Hey, guys.

Welcome to my first attempt at writing an ATLA story. As you might have guessed from the title, this story is going to center on Azula and what could have been had she allowed herself to openly acknowledge her insecurities and past.

This isn't a new concept. There have been other stories that have focused on the life or redemption of the Fire Nation princess. This is merely my own spin on it. Azula, in the show itself, is a villain with little to no redeeming qualities and is a full blown sociopath.

But what always struck me hard as I got older was the tragedy of her descent into insanity. There we see that she was not the cool, calculating, stable person she made herself out to be. In a way, Azula suffered as much as anyone in the show and her madness was the result of the symptoms she couldn't overcome or allow herself to overcome.

With that being said, this story is slight AU in a couple respects. The first being Azula going into detail about her troubles, the second being that I'm writing her not as a fully developed sociopath, but as someone with sociopathic tendencies. It may sound trivial, but there is a subtle difference. It's also important to how this story is eventually going to finish.

So with that being said, here is the first chapter! It's more of an introduction than anything else, but please let me know what you think. I love reviews and feedback- including constructive criticism.

So without further ado I present: Catalyst.

Chapter 1. A Trip to Ember Island

A beautiful yet unremarkable day bore down on four Fire Nation teenagers and their escort. Clouds were at a minimum, the winds cooperative and calm against the backdrop of a lemon, yellow sun bearing the coming of summer.

"I'm so excited to spend the weekend on Ember Island," a very pretty, wide eyed girl by the name of Ty Lee spoke, her soft and kind features betraying every hint of her eagerness. "It's going to be great to hang out on the beach and do nothing."

Of course, the otherwise positive prospects and favorable weather was not enough to lift the spirits of a certain prince.

"Doing nothing is a waste of time," a young man, no older than sixteen or seventeen spoke dismissively. He was tall, his crimson robe unable to hide his athletic, lanky body. Golden eyes were laden with a heavy amount of deep seated anger and pain, though that was dulled by an additional front of indifference. Atop his head, sat an untidy, but not unkempt, amount of jet black hair to be put into a traditional Fire Nation top knot in official capacities. However, his most defining feature was the angry red scar that marked the left side of his face. He was Zuko, Crown Prince of the Fire Nation and heir to the throne.

"We're being sent away on a forced vacation," he continued. "I feel like a child."

"Lighten up," teased a girl who looked to be slightly younger than he but seemingly more composed. Her eyes were the same as his, though they were outwardly devoid of any baggage that Zuko's carried. Her hair was also the same black color, though hers was still in the official Fire Nation top knot. The features of her sharp, yet still feminine face radiated confidence and precision…and a warning to anyone who dared trifle with her. For she was Azula, Princess of the Fire Nation, child prodigy and younger sister of the angst ridden Zuko, for whom teasing was just an every day exercise.

"So, dad wants to meet with his advisers alone without anyone else around. Don't take it personally."

That did little to assure Zuko, who continued to sulk over the railing of their ship.

"Doesn't your family have a house on Ember Island?" Ty Lee asked, innocently changing the subject.

"We used to come here every summer when we were kids," Azula responded casually.

"That must have been fun!"

"That was a long time ago," Zuko uttered quietly, memories of those seemingly carefree days flooding back to his conscious. He didn't like to think back on those times. They didn't bring anything useful to dwell on, just an unpleasant reminder of how much had changed since.

He took a glance at the final teenager amongst their group, a girl named Mai who looked just as gloomy and downtrodden as he did. Her features similarly resembled the other members of her peer group, black hair that reached her shoulders along with elegantly trimmed bangs, eyes with a slightly greyish tinge, but otherwise carried the same gold color. A neat dress covered her developing figure, the sleeves wide enough to conceal her usual assortment of deadly knives she used for appropriate situations. But today there would be no need. And though her face appeared indifferent Mai gave the smallest of smiles at Zuko's glance, if nothing else, then to improve his mood.

