Chapter 2

I want to say thank you for all of the support that I have for this story, it really means a lot, and I get inspired to write more. Thank you so much!

As a side note, in the show, Katara is a major believer in fortune telling and falling in love, and I sought to explore that within the confines of the Water Tribe's culture that I've created. This would be the Water Tribe at the peak of its influence and power. There is no Northern Tribe, and instead the Southern Tribe is in control of both the North Pole and South Pole.

A lot of the characters are an also a little more immature than their show counterparts, chiefly because there isn't a war going on. They haven't had to grow up or bear heavy responsibility.

Katara (aged 15—3 years later)

Katara sighed as she came out of her stance, muscles aching after a long day of training. Her grandfather called the end of their fight, and the boy she was sparring against looked like he was about to cry in relief. She mirrored his expression, today wasn't easy at all. By now everyone They bowed to each other again, before turning to a large platform in order to face their teacher, Katara's own grandfather.

Master Pakku of the Southern Water Tribe was a man with a long face, pointed nose that always seemed to look down on you, and a perpetual frown. He always seemed disappointed in someone or something, and most of the time, he was. In the many years she'd known him, she'd barely seen him look happy.

And he didn't look happy now.

"Well you weren't perfect. I can tell you that much." Pakku announced to them both, and Katara resisted the urge to groan. She and her sparring partner shared a glance of unease, awaiting the beratement that was sure to follow. Pakku stuck a bony finger at the 17-year-old next to her. "Mehmet, you're one of my best students but if your arms were any stiffer one would think your bones had frozen! Not only that but your stance was too narrow for half of your attacks. If she'd tried to knock you over, where could you have gone? There was no fluidity to your movements, it was like watching a penguin dance!"

"I—I um…," The boy tried to think of a response to say, but Pakku just waved him off and picked up his tea again, still steaming hot, and sipped it lightly.

"Save it. Every breath you waste with an excuse is time you could spend training to improve."

Mehmet blanched, a wince on face as his cheeks darkened with embarrassment.

"And Katara—," He turned his steely dark blue gaze to her. She tensed, feeling the sweat drip down her forehead, fingers balling into fists as she waited for his critique. "You were passable, I suppose."

She sighed. I guess that's as good it's going to get. She nodded anyway, knowing that she would never be perfect in her grandfather's eyes, but she appreciated the commentary all the same.

But he continued, staring into her eyes with a sagely wisdom. "If you ask me, that year spent with Yugoda in the healing huts was a true disservice. You should have come here first. Learn how to inflict injuries before healing them. You're too timid—too scared— I know that you haven't been working on offensive bending that long, but a lack of experience is no excuse. You never act when Mehmet attacks you." He narrowed his eyes at her. "You only react. A fight where you're only defending will either end in a stalemate, or a loss. A loss that may in fact, be fatal."

She bowed her head under his criticism, feeling the shame crawl up her spine. "Yes, sir."

She never called him Grandfather outside the house.

Pakku nodded, rising, stepping down off the low platform. "Still, I'm impressed with the both of you. Despite your flaws, of which there are many—," She cringed. He spared a look at the rest of his students, who were off to the side, carefully watching the exchange. "You're probably the best pupils I have. Although that's not saying much." He jerked a thumb at the rest, before the corner of his mouth lifted slightly. "You two can go."

Mehmet tapped her on the shoulder and gestured to the other boys waiting. She was the only girl of her age training with them, the other girls far older or younger than her. She didn't mind, though it would be nice having someone to talk to that understood what she was going through. She hadn't had that for a very long time, He no longer looked stern, in fact…he looked sad. Pakku stared at her until Mehmet walked away to join his friends, wearing a solemn expression that she couldn't identify.

"When you get home, tonight…be sure to speak with your parents."

Her brows furrowed. "What do you mean?"

He didn't say anything, only gave her a last look before heading over to the others.

Complements from her grandfather were all too rare, even for those who loved by him. True to form, he whirled on the rest of his pupils, annoyance flashing in them suddenly like thunder. "And the rest of you can barely manage a stable water whip! You could learn something from these two. Tomorrow the lot of you will have extra drills! Maybe that will get you focused."

Though she was confused, Katara bowed, she smiled up at him, glowing under his praise. She flushed with pride. Sometimes it was nice to be the only girl studying offensive waterbending.

