Hot evening air was blowing against her cheeks with full force, letting the tropical smells of after rain flora mingle with the ever present salty scent of the ocean.

Holding onto the roomy leather saddle for dear life, Katara screamed and laughed with something between fear, exhilaration and delight, her friends in a similar state as Aang let Appa ascend more and more, the setting sun a crimson orb in a world of orange skies and pink, fluffy clouds of all sizes and shapes.

The higher they went, the faster they seemed to be flying. Katara loved the feeling of the wind ruffling her locks, blowing them out of her face.

Then, when she didn't think they could possibly go any faster, Appa halted abruptly. Suki and herself couldn't stop giggling like a bunch of pre-schoolers, Toph was simply panting, eyes wide, her hand in Sokka's.

"Tui and La, Aang! You wanna kill us or something?!", was Sokka's manly reaction.

"Yeah man, I thought I saw my freaking life flash before my eyes!", Zuko joined in.

"Must've been nice.", Katara couldn't help mumbling as she came out of her fit, still practically in the Kyoshi warrior's arms.

Katara heard Aang apologizing unconvincingly in the background as Zuko gave her an indignant look.

"Katara, that is not funny.", he announced, his face a careful mask of stone. Katara giggled.

"Yeah, it is.", she replied.

The corner of his mouth twitched traitorously.

"Apologize."

"Nope."

"Then I'll make you!"

Without warning, Katara was engulfed in the tickling battle of the year, Suki having miraculously disappeared beside her.

Each of the Gaang was cheering for either Zuko or her (accept for Aang; he refrained from choosing a side in his evasive Aang way), even Appa gave a grunt (though she was not sure for whom he was cheering.) She was laughing so hard her belly hurt, trying to find a spot that would make the firebender surrender.

The others kept calling out suggestions for both of them:

"Katara, his foot!" That was Suki.

"Her neck, dude!", how she sometimes hated her brother, because that was exactly the spot-

In a matter of seconds, her vision was blurred with tears of mirth. She tried wiggling herself free from his cursed pale fingers, but to no avail: he had a very firm grip. Her voice hoarse after all the laughing, she at last admited defeat.

"Stop! Ahahaha-Please! I'm sorry! ZUKO!"

Finally, he relented, receiving cheers from his supporters (Toph and Sokka, that traitor) and unconvincing "Boo"s from the opposition (Suki). Aang pointedly cheered for the both of them.

"I will beat you next time.", she announced darkly, locking eyes with her sworn tickle-enemy and earning a mock impressed "Uhhhh!" from Toph.

Zuko chuckled, honey eyes twinkling.

"Hey guys! Check out this view!" Aang called out.

"Breathtaking.", Toph commented dryly as the others looked down to where the Avatar was pointing.

"Oh, right, sorry, Toph.", he replied sheepishly.

It really was amazing. Their-or Zuko's-summer residence looked like nothing more than a doll house from this hight, far less impressive than when Katara had first stood before the intricately designed royal mansion.

The sand beach surrounded the endless pool that was the ocean like a shallow half moon, the stone steps leading down to it from the house little thicker than a thread of wool.

Palm trees and blooming hibiscus shrubs were reduced to little pot herbs all of a sudden, the last beams of sun engulfing this toylike world in a beautiful glow of crimson an violet.

If Katara hadn't known better, she would have said she was gazing down at a painting.

Katara looked around at her gaping friends (well, except for Toph of course, but the earthbender seemed to be content enough with the general atmosphere).

It was one of those moment she could have stayed in forever.

Not sure about the title for this one. Any ideas?