AN: I thought I should say that the last chapter was necessary in the making of this story because it kind of explains how Katara has changed in this story. In this chapter I will begin to explain a lot about what happened to her after Team Avatar won the war, and why I made her like this.

Chapter 2

Katara's POV

The warmth of the cup filled me inside with little glee. I held no happiness as I gained closer along in my journey to the Fire Nation, waiting for the end of my life, and the beginning of my servitude to begin.

Placing the cup down carefully in front of me, I noticed how my hands would automatically clasp together into my lap, like a routine… I begin to smirk remembering my mentor or teacher, who nearly died whenever I would drink my cup of Ginseng tea in one toss of my head…

"Your highness, you must gracefully grasp the cup within your right hand and bring it to your lips while your left hand is holding onto your sleeve to prevent any mistakes. Then you are to gently touch the cup to your lips, like a kiss and take a small sip…"

I began to roll my eyes as she babbled on and on about the disappointment the Chief will have whenever I show up to my coming out banquet or whatever with my back slouched or any other nonsense. It was always the same boring crap, and I was sick and tired of everything, especially her royal ass.

"Your highness, a proper young lady does not roll her eyes, and must keep her back straight."

She smacked my back with the back of her hand, and I shot straight up in my seat at the contact.

"Very good, now let's continue…"

I chuckled very quietly under my breath. That old hag had made me walk around with a rod going down my back, so that I could learn how to stand properly. Talk about having a pole shoved up your ass.

"Your highness, do you desire anything else with your tea. I could get you a tart cake or something else?"

Sighing quietly, I looked up at my lady in waiting, Yori, she was a tiny woman with pale blue eyes and the darkest of raven colored hair. She was very pretty and I always wondered why she never went and married herself, being how she was just breeching the point of being middle-aged. Yori always helped me whenever I had trouble with my studies, or with being a demure lady. Before she was my lady in waiting, she had been Yue's, so she knew how to handle taking care of a princess.

"No, no thank you Yori. I do not require anything right now. You are excused for the day if you wish. I just need time to be alone."

Her eyebrows furrowed at my words, and I knew that she would ask later about what was concerning me, but she did as I said and bowed out of the room. I remembered whenever we had first met. I was nervous about having someone waiting on me hand and foot, considering I am the one who normally does a lot of work.

"Katara, this is Yori, she will be your lady in waiting while you live here. She will do all of the tasks that you will ask of her, and make sure that you are prepared in everything that needs attending to. Yori will also be helping you in all that you need to know for any important dates and such. Yori, this is Princess Katara, I hope that she will be no trouble to you."

My eyes wandered over the older woman. I saw that by the way she carried herself that made me feel that she was very wise.

Her eyes held no sneer, or any distaste at my appearance. In fact, she looked at me with a kind of boldness that looked as though she given a difficult challenge, and that she was ready for it. Looking down at myself, I saw that my dress was wet in some places from where I was outside with the penguins, sledding.

Glancing back up, I saw that she held a slight smile to her face, almost like a smirk.

"It is an honor to make your acquaintance my Princess. Chief Hakoda, I look forward to assisting her with all of her duties."

My father grinned widely and walked away. Looking back at the girl, I saw that she was staring back at me.

"I guess we should get started with picking out a new outfit for you to wear."

When Yori came back, she came in quietly and almost hesitant. I nodded for her to come forward and to go ahead in taking the tray back to the kitchen. I learned that you never mess with Yori whenever it comes to her duties. I almost lost a hand whenever I tried to do things on my own…

"Yori, you do too much, I think I can handle brushing my own hair."

I reached for the brush on the vanity in my room. If looks could kill, I would have been strangled, burned, and then drowned in the bottom of the freezing ocean waters when I saw Yori's face.

Snatching the brush out of my hand, Yori smacked it with the backside of the brush harshly and then went straight to brushing the tangles out of my chocolate-colored hair.

"I do not know how many times I will have to say this, but taking care of your needs is my job now. I know that you could water-whip my butt into oblivion, but I do not care because I will just come right back and haunt you for the rest of your life. Now shut up and sit still while I untangle this giant knot in your hair."

That was the first time that I had ever seen Yori angry at anyone, and I made sure that I was to never anger her ever again. Sure, she became frustrated with me because I wouldn't pay attention to whatever she was saying, but she never snapped at me like that.

Yori was the only person who I trusted anything with, and when she came back from the kitchens, I looked into her stern, yet, worried eyes and sighed.

"Alright, just sit on the bed and listen while I say this. You cannot say anything while I get this off of my chest, and depending on if you were good or not, I will let you ask questions."

She only gave a small huff and then crossed her arms, staring at me while nodding her head.

"It's Zuko. I have been thinking about him a lot lately, as you already knew. Yet, now that I am being sent to the Fire Nation, I can't help but be scared at the possibility of seeing him again, and with her. I know that I gave up the possibility of there ever being an 'us' between the two of us, but I can't help but regret the stupid mistake. And yet, I agreed to get married to a guy I do not know from his own country, when I still love Zuko. How stupid could I have been?"

Stopping for the breath that I needed throughout that entire story, I looked over at Yori, and shook my hands for her to say something. She stood up and came over to hug me for a bit. When I felt her move, I looked back up at her, and she said, "You were and still are very stupid."

"Gee, thanks."

"Well, I am sorry, but it sounds like you didn't think anything that you have done through. Clearly you need some sort of counseling or something."

I glared at her, and she held her hands up in a defensive way,

"No offense or anything."

Placing my head in my hands, I listened to the quiet and calming sea surrounding us. I could feel the pulse of the ocean, like a human heartbeat, just one enormous organism.

Suddenly, I heard the loud bellowing of the captain saying, "Full speed ahead men, we are in sight of the Fire Nation."