A/N: Thx to everyone who reviewed, added the story to their favourites or alerts. Here's Chapter 2!)

Disclaimer: I do not own ATLA.

Chapter 2: Not so Innocent.

Katara awoke quite early the next morning. The little amounts of sun beams shone through the satin curtains of her large four-poster bed, giving her the slightest amount of vision. In truth, when she told Lee she was looking for the "Princess", she went to look for her father. She wanted to know exactly who this preposterous prince was. She got out of bed just in time to see her maid, Akemi, open the curtains of the large balcony window. Maybe it wasn't as early as she thought then.

Akemi turned towards her and smiled. "Good morning, Princess. I'm glad that you awoke by yourself. I know it is still rather early. I thought I would have to get you up this morning."

"Akemi, were you asked to wake me earlier than usual?" Katara asked her, strolling to the door where her large bathroom was. She stood there and waited for the maid to answer.

"Yes, Princess. The King wants you to look your best, so he sent for us earlier today. The bath is already heated and prepared. Go on now, don't waste any time. You have a special guest at the palace. Your father wants you to meet him." And marry him, Katara mentally added. She scowled at the door, not wanting Akemi to see her face. She knew exactly who her "special guest" was. Ugh! She was going to kill her father when she found him! She did not want to be all pampered and pretty for that stupid Prince! They were probably going to make her wear her best clothes, the prettiest make-up she owned, and have her hair styled down, because it looked best on her. Everyone was taking control over her life! She couldn't believe this! Why me? She asked herself miserably. She walked into her bathroom and slammed the door shut. Akemi jumped from surprise.

"Princess," she asked cautiously. "Is something the matter?" she raised her voice, so that Katara could hear her.

"No!" Katara yelled back. "Everything is absolutely perfect!" she told her sarcastically. Another door opened, and three maids walked in.

Akemi looked at the three. "Go and help her prepare will you," She closed her eyes and rubbed her temples, trying to concentrate. "Best clothes, make-up, and hair down. She has to look stunning. The Prince won't know what hit him." They nodded then turned away from the head maid, walked to the bathroom and entered, quietly shutting the door behind them.

Akemi walked out of the Princess' chamber. She would check up on the Princess later, right now she had a Prince to visit. She sighed and started walking through the corridors. When she reached his door she knocked. "Prince Zuko, I am the maid, Akemi. May I enter your highness?"

Zuko woke up when he heard the knocking. He was a light sleeper, so he heard the noise straight away. He listened to her talk. It was the maid. "Yes," he called out. "You may enter."

He watched the door, as a middle aged lady walked in. She smiled. Her eyes showed that she was a nice, friendly person.

"Good morning, your highness. Sorry to disturb you at this early hour, but King Hakoda asked for you to look your best this morning." Zuko jumped upright. He was meeting the Princess today! He hurriedly got out of bed. Akemi saw his panic, she smiled softly. "I will call a few servants to help you prepare, your highness."

"Thank you," he told her, as he started to get his best clothes and armour out of the wardrobe he was given. Akemi nodded and walked out of the room. He went back and sat on his bed once again. He covered his face with his hands. This was it, the day he was going to decide what to do with the Princess. There was a knock on his door. Zuko looked up to see three male servants standing there.

"Good morning, your majesty," one said and all three men bowed. "We will be assisting you this morning." He turned to the man on his right.

"Daichi," he said. "Go and prepare the Prince's bath." He turned to the other. "Raidon, you can go assist Daichi." The two turned and went to the bathroom. When they walked in, he turned his attention to the Prince. "You will be needing your best clothes, your highness."

"I know," he pointed to the pile he had pulled out of his wardrobe earlier.

"Good," the man said with a smile. "What will happen later is that, you will be introduced to our Princess, and she, to you. Then you are to go and eat breakfast with the Royals." He paused. "You are one lucky man," he told the Prince.

"And why am I lucky?" he asked questionably.

"Sire, the Princess Katara, she is beautiful," he folded his hands behind his back and continued talking. "She's passionate, loving, and strong." He breathed out, his gaze distracted. "She's a waterbending warrior, mastered her element at the age of fourteen. She always speaks her opinion, and will never give up on anything, always trying her hardest to make things right. She will make a fine queen one day," he concluded proudly.

Beautiful? Strong? Passionate? She sounded amazing. Maybe he was lucky. The bathroom door opened, and the two servants walked out. Both of them had mischievous smiles spread across their faces. It seems they had heard what the other servant had said about Katara.

"Yes," Daichi added, grinning. "If she marries you, then you truly are going to be one lucky man." He turned his gaze to the oldest servant. "Didn't you wish that she married you, Taku?" He blushed and said a quick 'no'. Raidon sniggered, and then turned to Zuko.

"Your bath is ready, you highness." He said, bowing down.