Azula observed all of this with mild curiosity but nothing more. She had known of Mai and Zuko's affinity for one another since she was nine years old. That was nothing new. It was also no surprise to her that her brother would be bothered by their "forced vacation." He had spent three years banished from his home trying to win their father's approval and no doubt being forced to go on a three-four day vacation would not help that restlessness. Azula could understand that, though not for the same reasons. She was used to being privy to her father's private counsel, on matters Zuko rarely ever saw close hand. As Princess and a prodigy, she had accomplished far more than most her age and took immense satisfaction in doing so. She was far more tactful and cunning than any of those old graybeards that occupied the High Command of the Fire Nation's armed forces.

Even so, there was protocol to be followed and expectations to be met. Despite being a daughter of the Royal Family, to supplant or object to any of those old generals was to commit an act of borderline treason, one she was not stupid enough to act on, unlike her stubborn older brother. Besides, despite the war unofficially ending with the capture of Ba Sing Se and the death of the Avatar, there were still matters to be taken care of. For one, the Earth Kingdom had not actually capitulated, with sizable pockets of their forces still holding out fiercely from Fire Nation attacks. There was also the matter of the Northern Water Tribe, a still formidable opponent that remained free from their control. Combining those two factors, there was still much work to be done. If their father needed some time to confer on such matters, it was his prerogative and there was nothing they could do about it.

Oh, Zuko, when will you learn not to get so worked up over every little thing? One would think you would have acknowledged that lesson by now.

She gave a small smirk as she rested on the rail. She supposed while they were in a more casual setting she could let the typical customary decorum slip a bit. After all, she was Azula, Princess of the Fire Nation. She was nothing like Zuko. There was nothing she needed to feel insecure about.

Lo and Li had greeted them at the docks in their simultaneous manner. Azula too had remembered coming here when they were younger, but that was in a grand house, full of servants, luxuries, space, and pretty much anything they had wanted. The current residence they were staying was much less…plush to say the least. Compared to the other houses that sat on this part of Ember Island, it was quite small. Still, it would do for the time they would be here. Even if it did have its drawbacks.

The inside was standard enough. Tables lined with floor pillows comprised most of the furniture. The walls were lined with a rather antiquated design, though not enough to be considered completely tacky. Lo and Li explained there were three bedrooms, one to be shared by theirs truly, another by the girls, and Zuko would receive the single, as custom did not allow unmarried couples to sleep in the same room together. By the far the most appealing aspect of the place was the view, courtesy of an open window and deck that gave a pristine look at the shoreline to the west. As a consequence, sea air mixed with the aroma of sand filled the living room, though it was not enough to hide other fragrances.

"It smells like old lady in here," Zuko muttered under his breath.

"Gee, I wonder why," Mai said with her usual sardonic wit.

Ty Lee on the other hand, abounded with curiosity over an old picture of two young women posing side by side in bathing suits.

"Who are these two beautiful women?"

"Can't you tell?" the older women said, striking the same pose as in the picture.

"It's Lo…

"It's Li…

"And me!"

It was all that Zuko could do to keep himself from throwing up in response, while Azula rolled her eyes.

Honestly, brother. You can't tell me you haven't seen worse.

She did concede, however, that seeing two older women in scantily clad clothing would not be the most welcome of sights.

In any case, they were shown their quarters, a pink and pastel room that Ty Lee loved and Mai was most displeased with. Zuko and Azula remained silent and uninterested.

Sensing that the teens were either apathetic or resentful, their elder chaperones tried to give the teens some perspective.

"We know you're upset you were forced to come here this weekend…"

"But Ember Island is a magical place," Li continued. "Keep an open mind."

"Give it a chance…"

"And it can help you understand yourselves and each other," they finished in unison.

Lo took a stone from the table, grazing it gently with her hand.

"The beach was a special way…"

"Of smoothing even the most ragged edges."

