Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Being invited to tea at the royal palace in Ba Sing Se was a normal occurrence at this point. Of course, the travel from Gaoling could be quite a hassle when she wasn’t staying at her apartment in the Upper Ring, but Sana made do. Having a natural talent for persuading others from a young age, a scholar and professor visiting the Beifong estate had convinced her parents it would be best to educate her at the Earth Kingdom Royal Academy. Being from such a wealthy family, young Sana thought this path was an odd one at first, but soon enough, she realized it was a perfect fit.

Now fourteen and a political prodigy, Sana has thrived during her past few years at EKR. She had made good friends with other noble heirs and heiresses in Ba Sing Se, some of the few people who also had contact with life outside of the walls. Namely, Sana had the privilege of becoming good friends with the Earth King’s eldest son, Prince Giren.

Giren is quite the character, and Sana learned that quickly. Despite his princely disposition and current responsibilities as the Earth Kingdom's primary ambassador in charge of diplomacy, he’s loud and easily excited by even something as small as a Sparrowkeet. Sure, the prince had a heart of gold and was honestly as childish as his father, but he was a great mentor and had the kind of wisdom you may only find in generals and peacemakers. He often dragged Sana and their other friend Shihe to the palace when they were all in the city, so it was a bit odd for Sana to be receiving an invitation right after returning home at the end of term.

“What the fuck, Giren?”

“Well I don’t want to go alone so I convinced my dad to give you an official position! No biggie!”

Sana rolls her eyes in frustration as she lifts her teacup to take another sip. It’s perfectly sweet, just like how she prefers it. “Giren, you can’t just have the literal Earth King appoint me junior ambassador for the entire nation just because you didn’t want to visit the Fire Nation alone.”

“I haven’t visited the royal family since I was twelve, Sannie! It’s been three whole years since I’ve seen my friends there outside of sending letters once a month, so of course I’m nervous!” Giren is exasperated, lounging dramatically across a plush couch as he begins to recount his childhood memories to his dear friend. “We’ve only been friends since you came to the city for–ugh–school two years ago, but Sana you probably know by now that the Fire Nation just went through some crazy political upheaval last year. Things are a lot different now and I don’t know how well the meeting this summer will go…”

It is concerning, what Giren has recounted to her from his letters with the now crown Prince Zuko. After the death of his cousin Lu Ten during the siege on Ba Sing Se last year, General Iroh abdicated the throne to his younger brother and Zuko’s father, Ozai. Within days Fire Lord Azulon had died and the newly appointed Fire Lady Ursa had disappeared. On the other side of this, Giren hadn’t been able to visit Zuko and their other friend Soru in years. Sana, attempting to emphasize, thought what it would be like returning to Ba Sing Se if King Kuei suddenly thrust Giren onto the throne on such short notice. “I see…” A sigh escapes her pink-painted lips. “I suppose it would be more beneficial to have a closer companion in addition to your guards with you considering the shift in political climate the Fire Nation is facing. But why not invite Shihe and introduce him to your friends? You’ve known him much longer and honestly, I’d like to spend more time with my sister before we grow apart too much…”

“You know I can’t. Not in the way I want to.” Giren places his head in his hands. “Besides, you and Toph are polar opposites anyway. She may only be ten years old and behave for your parents when they’re around, but you’ve mentioned she manages to sneak off a lot and I know you’d never,” he jests a bit knowing her well.

“Ren, I’ll come with you this summer,” Sana says to him as he suddenly jumps up with a childlike glee. “But only after I visit home and tell my parents. We’ll depart at the beginning of next month, yes? That gives me two weeks to get my affairs in order before you whisk me away to the Fire Nation, of all places.”

Giren is ecstatic at this point. “Oh thankyouthankyouthankyouuuu!~” he exclaims, running up and hugging her sitting form. Sana remains composed, but a slight smile reaches her controlled face. “You have no idea how excited but nervous but excited I am to go back! Back in the day when I visited over the summer, Lady Ursa would invite Soru and me on their annual trip to Ember Island since it falls during my birthday. I wonder if we’ll be able to bring back that tradition…”

Sana giggles a bit behind her hand. “Anything for you, you spoiled brat..”

“H-hey!”

*:･✧*:･

Returning home to Gaoling to have dinner with her parents after a week in the city was quite nervewracking for Sana. How could she explain the situation to them without their overprotective nature bubbling up and taking away an amazing opportunity for her? Arriving back at the Beifong estate via their family carriage after several days of travel, Sana is greeted by the sight of her parents.

“Father, mother,” she greets them cordially. Sana had always been a proper young lady fitting of her status, so addressing her family formally had stuck out of habit. Ever the dramatic pair, Lord and Lady Beifong immediately rush over to their eldest daughter.

“Dear how was your trip?”

“Why were you summoned to the palace so soon? You only just returned home from school…”

“Sana you should get dressed in something nicer and put your hair up, we’re having guests over tonight.”

“Why is her hair down in the first place…”

With a sigh and a smile, Sana plays her parents well. “My trip was well. Prince Giren invited me for tea and well…I have something to announce at dinner if you think our guests do not mind?” She thinks for a moment. “Who is visiting anyway?”

Her mother, Poppy, smiles warmly. She’s proud of her daughter, despite Sana being away from home so often. “The Lu family is visiting from Ba Sing Se. They’ve been in the region these past few days meeting with the towns that grow their trade goods. Didn’t your friend Shihe tell you? Or the Prince?”

Sana’s mother had always been the talkative type despite being a lady of class–gossip was difficult when you live in a regional capital town where you are the most prominent family. “No I’m afraid he didn’t write either of us…I’m glad we’re hosting him and his parents, though. It’d be good for him to hear the news now than over a letter.”

