Ashayna walked quietly through the awakening streets of Ba Sing Se. The sun couldn't be seen over the wall, but the sky was a deep pink, letting the inhabitants of the city know that it was time to awake and start their day.
The young girl thought as she walked. She hadn't slept a wink since she left the palace and her best friend. Zuko had changed a lot. She remembered when he used to the be the charismatic little boy that wanted what was best for his country. Now he seemed more sullen, more selfish, and more lonely. Ashayna shook her head. She had a lot of work to do.
Noticing a small stand to one side of the street, Ashayna got an idea. A perfect idea for her and Zuko today.
Zuko stood on the outskirts of the palace, in the prearranged spot where he was going to meet Ashayna for their day out. His night was haunted by nightmares, ones that had plagued him since his illness. But last night a new factor was thrown into his nightmare: Ashayna. Zuko wasn't sure what to think about her sudden appearance, but he was happy for the daily distraction to get his mind off his uncle and the Avatar.
The young prince noticed a small bush a couple feet away. After shuffling over, Zuko bent over to examine the flowers on it. Just as he thought, a Jasmine Lily. A sharp pain hit his chest as he remembered that it was his uncle's favorite flower, as well as Ashayna's. He reached out. Maybe a flower for her to start the day off right.
"Zuko?" came a question behind him. Zuko stood up stiffly and turned around to the mocking stare of Azula. "What on earth were you doing?" she snapped impatiently, with an accusing smirk.
Her older brother scowled. "Nothing," he muttered, silently praying that Ashayna would not show up with Azula here. It would be a disaster.
"Well I can't have you sitting around doing 'nothing' all day! I need your help. If you want father's approval when we get back, you're going to have to do some work around here."
"Whatever you say Azula," Zuko muttered.
Zuko's little sister smirked. "That's right. Whatever I say. I think you and I will get along better from now on." With that remark, she turned around, talking over her shoulder to remind Zuko to be up in the palace soon. She soon disappeared into the palace.
But as he looked at her back, Zuko had an increasingly weird urging to stab her in it.
Ashayna found Zuko standing glumly against the palace walls. She approached him with a smile, a habit of hers. Zuko nodded in recognition.
"Not even a smile or "hey?" Things must be bad," she thought to herself.
Zuko eyed the package in her hand. At least his curiosity was still in tact. Ashayna pulled out the box from her basket. "I found something that may surprise you," she said in hushed tones. She really wasn't sure how Zuko would react to it.
The young prince eyed her suspiciously as he took it tenderly into his hands. Ashayna watched his expression as he removed the wrapping, recognizing the object immediately.
"Shay…Where in the name of the Fire Lord did you find this?" Zuko rasped quietly. His eyes locked questioningly onto Ashayna's. He looked like he was going to cry.
"I thought you might like it," she whispered.