Author's note- y'all we tackling the beach episode!! Honestly been looking forward to this one sense I've started this book! Get ready for some petty relationship drama!! :)))) (also can we get a moment of silence for how attractive Zuko looked in this episode like OH MY LORD) Also this chapter is the longest one yet! (Seriously it took FOREVER )

Speckles of water splashed in the air with each passing wave. I sat awkwardly next to Zuko trying to avoid as much eye contact as I could from Azula. Basically, Zuko was dragged into a vacation with Mai, Ty Lee, and Azula. Then, Zuko dragged me with him. The only reason I agreed to go (and risk my life spending a holiday with Azula) is because at least I could gather intelligence for Fai.

I mean it was nice to get away from the palace, but hanging out with the girl whose tried to kill me several times and the girl who definitely has a major crush on my  sorta boyfriend-turtle duck buddy-maybe fiance (I don't  know it was never fully addressed) who I'm still mad at wasn't exactly my idea of a good time. But hey... at least Ty Lee's chill!

I stared off the boat taking in the fresh sea breeze.

"I'm so excited to spend the weekend on Ember island! It's gonna be great to hang on the beach and do nothing." Ty Lee gushed.

"Doing nothing is a waste of time! We're being sent away on a forced vacation. I feel like a child." Zuko scoffed his cloak flowing in the wind.

"Lighten up, Dad wants to meet with his advisors without anyone else around. Don't take it personally." Azula sneered crossing her arms.

"Doesn't your family have a house on Ember Island?" Ty Lee chimed in.

"We used to come every summer when we were kids." Azula stated looking at me for a moment.

"That must have been fun!"

"That was a long time ago." Zuko muttered looking off into the water.

"Zuko, you have no right to complain since you're the one who dragged me here." I added mildly annoyed.

"(Y/N)!"

"Wow ZuZu, forcing (Y/N) to spend time with you? That's a new low even for you." Azula smirked raising her eyebrow.

"Be quiet Azula..." Zuko spat.

~

The sight of the shore was finally in view. On the deck, two creepy old ladies stood wearing massive sun hats,
"Welcome to Ember island, kids."

I remembered these ladies from my childhood, they're part of the Fire Nation royal family but I honestly can't remember how. They lead us into their cottage by the shore in which we were immediately engulfed in pastel pinks and out dated florals.

"It smells like old lady in here.." Zuko whispered at me.

Before I could reply Mai shot in with,
"Gee, I wonder why."

Ty Lee dashed over to a photo displaying two young women in a rather... interesting position,
"Who are these two beautiful women?"

"Can't you tell? It's Li and me." They replied demonstrating the pose causing Zuko to almost throw up but honestly I couldn't blame him.

I smirked raising my eyebrow. The room we were to stay in was somehow even pinker then the rest of the house. Everything had to be at least 30 years old and filled with dust.

"Ooh I love this seashell bedspread!" Ty Lee chimed dashing onto the bed.

"Are you serious? It looks like the beach threw up all over it." Mai hissed.

"We know you're upset that you were forced to come here this weekend. But Ember island is a magical place keep an open mind. Give it a chance. And it can help you understand yourselves and eachother." Lo and Li explained picking up a stone from a table, "the beach has a special way of smoothing even the most ragged edges."

Azula yawned, Mai look still bored, Zuko crossed his arms, Ty Lee smiled politely, and I stood there awkwardly.

"Time to hit the beach!" Lo and Li exclaimed removing their cover ups.

I immediately shot my hand up to Zuko's face covering the horrid sight.

We all got ready and headed to the beach. It was filled with ashy grey sand and happy Firenation citizens.

Azula smashed the nearest sandcastle sending two kids rushing away.

Zuko and I set up a towel in some shade as Ty Lee and Mai gathered a hoard of teen boys by just sitting there. Azula immediately looked jealous but I wasn't about to comfort her after what she's done to me.

"So... this is a beach. Nice" I sighed.

"Haven't you ever been to a beach before (Y/N)?"

