Azula sat in the throne room her father had called for the meeting and a few other royal court members were gathered as well. It was a day of free activity no training and no work. As requested by the Firelord himself. The groups who had applied to be the Royal family's entertainers had been narrowed and were soon to arrive to the room for a final attempt to please the Royal family.

The first was a juggler. He was decent, he juggled swords, throwing knives, delicate plates, be Azula was not impressed. Zuko as pathetic as he was thought it was quite incredible. As did Ursa but it was clear even Ozai wasn't pleased. The next was a young teen who specialized in illusions but Azula young keen eyes easily tore apart his tricks. In the end the kid was utterly humiliated as Azula explained how he had performed each stunt much to the amusement of Ozai. The next was an animal trainer. She encouraged fire ferret to hop through hoops, little Spark Bats to do aerial stunts, but they were animals Azula jad seen plenty of times before.

"Father when is there going to be something good?" Azula sighed losing complete interest.

"Relax your peasent friend's family is up next." This peaked Azula's interest and she turned back to the open space. Sure enough a group of people entered the palace all of them looking heavily alike. Azula instantly picked out Ty Lee she lagged behind a bit walking on her hands. Azula frowned the girl really had no idea how to act around royalty no wonder her father disliked her the most.

The man was of a slender build as well he had an intelligent twinkle in his eyes. There was no introduction needed the performance started when he threw his hand out and a thick smoke filled the area. Azula eyes searched curiously trying to decipher the group.

"Boo!" Azula jumped her fingers sparking to life. Zuko laughed as did Ursa. Azula turned quickly to see Ty Lee perched in the arm of her throne.

"Unless you want to end up like fire flakes dint ever di that again!" Azula hissed. Ty Lee's smile didn't fade instead she simply shrugged moving from Azula's throne over to Zuko's.

"Hey Zuko." She greeted. Zuko smiled back happily.

"Hi!" Father shot him a look and Zuko instantly quieted. Ursa watched Ty Lee with uncontained amusement. Azula frowned watching Ty Lee as she talks animatedly with Zuko albeit in a whisper. She pries her gaze off of the two and focuses back on the performance. The smoke wafts about the room in different colors. A steady beat picks up and two of the sisters emerge. They dance to the beat in a rhythmic yet fluid manner. It was enchanting to watch. Two more times appeared only they didn't stay long. The bended jn all sorts of ways making their wsy back into the smoke cloud. Contortionists and dancers.

Azula kept watching waiting for an acrobat to appear but nine came. They were dancers, contortionists, tumblers, and stunts women, but no acrobats. She found herself slightly disappointed. Then it occurred to her that the reason Ty Lee wasn't allowed to perform wasn't because of her age, it was because she didn't have a pair, she didn't fit the spectrum of skill.

The man bowed low as did his daughters, Ty Lee leapt cleanly off of Zuko's throne, flipped once, and landed in her hands. It was an impressive feat. Ozai clapped slowly and soon others joined in But Azula refused to clap. Ozai noticed and looked curiously at Azula. The applause died down into a quiet echo.

"Azula you seem unsatisfied." Ozai noted.

"I am." Azula spoke dryly causing the man to shuffle awkwardly.

"I beg your pardon miss? May I ask why?" Azula caught Ty Lee's nervous glance from the  corner of her eye.

"It was an interesting performance but I found the lack of acrobatics disturbing. Dancing I've seen, stunts check, tumblers been there, contortionists if you've seen one you've seen them all." Azula sighed reflecting her boredom and irritation.

"Of course miss. We'll fix that right away." He muttered glancing at Ty Lee who had become easily distracted and tuned out of the conversation. She was busy trying to do hand stand push ups but failing.

"Otherwise I have no qualms you excelled above the other imbeciles who attempted and utterly failed to entertain me." Azula replied flippantly. Ursa gave Azula a warning look.

"I thought they were wonderful as they were." Ursa smiled kindly. Zuko nodded enthusiastically.

With that Father dismissed them having officially inaugurated them into the Royal Court. Ursa and Ozai left leaving Azula and Zuko alone. Ty Lee's father left with his daughters in tow. Ty Lee lagging behind yet again. "Ty Lee!"

The acrobat turned around to face Azula a curious expression painting her features.  Zuko shifted nervously expecting Azula to something horrible as she usually did. He had seen her push Ty Lee around, call her names etc. Though he had seen a few rare and startling occasions where Azula had treated Ty Lee correctly, for instance the time Azula invited her to dinner, Ty Lee had skipped her own dinner to meet Azula at the palace on time.

"Yeah?" Ty Lee asked.

"You wouldn't mind if I canceled our meeting tomorrow would you?" Azula asked watching for Ty Lee's reaction. The other girl's face fell.

"I mean sure." She shrugged.

"Good." Azula said with finality. She stood from her small throne and left the room. Zuko stayed watching Ty Lee. She seemed well really upset. She left the room in a haste but Zuko followed closely behind.

"Ty Lee wait! What's wrong?" Zuko asked grabbing her hand. Ty Lee turned and Zuko noted her eyes that were welled with tears.

"I'm fine." She lied. Zuko frowned.

"No come on you can tell me." Zuko reassured her.

"It's just... I mean she's cancelled three times this week. What if we're not friends anymore. She's the Princess she probably has tons of people who come and go." Ty Lee cried wiping her tears quickly. Zuko pulled her into a tight hug.

"It may sound untrue but from what I know Azula cares she pushes people around a lot and treats them poorly like she does with you." Zuko explained.

"Was that supposed to make me feel better?" Ty Lee laughed her eight year old self small compared to Zuko's ten year old frame.

"The point is she also treats you fairly sometimes. She never invited anyone to dinner. Heck she hardly tells me when dinner is." Zuko reassured. Ty Lee giggled into his shoulder pulling back and smiling.

"Thanks Zuko. You're a nice boy." Ty Lee complimented Zuko smiled. With that Zuko escorted her to the gates and to his surprise Azula was waiting.

"She can walk on her own Zuko!" Azula snapped. Zuko just signed and turned leaving them.

"Hey." Ty Lee struggled to smile.

"I just wanted to explain why I've been cancelling mother says it's proper educate but I could care less. Anyways I've had a more intense...training schedule with my father." Azula explained pausing in he middle of her sentence a strange look flashing across her features. Ty Lee didn't say anything.

"I understand." She smiled starting towards the exit before turning and quickly hugging Azula. Azula stood frozen in surprise watching Ty Lee leave.  A slight smile played on her lips before she turned and jogged off back towards the palace.