"Thank you," the Prince told them. He got up and walked into the bathroom.

Katara's maids spent the whole time working on her look. They combed her hair, painting her nails, and got her best gown ready. They scrubbed every inch of her body. She still felt the heat of the scrubbing and exfoliating against her skin. She noticed that the dress her maids had picked out was one she had never worn before. Her eyebrows furrowed. The whole palace was probably going to think she was trying to impress him. It would look like she got a whole new wardrobe, filled with many things that would make her look her best. Though, it was the complete opposite. She wanted to scare him away. Right now, she wanted nothing more than to have the craziest make-up applied to her face or dress in fake-blooded rags. Surely, if she looked crazy, he would run away. She wanted to fake an illness. Anything was better than meeting his royal pain. After finishing her nails and hair, they helped her with her dress, and then started to apply the make-up. The youngest maid fastened her mother's chocker around her neck and placed a pair of quartz-stoned, dangly earrings in her left hand. When they were finished with everything, she lifted herself from the seat and walked towards her large, oval shaped mirror.

"You look beautiful, Princess," one told her, as the other two nodded.

She did look beautiful, more beautiful than she had ever seen herself. The make-up her maids applied was natural, making her eyes stand out, much to her disappointment. The dress she wore was the same colour as her eyes, with parts that were silver white and dark blue. The gown reached also reached the floor, like all the other dresses she owned, but this one had a small trail. The dress's top was off the shoulder, the sleeves positioned from the arm's cap to short. Its sleeves had a puffy look to it, silk covered by a plain blue, sheer fabric. The dress was made from silk, the fabric was plain. It had a large, dark blue sapphire gem in the middle of the top's neckline. On each side of the large gem were smaller blue gems, placed all in a row across the neckline. There were even smaller diamonds randomly placed on the dress' skirt. It was simple, yet exquisite in some places.

She looked at her hair next. Parts of her hair were fastened up by dark blue sapphire gemmed pins. The remaining hair hung loose and straight. She had three braids coming out of the pinned section of her hair, each hung down onto the straight, loose hair. Though, she couldn't see it. The maids had explained the style to her earlier.

Katara slowly breathed in and out trying to calm her nerves. She was not looking forward to the day ahead.

"I am ready," she announced, the maids nodded and lead her out of the room. They were meeting her father, Sokka and the Prince in the courtyard. She was informed that while they were all walking together, the servants would prepare a table of food for the royals. They were eating breakfast outside today. It made her happy, the change in atmosphere they made for the location of the dining table. She was relieved that at least she would be able to breathe in the cool air, instead of being cramped in a room. The dining room wasn't being small though, but she still liked the idea of dining somewhere different. Her maids were telling her some other stuff too, but she wasn't listening. She was picturing how today would go. She sighed. It was going to be a very long day.

The early sun rays shone down and onto the two men, where Prince Zuko and Prince Sokka stood side by side. They were in the middle of the courtyard. The two talked about everything and anything that popped into their minds. Hakoda stood watching them from a distance, shaded by the large tree behind him. In his opinion, the two got along splendidly. He just hoped that Katara and the Prince would get along too. He wondered what his only daughter would say to him. His daughter had, in fact, always liked meeting new people. When she was younger, she travelled the world.

He also liked the Prince, just like Sokka. Hopefully his daughter will appreciate all the trouble he had gone through, for him to able to get the Prince here. He was open with the boy, told him everything about his stay. He informed him that he wanted a strengthening between the two kingdoms by marrying his daughter. The Prince would be good for his daughter. He was glad that she didn't know the real reason the Prince was here. She wouldn't let him utter a word if she did know. She would never give the prince a chance if she knew.

Zuko had been waiting there for a while now. He prepared himself in a hurry, eager to see the Princess he might marry. He was the first one to arrive at the courtyard. He sat under the tree whilst waiting for everyone else, until Sokka came. The Prince told him that his sister would be coming any minute now. They stood there and chatting while waiting.

"I have an uncle back home," Zuko started to say. "He's obsessed with tea. I don't think there's a tea flavour my uncle hasn't tried." Sokka sniggered.

Sokka was about to say something in reply, when they heard a female giggle. Both men turned their heads towards the sound. Zuko's eyes widened and his mouth gaped open. Walking towards them were three maids and at the front centre was the Princess. She was absolutely stunning, the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. She walked with such a grace, her back upright. Her hands were folded in front of her, instead of hanging loosely by her sides. To him, she looked more like a queen, a proud ruler, than a princess. If it weren't for her young looking, heart shaped face; he would have mistaken her for a queen, any day.

She didn't gaze up towards him, not once. He looked down to her hands again and noticed that they were slightly moving. She was fidgeting. He nerves never left him, but she looked more anxious than he did.