The rest of Pakku's pupils groaned, beginning to sulk towards their homes. "Gee, thanks Katara." Mehmet said as the group passed her, laughing and chatting as they went. Mehmet shoved her a bit, but not hard, she playfully shoved him back. He and the rest of them smiled teasingly at her, so she knew it wasn't truly maligned. In fact, none of them seemed truly angry at her, just annoyed at the prospect of having to wake up before dawn.

"Yeah, thanks, Katara." The low voice made her jump, and she turned to the sound, a small gasp escaping her lips.

It wasn't unusual to feel small when you were around Hahn. He looked so incapable of finesse in any sense, his bulky and block-like Intimidation a result of his size and longtime training. His heavily muscled frame and broad shoulders dwarfed anyone standing near, and he often moved like an ox, lumbering and heavy, like he didn't know what to do with his large frame. Sokka always said that his brain was so occupied with training that there was no room in left for coordination or basic math, even but she vehemently disagreed. You didn't need finesse or math to be considered a great warrior, and Hahn clearly was.

She'd seen him train since she was a child, seen how he could overpower and outmaneuver nearly anyone he went up against. There was no doubt that he was the greatest warrior in the Southern Water Tribe.

Katara was also smitten, so maybe there was a bit of bias. They'd had a few basic conversations, over the years but nothing groundbreaking.

"Hi Hahn." She said, feeling the sweat drip from her forehead despite the chilly temperature, and only now realizing that she probably stunk like a dead fish.

But he didn't seem to notice her smell, in fact, quite the opposite. His strong, stern, façade cracked when she spoke and he smiled at her goofily, his dark blue eyes shining through the shaggy hair flopping over his face.

What could she say to him? Should she say anything? Was he angry about the early morning training he had to do because of her? She hoped not. Come on Katara, don't just stand there like a goof!

"Um…" She mumbled before finding her voice. Her hands balled into fists and she tried not to meet his eyes. "Was there something you needed?"

"You're good at waterbending, Katara." He said, deep voice rolling over her like a wave. His eyes looked her up and down briefly, taking in her sweat slicked hair causing her to flush an embarrassing pink. "Not many girls who can waterbend want to learn how to fight. They stick to defensives, or healing."

"It isn't really fighting…and it isn't really a girl thing…" Katara shrugged. "At least, not to me."

Hahn's lips quirked; his brow furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean?"

She gestured to the trickle of students exiting the building. "Most of them…girls and boys, only want to learn the basics…enough to keep tradition alive…but me? I want to know everything there is to know about waterbending…I started working with Yugoda when I was 12…this just seemed like the next natural step…" This was awkward. She tried to stop rambling, but instead went barreling on, hoping to explain to him in terms that Hahn understood. "You know how the spear is the extension of your arm? It's like that! It—my waterbending is an extension of me."

"Oh. Okay." He said simply.

Katara's heart pounded in her chest, her fingers shifting at her sides at the awkwardness at her loquacious self. She didn't mean to go overboard...but her waterbending heritage was important to her…one that she maybe tried to express to people a little too much. She looked around awkwardly, realizing that the hall had gone quiet, everyone had already gone to their homes, and Katara's grandfather had disappeared off to who knows where.

Turning back to him, he was still staring at her, his dark eyes trying to pierce their way into hers. It was quiet between them for a moment…a very long moment.

Just as she was going to make some excuse to get away, to run and hide and never, never, see him again for as long as she lived, but he smiled at her, with his teeth flashing in the candlelight. Her stomach was jittery as he approached, his dashing grin that she swore sparkled, only intensified as he stepped towards her. He continued in a low voice, almost a whisper, deep and low, it seemed to enter her very soul.

"I've been watching you for a while…I've noticed you ever since you started training 4 years ago. You're unlike any other girl I've ever met."

Her heart swelled, and a smile broke on her face. "Really?" She flushed red.

"Mhm…" He stepped closer again and leaned down towards her. "Really…"

His face edged closer, and she could feel his breath on her skin, was he going to kiss her? Her heart pounding, pulse racing as she nearly shook from intense excitement and jitters but as their faces became only inches apart, Katara tensed slightly as Hahn leaned down towards her. Her eyes closed, and she waited in youthful anticipation—

"Hey, stop staring at my sister, will you?" Sokka's bored drawl broke the trance they seemed to be in, and she turned to glare at her brother. He stood in the entranceway, eyes flicking back and forth between Katara and Hahn, arms crossed over his chest, staring them both down.

