Little bit of back ground info:

-Aang was born about 6 years sooner in this universe, so he was 18 when the monks told him he was the Avatar. After they tell him that he would have to give up his attachment to Gyatsu, he ran away, and we all know the story after that.

Ages for all characters are:

18 - Aang and Suki

17 - Sokka and Zuko

15 - Katara and Toph (just so she isn't so many years younger then everyone else)

In the last chapter...

Zuko and Mai broke up, and Katara is going with Zuko to the Fire Nation.

Chapter Seven

The trip back to the Fire Nation was uneventful. Over the three and a half days it took to go from the Earth Kingdom port to the bay at Harbor City, the town where capitol's most prestigious people kept their ships docked, as the name suggested, Zuko and Katara did little more then spar, play pai sho, and drink tea as they recalled the days of their travels. Zuko had also explained a few things about the capitol to her, now that things were back in working order.

"Don't be surprised if anyone approaches you as Lady Katara, Master Katara, or Princess Katara. To the people of the Fire Nation, it's hard to comprehend that the Fire Lord would call someone who was not a noble friend, so even those who know much about the Water Tribes may refer to you with a respected title."

"But why would they call me a princess? We don't have princesses in the Southern Water tribe."

"Well, yes, but truly, you should. The Northern Water tribe and the Southern Water tribe are separate, correct? The North doesn't dictate the South?"

"Of course not," Katara frowned.

"Well, that makes your father the chief of your tribe, correct?"

Yeah..," Katara stated, slowly coming to the same conclusion that Zuko already had.

"And as his daughter, that makes you-"

"-the Princess of the Southern Water tribe," she finished in a daze.

"That's right."

"But, the people of the Southern Water tribe tend to forgo such formalities."

"That doesn't mean the rest of the world does. To them, you ARE a princess by right, and while in the Fire Nation, you will be treated as such. That means that when we arrive, you'll be expected to ride the palanquin with me to the palace. When we arrive, you will be shown to your suite, which is the closest to the royal family's wing, by a set of hand maids, which have surely already gathered you a wardrobe befitting a Water Tribe princess. They will insist on assisting you in your washroom and will wash your hair with the most luxurious perfumes and softeners available."

"Zuko, that's too much," Katara had protest.

"It's what is to be expected of the Fire Nation's palace staff. Anything less is an insult to the Fire Lord. You wouldn't want to insult me, would you," he had teased.

Katara was still having a hard time keeping her cool when they arrived at the palace and Katara was, indeed, ushered to her rooms to bathe.

Katara was absolutely famished by the time they began to dry her hair, she gladly excepted when a maid offered her a bowl of cherries, a Fire Nation fruit that was known for it's sweet taste, bright color, and amazing health benefits. Katara took a bite of one and felt something hard, which she spit out to find that it was a pit.

The entire group of women froze, and the one who had offered the cherries bowed deeply, apologizing profoundly for her insolence, baffling Katara.

"What are you apologizing for? It's just a pit. Fruit has pits in them sometimes. It has nothing to do with your services. People, get up. You did nothing wrong. Why are you so upset?"

"Forgive her, Princess Katara. You see, on the day of Princess Azula's coronation, we witnessed a similar incident involving the princess's maids, and all were banished from the Nation until Fire Lord Zuko took the thrown," one of the older maids explained.

"What? That's just stupid! Listen," she said more gently as she turned back to the young maid, "Princess Azula is insane. If anyone ever tries to reprimand any of you for something out of your control, take it to the Fire Lord. He's a fair man, and he'll do right by you, I promise."

"The Fire Lord will be too busy to see any of us, Princess."

Katara frowned.

"Then tell me, and I will see to it that you're taken care of, alright? Zuko would never let any of you suffer such abuse."

The young maid burst into tears and fell to her knees, and another of the maids took her by the shoulders and steered her from the room. The elder maid frowned against and bowed to the Water bender.

"Please, excuse the girl, My Lady. She is not at her best as of yet."

"Is there anything I can do for her?"

The woman shook her head.

"No, My Lady. She will be dealing with the issue shortly, I assure you. You see, the girl was one of Azula's maids before the previous Fire Lord announced himself as the Pheonix King. While Azula was away, she helped around the palace and during that time, she became with child."

Katara's eyes widened.

"But... she's so young. Surely her husband would have wanted to wait..."

"You misunderstand, Princess. You see, in the palace, for a maid, no matter the age, there are those to which you can simply not say no if you wish to remain in service."

Katara paled as she comprehended the woman's meaning.

"You... you mean, one of the nobles... took advantage of her?"

"Not one of the nobles, but yes, she is carrying a bastard, but as I said, she will be dealing with the issue soon. Her emotions will not interfere with her work again."

After a moment of thought, Katara felt she had had enough, and asked the maids to leave. She was already dressed, had only her slippers to place on her feet before she left her room. Overwhelmed, Katara sat at her vanity and looked down at her hands in her lap and she digested that piece of Fire Nation culture.

Any man in the palace could have his way with any of the girls or women in service here, and none could do a thing about it if they did not wish to loose what they had worked for, but to end the life placed inside them if such a thing were to occur. Who was protecting these girls, saving them from having to make such a decision or risk loosing everything?

"Katara," Zuko asked as he came into her room, "you didn't answer when I knocked."

"Oh, sorry. I... I didn't hear you."

Zuko frowned and knelt before her, looking up at her pale face.

"Is this all a bit much? I can ask the maids to back off if you wish."

Katara shook her head, "no that's not it. I just... one of the maids upset me, that's all."

The Fire Lord's face turned dark.

"Inform me of which one, and I will see to it that she is immediately dismissed."

Katara gasped, "what? No! Not like that! I'm just upset that the maids don't have more protecting then they do!"

"Protection? Is someone harming the maids?"

Katara explained everything that had happened, and the consequences of what the girl had been through.

"I see. I suppose you would be upset by this."

"You knew?" Katara gaped.

"It happens on occasion. There are plenty bastards of noblemen running around the palace as servants. It is not uncommon for the servants to fall pregnant while working here. It has always been understood that as long as it never interfered with their work, they could birth the children without any fuss from anyone in the palace, but if they could not work properly while with child, that they were to either give up their position or end the pregnancy. The palace physicians will see to it that she is given proper medical attention."

"She shouldn't need medical attention! She should have never been put in this position to begin with! It's practically rape, and these damned nobles are getting away with it!"

Zuko nodded, "I agree with you. I will be sure to bring the subject up tomorrow at the council meeting. I'll see to it that everyone knows that the palace staff is off limits, and anyone who forces themselves on a servant will be punished. But in the mean time, will you come to dinner with me? I'm sure you're as famished as I am."

Katara nodded and took his offered hand as he helped her up, not releasing it when she was on her feet.

"Thank you, Zuko. It means a lot to me that you're not only trying to make peace with the other nations, but are also trying to make things better for your own people, even the lowly servants."

"I was not always a pampered prince, Katara. I had to do my share of serving. I know what it's like to be completely powerless, and at the mercy of others. I will do right by my people."

Katara smiled, "that's what I told the girl."

Okay, I understand that you are all busy with your lives, but would to be too much to ask to leave one, tiny, simple review? Pwetty pwease? Mirandaparra15, thank you so much for all of your reviews, you're the only reason I'm posting this chapter right now! Hope you enjoyed it!