"I mean yeah I think... just not in a bit you know. I haven't exactly had much time to relax you know? Since for like three years I was on a ship searching for the Avatar... then we were in Ba Sing Sa for a bit. Now I'm back in my homeland dating the brother of the person I'm most afraid of."

"I'm sorry I forced you through all that." Zuko muttered blushing lightly.

"It's fine Zuko. My life without you would have been boring anyway." I stammered faking a smile. A strange guilt fell over me, I knew why, Fai I couldn't seem to get that archer out of my head!

"Wait... did you just admit that we're dating?"

"I don't know did I?" I retorted leaning my head on his shoulder.

"That's what I just asked you (Y/N)!" Zuko raged raising his voice.

"Calm down Zuko. It was a joke."

"Agh!" He put his face in his hands "I'm sorry I just haven't been able to handle my anger lately ever since I got back."

"Hey  beach bums we're playing next. Ty Lee get over here now!" Azula sneered eyeing the volleyball field.

"Okay guess we're doing this now."

Zuko stood up taking off his robe in preparation for the game.

A hoard of teen girls blushed fervently, Zuko's hair blew in the wind.
"Okay ladies easy now! He's taken." I snapped.

"Jealous much?" Zuko questioned lifting his eyebrow as we walked toward Azula, Mai, and Ty Lee.

"Shut it lovebirds now get over here and listen to my plan. See that girl with the silly pigtails? 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. We'll destroy her and the rest of her team. Dismissed" Azula stated eyeing the opposing team.

We all entered our spots and the game began. Immediately Zuko crashed the ball onto the other teams side earning us a lead. Zuko, Ty Lee, Mai and I followed suit completely devastating the other team. Fire crackled on the net as Azula celebrated her victory,
"Yes, we have defeated you for all time. You will never rise from the ashes of your shame and humiliation. Well, that was fun"

Two guys came up to Ty Lee.
"I'm having a party tonight. You should come by."

"Sure I love parties!" Ty Lee answered.

"Your two friends can come two." Tge guy with the longer hair grinned eyeing Mai and I.

"Uh what about me and my brother? Aren't you going to invite us? You don't know who we are, do you?" Azula remarked.

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

"Yeah." Ruon-Jian added causing Zuko to storm up before Azula blocked him.

"But fine you're invited. Just so you know, though. Some of the most important teenagers in the Fire Nation are gonna be at this party so..  try and act normal."

"We'll do our best..."

~

"Why didn't you tell those guys who we were?" Zuko asked Azula from across the table. We were back at Lo and Li's place to eat some food.

"I guess I was intrigued. I'm so used to people worshipping us."

"They should!" Ty Lee added.

"Yes, I know 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."

"Like waves washing away the footprints on the sand. Ember island gives everyone a clean slate. Ember island reveals the true you..." Lo and Li explained before clapping in sink "to the party!"

~

Azula knocked on the door of Chan's house.

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

"I heard you telling someone you'd be partying from dusk till dawn. It's dusk so we're here." Azula stated.

"But... that's just an expression."

"We are the perfect party guests. We arrive right on time because we are very punctual."

Chan lead us inside,
"Alright listen, my dad's an admiral. He has no idea I'm having this party  so don't mess anything up."

"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." Azula flirted awkwardly.

"Um... thanks."

Roun-Jian fixed his hair in a mirror nearby
"Hey... first ones here huh?"

"He thinks he's so great..." Zuko muttered bitterly, "Well what do you want think of him?"

"Whatever you want me to think Zuko. I literally just met him!" I replied annoyed.

"You like him don't you?"

I sighed irritated at Zuko looked back at the guy like he was going to murder him.

Finally, the party started as teenagers gathered into the room. Our group had separated and I was chilling with Zuko on a seat off to the side.

"I've never been to a party but this is boring...I don't even know where Azula, Ty Lee, and Mai went and they were my only source of entertainment!" I complained.

"I'm still right here you know..." Zuko nagged.

"I'm hungry... Zuko fetch me some food."

"Sure..." Zuko replied walking off.

