Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender, but I'm on a quest…

A/N: Hello folks! So this is my first series of drabbles ever (I know, shocking!). So in this chapter, I wrote an OCC Azula; basically, she wasn't always horrible! I hope you enjoy! Please read and review!

"If you want to be a bender, you have to let go of fear."

-Aang, "The Boy in the Iceberg"

The Fire Nation princess sniffed quietly. She tried to muffle the sound, for she was afraid to face the consequences if she were to be caught crying. And consequences there would be. Her father had drilled it into her since birth: the children of Agni were strong, and did not cry.

Azula wiped her eyes. Her father would hate her if he saw her crying like this. As she settled down, a single hiccup escaped her, and she quickly covered her mouth. Azula could her footsteps approaching, and began to panic.

"Zuli? What are you doing under there?" Her brother asked, kneeling down to look in on her in her hideout under the stairs. She hiccupped and looked away, cross at being found.

"Go away."

"What's wrong?" He asked. Azula crossed her arms.

"It's none of your business." Zuko frowned and pulled lightly on her sleeve, coaxing her out.

"Come on, Azula." She wouldn't budge. "Do you want me to get mom?"

"No!" Azula said quickly, shooting him a look. "Just leave me alone."

Zuko rocked back on his heels. He sighed and said gently,

"It's the firebending, isn't it? Don't worry, you'll get it. It's hard for me too."

Azula turned to him, forgetting her anger for the moment and looking genuinely surprised. She pushed her hair back and asked meekly,

"You think so?

"I know so." Zuko said, smiling. Azula frowned again and pouted,

"It's not just that. I don't want to firebend! What if…what if I get burned?" The fear in her eyes was enough to make Zuko crawl back under the stairs and wrap his arms around his sister.

"Oh, Zuli." She let out a sob, and soon she was crying against her brother's shoulder. She said, her voice muffled in his shirt that she was clutching tight in both fists,

"I'm scared. I don't wanna…" She sobbed again. "I don't want to hurt anybody."

Zuko peeled her off for a moment to look her in the eye.

"You don't need to be scared. You're really talented Zuli, you don't need to hold back just because your afraid. You are going to be a great firebender someday. Fearless." He said, nudging her. She giggled a bit.

"You promise, Zuzu?" She said, a serious note in her voice, though she sounded rather relieved.

"I promise. Come on, we're going to be late for dinner." He said. Azula wiped her nose on her sleeve and crawled with her brother out from under the stairs. "Hey, I'll race you."

"You can't beat me!" He took off. "Wait, Zuko! You cheater!" She shrieked happily as she chased after him. Nothing could keep her down. Not when she had her brother.

***AVATAR***

Next time: "I am going to speak my mind, and you are going to listen." Kanna can't take it any longer. She will be herself- or leave everything she knows.