well, hiya! I've been working on this as well as Foreign Exchange. It's been a while and after a period of writer's block, and other such obstacles, I was able to return to this. Sorry for my delay's. I decided to post this up before the next chapter of Foreign Exchange, because I'm still tweaking and editing (I'm trying to spare you guys my grammatical errors and such) so it'll be a few more days I believe. Sorry again, but here's an idea i've been working on. I'm not sure whether or not to actually develop this. I'm about on the third chapter or so on this and still wondering where this will end up. Tell me what you think, some feedback is always nice.

SwordSlayer

(pronunciation of names)

(notes to be answered at the end)

Emphasized words or thoughts

Author's notes

Light and dark. Hot and cold. Fire and water. Opposites as different as day and night, but are they really that different? One is believed to be a symbol for destruction and pain. The other, the epitome of creation and healing. Yet, they coincide with one another, bringing balance to the world that is as harmonious as the sweetest of melodies.

--

We met at the Fire Academy of Girls, where most nobility send their girls for schooling. She was the highest of the high: Princess of the Fire Nation. It was silly of me to believe that we could be friends, me, an adopted daughter of some noble family that paled in comparison to Fire Nation royalty. Yet here I was, standing beside her in class, wondering if she is as cold as people had said.

"My life I give to my country,
With my hands I fight for Fire Lord Ozai,
And our forefathers before him,
And with my mind I seek ways to better my country,
And with my feet may our march to civilization continue."

We took our seats after reciting our nation's oath; to which I wonder if it is legit. We never had an oath under Fire Lord Azulon, from what I remember anyway. I shrug off the unimportant thoughts as I glance to my right, noticing how elegant Azula's script is, as is expected of someone of her stature. I mean, have you ever heard of royalty having sloppy handwriting? Ha!

"Saiya (Sigh YAH)! Pay attention!" I was snapped from my inner musings as Ms. Kawn barked, sending her harsh glare my way. I sat ramrod straight, eyes wide as a dragon moose caught in the path of a firebomb.

"Yes ma'am." I managed to get out before she returned to her lesson. I heard a soft giggle and turned to realize it was the Princess herself. She glanced in my direction, laughter shining in her eyes before she stopped herself. The laughter that was present a moment before was shrouded over with indifference as she returned to her work. So she isn't as heartless as she is portrayed. Interesting.

The gong sounded, notifying the school of the end of class hours later. We stood and customarily recited the oath before departing. Ah, lunchtime; I was starving! I looked over to ask her something only to realize she was long gone. I let out a sigh before making my own exit, wondering when I would work up the courage to actually talk to her.

As I made my way toward my dorm room to drop off my things, I thought over the character that was Princess Azula. She is as beautiful and graceful as many said--I've known this for the years attending the Academy but never had seen her up close until this year. She is also said to be as ruthless in her bending as she is in her personality. She would not hesitate to cut you down and put you in your place and I shuddered at the memory of her slicing through people in the years past.

If I had believed these things about her, I would not be wishing to become her friend. Most steer away from her except two: Ty Lee and Mai. Ty Lee is the energetic acrobat of the school and Mai, well, people say she's about as emotionally active as a rock. Which, in and of itself, is a cruel thing to say, but I admit that I have never seen her show much emotion rather than boredom. But these two opposites have been Azula's best friends for as long as I can remember. When they are not in class, they are hanging around talking off by themselves in the courtyard--they were never seen in the cafeteria for long other than to get their food.

Now, I must be coming off as a stalker, but I'm not. I am merely observant and can you blame me? If you had the opportunity to observe the princess of your nation, wouldn't you be curious as to what she is really like? I know I am and I'm not afraid to admit it.

I entered my dorm to see my roommate just leaving. I smiled at her, one of my only friends in this overbearing place.

"Saiya! I was just about to look for you. Join me for lunch?" Miyako (MEE yah koh), the shyest of my friends, questioned as she paused at the room's entrance.

"Of course. I'll meet you at the usual spot near the rose bush, okay?" She nodded at my words and let me pass as she continued her way out the dormitory. As I made my inside, I noticed something was off in the room the moment I walked in. I glanced around, trying to decipher the difference in the atmosphere.

My eyes finally fell upon a blazer laying upon my roommate's bed. Normally, I would think nothing of it, yet the size of the blazer is what drew my attention; it was tailored to someone much taller than Miyako or myself. I let a smile grace my lips at the thought of what the forgotten blazer indicated, leaving it alone for the time being.

Those thoughts aside, I left my things and made my way towards the cafeteria, no longer able to fight off my hunger. In my haste to quell my hunger, I bumped into someone as I rounded the corner, sending myself and my victim to the floor.

