Authors Note: OH MY! I have 50 reviews! Thank you to all my reviewers! I have to warn you Azula is really OOC. Anyway Enjoy!
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Azula's POV
I'm in my room preparing for the festival. But I'm having a horrible time figuring out what to wear and do with my hair and I have no idea what to do. Should I wear my armor or a robe? Should I leave my hair up or down? I have no idea what Sokka likes!!!!! If my father saw me now he'd be ashamed of my worrying over a boy.
As I pace my room only in my nightgown from the previous night I hear a light knock at my door.
"Who is it?" I yell at the person who is interrupting me in my crisis.
"It's me." Katara say as she walks in the room also in her nightgown.
"I don't mean to interrupt you but this is my first Fire Nation Festival and I have no idea what you wear to these things. I mean the ball was easy I wore a robe. But do I wear a robe or my training clothes? If I do wear a robe what length?" Katara says pacing while ranting her problems.
As I listen to her rant I realize that we could both be of help to the other one. But would she accept my offer?
"Katara?" I say smirking.
"Yes?" She says stopping her rant to look at me.
"I was having a very similar problem. I don't know what to wear when I go with your brother to the Festival. If you help me get ready for your brother I'll help you get ready for the festival. What do you think?" I seem so nice but in my situation if you liked a guy as long as I have and he decides to take you some place you'll do anything. Even barter with his sister.
"Alright. Let's start with you." Katara say smiling as she walks over to my closet.
"Why don't I pick something out while you take a bath?" Katara says.
I nod at a loss for words that she could be this kind to me after all of the things I did and said to her throughout the years. I move in to the washroom and take a long warm bath as I step out I wrap a towel tightly around my body and place a bath robe over it. When I step out of the room I see Katara has chosen a light red robe with little orange flowers and an orange sash. I watch as she walks over to me hands me the robe.
"Sokka would like you in this." She says smiling.
"Now you go get dressed while I get something in my room." She says running out as I get dressed.
When I walk out I can see Katara holding an orange flower. I watch as she breaks the flower off of the stem and places some water on it the flower freezing it on the petals. As she hands me the flower I examine it. The flower looks as though she just plucked it out of the newly fallen rain except this rain is stuck on the petals. I walk over to my mirror and sit at my stool.
"I don't mean to offend you but would you mind taking that little crown out of your hair." Katara asks nervously.
"Okay." I say as I take it out placing it on my dresser.
I place the flower where the crown. When Katara is done I look in to the mirror and for once I look normal and free. The robe Katara chose is made out of a simple silk and reaches to a little bit above my ankles. I amazed at how different I feel and look and I could only say two words. Words I never thought I'd ever utter to anyone.
"Thank you." I whisper as I turn around and look at Katara.
"Your welcome." She says as she smiles.
I continue standing their until I realize I have yet to help Katara. After all she had helped me with my appearance.
"I think it's my turn to help you." I say smiling as I walk in to her room.
I head directly to her closet and through it open. I know not only was her plea to find a robe for the Festival but for one that would attract Zuko. I look in closet and realize that she has nothing I could use. Until I realize a dress my mother bought for me when she visited the Water Nation. I quickly walk back in to my room and grab the dress that has remained in the back of my closet for months and return to her room.
"This dress I have never worn but my mother bought it for me on her vacation to the Water Nation. I don't look very good in this color if you want it you can have it after the Festival too." I say holding up the dress.
"Oh I love it. Are you sure?" She asks grabbing the dress form me.
"I would never have worn it anyway. It's such a waste to have it hang in my closet collecting dust." I say waving my hand.
"I'll go put it on right now." She says running in to her dressing room.
As she gets dressed I find a head band that matches the dress perfectly. When she comes out I immediately instruct her to sit on her stool. I then release her hair form its braid and tell her to comb it out as I go to retrieve her head wrap. When I come back she put the head band in and we are ready. Although before we leave Katara put a necklace in that she wears everyday.
"Why do wear that all the time?" I ask curious of her answer.
"My mother died in a Fire Nation raid. When she died this was all I got. I guess I wear it all the time so that I feel like I have a little piece of her every where I go." She replies looking down.
I can see that was hard for her and I'm trying to be nice and shouldn't have pried. Since I know that about her I feel that she should now something about me and I decide to tell her something I have kept secret from everyone else.
"I wear my father's ring when I sleep. It was his wedding ring. I sometimes feel closer to him when I wear it so I understand how you feel with your mother's necklace. Although sometimes I only wear it because I feel like he's the only one who will accept me. My mother doesn't care and I don't have my friends since Ty Lee and Mai moved." I say but as soon as I finish the statement I couldn't believe I had just said that. I was actually being nice and it felt good. It was so easy to talk to Katara. I felt I could trust her and I had never done that with anyone else since my father.
"That's not true your mother adores you and would love to spend time with you. You also have Uncle, Zuko, sokka, and me. Your not alone, Azula. You can be happy just when you realize you like it don't hide it by hurting people or being angry. Don't be what anyone want's you to be. Be Azula." Katara says.
As we stand next to each other looking in the full length mirror. I can see Katara truly meant what she said and it was time for me to stop being what my father wanted me to be and start being Azula.
"Do you think we are over dressed?" Katara says looking at herself in the mirror.
"At any Fire Nation event you are never over dressed. Believe me you will see plenty of people walking around in fancy robes." I say.
"Katara and Azula it's time for the Festival." My mother alerts.
"Coming!" I yell.
"Time for the Festival." Katara says as she begins her walk down the stairs with me not far behind.
