Sokka looked down on the gasping teen in the sand and shook his head. He turned and walked back to his sister, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and turning her to follow Zuko. They spotted him sitting by some rocks, looking down at the ground. If Sokka didn't know any better, he would have to say that he looked ashamed.

"Hey, Katara, what's wrong with Zuko?"

She looked at the fire bender, concern replacing the fear and anger. When they reached him, she put a hand gingerly on his shoulder. It wasn't blistering hot like before. She knelt down in front if him, trying to look at his face.

"Zuko? What's wrong? What are you doing way over here?" He turned his face away, refusing to look at her. His shoulders rose in a sigh.

"I scared you Katara. I was carried away trying to teach that...trying to teach that guy a lesson, and in doing so I scared you. I was so angry that I was on the verge of burning him because of what he said to you. He deserved what could have happened to him, but you didn't deserve having to see it."

Katara looked away, trying to hide the emotion over-coming her. She had to admit that he was right. It scared her to see him like that. It scared her how suddenly she was reminded of Azula, power crazed and eyes blazing when she bent lightning. But she also saw someone who was clearly ashamed of his actions. She saw in him something more than just anger and hatred. She saw that he was truly sorry for what he had done, not to Jet, but to the people around him. She saw he was truly sorry for her.

"And not only did I scare you, but I robbed Sokka of honoring you. As your brother, it was his duty to protect you and to regain your honour from that jerk. But instead, I stepped in. I made Sokka look inadequate in front of a crowd. I'm an awful friend."

The warrior stood rigid, a look of irritation crossing his face.

"Woah woah woah, stop! What are you talking about Zuko? You did the right thing! You stood up to that jerkoff for my sister, beat him in front of a large crowd, and DIDN'T cook his face to a crisp. I know I AM awesome and all, but I couldn't have done that! I'm just a guy with a..," he reached back to feel the familiar weapon hanging from it's holster on his back, but then realized it wasn't even there, "well, I'm just a guy. Granted, I wouldn't have minded seeing his face looking like cooked arctic seal meat, but it WAS the right thing. Calling yourself an awful friend is just plain stupid!"

"Sokka's right Zuko. You stood up for me and taught him a lesson. There is no telling how many people he bullied or girls he insulted out there that had no one to help them. Thank you, Zuko, I really appreciate what you did, but you didn't just do that for me, you did that for them as well."

Zuko looked up into her smiling face, his shame slowly disappearing. She leaned forward and wrapped him in a warm embrace, leaning her head onto his shoulder. He raised an arm and placed it around her, his hand resting closed on her bare back. He tried to make it as platonic as possible in front of Sokka, though he couldn't help but enjoy feeling her so close to him.

"I may be able to thank you here, but I'm sure there are a few others who wouldn't mind giving you their gratitude back at the beach." She let him go and stood up, holding out her hand for him.

"It's alright Katara, I'm fine now. Thank you guys." The fire bender got to his feet and smiled. Katara was still holding out her hand, and he tilted his head at her.

"Just because I think it would be good for them to meet you, doesn't mean I want them stealing you away from us. You're our friend, remember?"

Zuko smiled and looked into her brilliant sapphire eyes. He took her hand in his and they started walking towards the beach again. Sokka grinned and shook his head.

"Alright Love Birds, an arms width between you two, I don't want to have to take down your hero, Katara."

.

.

Azula rode a trolley through the city, looking around expressionless at the buildings as they passed by. The driver had told her what Zuko had been up to all day, and was now taking her to the beach. Her brother was making friends quickly. She should be doing the same since she was going to be stuck here for a whole year. Friends were easier to manipulate than strangers.

She leaned back into her cushion, tapping her nails on the frame of the window. She was dressed in a crimson two piece swimming suit. Her hair was tied loosely up in a ponytail that trailed halfway down her back. Zuko wasn't going to take all the glory of being the most popular in school, not without a good fight. She would be calm and quiet, like he was. But once a friendly competition was engaged, she would be strategic and precise, bringing down her opponent before they even had a chance. She would defeat them justly, but remain passive. It was no use to beat everyone and have no one left for a re-match for a whole year.

