Azula offered us a tour around the villa while the men unpacked, and we agreed. Setting off at a brisk trot, Azula ushered us around the house, pointing the occasional family portrait or previous Fire Lord or family trinket. Ty Lee squealed at one particularly big room we passed.

"What's in that room?"

Azula gave a slight smile, "That, Ty Lee, is our bedroom. Shall we check it out?" Ty Lee didn't need any more notice. She leapt into the room like a frenzied beast, whilst Azula and I followed, tittering, Mai lagging behind, her hands in her sleeves. Ty Lee was already bouncing on one of the huge four poster beds, laughing like hell.

"This is amazing!" she exclaimed, "Why haven't we come here before, Azula?"

Azula shrugged, "Dad doesn't like visitors."

I walked over to the bed on the far edge of the room. "I call this bed."

Ty Lee stopped jumping, "I have this one!" Mai shrugged and walked to the bed on the complete opposite end to mine.

Azula grinned. "I guess I got this one. Anyway, I think the boys are lugging our trunks up here. Shall we see how they're doing?" Sure enough, just as we were about to open the door, Zuko came in, grunting and pulling two heavy trunks. One was black and one was grey. After he set them down in the corner, he wiped the sweat from his brow, and sat down on the black trunk.

"What in Agni have you girls got in those trunks?" Mai shrugged.

"Just the essentials. Shrouken, katanas, daggers, darts…" Both my eyebrows shot up.

"Sounds like you took half the Fire Nation armoury!" I said, chuckling quietly.

"I like to be well defended. You never know what kind of people you'll come across." I knew this comment was directed at me, and there was an awkward silence until Zuko clapped his hands.

"Yeah…um, Dad says we're gonna go to the cove in a few minutes, so if you guys could get your beach stuff…yeah." Zuko backed off, evidently aware of the tension between me and Mai. I broke off my even gaze with her, and turned to Azula.

"So, you never told how long we're here for?" Azula nodded.

"Oh yeah, we're here for three weeks." I swallowed and nodded too.

"I guess situations with the Earth Kingdom are pretty bad then." Azula sighed.

"You could say that." Ty Lee rolled her eyes at us.

"Oh come on, political freaks! Let's go to the beach!" Shaking off my feeling of anger and resentment, I grinned.

"The black trunk's mine?"

"Yep."

Fire Lord Ozai took us down this winding path, leading away from the swarming main beach. Azula had packed me a see-throughish red dress, which floated over my bikini perfectly. I still had my top-knot in, but half my hair was down so it looked a 'lil less…fussy. Ty Lee was wearing this tiny white bikini, her hair up in the adorable braid, and Azula was in a teeny-tiny red skirt and bikini. Mai, however, had this floor length skirt, and huge floppy hat and a bikini top so long you could hardly see her belly button. Her black hair was up neatly, and angular features set in an unemotional state. Zuko carried an umbrella for her, and I frowned in distaste. She was going to the beach. It wasn't like she was going to avoid getting a tan without sun cream.

Iroh and Ozai soon led us down some stairs on a cliff-face, and soon they opened out into this gloriously amazing cove. When I had thought that Ember Island was beautiful, that was before I saw the cove. The water was clearest blue and you could see the tiny little fish swimming around these dazzling displays of coral. The sand was the lightest candyfloss pink, and there were tall palm trees growing off the side of the cliff, giving shade. Right at the end of the beach was this tiny shack, which Azula rushed towards immediately. I followed, and on it was a sign that read: "Property of the Fire Royals". Ozai set himself down inside it, and Iroh pulled out flask of tea that was in the hamper her was carrying.

"Jasmine tea, anyone?" Zuko and I took a cup but Azula just waved him away.

"No thanks, old man." I finished my cup, and set it down by Iroh.