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Zuko's POV
I watch as Katara makes her way down the stairs. She is dressed in a dark blue robe the color of the night Sky with a snow white sash embroidered with snowflakes made out of dark blue thread. The robe only reaches to her knees and her long sultry legs are being shown off. Her hair is down and she has a white headband with the Water Nation insignia embroidered on it. On her feet she is wearing a new kind of shoe called a sandal- high heel which elevates her two inches. The effect she has on me feels like some on is shooting lightning up my spine and I shiver and this.
"You look amazing." I stutter. As she walks up I almost for get to give her the flower I was holding. I hand her the flower and watch as she smiles as sniffs the flower. When she looks up she kisses me on the check and I can smell her sweet scent. I will definitely have to thank my uncle for suggesting to give her a flower.
"Thank you." She whispers in my ear as she pulls away. I hold my arm out waiting for her to accept as she interlocks her arm with mine and as we make our way to the Festival.
"No! You are not wearing that out in pub" Sokka says about Katara's outfit.
"Sokka look." Katara says cutting off Sokka and pointing to the stairs.
I watch as Sokka turns around and his mouth drops at the sight of my sister. I have to admit my sister looks happy. The expression on her face is one I've never seen before as she sees Sokka waiting at the bottom of the stairs. As she walks over to him Katara giggles for Sokka looks like he will faint. Azula hooks her arm through his and he immediately snaps back in to reality.
"Great job lover boy." Katara says as we exit the palace and meet my mother and Uncle who are waiting outside and head to the Festival.
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Sokka's POV
"You look beautiful." I say practically drooling over Azula. I look at her expression and see that she I was not ready for that compliment and has light blush she is trying to hide.
To change the subject and begin the fun I promised I lead her over to a food stand.
"Welcome Princess and Sir." The food vendor says tipping his hat.
"What can I get you?" He asks.
Knowing Azula may never have ordered Festival food I order for her.
"We'd like two Fire Nation Flame cottons." I say.
"Coming right up." Says the vendor as I hand him two coins as he hands us the treat.
I watch as Azula examines the Festival food and pulls a piece off as if testing it. I see her mouth tips curl up a little as she begins eating the delicacy.
"It looks a little strange but tastes good." She says continuing to eat it.
"It is good. I'm kind of an expert on food." I say.
"I know. What's that food?" She says as she walks over too it after finishing her snack. I couldn't help but smile she liked food as much as I do.
"You're perfect." I say mumbling lost in my thoughts.
"What?" She says.
After realizes what I just said I say nothing and continue our food search.
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Zuko's POV
Katara and I had wondered off in our own direction after Uncle and mom decided to check out the Festival shopping. We were currently in the animal area and I saw Katara looking at the animals with a sad look on her face.
"What's wrong?" I ask walking over to her.
"Those turtle ducks should be free. Not confined to a little patch of land and a puddle." Katara states watching the mother leading her Baby turtle ducks around there small area. I had to agree with Katara they didn't belong here.
"I have a plan." I say walking up to the person who owns the turtle duck family.
"Zuko what are you doing!" Katara says as I approach the owner.
"How much for the Turtle ducks?" I ask.
"Their not for sale. There the biggest attraction here." He says defiantly.
"Well to bad." I say as I slap a couple of coins in his hand and grab a basket from a nearby vendor dropping a coin for it as I make my way to Katara.
"Grab them quickly." I say.
"What did you do Zuko?" She says as we place the turtle ducks in the basket. I can see the owner running through the crowd.
"Don't worry but we have to get to the palace quick." I say grabbing her hand and running as she holds onto the Basket full of quacking turtle ducks.
I hold on tightly to Katara as we weave our way through crowds of people, Vendors and merchants. I can hear the owner yelling at us through the crowds. As I can tell by his voice he's not far behind. I know we can make a run for it as I pick up speed Katara doing the same and make it through the Palace gates as they close behind us. I stand there heaving as I look over to Katara holding on to the basket tightly, her chest heaving as well.
"Come on." I say grabbing her hand as we walk to my destination my Mother's garden.
"What are we doing here?" Katara asks as I take the basket from her and sit at the edge of the pond."
"Releasing the turtle ducks." I say as I begin taking them out of the basket. I look up and see her walking over to help me take them out of the basket. I watch as a baby turtle duck has gotten stuck on the edge of the pond and Katara quickly grabs it and places it in the water. When all of them are out we watch as the baby's follow their mom around swimming happily in the pond. But a baby has trailed off and it swims over to Katara and quacks happily. Her face lights up at this and she pets the turtle duck as it leaves and returns to its mother.
"I think they like it here." Katara says looking over at me.
"So do I." I say smiling as I place an arm around Katara and I sit there in complete silence with only the sounds of quacking turtle ducks.
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Azula's POV
"Thank you." I whisper quietly to Sokka.
"Your welcome." Sokka replies.
"You showed me how to have fun. I could never repay you for that." I say looking down.
"There is one thing." Sokka says as he lifts my chin up and places his lips upon mine. I am shocked at first but soon recover and lightly move my lips against his. The kiss soon ends as he pulls away.
"Goodnight Sokka." I say walking up the stairs.
"Goodnight Azula." I hear him say as I slowly close my door. As I hear the click of my lock I place my fingertips to my lips. My first Kiss. That night I slept with a smile on my face and with out my father's ring.
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Authors Note: I hope you liked it! I really wanted to try and establish Sokka and Azula this chapter and try and connect Azula and Katara a little. There going to need it. Anyway I hope it was okay! REVIEW!