Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender or any other characters or outline plot to this story. It is the sole property of Mike and Brian and the company Nickelodeon. I am satisfied just using their base for my lovely rendition.

Chapter 1

He left the war meeting with a bad taste in his mouth. His hands were finally starting to dry from their clammy state, and his face hurt from holding a bland expression for too long. He sighed once he was out of sight and found himself walking down a new corridor. He stopped when he realized where he was headed.

His mother's favorite room was just up ahead. He stood stonily in front of an appliquéd tapestry work of Lord Sozai. He looked over the work, trying to busy his mind away from his mother, and he realized how much he was becoming like him.

He had found out only days earlier that Avatar Roku was his Great Grandfather and that Roku and Sozai, being so close, made very different decisions in their later years. He hunted the Avatar, didn't trust anyone, and wished to gain power. He was becoming something he didn't know. His mother would have been disappointed. He bowed his head, a scowl worn on his face and he clasped the end of his Fire Nation robe sleeves.

He removed the topknot and allowed his hair to fall, becoming a mess instantly. He punched the wall, next to the tapestry.

"I must say, Zu-zu, you certainly put on a good show," Azula said with a bored look, but a smug smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. Her arms were smugly crossed in front of her chest.

Zuko turned his face away from the voice. "Leave me alone."

"Alright Zu-zu, no need to get all upset. Father was proud of you today. You were at his right hand. I must admit, I was almost jealous." She cajoled Zuko, knowing how to twist and turn things to favor her in the long run.

She was very manipulative, and she knew it. She loved it.

"Yeah, well, I hope Father was happy." He lied. There were so many times during that meeting where Zuko really wished to speak up, give his own opinion. Every time his mouth was open to speak, his scar would burn, and he would be reminded of what happened not so long ago. The last time he had given his opinion during a conference.

No, I want Father to be proud. Just be quiet and listen, he had told himself over and over again. His fists were clenched by the end, losing feeling in his fingers. Now, he stared at those hands as Azula sauntered into the dimly lit corridor, disappearing.

"Hey, you okay?" This voice, though soft and the words should have held comfort, did nothing to ease Zuko. No feeling was felt behind those words. No love, compassion, feeling.

Zuko turned dejectedly towards Mai. "I'm fine, okay?! Why does everyone keep treating me like some child! Just leave me alone."

He grimaced at the fact that he lost his temper once again with Mai, and was now attempting to storm off. Something made him want Mai to stop him. Run after him, chase him, call out to him, grab him. Done something to make him know that Mai cared even an ounce for him, more than just caring for only herself.

He walked in silence, only his falling footsteps made noise as each new step fell in the dark hall. He didn't even realize he had made it to the courtyard until warmth poured over him from the sunlight that filtered in through the trees. As he surveyed the area, slow in bringing his head from one side to the next, he heard soft laughter of children, echoes of his memory.

"Hey there slow poke."

He smiled, remembering Ty Lee's words that made him drive harder in running. Those words always made him strive to be better, giving him that extra push.

"Zuko, did you hear me?"

"Huh?" Zuko had been in his own world, and didn't realize that there was someone trying to talk to him. He looked around, not finding anyone until the voice directed him down and there he saw her.

Lying on her front with both feet up over her head, her toes just barely touching her hair, he saw Ty Lee grinning widely. "Hey there, slow poke."

She hadn't called him that in years. Maybe it was something about them both being in the courtyard that brought those old traditions back. "Don't call me that. Besides, I'm not that slow anymore."

"Oh, really? You think you can beat me, Zuko," she asked, a grin still spread into her cheeks. She rolled her legs around and pushed off the ground with ease to stabilize herself onto her feet. She stretched her arms over her head before letting them rest behind her back and walked up to Zuko casually. She came so close to him that Zuko literally felt the need to lean away. She leaned forward to match him.

"Want to make a bet?"

Her eyes were searching as they stared at Zuko, waiting for the response that would be given. Zuko asked curiously, "What kind of bet?"

