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Chapter 49

Lu Ten

He held last year's tax reports in his hand, the sheer numbers of it all threw his head for a spin. There was a famine 2 years ago in the south when the rains failed, so grain had to be diverted from the northern provinces to provide relief, but though the grain had been delivered on time, the workers responsible for the transfer had never been paid—and there were reports that some grain had been stolen. Tax collection last year was at an all-time low, yet the wealthiest in the nation were doing well.

The papers spread out on his desk, detailing the last 5 years—2 years of grandfather Azulon's reign and the 3 years of his father—There was so much money being moved in, around, and out of the country—how was one person supposed to keep it all straight? How could one person know if an official was corrupt and took the money for themselves? How could anyone?

The list of people he can trust grows smaller every day.

"The tailors are waiting for your coronation robe fitting, my Lord." Gu Zhi reminded him for probably the 6th time, but he'd disregarded her. The tailors could wait—there was always another paper, another report, another petition. No wonder Grandfather Azulon had gone mad in the end.

"Perhaps it would be best to come back to these papers another day, my Lord." Song suggested, standing next to Gu Zhi, a thickly bundled red and gold robe at her side. "It might be good to distract yourself a bit."

There was something in the way she ended that sentence, with a light promise of something awaiting him later this evening. Lips pulling into a smirk, he winked conspiratorially at her—he couldn't say no to her.

"You're right, of course, Song." He said, pushing the papers to the side and rising from his desk. Stepping over to them, he finally saw the palace tailors waiting patiently beside the large mirror in the corner of his bedroom, backs bent over. How long had they been waiting for him?

Judging by the sunset? Hours.

Song merely nodded, a smile on her face. "You're determined to care for your people. It is admirable."

Agreeing absently, Lu Ten's eyes drifted back to the robe that Song had now gathered in her hands, holding it up so he could see the craftsmanship. That robe, that ornate robe was supposed to be his. Somehow, he didn't think he was deserving of it.

"Your father wanted Zuko to be his heir—not you." His mother had said to him, and the words still burned in his memory.

Maybe, to his father, he wasn't worthy of it? His mother said she burned the will, but that was a lie. It had to be somewhere—he had to make sure that she wasn't lying to him. She'd lied so much already.

"Song will you arrange for some tea to be brought for the tailors? They've waited patiently for me, and I fear I feel a bit guilty." He said, trying to get the young woman to leave.

"You shouldn't feel sorry for them—," Song said in protest, but at a pointed look, she nodded and left the room, handing the robe off to the tailors as she did so.

It's not that he didn't trust her. He did. He just wasn't sure of her loyalty to his mother.

"Gu Zhi will you do me a favor?" He turned to the palace's head servant, motioning her closer.

"Of course." She agreed immediately, voice becoming hushed, so the others couldn't hear. "Whatever you need."

He thought how best to describe what he wanted. "My mother said she burned my Father's Will, but I don't believe it. Even if she did, there are copies of Imperial Wills placed in the Archives, right?" At her nod, he continued. "Can you bring me my Father's?"

Why would his mother burn the will if she didn't have anything to hide? But… if Zuko had been the heir instead of him…why wouldn't she burn it? Maybe she was protecting him after all.

If Gu Zhi looked stunned by his request, she didn't say anything, merely nodded and backed away from him, starting towards the door.

"Discreetly, please." He added, though he should have known better than to tell Gu Zhi to be discreet. The woman was nothing if not professional.

As if reading his thoughts, Gu Zhi only smiled knowingly before leaving him alone with the tailors. He turned to them, trying to look enthusiastic, when his mind was racing.

"All right gentlemen," he said, striding towards them. "Shall we begin?"

Katara

"Leaving already?" She asked him, as Zuko handed his empty plates and bowls to a waiting servant. The servant bowed before leaving the room—and the two of them alone.

"Did you see your grandfather's face?" Zuko said with a bit of a laugh—the first he'd smiled all day. "I think if I stay with you, he'd kill me. Or maim me."

She shook her head at him, a teasing smile on her lips. "No, he wouldn't."