"Last on into the sea is a doomed air bender!" Azula, Ty Lee and I raced into the sea, whilst Mai just set up camp underneath a tree, Zuko standing over her, deliberating over whether to be a parasol holder or join us in the sea. He chose the latter option, dropping the parasol on Mai's head. We splashed around in the sea for a bit, then Ozai called us in for lunch. More sunbathing, then it was time to go back to the villa to get changed for going out.

We went to the theatre most nights, perhaps a concert, buffet on the beach, but when we went to the theatre that first night, it was probably the worst. We went to go and see a soppy love story, which Iroh picked because he thought I might like it. It was called "Love Amongst the Dragons" and it was the shittiest thing I had ever watched in my life. I think Iroh was enjoying it, but you could see Ozai falling asleep in his chair. That wasn't the annoying thing though. The annoying thing was that Mai was glued to Zuko's mouth the ENTIRE time. I knew by the first day, without anyone telling me, that Zuko and Mai were dating. I mean, he was holding a parasol for her. He wouldn't even do that for me on a good day. Yet, I was clenching the armrests of the velvet chair so hard, and with so much anger, they began to rip and smoulder slightly. I tried to ignore the soft slurping noises coming from behind by conversing with Azula, but we soon lost things to talk about. I had a terrible dilemma: listen to brain-killing mushiness coming from the absolutely crap actors below me, or burn the chair. I chose the latter option. We had to evacuate the building…but sadly, it was open in a couple of days so we got to go and see the end of Love Amongst the Dragons. Fun.

During buffets and parties that we were invited to, I would get Fire Nation nobility come up to me and ruffle my hair and ask Ozai if I were his. They took me as part of the Royal Family and Ozai would say that I practically was and have me and Azula perform a fire bending routine. I remember the whispers going around after we'd finish:

"She's better than the crown prince,"

"They both are,"

"The blonde girl should replace the prince,"

"He doesn't seem the Fire Nation type,"

Zuko always left those in a big huff, and wouldn't speak to me for the rest of the night. It was always awkward in our room because Mai would accuse me of trying to steal Zuko's place and I would just brush it aside coolly. But on the last night, there was another big party to celebrate the Fire Lord's stay at Ember Island, and just that happened. Our room was extremely angsty that night…

"You're a liar," spat Mai, her voice oozing in venom, "You just pretend to be Azula's friend to get in with the Fire Lord." I rolled my eyes, and turned over.

"If that was so, whilst I say Azula is my best friend, seeing as you say Azula is your best friend, I could say the same about you, Mai." I could hear gulping like a fish, trying to think of a comeback. Smiling slyly, I closed my eyes. But she wasn't done yet.

"You think you're so clever, don't you. But you're not."

"Contrary to popular belief, Mai, yes, yes, I do think I'm clever. Because I am." I sighed, not wanting to hear all of this at midnight.

"You're just a lying bitch, who's out to steal other people's boyfriends." As soon as those words had left her mouth, I could hear Azula hitting her head in disbelief. No-one called me that. It was on account that previously that year my boyfriend, Joji, had dumped me for a bitchy girl not too dissimilar to Mai, and in trying to become friends with Joji again, the girl in question (her name was Marni Blossom) had spread that phrase around the school and causing all taken girls to hate me with an unwavering passion. So that phrase wasn't exactly Chloe-friendly.

"What did you call me?" I said slowly rising out from underneath my covers.

"A lying…bitch. Who is out to…st-steal…people's…b-b-b-boyfriends…" She started stuttering towards the end because I had summoned up two flickering fireballs, and was standing right at the foot of her bed. The green light reflected eerily onto my face and gave the impression that I was something of the supernatural kind.

"Now, what were you saying, Mai?" I said in a sickly sweet tone, but with a strong undercurrent of threat.

"N-nothing." I smiled nastily.

"Good. Mention this to Zuko, and you'll wake up one morning without any of that pretty little black hair. Got it?" She nodded, gulping. "Good." I climbed back into bed, feeling pleased with myself that I had completely terrorised Mai and Ty Lee hadn't been awake to here it or see it.