Returning to her bedroom and dressing herself in the nicest dress clothes (a pretty olive-jade colored ensemble that compliments her slightly more golden eyes) and twisting her long black hair into a pretty low bun with her favorite ornamental hairpin (a birthday gift from Giren last year). While Sana’s look wasn’t as typical as her mother’s fashion or what her little sister was often forced into, it was one that set her apart in the best way, showcasing her unique beauty perfectly.

Dinner with the arrival of the Lu family to Gaoling was delightful. Sana struck up conversation with Shihe quickly, making ease of the small talk while avoiding topics surrounding school, business, or politics. Their fathers, of course, found themselves engaged in a loud conversation about business and their children that was seemingly unavoidable.

“Lao, I have to ask, why send your daughter so far away from home to be educated when she surely would grow into a perfectly mannered young lady with your wife’s guidance?” Mr. Lu was a stern businessman who his son looked nothing alike. Their values also differed quite a lot as despite technically having new wealth in comparison to the Beifongs, they hold very traditional beliefs about roles in society.

Of course, all four Beifongs and Shihe are taken a bit aback by this sudden question. “W-well you see my good friend who grew up here, Advisor Xi Mao–I’m sure you’re familiar with him, correct? He’s a scholar and professor at the Earth Kingdom Royal Academy our children attend and had been visiting us two years ago. Xi Mao had noticed my eldest Sana’s natural gift and intellect and suggested we enroll her as she had the makings of a political prodigy.” The praise was seemingly endless and repetitive at this point for Sana who had heard her father tell the story a million times before. “Of course, this is evident by the friendship she has gained with your son and Prince Giren. She’s top of her class for those studying political endeavors.”

Sana, with a strained smile that comes across as grateful to the untrained eye, stands up with ladylike grace. “On that note, father, may I make an announcement?” Her voice rings through the room in a delicate and pleasing tone, immediately settling the tension. Lao gives his daughter a permissive hand gesture, allowing her to speak.

“I was visiting with Prince Giren for tea earlier this week and received news that I am the newly appointed junior diplomatic ambassador for the Earth Kingdom.” Congratulations are spoken, her parents' faces lit up with dramatic pride. “However, this means I will be leaving next week to accompany the prince to the Fire Nation on a long overdue summer visit to the royal family.”

Silence fills the room. Toph, still young and naive about the world, innocently speaks up.

“Why is everyone so quiet? Is something wrong?”

The adults in the room immediately rush to speak up to assure the youngest daughter that there is nothing to be concerned about. However, the tension in the room and nervous glances among them say otherwise.

After dinner, the Lu family departs from the estate to reach the next town over for the night. Shihe comfortingly lets Sana know before they leave that he will be in contact with her and Giren all summer. When the home is empty of the joyous chatter and talk of business, Sana’s parents pull her aside, with looks of worry on their faces.

“Sana, what is the meaning of this?” Her father’s tone is confrontational. “Surely this is some kind of mistake…”

Confused, Sana tilts her head, lips slightly parted with a small frown. “The Earth King himself drafted the proclamation document at his son’s request, father. You know you can trust I am responsible enough to handle such a position. Besides, Giren and his company of guards will be traveling with us and he’s visited the Fire Nation many times before…”

This doesn’t shake her parents’ concern. “Dearest, what kinds of…responsibilities will this new position mean for you? For your time?” As typical of Poppy Beifong, she is more concerned about her daughter’s safety and status as a young lady of a noble house than where she may be traveling.

“Most responsibilities will be handled by Ren I suppose, he is the primary diplomatic ambassador and prince of our kingdom after all…He told me himself he truly just wanted a close friend to keep him sane while visiting as it has been years since he’s seen his childhood friends in person.” Recalling the conversation from earlier that week, Sana tries to make sense of her own future agenda for the summer. “Much of our time outside of Giren’s meeting will be with the crown prince and their mutual friend, Soru. I’m sure the princess and her friends will also be around quite frequently as well from what I’ve heard, but they are younger than us and tend to stay distant.”

These details seem to quell her parent’s anxiety, but it’s evident the Beifongs are still hesitant. Sana, in all honesty, is the perfect daughter of nobility. Having such a gem like her in such a dangerous position and environment like traveling to the Fire Nation for political reasons comes with a great risk. Despite these apprehensions, all Lao and Poppy can do is let her go. “Well, then I suppose there is no way to go against the wishes of the royal family…but your mother and I do expect letters at least once a week while you are away. We don’t want to hear news through the vine that you are suddenly in danger,” Sana’s father sternly tells her.

With a gentle and small smile, Sana gratefully gives a bow to her parents before bidding them goodnight. Heading down the hall to her bedroom, however, she is quickly stopped by her little sister grabbing her wrist. “Toph?”

“I heard your footsteps…so you’ll really be gone all summer?” Toph was normally one to wear her masks: the sweet blind daughter in front of their parents, the fierce competitor when she’d sneak away to earth-bending battles, and even the unbothered friend if need be when in company. Her sister knew her best of all, seeing through whatever the ten-year-old would try to do to protect herself. “It’s times like these I wish I wasn’t blind because now I won’t have anyone to confide in, Sana…”

A sigh escapes Sana’s lips with a gentle frown. The girls’ rooms had become their sanctuary, their space to breathe and relax away from the eyes of their overbearing parents and the rest of society. Sana, as the elder of the two sisters, had a room more different from her sisters: books and scrolls from school, expensive gifts of jewelry and trinkets given to her by her friends and family, an ornate vanity, and a hanging scroll Giren had given her depicting a scene of a pond beside a large tree with hanging leaves in a pretty garden (he claimed it didn’t “suit his space”). Toph’s room was much more simple and slightly smaller as not only was she the youngest, she is blind and their parents try to “prevent” her from coming into contact with hazards. Aside from the same set of furniture both girls have, Toph’s room was fairly barren in decor aside from a few dolls Sana had given to her when she was younger. Both rooms were full of memories of simpler times of childhood dreams of future handsome suitors and fighting Fire Nation goons. Toph had always been a fighting spirit, a strong-willed girl who refused to be told something was impossible for her to do. On the other hand, Sana was a near complete opposite: a ladylike girl who thought before she spoke and acted, someone who once had dreams of always living lavishly surrounded by pretty flowers in a peaceful home. Despite their stark differences, the two found comfort in each other–they had freedom in their small rooms that no one else could grant them.