"Either way, I don't want to find out." He said before rising off of the floor.

Katara followed suit, taking his hand in hers. It was nice to see him smiling again, even if it was at the thought of her grandfather beating him up.

Both Katara's mother and Zuko's mother had declined a big dinner with all of them, much to Katara's dismay, saying they wanted to discuss wedding plans with one another. She'd wanted to spend as much time with her mother as possible—who know how long she was staying? Not to mention, Katara had thought that Zuko would have liked to eat with his mother, to make it more of a family affair, but he'd refused. He'd been in a rotten mood all day, barely talking to her and snapping at her whenever she'd tried to get more information.

He wouldn't tell her what happened…'Not while other people are around,' he said. 'It's too risky.'

But it was much later now, and they were the only ones here, so Katara decided to try again.

"Will you tell me what happened?" She asked him, unsurprised when he let out a groan and looked away.

"Can't we just drop it?" He sounded drained, and after such a day, he probably was.

"No," she argued, pulling his face back towards her, "We can't just drop it, Zuko. If you bottle all of your hurt inside, who knows when you're going to explode. It's gotten you in trouble before." At the reminder, his eyes darkened, but still she pressed on. "What happened?"

"Nothing happened." He said in imitation of her voice, letting go of her hand. Unamused, Katara's hands felt o her hips, and she raised an eyebrow at him. Just tell me already. At the look on her face, he'd scoffed and said, "Fine. You can be so pushy, sometimes."

"I'm not pushy," She said, mildly offended at the terminology. "I'm just determined, that's all."

Zuko rolled his eyes, a short breathy laugh leaving him. "If that's what you want to call it, then sure." He walked over to a chair nearest the balcony and sank into it, not looking at her, but instead staring out the window, glowering at the sunset.

Don't take your anger out on me, Zuko.

She hesitated before speaking. Maybe she shouldn't push him, as acerbic as he was feeling right now, though she couldn't help the building resentment towards the acrimonious tone in his voice. If he didn't want to talk—fine—but he shouldn't take it out on her. They were supposed to be a couple, able to share and talk with each other without fear of judgement. Her parents never kept secrets—never lied to one another.

Shame she thought that they could live up to that standard.

"Never mind, Zuko." She sighed, shaking her head, turning her back to him. "Don't worry about it."

She made her way towards her small vanity, simple and plain, starting to unbind her hair. It had been a long time since she'd done tight braids in the Water Tribe fashion, and her head slightly ached from the pressure. Fire Nation women didn't bind their hair to the extent that Water Tribe women did, but she saw her mother today, and her grandfather would have expected it.

She worked in silence, trying to keep her eyes focused on her reflection, on the task in front of her, but every so often her eyes would flicker over to him, watching with sadness as his jaw clenched and unclenched, a hand reached up to run through his hair, but found no purchase as it was restrained in a topknot. The hand resting on the arm of the chair squeezed the end of it, knuckles white.

It hurt her to see him like this. But what else could she do but wait until he decided to let her in?

"I…I'mworried about it, and that's what's bothering me." Zuko said from behind her, so low she could hardly hear. She wouldn't face him, though her heart sped up, the speed of her finger working ever quicker to loosen her hair "Because I'm worried about you—and her."

"Hm." Was all she said. He didn't want her to push? Fine. She wouldn't.

He looked at her, mouth agape and eyes widening, seemingly thrown off by her lack of response. But she turned her gaze away from him again, giving him a cold shoulder Hesitantly, he continued. "My father's making plans to increase his influence—our wedding is one way—he's going to use us, just like he used Tiang, Azula and now, my mother." Suddenly he groaned loudly, head falling in agony.

It took everything she had not to run to him.

His hands squeezed at his temples, and he leaned forward in the chair, head hanging over his knees like he was going to be sick. "Argh! I don't know why she's with him!" He growled out, anger and pain, resentment and anguish flooding his voice and driving daggers into her heart. "What's he manipulating her with? Is it her sister? Her brother? Her parents? Me? I don't fucking know and it's driving me crazy!"

