#adding this to my uncle Katya posts

[petrovna-zamo]

Katya & nephew Graham 🥰

[grumpyzutara]

Necklace

I heard people liked the idea of an Anastasia AU, and truthfully so do I, so – here you go. The Earth Kingdom map will be a little skewed, so don't get critical over distances/time and places, etc. There will be changes to the Disney version, but that is what I'm inspired by. After I finish all of the connected prompts I'll post the combined effort on AO3, potentially adding scenes. I'll let everyone know if I do.

Memory loss is hard to explain to people who can remember everything, when they know who they were raised with and what they did 10 years ago. For Katya though, all she can recall is from the last 5 years. The first 15 years of her life was a blank canvas.

Ever since she woke up in the youth hospital, she had lived in an orphanage and when she aged out, she started working for them. Now, after budget cuts, she was forced to move out.

"Where are you headed," Toph, the headmistress and closest thing to a mother figure Katya had known. The short blind woman was "seeing" Katya off, standing on the cement steps.

"I don't know. There's a job posting for a nurse assistant in training up in the north, but I don't really want to go up there." Katya fiddled with the bag on her back. It contained everything she had collected and was very small. She hardly had any money. Even going to the north, she would have to find odd jobs along the way.

"But what does your heart say? You could go and explore, maybe figure out who your family was."

At the mention of family, Katya instinctively touched the necklace at the base of her neck. It was the only thing she still had from waking up in the hospital. The deep blue stone was worn smooth on the edges, veins of a lighter blue swirled throughout. On the front was a carving of a wave, flecks of gold still seen in the crevasses. The back held a single inscription – United.  

Katya had thought about her decision all day. "I think I'll go to Ba Sing Se and then find a way to Republic City. If I have family, they should be along there."

Toph gave her signature move of care, a punch to the shoulder, "You're smart, Sugar Queen, you'll figure it out. By the time you reach Republic City you'll have turned your thousand dollars into tens of thousands."

"I hope so." Katya started to walk away, wanting to avoid an emotional goodbye, but she couldn't. Rushing back, she pulled the older woman into a hug. "Thank you. I know everyone, myself included, doesn't say it enough, but thank you."

"Ah, don't get all mushy on me. Get outta here, scram!" Toph said while holding back a smile and tears at the same time.

"I promise I'll write to Jin, make her read out every word," Katya said, walking backward toward the front gate. "Even if I find my family, I'll never forget you." Katya didn't even try to hide it, she was crying with ease. This was the only home she ever knew. She was essentially homeless, hoping to get odd jobs along the way. She wasn't afraid to work hard. The small pack on her back held everything she had accumulated – which wasn't much.

The road to Ba Sing Se would be short, just a walk for an hour or two in chilly weather but she was bundled up. Sure, she had walked to the nearby town for food supplies, but Katya had never traveled this far and it would be even farther if her journey took her to Republic City.

She was making her way to the top of a hill that turned out to overlook Ba Sing Se when she saw the structure on the edge of town. It was a large house, more like a conglomeration of multiple houses, situated in the middle of an open area of land. Looking ahead, the road would pass right by.

The closer she walked, the more ornate the details appeared but also the more deserted. No cars. No animals. No people. Now it was obvious to her. This was the palace for the fallen monarchy.

It was whispered about all the time, but it happened right before she woke up, literally days before. The Last Tribal Royal Family had been killed in an uprising to form a new government, one dictated by the people living in it. Surprisingly, no one had moved in it would seem.

The front gate was boarded up but the gap in the ironwork was too intriguing. Since there wasn't a guard, she slipped through.

The abandoned palace was breathtaking. Made of white and blue stone, the sprawling building looked more like snow and ice than solid rock. There were carvings along the roofline, depicting water in multiple forms; streams, waterfalls, oceans, et cetera. It was beautiful and depressing. All this wealth and glory, and now it's not even used.

Though the windows were also covered by wood planks, one of the side doors was completely usable. What would it hurt to take a look inside?

The side entrance seemed to be used for servants as it was hardly decorated. The hallways were bare, all of the furniture was gone. Katya made her way through, as if she was following an invisible string telling her where to go.

The last door she pushed through opened to a large open room. The floor seemed to glow with the silver details inside the wood, even with the layer of dirt and dust. There were mirrors on every wall. Chandeliers with cobwebs. Large staircases perfect for grand entrances. This was the famed ballroom where it all began – the uprising.

Katya walked along, a few dusty tables remained but otherwise everything was taken, save for the large painting at the top of the stairs. Maybe it was too big to remove.

On the other side of where she came in were glass door that overlooked what was probably at one time a beautiful garden. Now, it sat in ruins and overgrowth.

"Hey, you there! What are you doing here?" A male voice shouted at her.

In an instant she was sprinting toward an exit. She didn't think she'd actually get caught snooping around but now that there was someone else here, she wanted out fast.

"Wait!" The sound of shoes running after her pushed her. "Wait! Just hold on!" She was no match for the man though as he caught her arm and turned her around. "What were you on the track team? Short distance sprint?" He was out of breath, puffing out the words. "Look you're not in trouble, I just wanted to know who you are and why you're here."

Katya looked up at the man. He was hardly older than her, wearing average clothes, though they were in better condition than hers. The palace wasn't his, was he the caretaker? She remained silent.

He sighed, pulled a hand through his saggy hair, accentuating the scar around his left eye. "Alright, fine, don't talk. You have to leave then. Go on, start moving."

