Authors Note: Hey guys! I'm back with the new chapter of FOD! This chapter is a little shorter than the rest because its kind of a filler chapter. Enjoy! Reviews/Feedback/Advice is greatly appreciated!:)
Warnings: Rated M for: Character death, violence, language, slavery, and eventual sexual themes. More warnings to come if needed.
Disclaimer: I do not own ATLA! All characters belong to Mike and Bryan. All quotes and song lyrics belong to their respective owners.
A/N: Hey guys sorry for the long wait in between updates:( School stared for me and I've been trying to figure out a schedule to fit in my writing. I'm taking many more AP classes and its been tough to find time to write. But never the less, I will continue whenever i get time to update! So stay with me if you can! Love you all! Enjoy!
"Expectation is the root of all heartache." -William Shakespeare
Zuko lay wide awake in his bed. It was early to be up, even for him, but he couldn't help it, so many thoughts were flowing through his brain. He could see the first hints of sunlight peeping through his curtains that led to his balcony. It had already been an hour since he had woken. His mind was only occupied with thoughts of what occurred yesterday.
He sighed for the hundredth time. He found himself thinking of the little girl…Katara. She was so little, so innocent…he didn't know what this feeling was inside him… he felt sort of protective over this stranger, which was strange because he never felt this way toward his own sister. He remembered the promise he had made to her. How random of him to do so.
Zuko rubbed his tired eyes and turned over on his side while staring straight ahead. And he will never break a promise.
His mind pondered the possibilities of what would become of the Water Tribe girls...would they be kitchen slaves? Floor maiden's… concubines…? He needed to know what was to happen to them. Would he ever see them again? His mother would know…why again was he thinking so hard about this. He closed his eyes and bit his cheek.
Quickly he sat up in bed, his shaggy black hair fell into his eyes. He always hated long hair, thats why he always kept it up in a high pony tail. But it was because he was 'royalty' that he had to.
He tiredly pushed the thick red covers off him. He crawled to the edge of his bed and hung his feet off before he pushed himself to the ground. His bed could easily fit a grown man, let alone a nine year old.
He walked over to his giant closet and rummaged throughout the many assortments of clothes. He decided on a regular red tunic, with black pants. His usual. Zuko then turned to his mirror, where on his small desk was his royal crown that signified a crowned prince. He tied his long hair into his high tail, and placed the crown on top of it.
Zuko stilled his movements, and stared at his reflection. He raised his eyebrow at what he saw… he couldn't deny that he looked like his mother, as people told him...but he just couldn't help think that in his features there lied his fathers face.
He swallowed hard, "What are you thinking?" he shook his head at himself. Quickly Zuko turned around and began heading to his door to find his mother. He reached to open it, but right as he did...it opened too.
"Zuzu!" Yelled Azula as she bounded through the door. His eyes opened wide in shock as she rudely entered his room. Zuko turned around in irritation at his sibling. He crossed his arms and glared at the girl.
She made her way into his room, looking around at his stuff and laughing to herself. Azula looked over and smirked to him as she continued to explore. She then strolled over to his bed and made her way into it with no invitation. She chuckled a bit whilst shifting her hands behind her head.
"Azula what is it, exactly...that you want?" he asked her. She looked at him with a shocked expression, looking around the room like it was some big secret he should know, "What you don't know yet?" she asked him with short giggles.
He looked as annoyed as he could with her, "No Azula, so please tell me or else I'm leaving to go find mom." Zuko huffed with a roll of his eyes.
Her lips rose in a devilish smile, "That's just the topic I've come to talk about." She said leaning up from her relaxed position on the bed to where her feet hung off the edge. She laid her cheeks in her hands and rested her elbows on her knees.
He looked at her with a blank expression on his face. She just continued to smile at him, then with a quick back roll back onto his bed, she stood up on her hands raising her feet into the air, showing off a fire-bending stance her father had been teaching her.
"Well...word is, dad is planning on killing you!" Azula said gleefully as she rounded her legs and landed back down on her stomach, like talking about her own brothers death just came that naturally. Azula put her chin in her hand again, raising her eyes in a false innocence.
