Azula readied herself with a breath, ignoring the feeling of sweat that had built up from her previous performance. She focused her mind and gazed straight ahead, before bursting into movement.

She went through the now familiar circular motions and felt the energy buildup, much quicker than she had done a few months prior. In a second she felt herself reach the terminal point and threw her arm forward, launching a large bolt of lightning through the air.

A loud crack resonated throughout the area before it was enveloped by complete silence. She centered herself quickly and turned, bowing toward her audience for the day. She kept her head down until she heard applause, signifying she was permitted to cease her gesture.

She kept her face steady and blank as she spotted the people in attendance. Lo and Li stood side by side, clapping in eerie synchrony. Next to them stood a stern-faced firebending master whose name she had not bothered to learn. Her uncle, who was giving her a proud smile, stood beside the taller man, barely reaching his shoulders in height.

Her attention was quickly pulled away from the gathered assembly as the Firelord strode towards her, a satisfied gleam in his eyes. The princess met his gaze evenly, ignoring the cold feeling that enveloped her at seeing her father. They had only had sparse interactions since her 'disappointing' first performance at Lightning Generation.

As he neared her she passively felt the burning of his inner flame, intense in its power but lacking in the warmth she often attributed to her bending. She kept her face neutral as got within arms reach of her.

"Congratulations Azula," He said with pride coloring his voice, placing a strong hand resting on her shoulder. "I think it is clear that you have succeeded on this day.."

He turned his intimidating gaze toward the Firebending master, who nodded quickly before stepping forward. "Yes, the princess is unquestionably a master at the noble art of Firebending! I give my approval to grant her the title."

The man's tone did nothing to hide his nerves at addressing his lord, but her father simply nodded before turning back to his daughter. "Then it is official. Azula, you are a master firebender, the youngest to achieve the title within the last century. Carry the title with honor and use your skills for our continual march to progress."

Azula gave a short nod, "Of course, Father." Her words were spoken calmly, but inwardly she felt elation flooding her body. She had achieved a dream she'd had since she could remember! She basked in joy at that thought and the happiness Sora was projecting towards her.

"We will have a celebratory feast in the coming days," Her father continued with an acknowledging nod. "Continue refining your skills Azula. They will be invaluable as a true heir to this Nation." He turned away after those final words, no doubt striding back to his throne room to continue his work.

'Heir?' Azula thought at his odd choice of term. She was his second child and while closer to the throne than previously, she was still the last in line. 'What does he…'

Azula pushed away the uncomfortable feeling that arose at his words, graciously accepting the praise she received from the remaining gathered people. After a few moments, Lo and Li along with the Master began to leave. Azula watched them go, sympathy blooming within her at the green tinge the Master's cheeks had taken as he conversed with the twins.

The old crones were skilled at making others feel ill with their eccentricities.

The princess was jolted from her thoughts as she was pulled into a hug by her uncle. She froze for a second before quickly recovering, and slowly reciprocating the affectionate gesture. It was still an odd feeling, but she couldn't dismiss the warmth she felt that was not dissimilar from her bending.

"You did amazing, Niece!" Iroh said jovially, a wide smile stretching across his wrinkled face. He looked indescribably proud of her accomplishment, causing Azula's pride to swell as well. "You have come far these last few months. You earned this without a doubt Azula."

Azula blinked away the sudden pressure in her eyes at his words. She would not allow tears to appear, even if joy had invoked it. "Thank you, Uncle. I could not have done it without you," She said honestly, his help having been invaluable in her recent growth, almost as much as Sora's.

She smiled as she felt her dragon's indignant grumbling at the thought, before focusing again on her uncle.

"Your achievements were earned by your own merit Azula. I was merely a small guide." Iroh responded humbly as always, a peaceful aura surrounding him.

Azula gave the man a smirk, as a small chuckle escaped her. "Of course," She said sarcastically, as she side-eyed him, "That's why you seemed so proud of my success." Humble as he appeared, the gratification she saw in his face did not speak of immodesty.

