Azara sighed as she stood beside Azula, staring out at the sea as they moved closer and closer to Ember Island. "I'm so excited to spend the weekend on Ember Island," Ty Lee smiled cheerfully as Azara and Azula shared a disinterested look. "It's going to be great to hang out on the beach and do nothing."

As Ty Lee imitated a relaxed position from beside Azula, Zuko grumbled behind her. "Doing nothing is a waste of time." He stood up from his place beside Mai and stormed forwards. "We're being sent away on a forced vacation. I feel like a child."

"Lighten up. So, Dad wants to meet with his advisers alone, without anyone else around. Don't take it personally," Azula replied calmly, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Doesn't your family have a house on Ember Island?" Ty Lee asked, standing beside Azula, who nodded in confirmation.

"We used to come every summer when we were kids."

"That must have been fun!"

"That was a long time ago," Zuko sighed as Azara looked away, her eyebrows furrowed.

"A very long time ago," she added, glaring at the ocean.

A much younger Azara laughed as she ran around the beach, Lu Ten chasing after her. Azula ran just ahead of her, giggles falling out past her lips as the two girls hurried forward.

"I'll get you!" Lu Ten warned as Azara squealed, quickly changing directions. Her heart hammered in her chest as she glanced behind and saw Lu Ten still chasing her.

"Not fair!" she yelled, hurrying up the sand towards where her mother was sitting under an umbrella, keeping a watchful eye on Zuko and Iroh in the water. "Mom! Hide me!" Azara pleaded, running around her mother, and burying herself into her side.

Ursa chuckled as she glanced down at her daughter. "Where did Azara go?" Ursa feigned as Lu Ten reached her.

"I have no idea," Lu Ten replied in the same tone as Azara tried and failed to hide her giggles.

"Maybe, she's over . . . here!"

Azara squealed as her mother scooped her up and started to tickle her. She wiggled and screamed as she tried to get out of her mother's grasp. Lu Ten had turned to go and pursue Azula once more as Ursa finally released Azara.

"Are you having fun, Azara?" Ursa asked, righting her daughter up on the blanket.

"A lot of fun!" Azara smiled, leaning on her mother, who brushed the wayward strands of dark hair from her daughter's face.

Azara lowered her head and sighed at the memory. It was a long time ago. That time almost felt like another life she had lived—a past life where her mother cared about her, Lu Ten was alive, her father wasn't . . . well completely irredeemable, and she and her siblings actually got along. A quiet dream in the nightmare she called her life.

Azara glanced up, spotting Ember Island in the distance. Their boat was driven around the island before quickly docking outside of Lo and Li's family beach house. Azula led the way off the boat with Ty Lee and Azara walking side by side behind her. Mai and Zuko pulled up the rear, both wearing annoyed expressions.

"Welcome to Ember Island, kids," Lo and Li called, smiling at the teenagers, who grimaced at the small beach house behind them.

"Looks like it'll be a bit of a squeeze," Azara sighed as they walked inside.

Lo and Li led the way into their beach house, stopping in the living room on the first floor. Azula and Azara shared similar looks of disdain at the various gaudy fabrics and pieces littered around the place. It looked like the ocean had just dropped random shells and beach towels all over the place and Lo and Li had just left them there.

"It smells like old lady in here," Zuko whispered to Mai, who glanced up at him with a deadpan expression.

"Gee, I wonder why."

"Who are these two beautiful women?" Ty Lee asked, pointing at a painting of two women in bikinis posing back-to-back with their butts touching.

"Can't you tell?"

"It's Lo and me."

"It's Li and me," they responded at the same time, before imitating the painting. Zuko covered his mouth, looking like he was going to throw up at the display.

"Hey, Azula, Azara. You guys are twins! You could do it too!" Ty Lee suggested as Azara and Azula shared a disgusted look with each other.

"Fat chance."

"Never going to happen," Azula added, looking away from her sister.

"Besides we're not identical," Azara pointed out, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Thank Spirits for that," Azula replied as Azara rolled her eyes.