He was crying.

The cheeks beneath his hands were puffy and red, and his voice was thick and raspy, like he'd been trying to hold in his sobs, but he couldn't help it. This time, she did turn fully to him, her half-undone hair forgotten as she stood, slowly approaching her distraught fiancé. She crouched at his side, falling to her knees when he didn't look up as she came up to him.

"Zuko." She whispered softly, but he didn't say anything. "Zuko." She tried again, a little more forcefully.

There was a bit of silence, before he looked up at her. She'd been right. The whites of his eyes were streaked with red, and salty tears had fallen down his cheeks. "What's it Katara?" he asked, but it was a hollow curiosity.

Pausing once, thinking of the right words to say, she began.

"You've said it yourself." She said to him, waiting until she had his full attention before speaking again. "Your mother isn't stupid. I find it hard to believe that she's forgotten what's happened just because your father gave her some attention. That's more Tiang's thing. Not your mother."

"So then how do you explain it?" He asked, hands gesturing to the empty air. "If you saw how she looked at him this afternoon…she told me not to question her motives, but how am I not supposed to? He's done nothing but lied."

To that question, Katara had no answer.

"I…I don't know." She said finally, "Maybe she's manipulating him."

Lu Ten

The man in the mirror was him, and yet wasn't.

The robes were beautiful, enveloping him in masterfully tailored silk, the finest in the Fire Nation. Swirling and flowing designs of red and gold, varying in shade and intensity covered him. The topmost layer was a deep red, stretching behind him, numerous golden dragons danced along the sea of red, their tails intertwining and joining the thick gold bands that wrapped around the ends of his sleeves and the hem that dragged on the floor behind him, threatening to become wrinkled.

"It's a little long," He mumbled absently, mouth pulled to one side in displeasure. "It will drag and get dirty."

The heavy fabric sat uncomfortably on his frame, he tried to fix it, pulling and tugging in random places—but nothing felt right—there was something off, but he couldn't tell what.

"You're right, as usual, my Lord." Song's reflection smiled at him with bright pink lips; the waning sunlight gave her brown hair a golden glow, causing her eyes to shine in the glow of the summer sunset.

He turned his gaze back to himself, staring at his reflection—He could feel her come up behind him, her soft sigh on the back of his neck as she straightened out the material over his shoulders, before bending down to fan out the train behind him, spreading it out over the tiled floor around him.

There was something comforting about having her here, doing this together.

Her reflection joined his in prominence as she reached his side. She straightened out the heavy mantle, smoothing it over his shoulders. "Personally, I think it makes you look rather majestic." She added lightly, a pale hand running down his arm, lingering a little too long, a much too intimate gesture for the time of day.

"Really?" He muttered, half to himself. He turned to the other occupant in the room, who was watching them both with a steady eye. "You don't think it's a little heavy?"

Song fanned herself, it was only now that he realized wisps of hair had escaped from their bindings and now stuck to her forehead, sweat shimmered on her neck and nose. "Hopefully it won't be humid on the day of your coronation, my Lord. Perhaps the summer rains will have cooled things off by then."

"Maybe." He agreed thoughtfully, head tilting to one's side.

Whatever he was going to say was cut off by a light tapping at the door that broke the silence in the room. Clearing his throat, he reluctantly tore his eyes away from Song, calling for the person to enter. The door opened again, and Lu Ten briefly looked up to see Gu Zhi closing it silently behind her, a white scroll in her hand. Nervous jitters filled his stomach, as he dreaded opening the contents of that scroll, but realizing that he needed to in order to sleep tonight.

Feigning a smile, he held out his arms and strutted a bit, the long sleeves fanning to the sides before falling at his knees. "What do you think, Gu Zhi?"

"You look well, my Lord." The old woman said seriously, though there was pride in the old nanny's voice as her dark eyes twinkled as she stared at him, crinkling at the edges in a smile that her lips tried to hide. "So much like your Father, may he rest in peace."

"I…" He didn't know what to say.