While Zuko was getting food that Roun-Jian guy walked over to me,
"Hey there."

"Umm hello... can I help you?"

"I just noticed that you were alone, thought you might like some company." His dark brown hair was gathered over half of his face.

"How can you even see with yourself hair like that?" I teased.

"You sound like my mom..." he grinned.

Suddenly I heard a loud crash on the ground, I looked over as Zuko's eyes grew with fire. Judging by the food on the ground, the guy probably bumped into him,
"Hey, watch it! That food was for my cranky girlfriend."

Zuko looked over, saw I was chatting with Roun-jian and began storming my way. He threw the teen back,
"What are you doing?"

"Stop talking to my girlfriend." Zuko snapped back.

"Relax, its just a party." Roun-jian replied. Zuko pushed him back sending the poor guy crashing into a vase.

"Zuko what is wrong with you? I jeered.

"What's wrong with me?"

"Your tempers out of control. You blow up over every little thing! You're so impatient and hot-headed and angry!" I shouted.

"Well at least I'm consistent! You never take anything seriously and when you do you fall apart! You don't know what you're doing! Its like everything's a game to you!" Zuko retorted.

"You know what? I'm done... it's over Zuko!"

Chan rushed over to the shattered pieces of porsilin scattered over the ground,
"Who broke my Nana's vase?"

A guy pointed over to Zuko,
"That's it, you're out of here!"

"I was just leaving..."

"Have fun by your self loser boy!" Roun-jian taunted as Zuko stormed away.

I sighed shaking my head.

~

Azula told us to wait at the beach as she got Zuko from the house they stayed in when they were younger. Shortly after Zuko left, we all agreed we should probably go and get him. I reluctantly agreed watching as Zuko came down by us,
"Hey.."

"Where's your new boyfriend? A-are you cold?" He asked.

"A bit..."

"I'll make a fire... there's plenty of stuff to burn up there." Zuko replied looking up at his childhood vacation home.

The embers of the fire crackled as Zuko threw an old family portrait into the flames.

"What are you doing?" Ty Lee frowned.

"What does it look like I'm doing?"

"But, it's a painting of your family..." she muttered.

"You think I care?" Zuko accused.

"I think you do..."

"You don't know me, so why don't you just mind your own business?" Zuko snapped.

"Ah, I know you." Ty Lee sighed.

"No you don't! You're stuck in your little Ty Lee world where everything's great all the time."

"Zuko, leave her alone." Mai advised narrowing her glare.

"I'm so pretty look at me. I can walk on my hands, whoo! Circus freak." Zuko mocked the darkness of the sky highlighted the pain on Ty Lee's face.

Azula laughed while I death glared Zuko.

"Yes, I'm a circus freak. Go ahead and laugh all you want. You want to know why I joined the circus?" Ty Lee wailed.

"Here we go..." Azula sighed.

"Do you have any idea what my home life was like growing up with six sisters who looked exactly like me? It was like I didn't even have my own name. I joined the circus because I was scared of spending the rest of my life as part of a matched set. At least I'm different now! Circus freak is a compliment!"

"Guess that explains why you need 10 boyfriends, too." Mai grumbled.

"I'm sorry, what?" Ty Lee snapped.

"Attention issues? You couldn't get enough attention when you were a kid so you're trying to make up for it now." She explained.

"Well, what's your excuse Mai? You were an only child for 15 years. But even with all that attention your aura is this dingy, pasty, grey-"

"I don't believe in auras." Mai cut in uninterested.

"Yeah, you don't believe in anything." Zuko scoffed.

"Oh, well. I'm sorry I can't be as high-strung and crazy as the rest of you." Mai muttered crossing her arms.

"Well I'm sorry too... I wish that you would be high-strung and crazy for once instead of keeping all your feelings bottled up inside. She just called your aura dingy. Are you going to take that?" Zuko complained circling about under the moonlight.

"What do you want from me? You want a teary confession about how hard my childhood was? Well it wasn't. I was a rich child who got anything I wanted as long as I behaved...and sat still..and didn't speak unless spoken to. My mother said I had to keep out of trouble we had my dad's political career to think about..." Mai explained pain burrowed in her eyes.

