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Zuko woke up hating the world. He hated knowing that today he was going to have to tell Mai about his fathers plans. He hated knowing that he was going to have marry a girl he barley knew; a girl he didn't love.
He got out of bed and put a red shirt on and plain black robe over it and he was already wearing black pants.
"Prince Zuko," A servant called to him. "Mai is here to see you."
"Oh goodie," Zuko mumbled under his breath. He walked up to her. It was perfect, just perfect. She was standing just the right way in front of a window and light hit her dark eyes in the right way to make them shine and twinkle.
"Mai," He whispered, wrapping his arms around her. She leaned into him putting her arms lightly around his neck. "I love you," He told her nuzzling her.
"I love you, too. Zuko, whats wrong?" She asked backing up.
"We can't see eachother anymore."
"What? Why?" She asked backing up a few more steps.
"My father,"
"What about him?" She snapped.
"He's arranged a marriage for me." He said stepping towards her.
"What? But he knows about us! Why would he do something like that?"
"He says it's to better the world." Zuko mumbled, looking down.
"So the world would be better if we didn't see each other? Or your world?" She snarled.
"What? No, Mai-" Zuko tried to wrap his arms around her again, but she pushed him away.
"Don't touch me, Zuko!" She huffed and turned away. Zuko shook his head and turned to go to breakfast.
His parents and Katara's family was already there. He sat at usual spot and looked down at his food.
The parents were aware of what had happened, but the kids weren't. Ozai sighed when Zuko stood up and left in a huff. Zuko left and walked out to the garden. He sat underneath the willow tree and watched the turtle-ducks swim. He sighed and put his head against the tree's trunk. He closed his eyes and tried to relax. He didn't know what do. He was going to have marry someone he didn't know, he didn't love and she was going to have to bare his children. She would be in his bed. A girl he didn't love would be in his bed. Someone he wasn't interested in. Someone he didn't want to be interested in would be in his bed.
He tried to think of good things about this, but there were none.
Zuko almost jumped when he felt a hand press against his shoulders. He looked over his shoulder and saw that it was his mother. She smiled lightly and looked down at him. She sat next to him and wrapped her arm around him.
"Oh, Zuko, I know it's hard, but your father and I were arranged too and we're in love." Zuko shook his head and closed his eyes. "I also understand how it feels when you loose your first love...even by force." She paused. "You know before your father, I was madly in love with a lieutenant. I loved him very much, but he was killed in the war." Zuko opened his eyes and looked up towards his mother.
"Really?"
"Yes." She sighed. "At least maybe you'll see Mai again."
"It won't be the same. I'll be married."
"And so will she, maybe."
"What?"
"Your father won't be inviting her or her family to the festival."
"I can't believe this." He huffed. Ursa rubbed his back and watched the turtle-ducks with him.
For the Festival Zuko dressed in some of his best silk robes. They were black with gold edging. He wore black boots and put his hair up in a bun and he wore the fire prince crown since this was a special occasion.
----
Katara wore her best Water Tribe dress. It looked a lot like Yue's dress as a spirit 1 but the arms weren't as large and it didn't have the white wrap at the bottom like Yue's did. It was a beautiful blue color and it complemented a lot of Katara's curves.
A knock at the door startled Katara. "Yes?" Her voice almost quivered.
"It's me, Katara." Kya said behind the door.
"Oh, yeah. Come in." Katara said turning her head so she could see her hair in the mirror.
"You look lovely, darling." Kya smiled. She was wearing a blue dress with a water tribe symbol Jewel where the spaghetti straps met in the middle of the front of the shirt.
"Thanks. Should I do my hair different?"
"No," Kya sat down on the edge of Katara's bed. "Uh, Katara,"
"Yes?"
"There's something your father and I have been meaning to tell you." Kya started as Hakoda walked in.
"What?" Katara asked turning around to face them.
"Um...we'll be staying here a little longer than expected."
"Why?"
"Um..well Ursa and I are friends and Ozai and your father are friends and good friends need to spend some time with each other." Kya smiled awkwardly. Hakoda sighed.
"We need you to do more than just be there for me when I sign the peace treaty..." Hakoda took in a deep breath. "You'll be marrying Prince Zuko." Katara's eyes got wide and her breath got caught in her throat. She didn't know what do or what to think. She shook her head.