The four teens looked on with a mixture of confusion and boredom, punctuated by Azula's rather obvious yawn. She had no interest in whatever vague proverb they might have for them. Wise counsel they may give when it came to military matters, she was content to keep her own when it came to a day at the beach.

As if they read her mind, Lo and Li gave two claps and another unison announcement.

"Time to hit the beach!" they shouted as their robes fell to the floor, revealing far more than any of them cared to see.

Mai shielded Zuko's eyes with her hand.

Gathering their things and putting on their swimming gear, the four Fire Nation teens made their way down to the beach slightly before midday.

Azula had decided to take the mats, while Ty Lee had packed the other essentials in her giant pink bag. Zuko and Mai true to form, had opted to trail behind, an umbrella shading them from the summer heat.

The princess took a broad view of her surroundings. Even in a relaxed setting such as this, she took extra care to notice the little things: the old man that snored on his chair probably had a bad back, the woman with three children could barely control their roughhousing on the beach, even some teenagers who looked about their age were here to enjoy themselves. Indeed, it was so crowded, there was scarcely an open patch of sand to settle down on. Fortunately, Azula had a solution.

In seconds, she found it, crushing a sand castle two young boys had made with her foot, letting it be known that the spot they now occupied was no longer theirs. They got the message quickly, scattering like wild hog monkeys as she kicked their puny sand bucket to emphasize the point. Azula doubted many would have approved of her actions but then again who would challenge her anyway? She knew Ty Lee, Zuko, and Mai wouldn't give much thought to it. They were all nobility one way or another and they needed the area far more than the lesser folk did. What was the harm?

Azula placed her mat down on a particularly sunny spot in order to take in the sunshine. But no sooner had she settled down when a scrawny teenage boy rushed to Ty Lee, offering his assistance to her in any way possible.

"Hey! Need some help unpacking?" he asked eagerly, a wide smile plastered on his moronic face.

Without fail, Ty Lee accepted the offer, the boy doing whatever he could to make her comfortable: everything from laying down a towel for her to standing in just the right spot to provide her shade.

Turning away from the pathetic pining, Azula couldn't help but feel a tad jealous of the attention her friend was receiving. So much came easy to her- studies, history, political intrigue, tactics, fire bending- when something came along where someone else exceeded her talent, it was unfamiliar territory to say the least. Ty Lee had always been the agile one, she could admit that privately even if she never would out loud. Cartwheels and circus tricks were her forte certainly, but now there was an additional talent: boys.

They were both at that age. Her father had only mentioned the subject a few times over dinner but Azula didn't need his prodding to know that she was noticing boys. Though there was rarely enough time to even think about such matters at this point in time (what with the war still going on) there was no denying the opposite sex was becoming more and more appealing. Without getting into too much detail there were numerous reasons to be taken by the young men of the Fire Nation. Handsome jaw lines, lean muscles, flowing hair…it was more than enough to shoot a glance or two at the boys. What she couldn't understand, was why none of them bothered to look her way.

What was the big secret? Why was she continually passed over while others gained all of the opportunities they desired? If she was a rookie at the concept of winning over boys, Ty Lee was positively an expert. Even Mai was competent enough to secure Zuko as her boyfriend, no small feat considering the constant giggling and fawning from the Fire Nation female nobility she witnessed in and around the capital.

Azula tried to purge these thoughts from her mind. After all, it did no good to fuss needlessly over matters that were largely trivial in nature. Yet, for all her posturing there was an instinctual part of this she could not ignore entirely. It was not comforting and it caused a slight dent in the perception she held of her abilities and expectations; to be perfect in every aspect of life she applied herself to without exceptions.

And yet, here on the beach, those expectations seemed to matter as much as the sand she currently sat on. Just one of many millions going through the same kinds of problems as the privileged princess.

Enough, she scolded herself. This is not the proper moment to dwell over the insignificant details of boys and all of the idiotic drivel that comes with it.

Resolving to involve herself in some kind of activity, Azula scanned the beach for just such an opening and it didn't take long to find it. Namely, in the shape of a volleyball game only a small distance away from them.