With a heavy sigh as she sits on the silken covers of her little sister’s bed, Sana faces her with solemn pale olive eyes. “I know, Toph…but it's only until the end of August and then I’ll be home again, I promise.”

“But then you go to school!” Toph is still holding Sana’s hand, not wanting to lose her sister in the room.

Flopping back with a bounce, Sana’s breath falters. “I guess I forgot. I’m so sorry I won’t be here. I’m sorry we won’t be able to talk like this for months. You’re still so young and I sometimes forget that I’m still a kid, too.” A choked sob leaves her lips. “Toph, sometimes I wish I was an absolutely naive and insignificant girl who wasn’t involved in all of this…mess!”

“Don’t say that.” Toph gives her a look, one Sana knows all too well. Since when was her baby sister so full of wisdom? “I love that you are my smart, super cool, and I assume very pretty older sister–judging from how many times Mom and Dad have complimented how beautiful you are–so I don’t want anyone else! Definitely not a sister who can’t think for herself.”

“Toph-”

“No! Honestly, I could care less that you’re going away to an enemy country of all places, but I am worried that you’ll be different when you come back…”

“What?” Confused, Sana’s brow furrows. “Toph, I highly doubt meeting the people threatening our nation will change me.”

Toph hums in frustration. “It’s just- Well, the prince is friends with Giren, right?”

“And how does this relate to me changing as a person?”

“I-I don’t know, Sana…”

*:･✧*:･

By the end of the week, Sana had packed her luggage with a variety of fancy dresses, hair ornaments, and necessities for her stay in the Fire Nation. She would be met by Giren later in the day before they traveled to the western coast to board their ship to the Fire Nation. The trip would take a few days on the water before stopping at a port to transfer onto a smaller boat to reach the capital city. Renowned for their navy, Sana had to give the Fire Nation their flowers for being so innovative when it comes to feats of engineering. While Giren had been escorted by the royal navy multiple times before, this would be her first time on a boat–let alone traveling across a body of water as large as the Mo Ce Sea.

“Oh, Sannie!~ Are you excited?” Giren, loud as ever, is ecstatic to be outside the walls after two years. “Sometimes I forget that Gaoling is such a small regional capital…but hey, we’ll be on a naval ship in just a few days!” He had arrived earlier than expected, but surely he must have been exhausted after traveling across the desert for days? Nope.

With a friendly roll of her eyes, Sana looks at her dearly unbelievable friend. “Ren, I expect we’ll be setting off from the ports at Omashu?” He confirms with a nod. “I don’t know much about naval ships so I don’t really know how long we’ll be traveling…”

Much opposed to her original apprehensions, traveling by way of the Fire Nation navy to the island nation went by quicker than expected. After a couple of days by carriage to the city of Omashu, the party consisting of Giren, Sana, and a small entourage of Earth Kingdom guards boarded a minimally manned ship (so as to not create a politically imbalanced tension aboard). Such a large piece of metal somehow traversing one of the largest bodies of water between nations at exceptional speeds was alarming yet intriguing to Sana. Not one for engineering or much to do with how things work, the fourteen-year-old girl gained some genuine respect for the Fire Nation’s push for innovation rather than tradition (in comparison to the more traditional structure of the Earth Kingdom).

After switching to a smaller vessel to reach the capital of the Fire Nation via an island port town, Sana was instantly taken with the energy and warmth of the islands. A series of volcanic islands scattered with vibrant greenery from a rainy spring season, the summer heat permeated the air. However, it wasn’t unpleasant. The humidity was new in comparison to the southern region of the Earth Kingdom in an area surrounded by mountains, desert, and dense woods. It felt nice, dewy, and not unbearably sticky on her skin. Ba Sing Se, the only other place Sana had stayed in for an extended period of time, was much colder and misty in comparison to the warm, orange-skied Fire Nation.

The people were quite lovely, too. There have been stories girls growing up in the Earth Kingdom have been told for the past one hundred years: the Fire Nation is evil, you can’t trust people whose land is covered in ash and consuming heat. Growing up they’re told to stay away from these people just because of where they came from, because of the colors of their eyes. Seeing the lively natives of the nation, however, Sana felt that everything she was taught could not possibly be entirely true: children smiling and running through the streets in the afternoon sun, street vendors selling foods that had scents of spices she definitely didn’t even know existed, young ladies maybe only a few years older than herself dressed in pretty reds and ambers flirtatiously eying the young guards escorting them through town, and sweet old ladies noticing that she was from the Earth Kingdom but not mentioning it as they called her as pretty as a fire lily or the rumored silver wisteria blossoms of the royal palace gardens.

Sana would get to see those blooms herself in just less than a day now. Their party would stay the night in the town before boarding, making their final leg of the trip to the Fire Nation royal palace. It was only a matter of time before Sana would be entering the dragon’s den, facing the Fire Lord. Readying herself for bed that night, the candlelight glimmers across her eyes creating a golden gleam. Contemplative and resigned, a thought crosses her mind: what could go wrong tomorrow, or this summer for that matter?

Chapter Text

It was only a short boat ride to the entrance of the building that would change Sana’s life. Now, she might be thinking a bit dramatically and making a bigger deal out of the whole situation than it actually is. The Fire Nation royal palace was a grand image before her and Giren, so of course things got blown out of proportion once she arrived.

“Ren, is it too late to say that I’m nervous?”

“Yes, Sannie, yes it is.”

