Disclaimer: Do not own AtLA. Recreational purposes only. Respect the Vatar'd.

Warning: Nothing particularly.

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Fire Lanterns

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Ursa frowned, hearing her daughter address her elders in such a manner. The little girl just barely came up to Lo and Li's identically robed waists, Azula stomped a small boot, her antics almost comical, dressed in nothing but her underwrappings.

"I don't like it! I told you I don't like it! Why are you trying to deferate me?!" Her shrill little voice shrieked out, she pointed a thumb to her bare chest, kicking at the dress she'd discarded. Ursa was sure Azula didn't even know the meaning of the word 'deferate', she'd probably been listening in on war meetings again. Ursa sighed heavily, laying a hand against the entryway to the girl's room. Her youngest child was always making trouble. She couldn't recall Zuko acting this way.

"Princess Azula, perhaps you would", Li began and Lo completed the statement, "enjoy staying in your room instead." It sounded like a warning on both their tongues.

The girl scowled, falling back onto her bed, the thick sheets enveloping her scrawny divested frame. "Yeah, maybe!" Adding under her breath, though Ursa caught the words, "Lanterns are stupid."

Ursa's grip on the metal door frame tightened, she'd hoped Azula would enjoy accompanying herself and Zuko down to the riverside for the lantern festival. She'd always liked it before, but Azula had stomped away from her, ignoring her mother's questioning. All Ursa had done was compliment her daughter on her evening dress,

"My, don't we look lovely tonight?"

Azula sighed, she rolled her eyes, seemingly exasperated by the words fed to her, "Yessss." Ursa wasn't fooled, she saw how Azula thrust her head higher, pride emanating off of her in undeviating waves.

Zuko ran past them, eager to reach the palace doors where the palanquin awaited them in the dimly lit night.

"And what about Zuko?" Ursa continued, smiling she held her hand out to her daughter, brushing her arm expectantly.

Azula's brow overtly darkened, she jerked away, "What about him?"

"Be that as it may, you must hurry and dress--"

"--your mother will be awaiting your arrival."

Azula turned her head away from them, her round eyes scrutinized the doorway, spotting her silent audience. The little princess screwed her face into a frown . "So?"

Angered, Ursa took measured steps forward, her daughter shrunk back momentarily, but recovered in an instant, huffing out her chest and deepening her glare. "Azula, listen to your elders. Get dressed this instant, young lady." Ursa lowered her brows, glowering over the girls bed. Why did she always have to be so strict on the girl? Couldn't she behave for once? Ursa waited impatiently as her daughter sized her up.

"I don't want to go with you." Azula propped herself on sharp elbows, her amber eyes narrowed.

Ursa's pursed lips parted, her stern composure lost. Her daughter seemed so angry, but she couldn't recall doing anything to upset her.

She kept her voice steady, hiding her clenched fists in her long scarlet sleeves. "Very well, Azula. If you don't wish to go, I certainly won't make you."

Azula turned away quickly, her back to her mother. "Good."

Ursa blinked, embittered by the girls retort. "Fine."

"That's great. Bye-bye!" Azula turned onto her stomach, her tiny fists clenched to either side of her, massing the scarlet sheets, ridges originated from her palms indentions, thick curls spreading across the silk, Azula enshrouded in flames. Ursa shook the thought from her mind.

Her daughter's appointed guardians, stood silently watching mother and daughter, Ursa nodded regally, her words were slowed in attempt to conceal her wearing discomfiture, "Please be sure Azula eats all her vegetables this evening at dinner." More for her own benefit than her daughter's, she added, "I wish for her to grow into a fine young lady." The diminutive, slopped frame gave no response.

Ursa did not bid her daughter good night. The following morning, Ozai informed her that Azula had conceived fire. "She is a firebender."

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A/N: To be cont. Eventually.

Ah, so many questions, and Ursa's apparently clueless.