Smirking, the princess seized the moment without hesitation, not concerning herself with interrupting Ty Lee's fan club or her brother and Mai's depressing interactions underneath their sole umbrella. It was time for action.

"Hey, beach bums," she said aloud to the dispirited couple behind her. "We're playing next."

It wasn't a request, and both Zuko and Mai knew it as they reluctantly stood up. Azula, already used to delegating, paid no heed to whatever silent protests they might have. Besides, she knew they would give no real objection.

"Ty Lee! Get over here, now!"

Though the ex-circus performer reveled in the attention from the now posse of boys that surrounded her, she was more than happy to acquiesce to Azula's demands, cheerfully walking over in a graceful handstand, much to the disappointment of her admirers.

The four teens huddled up in a circle, Azula doing her best to ignore the bothersome giggles of the girls trying to get a glimpse at Zuko without a shirt.

She had not been idle in her observations of the previous game. The winning team had two boys and two girls. There was obvious talent and played well together, but then again, they had never faced four teenagers of their caliber before. In addition, there was a fatal flaw in the opposing strategy, and she knew just how to exploit it. If all went well, victory would be all too easy.

"See that girl with the silly pigtails?" she indicated towards an unremarkable girl of Ty Lee's height and complexion. "When she runs towards the ball there's just the slightest hesitation of her left foot. I'm willing to bet a childhood injury has weakened her. Keep serving the ball to her left and we'll destroy her and the rest of her team. Dismissed."

There was no need to expound further. Her team were all competent to know what she wanted and how to secure their triumph. She expected nothing less and shame on them if they did not perform to par.

But as they settled into their respective places on the sand, Azula gave something of a smirk. Ty Lee, Mai, even her brother…they were all far more capable than most knew. There wasn't a single other quartet within miles of this place that could compete with them. The opposing team was in for a rude awakening and the Fire Nation Princess was silently gleeful at the prospect of their soon to be annihilation.

As it happened, the game turned out exactly as she predicted. Her first serve for a point, a strike that would have tested even the quickest of reflexes, caught them totally off guard and they would never recover. From then on, the slaughter was inevitable. Combining Ty Lee's agility, Mai's speed, Zuko's strength, and her raw power was a combination that no one could stop. Match after match, serve after serve, their opponents could simply not keep up…and it was turning the heads of many a teenager on the beach.

The final blow came quickly and decisively. Holding a 24-3 lead, Azula decided to put their hapless contestants out of their misery. Mai kicked the ball high up in the air to where not even the tallest man would be able to block it. Zuko dropped to one knee, allowing his sister to use his back as a spring board to meet the ball at its highest point, completing a 360 spin and delivering a strike so powerful, it sent a mushroom cloud of sand in the air, knocking back the other team on their rears.

"Yes!" Azula yelled triumphantly, her fists raised up over her head, delicious adrenaline running through her veins like a drug. "We defeated you for all time! You will never rise from the ashes of your shame and humiliation!"

She wanted them to suffer, she wanted them to know who had beaten them and that there was no going back from that. Failure was for the weak and they would know just how weak they were by the sheer magnitude of their loss. And the princess would relish every waking moment of it. For who would they be if the lost to such amateurs? Failure was not an option.

All the while she never noticed that the net in front of her was burning to a crisp and her three teammates were giving her odd glances.

"Well, that was fun," she said unironically.

Before she could say another word, however, they were interrupted by the presence of two teenage boys.

"I'm having a party tonight," the bigger of the two spoke with the confidence of someone who believed they walked on air itself. "You should come by."

"Sure! I love parties!" Ty Lee responded in her usual cheerful manner.

"Your friend can come too," said the other boy, looking equally cocky.

