A. N. Well, this was definitely more challenging than I assumed it would be. But I spent a lot of time on it and hopefully you like it. Please R&R! I'm quite anxious to know how well I did. This was probably my favorite chapter to write so far.

Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar. And if I told you that I did, would you even believe me?

A Princess's Legacy

Chapter Four

Uncle Iroh's Always Right

"My dear, it's almost time to leave for the shipyards. It will be like this when you come back," said Iroh gently. I was lying on my back, gazing up at the canopy of my bed. Before I made my own decisions my parents had argued over everything involving me and colors, such as whether or not I should wear crimson gowns, hair accessories, and shoes like normal Fire Nation children. My mother was at open war with the royal tailor when he insisted on disobeying her orders for an ice blue party dress. But the largest disagreement was over the subject of my nursery's color scheme. After consultations with the royal decorator, my room had been painted pale blue and pink. It was a compromise that I had been advised to continue once I was in charge of such matters. The walls were a deep turquoise, as were the sheets and pillows. Rich mahogany wood accents and scarlet décor held the balance.

I knew my great-uncle was right, of course. He was always right.

Sighing as I tore my eyes from the translucent fabric above my head, it occurred to me that I shouldn't feel this way. There was no reason for the reluctance about leaving this country. I'd been discriminated against despite my royal status, and I would soon be departing for my beloved South Pole, where I was accepted everywhere, not just inside my own (spacious) walls.

I stood slowly, ran dark fingers through my hair, and lifted my cerulean purse onto my shoulder. A bright smile slowly spread onto my face, and as I took my beloved uncle's arm, I didn't look back after I had blown out the last of the cinnamon-scented candles.

Iroh led me slowly down the velvet-covered stairs, all the while declaring how much he would miss me, his favorite.

"And to think, I'll have to let Miro beat me tonight!" he exclaimed, shaken by this scandalous thought. Though he'd been fair to both of his "grandchildren", as he incorrectly and persistently called us, by teaching them his favorite game, he'd let me in on more secrets than my older brother. And I was still worse than Uncle Sokka.

We reached the bottom of the elegant staircase. There were my bags, packed for three months of adventure. My parents and―looking thoroughly as if he wished he was somewhere else―Miro were waiting for me at the gigantic front doors. My dad looked as if he was having second thoughts about giving me his permission. Mom's eyes were glistening, but not with tears, as I had expected. She was bursting with pride. I simply ignored my brother. He may have been almost sixteen and the future of the Fire Nation, but he was still an immature jerk.

"Yue," said my father, the words coming out half-choked, "if you decide that you want to cut the trip short, just send a messenger—"

He'd cut himself off, looking worried.

"Wait! Katara, please tell me there are messenger hawks in the South Pole. Didn't your brother buy some?" My mother nodded, rolling her eyes at her husband's overreaction. She hooked a slender arm around his waist and shhed quietly until his last-minute worries ceased.

Turning to me, she smiled brilliantly. Kissing me on the forehead, she murmured a line from an ancient lullaby she'd sung for me when I was an infant, and then spoke so that the others could hear. But just barely.

"You'll find yourself there, honey. I know it. You are a Water Tribe woman, just like me. And Water Tribe women do only one thing better than venting anger. Water Tribe women are experts at finding their true destiny and pursuing it. Pursue your destiny, Yue. Follow the moon."

After a lasting moment of peaceful silence, the guards marched in and lifted my bags, the doors opening. Blinding light shined into my eyes, and I squinted against it. But I appreciated the warmth and glow the summer sun gave me. It would be a while before I felt overheated again. I savored the sensation, tasting the humid air and catching a last glimpse of the palace before I followed my belongings out the door, my family close behind me.

The palanquin bearers were waiting for us. My mother and my father were placed in one, and Miro and I got another. Iroh, luckily for the men carrying the litter, had a third all to himself. Miro simply stared through the expensive hangings out at the city, paying no attention to me. I sighed. We had never been close. My brother and I were complete opposites. He was passionate and irrational; I was calm and practical. He chose to spend all his time flirting with girls from my school. All of his girlfriends were shallow but pretty upperclassmen of mine who ignored me with stuck-up airs as though I was an ugly stain on the walls instead of a member of the royal family. Thankfully, they never lasted long enough to require conversation.

