Zuko's stomach churned nervously, and his lunch was not settling well. A part of him wished the teacher vetoed the sparring match, yet he quickly learned at the school that sparring matches were encouraged as this built the students' bending skills, not that he believed them. "What is Minato going to do if anyone asks him to bend?"

"I'll simply state the truth, that I'm not a firebender," Minato replied, his voice steady and calm, a stark contrast to Zuko's jittery nerves.

"But then they'll ask why you're my bodyguard," Zuko said, his voice tinged with a hint of accusation.

"Then they're all the more likely to underestimate me and be caught off guard."

Zuko shook his head, bowing to his teacher as Iroh informed him that places like the academy, being a prince didn't carry the same favor as in the court. He placed a fist in the palm of his hand as he did so, his voice betraying his insecurity. 'I apologize again if my bending doesn't satisfy. I've actually never sparred with someone before.'

"Not even that crazy sister of yours?" the person asked, smirking.

"Does he think I'm insane?" Zuko said. "Especially with my sister. But if you're calling her crazy, you're already aware of why that would be."

The other boy, older than him by a year or two, blinked, frowning. He took a deep breath. "Since you are new to this, I'll go first, then."

"I don't think..." Minato attempted to warn.

"Fine," Zuko said.

Then, the other students went at him with all they had, resulting in Zuko stumbling backward off his feet while each decisive move came inches from his face. The older boy let out a laugh. "This isn't an Agni Kai, Prince Zuko. I am not allowed to lay a finger on you, even though it's known that in sparring matches, that sometimes happens."

"Are you mocking me?" Zuko said, tilting his head.

"Oh, I'm taking you very seriously, but it's honestly a far higher challenge to not lay a finger on a member of the royal family. Consider it an unsaid rule."

"It is, in a way," the teacher said. "But in reality, there is no rule against laying a finger on a member of the royal family. The reality is nobody ever has, from what I've heard."

"Even Lu Ten?"

"Prince Zuko! You're distracted!" Minato called out, reaching out to grab the other boy's hand. He held up a hand. "Hold for a second." He took a deep breath. "Prince Zuko, you need to focus on the battle in front of you, similar to when we practice your bending as you recover. Don't lose focus, but move as you usually do, and you'll be fine."

The older student sighed. "This may not be an Agnai Kai, but you're not supposed to interfere."

"Trust me if you want a challenge." Minato stepped back.

The older student proceeded into the same routine, the same moves Zuko saw Azula do so many times over, yet they lacked the same ability as his sister. Taking a deep breath and concentrating on his core breathing, Zuko started moving, going with the flowing, smooth movements his agile frame preferred, making a sweeping movement at the older teen's feet when he moved to a position where his balance was quickly thrown off with a swift kick. The challenger landed on his back; the air knocked out of him as Zuko returned to his feet, his bending moving quickly with his movements.

"What was that?"

"That's not," another said. "That's not how we're taught?"

"That's poor form, isn't it?"

"That's cheating!" the other student said. "That style! Your bending style..."

"Perhaps you shouldn't be so caught off guard if someone's bending style differs from yours?" Minato said.

"Yeah. But how can anybody go up against that?"

Zuko stiffened, feeling very much like the monster, and heard some of the other students say that he was unhinged, like his father and his sister. "This didn't go well like everyone planned. No, it went horrible, horribly wrong."

"I mean, who can..."

And then came the sound of the roof crashing down next to them in the courtyard. Zuko turned, eyes widening, realizing the roof collapsed on top of the waterbender. "Minato!" But then. "Wait. Where's..." He swallowed, realizing the guard that followed them was missing, but standing before him was Azula, grinning ear to ear.

"I doubt that bending could rival my bending?" Azula said. "So I'll be willing to take you out for everyone, but that only means I'm the one who should be heir, right?"

"Azula, why do you always like hurting people!" Zuko said, frowning. "And get off Minato!"

"Who?" Azula looked down at Minato, frowning. "Oh? Him? He's of absolutely no consequence, but rumor has it he's from the colonies. And he couldn't stand up to me."

Zuko took a deep breath. "I said get off of him!"

"Gladly!" Azula said as she launched into an attack, flying right at him, not caring that her movements from the broken roof might hurt Minato even more.