At this very moment, Sana knew there was no turning back. Three months–that’s how long she will be living in this palace, most likely confined to a room somehow more extravagant than the one she lives in back home or at school, surrounded by echoing hallways and intimidating authorities. She had every reason to be worried now that she was actually here. Entering the palace in a grand announcement was never really her style either, but you’d suppose royalty like her dear friend finds it customary. The throne room was just as intimidating–if not more so–than the exterior. The ornate doors were pushed open to reveal a dark room illuminated by flames and the evening sun. At the end of the hall on a great throne sat the newly appointed ruler of the lands, Fire Lord Ozai. You could tell the rest of the scene was not a normal occurrence simply based on the air in the room: young Princess Azula sitting to his left, with Crown Prince Zuko on his right.

“Fire Lord, I present Prince Giren of the Earth Kingdom alongside his companion and junior diplomatic ambassador, Lady Sana Beifong.” The voice of the Fire Lord’s chief advisor sounded through the hall as Giren and Sana approached the throne. In preparation for meeting foreign royalty, Sana dressed in her finest silks and wore her hair up with her favorite ornate hairpin. Alongside Giren in his royal finery (a bit out of the normal for him, to be honest), she looked like the picture of elegance.

A satisfied hum left the Fire Lord’s throat as he analyzed us. “Prince Giren, we welcome your return to our nation. Much has changed in these past few years, but I assure you our hospitality towards a dear guest such as yourself will not.” His sharp and searing molten gold eyes reach Sana next. “And Lady Sana…” She turns her attention to him politely, noticing briefly how the Fire Lord looked at her, analyzing her. It would almost be jarring, all things considered, but Sana kept perfect composure. “Our nation will always be welcome to a friend of a friend. I assure you your visit will be very comfortable.” With a polite bow, Sana moves to thank him. She knows better than to speak now, no matter how good she is at it.

“Fire Lord Ozai, thank you again for permitting a summer visit after so long!” Giren spoke up with his usual exuberance. Of course, he sounded as fancy and as professional as he could, but one could only mask such a joy for life so easily. “I had been meaning to visit again these last few times, but I’m afraid other matters had made it difficult…”

His eyes glance toward Sana, ever the pretty face, moving to properly introduce her to the royal family. “Sana is a dear friend of mine I met during our time at the Earth Kingdom Royal Academy. The Beifong family comes from a long line of merchants and politicians, so it’s truly no surprise that she currently is top of her class in the diplomatic politics concentration.” Giren knew the Beifong name, as powerful as it is in the Earth Kingdom, holds weight in other nations as well. Notably aside from their well-known business efforts, one of Sana’s ancestors was the one who taught the earth-bending master to Avatar Kuruk.

However, Giren had not expected to notice what came next. While the Fire Lord seemed pleased that such an important role in making political decisions was handed to someone like Sana (to his ignorant excitement, a mere fourteen-year-old girl), the Fire Prince’s eyes were on Sana. Anyone who knew Sana knew she was beautiful. Long silky black hair artfully styled, clear porcelain skin bar a few beauty marks that only enhanced her features, and large fox-like light olive green eyes that looked like golden gemstones in the sun. There really was no surprise to Giren that his younger hormonal teenage friend whose only interaction with girls his age was his sister’s (honestly) annoying friends would see her and immediately show some interest. Zuko, from what he could tell, was already gazing down at Sana with obvious and awkward interest.

As dinner came in time, the tension at the table for the feast was a bit uncomfortable. It was a smaller gathering only consisting of the Fire Lord, his children, the retired General Iroh, and the two guests visiting. A slightly smaller dining hall was used for the occasion–and judging from Giren’s familiarity with the space, Sana could assume this was where the family would hold more casual dinners. The table had eight seats which clearly had never been all used at once aside from a time long ago. The two heads went to Ozai and Giren, the host and guest of honor respectively. The rest of the seats were quite spread out among the final four of them, so two chairs were removed so there would be no awkward gaps between people. Sana, as Giren’s guest, had the choice of seats on either side at his end but ended up choosing the seat to his left. Both of Ozai’s children took their respective spots on either side of him as well, placing Iroh on Giren’s right (which would make for a lovely conversation, no doubt).

Zuko was sitting directly next to Sana. Sometimes he wished his mom hadn’t left, disappeared, or whatever–now of all times he needed her. Despite being the crown prince of an entire nation, he was still an awkward fourteen (nearly fifteen) year-old boy who probably was riddled with so much anxiety just being near a girl like Sana. Sitting down in his chair between her and his father, Zuko can’t help but revert to his normal shy nature–a true introvert at heart.

On the other hand, Sana was nervous for a myriad of different reasons. Despite having Giren on her side, he was already consumed in a conversation about tea with Uncle Iroh (he insisted they address him as such). Across the table next to Iroh was Azula, but for a thirteen-year-old girl, she sure was intimidating. The young princess sat quietly to herself, picking at her food as she ate with an occasional glare towards her older brother. Sana could have talked to her–hoping to find comfortability with the only other girl at the table–but Azula came across as cold and mean as she sent judgemental glances her way. Of course, Sana wouldn’t be the one to strike up a conversation with the Fire Lord, so that left Zuko.

Now, Sana would probably not admit this to anyone–especially people back home–but Zuko was probably the prettiest boy she had ever seen. Giren and Shihe were definitely up there, but she knew the two were more admirable of each other than she was of either of them. Being from the Earth Kingdom, shades of leafy greens and silver steels were normal. Some regions and families were lucky enough to get their hands on the small amounts of gold from the mountain regions, but otherwise, the Fire Nation had a clear abundance of it. The Earth Kingdom surrounded a shimmering gold sea of sand, a desert some live in and few can afford to travel across safely. Sana traveled often between home and the great city of Ba Sing Se for school, so she had seen the sand of the desert in daylight and by the moon. At this moment, however, she realized none of the golds she saw back home could compare to Zuko’s eyes.