"What?" She breathed out. She was angry and shocked and trying her hardest not to yell.
"It's for the world, Katara." Katara clinched her teeth and balled her fists. Her nails digging into her skin. She held her breath, but she couldn't take it anymore.
She didn't want to leave the Water Tribe in the first place and now she may not ever see it again!
"That's all your care about anymore!" She yelled. "You never give a damn about me or Sokka or mom! It's always the world this the world that! I'm really beginning to wonder if it's for the world, or you!" She pointed at him. "Do you not love me?" She asked now choking on tears. "Are you just trying to get rid of me?" She asked tears streaming down her face. She was so angry and hurt. She didn't know what to think at this point.
Hakoda shook his head and grabbed her. He wrapped his arms around her.
"No, Katara. I would never try to get rid of you. I love you very, very much. And I've been trying to change the world so much lately is because of you. I want it to be a better place for you. I want you grow up in a better place than I did. I want your kids to grow up in a better place than you did and an even better place than I did, Katara."
"I don't want to marry him. I don't even know him." She breathed out again trying not to cry.
"Well, the wedding would be about a couple of months from now. We don't want it to be so forced. Your mother, brother, and I will be staying here with for about a week and then we're going home."
"What? You can't just leave me here!" She protested.
"I have other duties Katara. Our tribe needs me." Katara backed away from him and shook her head, looking away from him. Kya got up and put a hand on her husbands shoulder.
"Go prepare for the signing, I'll talk to her." Hakoda looked down and nodded. He turned and left.
"Katara, sweetheart, I know this is hard, but look at the bright side."
"What bright side?" Katara huffed looking away and crossing her arms.
"You get to live in a palace! And since you don't come here often, just about every day is an opportunity to learn. You said you want to know more things, here's your chance. The palace has an amazing library and great water scapes for your water bending." Katara sighed and looked up at her mother. That did seem kind of nice. "And...Prince Zuko isn't the worst looking guy, now is he?"
"Mom!" Katara and her mother laughed. Katara smiled and almost blushed. Zuko was good looking.
"Alright, now. Do you feel better about it?"
"Yeah,"
"Good, now lets go meet up with your father and brother."
Ozai and his family stood to the right of a table and Hakoda and his family stood to the left. An old man stood behind it. Hundreds maybe even thousands stood in front of the statium eager for peace.
"Today is the day two lands become one!" The man shouted. The crowed cheered after. "The day when water and fire become one!" Again the crowed cheered. "The day peace reigns over our lands!" Cheering. "The day Yin and Yang..." He paused. "Are proud!" The crowed cheered louder than ever. "Great Agni! Tui and La!" He called the spirits. "Fire Lord Ozai and Water Chief Hakoda," He said dipping one brush in red ink and the other in blue. "Wish peace amongst their lands," He crossed his arms handing Hakoda the red ink and Ozai the blue ink. "And in signing this, may their wish be granted." Hakoda and Ozai signed their names on the peace treaty and then turned to each other and shook hands.
Ozai smiled and put a hand out towards his people and land, presenting them to Hakoda as their people and their land.
Fire works of all colors exploded and music began to play. People began to spread out and go on about the festival.
"So, uh," Ozai started. "Have you told Katara?"
"Yes, she freaked out, but she's okay now." Hakoda smiled assuring Ozai. Ozai nodded and headed toward a food stand.
----
Ursa and Kya smiled and laughed when they looked at their boys all going for the same thing. Food.
"So, how did Katara take it?" Ursa asked looking over at Kya.
"I think she handled it pretty well."
At the end of the festival fire benders were supposed to dance with the water benders (if they could find any, not many came with Hakoda) to symbolize the eternal dance of Yin and Yang. Fire and Water.
Ozai danced with Kya and Hakoda danced with Ursa. Azula didn't dance at all and Zuko ended up finding Katara. Sokka found a nice Fire Nation girl.
"Your people seemed pretty pleased with the peace treaty." Katara said trying to make conversation. She didn't have very good feelings towards Zuko and she could feel the awkwardness and maybe even a little tension between them.
"Yes, the Fire Nation has also suffered from the war, you know."
"How? No one was able to attack you." Katara held her tongue and tried not to yell at him.