"Katara," her father said, strolling towards her with his arms outstretched. She looked up at her father, her face was a stoic mask and he finally saw her eyes. Those eyes looked so gorgeous, they were a prettier shade of blue, just a bit lighter in colour compared to her brother's. They were big and bright with an extra sparkle in them too. Her dark brown locks were lifted away from her face, and her dress showed off her nice womanly curves. Much to his liking, her shoulders were bare, showing more of her mocha coloured skin. The dress was tightly fitted around the upper waist, its skirt flaring outwards. She was skinny and tall. The jewels on her dress sparkled, much like her eyes, every time she took at step, and a side of the gem caught the sun's light.

"Father, I need to speak with you." She urgently told the King. Her voice was like music to his ears. It was the sound of the most wonderful chime. How could this woman possibly be human? She was more of an angel.

"Daughter, must it be this minute? I still haven't introduced you to our guest." She still didn't look in his direction.

"Yes, father, it must." She replied in a calm voice. She didn't even let him answer. She grabbed one of his hands and led him away from everyone, as further as she could take him. The maids followed her, and she saw this from the corner of her eye.

"Leave us," she told them.

"Katara, that was quite rude. Firstly, you didn't even look in the direction of the guest neither acknowledge his presence. Then you drag me here without even greeting anyone."

"Stop it, father," she placed her hands on her hips, face scowled in anger. "Where were you last night?" she asked him.

"You dragged me away from anyone just to as-..." he hissed at her.

"That's not all!" she shouted, cutting him off. "I'm not marrying him!" he stiffened. She knew.

"Katara..." he said softly. A tear fell down her face but she didn't wipe it away, she didn't seem to notice its presence. He reached out a hand to wipe the tear, but she lightly smacked it away.

"No," she said quietly, her voice broken. "How could you do this to me?" she asked him sadly. Before he could answer she started talking again. "I found out of a servant, Father, A SERVANT!" her voice got louder. He still didn't answer.

"Send him away," she cast her gaze down, and closed her eyes. "I don't want to see him, not now, not ever."

"Katara, listen to me," he started, grabbing her chin in his hand, so that she look at him. "Give this boy a chance. I know he will be good to you,"

"But-" she interrupted, but he cut her off.

"And I know that he can make you happy. I'm not making you marry him. As your King, I'm asking you to do this for our nation, but as your father, I'm asking you that you do this for yourself. Katara, remember how happy Sokka and Yue are. I bet every gold piece I have, that you will just as happy as they are with this man as your husband, if not, then even more happier." She smiled kindly at her.

"I'm not marrying him," she repeated softly.

"You can start by introducing yourself, young lady."

She took a step back, away from him. "Father, I swear to you, if you don't send him away, I will try my hardest to make him run far, far away from here." Her tone was much colder than before.

"See, the reason I chose him of all princes, is because he is just as stubborn as you are. You won't be able to make him run, Katara. I won't allow you to do such a thing, just give him a chance, child."

She said nothing, and turned away from him. She started walking in the direction of her brother and the Prince. She better not start anything. He thought to himself, walking after her.

Zuko and Sokka watched the exchange, not speaking a single word. It was clear that the two were arguing. Zuko continued to watch as she turned around and started to make her way towards them. Her gaze was still cast downwards. Why won't she look at me? He thought.

When she was standing in front of them, Katara lifted her gaze from the ground to look at her brother. "Sokka," she said, nodding her head, her eyes then turned towards Zuko and her breathe got caught in her throat. She did a double take. This was the prince?

He was tall, and looked clearly muscular, even with the armour on. His skin was pale, the ivory colour, and his hair was soft black. But the scar across his left eye caught her attention first. And then she looked into his eyes. Looking into his golden orbs, she felt like he could see right through her very soul. His eyes were kind, and he was clearly handsome, even with the scar. She started at him, for what seemed like forever to her.

Sokka cleared his throat, and she broke her gaze away from him. "Katara, this is Prince Zuko." She looked back into his eyes and curtseyed, head bowed down.

"Prince Zuko," she repeated softly, but mostly to herself. "Welcome to our home your highness." She stood up straight once again. A hand was placed on her shoulder. She turned her head and saw her father, standing behind her. His eyes told her she wasn't to try anything funny. But she had better ideas. As soon as they were to be left alone, she would make his day hell.

She innocently smiled at the three. "Shall we go to breakfast?" King Hakoda asked them.

"We shall," said Katara, turning away from the men and walking away. The table was set up in a different courtyard. As soon as her back was to them, her smile faded, her face changed into an angry glare.

She would show them. They couldn't control her life! She wouldn't do anything in front of her father. That was for sure. She hoped that the Prince wouldn't stay for a month. She worried that it if he did, it would be enough time for her to fall for him, which was so not good. She mentally cursed every Prince out there, for wrecking the lives of so many other Princesses' like herself.