She began to walk towards the palace as an odd squawking sound escaped the aging man, causing her smirk to grow wider. "Who says I can't just be proud of my niece's hard work? Even I…"

She let the man babble as they continued walking, finding amusement as he rambled on about his honest desire to help without taking credit, which somehow transitioned into why ginseng tea was so 'exquisite.'

Really, her uncle could compete with Ty Lee for their ability to move from one topic to another in the same breath.

Still, she allowed him to continue uninterrupted as they made their way through the palace before coming to a stop in the small room they usually met up in for tea. "Would you like to have tea with me, uncle?" She was in a good mood and wanted to celebrate her success with someone. Her friends and Sora were out, so who better than family?

The tolerable member at least.

"I would be glad to, Azula. I find myself having a sudden craving for ginseng all of a sudden…" He trailed off as he seemed to space out, a dreamy smile overtaking his face at the thought of having his favorite tea.

Azula huffed to herself in amusement, having grown used to the man's strange eccentricities, as well as his almost unnatural love for tea.

The princess disregarded Sora's accusation that she was picking up a similar taste. What did the lizard know anyway?

The onslaught of her pleasant memories regarding the beverage was slightly harder to ignore.

She shut the unwelcome thoughts away as she regarded her uncle, who was still daydreaming, critically. "You know," She began slowly to gain his attention, "Drinking the tea would be better than imagining it."

The older man smiled toothily at her words, ignoring her less pleasant tone with the ease of practice. "You are quite right Niece!" He quickly went about the preparations, which caused the prodigy to blink at the odd man slowly.

How did one, who often complained about his aches and pains, manage to move so quickly and efficiently? The wonders of obsession she supposed.

Within a few minutes, her uncle was finished with his brewing and reverently poured two cups. The princess shook her head as she accepted his offering, hoping none of his kookiness was contagious.

She sat back and sighed as she took a sip, allowing herself to relax from her stressful day. "I can see why this is your favorite." While she was partial to the 'White Dragon' tea, this one was still very enjoyable. "What did you add to make it less bitter?"

"Mint," Iroh said simply as he took a sip as well. "The kitchens have had an overabundance recently. They were quite happy to give me some." Iroh hummed to himself happily at the servants 'kindness.'

Azula withheld the urge to point out that they could hardly refuse one of their nation's princes. Instead, she simply nodded in agreement. "How considerate of them," She said with a dryness her uncle didn't catch or simply ignored. It was quite hard to tell sometimes.

"Yes, though it is quite strange." Iroh continued blithely, "Apparently they have been finding themselves short on various types of meat. Quite odd considering how few people eat here."

His words were purely conversational, without a hint of accusation, but Azula felt herself tense slightly. It did not take a genius to figure out where the shortage came from. The amount she had to take daily was almost twice what it had been when she started.

Sora's appetite grew proportionally to her size, which was ever-increasing.

Azula lightly chastised herself as she focused back in, noticing her uncle was staring at her curiously as her silence extended further. She forced herself to look impassive and bored, as she would have been had she not been the culprit of the mystery. "Really? What a grand mystery uncle…"

She rolled her eyes to emphasize her disinterest, which caused Iroh to shake his head in bemusement. "Making conversation is an important skill to have, niece. Most people do not like being shut when they talk."

His slightly chastising tone irked her, but she gladly welcomed this topic change. She gave him a dry, amused smile as she took another sip of tea. "It is not like I will converse with 'most people' uncle. Not many get the chance to speak so casually with a royal."

Her words were arrogant, she would admit that, but they were no less true. The people (and dragon) she conversed with regularly could be counted on her fingers with several left over. It just was not in the cards for her to have casual interactions with others.

Iroh smiled slightly at her words, nodding his head in agreement. "That is true, but perhaps you will not always be confined here Azula. Traveling the world is quite a rewarding experience after all."

Azula nodded absently, allowing her mind to wander for a moment. She would be lying if she said she had not considered such a course, especially in recent months. Truth be told, she often felt as though she was trapped within the palace, which only became more prominent when she flew with Sora.