But what about those water peasant siblings? The girl was a bender, but Azula doubted she would put up much of a fight. Besides that, Zuko would probably get in the way. Ugh, Princes and their "damsels in distress." It was sickening. But the girl's brother wasn't a bender. She could easily take him down in hand-to-hand combat with just a few moves. But so far, he was already proving to be a worthy opponent.

He didn't fear Azula. He looked her in the eye and smiled. She gripped the wood frame in her hand, her nails ploughing large rivets into it. Why didn't he cringe in fear? She pinched her brow together, analyzing the scenes from her memory. She had sat in front of her brother, the peasant was sitting to his right. He had spoken some stupid yak language out loud and then the bald child had slapped him. She smirked. She obviously had made someone slap him without even asking them to.

The carriage entered the shore grounds, stopping at the white sand, the sounds of merriment carrying on the wind. Whatever the peasant's problem was, she wasn't going to hide away. She was the Princess of the Fire Nation, she would face him and absolve the problem. She only wished he could just kill him and end it all the together.

The driver quickly jumped down from his seat and hurriedly opened the door for her. Azula stepped out into the afternoon sun. She set off over the beach to the crowd, the driver shuffling behind with her bag. Looking to her left, she saw a large flying creature turning in the sky. A group of people were seated on it's back, screaming and laughing wildly.

That must be the Air Bender. Now where is Zuko?

She looked around to a crowd cheering to her right, and began to head towards it, glancing behind at the driver still carrying her bag. She turned to him, a hand on her hip.

"What do you think you are doing?"

The poor man looked at her, fear evident in his features.

"Your Highness, you were forgetting your bag. I was bringing it along for you." She gestured to the creature flying around to the north end of the beach.

"Take my bag and place it with that Air Bender. Zuko was riding with him, yes? So then his things must be with them. Go!"

She waved him off and started back to the southern part of the beach. The poor driver sighed with relief. She wasn't going to ask him to stay and wait the night out for them.

.

Sokka was engaged in a conversation with a couple of tribespeople from the Northern Water Tribe, his people's sister tribe. They were comparing weaponry and hunting strategies as well as customs and traditions, when he sighted a girl in red gliding up. His attention left the pair and concentrated only on her. The girl from the northern tribe huffed as she lost his attention.

Sokka was lost for words. He eyed Azula up and down, a silly grin curling his mouth. He swallowed visibly as she stood in front of him with her hands at her hips.

"Water savage, where is my brother? I have been looking for him all day." She toyed with the gold rings tying her bikini together.

Sokka composed himself quickly, relaxing in his stance and crossing his arms over his shoulders. "Looking for Zuko ay? I figured someone like you would have BETTER things to do than follow your brother around. I mean, my sister follows ME around, but that's expected. I'm just that great."

Azula was unimpressed, and walked off, ignoring his attempt at an ego.

"I don't have time for this, but you are right. I have better things to do."

Sokka abandoned the northern people and joined Azula at her right side.

"Well I'm not doing anything too exciting. Mind if I join you at finding better things to do?"

The Master Fire Bender shot him a severely annoyed look, but it had no affect on the warrior. He simply just looked at her with a smile in his eye and a grin on his face. She glared at him but didn't stop him walking beside her. He stepped closer to her and pointed ahead.

"Look at that game, what do you think it is?"

"It's called Volley Ball. It's a boring game because no one is good enough to be a worthy opponent. They couldn't put up much of a fight."

Sokka smirked at her and rubbed his chin thoughtfully, "Well when your opponent is such a strong and powerful woman like you, I wouldn't guess they would even try to put up a fight. Most people can be expected to be beaten before they even begin."

Azula was surprised but didn't show any emotion. Well, at least he knew a little about strategizing and reading his enemies. She gave him that much credit.

"At least you understand power and defeat. Too many people think they have a chance because they believe in hope. Well, hope get's them no where. You either win or you don't, it's just that simple."