Ty Lee shrugged, moving to lay down on a bed with bright pink sheets. "Ooh, I love the seashell bedspread," Ty Lee complimented, rubbing the pillow affectionately.

"Are you serious? It looks like the beach threw up all over it," Mai sighed as Azara stared down at the pink fabric with a quirked eyebrow. At least Izen and her father weren't here, she rationalized. Even though the house looked . . . interesting . . . it was better than the Fire Nation palace.

"We know you're upset that you were forced to come here this weekend," Li started, drawing the attention of the group once more.

"But Ember Island is a magical place," Lo continued, smiling at the teenagers. "Keep an open mind."

"Give it a chance."

"And it can help you understand yourselves and each other," Lo and Li spoke in unison with identical smiles on their faces.

"The beach has a special way . . ." Lo started, picking up a rock.

". . . of smoothing even, the most ragged edges," Li spoke, taking the rock from her sister, and rubbing the smooth side. Azara glanced at her companions out of the corner of her eye, before returning her gaze to Lo and Li. Azula yawned, bored.

"Time to hit the beach!" the older twins yelled, ripping off their robes to show their bathing suits. Mai covered Zuko's eyes with her hand as Azara sighed. It was going to be a long vacation.

After changing and preparing their beach bags, the five teenagers made their way down to the beach. Azara walked beside Azula as they walked through the sand, searching for a spot on the beach to just lay out and relax.

"There's not a lot of space left," Azara sighed, glancing around the beach.

"Not a problem," Azula replied before walking over to two kids building a sandcastle. Azula stomped on the sandcastle, crushing it under her foot and terrifying the children, who ran away screaming. Azara sighed, shaking her head as Azula kicked their bucket away after them.

"Was that really necessary?"

"What? We have a spot now," Azula pointed out as Azara pursed her lips. Begrudgingly, Azara threw down her towel and laid on her back, soaking up the sun's rays as Azula laid out beside her.

"Please tell me Zuko and Mai are at least half a beach away from us," Azara sighed, throwing her arm over her eyes to shield them from the sun.

"Why do you care?" Azula asked, glancing over at her.

"I hear them all the damn time. Their fights . . . and what they do after. I don't need to see it happen too," Azara huffed as Azula grimaced at her sister's words. "Be grateful your room is on the other side of the hallway."

"They're further down under an umbrella," Azula told Azara, who nodded before rolling over onto her stomach.

"Where'd Ty Lee go?"

Azula glanced around the beach before narrowing her eyes at the sight of Ty Lee being surrounded by three different boys, all competing for her affections. "She appears to be busy," Azula snipped as Azara smirked, sitting up slightly on her elbows.

"Is that a tone of resentment I detect?" Azara asked, tilting her head to the side. "Or perhaps jealousy?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"That's quite convenient," Azara replied before Azula knocked her harshly in the shoulder. "Ow! What!?"

"Look." Azula pointed towards the kuai ball court. "Get up, we're playing next."

"This is a vacation and yet we have not relaxed for a single moment," Azara sighed, but got to her feet anyways. From personal experience, she knew that the rest of the day would just go smoother if she let Azula get out her chaotic energy sooner rather than later.

"Hey, beach bums, we're playing next!" Azula called out to Zuko and Mai, who moved to walk over. "Ty Lee, get over here, now!"

Ty Lee got up on a handstand and walked on her hands over to Azula and Azara. Zuko and Mai emerged from under their umbrella, Zuko throwing off his shirt dramatically as a bunch of birds flew behind him in the distance. Azara gagged at the group of girls looking at him dreamily.

"Why can't you take off your shirt like a normal boy?" she groaned as Zuko stood next to her.

"What?"

"Never mind."

They made their way over to the kuai ball court, Azula pulling them into a huddle. "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." The group glanced over at the girl in question, who was juggling the ball with her feet. "Keep serving the ball to her left, and we'll destroy her and the rest of her team. Dismissed."

Azara stood in the middle by the net, staring out at the opponents. Her golden eyes studied their opponents before she sighed, shaking her head. "We're going to kill these poor kids."

