Zuko felt exhaustion weigh him down as he walked through the halls of the palace. He remembered last night's discovery that Avatar Roku was his great grandfather: That there was good and evil at war inside himself. It would make sense he supposed…but with this knowledge he didn't know what to do with it.

A moment of doubt coursed through him of the war and its purpose. Not for the first time did he feel out of place in the palace walls. Suddenly it felt like there were eyes watching him from all sides and the feeling was unsettling.

His feet and brooding thoughts naturally brought him to his sister's room. He knew that she would be able to calm his doubts upon his place at home like she always did. When he entered her room though, she was nowhere to be found.

She must be training…

Heading to the training courtyard outside is where he found her but the sight he bore witness to, made his gut clench. Azula was on her hands and knees, breathing heavily with cuts and bruises, as if she had been fighting a wild wolf tiger bare handed. He saw her body shake but she persistently stood up to face her opponent. Zuko walked out further to follow her line of sight and a familiar shiver a fear ran through him as he saw his father standing strong and menacing no more than a few feet away.

"That was pathetic!" His father's voice was less than forgiving as he started to circle her. Zuko could not read any sort of emotion coming off Azula but he could guess that one of them must be fear. He commended her for such bravery. "You have been losing your edge my daughter. Your movements are choppy and slow. That graceful blue fire of yours has lost its terrifying spark." He stopped behind her to lean his head close "Is there something you'd like to tell me…?"

Azula didn't waver, her voice as clear as day "There's nothing. I'm just having a bad day…"

"Let me make this clear now…" Ozai walked around to face her, his eyes a cold void. "Weakness will not be tolerated. Your brother is a good example of that. Yes, he may have slain the Avatar but he still has his mother's weak heart. And you, Azula, are showing just that. You're weak…just like your mother and brother."

"I'm nothing like Zuko or mother!" Azula snarled straightening her body as her golden eyes blazed.

"Then prove it…" Ozai struck forward with a fist encased with fire, aiming for her face. Azula leapt out of the way to keep distance but he just kept advancing. Each shot of fire towards him was deflected and met with a fiercer blaze of fire that swallowed hers. Azula could do nothing but be on the defensive, trying desperately to get a good opening but there were none. Ozai punched forward with fire as she stumbled in her haste, striking her in the stomach. The action brought her down to her knees again with a muffled cry of pain. "You are shameful Princess Azula…"

Azula's face could not be seen but her fist clenched and in a flash, she used her arms for momentum to swing her legs around, knocking her father down with a fierce flash of blue fire. Getting to her feet she punched forward, sending blasts of azure flames towards Ozai whom got to his feet with a smirk on his face. He blocked her efforts but there was noticeable satisfaction. Azula then conjured lightning to send it her father's way. Ozai's flashed and in turn met the electric stream with his own causing an explosion.

Zuko covered his face as smoke filled the clearing. Once it eased he searched for his sister, praying to the spirits she was alright. He found her, standing strong but panting dangerously with one eye partially closed and he noticed her legs shaking, as if they would give out but she refused to fall. He was amazed by the strength Azula had but knew that it must have taken all her willpower.

Ozai laughed and the ring made Zuko shudder. It was not a happy laugh it was one that sounded as if they had just beaten their enemy. "Excellent Azula…" He walked up to place a hand on her shoulder. The grip was less than friendly "I knew you wouldn't disappoint me. I want you to keep training night and day. Next time we fight, I want to see improvement." He tilted her chin up so that she would make eye contact "Don't disappoint me again." With that said he walked away back into the palace, leaving a battered and bruised Azula behind.

Azula clenched her jaw, fighting back tears as she crumbled to the ground, no longer being able to stand. She had never been pushed so far by her father and she knew it was because she wasn't focusing as she should have. Self loathing burned through her veins and her mind raced with different scenarios and ways to improve and perfect her already mastered bending. She almost had that move down but it wasn't enough…It wasn't perfect.

A silent mantra rang through her head.

Almost isn't good enough.

Almost isn't good enough!

Her claw like nails dug in her scalp, raking through the strands covered in dirt and sweat. She had to impress her father next time they fought. She would prove to him that there was no weakness in her. Nothing would stand in her way!

Except the one person that had clouded her thoughts…

"Zuko…" Azula murmured, hating the anger that overwhelmed her. Ever since the start of their secret relationship, her judgment had been clouded. She was distracted from becoming what her father wanted: the perfect heir to the throne. A hand on her back made her flinch and for a brief moment she thought her father had come back to witness this pathetic sight. When she looked up, she was met with gentle amber eyes filled with concern. Her eyes widened "Why are you here?"

"I came to look for you." Zuko took in her appearance again from the burn marks along her porcelain skin to the hint of insanity glinting in her eyes. He didn't know what to say and thought it best to keep silent. Instead he hoisted her up in his arms to carry her back to her bedroom. Her body tensed but soon relaxed as she allowed her head to rest against his shoulder, closing her eyes.

When they got back, Zuko laid her down on the bed and went to the bathroom to draw a bath for her. Azula followed his slow moving form, not sure what to say. He had never seen her train with their father before and she was sure that he found it horrifying. It was normal though. Ozai made her stronger in a way that made sense to her. Yes, the wounds hurt and ached for days but her mind stayed sharp and clear, eager to keep perfecting till he had nothing left to be disappointed about.

Even with that strong conviction she could sense the hollowness and lies within she tried to convince herself of on a daily basis.

Zuko came back to pick her up again but this time Azula refused, determined to save whatever dignity she had left. "I can walk on my own Zuzu." Standing up she winced, walking into the bathroom where Zuko closed the door behind them. She felt self conscious as she un-wrapped the chest bindings, knowing he would get to see more injuries received. She whimpered as her arms burned with excruciating pain of being over worked.

Zuko's hands were upon her in an instant "Stop being stubborn and let me help." She scoffed but let him, feeling thankful of the questioning he held back along with his consistent show of loyalty towards her. Once undressed, she lowered herself into the steaming hot water, hissing as the cuts sent sharp agony through her but relaxed as the feeling faded.

Zuko got out of his clothes, making Azula turn her head to face him "You're coming in with me?" He stepped in behind her to sit down, his strong arms encircling her in a comforting embrace. She leaned her back against him, sensing the turmoil within him and the words that he didn't dare speak. "If you have something to say to me then do it" She snapped.

"There's nothing to say." He kissed her head, allowing her scent to fill him. This was not what he imagined her relationship with Ozai to be like. It was worse than he had thought. If their roles had been reversed, then he would be receiving the same treatment. The part that made his heart twist was that he knew Azula believed this to be normal: An act of love when it was far from it and she was blind to the monster their father actually was. He wished that their mother was still here to protect them as she had a long time ago.

Azula didn't turn her head or bother fighting with him. Instead she watched as his thumb rubbed a burn mark made fresh from today's training. If their mother saw them right now to witness their relationship, she would surely stop breathing. Azula smiled, lacing her fingers with his as her heart swelled with unknown emotion. This was something Ursa would never be able to take away from her. She forced the darkness away from within and drowned herself in the light Zuko constantly displayed. She felt tears burning her eyes "I love you Zuzu…"

Zuko's arms wrapped protectively around her in response as if he would be able to save her from all the monsters that lived in the shadows of this prison. His heart broke at the future he could see unfolding for his sister and he felt that there was nothing he could do to stop it. "I love you too…" He turned her head gently to kiss her, letting the steam clear his mind and the feel of her lips distract him. He found that she welcomed the contact, sensing her desperate attempts as if she were trying to run away from an unknown force.

Losing themselves to one another…it was far easier to run away from your demons than to face them.