The Daughter of Balance: The Tale of Princess Yue (Book One: Disaster Strikes)

Chapter One

Ba Sing Se was a peaceful city. “There is no war in Ba Sing Se.” That is what everyone is told. However, war was everywhere else. But luckily, it was over two years ago. The Hundred Year War was history. Now, Chieftess Katara of the Southern Water Tribe and Firelord Zuko were both ready to call the Fire Nation their home. Zuko and Katara had been in a relationship ever since they saved each other’s lives from Zuko’s crazy sister, Azula. Katara had no idea how she was going to spend the rest of her life. Zuko had a few hopes. He clutched the object he had in his grasp for the whole evening. Everyone else-Sokka, Aang, Suki, Toph, Hakoda, Ty Lee, Mai, Appa, and Momo-all knew how he planned and hoped for the evening to go. Most were happy. One wasn’t. Aang was the first person Zuko told, and he wasn’t happy. He knew Katara was Zuko’s girlfriend, and he respected that. But he wasn’t expecting for Zuko to do this. But he knew Katara loved him. So he replied with five words: “Go get her, Sifu Hotman.” Zuko needed permission from Hakoda and Sokka. They said yes. He needed to tell Suki and Toph. They couldn’t contain themselves. He told Mai and Ty Lee. They congratulated him. He told Appa and Momo. He had no reason to. They just made classic Appa noises and Momo sounds. Now, all he needed was to ask Katara the question. They walked out to the balcony. Katara wasn’t sure why Zuko seemed so uptight. “Zuko, what is this about?” she asked. “Can’t we talk about this inside?” Zuko heard her. When she said this, his heart might have started pounding in his throat if it wasn’t already. “No!” he said in a volume that made her jump. “I-I mean… I want ask you something first. I know I’m not the best Firelord, and that I make a lot of mistakes…” Zuko kneeled in front of Katara and revealed when he was holding for the entire evening. A betrothal necklace he carved himself. Trying to do something special, he decided to keep the Water Tribe tradition. “…but I hope that our time together was just as amazing for you as it has been for me. Katara… will you marry me?”