Azula could tell straight from the get go that these boys had their eyes on Ty Lee and Mai and that she would need to ensure she and Zuko were also part of this get together. She was shocked to begin with that as members of the Royal Family, they had not been initially sought after. However, it was also plausible that these two had no idea who they were. After all, the royalty of the Fire Nation rarely made public appearances. She had been training and laboring under her father's tutelage to help secure her nation's victory in the war, and Zuko…well let's just say he was three years behind everything.

"Uh, what about me and my brother? Aren't you going to invite us?"

The look of condescension would have sparked immediate backlash under normal circumstances. But the princess held back any anger. They were far away from the capital- no royal processions, servants, or any indication that they were anything other than standard Fire Nation teenagers. She wanted to see what would happen if these two meatheads continued to remain unaware of their true identities.

"You don't know who we are, do you?" she said, barely hiding a knowing smirk.

The two boys clearly had no clue she and Zuko were royalty as their expressions continued to remain haughty and arrogant.

"Don't you know who we are? We're Chan and Ruon-Jian."

"Yeah."

Azula could already sense Zuko was getting agitated by their lack of respect and had to throw out a cautionary arm to keep him from losing his temper and spoiling the surprise. The situation was far too intriguing to give up now. Perhaps some use could come of it.

"But fine, you're invited," the boy by the name of Chan acquiesced. "Just so you know, though, some of the most important teenagers in the Fire Nation are going to be at this party so…try and act normal."

Azula gave a wicked but subtle grin and replied.

"We'll do our best."

As the two teenage boys walked away, she couldn't help but enjoy the prospect of showing up to a party as four average teens and not their usual elevated status.

This was going to be fun.

Dinner was prepared that evening by Lo and Li and the cuisine was surprisingly tasty- dumplings, fish, rice, cooked vegetables, along with an assortment of noodles. But the conversation was far from food related.

"Why didn't you tell those guys who we were?" Zuko asked. He knew his sister better than most and she never passed a chance to assert her superiority over anyone, with the exception of their father of course.

"I guess I was intrigued," Azula shrugged as she picked up a piece of fish with her chopsticks. "I'm so used to people worshipping us."

"They should."

"Yes, I know," the princess agreed with Ty Lee. "And I love it. But for once I just wanted to see how people would treat us if they didn't know who we were."

There was no lie in her eye as she spoke (though no one would have been able to even if she were). This was an opportunity that none of them had ever had before and if it meant forgoing their usual elevated status for one night, what was the harm? She had a life time to rule, but rarely was there the chance to see how these peculiar social interactions worked. If nothing else, it would be entertaining.

Li seemed to echo that sentiment.

"Like waves washing away the footprints on the sand, Ember Island gives everyone a clean slate."

Zuko and Mai, sitting with their shoulders pressed together, appeared to be skeptical of the semi-cryptic message, but otherwise remained unconcerned at the prospect of going to a party.

"Ember Island reveals the true you," continued Lo.

Both older women stood up, clapped twice and declared, "To the party!"

By sunset, the four teens were standing at the door of a very large and expensive looking house. Azula deduced that Chan had to have a current family member high up in the Fire Nation command or industrial complex, as only homes this luxurious were afforded to those in high positions. Rubbing her chin slightly, she gave a confident smile.

He is quite handsome after all. Perhaps this night will have more to offer than I originally anticipated.

"Azula, did we have to get here so early?" Mai groaned.

"What are you talking about? We're here at the scheduled time."

"Parties like this don't work like that," she tried to interject but it was no use. Azula was already knocking on the door and seconds after it opened with Chan standing in the doorway.

"Um, you're a little early. No one's here yet."

(Mai gave a small snort, which Azula ignored)

"I heard you telling someone you were parting from dusk til dawn," she said promptly. "It's dusk. So, we're here."

Chan eyed them with an exasperated look.

"But that's just an expression."

"We are the perfect party guests. We arrive right on time because we are very punctual," Azula emphasized with her hands.

Honestly, who wouldn't understand that?

Seeing that she was not joking, Chan merely shrugged and allowed them to enter with a wave of his arm.