Sokka raised a hand in disagreement, keeping a subtle expression on his handsome features, "Well they have to have something. Hope can be the fine line between winning and losing. Having no hope can be their immediate defeat where as having lots of hope can give them the strength to carry on. And sometimes, hope can be that which prolongs the inevitable."

"The inevitable meaning their torture and suffering. In my country, some of us are born knowing whether they are winners or losers. Having that knowledge alone can be the deciding factor in a competition."

The warrior smiled slyly. He knew he was beginning to get her to come around and loosen up. All he had to do was find something she was interested in and engage the conversation.

"Oh? Then what happens if two winners come together? If they both have won their entire lives, then what happens when they fight one another."

Azula answered without missing a beat. "Then they BOTH lose. If they were true-born winners then they will fight to the death, they will kill each other regardless. And then we would all know they were losers the entire time."

"So you're saying one just can't defeat the other? That they have to keep fighting until they can't fight anymore? I could see that weeding out the weak, but it also kills off the strong. Sounds like the Fire Nation doesn't have much of a Population."

For a split second, the water tribesman glimpsed Azula smile. It was glorious.

"If they were foolish enough to kill each other off then they deserved their demise. They treated each as equals, not as winners or losers. A winner gains the upper hand from the very start, and the loser surrenders before they are taken out. But even Animals don't play fair, so there should be no reason for us to do the same, and anyone thinking like that in our nation is either Royalty, or doesn't belong."

Sokka went to retort but Azula interrupted him. She sighted her brother sitting beside Katara, talking to a group of people.

"Zuko, you left so early today, you never told me you were going to a party. My my, how could you leave your little sister behind, all alone at home while you enjoy the company of friends?"

The Fire Prince looked up in confusion at his sister and raised an eyebrow.

"You wouldn't talk to me at all yesterday and this morning Azula. I figured you wanted your space and I respected that wish for you. But I'm glad to see you came here."

Both Fire siblings narrowed their eyes at each other, identical grins gracing their faces. Sokka noted the game they were beginning to play and thought back to what Azula said only a minute earlier. He stepped in casually, trying to distract them.

"Well hey since we're all here, how about we er...enjoy the beach? C'mon there's plenty to do."

He put an arm behind Azula, trying to usher her away without actually touching her. He gave up trying to passively break away the dead stare between the two fire benders. He wrapped his arm across Azula's bare lower back, feeling it feverish against his flesh. He grimaced a bit but kept it there as he walked the girl away from her brother.

She stayed her glare at Zuko for a few steps before realizing Sokka had his arm around her. She had a vision of hitting him in the side and sending him flying away, but didn't move. This boy was far too brave. He had her at his side and he seemed to be enjoying it! Azula never experienced anything like this before. She had the complete attention of someone who showed no fear. She didn't know what to think, what to be prepared for.

Azula looked up at Sokka who was smiling at her. His eyes were bright and clear-blue. A tint of pink suffused his cheeks. She never blinked at him, crossing her arms and breathing deeply, setting her blazing stare on him now. The young warrior only then realized he had been holding her close. He loosened his hand from her side and went to pull away but the Fire Princess stilled his hand.

"What are you doing? Did I say you could remove your arm?"

Sokka gulped but smiled, putting his arm back around her.

"I'm sorry, I hadn't realized..."

Azula raised her chin high, a malicious glint shining through her slight smile.

"Aren't you going to be a gentleman and escort a young girl around?"

The warrior nodded, holding her tight to him. They walked through the sands, exploring the beach.

.

.

Zuko looked down the shore line, disbelief written all over his face. Katara looked up at him in confusion.

"What's the matter Zuko?"

The Fire Price curled his mouth up in a smile, brows pinched together. Azula was held close at Sokka's right side as they walked, and the guy was still alive! Maybe something WAS the matter? Zuko shrugged and looked back at Katara.

"Nothing...nothing's wrong. Nothing at all."

Author'sNotes: I know I left you all on a dangling edge, but I reckon it would be worth the next chapter. ;) not much happened in this one, even though I wanted to continue on but this bloody document saver would cut the chapter in half at all the good parts. Bare with me mates, I promise something good will be coming soon. ~ Artex