The Truth About Fire (Zutara Fanfiction)

Prolouge

There was an old woman at the door.
Aiko had been minding her own business, avoiding both her mother and her needlework as usual, when she heard a knock on the door.
There goes my peace, Aiko thought. The twins had owed her a favour, meaning her mother was busy dealing with them. Without her mother's over bearing presence, Aiko was finally relaxing. Of course, though, someone had chosen that exact moment to come to their house. Sighing, she got up from her chair like her bones were made of led. It was probably just a boy looking to court her sister. Hakari was popular in the town. Why they would come in this weather, Aiko could only wonder.
When she had reached the door and peeked through the peephole, she had taken a step back in surprise. It was an old woman, most like the same age her grandmother use to be. She was odd in her appearance and Aiko could tell she was a traveller. The woman's clothes were worn and the once bright red had faded to a dull colour. Aiko's fingers drummed against her leg. Perhaps she was like that awful spinster woman who came last month or the equally as terrible toothless man who had come the month before that. Aiko shuddered. Whoever the woman was, Aiko knew she should not open the door. After the last few unexpected visitors her mother had forbid it. Yet as Aiko stared at the white haired woman standing outside their door, she couldn't help herself.
Reaching her hand out, she twisted the metal doorknob.
She was greeted by the old woman's smile. The smile intrigued Aiko. It was cheeky and all so interesting.
"Hello," the old woman said, her voice silky as honey. With her she carried a small pack. Despite the pouring rain the bag showed no sign of being wet.
Perhaps she got it from the water benders, Aiko thought. They can do stuff like that, can't they?
"Hello, Ma'am. How can I help you?"
"Forgive me stranger, but I need a place to stay for tonight. Perhaps this is being too forward, yet I was not expecting the rain and certainly cannot make it to the next inn." The woman spoke in a very formal tone, a very odd tone. It sounded almost it had been practiced. She was clearly a noble Aiko decided. What was a noble doing here?
The floorboards creaked as Aiko shifted her weight. Aiko knew she should send the old woman on her way, yet she could not find it in herself to refuse the woman. Although she carried herself with clear strength and pride, she was still old and frail looking. What if she died in the rain? It would be all Aiko's fault and if the woman was a noble ,her family make take revenge
"I'll have to ask my mother. Why don't you take a seat on the couch for now?" Aiko asked.
"Ai! Who are you speaking with?" Her mother called from upstairs. Aiko turned to the woman, helplessly.
"You may call me Ursa." Ursa. It was not an unpopular name. There was a fire lady some sixty years ago by the name of Ursa, yet she was long dead.
"Ursa, Mother," Aiko shouted. Ursa hobbled inside, sighing in relief as she sank into the soft chair.
"Who?" Her mother's feet thumped down the stairs, hastily followed by the sound of the twins tumbling down.
Aiko's mother was a beautiful, yet tired woman and as she looked upon the latest person her daughter picked up she could only sigh. Aiko knew that sigh. It was the 'oh my Agni, Aiko, what will we do with you' sigh.
"Pleased to meet you, Mrs?"
"Tanaka. You must be Ursa." Aiko's mother glanced around to see if there were any other people. "I don't know what my daughter promised you, but we really don't have much room to spare." Aiko felt her face flush red. She hadn't thought about that.
"This couch will work quite fine, Mrs. Tanaka." Ursa patted the arm of the chair. "Mother, you always say to be kind and helpful. We should help this poor, helpless old lady." Aiko could tell that Ursa was anything but a helpless old lady, but the description seemed to guilt her mother into letting Ursa stay.
"Well, of course. It's just...." Ursa smiled.
"I will of course compensate you for your troubles." Ursa dug into her pocket and pulled out a few gold coins. Aiko felt her mouth drop. This old lady must be a noble to give them that much money. Surely, this would convince her mother. Glancing up at her mother, Aiko could tell her mother was thinking the same thing. This was no common beggar.
"Thank you, Lady Ursa." Her mother quickly curtsied. As if Aiko wasn't shocked enough, Ursa laughed. It was a heart warming sound, that made both twins peek out from where they were hiding from behind their mother.
"Why, no one has called me Lady in a long time. Just Ursa will work, Mrs. Tanaka."
"Then please, call me Emi." Aiko realized she had yet to close the door. Quickly, closing it, she drew closer to Ursa.
"Would you like anything to eat?" Ursa shook her head.
"No, thank you. Oh, now who are these two?" Aiko looked to where Ursa was looking. The twins.
"My son Ren and my daughter, Hanae. My older daughter Hakari is sleeping and Aiko is the one standing next to you." Her mother was yammering, how odd. At Hanae's name, Ursa's face softened.
"Come here, children." Aiko had to stifle a laugh as the usually brash twins had to be pushed forward by their mother.
"I will get tea," Aiko's mother said, excusing herself to the kitchen. 
Ursa beckoned for the twins to come closer. Aiko supposed that Ursa was slightly intimidating, yet truely she seemed more welcoming then anything.
Dragging their feet, the twins came to stand in front of Ursa.
"Do sit. You too, Aiko."
Aiko didn't need to be asked twice. She fell into the chair across from Ursa without hesitation. The twins were more reluctant.
"Hanae, right?" Hanae nodded. Her eyes were full of curiosity. Aiko didn't know why she was acting shy. Just ten minutes ago she had been yelling across the street at one of the Saito boys.
There was a kind of wistfulness on Ursa's face, which made Aiko draw closer. What was the old woman thinking?
"I remember when my children were your age. So long ago." A sad smile had replaced the one she had earlier. It made Aiko wonder what had happened in this woman's life. "What do you children do on rainy evening?"
"Nothing much," Ren said quietly.
"Usually, Mother makes me do needlework," Aiko said making a face. Ursa chuckled. "I'm no good at it."
"When my husband was alive, we were often very busy. Yet, when we had the time we would always sit around the fire and tell stories. You look the type of children who enjoys stories, yes." Aiko nodded her head. She had read practically all the books in the school's library. The twins shook their heads furiously. They often made her read the same stories out loud while they played. They liked to listen and they like the stories, but hated to do the reading themselves.
"Very much, Ma'am," Hanae said.
"Well, then why don't I tell you a story? We have nothing better to do?"
"Yes!" The twins shrieked, before quickly covering their mouths. It amazed Aiko how synchronized they were sometimes.
"Have you ever heard of Fire Lord Zuko?"
Aiko gasped. No one talked about him. They briefly went over his reign in school and that was it.
"He was a cold and cruel tyrant!" Ren said.
"He was merciless and killed his whole family!" Hanae added. Ursa looked up at Aiko expectantly. Her eyes seemed to drill into Aiko's.
"That is what the history books say." Ursa looked back down at her hands. Her smile seemed sadder now and Aiko wondered why.
"Well, our story is about Fire Lord Zuko. I will absolutely understand if you don't want to hear it...."
"Wait, no!" Hanae squealed. Her shyness seemed to have disappeared.
"Please tell it, Ursa." Aiko was curious now, so curious she felt like jumping out of her seat.
"Please!" The twins begged. Ursa nodded, brushing a lock of grey hair out of her eyes.
"Very well then. If you are sure. Get comfortable." The twins shifted their weight causing the seat to squeak. Aiko studied Ursa intently.
"Our story is one of love, betrayal, and truth. It does not begin, however, in the Fire Nation. It begins in a Tribe. A small tribe, the Southern Water Tribe, where a young girl has just been called home by her father."