"What's going on? I heard voices." Another male voice came drifting in through an open door. In seconds a plump, older man walked in.

"Shit," the younger man said under his breath. "Iroh, stay out of this. I found someone sneaking around. I'm just escorting them out."

The older man huffed, "That's no way to treat a guest. My dear, what on earth are you doing in a place like this? Are you alright?"

Katya thought for a second, "I was just walking by, wanted a look in. It seemed abandoned. Just let me leave and I'll be out of your hair."

"Seemed abandoned? You must not be from Ba Sing Se, no one has lived inside here for almost 5 years." Iroh said, curiosity sparking in his eyes.

"No, I'm from a village down the road. I was hoping to find some family in Ba Sing Se though. If not there, then I'll go to Republic City."

"What's their name? Maybe we can be of assistance. My nephew, Zuko, here has quite the network of contacts."

Katya blushed in embarrassment, "Well, that's the thing. I don't know. I lost my memory and my family at the same time. I just hope I can figure things out." She blew out her breath, "Look, I'll just get out of your hair. Which is the way out?"

"My name is Iroh, if you have troubles in Ba Sing Se, look for the tea shop in the lower ring. Try the door on the right. Safe travels."

Iroh was very kind and warm, Katya wished she had met him during another time. If she had extra money to spend, the thought going to a tea shop sounded lovely. But she didn't have extra money to spare, so she'd probably never see him again. She nodded goodbye and started to walk away.

With her back to the men, she heard the younger man ask, "What is your name? You do have a first name, don't you?"

Katya rolled her eyes and turned back to face him, "Of course I have a first name, I just might not feel like telling you." Now it was time for Zuko to roll his eyes. "If you must know, it's Katya."

"You don't look like a Katya to me."

"Oh, and what do I look like to you?"

"You look annoying." Iroh could hardly contain his laughter, the pair were so well suited for each other.

"Now Nephew," Iroh stepped between the pair and turned his shoulders to face the large painting on the wall. "Can't you see the resemblance?"

Zuko stared but all he could see was a painting of the Last Tribal Royal family. They were dressed in ceremonial furs and positioned just so. As far as artistic value goes, it was extremely detailed with flecks of gold still clinging to the canvas. "What are you talking about Uncle? I don't see anything?"

Iroh pulled him in closer to whisper, "Look closer. Does that necklace not look familiar? And before you say it’s a knock off, I will tell you now that I've not seen one like it since the fall of the family. She could be the one. Or at the least, a very passible copy."

"So, you say you want to go to Republic City," Zuko said after a minute's consideration, turning quickly to address Katya, who stood with her arms crossed and attitude in her hips, "ahem, that's where we're headed and we happen to have one extra ticket. Unfortunately, its reserved for her, the Last Princess Katara. We're hoping to reunite her with her Grandmother."

"What are you talking about, everyone knows they're all dead."

"They say that most of the family is dead. However, there are rumors that the princess still lives." Zuko started to circle around Katya, giving her an exaggerated look-over. "My uncle and I just so happen to be believers of that theory."

Katya gave a noise of frustration, "Would you stop circling me like a hawk? Get to the point. I'm not the princess, so why are you telling me about this extra ticket?"

Iroh swooped in, lightly turning her to face the same painting, "You say you don't remember anything and you've lost your family. For all you know, you could be the lost princess. Look into the eyes of the little girl in the painting, does she look familiar at all? We just want to help a lost girl to find her Gran Gran again."

It was like a cold bucket of water was poured down her back. She had to have heard that term before, and maybe it was the context of this woman being hers, that she felt in the back of her mind, she called her grandmother Gran Gran.

"How...how do you know?" She stuttered to whisper.

Iroh looked at her with sad, curious eyes, "How do I know what?"

"That she called her grandmother Gran Gran? That's not a very royal title." Katya's gaze was still glued to the painting. Of course, since it was a formal painting, they all looked fairly happy. A grandmother, parents and two children. A family. Real people. It didn't seem possible that she could have ever belonged to theirs.

"I was once the esteemed aid to the High Court Judge. I spent a lot of time with the adults of the Tribal Royal Family. The children growing up were kept from public view, but many people called the King's Mother Kanna by that nickname." His face darkened, "I don't agree with the fall of the family, but I am happy that at least she was able to escape. I just hope that maybe...maybe we stumbled upon one more survivor." Iroh chuckled to break up the mood, "I apologize, do you want to stay for tea while you think about our offer?"

Katya took Iroh's outstretched elbow and he guided her to a different door. All the while, Zuko had his arms crossed, constantly appraising her behavior.

"Um, sure. A cup of tea doesn't hurt."

They ended up in a kitchen that was in decent condition. The pair obviously had taken up residence inside the palace, they hadn't been just passing through like her. They were silent, save for Iroh's humming, as he prepared the treat.

"What would happen if I said I wanted to go to Republic City as the lost princess?" Katya said once she had a warm cup between her hands.

Zuko pushed off of the counter that he had been leaning on. "For starters, we'll have to get you to look the part. Right now, you don't sound or act like a princess. Then after a week, we'll introduce you to the King's Mother Kanna."

"Oh, so I don't sound like a princess, why am I not surprised you'd make that comment." Katya made a bit of a face to go along with her attitude, showing exactly what Zuko had been saying.

Iroh, ever the peacekeeper, stepped forward to poor more hot water in their cups. "Lesson one, princesses don't argue, they rebuttal."  

To be continued tomorrow with Dancing.