"Azula stop being stupid and get out of my room!" Zuko said, he could feel his anger began to rise. It was one thing to have their father hate him, and he knew that, but to go as far as killing him off! That would be crazy. Even if his father didn't love him…he, he was his heir. He quickly shook that hurtful thought away.
"I'm not kidding Zuzu I heard it with my own ears!" she said smiling maliciously, "Don't you remember? You were there watching it. But then you got scared and ran away." Azula snorted to her brother who only just glared at her.
Zuko turned to his door and began to make his way out, but Azula's voice echoed throughout the room, "After you left, Azulan began to yell at dad," Zuko turned and glared in shock at the words that fell from her mouth, she caught his shocked expression but continued on, "He was mad at dad for being inconsiderate of something that happened to Lu Ten…"
Zuko cut her off then and there, he walked toward her with a heavy pounding heart, "What happened to Lu Ten?" he yelled. Azula glared at him, "Stop interrupting me!" she yelled.
He snarled, "I'm not interrupting, you're the one who came-" he tossed his arms into the air and she yelled loudly, "Anyways, Azulan told dad he needed to kill you now for what he's done.."
"Now who's interrupting…" he muttered under his breath. She stuck her tongue out at him, she huffed, "And the best part was mom! All she did was sit there and look at the floor…well that is all she's good for..." Azula said smiling ear to ear.
Zuko's mouth opened. He shook his head…"Get out! Just get out. I don't want to hear your lies…especially when you talk like that about your own mother." Zuko seethed, strutting as close to her face as he can get, shoving a finger toward his door.
She leaned back and held her hands up in defense, "Don't shoot the messenger Zuko! I'm only telling the truth!" she laughed, turning around on her heel and began to head right back into his room. She picked up a pillow and began to fluff it.
"Get out right now Azula! I mean it!" Zuko yelled at her again. She looked up from her muses and began to walk close to him.
Her face turned serious, "Okay, Okay but when they come in the night to slice your throat…" she smirked with a cutting motion at her throat, "Don't say I didn't warn you!" she winked. Azula whipped around and headed out of his room, whistling a little tune.
He stood there, he could feel his throat begin to burn at the conversation he just had. Zuko took a deep breath to calm himself, wiping the tears that escaped from his cheeks.
Zuko clenched his fists and bit his lip, "Azula always lies. Azula always lies."
Zuko stood at the door of his mothers bedroom. He couldn't decide whether he wanted to go in or not. Was Azula right? Was there really no one in his family who loved him...? Did they all want him dead? He shook that thought right away, Azula always lied, and he knew his mother loved him.
With that on his mind he opened the door and walked into her bedroom. He looked around at the classy bedroom to find a lump in the covers of her bed. Was she still sleeping? That was strange she was always up before him…but he did wake up really early...
He hesitently walked closer to the lump on the bed. He never really has seen his mother sleeping before…now that he thought about it. His eyebrow raised in curiosity when he saw a foot sticking out from the covers. Her foot looked very dirty…but it wasn't just the bottom of her foot. It was covered in dirt, a whole shade darker. Which confused him because he knew his mom bathed at the royal bath house every night.
"Mom?" he whispered to her, "Are you awake?" he asked her, shaking her softly on the shoulder. He waited for a moment, but there was no response...so he tried again.
He huffed, this wasn't like his mother, "Mom, are you awake now?" he asked again poking her a few times in her side.
There was a loud groan and a shuffle of the sheets, to be thrown over her head. He looked at the movement in surprise, she never groaned... was she sick? He patted her on the shoulder one last time, "Mom, are you awake?" he asked, not letting up on his constant poking.
He heard her groan louder, "Sokka love! Mommy's trying to sleep...go play with your sister!" The woman groaned in a tired voice. Now that was for sure not his mother! He backed away from the figure in fright. This was his mothers room? Oh no… did he accidentally walk into a court ladies room...
Then just as he was turning to leave, a small head popped out from under the covers. Zuko's eyes opened in realization. It was her…the little girl...Katara! His mind began to connect the dots. His mother wasn't asleep…it was the two water tribe foreigners.
