**Fractured Harmony**

The sun was setting over the Earth Kingdom, casting a warm orange glow over the bustling streets of Ba Sing Se. Opal, her long white hair tied back in a ponytail, stormed through the crowded market, her eyes scanning the stalls for a familiar figure. She spotted Kuvira, the once-mighty leader of the Great Uniter, standing at a nearby tea stall, sipping a cup of steaming hot tea. Opal's face twisted in a scowl as she approached her. Kuvira, sensing Opal's presence, turned to face her. A warm smile spread across her face, and she set her tea cup down, her hands gesturing in a calming motion. "Opal, it's been too long. How have you been?" Opal's scowl deepened, her eyes flashing with anger. "You've been avoiding me, Kuvira," she accused, her voice low and even. "You've been hiding behind your tea parties and your diplomatic meetings, pretending like everything is fine." Kuvira's smile faltered, and she took a step back, her eyes darting around the market as if searching for an escape route. "Opal, I—" "Don't," Opal cut her off, her voice rising. "Don't try to sweet-talk your way out of this one. I'm not buying it." Kuvira's expression turned placating, and she held up her hands in a gesture of surrender. "Okay, okay. Let's just talk about this, okay? I don't want to argue or fight, Opal. I just want to...get along." Opal snorted, her laughter bitter. "Get along? You think we can just get along after everything that's happened? After what you did?" The air around them began to vibrate with tension as Opal's anger simmered just below the surface. Kuvira's eyes flicked to the crowd, her gaze lingering on the Earth Kingdom guards patrolling the market. She seemed to be searching for an excuse to extricate herself from the situation. "Opal, please," Kuvira said, her voice soft and urgent. "Let's not do this here. Let's talk in private." But Opal was beyond reason. Her anger had been building for months, and she was ready to unleash it. "No," she spat, her eyes blazing. "I'm going to say what I need to say, and you're going to listen." The tea vendor, sensing the escalating tension, nervously intervened. "Uh, ladies, perhaps this isn't the best place for a discussion?" Opal's gaze never left Kuvira's face. "Stay out of it," she warned, her voice dripping with menace. Kuvira's eyes locked onto Opal's, a flicker of fear dancing in their depths. She seemed to realize that she was in grave danger, that Opal's anger had reached a boiling point. And then, just as it seemed like things couldn't get any worse, Opal took a step closer, her fists clenched at her sides...