Katara scowled at him. Sokka you ruin everything!

But Hahn didn't seem to mind, instead, he laughed deeply, causing Sokka to scowl. "Or what Sokka? I've already whupped you once today, don't make it twice."

Sokka, tall and skinny was overall…unimpressive, according to most of the girls of the Water Tribe, and he had a long face and short temper. He was her older brother by nearly 11 months and as such, was next in line to be Chief of the Southern Water Tribe. He wasn't necessarily good at fighting, but in times of peace, Chiefs rarely needed to fight.

She sighed at her brother. "Sokka…Hahn and I were—we were just—," She tried to find words to say but came up empty. Heat spread to Katara's cheeks and she averted her eyes away from Hahn's face, and Sokka only scowled deeper.

He rolled his eyes. "Were just making eyes at each other for 5 minutes? Gross."

"We weren't—," She protests anyway, but he ignored her and rolled his eyes again, huffed, and walked over to one of the armory chests to put his equipment away.

Katara turned back to Hahn, redness still on her cheeks. "I'm sorry about him," she said.

He shrugged, the lazy smile returning. "No sweat, he's a big brother. I'd do the same for Mara except that she'd kick my ass if I tried—," She laughed quietly, knowing Hahn's hot-tempered older sister.

"Besides," he continued, his eyes trained on her face, and she blushed deeper under his gaze, her heart pounding like she'd just run a mile, but she hadn't taken a single step. "If I had a sister as beautiful as you, I'd probably lock you up and throw away the key."

She flushed. "Um…"

"…you know…to keep anyone else from getting at you."

"Oh, that was smooth, Hahn." Sokka drawled wryly, his comments drifted over them from the doorway. "You're a real charmer aren't you."

"Will you go?" Katara hissed crossly, giving her brother a pointed look before turning back to Hahn and smiling. "It was smooth, it was also, very sweet."

"Ha!" Sokka's loud snort echoed in her head.

Passing students whistled and made lewd jokes as they left the Armory, trudging back through the snow to their homes. She decidedly ignored the commentary, refusing to look at them, or Hahn until they'd all disappeared. Once they'd all gone, Sokka included, she turned back to him, though she didn't miss the face Sokka pulled as he left, sticking his tongue out at her, she turned back to the smiling boy she'd come to love since she moved to an advanced waterbending class. 2 years, 3 months, 26 days, 16 hours, and 42 minutes.

Not that she'd been counting.

"Really? You think so?" She nodded shyly. His smile widened and his posture loosened, as he became more at ease. "I had a question I wanted to ask you…if you're willing."

"Ask!" She said eagerly. His eyes widened for a bit, before the lazy smile came back to his face.

"Marry me." He said, grinning. His eyes bore into hers with an intensity she'd never experienced before. "I know we haven't really spent much time together but—,"

"I'd love to! I mean…that'd would be great—nice—whatever—," She cuts him off with her answer, perhaps a bit too eagerly and he stares at her for a second as he processes what she just said. She paused and waits for him to speak.

"I…I didn't think you'd actually say yes." He says with a laugh, large hands awkwardly rubbing at his similarly large neck.

"Well I did say yes," she tells him, blushing at her own enthusiasm. "So, what do we do now?"

He grins in that boyish way of his. "How about you get your parka, and then I walk you home? Back to the…palace."

His voice catches on the last word, as though he only just now remembers that she's technically royalty, and her heart starts to race as anxiety builds in her belly. What if her father's position on the world stage scares him away?

"I mean, it's not really a palace technically." She said insistently. "And soon it will be your home too."

She was normal. Just like him.

Despite her fears, he offers his hand, smiling, and leads her into the snow, her hand, so small compared to his, is warmed by his enclosing around her own. And as they walk together, his size shielding her from the cold, the wind and the snow, she thinks to herself, how lovely a couple they must look.

Zuko aged 17

"I can't just—This is ridiculous," Zuko said, exasperated. He paced back and forth across the floor of his mother's solar, while the woman in question followed him calmly with kind eyes. He stopped and turned towards her, throwing his hands up in frustration. "Mom, you're not even listening."