He firebended frequently, whenever there was a cute girl walking by. He told me that I was too quiet. Miro always tried to make me loosen up, either by introducing me to his friends (all jerks) or older versions of Kalora. He was the only one who had known the entire story about my school, until the day earlier. After it was apparent that my social life wasn't going to improve, he'd given up. Instead he openly insulted me.

"Hey, princess," he sneered, pulling me out of my thoughts.

"What is it, prince?" I retorted, but I should've known better. Every mention of his title only pumped more hot air into his stupid head.

"Well, princess, I just wanted to remind you that you don't even have to come back. You obviously like Mom's family more than you like it here. We all know it's only a matter of time until you build an igloo of your own and move." I wasn't usually this easily riled, but if Miro kept bringing Pakku and Uncle Sokka and Aunt Suki and the others into this, then...well, I didn't want to think about it. I concentrated on breathing easily. It didn't help, though, that the humid air was so wet I could taste the salty air wafting in from port.

"Stop it, Miro. Our family in the South is wonderful. And I love Uncle Iroh as much as I love them. I just...just..."

"Just what, princess?" He folded his arms across his chest. "I'll bet you haven't even thought about Dad. You're turning your back on him." Not like he cared all that much, but he knew that it would cut me deep.

It didn't fail.

We were almost to the coast by now. I could feel the motion of the tides; in, out, in, out. I inhaled sharply and pulled a long whip from the moist air, slapping my brother in the face. I knew that there would be a red tinge on my cheeks by now, and that my hair was coming loose. I didn't care.

"You, Miro, are the most selfish jerk the Fire Nation has ever had the misfortune of calling their prince. Don't you know how much Aunt Suki misses you? And what about our cousins? You and Kiro and Koda were such great friends, and then you just stopped caring! Not to mention everyone else! They loved you, Miro! You have no idea how much they want you to be part of the family in the South. Even Dad is welcome there. But you...! You...And...It's...Ugh!"

I was breathing hard. I could hear Mom and Dad's silence in the litter in front of us, and Iroh, for once, wasn't chatting to the servants. It was deathly quiet except for the steps and controlled breaths of the palanquin bearers. No one spoke until we arrived at our destination. I didn't dare to glance at my brother's face until I knew he wasn't looking. His golden eyes, usually bright as polished gemstones, were shadowed. Teeth were clenched and his brows were bunched together. I gulped anxiously.

Either my brother was thinking of a way to kill me, or he was trying to force himself not to.

I boarded the ship with mixed feelings. Excitement; I hadn't seen Sokka and his family for two years, because they had been on Kyoshi Island during my last visit. Anticipation; how had things changed in the year I'd been gone? And a wave of guilt. The expression on my father's face was indescribable. I walked up the ramp without a single look back.

My quarters on the ship felt as empty as they looked. There was a bed, a candle holder, and a wardrobe. However, it was all of the highest quality. The bed was lavishly made up with half a dozen plump pillows strewn on the surface. The wardrobe was polished, gleaming mahogany. Even the candle holder was ornate, decorated with brass dragons. But it was all red, nothing like my carefully compromised room at home. The servants shuffled in with my small suitcases, set them down on the dark wood floor.

The one nearest me flashed a dazzling smile my way.

"Will that be all, m'lady?" He was really quite handsome, but I was overwhelmed by the impression that he knew it, too.

"Yes, that's all. Thank you," I said, walking over to the door and showing them out. "And you can just call me Yue, if you don't mind." The good-looking one took his time walking out, casting one last glance my way. I tried to return his grin while letting him know that I was only being polite.

I sat down on the bed, sinking a few inches into the soft duvet. As a surprising wave of exhaustion overwhelmed me. After a few minutes I could feel the boat setting loose. A male voice spoke over the intercom.

"The Waterbender has set sail, gentlemen. Dinner will be served in a few hours; the menu for this evening is steamed rice and grilled chickenpig breast, with mixed vegetables and assorted desserts. There is no entertainment toinight, but tomorrow is music night. Anyone with sufficient musical talent is encouraged to participate." The static was cut off a few seconds later.

Sighing, I rose from the comfortable bed and began unpacking.