"Well that's it then. You had a controlling mother who had certain expectations and if you strayed from them you were shut down. That's why you're afraid to care about anything and why you can't express yourself." Azula sneered.

"You want me to express myself? Leave me alone!" She screamed snapping at Azula.

"(Y/N) you're oddly quiet... don't you want to monologue about your trauma." Azula taunted, "or what... to afraid to... you are always to weak."

The blood in my veins burned as I stood up.

"I AM NOT WEAK!" I  shrieked blasting fire into the air, embers scattered  in the sky "before you Azula I was fine. Before you I was normal... then all of a sudden you're all over me. Every time I breathed you were down my neck! Then I try to be friends with Zuko and you lose it. Do you not remember how many times you tried to kill me? Do you know how much sleep I lose because your damn voice is screaming in my head? Do you know how how many times you called me pathetic, weak, worthless! And you know what, I believed you. You're the reason I'm terrified of failure! You're the reason my firebending training was stopped! You're the reason that I always have to have someone make chooses for me because I'm to scared everyone will hate me! I'm always in someone else's shadow because of YOU!"

I took a flame in my hand and barreled it towards her. Mai and Ty Lee had to contain me not to kill her.

"Well well well is that what you think of me?" Azula taunted raising her eyebrow.

"Don't you dare Azula!" Zuko yelled looking at me.

"Guys let's just calm down. This much negative energy is bad for your skin!" Ty Lee warned before realizing her mistake.

"Bad skin? Normal teenagers worry about bad skin. I don't have that luxury. My father decided to teach me a permanent lesson on my face."

"Sorry Zuko I..." she fretted.

"For so long I thought that if my dad accepted me, I'd be happy. I'm back home now. My dad talks to me. Huh, he even thinks I'm a hero. Everything should be perfect right? I should be happy now, but I'm not. I'm angrier than ever and I don't know why."

"There's a simple question you need to answer then. Who are you angry at?" Azula remarked.

"No one, I'm just angry."

"Yeah but who are you angry at Zuko?" Mai blurted leaning toward him.

"Everyone... I don't know." He insisted looking down.

"Is it dad?" Azula asked.

"No no"

"Your uncle?" Ty Lee questioned.

"Me?" Azula added.

"No no... no no" Zuko shouted his  confusion bellowing onto the heat of the flames.

"Then who? Who are you angry at?" I stated his golden eyes meeting mine.

"Answer the question Zuko" Azula begged.

"Talk to us!" Ty Lee instructed.

"Come on answer the question"

"I'M ANGRY AT MYSELF!" Zuko roared the fire of the firepit blazing into the air. Embers swirled like blood on a battlefield.

"Why?" Azula remarked.

"Because I'm confused. Because I'm not sure I know the difference between right and wrong anymore."

"You're pathetic" Azula grumbled.

"Don't you dare Azula. Zuko, I'm here for you okay I think that you're wonderful." I placed a kiss on his cheek. His gaze was steady with mine.

"Well, those were wonderful performances everyone."

"I guess you wouldn't understand would you Azula? Because you're just so perfect." Zuko scoffed his arm around me.

"Well yes, I guess you're right. I don't have sob stories like all of you. I could sit here and complain how our mom and (Y/N) liked Zuko more than me. But I really don't care. My own mother thought I was a monster. She was right of course but it still hurt."

"What Lo did Li said came true. The beach did help us learn about ourselves. I feel all smoothed. I'll always remember this." Ty Lee noted a soft smile landing on her face.

"You know what would make this trip really memorable?" Azula remarked perking my attention

~

"We've got some bad news, Chan..."

"Party's over" Zuko finished.

We burst into Chan's home and began destroying everything. Windows, wood, and lights were shattered as soom as we could get to them. A look of horror crossed Chan's face.

Zuko grabbed my hand as I walked toward Chan admist the chaos,
"Don't mess with us again. Trust me."