"I'm listening Zuko, however you're not." His mother said, taking a small sip of her tea before placing it on the table in front of her. She looked at him almost sadly, shaking her head slightly, "You haven't even touched your tea."

Zuko groaned and stood, throwing his hands up and turning his back on his mother. "How am I supposed to think about tea!? I feel so…so…" A hand on his shoulder. He turned to look back at her, his mother so tall that their eyes met, but he couldn't look at her. Not like this. Her head tilted at him, but he struggled to verbalize the turmoil inside him. Finally, he shrugged. "…I don't know."

"Your father thinks this is a good idea—,"

Zuko scoffed. "As if I care what he thinks."

"Zuko!" Ursa admonished harshly, golden eyes narrowing at her son. Zuko flinched. "You will give your father the respect he is due."

Zuko groaned, running a hand over his brows. And after another bout of pacing, he finally joined her on the floor again, staring angrily into his cup of tea, the serene designs only serving to irritate him further, until his thoughts calmed down. Zuko didn't realize it, but his mother was subconsciously calming him by humming a lullaby under his breath. But Zuko didn't want to give anyone respect. Not them. They've essentially handicapped him for all eternity. Finally, he met his mother's eyes.

"But why me? I'm disgraced I'm…useless."

"Oh, my son…" She hooked a hand under his chin, forcing him to look at her. "You're not useless. Never useless."

Zuko sighed back, leaning on the rigid wood at his back. His voiced was disinterested and unenthused. "Whatever you say, mother…Whatever you say."

"The point is…" The Fire Princess continued, "Your Aunt is concerned for the line of succession. Though your uncle has had the throne but 2 years, there are whisperings of unrest in the northern provinces of Shanxi and Yunlin. These worry the entire court."

Servants and nobility alike, gossiped like mad. He'd heard the rumors. But there were always rumors. People were always trying to take advantage of the instability of a new reign.

"Uncle Iroh didn't seem worried at breakfast this morning." Zuko pointed out, quite rightly.

Ursa's mouth turned down, pensively. She thought for a moment before speaking. "Your Uncle…likes to be…optimistic that these rumors are just that—only talk."

"Father calls Uncle a fool for thinking that way, and we all are fools for supporting Uncle's delusion." Zuko fired back, lashing out at her and his Uncle—though he'd regret it later—

His mother sighed, suddenly looking very tired. She seemed to have shadows under her eyes and looked far wearier than she had only a moment ago. "I know what your father says—." She looked up at him. "But you don't believe that do you?"

Zuko shrugged. "I don't know what I believe. If Uncle were really on top of things, why can't he change Grandfather's edict?"

"Zuko don't be so selfish" Ursa set the cup down and stared at her son firmly. Zuko tried not to flinch under her heavy gaze. "You know your Uncle is doing everything he can. But this is a new reign, he can't start changing things whenever he sees fit, though he has tried to help you in the best way he can. Lu Ten has been training you—,"

"Then why can't I?" Zuko all but shouted, eyes darkening with the years and years of pent up anger and rage that had built inside of him and were looking for a way out. Most notably, towards his mother. "I've tried and I've tried but I get nothing."

To lose the ability to bend, was the greatest shame of all for a Fire Nation prince.

Again, his mother took on that sad, tired look. "The antidote to the serum has never been found. But your Uncle has asked the best scholars to investigate. Maybe one day—," Ursa started before Zuko, quite rudely, cut her off.

"Then what use am I in getting married anyway? I can provide no land, and no title unless Uncle sees fit to give me one." He didn't know why he was lashing out at her. He didn't mean to—really, he didn't—but who else could he take his anger out on? A near growl tore at Zuko's throat. "I'm lucky enough that Mai looks past my fault and shame. No other woman is ever going to want a man who has been stripped of his bending."

"Not every woman." Ursa's eyes narrowed at him. Zuko flinched, "What about people who can't bend, who were never born benders? Do they have no worth?" She asked him critically. "What about your aunt and I?"

He ignored the last part of the question. He didn't want another argument with her. An argument where she would try and convince him that 'Bending wasn't everything'

Except it was.

"If you can't bend then you have nothing to lose in the first place." He grumbled, half under his breath.

