Falling For the Prince

Secrets Unveiled

Zuko's POV

There's something up with that new servant. She's so... Quiet and reserved. Makes sense, though. A thief for who knows how long, and now she's in here, serving the Fire Lord and his children.

I was thinking about this as I slowly made my way toward Azula's room. My father asked me to tell her something about a recent attack we were planning on the Earth Kingdom. When I got there, she didn't look too happy. "Azula."

"What?" she snapped back at me. Yep, definitely mad.

"I'm supposed to tell you that we're holding a meeting about the upcoming attack on the Earth Kingdom tomorrow morning. You have to be there."

"It's always the same thing, isn't it, Zu-Zu?"

I flinched at the nickname and glared at her. "I told you not to call me that. And what are you talking about?"

"You should know. Think about it. The only time our father talks to you is when he's telling you to come relay information to me."

"You're wrong."

"Am I?"

I thought about it for a second. I talked to my father more than just for that. "I'm not going through this with you again. I'm done." I turned around and slowly made my way to the door. I knew she would have something else to say.

"Oh, and since you don't have anything else to do now, why don't you go find that servant of ours?" There it was... But why this?

"Why should I?"

"I don't know. She doesn't like me much. Maybe you two will get along. You both have the same stubborn personality."

"Knock it off, Azula. Why should I go find her, anyway? You seem more than capable of doing it yourself."

"I probably wouldn't get a response even I did. I made her pretty angry."

I brought my hand up to my face and touched my fingers to my temples. "What did you do this time?"

She pouted before answering. "All I did was ask her to get me some water. There was barely anything in the glass when she returned." The pout was gone at this point and replaced with a neutral expression. She shrugged, "So, I dumped it on her."

I sighed and moved my hand so I could look at her. "And how was that supposed to fix anything?"

"It taught her a lesson. That's how it fixed something. Now, maybe she won't make any more mistakes."

"Whatever. I guess I'll go find her," I said, waving my hand before leaving her room.

Seriously. This is why we lose so many servants. Because Azula can't keep herself under control. Everything has to be perfect.

I walked down the long hallway towards where Crystal was staying. It wasn't the best room, but hey, she was kind of like a prisoner.

When I arrived, I found her door to be open. "Hello?" No answer. Guess she's not in there.

She wasn't allowed in most parts of the house, so she had to be outside. Luckily, there was a door leading to the outside right across from her room.

Upon exiting, I was hit with the warm air outside. Fairly nice day, I guess.

"So, you have your parents and two siblings, huh?" I heard someone say. The voice sounded so familiar. It was female, so... Crystal.

"I had parents once," she continued. "They were wonderful."

I turned the corner around the garden and saw her sitting beside our small pond, one of the little turtle-ducks sitting in her hands. But how...? They won't come near anyone.

"But things change. I lost them to some earthbenders." She laughed half-hearted, "Funny thing is, my parents didn't do anything wrong. They just... Came and took them away to, in their words, 'Dispose of them.' right in front of my eyes."

I watched as she lifted one hand gently and pet it. "You don't know what I'd give to have a family like yours again."

The turtle-duck gave a small quack and crawled into her sleeve. She had to pull it up to get him out, and when she did this, I saw them. The cuts on her wrist.

She stared at them for a brief moment before the sat the little turtle-duck down and covered her face with her hands.

I could see that her body was shaking. She's... Crying. I can't watch this anymore.

"I lost my mother, too."

I saw her jump slightly. She quickly wiped away her tears and looked at me. "What do you mean?"

I walked over and sat down, leaning against the tree beside the pond. "I mean exactly what I said. I lost my mother."

"O-oh... I'm sorry," she said. Then, after a long pause, "If it's okay, can I ask how?"

"Yeah, Well, I actually don't know if I lost her for good or not. My father banished her when I was younger."

"Your father banished his own wife?"

"Yeah, it's sad, I know." I looked at the turtle-duck family in the pond. "I envy them, too. The turtle-ducks I mean."

Her eyes widened a little. "Exactly how much did you hear?"

"I heard enough to know that you're not the person I made you out to be," I told her, trying my best to put on a small smile.

Noticing my attempt, she smiled back. "And I guess I can say the same thing."

With that, a comfortable silence passed over us as we sat and watched the turtle-ducks swim around. I leaned my head back to rest on the tree and sighed quietly. She might not be that bad.