"I don't want to go to school without Katara," Zuko sighed. "Playing with her waterbending is very different than—we can't play with my firebending like that."

"No, but you'll make friends as you attend the academy," Minato said, stiffening, and then—

Zuko flinched, watching Minato lose it in the school's overly strict uniform, then stepped away, his mouth opening.

"I really hate this! I don't like the uniform, but I'm supposed to attend as your bodyguard!"

Zuko's mouth twitched, then he said. "Are they really uncomfortable?"

"You haven't noticed?" Minato said.

"It's tight like the rest of my clothing, and I'm always wearing stuff like this."

"I'd ask how you manage, but it's obvious that you're managing because it is normal for you, even though for most people, this isn't normal!" Minato said.

"You need to behave!" Hama said, sending out a water whip right next to Minato's ear, making him jump. "You can't let anyone know you're a Waterbender, Minato."

"Well, now that I've gotten that over," Minato said, rubbing the back of his neck, shall we be going? Crown Prince Iroh said they'll also have an adult guard nearby."

"Alright," Zuko said, following after, finding it quite strange that things were going so well for him. He glanced over, grimacing. "Yeah. Those don't look right on you."

"Hey. I need to look normal and not stand out, Prince Zuko."

"But you look uncomfortable. Maybe you won't be the only one?"

"Well, apparently, I won't be the only one, as there are students there that are from the colonies, and that's where I'm from." He took a deep breath. "I was even made to remember where in case anybody asked."

They continued walking, with Zuko turning his head and catching sight of the adult following him, only for them to lift an eyebrow as if he weren't supposed to notice them. He turned to Minato. "Am I supposed to notice the other person?"

"Hmm," Minato turned his head. "Well, I wasn't expecting to notice them, but now that I think of it, they're to keep their distance so as to not bother the other students at the school."

"If I'm going to cause trouble for the other students by being there, why am I attending the school?"

Minato remained silent, frowning, then said. "I think, Prince Zuko, you are going, in part because of its tradition and in part because you are considered deserving of attending."

"But father never let me attend. He always said I was too slow and that," Zuko felt his head spinning, his mouth pressing together remembering Ozai constantly correcting him on everything, from posture to his calligraphy, yet if there was one thing he knew he did better than Azula, it was his calligraphy. "He still told me my penmanship was horrible, no matter how many instructors said mine was good and hers bad."

"I think he wanted Princess Azula to be the image of a perfect child, and he didn't want to see you as capable of doing anything right, but honestly, these aren't my words, but me repeating something that I heard Prince Iroh say."

They drew close to the high walls of the academy, splitting off in two different directions. Zuko let out a deep breath, unsure of which one to take even though Minato stepped forward without hesitation, nor did any of the other students heading to class.

"Prince Zuko!"

Zuko watched as heads snapped around, his mouth opening as all of the students started walking. Minato stepped back closer and held out a hand.

"Is that the unhinged prince we've heard about who's heir to the throne?"

Zuko's eyes blinked. "What are they talking about?"

"No. That's Prince Ozai. He tried killing..."

"Shush," one of the girls grabbed the girl that dared speak as someone—

Minato moved, grabbing someone coming up behind Zuko and snapping out. "What are you doing, and who are you!"

"I'm Ty Lee! I'm Ty Lee! Tell him!"

Zuko turned, his eyes blinking upon seeing the girl with a hand on her face. "Oh. Ty Lee?" He tilted his head, glancing further back to see Azula's friend Mai. He took a deep breath. "My sister isn't with you? I thought she would be."

"I thought you'd know where she is," Mai said, her hands tucked into her robes, standing straight and proper while Ty Lee—

Ty Lee held out her hands, attempting to touch Zuko despite his status, only for Minato to hold her back. "Hey! I'm happy to see Zuko. Which is more than some other people I know!"

"Why would I be happy to see him?" Mai said, turning her head and sticking her nose in the air. "We've not seen Princess Azula since the incident, but she's apparently been removed from the academy?"

"What? Why?" Zuko swallowed. "Why would they do that?"

"I am not sure," Mai said, keeping her head turned.

"And I didn't mean Mai wasn't glad to see you!" Ty Lee said.

"I absolutely do not know what kind of foolishness you are speaking of, Ty Lee," Mai snapped. She turned her head to look at Zuko, her eyes quite cold. "But I do know you are now allowed to attend, but she is not."

"I didn't ask for that," Zuko said. He frowned. "Ty Lee, what are you doing, trying to do?"

"I want to hug Prince Zuko!" Ty Lee said.

"Honestly. Why would you make such a scene..."

Then, Minato sighed, letting Ty Lee go, and she hit Zuko full force, knocking him backward into Minato, causing Minato to let out a sound of surprise as Ty Lee hugged Zuko tightly. "I'm so glad you're alright!" And then she started petting his head."

"Uh, Ty Lee?" Zuko stiffened. "Minato, did you do that on purpose?"

"Yes. I didn't expect her to knock you backward into me."

"But Mai's glad you're alright as well," Ty Lee said, still hugging him, looking back at Mai as more students passed by them, looking, pointing, gossiping. "And I'm sure she'd love to hug you!"

"Would not!" Mai said. She walked over, grabbing Tai Lee. "Come along before we are late to class, but I suggest you do the same, Prince Zuko."

"Uh, sure," Zuko muttered, his head tilting in confusion. He continued following Minato, who decided to take the front, keeping an eye out while the guard assigned to Zuko kept an eye from behind and a distance. He sighed. "This really is going to have a negative impact on the other students, isn't it?"

They continued along, but as they did.

"Why is Prince Zuko attending? Isn't he just as deranged as his father?"

"That's what I heard."

"Really? Isn't he weak instead? I mean, look at him. He looks as if he may easily break."

Zuko kept his eyes to the ground, not looking anyone in the eye, instead taking in the stone path and the traditional walls, noticing the boys and girls went in different directions at the split. Still, once class started, things weren't much better, what with Minato standing next to his desk, making all to obvious Minato was there to be his personal guard, resulting in nobody approaching him.

"But there is one good thing," Zuko thought to himself. "None of the teachers are lecturing me about not getting the lessons right." The class slowly progressed, and they broke up for lunch. Zuko picked at his lunch, frowning, unsure of what to think as they served food, while the other students asked if he, as the prince, was used to such kind of food. He let out a sigh. "This is awful. I thought I'd enjoy school more."

"You wondering how your sister handled it?"

"Azula likely threatened to burn them to a crisp if they looked at her in the wrong way, to be honest," Zuko said. "And..."

"So, you're Prince Zuko?"

"Yes?"

"I'm going to ask what you want from Prince Zuko," Minato said.

"And you are?"

"His assigned guard."

"So, not really a student?"

"No. I'm simply here, but I think everyone is aware that the royal family is highly on guard after what happened recently, so I'm sorry..." Minato's eyes darkened. "I need to ask your business."

"Would you like to spar after lunch?" the person said.

"I don't know. My bending is..." Zuko frowned. "If I say no, they'll think I'm a coward." He took a deep breath. "I don't mind, but you may not be satisfied with my bending."

"But you're a member of the royal family?"

"I was also injured recently," Zuko said. "And I'm not..."

"What Prince Zuko is saying is that he's still getting used to his movements after what happened and may not yet be ready to give satisfactory results."

"That's fine," the other student said. "We won't hold that against you. See you in the court, but we'll have a teacher watch the sparring match."

Zuko sighed. "They think now I'm better than I am."

"Or they're underestimating you."

"I think it's the other way around."