"Money was used on war ships and other things. Since money wasn't being used on trade, we barley had anything for our people to buy and if they don't have anything to buy, the stores don't make any money and if the stores don't make any money, employee's don't make any money and if employee's don't make any money, they can't buy anything and the cycle continues. So, our people end up loosing all of their jobs and can barley feed their families. It pisses people off."
"Oh," Katara sighed out. Her hands rested on his shoulders and his hands were on her waist. She looked down, watching their feet. They were dancing with small, slow steps in a circular motion. Watching made her dizzy and she shook her head looked back up. She looked up at him saw his eyes. His amber eyes her beautiful to her. She looked and saw the reflections of the fire works and turned around to watch them.
"Have you ever seen fire works?" Zuko asked.
"In books." She almost gasped out. Her mother was right. This land was full of things that she always wanted to see and not just in books. This land seemed to take things from the books and make them real and make them even more beautiful than she could ever imagine.
She hoped to see the wild flowers she read about and taste the foods and feel the silks. She wished she could see a dragon, but she knew they were extinct. She wanted to collect the sea shells the south pole didn't have and the gems. She looked up and saw the Palace. She noticed just how beautiful it really was and that was going to be her home. She was going to be able to live in this beautiful land. She was going to be able to wear the dresses and jewels she always dreamed of.
"Blessings come in whispers, so you must always listen closely." She remembered her mother telling her. And now she heard it. This place was a dream come true. This place was a blessing. Now she heard it loud and clear. From all the dreams she had of some prince sweeping her off her feet and taking her to some enchanted land. This was it. This was her dream, but it was reality.
"Katara," Zuko inturrupted. This...this PISSED HER OFF. She was having a blessed SPIRITAL MOMENT and he just RUINED it. She took a deep breath and turned around slowly.
"Yes?" She asked through clinched teeth, trying to sound okay.
"Uh...I think you know as much as I do about the...arrangement." Katara gasped. He interrupted her realization for THAT!? She balled her fists...again and held her breath. "Are you okay?" He asked. No, she wasn't okay. She wanted to KILL him then. But, her good side calmed her left side.
It's okay, it's okay, he didn't know...don't hurt him, Oh, Tui, do NOT let her hurt him. Please please please.
Are you kidding me? Sock him one right in the nose! Go on! It's okay, I won't tell.
"Yeah," She gasped out.
"Should...should we talk about it?"
"I don't know right now, Zuko!" She huffed and stormed off.
"Women!" Zuko threw his arms up in the air and turned to leave for the palace.
"So, how did your dance go, Katara?" Kya asked. The two girls were sitting on Katara's bed.
"Mom! Oh my goodness. You know how I've always dreamed of becoming a princess and having countless jewels and fancy dresses?"
"Yes."
"Well, I realized that this my chance. This my dream come true!"
"Thats good, dear."
"Oh! But then Zuko! Zuko just HAD to ruin it!"
"What? How?"
"He brought up the whole arrangement thing!" Kya busted out laughing. "How is that funny? That's not funny! I was SO pissed! MOM!" Katara whined.
"Oh, I'm sorry, dear. But how would he know?"
"Yeah, I know." Katara calmed.
"Well, dear. I'm going to head off to bed. See you in the morning." Kya said before kissing her daughter on the forehead and getting up.
"Kay,"
"Oh," Kya said before leaving. "I would like for you to spend more time with Ursa and Zuko."
"Why Ursa?"
"She's nice and she'd be there for you when I'm not."
Katara nodded and sighed. She plopped down onto her back after she herd her mother close the door. She noticed how she yelled at Zuko earlier and she knew she would have to appolgize. She'd do it tomorrow, she planned. Today was long and shocking. She was tired and these beds just seemed to knock you out rather you were tired or not.
Oh my goodness, guys! Thanks for all the favs and alerts. Just wish you'd reply a little more. I want to know what you guys think and what you guys want for the future. Next chapter will be more Zutara and Ozai gets on to Azula! Did you read that? Yeah, he gets PISSED! Ha!
Ugh, I tired not to put in so much dialouge, but...it's harder than I thought. :/ BUT next chapter is Zutara and that makes it all better, right?...right?
oh, 1. I know that they don't know who Yue is, but thats what Katara's dress looks like.
! Could that Fire Nation girl be Ty Lee?!