*:･✧*:･

That night after dinner, Sana was escorted to her guest room. She had not expected it to be nearly as large and beautiful as it was, but she assumed the room must have belonged to someone before it had been used for guests. It wasn’t neutrally decorated like many guest rooms would be: from the vanity and dressing screen to the decorative paintings of red fire lilies and blossoming trees, it was clear this was once a woman’s room. With a sigh, she takes down her hair and it falls in a waterfall of black silk. Getting distracted while brushing it out with a jade-handled brush, Sana doesn’t notice a knock on her door before it opens.

“Lady Beifong? I’ve brought you some tea…” It was a maid.

Sana looks up and sets her brush down with a confused frown on her lips. “I don’t remember requesting any…?”

The maid puts the tea set down on the table near the bed. The room fills with the sweet scent of jasmine tea. “I am aware, but it was sent on behalf of Prince Zuko. He hopes you are settling in well.” A soft smile settles on her lips. “And you didn’t hear it from me, but I’m fairly certain you are the first girl in a while he finds tolerable.”

Sana watches as the maid leaves. Moving to the table in the center of the room, she pours herself a cup of tea. It was high quality, likely locally sourced judging from the notes she noticed differed from Earth Kingdom tea. “I suppose he can be…kind,” she thinks to herself aloud. “I should do my best to not make any haste judgments.”

After changing into her nightwear, Sana finds herself admiring the light from the lanterns and candles. Firebenders must have lit them, the palace employed a good amount of them in their guard–not to mention the royal family consists of very powerful ones. Looking at the tea set on the table again, she thinks about what may come in the following months.

*:･✧*:･

The next morning Sana is awoken by the sun and smell of food. The same maid from the night before had delivered her breakfast. “Good morning, Lady Beifong. Prince Giren wanted to pass on the message that he will be in meetings much of the day, but he hopes to join you for lunch.” She moves to the wardrobe where Sana is keeping her clothes. “Would you like me to assist you with getting ready for the day?”

A bit apprehensive, Sana nods. “That would be nice, thank you…Actually, may I know your name? I find it odd that I’ve been calling you ‘maid’ in my head.” Stepping out of bed, she moves to the table to grab a small bite of toast–a dish not very common in the Earth Kingdom. It had a fruit jam spread on top, but it was hard to identify which fruit it was made of.

The maid smiles. “My name is Hisa, my lady. And if you are curious, the jam you are eating is made of cherries. They’re very common on Ember Island. You’ll most likely visit there this summer if all goes well.” Hisa opens the ornate wardrobe and selects a pretty yet simple dress for Sana. “This would be nice for today’s weather.”

Sana gave her a smile and took another bite, licking the sweet cherry-flavored spread from her lips. “Hisa is a lovely name…” A thought crosses her mind briefly. “May I ask who lived in this room before it became a guest room?”

A sigh leaves Hisa’s lips as she has Sana sit before the vanity to start styling her hair. “It’s a rather sad story but…this room belonged to the late prince’s fiancee.” She brushes through Sana’s long hair with precious care. “You remind me a lot of her before Prince Lu Ten passed. Sei is a prominent nobleman’s daughter, so she returned home after the mourning period since the engagement fell through because of his death…”

“That’s very disheartening…were they in love?” Sana asks this innocently as she watches her assigned maid in the mirror.

“They were. She wrote him frequently during his time as a naval captain. He would send drawings and tea in return.” Hisa thinks back fondly. “I was her lady’s maid during her time here. Sei was the epitome of the sweetest lady. She would have been a good Fire Lady had things gone differently. I see a lot of her in you.”

Sana gets up with a sad smile to get dressed. “That’s quite the compliment…and you can call me Sana if you’d like.”

After getting ready for the day and finishing her breakfast, Sana decided today would be the day she familiarized herself with the royal palace. She’d be living here for the next three months, after all. Making her way through the halls, she’s quick to notice just how…empty everything feels. Perhaps it was different before when the palace was full of love and familial warmth. It wasn’t before long that Sana found the royal gardens.

A peaceful green oasis amongst the harsh and somehow cold corridors of the palace, the garden felt like home. There weren’t any flowers aside from the ones on the willowy wisteria trees, but patches of muted green grass surrounded a pond framed by trees. The garden was in the central courtyard, likely once a gathering place turned into an escape for the royal family. The only sound was the warm breeze and chirps of turtle ducks. Sitting on the pond’s edge in the soft grass, Sana finds herself using the peaceful moment to take everything in. A lot has happened these past couple of weeks, and there was more to come. Losing herself in the balmy warmth of the main island air, relaxing was probably the best to take her mind off of things. Giren was busy already, and they had barely been there a whole day. Besides, what use was a second political ambassador–let alone a girl in the war room?

Sana was so lost in her thoughts that she didn’t notice someone else enter the garden. Downsides to being a non-bender. Looking up from the water, she did not expect to see Prince Zuko. “Oh, hello…”

“Um, hi…” He had found himself sitting just around the bend of the pond, not very far from Sana in all honesty. “Are you enjoying the garden?”

“I am…It reminds me of home, actually.” A soft smile settles on her lips. “Ren never really told me much about his visits here.”

Zuko looked up at her in slight confusion. “You call him Ren? Isn’t he your prince?”

Sana giggles at him, finding his obliviousness endearing. “Giren and I are good friends, so we address each other without titles when it’s a more casual setting. I figured since he mentioned you two were so close he might have implored you to do the same.” A slight look of confusion and a shake of his head tell her otherwise. “Would…would you like to be called by your name?”

“I-I guess it might be nice…my sister’s friends call me Zuko anyway, so I suppose you could, too.” His cheeks flushed pink, eyes averted. Sana had always had a way with words, but she had not expected them to affect the prince so much.

“Well, you can call me Sana then, Zuko.”

“Sana…” Her name coming out of his mouth just felt right. Something about how it sounded was reminding Zuko of happy memories with his mother, Sei, and Lu Ten: visiting Ember Island and eating cherry icecream on the beach, fire-bending practice back when it was fun, eating an afternoon snack of sizzle-crisps, and even feeding the turtle ducks at this very pond. Somehow, in his own garden in his own palace, Zuko felt at home with a stranger from a different land.

