A/N: Little shorter this time. Hope you enjoy it regardless. =)

14 years old

"I believe that you measure yourself
by the people that measure themselves by you."
-The Bucket List

Chapter 4 - Power

"You have to do it like this."

"Don't tell me how to do it…I'm older than you."

"But I'm more in control."

"But I'm more powerful."

"Power is overrated."

Ozai dropped his stance and laughed, the odd sound only occurring whenever he was around her. He glanced to the girl on his right and Ursa flashed a mischievous smile back.

They were currently in the gardens of the royal palace, overlooking the ponds with turtle-ducks bathing in the summer light. Ozai thought it was a miracle he had managed to drag Ursa away from them to train with him. He had showed her the palace nearly a year ago, boasting on the grand and luxurious home embroidered with gold and marble. His bed chamber was nearly the size of her entire first floor in her home and she was quite impressed with the sheer vastness of the palace. But what interested her most? Not the Agni Kai arena or the ballroom fit for five hundred people or even the library with over two thousand books…but the turtle-ducks.

The turtle-ducks in the garden's ponds.

Ozai didn't understand why she loved them so much. He had been a little leery of those creatures ever since he was about five, when he decided it was important to know exactly how fast they could run on land. He lit fire behind them to test their speed, which in turn didn't go over well with the turtle-ducks mother or Lady Sanyu for the matter. He had at least ten welts and bite marks all over his body and a harsh verbal beating from his caretaker.

He'd never forget that memory.

"Power gives you voice though," Ozai argued, taking a seat in the soft grass. "It gives you honor and respect."

"No it doesn't," replied Ursa, dropping down beside him. She twisted part of her hair into a messy knot, letting the rest fall perfectly straight. "Honor and respect aren't defined by power, Ozai. They're defined by you."

"Not to my father," he said darkly. "Look at my brother. He's powerful, honorable, and respected. Did you know he learned to generate lightning?" His face fell slightly and he sighed. "I'll never beat him now."

Ursa chuckled. "Iroh is twelve years older than you; of course you can't beat him. You can't beat me and I'm a year younger than you!"

Ozai glanced at her incredulously. "I take it easy on you because you're a girl! It would be dishonorable to beat you."

Her chuckle broke into a fit of laughter. "Okay Ozai. If it makes you feel better keep thinking that way."

"Just because your fire is blue now doesn't make you better than me," he replied, scrunching his face in anger.

"I never said it did," she said, frowning. "I don't know why my fire is blue."

"Because it's hotter than normal fire. Because you're actually more powerful than you let yourself be."

She shrugged, twisting a blade of grass between her fingers. "Power isn't enough, Ozai. It doesn't mean anything to me."

He said nothing, silently disagreeing. Power meant everything to him. If he was powerful like his brother, maybe…just maybe, he'd be worthy in his eyes of his father. Then he'd be the heir to the throne. Everyone would know his name, his face.

"Come on," Ursa urged, dragging the prince up by the wrist. "Let's go over the advanced set again. The first of the month is tomorrow."

"You're right," said Ozai, sighing and falling back into a stance. "I need to focus."

The two began circling one another, firing flames back and forth in an ever-changing dance. Where Ozai excelled in strength and power, Ursa countered with accuracy and control. They were nearly an equal match but when tempered or angry, Ozai would have probably won more times than not. However, he was never angry at Ursa so this theory couldn't really be proved. If anything, she tempered his flames.

And maybe that wasn't such a bad thing.

Gaining a slight advantage, Ursa saw an opening and plunged her fist forward, hitting the prince in the chest as he stumbled back.

She smirked at him. "Told ya."

A/N: A couple things to address. Though it's uncertain whether or not Ursa is a bender, I always imagined the Fire Nation wouldn't risk heirs not being firebenders and so would not have the princes marry someone who could not bend. Ursa strikes me as the type who, having such a peaceful nature, only bends whenever she needs to; however, that doesn't mean she isn't powerful. I like the idea that Azula's fire is a bit genetic..shockingly not coming from her all-powerful father. So for the sake of this story, yes she can bend. And yes, it's blue.

Secondly, if you find yourself wondering why Ozai isn't cruel, that's because it's my belief that monsters are made, not born. With this story I want to explore how Ozai got to be the way he is. Right now he's only 14 and jealousy issues are what stems his thirst for power.

Thank you to the few who have reviewed; I hope to hear from more of you! =)