"Ah! I'm so sorry! Here let me-" I had stood up quickly to help whomever I sent to the floor up only to have my words die on my lips. There, sitting on the floor shaking off the fall was none other than Princess Azula. Why oh why did I have to rush?! I inwardly cursed myself as I helped her up. "My sincerest apologies, Princess." I muttered the words from years of etiquette.

She gazed at me once she stood up completely, standing a good few inches taller than myself. She looked me up and down, recognizing me from class obviously before she turned to walk around me without so much as a word. I let out a nervous sigh as I continued on my way as well. Smooth Saiya, just smooth. AN: A little cliché I know, but I couldn't resist it.

--

I happily made my way towards the rose bush with a tray full of food. Some would say that I was a heavy eater, but I could not help it if my stomach was not satisfied with such small portions. And who are they to complain? With my high metabolism and intense training regime, I stayed in more than top shape. So there!

I saw my usual group of Miyako and Fei Yen (Fay YEN) enjoying a much smaller portion of the same meal I carried. They waved me over when they caught sight of me and I smiled and picked up my pace. I was almost to them when I heard loud yells from my left. I glanced over in that direction as I placed my food down.

Two of the upperclassmen--we were but 2nd year students (1)--seemed to be in a heated, no pun intended, argument over something or another. I turned back to my friends, ignoring the scene that did not require my attention. I happily began to dig into my meal, enjoying today's lamb and stew with gusto.

"So what do you think that was about?" Fei Yen questioned when the yelling stopped. She always managed to poke into other's business, as was how her cahracter just was: energetic and nosey at the same time. It can be a bit annoying, but enjoyable at the same time.

"Nothing that concerns us that's for sure." I muttered around a bite of lamb. "You really should stop being so nosey Fei, it's 'unbecoming of a lady'." Miyako burst into laughter at my imitation of Fei Yen's father. A smile graced my lips as a breath of fire came out of my irked companion. "I'm just kidding, Fei."

"Yeah, yeah I know. But still," she shuddered a little, "it's creepy how good an impression you can do." We all laughed by this point and continued eating.

"So what are your plans after lunch, Sai? You always manage to escape us once your belly is satisfied." I heard the curiosity as well as amusement in her voice as she emptied her tray in the convenient trash can near us.

"I tell you where I go everyday, yet you still ask? Well, I'll say it again: I am going to train off the lunch I eat before going back to the dorm to shower before next class. Same as always." The two shared a glance, obviously not believing my words before letting it slide.

"Whatever you say, Sai."

--

I didn't lie when I said I go to train after lunch. I really do train in the dojo so I don't know why they suspect I don't. They have never come looking for me so their suspicion is misplaced. I shrugged it off as I went through the basic katas of my bending.

I felt at peace whenever I bend. I could tune out the world around me and focus on the inner power running through me and flowing gently as I progressed. With each step, each new motion I was able to manipulate my inner power and feel more at balance. I smiled as I finished the katas and a sense of oneness came over me.

Soft clapping disrupted my thoughts as I turned to the entrance of the dojo, eyes widening as they had this morning.

"Very impressive. Not many benders our age are able to pull off the katas as fluidly as you do." the newcomer declared as she stepped into the room. "Mind if I join you?"

All I could do as nod numbly as she came to take her position to my left. She smiled at me before she closed her eyes and began her own training. Not one to be left behind, I followed her movements through the rest of lunch.

We did some sparring before we parted ways and she commented on my form, sounding generally sincere with her words, she asked to train again with me tomorrow. Again, I just nodded mutely and without another word, she left. I sighed at my lack of words but made my way to my room none-the-less.

After a quick but pleasant shower, I made it to class with time to spare. Glancing around the room, I noticed that half the class was not hear yet. Looking around further, I noticed Azula sitting at her desk reading. I made my way over and took my seat next to her, not wanting to break her concentration. I quietly gathered my things for today's lesson as she continued on reading. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see her glancing my way every now and again, which made a small smile appear on my lips.

"Class, stand." I heard Ms. Kwan announce as class began once again. Everyone scrambled to their seats for the reciting of our oath before class. I saw Azula glance at me, a smile on her own face before we began reciting. This year wasn't so bad.

1. girls are in their 2nd year at the academy, which is kind of like their sophomore year in high school if you will. The school is broken up into 1st year, 2nd year, 3rd year, and 4th year. There is also the middle school connected by a small bridge from a smaller island. The middle school is directed in the same matter, but only going up to 3rd year (6th grade through 8th like in normal schools). The Academy itself, as a whole, is located near fire island I guess. The series wasn't all that clear so this is my take on the school.

On another note, I did notice that Miyako and Fei Yen's names are kind of similar to Ty Lee and Mai, in a way. That was actually unintentional. I had troubles with names so I searched them at random and picked the ones I felt more comfortable with. They are minor characters so they won't be appearing much after I get the story going. Sorry if you feel that I had planned them to be like MAi and Ty Lee because that was not my intention.