what I've done?" Katara forced out. She could feel the tears pricking her eyes as she tried not to cry herself. The air stirred, and the room grew colder and colder the angrier she got. She could see little shards of ice crystallize in the air, floating around her. They were miniscule, almost like tiny snowflakes.

"Princess Katara, calm down..." Smellerbee said cautiously. She looked around nervously. "Should I go get Prince Zuko?" Smellerbee could sense the change in the air.

But Yue couldn't detect this change, and antagonized Katara even further. Katara squeezed her eyes shut, trying to block out the hurtful words. "Yes, go right on ahead and protect her, because that's how Katara operates. She's always needed someone to protect her because she can't protect herself. Go get Prince Zuko, I'll tell him that she won't survive as a concubine, so you might as well just throw her away now." Yue's eyes narrowed. "To be thrown away and forgotten like I was—for seven years—or the rest of her life. Katara deserves nothing less."

"He would never throw me away." Katara countered. "I'm not going to be his concubine. I'm going to be his wife."

"No…" Came Yue's broken response.

"His ONLY wife."

"That's impossible!" Yue's loud outburst shocked Katara more than anything else. Her eyes opened to see Yue's face contorting into a mixture of shock and rage. She marched over to Katara and yanked her from Smellerbee's side with both hands. Katara felt her own rage ignite inside seeing at seeing the dirty look that her cousin was giving her. The air began to chill again.

"What's impossible, Yue?" Katara snapped, narrowing her eyes.

Yue squeezed her wrists tightly, her strength fueled by her anger. If Katara didn't know any better, she'd say that Yue was a spirit herself. Her eyes filled with anger, the white of her hair flowing down her body to her waist, shining in the light of afternoon sun. But Katara was feeling much like a spirit herself.

The air was charged with the extremely small ice crystals, growing bone chillingly cold with Katara's anger. She wondered if Zuko would be disappointed with her if he could see her now. Every day, Zuko had to fight to restrain himself from firebending when he got to angry, and now, because of Yue's words, she would lose all control within an instant.

"He wasn't supposed to like you." Yue bit out, pulling Katara close. "Not after—,"

After what?

And then…all of a sudden…she knew.

"That was you?!" Katara cried angrily. She wrenched her hands out of Yue's grasp and staggered backwards. But there was no remorse on Yue's face. There was no regret for what she'd done before, or anything she said in the minutes before. "You told him lies about me to make him hate me?

Yue turned away from her, looking out the window. "It doesn't matter." She said haughtily, but her voice held a bit of fear, as Yue shivered and looked around. The falling temperatures caused her to shiver. They continued to drop, and the ice crystals that formed were larger now, more solid, but Yue was still talking. "He'll leave you eventually Katara. And then where will you be? Don't come crying to me because I won't help you. I'll be Fire Lady, and I won't help you. I'll be the richest woman in the Four Nations and I will never help you. Because I hate you Katara. You ruined my life."

Katara stood, shivering with cold and rage, her eyes flashed, and churning beneath the blue depths was a storm that she'd never experienced. She had plenty of things that she could say to Yue, things that would hurt, and wound, and cut, but they couldn't come out. They wouldn't.

"You. Are. So. Selfish!"