But I have no choice.

This robe was so much more than himself, it was his family's legacy all on his shoulders, to uphold. It was the symbol of his future, of his upcoming marriage, of his future child. This was more… He came from a long line of Fire Lords, and it seems that he was now the next piece in the game.

Gu Zhi, perhaps sensing the apprehension and mounting fear, nodded fervently. "Yes. Your Lady Mother would also agree with me."

His Lady Mother would definitely agree, but she wanted him to be his father so much, that Lu Ten doubted his mother even knew who he was.

The room fell silent as he evaluated himself in the mirror, looking up and down, scrutinizing his own reflection. Song had slinked away back to her chair, sipping on her tea. As he stared at himself in the mirror, he saw what Gu Zhi meant.

His father's face.

It was in the breadth of his nose, the shape of his ears and the curve of his jaw—which sloped downwards to a rounded chin. His lips were his mother's—much too large, but his eyes…

He'd like to think he had his father's eyes—those wise, kind, almost omniscient eyes that could read a person like a book—but were never malicious.

"Speaking of which…" The words almost caught in his throat, but he said them anyway. "Have arrangements been made for the funeral? Has his body been prepared?"

He hated to bring it up, but Fire Nation coronations were jointly funerals—like phoenixes, his people rose from the ashes of one reign into the bright new dawn of another. But his father's reign had been cut much too short, and now—

I'm the dawn.

"Yes, my Lord." Even Gu Zhi sounded a little choked up, as though she herself were fighting off tears. His throat grew tight as he waited for her response. "I have handled everything to the utmost meticulous and minute details." He nodded, his eyes closing, not trusting himself to keep a straight face. Still, Gu Zhi continued. "Your Lady Mother was…absent, so Princess Song offered to act in her stead."

At this, his eyes opened again to look at her, and the grin that met his eyes warmed him, chasing away the anxiety and the fear inside of him. A sweet tinge of pink appeared on her cheeks.

"Don't look at me like that," She said, shying away from his gaze. "I…It needed to be done. I didn't know anything about Fire Nation burial customs, so Gu Zhi handled that, but the least I could do was organize everything else—the flowers, reaching out to the nobility, commissioning your diadem…" she trailed off at the end, growing more and more self-conscious.

"Excellent, Song." He said passionately turning to her and taking a step towards her, not caring whether he tripped on his train or not, but he hoped the gratitude was obvious. Not many would have done what she did, come to him in his hour of need.

She was magnificent. She was everything he needed in a Fire Lady. She was kind and meticulous, but smart and loving. She had sense and propriety—she was…perfect.

Perhaps his mother was right?

"Gu Zhi…" He didn't want to ask this, but he must. "Have you done what I asked of you?"

Gu Zhi nodded, bringing him the Will. He heard Song ask Gu Zhi what it was, but he didn't hear the old woman's reply, it was drowned out by the beating of pulse in his ears as he stared at the paper. It unfurled in his shaking hands, his eyes quickly scanned through all of the distributions of land, money, titles, and everything else that would happen upon his father's death, until he got to the part about succession.

The Last Will of Iroh, Son of Azulon, Fire Lord of the Fire Nation and Ember Island
…

…Upon my death, the throne to the Fire Nation and Ember Island shall be given to the Crown Prince. Prince Lu Ten is hereby ordered to forfeit the throne as he is unable to receive the crown of the Fire Nation. The crown will now immediately pass to Prince Zuko of the Fire Nation.

End of edict

It was stamped with the Royal Seal. The Official Royal Seal. It had to be real. It couldn't be a trick. But if that was the case then...

Prince Zuko of the Fire Nation-Become Fire Lord!?

Of all people, Zuko?

He couldn't even firebend! His Uncle thought he'd be a better protector for the Fire Nation? Of all the ridiculous things he'd heard in his life…

His mother wasn't kidding. She…she'd protected him by keeping this away from him…she'd been right…and he'd been wrong. He'd been so, so, wrong. He didn't realize he was shaking until he felt Song's hand on his shoulder, trying to calm him down. "We'll finish the fitting later." He snapped at the tailors harshly. "Get out."