As they entered, the plush surroundings immediately strengthened Azula's suspicions of Chan having a father or grandfather high up in the military. Antique furniture with arrangements of flowers decorated the living room, while a table full of appetizers lay in the center. Marking the entire complex was a huge Fire Nation insignia above the doorway. Frankly, the space was huge and could accommodate more than a hundred people if desired, and it was no surprise that such a gathering would be occurring here.

"Alright, listen, my dad is an Admiral. He has no idea I'm having this party so don't mess anything up."

Azula raised an eyebrow at that information. It had confirmed what she had already suspected about Chan and his family, but more importantly, the knowledge his father had no prior notice of this party was something to store for later. But that was not on the forefront of her agenda at the moment. She wanted to use this opportunity for than just potential blackmail. There was no denying that Chan looked remarkably cut in the outfit he had chosen for this occasion. If she wanted to make a good impression on a potential partner, now was as good a time as any.

"That's a sharp outfit, Chan. Careful…you could puncture the hull of an Empire Class Fire Nation battleship, leaving thousands to drown at sea…because it's so sharp."

If she were honest with herself, Azula was not precisely sure what boys like Chan wanted or didn't want to hear. But mentioning the branch of military that his father belonged to in comparison to his outfit would surely be a solid first step?

It turned she was wrong. The object of her desire continued to look at her as though she sported two heads.

"Umm….thanks," was his lackluster response and he walked away to check in on the punch table.

Azula frowned.

Well that clearly didn't win him over. So…what will?

She couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy as she continued walking through the house, past where Ruon-Jian was appraising himself in the mirror. Ty Lee could command all the attention she wanted. Mai, despite her front of complete indifference, could attract that attention as well. So what was she lacking? What did they have that she did not? It was the same question that had popped into her head earlier that day on the beach, and it irritated her that it had lingered. There was an answer to this riddle, she simply hadn't figured it out yet. And she would, just like with everything else in life that had confronted her.

Meanwhile, Zuko was not taking kindly to Ruon-Jian, his sour mood increasingly irritating Mai.

"He thinks he's so great," he scoffed.

When his girlfriend didn't respond, he lobbied the question at her.

"Well…what do you think of him?"

"I don't have any opinion about him. I hardly know him."

"You like him, don't you?"

Mai merely sighed in frustration and walked to quiet corner of the room, unable to deal with her boyfriend's odd behavior at the moment.

An hour passed by and in no time at all, the house was packed with teenagers all over the Fire Nation. Some were sons and daughters of nobleman, others from wealthy industrialists, and still others had been invited on personal charisma (or in the case of most of the girls, they were invited due to their gender). But they all shared a common goal, and that was to have a good time and live it up without their parents knowing.

Unfortunately for Ty Lee, there was another common theme to this party, and that was she had attracted the adoration of far too many boys. A crowd of around half dozen of them were vying for her affection while her anxiety slowly rose.

"So…how did you meet Ty Lee?" one of the more muscular ones asked.

"I met her at the beach. She was pretty impressed by the sand pagoda I made for her."

"Well I met her first!" cut in the scrawniest of the group.

Ty Lee, clearly uncomfortable, tried to backtrack.

"Look, i-it doesn't matter who I met first, cause I like you all."

But that didn't satisfy any of the boys, if anything it only served to increase their desire to get a straight answer.

"Yeah, but which one of us do you, like?" the muscular one pressed.

"Yeah!"

"Tell us!"

At this point, the former circus girl panicked as her admirers began crowding her space.

"I don't know! I don't know!" she cried.

Without warning, she issued a series of chi blocking kicks and jabs, sending her pursuers toppling to the ground in crumpled, drooling heaps as she cartwheeled away.