Azula threw the ball in the air and slammed it down with her foot, slicing right through the middle of the other team. The other kids looked at each other in disbelief while Azara just sighed and shook her head again.

Azula served once more, but this time, the other team was prepared and managed to return the ball. Zuko ran for it, sliding on the ground to keep the ball in the air. Azula ran forwards, smacking it higher into the air with her arm. Azara timed her jump before rushing forwards. Flipping forwards, she slammed the ball into the ground, winning another point for their team.

The game quickly grew further and further into their control. The other team returned the ball, but Ty Lee smacked it back before gracefully landing on top of the net. Another ball was hit over, but Mai ran forwards, kicking the ball over the net with her knee. Azara could tell the other team was getting tired as they hit the ball back.

Azara rushed backwards, the ball nearing the edge of their side, but looking like it was going to remain in. Rolling forwards, Azara extended her feet in the air as she reached a one-armed handstand, kicking the ball up into the air. Azula ran forwards, jumping off Zuko's back for a boost, before slamming the ball down with her foot. The ball rocketed forwards, shaking the beach as it hit the ground.

Azara stood up, wiping the sand off of her, before making her way over to her sister, who smirked at the destruction she had caused. "Yes! We defeated you for all time! You will never rise from the ashes of your shame and humiliation!" Azula yelled out as she clenched her fists.

"How about 'good game'?" Azara suggested, placing her hands on her hips as the net dropped to the ground, burning up from the force of Azula's kick.

"Well. That was fun," Azula replied, ignoring Azara, before turning to the rest of the group.

Azara glanced up as two guys she didn't recognize approached them. They focused on Ty Lee first, who was standing closest to them. "I'm having a party tonight. You should come by," Chan mentioned to Ty Lee, who smiled widely at the invitation.

"Sure! I love parties."

"Your friend can come too," Ruon-Jian added, glancing over at Mai.

"And you too, beautiful," Chan winked at Azara, who rolled her eyes at him. She turned away from him, knowing what he was interested in was a little lower than her eyes.

"Uh . . . what about me and my brother? Aren't you going to invite us?" Azula questioned, walking forwards. As Chan and Ruon-Jian shared a glance, Azula quirked an eyebrow. "You don't know who we are, do you?"

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

"Is that supposed to mean something?" Azara asked in a challenging tone, raising an eyebrow. Zuko stormed forward, as mad as a Komodo rhino, but Azula held out her arm, blocking him from actually harming Chan or Ruon-Jian.

"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," Chan sighed, begrudgingly giving in.

"We'll do our best," Azula promised sinisterly, causing Chan and Ruon-Jian to nod and walk off.

"I will make no such promise," Azara huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. "Now, let's get back to the beach house. I have sand in places I don't want it to be."

"I didn't need to know that Azara," Zuko muttered from beside his sister, who rolled her eyes in response.

They returned to Lo and Li's beach house, the older women having prepared dinner for them while they were out at the beach. Sitting in between her siblings, Azara kept her gaze focused on her bowl as Zuko huffed again.

"Why didn't you tell those guys who we were?" Zuko snapped at Azula, who shrugged in response, looking bored.

"I guess I was intrigued. I'm so used to people worshiping us," she shrugged nonchalantly, setting her chopsticks down.

"They should," Ty Lee spoke up as Azara rolled her eyes.

"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," Azula explained as Azara looked up from her rice.

"You want to be treated like a normal person?" she asked, sounding lightly surprised.

"It's just an experiment. Nothing more. I have no intention of stooping to full-time peasantry like you tried to, Azara."

"Yeah, well, as least when you're a peasant, you're sure no one's just using you for money or power," Azara muttered before shoveling more food into her mouth.

"Like waves washing away the footprints on the sand, Ember Island gives everyone a clean slate," Li smiled, staring over at Mai and Zuko.

"Ember Island reveals the true you," Lo added before the two sisters stood up. They clapped, snapping their fingers twice, before pointing upwards. "To the party!"