"Lu Ten, are you alright?" Song asked, thin eyebrows furrowed with worry.

"I…" He started to say, before his breath caught in his throat. "No, I'm not alright." The words were acerbic, and he didn't mean to direct them at her, but he was so angry.

So hurt.

His father truly doubted him. Lu Ten had been a bit wild, sure, but he was loyal. He loved his father. He thought he was a good prince. And could be a good Fire Lord. Evidently, his father didn't feel the same way. His face contorted into something he knew was ugly and vicious, but he couldn't help it.

Damn it!

Fuck!

There is no one I can trust anymore. Absolutely no one. My mother may have been right, but she still lied. Zuko may pretend to care, but he will always be after the throne, even if he doesn't know it. Uncle…better to keep enemies closer.

He didn't want it before, but knowing that it could all be taken from him if any member of the nobility got their hands on it? He could lose it all.

I'm Fire Lord. No one else.

He shoved Song's hand off and marched away from her, not trusting himself not to hit something. She recoiled from him, stricken with…was that fear? Immediately, guilt weighed him down and cooled his rage, but only slightly. It wasn't her fault. Zuko that was after his throne. It wasn't her fault that everyone was conspiring against him.

"Gu Zhi bring me Prince Zuko. Not Katara. Now." Gu Zhi too looked a little frightened of him. As she started to do as he asked, he added more orders to the list. "Also, arrange my mother's release from house arrest. And this?" He held up the copy of the Will. Song's eyes widened as she took in the embossed royal seal. "Burn every copy in the archives. Within the hour."

Her eyes still wide in shock, but true to her professionalism, Gu Zhi nodded wordlessly, following his orders, though she backed out of the room faster than he'd ever seen her.

Song still watched him carefully, evaluating, reading him with her eyes. She stood apart from him, not daring to say anything. Even if she had, he wouldn't have listened to her. He was beyond listening to anyone. He was beyond caring. Everyone, from his mother to his wives to his own cousin was trying to manipulate him. He couldn't—he had to be stronger.

Katara

There was a knock at the door.

Zuko had calmed down some, the streaks of red in his eyes no longer angry, but still irritated and puffy and he still looked shattered. Patting his knee reassuringly, Katara straightened and padded softly towards the door.

"It's probably my mother, come to say goodnight." She told him, trying to feign happiness, and he nodded, though his eyes were blank.

The person who stood on the other side of the door wasn't who she was expecting.

"Azula?!" She gasped in disbelief.

Standing in front of her was Zuko's sister, wearing a red cloak so dark it was almost black, with an equally dark tunic and pants underneath. On her feet were plain black slippers, devoid of detail or ornaments. Over her shoulder, she had a brown satchel, that looked stuffed to the brim with objects—but she couldn't tell what.

"Shh—!" Azula held a finger to her lips motioning quiet. It was only then that she noticed Azula's face was devoid of makeup, her normal ruby red lips were plain, and there was no kohl around her eyes. Her hair was also down in a lose braid that wrapped across the opposite shoulder from the bag.

"Princess Azula," Katara tried again in a much lower tone, peaking up and down the hallway for any passerby. "What are you doing here?"

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Zuko straightened up in his seat, attention fully on the door. He no longer looked distraught, only curious as to why Azula would be here.

"I need your help." Azula said quickly, and she too looked around. "My father's spies may be anywhere—this would be better discussed inside." Azula said pointedly, nodding past Katara

"O-Oh, right." Katara stammered, still muddled. "Please…come in." She stepped aside letting Azula into the room.

Azula filed in before dumping her bag at the foot of the bed, it hit the ground with a heavy thunk.

"Doing alright, Zuzu?" Azula asked, and if it had been any other time and place, Katara would have assumed she was kidding, but no…she actually seemed…concerned.

A smirk tugged at Zuko's lips, as he eyed his sister with suspicion. "Are you? After your talk with Father yesterday?"