"I'll race you. The normal path. Down this corridor, up through the front of the palace and then back through this corridor and make the grass the finish. You remember this, don't you Zuko?" She looked at Zuko, smile still in place as Zuko nodded his head. "So, have we got a deal?"

"I don't need to prove myself to you or anybody else. Why should I race you?!" He was acting stubborn as always, looking to pick a fight. He wasn't in the mood to deal with bubbly Ty Lee. But, something made him not walk away. Maybe it was that she was bringing him back some good memories from his past.

Ty Lee simply shrugged her shoulders and shook her head, replying with, "There is no reason to race me. None at all. Unless.. You're afraid of losing to a girl."

That was the key that unlocked Zuko. That was what got Zuko's game face on, and she knew it. She was brimming with happiness as he removed his outer robes. Zuko wished to show everyone that he was able to win. Prove something to everyone. To himself.

Ty Lee was stretching her legs when she brought a finger to her cheek in thought. "Just one other thing, Zuko. If I win, you need to tell me what's wrong with you today, if you win, I will leave you alone. Okay?"

Zuko didn't like this last request, but he was so confident in winning, he nodded his head in agreement. "Alright."

They stood next to each other, both in a racers stance as they prepared to push off into a run at any moment. Ty Lee spoke, "Okay, here we go. On your mark, get set…"

Ty Lee pushed off with her back leg and was off down the hall, leaving a perturbed and bewildered Zuko in her wake.

"Hey," Zuko called out enraged. "That's not fair!"

He pushed off as well and sprinted into a run to catch up with the high-paced girl. He watched her braid swing from one shoulder to the other in the rhythm of her steps. He yelled out again. "You started running before me. How is this a fair race?!"

"You sound exactly like you did when we were younger Zuko," she said cheerfully through heavy breaths. "And, who said anything about the race being fair?"

She stole a glance behind her to see the shocked look on Zuko's face that she didn't want to miss. She smiled even wider and broke into a faster pace, trying to lose him. But, Zuko recovered quickly from her comment, and pushed himself harder down the hall.

They ran down one hall until the hall ended with a curve and a new one would be starting. Ty Lee used her flexibility to slingshot herself around the corner by doing a handspring and pushing herself off the one wall with her feet, catapulting into a straight away after.

Zuko stared after her in awe. She was really quick and strategic in her planning. He wasn't about to give up now though. He ran without thinking about anything else and they were reaching the outside. They were headed towards the front of the palace and into the open. There were some straggling villagers meandering around the palace gates and a man with a cart. The cart was directly in front of where they needed to go, and going around it would cost time.

Ty Lee and Zuko both look determined in coming closer to it. Many turned to see what the commotion was about and the old thin man with the cart turned to see both Ty Lee and Zuko coming towards him fast. His eyes went wide with surprise and he pushed his back up against his cart.

Ty Lee reached the cart first and jumped in the air, right before the man. Her legs went into a split in mid-air and Zuko gawked for a moment as she slid between the canapé top and the produce, making a smooth exit as she gracefully touch the ground.

It was now Zuko's turn as he came pounding towards the cart. The man clung to his cart, not wishing for any harm to come to it. Zuko slid down as if he were sliding into home plate. He leaned back as he slid under the cart, effortlessly, and was quick to pull himself back to his feet, keeping his pace.

The man man waited for the crash, but one didn't come. Finally, willing himself to open his eyes, he saw them running with their backs to him. He breathed out a sigh of relief while regaining his composure. He turned just in time to see a stampeded approaching. Love-struck girls came pounding closer to his cart and the man dodged away from the cart just in time.

BOOM! CRASH!

Mixed with the produce and broken wood were multiple stunned girls still calling out for Zuko. The old man looked on in horror yelling out from the sidelines.

"MY CABBAGES!"

Ty Lee looked back and laughed, noticing the pile of destruction that they left in their wake. But, she didn't see Zuko. Did he get stuck in that, she wondered.

"What's wrong? Looking for someone?" Ty Lee whipped her head to her left to see Zuko keeping up with her. He wore a proud look.