The next day, everyone piled into the Land Rover, Mai and Ty Lee included, and we dove to the portal site. Ozai gestured to me to get out of the car.

"Do you have your pendant?" I lifted it up to show him. "Good. Now, imagine the claw is a conductor of your fire bending. An extension of you body. Just use it as you would fire bend and it should open up the portal. Conducting my fire bending…I closed my eyes and slashed the claw diagonally while forcing my power through it, and the blue portal appeared. Ozai nodded, smiling. We got back in the car and started driving back to the abandoned house. Ty Lee looked in amazement at the barrage of cars that passed us, asking me to tell her what each type was, and what was a telephone pole, and why we had antennae on the tops of ours roofs.

We soon arrived back at the house, and Zuko lifted my trunk down from the back.

"Don't worry," he said, before I could even utter a word, "It's all yours." Then came the bad news.

"Chloe…" Ozai began, "I'm sorry, but everyone will be unable to return next year."

"WHAT?" I shrieked, "But…"

"I'm sorry," he said, "I truly am. But the war…" I nodded, trying to be professional.

"I…I understand, Fire Lord." Do not cry in front of Mai, Do not cry in front of Mai, my brain was thinking. "So…this is goodbye for good?"

"No, no, no!" Azula said waving her hands, "One of us might come back each year. We wouldn't forget about you, Chlo!"

"How could we forget about you?" Iroh chuckled. Swallowing back the lump in my throat, I gazed at the floor.

"It's been an honour meeting you guys…"

"Come on, Chlo. It isn't forever!" Zuko sighed.

"I know, I know," I said, silencing him, "But just let me say this. I'd have never have become the person I am today if I hadn't met you guys. I owe you so much. I just…I'm gonna miss you. So much, it's gonna hurt. But I guess I gotta keep soldiering on, eh? So come back whenever you can. I'll be waiting." I thought for a minute then smiled. "If we don't meet before then, meet me back here in Evergreen by the post office on my 17th birthday. That way…I know I'll be there." Azula nodded.

"Right. 26th April, 5 years time. Until then?" I smiled, teary-eyed.

"Until then." Azula and I hugged, and she sighed.

"I'm gonna miss you too, Chloe." Iroh pulled me into one of those all-enveloping hugs.

"My little prodigy," he said, stroking my hair, "I'll be seeing you."

"Yeah." Fire Lord Ozai looked me directly in the eye, and I held his piercing gaze, something I would have been unable to do before. He nodded and clapped me on the shoulder.

"You will do great things, Chloe Norris." I bowed and gave a slight smile.

"Thank you, Fire Lord." Ty Lee bounced up to me and hugged me tightly.

"You're one of the most amazing clever people I've ever known! Not to mention pretty! We'll see each other again soon, right?" I gave her a reassuring grin.

"Sure, Ty Lee." I nodded to Mai, and she looked away in embarrassment, then came to Zuko.

"So…" he started, "I won't be seeing you for a long time, eh?"

"Yeah," I said nervously. Just kiss him, just kiss him, my brain was shouting. Suddenly he was pulling me into a tight hug.

"I miss you," he whispered in my ear, "You little smart-ass fire bending prodigy you are." I smiled, a solitary tear running down my face.

"You too." I stepped back, as I watched Zuko get in line for getting back into the back seat. It was now or never.

"Zuko!" I shouted. He turned around, a look of confusion on his face. I ran straight into him and reached up and kissed him. Right on the lips. I pulled away, and blushed.

"I wanted to say bye properly, I guess." He nodded, a dazed look on his face.

"Bye…Chloe."

"Bye Zuko. Bye Everyone!" As the car pulled out of the driveway, I waved them, not knowing that that would be the last time I would see them together for the next 5 years. I touched my lips with my fingertips; he was still there.

"Bye." I whispered, but my voice was lost in the gathering storm.