“Thank you for the tea last night, too. It was a nice gesture.” Her voice sounded like honey, sweet and sticking in his memory. Sana found herself talking so easily with him, despite still feeling nervous.

“It was nothing really. I just thought you’d like something to help settle you since you are in the Fire Nation for the first time…my uncle always says tea is the best when you’re away from home.”

“I didn’t get the chance to speak with him last night, but he seems like a wonderful man.”

“He is…a lot of people think otherwise after last year, but I know better than to believe people who aren’t even his flesh and blood.”

Sana found herself smiling as she looked down at her lap. “Actually, would you mind showing me around the palace? If I’m going to be here for three months, I suppose I should someone who grew up here be my guide.”

Zuko returns her smile, albeit awkwardly, and stands up before extending a hand to her. “I don’t mind at all, Sana.”

*:･✧*:･

Now, Giren had been in meetings in the war room for hours. He was supposed to be used to this shit, but he sure as hell wasn’t. The meetings in all honesty were boring. Princes like him who were born to childish fathers weren’t exactly built to be politicians and government officials–he had thought he could get away with sitting on the throne and looking hot while his super unfairly pretty boyfriend did all the thinking for him. His day was consumed by men twice his age rambling about the colonies rooted in his nation, discussing possible truce or trade alliances to slow down the Fire Nation’s spread to foster a better relationship between their two nations, and (of course) daydreaming about Shihe.

What he didn’t expect was to see Sana and Zuko acting so friendly when he finally got a break for lunch. Princely duties were done for the day, but a part of Giren knew his job as the “supportive older brother figure” was now starting up.

“So?~ When did this happen?” He approaches them like it’s the most normal thing in the world (you’re not slick, buddy).

Zuko looks at his childhood friend like he grew a second head. “What do you mean?”

Giren, of course as theatrical as always, gasps dramatically. “This! The tension, the closeness–dare I say–friendship between your two??”

“Oh. This morning.”

He swears he could faint on the spot.

Sana laughs at his antics. “Ren, it’s no big deal, really! I figured any friend of yours easily could become a friend of mine. Right, Zuko?” The prince in question nods before politely asking a servant to brew more tea for them. Over the last few hours, they had gotten to know each other pretty well, sharing the small interests and things about each other without it getting too sensitive.

To say Giren was shocked would be an understatement. While he and Zuko had been friends for years, somehow he had never been able to get him as comfortable as Sana has in less than a day. “I seriously don’t get you guys..” The prince of the Earth Kingdom has known Zuko since he was eight and his fiery counterpart was just a shy six-year-old playing around with a wooden sword. Their only other friend had been Soru, a nobleman’s son and twin brother of one of Azula’s friends (making him the youngest out of the group at age five). The trio quickly grew fairly close despite Zuko being the biggest introvert ever for years thanks to Giren and Soru’s charismatic nature. The duo were people pleasers through and through, but while Giren knew how to behave Soru was more of a rule bender than anything. Zuko was the odd turtle duck out of the bunch, the most serious and least social. Befriending such a social butterfly of a lady like Sana was an achievement in its own right, but Zuko was the one person who was least expected to do so. Ever.

“Join us for some tea? My uncle said he’d tell us stories soon…”

“Oh, why not! I can have a cup or two.” Giren drank five cups of tea before dinner that afternoon.

Chapter Text

About two weeks into the “diplomatic” vacation to the Fire Nation Prince Giren had convinced (read: forced) Sana to accompany him on, the royal palace became the residency to a few more guests. Azula, ever the social butterfly, had been “friends” with Mai and Ty Lee from a young age. Two daughters of noblemen–one an only child and the other one of seven identical sisters–happened to become her honored friends. The thing is, where the cold and composed Mai went, her rule-bender twin brother Soru followed.

Soru had been the youngest out of the boys who spent their summers together in the Fire Nation royal palace by one year. He fit right in, in all honesty, with his pretty face and slightly awkward yet extravagant charm. He was a twin–not identical–with whom he would probably call “the most stuck-up and boring girl he knew” and very openly dreaded it. Giren and Soru truly are two peas in a pod, two sides of the same coin (and the sides are near identical). Loud, a trendsetter, and a snake at his core. That is who Soru is.

“Helloooooo my dearest friends!~” Soru walks (well, struts) into the garden courtyard. “It has been so longggg since I last stepped foot in the palace…” He lives just outside the palace grounds…and he visited a month ago.

Mai rolls her eyes at her pretty brother’s antics and turns to the unfamiliar face: Sana. “Don’t mind my brother, he’s an idiot.” A gasp sounds through the room. I think you know who it is by now.

To the tall girl’s surprise, however, the Earth Kingdom girl looks up at her from across the area with an all too familiar look–one her brother often holds in his eyes. “On the contrary, I believe we will get on wonderfully.” Sana’s disposition is outwardly that of an amicable young noblewoman, but beneath the perfect small smile hidden in her golden olive eyes was the heart of a snake. Before Zuko or Giren speak up, Sana lifts a polite hand to signal them to let her. “Allow me to introduce myself.” She looks to Azula’s friends. “My name is Lady Sana Beifong, junior diplomatic ambassador of the Earth Kingdom. It is a pleasure to meet you girls.”

While Mai was clearly not swayed, it was clear her friend was. Ty Lee absolutely loved Sana’s energy right off the bat. “I’m Ty Lee! Your aura reads very purple so I’ll take that as a sign I’ll like you a lot!” The younger girl was the bubbliest and friendliest of the three, immediately sticking out to Sana as someone she could trust to be a good person. Azula picked powerful friends, ones from both noble backgrounds and had experience holding their ground. Sana didn’t expect such a delightful person like Ty Lee to run in that kind of circle, but you never should judge a book by its cover.