It was hard to stay in one place when the whole world was completely laid out beneath your eyes.

"Maybe, but if that were to happen it would be a long time from now." She said with a slight grumble, trying to withhold her frustrations. "And even if I did leave, who is to say I would get the chance to talk to others so casually? Between the war and my status opportunities don't look very forthcoming."

Iroh smiled into his cup, shaking his head in apparent disagreement. "Come now niece, that is much too pessimistic a view." He gave her a knowing look which made her feel oddly vulnerable. "Such status did not stop you from befriending that artisan, did it? What was his name again?"

Azula looked to the side, conceding the point. "His name is Huang, which I doubt you forgot." She said accusingly, looking back at him sharply. "You were much too happy to learn about him to do so."

Iroh gave a hearty chuckle as he stood up, retrieving the Pai Sho board he had previously left in the room. "Sharp as always Azula, but is it really so surprising I would be happy?" He kneeled as he set it down, beginning to set the pieces on the board. "Having friends is never a bad thing."

Azula remained silent as she watched him set up, not finding it in her to disagree. While not as close as Mai and Ty Lee, she still cared about her kinda mentor. Their conversations had grown more personal than previously, and she found in him a good listener. She would admit, to herself at least, that she appreciated his friendship.

Perhaps her uncle had a point. Maybe she was not destined to have such limited social contact.

She pushed the thought aside as her uncle finished, her face taking on a determined look as she looked at the board. "You seem calm for a man who almost lost before uncle." She said with a challenge present in her voice, strategies already flying through her mind.

In the times she had played the game with her uncle she had never won, despite her best efforts. She had made it clear to Iroh that she would not allow him to 'take it easy' on her, as he had offered before their first game. She would learn as she went and beat him at his best.

That did not stop her pride from being stung at losing though.

"Losing is not something to be fearful of Azula. There is much to learn from failure." Her uncle said wisely as he took another sip. As he moved to set the cup down though, an evil smirk grew on his face. "But I know that my loss will not come today."

His words deeply irked the princess, but she swiftly tempered the negative feeling and used it as full. She would need a clear mind to defeat the kooky old man. He had played this game for years and was an accomplished general. She would not beat him while distracted.

"We will see about that uncle," She responded fiercely, taking the first move. She began with the jasmine tile, the start of an opening to the style she was working to create.

Naturally, said gambit was centered around the dragon tile.

They went back and forth for several minutes, often pausing for long moments to decide on their next moves. It was in one such silence on Azula's turn that Iroh began to talk once more.

"You are improving quickly," Iroh hummed as she set down another piece, taking his boat tile. "Your brother does not seem to have the patience for such games."

An annoyed look crossed Azula's face at his calm, conversational words. Was this a mind game to cause her to lose focus? She doubted it, but she would remain watchful of the old man.

"Yes well, Zuzu always preferred more active activities." She moved her hand quickly, moving her tiles to position for a large move. "Sitting still and planning is not his idea of fun." She watched her uncle closely as he moved his tile, unsuspecting of her scheme.

Iroh hummed to himself while refilling his tea, only giving the board minimal attention. "Quite true, but I am sure he will come around soon," He said while watching Azula make another move. "Spending time with family is reward enough."

The prodigy withheld the urge to roll her eyes at the idealistic thought, knowing how her uncle believed in family. Their family had no shortage of trouble and drama. Her parents were the perfect example of that. "Perhaps you would be better suited to doing something else he would enjoy. Have you any experience with swords?"

The old man shook his head good-naturedly, once again disregarding her sarcastic tone. "Unfortunately I do not, and it is far too late for me to learn such things." He played another tile, still seemingly oblivious to her strategy. "Have you any interest?"

Azula shook her head as she quickly moved another tile, her mind playing through various outcomes of their game. "No, I am busy enough as is." She kept her words vague, though they remained truthful. Even without Sora, she was engaged in enough strenuous activities. "He can keep the hobby for himself.

"True, but your schedule should be clearing up after today, should it not?" Iroh asked curiously.