Azula had witnessed all of this with a mixture of mild amusement and increasing jealousy, which seemed to be a theme for her on this weekend getaway. Personal feelings aside, Ty Lee was the one of only a few people that she genuinely liked for no other reason than her company. In a world where every move she made had to be calculated, precise, and weighed in the cutthroat world of Fire Nation politics, she was a free spirit. A bubbly presence that saw the good in almost any situation. Unfortunately, it had the side effect of making her incredibly naïve at times, and this was one of those times.

Leaning against a random wooden post, Azula tried to hide the resentment towards her friend as she approached.

"Boy, I'm glad you're here. Those boys won't leave me alone. I guess they all just like me too much."

Something about the innocent look in Ty Lee's eye irked Azula. Was she really so air headed that she couldn't see what was really going on here? Why did she have so many admirers whilst she stood out in the cold?

"Come on, Ty Lee, you can't be this ignorant."

That wide eyed, innocent look became confused.

"What are you talking about?"

"Those boys only like you because you make it so easy for them," Azula replied, trying the hide the bitterness she felt. "You're not a challenge, you're a tease. It's not like they actually care who you are."

Tears immediately began pouring down Ty Lee's cheeks as she started to cry, burying her face into her hands. This caught Azula off guard. She had not expected the comments to make the impact they did and to see the normally cheerful girly openly weep- it caused a twinge of hurt within her heart that was rarely felt but did not like at all.

In seconds, she had taken Ty Lee's hands in hers, in a sorrowful gesture.

"Okay, okay calm down. I didn't mean what I said-"

Just, please. Stop crying.

"Look, maybe I just said it because I'm a little…jealous," she finished with a whisper.

Ty Lee perked up with shock and disbelief.

"What? You're jealous of me? But you're the most beautiful, smartest, perfect girl in the world!"

Azula's envy kicked back into play, her brief moment of sympathy replaced by the feeling of self doubt that had crept on her throughout the day.

"Well you're right about all those things. But for some reason when I meet boys they act as if I'm going to do something horrible to them."

It was Ty Lee's turn to giggle at her friend's lack of self awareness.

"But you probably would do something horrible to them. I'm sure they're just intimidated by you."

Touche, Ty Lee. I guess you're the only one that could make that sound harmless.

"Okay, look. If you want a boy to like you just look at him, smile a lot, and laugh at everything he says even if it's not funny," she finished with a bubbly shrug.

Azula paused for a moment.

"Well that sounds really shallow and stupid."

Then again, what did she have to lose?

"Let's try it."

"Okay." Ty Lee set up a more masculine pose and dropped her voice as low as her vocal chords would allow. "Hey there, sweet sugar cakes. How ya liking this party?"

Azula let loose an extremely loud and exaggerated laugh that perforated the room, causing several in the room to look their way.

In a night of several firsts, the princess suddenly found herself slightly embarrassed. Ty Lee giggling did not help.

"Shut up," she muttered.

"Haha, it's okay Azula. Don't worry, I'll make sure to tell you everything I know before you go and talk to Chan."

The princess nodded, finding herself feeling a small amount of gratitude for Ty Lee's assistance.

After several more minutes of tips, tricks, and practice, Azula felt ready to try once more.

"You'll do great," Ty Lee encouraged happily. "Just remember- look, smile, and laugh even if not funny. Compliment him, put him at ease, and he'll be eating out of the palm of your hand."

She nodded.

"Got it."

Confidently, Azula walked over to where the target of her desire was chatting up another girl. No matter, she would take care of that in a matter of seconds.

"Chan! I'm ready for a tour of the house."

That seemed to spark the boy's interest, as he gave a smile and indicated for her to follow, leaving the other girl to hold onto the drinks like a servant. Azula gave a silent chuckle at how enraged her competition became, as she stole him away. Jealousy was never fun, but it felt especially good when someone was on the other end of it.

I win, hussy, she thought triumphantly.

Chan lead her to the back porch where he began to strike up a conversation.

"Is this your first time on Ember Island?" he asked her.

"No, I used to come here years ago."

Looking out over the quiet night, with the stars reflecting out on the ocean, Azula was tempted to think back on the old days when Ember Island was an annual family retreat and not a forced getaway. She pushed those thoughts down as Chan continued talking.