Zuko stared at the little face staring up at him with puffy, sleepy eyes. Her curly brown hair fell over her bright sky blue eyes in tangled heaps.
He couldn't help it but chuckle at the sight her. He's never seen his sister look like this before. She was always well groomed and proper at all times, honestly he wouldn't be surprised if not a single hair on her head moved while she slept.
"Good morning Katara" he said bowing low to the bed and then gave her the most cheekiest, arragant smirk he could muster.
He watch as her eyes opened wide, cheeks turning a vibrant red while diving back down under the covers. He walked closer to the bed, she looked so embarrassed, and for some reason that made Zuko feel a little glow inside.
"Mommy, the prince is here." Zuko heard the muffled voice of the little Katara say underneath the covers.
He heard her mother's muffled grunt from under the covers, "What..?" She quickly threw over her covers and laid up in the bed. Zuko laughed at how she had on almost the exact same face her daughter had on.
She looked over at Zuko and snapped into reality, pushing her hair from her face and giving a small bow, "Prince Zuko." She said with a cough. Zuko smiled at her quickness.
"May I ask where my mom is, or is she in there too?" he said smiling peeking down at the covers, but only caught eyes with a still red faced Katara. Kya laughed nervously and shuffled to look as presentable as she could. Katara just kept staring at him, which he noticed.
"She was summoned last night by your Father." Kya said with a yawn. Just as those words came out of her mouth Zuko knew what it meant. He could feel his blood go cold... and his smile dropped from his face.
Kya stared at him, confused by the blank look on his face. Thats when she realized what she said, "Oh Prince please excuse me." She said biting her lip at the thought of what was going on inside his head.
Zuko swallowed hard, "She's not back yet?" he asked in confusion, eyebrows knitting as he looked at the Water Tribe woman.
"Oh... come here child." She said falling down onto her knees, grabbing him by the shoulders and wrapping her arms around his small torso, forgetting for a moment that he was a prince. Zuko looked at the woman who was offering something his own mother rarely gave. He stood there frozen in shock, gently letting up and patting her on the back.
"Come lay down with us while we wait for your mother," Kya said as she let go of Zuko and climbed back up into bed with her daughter. Zuko stood there for a second deciding if a chance to be hugged and comforted was something he wanted to give up. This was un-prince like, but then again to have a chance to let his worries out was too good of an opportunity to pass up.
He was hesitant at first, he clenched his fists and let out a big sigh. He silently slid off his boots and walked over to the bed, jumping under the covers. There he laid his head on his pillow and watched as the the Water Tribe woman wrapped her small daughter into the crook of her body. She rubbed the small girls hair back across her head, Katara's soft blue eyes slowly drooping until they shut.
Kya began to hum the lullaby her own mother used to sing to her, looking over at Zuko who stared back at her with a blank expression. little did he know that this was a normal thing between the mother and daughter. Zuko was mesmerized, how strange it is that this was something…normal to them.
"Your mother will come back any moment child don't worry." Kya said to him, reaching over and stroking his soft left cheek.
As if on cue, he heard someone at the door. Zuko sat up quickly, "Hurry get back under the covers, if it's Azula she'll surely punish you!" he yelled at them. He quickly slid off the bed and stood up straight.
Kya looked at him in surprise, a six year old would punish him? But she did as she was told and grabbed Katara climbed back under the covers. They escaped just in time as the person walked in… his mother.
"Mom!" he said running over to her arms before she even had time to gather what was happening.
"Zuko my baby!" she said to him falling to her knees and wrapping him in a big hug.
Kya silently slid her head over the covers to check if it was safe. When she caught sight of the mother and son embrace she smiled. That smile soon disappeared as she caught sight of the bruise on her neck. She sighed in annoyance.
"Its time to start our day everyone!" she said with fake happiness, standing up and clapping her hands together.
Kya shuffled her tired body out of bed to join the Fire Princess. When Kya left, her daughter turned over to lay in the warmth she left.
Kya followed Ursa over to her closet, as she talked on about what she needed to do to get her all dressed up for the day.