Azula smirked dryly, moving another tile. "You should know better than that uncle. I won't let myself become sloppy just because I am a 'master.'" She knew that there was still more to improve on. It was much too soon to settle.

"That is a wise choice niece. One should always strive to better themselves," The man took another sip of tea as he studied the board. "Though it is a shame you are kept so busy. I suppose you would not be interested in attending a meeting with me? Your brother has been asking quite frequently."

Azula shook her head in denial at his question, her interest in war meetings having drastically declined from what it once was. "I am sure Zuko will be more than enough to distract you from your boredom. You two can spend your time together without me."

She was too engrossed in the game to notice the slight frown that marred Iroh's features at her words. "Hmm…"The ex-general picked up a tile but did not set it down, which grabbed the princess's attention. "I wanted to talk about that."

Azula's eyebrows crinkled in confusion as she stared at her uncle, perplexed by his statement. "Talk about what?" Her uncle looked uncharacteristically serious, which caused her posture to straighten. She put the game in the back of her mind for the moment as she focused on the man.

"I have noticed," Iroh began, giving her a steady look. "That you and Zuko do not spend much time together outside of meals." His gaze softened when he finished, which gave Azula the chance to see another emotion in his eyes. He looked truly concerned.

It was that look that kept her from completely dismissing his words, but she still found herself struggling to understand his point. "That is probably because we don't spend time with each other outside of meals." She figured being truthful would yield the best results here.

"Why is that?" Iroh asked genuinely, confusion on his face. "When you were both younger that was not the case. I remember you playing together often."

Azula couldn't repress an unladylike snort at that, incredulity and amusement dancing in her eyes. "Come on uncle, surely you know that isn't true. I would annoy Zuzu, he would run to Mother, and I would be scolded." A mirthless smile grew on her face as she thought about that repetitive formula.

While annoying Zuko had been enough of a reward to satiate the boredom that had plagued her often, most of those spats were caused by their individual struggle with their respective 'favorite' parent. That did not matter much now.

Mother was gone and Azula had found the attention she had craved elsewhere. She had not had much reason to interact with Zuko these past few months.

"It's probably better if we just stay out of each other's way."

Iroh's confusion faded into sadness at her words, the spark of warmth in his eyes dimming at her conclusion. "It is not that simple Azula. You should not be so quick to give up on family."

Her annoyance sparked at his words, and she narrowed her eyes at the man. "That's funny uncle. I could say the same thing about you and my father." Could he not see the hypocrisy in his words?

The anger she had expected from the man was absent as he sighed. If anything he looked even dejected at her words. "That is exactly why I wish you and Zuko could be different." The man looked like he had deflated, looking older than she had ever seen him before. "Ozai and I should not be an example to strive for."

The misery in his voice and posture ripped the righteous anger from Azula roughly, causing her to gaze down. She did not know much about her father and uncle's relationship beyond its strenuous nature. Perhaps using it as a weapon had been a miscalculation on her part.

The princess studied the board in front of her, the previous excitement she had felt before now minimal. This conversation had turned rather grim. She contemplated apologizing but thought against it. Crude as her statement may have been, it was still the truth. She would not apologize for that. Instead, she chose to remain silent and wait for the room's other occupant to gather himself.

That moment came after a minute of tense silence when her uncle sighed to himself and set the tile he had been holding down. Azula met his remorseful gaze as he began to speak once more. "I apologize for ruining our time Azula. This should have been a day of celebration, not arguing."

The girl smiled slightly at his words, shaking her head softly. "I wasn't acting at my best either uncle. I suppose we both could have been better." She moved a tile of her own, continuing with her previous strategy.

Iroh chuckled slightly at her words, nodding in agreement. "Perhaps so. But I hope you will still take my words into consideration, princess."

She smirked at his words, not surprised that he had not given up. The members of their family tended to be stubborn. "I will think about them." She said simply, feeling her anticipation start to build once more as the game neared its conclusion.

"That is all I can ask." The balding man placed another tile down, which caused excitement to bloom throughout the princess.