Azula snorted in derisive laughter—something so unlike her. "Of course not." She laughed again. "Which is why I'm here."

Zuko hadn't mentioned a talk with Azula and Ozai…

"Why are you here?" Katara asked, coming from behind Azula to stand next to Zuko, still seated in the chair. No matter how irritated she was with him, they were a unit. Her hand rested gently on his left shoulder, and after a brief moment, his right hand came up to cover hers, squeezing it gently.

Azula watched the exchanged with curious eyes, the hint of a smile on her face, before it disappeared, and urgency took its place. "I'm here because I need your help."

"My help? Why do you need—," Zuko started to say, but Azula cut him off.

"Not yours, Zuzu." She said, waving a hand at him. "Katara's. Though, since you're here I suppose you're involved now."

"Okay…" Katara started, leaning against the wall, arms crossed over her chest. "What's going on?"

She waited patiently for Azula to speak, curious, but also afraid of exactly what she was going to say. Could nothing in this place ever be simple?

"My father wants to marry me off to King Bumi—," Katara's mouth dropped open in disbelief, but Azula held up a hand. Glancing quickly at each other, both Katara and Zuko tried to compose themselves as she finished talking.

"—But I intend to leave before it comes to that."

"That's crazy!" Katara said, stunned.

"If it was anyone but Father," Zuko said wearily, head falling to his hands "I wouldn't believe it. But it is, so of course I do."

"He claims he's saving me. Lu Ten, of course, wants to marry me off to an old man on the other side of the country so he doesn't have to look at me anymore."

"And King Bumi's better?" Zuko asked rhetorically, sinking deeper into the back of the chair.

"King Bumi is a great man." Katara defended Jin's great-grandfather. "I mean I've only met him once, but—,"

"And I'm sure he is, Katara." Zuko said in a placating tone, patting her hand. It was all she could do not to roll her eyes at him. "But he's 112! My sister is only 16!"

"The way Father was talking…" Azula said, starting to pace back and forth. "I wouldn't be surprised if he wanted me to kill King Bumi and assume the throne for myself."

"After you've had a child, of course." Zuko finished flatly, and Azula's visible shudder in revulsion made Katara's heart ache.

"Then he'll control Omashu through you." Katara added, realizing that this was the beginning of Ozai's plan for influence. If he couldn't have it here in the Fire Nation, he'd use his obedient daughter to get it. "But doesn't King Bumi have living children?"

"Technically yes…" Zuko mused. "But they'd probably disappear, one after another, until the only descendent left is Azula's child. He'd probably finish the job he started with Jin all those weeks ago."

"Is that why he tortured her the way he did?" She asked, the pieces coming together. She remembered Jin's body, broken, bruised…mind nearly gone from the pain.

"Who's to say?" Azula shrugged.

Silence fell between the three…an awful uncomfortable silence as the full extent of not only Ozai's penchant for cruelty was realized, but the lengths he was willing to go for power and influence. After a few minutes, Katara finally spoke.

"I understand why you're leaving Azula." Katara said kindly, watching as Azula's dark eyes snapped to hers in an instant. "But I don't understand why you need my help to do it."

"It's not that I need your help per say," she gestured to the satchel on the ground. "In there I've got enough clothes to last me several months and enough jewelry to buy me tickets to wherever I need to go. I've already said my goodbyes to Mai and Tylee…and to my mother."

"Where are you going to go?" Katara asked, and Azula answered with a small, yet sad, smile.

"Somewhere I should have gone before, but I was too scared to take that risk." She started, and Katara was going to ask her to elaborate again, but then she continued, "You spoke with him just as much as I…he didn't tell me where he was going because we were supposed to go together. But…but I broke his heart to keep him alive."

"You're leaving to find Jet?"

Maybe she cares for him more than I realized?

"Azula that's crazy!" Zuko said emphatically, leaning forward, volume rising. The anxiety in his tone unnerved Katara. "You don't even know how to find him."

"Why do you think I'm here?"

Zuko turned to Katara, pleading with her, "Katara tell her you don't know. She's risking everything to find a guy she barely knows."