When Zuko went to follow his mother to wherever she is going, he then realized they were talking girl and didn't really want to be there for that. He decided to walk over to the bed and lay down.
He climbed in and moved his hands behind his head stretching out his body. Zuko glanced over to the right of him and saw the little Katara sleeping, her head facing the other way.
Her hair was crazy and shroon along her back, he found himself staring… and he didn't know why. He'd never had this feeling before, like he should be the one...protecting her even caring for her. This was crazy. He didn't understand, it was like talking about one of Azula's little friends, and they were so darn annoying.
His heart began to race as she turned over with a sigh to rest her head on the pillow facing him, staring up at him with big blue eyes sparking in the morning sun.
He smiled at her and she pulled the covers up to hide her little smile. He then grabbed the covers and pulled them up to cover his nose too. Then he made a goofy face, moving the covers back up, than down again to reveal another goofy face. She smiled at him as he did it over and over and over again, she began to laugh and laugh and he laughed because she was laughing.
That was when Zuko realized they had an audience. Kya and Ursa were staring at thier children with a knowing grin on both their faces. Zuko felt his cheeks go hot and quickly covered them up with the covers.
Ursa looked at Kya with a smirk, and Kya shook her head in amusement. Zuko sat still and watched to make sure his mother wasn't watching…then he turned back to Katara and began to play his tricks again. Her face lit up and she began to laugh even more.
"You remind me of my brother, Sokka!" she said as she pushed herself up on the bed to with a grin. He looked at her and smiled slightly. He reminded her of her brother…
He wished he could say something nice in return... like you remind me of my younger sister too. But instead of that being a compliment…. it would really be the biggest insult he could come up with.
"Thanks I guess." He said furrowing his eyebrows. He sat up slowly, and watched her push all of her long hair out of her face.
"What do you guys think?" he heard Kya say as she came out the closet with her new lady's dress on. It fit her perfectly. Her hair was done back in a traditional fire nation style of one bun on top, a few assortments of jewels aligned her arms in rings. The only thing that was different was Kya's blue eyes against the red, and a blue necklace around her neck.
"So pretty mommy!" Katara said to her mother giving a couple claps as her mother spun around in circles. The little Katara slid off the bed and ran to Zuko's mother,
"My turn! My turn!" she scream jumping up and down. Ursa smiled at the child lightly and took her into her closet. She knew she had all these dresses she bought for her own daughter who would never be caught dead wearing one.
She found the perfect little red dress that would look very nice on the small Katara. When she was all dressed she motioned for her to go show her mother.
Katara tip toed out of the closet with her hands behind her back, a little nervous blush on her tanned cheeks. Zuko looked up at her with a wide expression. He thought she looked even more like she came from a high society family. He shook that thought away... because if that were true she would be in the running for a future wife…and girls had cooties.
"Oh you look so beautiful my baby!" Kya exclaimed to her child bending down and giving her a small kiss on the forehead.
"Come Katara, let me do your hair now." Ursa said to her, touching her shoulder and leading her to a chair.
Zuko slid to the end of the bed to watch his mother preform something that he'd never seen her do before, or a servant for that matter. The hair on a girl has never been all that interesting to Zuko. But that is where he found himself to be wrong.
As Zuko watched his mother fiddle with the foreign hair of the small girl, he found himself intrigued. It was so different from what he was used to…his mother and his sister had pin straight black hair. As did all of the woman here in the Fire nation he thought. But the small girl and her mother had very thick curly brown hair.
"Now we have two beautiful ladies." Ursa said as Katara stood up and spun around laughing this cute little laugh, her hair now matching her mothers.
Zuko stood there staring at her spin around and around. He crossed his arms as a grin played across his face. WHen he looked up to see his mother watching him he looked away from the small girl with a cough.
"Why don't we head down to the pond?" Ursa asked them all. Katara looked at her mother with a pleading expression, Kya smiled down to her.
"I think that sounds like a lovely idea!" Kya said to everyone.
They walked out of Ursa's chambers and down the hallway. As they walked through the corridors of the palace Katara found herself staring at the assortment of decorations around them. They passed the big paintings of the past fire lords, and Katara stared at them again in awe.