She quickly moved her dragon tile, her maneuver finally being realized. She smirked as she took another tile from her uncle, putting the man in a hopeless situation. "It seems like today will be my win uncle."

Her uncle merely hummed in amusement as he met her gaze, slowly moving a tile she had ignored for the most part. Azula's smirk quickly vanished as she stared at the board in befuddlement. Realization dawned on her as she sat back and stared at the board blankly, disappointment etched onto her face.

She had lost.

"How…?"

"You were too excited, niece," Iroh said, gaining her attention. "Your move was clever but obvious. Sometimes it is not the biggest piece that decides the match…"

She watched as he reached down, grabbing the last tile he had placed which had secured his victory.

It was the white lotus.

"Most people underestimate the importance of the white lotus, but its strength is in its simplicity. Do not disregard something because it seems unassuming niece."

Azula absently nodded as she stared at the tile in his hands, etching the design into her mind. She would not be forgetting this lesson anytime soon.

Iroh stood up, groaning slightly as his knees creaked. "I think I will go to have a nap now. I will see you at dinner." He ambled past her, pausing to set his hand on her shoulder. "Congratulations on your mastery Azula."

With those parting words, he left. Azula sat for a moment longer before deciding to head back to her room as well. She stood and walked towards the door, but looked over her shoulder one last time at the Pai Sho board.

She had lost today, but it was just another step forward. She nodded to herself to affirm the thought before she turned and continued walking.

Line Break

"Happy birthday Azula!/Happy birthday Azula."

Azula smiled at the twin calls from her two friends, mirthful at the varying levels of excitement. Even on the best of days, mai could only sound so delighted.

Her eyes told a different story though, a bright light that had become more common in the last year. It was easy to get lost in them she mused to herself as they held each other's gaze. She felt a strange pull that she didn't understand but…

The prodigy's thoughts were cut off as she felt an elbow to her ribs. She glared at her flexible friend as she smirked impishly, a hand over her mouth. She looked entirely too pleased with herself.

"What?" Azula said with as much menace as she could muster, though the effect was ruined by the dusting of red on her pale cheeks. She risked a glance at Mai and was relieved to see the taller girl looking the other way, her face similarly tinged with red.

What was the cause behind that? She would have to look into it soon.

"Nothing!" Ty Lee responded, removing her hand from her face to reveal a large smile. "I'm just really happy about your birthday!"

Azula did not believe her words for a moment, but she gladly took the chance to gloss over her reaction. She gave Ty Lee one last stern look before she turned to Mai, who quickly jutted her hand out, still not meeting her gaze.

"Here…" She mumbled quietly, handing the princess a small box. Her normally calm expression was absent as a nervous look came across her face. "It isn't a knife, but I hope you'll like it anyway."

Azula gave her a reassuring smile before quickly opening the box, feeling more ecstatic than she would have expected. The gift she had received from her uncle, a tea recipe book, had not caused her this much excitement.

She removed the lid and could not withhold her gasp as she removed the necklace from within. The necklace had a golden chain with a sun shaped pendant. In the center of the pendant was a beautiful red ruby which seemed to shine as it reflected agni's rays. The princess found herself speechless at the gift.

She was no stranger to opulent jewelry, having received more gifts than she could count from various nobles looking to curry her favor, or for her to wear during ceremonies. She had cared little for the extravagant accessories before, but this one felt different. More personal.

Mai was uncharacteristically shifting slightly, her nervous look increasing at the princesses' continued silence. Her hand shifted towards her leg before pulling back, likely trying to fidget with a dagger that was not there. "I understand if you don't like it. It was kinda stu-"

Was as far as she got before Azula silenced her with a hug. She was not used to initializing hugs, and it showed in her slight awkwardness, but right now it felt right in a way she could not describe.

That feeling only increased when Mai slowly returned the hug.

"It's wonderful Mai." She said simply, a bright smile spreading across her lips. This may have been her favorite gift, even over the knife that held such a prominent position in her room. "Thank you."

