Disclaimer: Hey look a monkey, steals copyright papers
Wooden Swords
Two Fire Nation children played among the long grass of sun drenched field, using sticks as swords they chased each other up the rolling hills. The sparring matches would last till the light began to fade and twilight descended on the hills. Sometimes on especially warm days they would splash through the cool stream. Or they would be joined by more children, the duel becoming a battle. This was how they spent their childhood, playing with each other, one boy who was more tanned than the other boys and one girl who was less girly than the other girls. Though others teased them they ignored the world outside of their field. Outside he had to practise with a real sword till his fingers bleed and his arms felt like lead. Outside she could not shout or run or play, just sit quietly and look pretty. Together they were just free to laugh and play all day.
One day her family moved to the capital, she was to become a proper lady in the court of the fire lord. He stayed and was to become a master swordsman. She left him with a kiss on the cheek and a promise to stay friends forever. A promise as forgotten as the innocence that made it was in those great palace halls.
A promise remembered in a small tea shop where Pai Sho was played.
"Paindao?" a soft voice from a hooded figure.
He looked up from his delicately patterned tea cup at the stranger that sat down across the Pai Sho table.
"Yes and who may I ask would you be."
"An old friend" he could hear the smile in her voice, an undoubtedly feminine voice.
"I'm sorry but I do not believe we have met before though your hood may be hindering my recollection"
"Are you asking me to remove the hood" the voice was playful. Paindao simply nodded.
The hood glanced round surveying the shops clientele and upon receiving a nod from the owner she lowered her hood. Long black hair and soft elegant features were revealed along with a smile.
"Ursa" surprise raising his voice, "I have heard many disturbing rumours, I'm glad your okay" he studied the younger woman's face, sadly he noted her smile did not reach her eyes.
"Do you really want to know?" the smile vanished completely, the two men, last of the customers stood and left, heads bowed. The owner dimmed most of the candles and closed the shutters, blocking out the enquiring ears of the night. Paindao nodded solemnly knowing that the truth would eclipse all the whispered rumours that flowed between the Fire Nation nobles.
"I can trust you" it was not a question or a statement but a demand.
With one last nod all was revealed to a shocked audience of flickering candles and Pai Sho pieces, when she finished she picked up the white lotus tile and held it up.
He understood and took it, there as a new member in the small society founded within the Fire Nation to end the war, one who held a powerful secret that could dethrone the current Fire Lord and a considerable investment in keeping the royal family safe.
With that they spoke long into the night, old friends reuniting.
Finally he stood "I have to get a boat back to the Fire Nation, stay in touch and be safe"
"Thank you" she left him with a kiss on the cheek.
Even now he could not help the corners of his lips turning up.
Old friends found each other again through so much loss.
AN: background info or at least my thinking when writing this
Paindao I think is probably a couple of years older than Ursa but not many
I'd imagine Ozai is about the same age as her.
Time wise this could be placed a good while after her banishment but most definitely before Zuko's.
The tea shop is earth kingdom.
And I like the idea of the order of the white lotus being something old set up a while after the war started but it was very small till Ozai began his reign of terror.