Azula was bored out of her mind. Honestly why were there not more kids in the courtyard. She had seen them all milling about earlier when Zuko had gone out to play but they had all seemingly dissapeared. She stood alone in the frozen yard her little nkse turning pink. She huffed steam rolling off her small hands. She sighed setting to work on a show fort. It would be an architectural wonder but what was the point if there was no reason to use it? Her little brain contemplated how much energy would be expanded with no reward reaped. The last thing she wanted to do was ask for Zuko's help. She glanced up at the faint sound of shoes scraping on the roo layer of ice coating the snow. A few kids had tried to slink by. A few of them seemed to be new. They locked eyes and immediately scurried off only one stayed behind. Azula rolled her eyes.

"Useless cowards." She shrugged. "I'll just have to do this myself."

Azula set to work pushing the snow into a pile and packing it down. The fort began tk take shape no longer just a lump of snow. Azula lit one of her fingers and used it to carve out small viewing slats. She worked efficiently and tirelessly for what felt like hours. All the while the one kid stayed still in the shadows watching her work. Azula grunted as she picked up a large block of packed snow and placed it on the wall. She sighed brushing a strand of loose hair behind her ear. Sure enough what had once been a glistening like of frozen white was now an impressive fortress of ice. Azula smiled proudly at it. Only her smile faded when she took note of the still empty courtyard. She frowned. What had even been the point in making the fort in the first place.Azula had thought just maybe it would have drawn the attention of some other kids.

"It doesn't matter if they play or not. They would've ruined the game anyways." Azula frowned. She set her hand ablaze and aimed it at the fort. One small bursts of flame and it would melt into a puddle. As useless and bland as the fort.

"Wait!" A small voice called out. "Don't ruin it."

Azula wheeled around hand still ablaze to see a young girl around her age standing off to the side of the courtyard. "And why not?"

"Well you spent so much time on it." The girl said quietly.

"So?" Azula snapped. "It was a waste of my energy. Useless as snow, ice , or water."

"No! It's a fort right? Aren't fort's important?" The firk asked stepping closer. As she drew nearer Azula noted her appearance. She seemed to fancy the color pink. Her eyes were large and round sometimes reflecting a grey color other times a brown color. Her hair was long and pulled back in a braid. She seemed agile, small and lithe.

"A fort is useless unless it is used to protect something or someone. As you have probably noticed there is a lack of an enemy." Azula explained impatiently.

"I could be the enemy." The girl offered excitedly. Azula rolled her eyes.

"Please you are as unintimidating as they get." Azula watched the young girl frown in distaste.

"That's because you don't know me." She replied curtly. The young girl formed a snowball in her hand and in a flash she threw it. Azula narrowly dodged it not expecting some random peasent to attack her of all people. She was the Princess for Sozin's sake! Azula frowned launching a jet of fire at the girl. She leapt easily out of the way tucking into a roll and springing to her feet. "See?"

"Please anyone can do that." Azula scoffed copying the movement. The girl smiled her eyes twinkling as she cartwheeled. Azula her again mimicked the motion. The other girl walked on her hands expertly navigating the snow. Azula placed her hands on the cold ground walking a few paces forward. The newcomer smirked launching into the akr and flipping. Azula watched in amazement. She had yet to tackle a move like that. However she was not one to admit defeat. Gritting her teeth she sprang into the air tucking up into a roll. She landed but as her foot made contact on the ground she slipped. Azula landed hard in the snow sinking into the white powder.

The new girl rushed over to where Azula sat looking confused. "I should have stuck that landing my technique was flawless."

"I know." The girl laughed extending her hands to Azula. Azula grudgingly took them and as the girk tried to pull her up Azula smirked evilly tugging her down into the snow as well. "Hey!"

Azula laughed as she landed face first into the snow. The girl sat up her nose bright red. Small delicate snowflakes decorated her eyelashes. Despite her frozen fall the girl was smiling. Azula felt a small amount of amusement for the girl. "What is your name?"

"Ty Lee. And you are Princess Azula." The girl beamed.

"You knew that and yet you still decided to play with me?" Azula asked curiously.

"Yeah wouldn't everyone want to play with you?" Ty Lee asked.

"Actually no. I tend to strike fear into people's hearts." Azula grinned.

"Well you don't seem to terribly scary even if I have heard of some rumors." Ty Lee noted out loud.

"Tell me Ty Lee how exactly did you get into the Royal Court yard?" Azula wondered.

"Well my dad has a meeting with Firelord Ozai. See my family is a family of travelling entertainers. We heard he was looking for some so here I am." Ty Lee explained.

"Then why aren't you performing?" Azula inquired.

"Well I'm too young." Ty Lee sighed. "I have a bunch of older sisters."

"I have lousy older brother." Azula smiled. "Tell you what. You seem to have some sort of decent acrobatic skill. I'll put a good word in for my father. If you stay in town though I expect to see you here on a regular basis. You're somewhat entertaining and I need to escape the boring environment of the palace every once in a while."

"Really?" Ty Lee asked excitedly. Azula nodded. The girl hugged her tightly in her enthused Azula was completely unsure of how to react. After a pause she awkwardly hugged back. "You're not very good at hugging we'll have to fix that."

With that Ty Lee got to hdr feet and cartwheeled off. Azula smiled lightly today handy been so bad. She walked back into the palace she hadn't realized she was late to lunch. Her brother and parents both looked at her curiously her usual pristine outfit had a thin layer of frost and snow on it.

"You look particularly happy today." Ursa noted. Azula shrugged.

"I was just playing in the courtyard." Zuko seemed surprised.

"It was empty last time I checked." Azula rolled her eyes taking her seat.

"There was a girl named Ty Lee. A rather agile girl." Azula explained. Ursa smiled lightly at her daughter. "I believe you had a meeting with her Father."

"I did." Ozai agreed.

"I like her. She amuses me." Azula said honestly.

"Well then I'll make sure to inform her father that he shall stay nearby the palace." Ozai smirked.

"Good." Azula nodded. "I have a feeling she'll come back."

And sure enough Azula's gut feeling was correct.