She fixed him with a look that conveyed her disappointment in him. He turned his eyes from her. The Princess Ursa cleared her throat dramatically. "Regardless, we have no choice in this matter. We, the Fire Nation Royal family, will be hosting a Hana Matsuri here in the palace."

"A Hana Matsuri?" Zuko just stared at his mother. "So, this isn't just any ordinary arranged marriage."

Of course, the Fire Nation could afford to host nearly an infinite number of girls from an infinite number of families from around the world. But this wasn't a simple battle over land or inheritance or a minor noble's infertility issue. There were only a few noble houses worthy of being attached to such an illustrious family as theirs. So illustrious that capital punishment was the first choice for offenses.

"Yes." His mother continued. "You and Lu Ten must choose the girls that will accompany us back to the palace from the other nations. Your father and Uncle are going to announce it to the Council later this afternoon."

"From the other nations? Why not only girls from the Fire Nation?" Zuko asked her.

Here Ursa looked nervous, her eyes shifted around the room. Watching for spies and eager listeners. Seeing the two servants in the corner of the room, she rapped on the table quickly, and the girls jumped to attention, nodding once, bowing, before silently moving out of the room, closing the door tightly behind them.

When she seemed satisfied, she said, "There are those that deem your Uncle unfit to rule. Uncle Iroh has motioned for a lot of policies to increase tribute from noble houses and devoting that tribute to local hospitals and orphanages. Those nobles see your Uncle as weak and would rather see your father on the throne. The Fire Lady believes that an international tie would strengthen the monarchy."

"They want to kill Uncle?" He asked her, alarmed.

"No, no," she said, leaning back into the chair. "But some nobles would wish for him to abdicate in favor of your father, instead of Lu Ten. It's happened before, but it is unlikely. Still, they fear the father has corrupted the son." She offered a smile. "However, they do not realize…What father would brush his son aside?"

Zuko didn't answer. But he met his mother's eyes, and an unspoken word passed between them.

Mine.

Before the silence grew too uncomfortable, Ursa cleared her throat. "Fire Nation girls will be considered." Her eyes softened as she looked at her only child. "Mai will be considered." She added after a moment, giving him the only name that he really wanted to hear. Zuko let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. "But you're a member of the international community, you must be open to other countries."

Zuko nodded, letting out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. "But do the other nations have enough girls of…quality? The Earth Kingdom, sure, but do the Water Tribe and Air Nomads even have an aristocracy?"

"No, not in the traditional sense. The air nomads will be excluded out of respect for their detached lifestyle. They prefer not to concern themselves with our material ways. The Water Tribe does have a royal family, such as ours, but they don't have an aristocracy. They will offer no other girls besides one."

"How many girls will come?"

Ursa thought for a moment, tapping her finger on her chin lightly. "Roughly 25 to 30, I'd say, including those from the Fire Nation. There are more, hundreds of girls that could come, but after speaking to your Aunt, we agree that not every noble girl is worthy of this family. Your aunt only wants the purest of souls with and unblemished reputation and the dowry to match."

"And Fire Nation girls?"

"10 girls." At his indignant look, she said. "The goal is to bring new blood into the family when there aren't preferable local girls around. Most aristocratic girls in the Fire Nation and most girls your age have been engaged in betrothal contracts since birth."

"How do you know this?"

An amused smile graced her lips as she held up her tea to her lips. "Zuko, you don't honestly think this is last minute, do you? Your aunt and I have been planning this for the last 4 months."

"No, I-I haven't noticed." He hadn't paid much attention.

"I imagine you haven't." She murmured, reaching for the tea pot. Zuko immediately picked it up first and refilled his mother's cup out of respect first, then his own. "You've been wrapped up in Mai."

It was true. He had been.

Zuko's mother shook her head, tired. "Promise me you will treat the other girls with respect, Zuko. Will you consider them on an equal playing field with Mai?"

He didn't think he could. What did he know about these girls? Nothing. They couldn't compare to his girlfriend now, and they never would. But he had to placate his mother. So, he lied.

"I promise, mother."

She smiled at him, bright and pleasant. He felt his heart lift at her visible happiness, despite lying to her in order to get it that way. "Excellent. Start packing. We leave in a week."

I hope you all like the revised version!