The male twin, appalled by his sister’s declaration of his intelligence, immediately moves to defend himself. “I’m Soru! We’ll be fast friends, I’m sure. That storm cloud over there is my twin sister, Mai.” He quickly takes Sana’s arm to drag her away from the girls, eyeing Giren and Zuko as a signal that they should probably all leave. “You must tell me how you met Ren, though! And how you got the ever-so-stubborn and quiet Zuko to warm up to you so fast…”

Sana chuckled a bit under her breath at the dramatic younger boy. He did certainly speak his mind… “Without a doubt, Soru. I wouldn’t mind explaining at all, it’s no big deal really.” Mai shoots her brother a glare, but it’s rather hesitant. She didn’t trust Sana much, but she was arguably more trustworthy than Azula.

*:･✧*:･

Zuko, surprisingly, was the most stressed out he had been in years and didn’t quite understand why. Maybe it was because his childhood friend group finally had the chance to hang out after such a long time, but the three had been exchanging letters during that gap so that couldn’t be it…Giren noticed, somehow very perceptive despite not always being all there in the head, but didn’t speak up at all. Zuko, for the first time in his life, was jealous because of a girl.

Now you may be thinking that this whole predicament is a bit odd, but in reality, it is quite the near opposite. Giren may not understand Zuko as much as Soru does, but Soru is also a kid so obviously, the oldest in the friend group would know his younger friends pretty well, right? In all the years the trio of boys had been friends, not once had Zuko even shown an inkling of interest in a girl despite growing up with a good handful of them around. If it wasn’t obvious by now that Zuko had the biggest crush imaginable on Sana, Giren would have still thought the Fire Nation prince was as gay as the rest of his friends. The fact that Zuko wasn’t subtle at all about his jealousy (did Zuko even know the definition of subtle?) was the clearest indicator you could get that after only two weeks, the boy was down bad.

“So Sana, what’s the story behind you being in the Fire Nation?”

With a sweet smile and a chuckle escaping her pretty lips, Sana takes a sip of her tea. Of course, Zuko noticed something as small as this even when he wasn’t involved in the conversation. “Well, I had become friends with Giren when I started my first year at the Earth Kingdom Royal Academy two years ago. We became fast friends through a mutual friend, Shihe Lu, and the rest is pretty much history.” She adjusts how she is sitting, the skirt of her dress repositioning into a much more comfortable drape. “Last month Ren told me he’d be traveling here for the summer and asked me to accompany him on the account that I become the new junior diplomatic ambassador. I couldn’t refuse, so now I’m here.”

Soru finds the situation particularly amusing. “Now that is quite the story!” His eyes catch Zuko, who is sitting quietly with nervous eyes across from him, and smirks. Looking at Giren, Soru immediately had confirmation of exactly what was going on. He places his hand on Sana’s arm (intentionally) with almost theatrical interest. “I never imagined Earth Kingdom girls being as pretty as you, though. I’ve spent my entire life in the capital so I’ve never really seen the colonies or other parts of the world…”

By now Zuko doesn’t even know why he’s so upset, but something about Soru complimenting Sana just got to him. Of course Sana is pretty, that should be obvious to anyone with eyes! However, he highly doubted anyone in the Earth Kingdom, let alone the rest of the world, could ever be as pretty as Sana Beifong.

“Trust me, half the upper-class girls in the Earth Kingdom aren’t half as pretty as dear Sana, Soru.” Giren rolls his eyes. “There aren’t many girls at all in our tracks at school, but the ones who visit the tea shops we visit definitely are not a worthy comparison.”

“Well, I am from a region outside of Ba Sing Se, Ren. Maybe Gaoling’s standard of beauty just differs?” Sana tries to reason, but she’s also covering her mouth to hide a humored smile.

“Gaoling is mostly commoners aside from your family, and your sister is still a little kid. She has your mother’s genes like you do, but didn’t you tell me she’s not really into all the girly stuff like you are?”

“I suppose you are right about that…and Toph is more relaxed and casual than I am when she isn’t pretending around our parents.”

With a sigh, Zuko stands up to leave the room, loudly setting down his teacup. “I’m going to go train. Don’t bother looking for me.”

Confused, the remaining three watch him storm out. It was concerning behavior from the prince–especially since he only was so vocal or visibly upset when something genuinely bothered him. Sana is the most startled as she doesn’t know him as well, and immediately grows worried. Zuko didn’t want them looking for him, but Sana couldn’t help but leave the room soon after.

*:･✧*:･

“Zuko…?”

The hallway is silent. By the time Sana had shut the large doors behind her, Zuko had left. She never saw him training in the palace while she was there. He often trained early in the morning before she woke up, wanting to spend his days with his friends (namely and (deep-down) particularly Sana). Zuko had only shown Sana areas of the palace that she would most likely frequent, and where he trained was not one of them.

“I guess I could go back to my room and write mother and father in the meantime…” she mutters under her breath in slight frustration, but her ears don’t register the disappointment in her voice. “I hope I didn’t upset him.”

Normally Sana wasn’t in her room during the afternoons, so seeing the golden sunlight in dappled patterns through the tree leaves stream in was a welcome and very pretty sight. The sun was just setting right about then, and sunsets were never as pretty back home.

Grabbing some ink and parchment, she settles down at the table in the center of the room and begins to write.

Dear mother and father, as well as my dearest sister Toph,

I’ve enjoyed my first two weeks here in the Fire Nation more than I expected. I do miss you both and Toph greatly (please read this letter to her), but I do have good company in the palace. Prince Giren is in meetings much of every day, but he tries to join me for lunch before he has time off in the afternoons. I also have unexpectedly become friends with Prince Zuko who has been my companion throughout the day before Ren joins us. I would have assumed the princess, Azula, join us, but she seems to distance herself from her brother as much as possible–I don’t quite understand this as he is quite enjoyable to be around despite being rather quiet much of the time.