"I didn't realize you underestimated me so much." Azula looked insulted at her brother's words, eyes narrowing in mild annoyance.

"I don't, it's just—there's got to be some other way." Zuko explained hurriedly

"Look at her Zuko," Katara said tenderly, and perhaps it was the softness in her tone that gave him pause. His breathing slowed, calmed, he rested softly against the back of the chair, hands lying in his lap instead of clenched.

"She was in love with him all those weeks ago, and she's obviously still in love with him now. I really think she wants this."

She recognized those same signs in Azula that she had in herself with Zuko. Sometimes, you just…know. Azula was willing to put her life on the line to be happy, to claim her own freedom. To escape being a pawn the way her mother had failed to do. She'd been under her parents' control for who knows how long?

Maybe it was time for Azula to carve out her own future.

Azula nodded, glancing back at the satchel. "If you know…" she started to say.

Katara told her everything she knew. "He said he'd try his luck in Ba Sing Se. If that failed, he was going back to his village called Gai Pan. I'm not sure how to find it on a map, but Jet said that it's a few hundred miles north from the coastline of the Kyoshian Sea and about 50 miles south of Omashu."

"Hm…pretty vague." Azula acknowledged, though her eyes were bright—hopeful even. "But I'm sure I'll manage."

Katara's heart swelled at helping Azula. Even if it all failed in the end, she will have tried. And trying was better than not trying at all.

"Wait." Zuko spoke. He'd been silent for a long time, thinking, perhaps. "'You're not leaving now are you?"

Azula laughed airily. "Well I was planning on it. I waited last time, and we got caught." She looked out, towards the window, to the growing purple sky. "If I leave now, no one will expect it. Father won't expect it."

"You don't know that for sure." Zuko argued back. "Leave during the coronation. The streets will basically become one gigantic party. The population in the capital will triple in size, and with all the smoke from the firecrackers, no one won't notice you then."

"Are you sure, Zuko?" Azula looked hesitant, wavering in her resolve.

"I'll help you however I can, Azula. I promise." Katara said insistently.

"Why? Why would you do that for me? Either of you? After the way I treated you…"

"I believe in second chances." Katara said quietly. "Most of the time, anyway."

"Besides Azula," Zuko said absently, reaching out for her hand. Katara didn't know exactly what he was doing as he held Azula's palm in his, but as the time ticked on, Azula's expression shifted from confusion to outright shock as she released Zuko's hand like it was a hot coal—maybe it was.

"H-How?" Azula asked.

Zuko nodded in Katara's direction. "All because of her."

Azula stared at Katara in awe, murmuring under her breath, "No wonder my father wants you to stay."

Before Katara could decipher exactly what that meant, a knock on the door startled them all. Katara jumped out of her skin and motioned to Azula to stay quiet. She didn't know who was on the other side of that door. If it was her mother, no problem…but if Ozai had somehow caught wind of this meeting…who knew what would happen. Silently, she pointed at the bag on the floor. Quickly, Azula kicked it under Katara's bed.

The knock sounded again, more urgently this time.

Katara looked at Zuko, then pointed to Azula. Understanding, he motioned Azula towards the balcony, telling her to hide behind the curtains while Katara went to open the door. Her heart raced as all of the people that could be on the other side made their way through her mind.

When she opened it, again it was the last person she expected to see.

"Gu Zhi, what are you doing here?" Katara asked quickly. "I can run my own bath tonight, I don't need—,"

There was something…odd about Gu Zhi appearance tonight, she was shifting from side to side, avoiding Katara's gaze. Her hands were pressed behind her back, but there was a force and a tension in the way she did it, as though she was trying to stop herself from trembling.

"Forgive me Princess Katara, but it's not you that I'm here to see." Gu Zhi looked apologetic in the way she said the words, her eyes trying to communicate a hundred different things to her that Katara just couldn't pick up.

"Oh?" She asked archly. "Who would it be?"

If it's Azula…we have a problem.

