Azara woke up the next morning, wishing Aang and Katara good luck with their waterbending lessons, before walking to the palace to meet Yue. The sun had risen high enough to cover half of the palace in a bright yellow glow. 

Azara started to walk up the stairs to the palace when she was stopped by an older woman by the entrance. "Princess Azara, how may I help you? Is there something you require?"

"Just Azara is fine. And I was supposed to meet Princess Yue. She said to come in the morning," Azara replied, standing awkwardly as the woman nodded and smiled.

"Of course, she's been expecting you. Let me direct you to her quarters," the woman stated, motioning for Azara to follow her. Azara was not surprised to find the interior of the palace as architecturally flawless as the outside, marveling at the intricate designs as she was led through the long hallways. 

"Princess Yue is right through that door," the woman explained, pointing to a large set of double doors at the end of a hallway.

"Thank you for your help," Azara nodded to the woman before knocking on the door. At Yue's confirmation, Azara opened the door and walked inside the room, shutting the door behind her. 

Her eyes widened at the room, which was both quaint and grand at the same time. The ice of the walls and ceiling had been intricately bended into various Water Tribe symbols and decorations. Yet, there was sparse furniture and decorations besides those bended into the foundation of the room itself.

"Azara, so glad you could make it," Yue smiled, standing up from her desk and walking over to greet Azara. "I hope it wasn't too difficult to find."

"No, there was a nice woman at the entrance who helped me," Azara waved off as Yue led her into a side room, a closet Azara deduced by the clothes decorating the walls.

"Did you have any preference?" Yue asked, standing at the back of the room.

"I don't know the first thing about Water Tribe clothing," Azara chuckled nervously as she looked at the various furs and cloths. "Maybe something I can fight in? I'm supposed to spar later today."

"Hmm, definitely leggings then," Yue nodded to herself, digging through a drawer. "Who are you sparring with? The Avatar?"

"Oh, no. Uh, his name's Kesuk. I don't know if you know him," Azara trailed off as she was handed a pair of black leggings. Despite their light weight, a brush of her fingers indicated that they were thick and heavily insulated.

"Of course! He's a good friend," Yue spoke as she rifled through her dresses. "We grew up together. How did you two meet?"

"We ran into each other . . . literally," Azara explained as Yue pulled out a dress. Holding it up against Azara, she thought for a moment, before shaking her head and putting it back. "He offered to spar with me, and I agreed."

"He's one of the better waterbenders here, and one of the more tolerable men," Yue mentioned offhandedly, piquing Azara's interest.

"More tolerable?" 

"I'm sure it's the same in the Fire Nation, but . . . women have many barriers to . . . well, everything here," Yue continued, pulling out another dress. Holding it aloft, she nodded her head and handed it to Azara. It was shorter than the last one, with a longer slit to allow for greater mobility. "Women are not even allowed to waterbend—"

"—Women are not allowed to waterbend?" Azara interrupted, surprise clear in her voice. Looking back, she had not seen a single female waterbender throughout her time in the city. "Katara is going to be pissed, to put it mildly."

"Kesuk is one of the few men who advocate for teaching women waterbending, but he and Master Pakku continue to butt heads about it."

"Master Pakku? That's Aang's waterbending teacher," Azara spoke, glancing out the window to see if she could see the waterbending lessons going on. "That's going to go over well," she muttered sarcastically, already imagining Katara's reaction. "Why can't women waterbend here?" 

"It's tradition," Yue sighed, pulling open another drawer. "So they say." 

"I think they're just scared to lose to a girl and choose to hide behind their traditions," Azara huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. "If you point the sexist pigs out to me, I'd be happy to challenge them to a duel." Yue laughed, shaking her head, placing a hand on Azara's shoulder.

"That won't be necessary, but thank you for the offer," she smiled, returning to her search. She pulled out a long undershirt, a thick brown belt, and a pair of snow boots. "This should work. Go ahead and try them on, I'll find you a thick outer coat." 

Azara nodded and retreated to the other room to change. Pulling on the Water Tribe clothing, she could instantly feel herself warming up. As she tied the belt, Yue walked out of the closet with a thick coat and gloves in hand.

"You almost look like you're Water Tribe," Yue chuckled, placing the coat and gloves on the bed before turning to Azara.

"I don't think I quite have the hairstyle down though," Azara joked, pointing at her topknot.

"I can do it for you, if you'd like," Yue offered as Azara nodded, sitting on the bed as Yue grabbed a brush. Azara undid her topknot, allowing her thick black hair to tumble down and over her shoulders. As Yue began to brush her hair, Azara stared forwards, remaining quiet. 

"Can I ask you a question, Azara?" Yue questioned quietly after a few moments of calm silence. 

"Of course. Anything."

"Sokka . . . do you know him well?" Yue asked, pulling the brush through a knot.

"I mean, we've been travelling together for weeks now. I guess I do," Azara shrugged, not understanding what Yue wanted to know specifically. 

"Do you . . . do you think he's a good person?"

"I . . ." Azara stopped herself, staring at her hands. "Sokka is . . . when we first met, we didn't get along well. He didn't like me because I was Fire Nation, obviously, and I thought he was annoying . . . but after travelling with him for this long, there's no other person in this world, save for Katara or Aang, that I would trust with my life more than him. I owe him my life and so much more." 

Azara sighed as Yue put down the brush, lightly embarrassed with her explanation to Yue. "Does that answer your question?" she asked sheepishly, blushing at her rambling.