Today the palace has become the host of some more visitors. Princess Azula’s friends are visiting, as well as Giren and Zuko’s other friend Soru. One of Azula’s friends Mai is Soru’s twin sister and they could not be more different. She seems to dislike me quite a bit from our first meeting despite me doing absolutely nothing for her to think so, but Soru is becoming a fast friend. I think the two of us are quite similar if you ignore how much he is like Giren.

Toph, I hope you aren’t missing me too much! I promise this summer will go by faster than you think. Hopefully during my stay I’ll be able to purchase some souveniers to remind me of my trip and I’ll be sure to get something nice for you. Maybe I’ll have it sent early so you have something to remember me by! I’m not entirely sure how mail works here, but I’ll ask Zuko or Giren if they recommend anything in particular.

Sending well wishes,

Sana

*:･✧*:･

Awaking with a jump, Sana realizes she had fallen asleep after finishing her letter. Luckily the ink had already dried. Hours had passed and the sun had long been set, engulfing her room in a blueish darkness that turned the reds a pretty violet color. Hearing her heavy door click open she turns around and is greeted by the sight of Hisa’s face lit by a candle’s flame.

“Lady Sana? The princes have been wondering where you’ve been all day…”

“Hisa, you know you can just call me Sana, right?”

“Fine. Sana, your friends are concerned! What have you been doing all afternoon?”

A sigh leaves her lips as she sits up, but notices her hair in the mirror: it’s a bit messy now, fallen undone from the simple hairstyle she had worn today. Sana could care less, still tired from worry. “I suppose sleeping but I can hardly recall when I even fell asleep…”

Hisa rolls her eyes as she lights the lanterns and candles around the room. The warm light soon illuminates the space, the crimsons and amber gold tones more visible. “That doesn’t explain why you suddenly ran off during tea with Prince Giren and Lord Soru, though.”

“I was looking for Prince Zuko, but I figured he didn’t really want to see me if he had left…”

“The prince was training much of the afternoon, but a few hours ago he came to me and asked if I knew where you were.”

“Oh…” Sana says genuinely suprised. “He had just run off so suddenly I figured something was wrong.”

“Quite the opposite, actually.” Hisa gives the young lady a smile as she motions for her to come sit in the vanity chair. “He just doesn’t realize it yet. Boys can be quite stubborn and oblivious at times, even princes.”

Sana sighs, unsure how to take this information. “I still don’t really get you, Hisa.”

“You’re still a kid, that’s why. Spirits, the world is forcing you all to grow up so fast…” With a final tuck of a strand, Sana’s long black hair is pinned into a simple yet pretty updo.

“You are not that much older than me!”

“See? Still a kid. Enjoy your youth while you can Sana, don’t let your teenage years hold memories of someone else’s burden like I did,” Hisa tells her. She’s only eighteen, still a young woman who’s barely an adult. “My mother’s business hadn’t been doing well and my father died in an invasion years ago. We needed money so I got a job in the palace as a maid. When Lady Sei arrived on account of her betrothal to Prince Lu Ten four years ago, I was assigned to her. I was your age, Sana.”

A crease appears in Sana’s brow. “And whose burden weighs on your memories?”

“So many…My mother’s, Lady Sei’s, even you now Sana. Please treasure what you have now, for my sake? Keep those who treasure you close to you and don’t let them get away…”

*:･✧*:･

Dinner had already passed when Sana had woken up, so Hisa went to gather a small snack for her from the kitchen. Feeling guilty about making her friends worried earlier, she leaves her room to seek them out.

Sana and Giren weren’t staying in the guest wing, but rather the hallway where the prince and princess had their rooms. The hall was always fairly quiet, seeing as it was far from the Fire Lord’s personal chambers closer to the war room. Her hair was taken out after chatting with Hisa for a few hours longer, having gotten ready for bed. Peeking out of her door, Sana did not expect to look down the hall and still see light seeping out from under Zuko’s door.

Gathering some courage, she makes her move. Quiet footsteps barely sounded against the floors, careful as to not to wake the other inhabitants of the wing. Sana raises her hand to knock on Zuko’s door, soft taps that were loud enough to be heard from inside.

He opened the door just a bit, slight surprise in his eyes. “Sana? What…What are you still doing up?”

“I figured I should come see you and noticed you were still up…” In the dim warm light reflected in her eyes, turning them more gold than green. “You were looking for me earlier?”

“None of us had seen you for hours, we were worried!” Anger fills the prince’s voice, his hand gripping onto the door since he didn’t know if it was proper to reach out hand hold her. “I was worried…” He thinks to himself.

“I only ran off because I was worried I had upset you…”

“Oh…” Zuko blinks. “You could never upset me, I hope you know that.”

“Oh.”

“Would you…like to come in?” He opens the door a little but more.

Sana glances off to the side. “I really shouldn’t…” A soft sigh escapes her lips. “It’s late.”

A small groan sounds from Zuko. Why did the girl have to be so frustrating? “ Just come in!” He grabs her wrist, pulling her into his chambers.

Her eyes glare at him, but even a dumbass like Zuko could tell she held no malice in them. “You are insane, Zuko! What are you thinking, you idiot? If someone sees us–!”

Putting a hand over her mouth, Zuko uses his other arm to shut his door. “Everyone is asleep, Sana. And honestly, I don’t think anyone would really care about you being in my room.”

Her cheeks flush, but Zuko didn’t notice in the low lighting. “You are such an idiot.”

He shoots her a smile. “Don’t pretend like you don’t enjoy my company.”

That night, the two of them stayed up, chatting and laughing quietly together. Zuko’s light stayed on, seeping through the door until the early morning. The pair had drifted to sleep at some point early in the morning. Escaping back to her room before anyone could see them together alone in his room, Sana quietly closes Zuko’s door with a smile. Maybe this summer was turning out better than she expected.