"It's a great place if you like sand," he said in an attempt at humor. But the princess remembered what Ty Lee had emphasized and gave a believable laugh.

"Yeah, it's like…welcome to sandy land!" Chan grinned.

The jokes were abysmal, but Azula continued to laugh, which in turn caused Chan to laugh as he drew closer to her.

It was working. Now was the time to go all in to secure his affection.

"Your arms are so…strong."

The princess didn't need to lie about her obvious attraction to the boy. He was naturally handsome, and he indeed possess very large and well toned arms. She enjoyed the way he looked at her with his sparkling, confident eyes. It was an unfamiliar experience for her to fawn over someone like this, but not unwelcome. A princess did need a consort after all. Chan would be perfect. Easy on the eyes, and even easier getting him to do what she wanted.

"Yeah," he replied, giving his bicep a dramatic flex in a clear attempt to impress her. "I know."

Simultaneously, the two teens leaned in close and sealed the deal with a brief, but tender kiss.

Chan smiled as they broke apart, a dreamy look in his eye as though he were seeing her for the first time.

"You're pretty."

Internally, Azula was positively ecstatic. Everything Ty Lee had told her worked like a charm. She made a mental note to reward in some way once they returned to the capital. But for now, the only thing that mattered was that she had long last won Chan to her side. Visions of their future and everything they would accomplish filled her mind, so much so, that she temporarily forgot herself.

"Together…you and I will be the strongest couple in the entire world. We will dominate the earth!" she emphasized the point by summoning blue flames in her hands.

Chan, however, did not look impressed. If anything, he held a fearful, slightly unnerved expression.

"Uhhh….I gotta go…"

He gave a nervous, plastic grin and beat a hasty retreat back inside the house, leaving Azula just as confused as ever and more than a little hurt.

What had gone wrong? She had done everything Ty Lee said to do- smiling, laughing, talking, and it had even led to a kiss. So why did Chan go from admiring and adoring her to looking as though she had said and done something horrible? As the son of an Admiral, he should know just how fortunate he was to be in the company of the Princess of the Fire Nation…

Then Azula remembered the point and purpose of the party. Chan still had no idea who she was, or who any of them were. She might have been the second most powerful person in the entire empire, slayer of the Avatar, conqueror of Ba Sing Se and the most prodigious firebender in generations. But none of that meant anything out here. For the first time in her fourteen years of life, she found herself at an almost complete loss.

This is ridiculous! How am I letting these ridiculous teenage shenanigans get the better of me?!

The almost helpless feeling only served to frustrate her further. Sighing, she supposed she had better return inside and talk to Ty Lee. Maybe she would know what had gone wrong…

Her timing couldn't have been worse, as she arrived to witness Zuko get into a fight with Ruon-Jian and Mai, resulting in a broken vase and seriously pissed off Chan.

"That's it! You're out of here!"

Zuko had seemingly no intention of staying. Azula recognized that look in her brother's eye any day. He was angry and if pushed further, would lose his temper. Thankfully, that didn't happen this time around.

"I was just leaving," he shot back, and started to head towards the door.

"Have fun by yourself, loser boy!" Ruon-Jian called after him.

"Nice!"

Ignoring the two boys' pathetic attempt at an insult, Azula looked towards Mai, who remained expressionless, and then back at Ty Lee, who shrugged. Upset as Zuko might be, it was better that she prevent him from doing anything reckless…or anything more reckless than he had already done.

Oh, Zuzu. Why must you be this way?

She signaled for her two friends to follow her as Zuko slammed the door shut. As he did so, Azula had a hunch she wasn't the only one feeling unsure about certain things.

She also had a hunch as to where he was going next.

Alright, like I said, mostly introduction. No deviation from the main story...yet.

Please tell me what you think:) I'll be updating this fic weekly so look forward to more soon!

~The Wasp