Mai began to smile at her words, and broke the hug for a moment to take the necklace that was being clutched tightly in the princesses hand. She swiftly moved Azula's hair, giving her clear access to her bare neck. She put the necklace around her neck and clasped the end together. She admired it for a second before the hug was promptly resumed.

They continued the hug for several moments, oblivious to the strange looks they were receiving from the other schoolgirls passing by. Azula felt content, and would not have minded if the hug lasted longer.

Which is why her irritation spiked when she heard a loud squeal.

The two separated quickly as Ty Lee bounced between them looking overjoyed. "That was so cute you two! Your aura's are shining right now!" She was literally shaking with joy, oblivious to the fact that she had ruined a moment between her friends.

Azula felt the heat return to her face with a vengeance and she quickly turned towards the excited girl. "Be quiet Ty Lee!" She almost shouted, though the words did not seem to have an effect on the girl.

The princess breathed deeply to try to find her equilibrium again as the acrobat chattered on happily. When Azula felt her face cool to manageable levels she tuned back in, noticing Mai was still facing away from them. At least her embarrassment had not been seen.

"Come on, let's go to class." Azula said, her words coming out more rushed than normal. This had been an eventful enough morning. Hopefully the class would put a damper on it.

As she started walking to the school she heard Ty Lee call out, "Wait!" The girl rushed over, almost tripping over her feet in her excitement. "Don't you want to open my gift? I made them myself!" The girl said proudly, holding out a large box that Azula had not previously noticed.

She had been more distracted than she thought.

The princess took the box excitedly, though the feeling was muted in comparison to Mai's for some odd reason. Still, that did not stop her from quickly removing the bow, and her face lit up as she got the heavenly scent that invaded her nose.

'Mochi!' Azula yelled in her head, her eyes wide with anticipation. She had to actively keep herself from drooling at her favorite sweet, which she had not had in months.

She quickly removed one of the sweets and took a bite, not being able to muffle the moan that escaped as she did so. She ate the treat happily, unaware of the shared looks of amusement between Mai and Ty Lee.

When the princess had finished she had to hold back her urge to grab another and closed the box, collecting herself as she looked up. She cleared her throat and ignored the mirthful looks she was receiving as she nodded to Ty Lee. "Thank you for the gift." She said with complete calm and composure.

The acrobatic girl giggled at her words before giving the princess a hug, "Your welcome Azula!" She said joyfully, before a mischievous smirk appeared on her face, hidden to the princess. "By the way," She whispered, "you have drool on your lip."

Azula swiftly broke the hug and wiped her face with her sleeve, hoping that Mai had not seen. It took a moment for her to realize that she had felt nothing on her face. A quick check to her sleeve confirmed her thoughts.

She had been tricked.

The princess turned quickly briskly, a glare dawning her face as she did so. The space her friend was previously occupying was empty, the girl in question sprinting towards the school's entrance while laughing uproariously.

Azula, who prided herself on her calm and composure, quickly gave chase. "Ty Lee!" She shouted as she pursued the girl into the school.

Mai watched from the sidelines, shaking her head at the silliness her friends were exhibiting. 'Though,' She mused to herself, "I wouldn't change a thing.' She started walking at a much more leisurely pace than her friends as she watched them disappear inside the building.

Azula found herself smiling randomly through the day, often playing with the pendant on her necklace unconsciously. It was hard to believe, but this birthday may have even topped her last.

She hoped the trend would continue.

Line Break

Zuko was feeling excited.

Tomorrow he would be going to a war meeting!

It had taken several weeks to convince his uncle to let him attend one, the man being oddly hesitant to allow him to go. It didn't make sense! He was a crown prince, like Iroh had been, and he had yet to be invited to a single meeting.

He was 13 now, his birthday having been a few months ago, which was much older than his uncle had been when he had first gone to such meetings. He was more than ready to take part in his duties.

He felt himself get lost in a daydream as he lay on his bed. He was detailing a plan that would win them the whole war. Every general was in awe of his idea and his father…

His father gave him a proud smile.