"Yes, of course," Yue replied, pulling the hair at the top of Azara's head into a bun. "Thank you for being honest with me."

"Of course, girls have to have each other's backs," Azara smiled, staring out the window as Yue braided two strands in a halo braid around the top of Azara's head. The rest of her hair was left down, and Yue brushed it again to straighten it out. "If you don't mind me asking, why are you asking me about Sokka?"

Princess Yue blushed at Azara's question, looking to the floor. "He seems nice. I was hoping to get to know him more during your stay here."

"I think he'd like that," Azara nodded, turning to share a reassuring smile with Yue, who had shown herself to be nothing but kind and compassionate for others in the short time Azara had known her. She could see why Sokka was interested in Yue.

Yue was beautiful; even the most jealous girls had to admit that. She obviously cared deeply about her people and those around her and had been one of the first people Azara had met outside of the Fire Nation that hadn't initially judged her for her heritage. Yue also happened to be a Water Tribe princess. There was no concern for cultural differences or underlying prejudices, as would be the case with Azara and Sokka. 

"You really think so? You think he likes me?" Yue asked, returning the smile. 

"What's not to like?" Azara shrugged, chuckling lightly despite the awkwardness of the situation. While Azara's feelings and emotions were all over the place at the idea of Yue and Sokka getting together, she knew she wouldn't be able to deny both of them happiness because she was confused. 

Yue blushed at the comment, placing the brush back down on her dresser. "Thank you for your help, Azara. I don't know what I'd do without your guidance," Yue replied, as Azara nodded and smiled back at her. Sokka and Yue deserved to be happy, Azara decided. And if them being happy meant sacrificing her own feelings, Azara was willing to suffer through it.  

"His favorite topics include meat and his boomerang, if you're looking for conversation topics," Azara joked, turning around as Yue finished her hair.

"There, now you look just like any other Water Tribe girl

"Thank you for all your help, Yue. I have to go, but maybe we can hang out another time?" Azara asked, moving to pull on the thick coat and gloves.

"I would love that! Not many girls my age want to talk to me," Yue trailed off as Azara placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Well, they're probably just jealous."

"Thanks, Azara," Yue smiled, glancing out the window, eyes widening as she realized how much time had passed. "Actually, I have to be going as well. Let me walk you out." As Yue led the way out of the palace, the two princesses discussing the architecture of the palace as they walked through the long hallways.

Outside, Kesuk was leaning on a railing, waiting for Azara to show up. He was early and passed the time by messing around with some water. Out of the corner of his eye, he could spot a figure approaching. Dropping the water back into the snow, Kesuk turned to face Sokka as he walked towards the entrance of the palace. 

"Uh, do you happen to know where I can find Princess Yue?" Sokka asked Kesuk, who was the only other person milling around the area.

"She's probably in the palace. Someone inside should be able to find her for you," Kesuk replied as Yue and Azara appeared at the top of the stairs. As Kesuk pointed at the entrance of the palace, his eyes landed on Yue and Azara. "Or she's walking this way right now." Sokka looked up, easily spotting Yue but not instantly recognizing the woman next to her.

As Yue and Azara approached, Yue said something Sokka could not make out, which caused Azara to laugh loudly. The familiarity of the laugh caused Sokka's eyes to widen in recognition. "Azara?" Sokka gasped out in sudden realization as she turned and locked her golden eyes with his own blue ones.

"Hey, Sokka," she waved as she and Yue stopped in front of Kesuk and Sokka.

"What are you wearing?" he asked, looking at her attire with surprise decorating his features.

"Uh, I was cold, and Yue offered me some extra clothes. And I thought why not go big or go home," Azara joked, gesturing to her new hairstyle. After a quiet moment, the smile dropped from her face as an awkward silence fell over the group. "Do I look stupid in this?" she sighed quietly, looking at the ground.

"No, you don't," Yue assured her, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "You look beautiful, Azara." 

"In fact, I would go so far as to say blue is definitely your color," Kesuk added, causing Sokka to raise an eyebrow at Kesuk's blatant flirting.

"Oh, thanks," Azara smiled, blushing at Yue and Kesuk's compliments, and laughing in response. She suddenly straightened, placing her hands on her hips. "But flattery will not make me an easier opponent in our spar, Kesuk."

"I had to try," he returned, a kind smile on his face. "Speaking of, we should probably go soon."

"Oh, of course! Thanks for the help again, Yue! And see you around, Sokka," Azara spoke, before walking alongside Kesuk towards the training grounds. Sokka watched them walk off with mild suspicion.

"Who was that?" he questioned, turning back to Yue.

"Oh, that's Kesuk. Azara mentioned that they were sparring today," Yue explained, clasping her hands together. "Is there anything you needed from me, Sokka?"

"Oh, right," Sokka shook his head. "I was hoping that we could see more of each other."

"Do an activity, you mean?" Yue corrected, giggling as Sokka blushed.

"Yes . . . at a place . . . for some time," Sokka trailed off, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly, as Yue smiled.

"I'd love to. I'll meet you on that bridge tonight," Yue stated, pointing to a large bridge in the distance.

"Great! I'll see you tonight then," Sokka nodded as Yue walked off. Turning to return to the group's accommodation for their time in the North Pole, Sokka spotted Azara talking and laughing with Kesuk, his hand dropping from his neck.