Zuko watched as she stared at his ancestors in awe, little did she know that they really weren't all that great.
They kept on walking and finally made it to the outside pathway that took them all the way to the pond.
Katara let go of her mothers hand and turned to Zuko with excitement,"I'll race you to the pond!" she yelled already beginning to run toward the pond. Zuko looked at her in surprise, usually Azula never asked to play games with him like this…but he forgot that she wasn't his sister.
When Katara realized he wasn't running with her, she turned around with a laugh and motioned for him with her hand. He stared at her and crossed his arms with a raise of his eyebrow.
"Okay...you tell me when." He said to her, coming up beside her and steadying his foot next to hers. He began to formulate a plan on toning it down and letting her win so that she wouldn't feel bad.
"Ready…set…go!" she yelled as she took off running at full speed to the pond. Zuko's eyes opened wide with shock at how fast she really is. When he decided that he stood watching her for too long he took off full speed after her. When he caught up to her he realized they matched each others speed perfectly and it really did surprise him.
She pushed herself as hard as she could go, but in the end Zuko ended up winning.
"I won!" he yelled spinning around to look at her. She stood there with her little arms crosses and pouted, and all Zuko could do was chuckle. But then his laugh began to die down as he realized this wasn't Azula…and winning against Katara was completely different than Azula.
"Oh come on Katara! You said racing?" he said with a short cough. She kept on looking at him with a serious face, arms crossed. But when she stared at his golden eyes she found herself with a small smile.
"There's that smile!" he said quietly, with a short punch to her shoulder. She began to giggle when they turned around to see their mothers walk up to them, engaged in some sort of conversation.
"I brought some bread from the kitchens for the turtle ducks." Ursa said to them. Zuko looked up and smiled at his mom; she knew that, that was his favorite thing to do.
Katara listened to there conversation in interest. She turned and tugged Zuko's sleeve, "What's a turtle duck Zuko?" she whispered to him with innocence.
"I'll show you Katara." He said genuinely. He took the bread from his mother and walked over to the waters edge with Katara. They sat there waiting for the family of ducks that usually passed by to come. Then all of a sudden they heard the little quacks coming along the shore.
Zuko looked over to see Katara's face light up in happiness. She took a piece of bread and threw it into the water watching the ducks all fight over them.
Zuko smiled at how she was having so much fun. He watched her as she crumbled a piece of bread in her palm, and reach far down to the ducks with an outstretched arm. She waited patiently for the turtle duck to swim up and eat it from her hand, a look of total concentration on her face.
Zuko thought of the differences in Azula and her in this moment. If this were Azula, she would be throwing things at the animals not trying to feed them.
She looked up at him with a smile as bright as the sun itself, as the baby Turtle duck ate from her tiny palm, "Did you see that Zuko? It took it right out of my hand!" she yelled laughing even more.
"Pretty cool huh?" he asked her laughing; she nodded as fast as her little head could.
"I'm having the servants bring us a picnic meal out soon for our lunch." Ursa said to the children they looked at each other and smiled.
"Wanna play tag?" Katara asked Zuko who nodded his yes. He smirked at her and fastly hit her shoulder yelling, "Tag your it!" Zuko took off and she began to run around chasing him, as Kya and Ursa sat on the picnic blanket.
"I think the plan is coming around nicely already, don't you agree?" Kya asked Ursa pointing to their young children as they played tag by the pond.
Ursa looked at her and smiled lightly, "I agree, I just wish I could be here to watch them fall in love." Ursa said sadly to her.
Kya looked down, "When do you have to do what you have to do?" She asked Ursa.
Ursa coughed, "Very, very soon." She said tears beginning to brim in her eyes.
Kya hung her head in sadness, "And you absolutely have to, there is no way you can get around it?" she asked her looking for some sort of hope.
Ursa shook her head, "I wish there was." She told her. One tear finally sliding down her white cheek.
A/N: And theres chapter four! Again sorry for such a long time between updates:( But i'm going to try and keep up regular posts. Also Happy late Halloween!