A Princess' Destiny ✘ZUKO ✘

5

Soana did not have the chance to prepare herself for her date with Zuko that night. With her thick pants and jacket, she waited in the courtyard for the prince, patiently.

She was at a battle with herself. She wanted to leave and get away from the burdens of royalty, but she also wanted to stay for Zuko. Within a few days, she and the prince started getting along comfortably. If she could take him away with her then she would be more than ecstatic, however, he was more important. But she did not want to leave Zuko and their engagement.

She knew that when she left it would break Zuko, even break his heart.

"Soana," She heard Zuko.

A smile broke out on her lips when she turned to him. He had the same emotion, but he expressed it by going to her and pulling her into a hug.

She giggled when she felt the sudden warmth overtaking her.

"Did you miss me or something?" She joked.

"Very," Zuko said, humoring her.

"I'm sure your time without me was peaceful." The princess informed jokingly.

He squeezed her waist.

"No amount of time is worth anything without you."

Soana blushed madly at his comment before she took his hand in hers and started pulling him towards the far side of the courtyard where a free space of snow had been untouched.

The princess released her suitor's hand and laid herself in the snow.

"Lay, Zuko." She grinned.

"Look at the stars with me."

He gazed at her like she was insane, but he obliged and lowered his body beside hers.

He sighed, looking at the dots of lights in the sky. At least to him, they looked like a bunch of dots.

Soana brought her arms together and hugged her parka, staring at the sky then at Zuko. Unfortunately for her, she could not see much of his face due to the scar, but she stared anyway.

Zuko felt her gaze on his mark of shame. In response, he turned his head over slightly and saw her blue orbs in the moonlight.

"My scar is hideous. I know." he muttered, coldly.

Soana frowned, upset.

"No. It's not hideous."

"Yes, it is and so is the story behind it." He sighed and looked away.

"Who did that to you?" She asked.

Zuko's heart rate quickened at hearing the concern in his fiancé's voice.

"My father." He swallowed a lump forming in his throat.

"Fire Lord Ozai did this to you?" She asked.

He nodded slowly.

"I disrespected him and his men's battle strategy, so in return, he gave me this burn and banished me."

"He banished you?" Soana asked, sincerely.

"Yes, he banished me until he made a deal with your father. He said if I could bring trust with the water tribe then we could be united, and I could merge our nation with your tribe."

"Our fathers are only using us as pawns. If there is a war between us and your nation, there will be no trust. People will still fight even if we do marry." Soana sighed. "The world is so messed up."

Zuko stared at her and softly smiled.

"Not all of it."

Soana giggled and looked back at Zuko.