Beauty is...

Written by:.Lady.Meister. with guest collaboration from Etherealstar.

When a mysterious young woman attends a masquerade ball, her mysterious presence doesn't go unseen, instead it seems to captured the heart of many young men, including a very interested young Prince. ZxK.

Disclaimer: You can kinda tell we DON'T own Avatar. If we did, we'd be jumping for joy. Do you see any jumping? Exactly.

Oo-Oo-Oo-Oo-

Chapter 1: Unwanted

Directly beneath the stern of the ship, Zuko's shouts could be heard.

"But Uncle, I don't want to go!"

"Prince Zuko, I really think you should. It might prove eventful. Who knows, you might even meet someone. Besides, the event is in your honor. You must go."

A pout on his handsome young face, the Prince responded. "Uncle, my father is only hosting this-" he motioned to the gold leaf scroll. "This ball-thing so I can meet someone. I can meet a proper girl without the help of his stupid masquerade."

Tucking his hands back into his long red sleeves, the elderly general tried once more to sway his nephew.

"Prince Zuko, please, listen to reason. If you go, not only will you please your father, but you might even enjoy yourself. Anyway, important people from every nation will be there. You can earn some bonus points with them, which will give you an advantage when you are Fire Lord."

Zuko gave a tired sigh. Sometimes his uncle proved to be just as stubborn as he.

Iroh knew that his nephew could not turn down anything when it came to being ruler. Sulkily, the Prince agreed.

"Fine, I'll go, if it really means that much to you- but I'm letting you know from now, I'm not dancing with anyone. I don't care what my father says."

Stalking toward a room, Zuko slammed the door shut.

Giving a light chuckle, the general sighed.

Nephews are so amusing…

Oo-Oo-Oo-Oo-

Warm sunlight filtered through the thin blue veil of the tent, settling on a young girl's face.

At eighteen, she was already a rare beauty, the last waterbender of her tribe. Many men from all across the world had tried to woo her and win her heart, but no matter how handsome or wealthy, they were all turned away.

Her father, chief of the Southern Water Tribes, was becoming desperate. He needed her to find a husband, someone powerful, so that she could rule when he could no longer.

Interrupted by the crunch-crunch of foot on snow, the girl opened her eyes. Intelligent, bedazzling, radiant, and enthralling, her sapphire eyes of intoxicating beauty seem to do the heart of many men both good and bad. They were, in one word, breathtaking.

The icy ocean orbs watched through the slits in the tent's door. A man in Fire Nation attire had handed her father a package, and was now returning to his rhino. After he galloped off, she got up, and, exiting the meditation tent, walked over to her father.

"Hey Dad. Who was that?"

Smiling down at her, the elderly man replied. "That was just a messenger from the Fire Lord. He gave me this-".

Unwrapping the package, it revealed an intricately designed gold leaf scroll, stamped with the royal insignia of the Fire Nation. Opening the scroll, the chief quickly read the contents.

"The Fire Lord is hosting a masquerade ball and has invited me to go."

Looking up at her father, a bemused expression stole across the young girl's face.

"What?"

"What are you going to wear?"

Chuckling, he said, "Oh, I'm not going-"

Now puzzled, the waterbender responded.

"Well, why not? I'm sure you could find something to wear. Besides, you'd probably have a good time."

"You see, daughter, you didn't let me finish. I'm not going. You are."

Oo-Oo-Oo-Oo-

Meditating was his way of escaping life's troubles.

Now, in a desperate attempt to relieve himself of his utter frustration, Zuko closed his eyes, was sitting in a meditative style, trying to concentrate on the four candles lined up in front of him.

The flames, burning, devouring, controlling. Higher, then lower again.

Somehow, this relaxed him, helped him let go of his anger. But now, try as hard as he might, it was not working.

Stupid masquerade. Why does Father always have to meddle in my affairs? Why can't he just let me live my own life, and stop trying to live it for me?

As his anger grew, Zuko forgot about the candles in front of him. Feeling intense heat begin to surround him, the Prince opened his eyes to see that the decorative Fire Nation tapestry on the wall had caught fire.

Springing up, Zuko raised his hands, then brought them down, clenching them in fists as they went. Obeying his actions, the fire ceased, leaving the wall charred and blackened.

Amazing, a simple thought, igniting such white-hot fury.

Annoyed that this had happened, Zuko's thoughts flared up once more.

Not again! That's got to be the seventh time this month. Wow. I really need to get a hold of my anger…

Turning around, the exhausted Prince walked over to his bed and flopped onto the black silken sheets.

Sometimes I wish I could just drift away and forget- "Zuko? Prince Zuko? Are you in there?"

His eyes now wide open in evident frustration, Zuko got up and opened the door.

"What is it, Uncle?"

"Oh, okay. You are in there. Just checking."

"Aarrgghh!"

The angry Prince slammed the door shut, and stomped back to his bed and laid down. Soon, his eyes got heavy, and he slowly fell into- knock-knock "Zuko? I need to ask you something. Zuko?"

Grumbling under his breath, Zuko got up, again, and answered the door, again, this time making his anger known. With eyes flashing, he answered, his voice dangerously low.

"What is it, Uncle?"

"I just wanted to know if you would like to have some tea. It's-"

"NO, Uncle, I don't want any stupid tea. Now would you please, leave me alone?"

SLAM!

"Jeesh… what do you have against the tea?" Iroh muttered as he made his way to the dining hall to have a cup of his favorite, ginseng.