Gu Zhi was silent for a long time—a really long time. Katara could see her jaw work behind her closed lips that were forcefully pressed together—and she still wouldn't meet Katara's eyes. The dread built in Katara's chest for a while, agonizing seconds passed that felt like minutes until the woman spoke again.

"I assume that Prince Zuko is here?"

The terror in Katara's grew only more intense.

Lu Ten

A young servant girl entered; head bowed. Lu Ten frowned. He'd expected Gu Zhi. When she straightened, her eyes remained on the floor. She looked nervous. Lu Ten quickly composed himself.

"What's it?" He asked abruptly.

The young girl seemed to jump out of her skin. "P-Prince Zuko is here as you requested, my Lord… b-but…" She looked first to Song, and then back to his face before finding the ground again. "But…"

"But what, girl?" Lu Ten ordered, suddenly having no patience for hesitance or incompetence. This girl was both. "Have you forgotten how to speak?"

The young thing shook her head rapidly, eyes finally leaving the floor permanently and finding Lu Ten's. "N-No sir…" Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Song had come beside him, soft pink silk flowing gently at her side—she gave the girl a nod of encouragement.

At that, the girl cleared her throat and tried again. "Prince Zuko is here as you requested, my Lord, but…" she hesitated again, but only for a moment. "But so is Miss Yue."

"What?" He heard Song hiss from next to him. Eyeing her, a dark glower had taken over her face. "What could she want?"

Of course, Song's benevolent nature extended only to anyone who wasn't Yue.

Rubbing his forehead, Lu Ten let out an exasperated exhale, giving a cautious glance to Song. Spirits, the two women weren't even in the room yet and already he was exhausted. Turning back to the girl, he said,

"Miss Yue will likely only stay for a few minutes, tell Prince Zuko I said to remain outside."

The girl nodded quickly before disappearing out the door. He could feel Song's gaze burning into the side of his head. But he ignored her. He didn't have the patience to deal with their petty arguments—not today. Not now. Seconds later, the door opened again, one lone white-haired figure, clad in blue, stepped inside.

When Yue turned to him, the light blue silk clung to the gentle swell of her stomach, and for a moment he was struck by the reminder that he was to be a father. That was his child in there. His heir.

His mother was right again. He had to protect the future for this child—his child.

"Lu Ten…" Yue said, coming up to him shyly, light blue eyes wide at the sight of him in his coronation robe. Her white hair, much like Song's, shone in the light of the setting sun, nearly blinding him with its beauty. "You look…" She started to say, but he had to cut her off.

"What do you want, Yue?" He almost snapped at her and she quivered a little, surprised by his mood. Eyes softening, he said, "I'm sorry. Today's been a little…stressful. Is there something you needed?"

She nodded, sniffing, eyes welling with tears. "Y-Yes…"

He could practically hear Song roll her eyes at the display of emotion.

Lu Ten waited expectantly, careful to keep his face neutral, but still pleasant. "What's it, Yue?"

I can't upset her; I must avoid upsetting the baby.

"They want me to leave." She said sharply, a hand coming to rest on her stomach. "And take our baby with me."

What?

"W-Who wants you to leave?" He demanded to know, striding over to her in an instant, hands coming to embrace her as she buried his face into his chest before bursting into tears, staining the ornate fabric.

Damn. They'll have to clean the robe again.

He could hear Song groan under her breath. "You have got to be kidding me."

But he tuned Song's complaining out, and asked Yue again.

"Who wants to take our baby away?"

Yue sniffed again, eyes wide. "All of them. Katara, Zuko, my Aunt and Grandfather…they want to take our baby away."

How dare they.

So much Ursa suspicion in the reviews… I love it. Sorry this chapter was mostly dialogue; I don't know how you guys feel about that. I'm going to have to extend the story again, I wanted to end it on 50, a round number, but there's way more to include than I could possibly do in 2 chapters, so maybe 4 or 5 more at the most. I hope you guys don't mind.

Please please tell me what you think! I'd honestly love to hear about where you think the story's going!

Did you expect this? Did it surprise you? Let me know!

LM