Azara adjusted her strapless top as they walked up to Chan's vacation home. "I'm telling you, he didn't really mean dusk, Azula," she sighed, as Azula continued to power walk up the hill.

"He said from dusk 'til dawn," Azula reminded her sister as they reached Chan's home. Azara sighed as Azula knocked on the door loudly. Chan opened the door after a few moments, staring in confusion at the group.

"Um . . . you're a little early. No one's here yet," he stated, rubbing the back of his neck.

"I heard you telling someone you'd be partying from dusk 'til dawn. It's dusk, so we're here," Azula replied, clasping her hands together.

"But that's just an expression."

"We are the perfect party guests. We arrive right on time because we are very punctual," Azula replied, banging her fist into her palm to emphasize her point. Chan stared at them for a moment before shrugging and gesturing for them to follow him inside.

Azara glanced around at the beach house as Chan spoke again. "All right, listen. My dad's an admiral. He has no idea I'm having this party, so don't mess anything up." Before Chan could walk away, Azula called out to him.

"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 complimented, pointing at Chan's outfit. Azara winced from behind her sister before glancing over at Chan, who looked mildly concerned at Azula's words.

"Uh . . . thanks."

Sensing Azula's disappointment, Azara walked over, grabbing her sister by the shoulders. "Why don't we go and grab a drink? Come on." Tugging Azula over to the punch bowl, Azara quickly poured a glass for Azula and then one for herself.

As Azula sipped at her punch, Azara glanced over at Zuko and Mai, who seemed to be in the middle of another argument. Sighing, Azara shook her head, before turning back to Azula. "Are you alright? What was that?"

"I was trying to . . . flirt," Azula admitted as Azara's eyes widened in surprise.

"That was flirting?" Azara asked softly as Azula looked up at her.

"Was it bad?"

"No, no!" Azara shook her head as she tried to come up with an excuse. "Um, maybe it was a little . . . unconventional . . . a maybe, just maybe a bit . . . aggressive." Azula sighed as Azara placed a hand on her shoulder. "Hey, we can work on it, alright?"

"What would you know about flirting? You and Izen aren't exactly the poster couple," Azula scoffed as Azara narrowed her eyes.

"Do you want my help or not?" she questioned in a deadpan.

"Alright, yes, fine. Well, how do you flirt then?" Azula sighed, taking another sip of her punch.

Azara sighed, rubbing the back of her neck. "Well, maybe start with finding something you two have in common. You know, have a normal conversation with them."

"A normal conversation? Like about—"

"—No battleships, no drowning sailors," Azara interjected, holding up a hand. Seeing the look on her sister's face, Azara continued. "You know what, no mention of anything to do with the war, or battle, or strategy, or anything remotely related to the military. Alright?"

"Okay. Then what should I talk about with him?"

"I don't know, the beach? You know Ember Island. Maybe he has a favorite spot that you can talk about. Or . . . comment on the party or the food. Something normal," Azara emphasized, holding out the word in hopes of it sticking in her sister's mind

"And you're sure this works?" Azula huffed as Azara paused, looking away for a moment. Her thoughts drifted away to a particular Water Tribe boy, before she shut herself down again.

"Yeah . . . I'm sure," she replied calmly before glancing out of the corner of her eye at Ty Lee, who was quickly becoming surrounded by more and more boys as more guests trickled into the room. "You could always ask Ty Lee too," Azara pointed out with a shrug as Azula turned around, her eyes landing on the horde of boys cornering Ty Lee.

"How does she do that?" Azula sighed as Azara took another sip of her punch.

"She doesn't talk about battleships, or the war, or anything of any significance," Azara stated, glancing down at her punch.

"Right," Azula nodded, crossing her arms over her chest as she glared over at Ty Lee. "Still, how does she get that much attention?"

"I don't know, Azula," Azara sighed, taking a sip of her punch. "That's not exactly my area of expertise."

"Well, I already knew that Azara," Azula replied, causing Azara to narrow her eyes at her sister.