Now at peace, Zuko finally drifted off into a semi-restful slumber, where he dreamed of crazed tea-drinking uncles and waltz-dancing Princes.

Oo-Oo-Oo-Oo-

Completely caught off guard by her father's decision, the girl responded. "But, but… the invitation has your name on it, not mine… You have to go… I don't want to… I-"

Her father put a gentle finger to her lips. "Shh. I am too old to be traveling and going to parties. You are young and beautiful. Look at me. Do I look pretty to you?

Unable to help herself, his daughter laughed aloud. "Okay, okay, fine. You got me. I'll go. But what will I wear, then?"

Stroking his chin in a moment of thought, the chief replied.

"I think I've solved that problem. Come, follow me."

Curious as to what her father might have in mind, she obeyed. Entering a large tent elaborately decorated in several different hues of blue and silver, they walked over to a large skin-covered chest with the Water Nation insignia embroidered on top.

The chief stopped, and kneeled down. Slowly opening the box, he looked inside for what seemed to be the hundredth time since the tragic death of his wife. Doing his best not to cry, he carefully lifted out a kimono.

Beautifully made, the dress was crafted out of the finest blue silk, bejeweled with thousands of tiny icy silver crystals.

Handing the dress to his daughter, he told her its story.

"This dress was you mother's-" He paused, trying desperately to hold back the tears that threatened to fall. Regaining his composure, he continued. "She wore it on our wedding day." Quickly looking her up and down, the girl's father remarked aloud. "You're about the same size she was when she wore it. Go, try it on."

Grateful that her father thought of the gown, she hurried back to her hut and carefully laid it on her bed. Glancing at it once more, she slipped out of her regular robes and slid the kimono over her head, letting it fall over her smooth body. Tying the back, the girl turned around to look at the mirror. In awe she mused at her reflection.

The kimono looked as if it belonged to a queen, with its majestic and stunning style. Tiny ice diamonds were sewn on in delicate swirls across the right side and bottom of the dress, and along the loose sleeves.

The large bow tying the gown together could be seen from the front, and sparkled in blue and icy white. Turning around, she noticed the low sloping design, which came to a point on the small of her back, baring her tanned skin to just above the bow.

Careful to pick up the skirt so that the bottom wouldn't drag across the snow, the girl made her back to her father's tent. Quietly, she entered.

When the chief saw her, he almost broke down in tears. Running over to comfort him, his daughter asked if he was okay.

"Yes, I'm, I'm fine. You just look more and more like your mother everyday."

Smiling through unshed tears, the girl stood up and finished her modeling. Laughing, her father thought of something.

"Wait, I just remembered something." Going back to the chest, he took out a feather mask. The mask was made of several different hues of blue, encrusted in ice diamonds, and was identical to the dress.

Donning the mask, the girl turned to look at her father once more. Coincidentally, the blue in both the dress and the face piece matched the ocean hue of her eyes perfectly, accentuating her beautiful features.

"You look like a goddess…"

"Why, thank you Daddy. I certainly feel like one." Hit with a sudden thought, her face saddened, and she removed the mask.

"I only wish Sokka and Aang could see me..."

Both men were currently helping defend Bah Seng Sai, the rebel city in the Earth Kingdom.

I haven't seen them in almost three years… Gods, I miss them so much…

Seeing his daughter's sudden melancholy mood, her father became concerned.

"Honey, are you okay?"

Breaking out of her thoughts, she turned towards him.

"Oh…yeah, I'm-I'm fine. I just really miss them, that's all."

Taking pity on his only daughter, the chief drew her into a tender hug.

"Oh, sweetheart, I'm so sorry. I'm sure they miss you too, very much."

After relaxing for a few precious moments longer in her father's embrace, she pulled away and kissed him on the cheek.

"Thanks, Dad. I needed that."

"Anytime, honey. I'm always here."

About to walk away, the girl turned around.

"Oh, and Daddy?"

"Yes, sweetheart?"

"When exactly is this masquerade thing?

"One moment, let me check the scroll again."

Examining the invitation for a brief minute, he replied.

"Hmm… in exactly one week. I'll bet you're wondering when you should leave."

After watching his daughter nod her head, he continued.

"Let's see, it takes about four to five days to get to the Fire Nation by boat. You'll most likely want a day to get settled into your place, seeing you'll be staying there for a week or so. It should only take you the rest of the day to pack, correct?"

"Yes, Daddy."

"Okay then…" adding up the days in his mind, he came up with the departure date.

"You should leave about tomorrow."

Surprised at the extremely early date, the girl hurried out of the tent, the wind carrying her voice to her father's ear.

"I'll see you later Daddy, I love you!"

Smiling, the old father leaned back in his sealskin chair.

My little girl, she's growing up to be so much like her mother, beautiful.

Oo-Oo-Oo-Oo-

Authoress Notes from .Lady.Meister.- I really enjoyed writing this chapter, and with Etherealstar's tweaks, I think it came out absolutely perfect. I hope you like it. If we get a sufficient amount off nice reviews, we might be able to give you some more, so be sure to give us some warm fuzzies! Thanks a million!

Authoress Notes from Etherealstar: I feel flattered and honoured to be opportune in the collaboration of this story. The story as you can see is sear beauty and all praise should go to my friend,Lady.Meister. She's done so much and I thank her in excess for including me in the wonderful experience. Arigatou (Thank you).