Ty Lee smiled back. They touched the halfway mark at the same time and started making their way back towards the palace. Through the rest of the race they were at a dead heat. Both determined to win, both fighting off fatigued and exhaustion. Ty Lee had pulled off some tough moves, and she was surprised to see Zuko pulling them off with her.

They were rounding the last corner and passing a few maids. Ty Lee dashed forward, making their dresses rise slightly. They both gasped and tried to hold down the dresses that rose up, but the damage was already done, and that was enough to distract Zuko for a split second. That was all she needed.

She laughed as she sped into the courtyard, Zuko on her tail. She jumped as she made it to the soft bouncy grass, and rolled until she was on her back. She was followed by Zuko who held onto his knees and breathed heavily. He tried to regain his breath while standing as Ty Lee lay on the ground, staring up at the sky.

Finally succumbing to gravity and exhaustion that pulled on his body, he collapsed onto the ground next to Ty Lee. He rolled over until he was on his back too. His pride had been hurt. He had lost to her. A Girl.

He covered his face, trying to hide the defeat he felt. She spoke through labored breathing. "You were really close Zuko. I was actually surprised by it. I mean, I know you had to have gotten better since we were kids but, speed and agility was always my thing. You probably would have won, if those girls hadn't been there to distract you."

Zuko blushed through his already red cheeks. "I wasn't distracted. I lost my footing was all."

Ty Lee hummed. She wore a knowing smile. She closed her eyes and allowed her breathing to return back to normal. "So, you have to tell me what's been bugging you!"

She turned towards Zuko expectantly, but Zuko didn't know what she was talking about. Her smile faltered a little. "Don't you remember Zuko? You agreed that if I won you would have to tell me why you're so grumpy today. Rules are rules, right?"

Zuko cringed. He had forgotten about that. He had been so sure that he would win that he completely pushed the agreement from his mind. He sat up abruptly.

He stared at his hands. "I don't feel like talking about it. You're not my mother. I don't need to confide in you. I didn't even say anything to Mai, so why would I tell you?"

He was digging, trying to push her away. The only response he received from Ty Lee though, was a surprise to him. A smile followed by a calm soft voice. "You're right. I'm not your mom. I can't pat you on the head, and treat you like she did. She was like a second mom to me, sometimes more of a mom than mine. I got treated kindly, always had her attention when we talked. She offered to braid my hair on more than one occasion and I respected her. I miss her too Zuko. No one can replace her."

"You don't understand how I feel. You still have a mom. You could never know."

"Oh, you mean the Mother with five other girls that look just like me?" She said it in a calm way with a smile. She held no hatred or anger over being overlooked or side-plated by her own Mother. "She's busy. I understand that. When I left for the circus, they told me not to expect them to acknowledge that fact or accept things like that. It was only my friendship with Azula and you that I was welcomed back."

She stared at her hands, trying to hold that soft carefree smile. "Zuko, be happy for the times you did have your Mother, and learn from your times with her. Don't shut those times out. You'll regret it later."

Zuko stared at Ty Lee, feeling as if they were transported back in time. A time when everything that had happened after them being ten was non-existent to them. Carefree and no responsibilities.

Zuko smiled and Ty Lee beamed her usual one. Dirty hands and shirts, toothy grins, and ambition in their eyes. Don't change.

He pushed himself back to the present. "I have to go. I'm not feeling well. I'm going to go to my room."

"But, Zuko, you didn't tell me-," Ty Lee started, but Zuko was quick to talk over her.

"I'll tell you about it later. It's really nothing," he turned and gave her a light smile. "I promise."

Ty Lee was left sitting on the cold grass, the wind pulling at the loose hairs that had come undone from her long braid. The ever present smile missing as two words left her lips, barely audible over the winds howl. "Don't promise."

A/N: So, I was so excited about this story, that I had to write the first chapter today. And, here it is! YAY! There aren't a lot of TyLuko, or ZuLee or Tyko, however you want to say it!, stories. I hope this will become a nice addition to the small fanbase.

If there is anything done wrong, including, but not limited to spelling and grammar mistakes. Thanks for reading and please respond!