2. Accusation

"Oh look. It's that peasant from the colony."

Ursa tried to ignore the snide remark as Ting Ting and her group of overly accessorized followers came into the garden. Ting Ting, the oldest and the snottiest girl Ursa has ever met, walked over to the bench she was sitting on.

"Oh look, she can read," to which the other girls let out a laugh.

"What can I help you with, Ting Ting?"

Ursa asked patiently. She had been experiencing this kind of scenario close to every day now. It has been almost a month she's been attending the Royal Fire Academy for Girls in the capital city of the Fire Nation and it has been that long since she's been harassed just because she wasn't a noble yet she's permitted into the academy.

"Oh nothing," Ting Ting replied breezily and circled Ursa like a hawk. "I'm just wondering if you've seen my hair pin."

"Don't you have a few in your hair now?"

Ting Ting let out a shrill laugh and gently pats Ursa's cheek. "Oh you really are a peasant," she said with a dramatic sigh before she straightened up. Ursa eyed the dolled-up girl warily, trying to decipher what kind of malice she's going to inflict on her today.

She had come to the Fire Nation, expecting that the people would be as kind and respectful as in the colonies but she was proven wrong. And as if the gods were trying to beat that fact into her naïve mind, Ursa had been proven wrong every single day.

"It's a very precious hair pin, a family heirloom," Ting Ting explained. "Not that a peasant like you can ever see what value it is." She added as an afterthought.

Ursa clenched her fist and tried to put on her most calm expression, battling her urge to just sock the girl in the face just like how the soldiers taught her. But no, she had to restrain herself or her mother would give her hell for her indecent behaviour.

"I've not seen it," she replied simply and got up, preparing to leave and tucked the scroll she's been reading earlier on before she got interrupted. Ting Ting stood in her way, her arms crossed and her eyes narrowed.

"Why are you such in a rush to leave? Are you trying to hide something?"

"No. I just thought-"

"Or maybe you did see the hair pin and now you're trying to run away with it!"

"What? No!"

Suddenly all the pieces of the puzzle fitted and Ursa scolded herself for not realizing it sooner. Ting Ting is accusing her of theft! Ting Ting began her speech about how this is exactly why no one below the noble class should ever enter the academy and inching closer towards Ursa and purposely tripped the poor girl into the murky pond nearby.

A wave of laughter echoed through the garden as more girls came out to watch Ursa's humiliating position in the pond and Ursa was about to throw a rock at Ting Ting's face when a voice cut through the laughter.

"Oh for Agni's sake, can you just shut up!"

A man jumped down from a nearby tree, a scowl set deep in his face and all laughter died down. Horror replaced the smug look on Ting Ting's face, much to Ursa's delight, and everyone bowed to the man.

"Your Majesty! I didn't know you were here," Ting Ting stammered, fear dripping from her voice.

"Get out," he commanded harshly and immediately, the garden cleared up. All except Ursa, who was still sitting in the pond, wet from head-to-toe.

"You too," he commanded though Ursa can't help but to notice that it was gentler than before. Scrambling to her feet, Ursa dragged herself out of the pond, gave an awkward bow to the man and was about to leave when he stopped her.

"Wait."

Was all he said and he left the garden, only to return a few minutes later with two female servants.

"Get her cleaned up," Ursa heard him instruct the servants before leaving the garden again. This time, he didn't return.

A/N: Please drop a review. :D