The prince felt his thoughts darken slightly at the thought, his chest feeling like a hippo cow was sitting on it. He had worked hard these last few months, honoring his vow to be better. He had worked harder on his bending, his swordsmanship, his studies, but in the end… he had failed.

His sister, two years younger than him, had become a master, which his dad had never failed to bring up in the sparse moments he spent with them. "The Youngest Master in a Century," Zuko grumbled to himself in a poor imitation of his fathers voice. He hated that title.

The worst part about it all, in Zuko's opinion, was how little Azula had seemed to care. Sure, she would thank their dad when he mentioned it, would tell him he had been the cause (which never failed to bring their dad a smile), and other such things, but he could tell she rarely meant it.

She was proud of the title, but their father seemed like an afterthought, her smiles fading when the man's attention inevitably shifted to something else. The one thing he had always sought above all else and she tossed it aside as though it were trash.

Zuko had thought that Iroh being back would help, and it had, but even that was different. Iroh and Azula spent time together the same way as the prince did. He even helped her with her bending when he only focused on the basics with him.

She was still so far away.

Despite being older and heir to the throne, it felt like he was stuck in place while she was sprinting ahead. His gaze forever stuck on her back, while she only looked further ahead, never looking back at him.

Zuko shook his head at the unwelcome thoughts, regaining his smile as he thought about tomorrow. This was his chance to turn things around, to finally prove himself. He would silence all the doubts others had in him, as well as the ones he himself possessed.

He rolled over with a smile, his stomach fluttering with anticipation. His uncle had warned him to remain silent, had forced him to promise to be a spectator, but he would watch carefully for his opportunity.

Zuko paused as he heard a slight grunt from beyond his door, the sound feminine despite its gruffness. He got up curiously and made his way to the door. He opened it quietly and peeked his head out, his eyes widening at the sight.

His sister was making her way through the palace despite it being quite late, and she looked dressed for going outside, her clothes dark. He only caught a glimpse of the girl before she turned a corner, but he decided to follow her.

The prince slipped out in his night clothes and his feet bare, quietly sneaking through the palace. He had never been the stealthiest of people, the trait did not gain one much attention, but he knew enough to follow at a distance.

Azula seemed to be heading towards the kitchens, so he decided to wait around a corner, waiting for her to come back out. He briefly considered that he was overthinking things before he dismissed the thought. While getting a midnight snack wouldn't be too odd for his sister, the way she was dressed suggested that there was more going on.

He waited for several minutes, quickly growing bored of the waiting. 'What is taking her so long?'

The prince absently started tapping his foot as he glared at the door, before he decided to forgo subtlety. He marched through the entrance confidently, questions already on the tip of his tongue. "What are you…"

His accusation was cut off as he met the eyes of a confused servant who held a rag in her hand as she cleaned the table. They held each other's gaze for a moment before the girl bowed her head deeply.

"My prince! Is there anything I can help with?" Her words were rushed, and she seemed out of her depth. He did not recognize her as a chef, so she must just be a custodian. Helping royalty directly was not common for the girl.

Zuko ignored the girl for a moment as he looked around the kitchens frantically, confusion etched across his face. "She was just here…" He mumbled to himself. He took another moment to look around before his attention was back on the servant as she cleared her throat.

"My prince?" She said hesitantly, perplexed by his odd behavior.

"Has anyone else come in here in the past few minutes?" Zuko asked abruptly as he stared at the girl intently. She seemed to quiver under his gaze as she shook her head softly. The prince's eyebrows contracted at the motion. He took one more look around before turning swiftly and heading back to his room, not paying the girl anymore attention.

As he walked back to his room he tried thinking about where Azula could have gone, but he was coming up with a blank. Perhaps he had been imagining things? It was really late and she had been on his mind previously so it was possible…

Once he reached his room he quickly got back into bed, resolved to put it out of his mind for now. He had a lot to do tomorrow, and he wouldn't let Azula distract him further. Extinguishing the candle in his room, he closed his eyes as a smile graced his face once more.

Tomorrow would be a great day, he just knew it. It was his chance!

Nothing would be the same after it was over.