Azula's first kiss was not a romantic soul defining moment. In fact, she doesn't even remember it.

It was the beginning of spring in the fire nation, and the palace gardens were glorious in their full bloom. It was also the third scheduled play date for the blessed line of Sozin, and for Ursa a rare moment to spend in the company of her long-time friend Lady Lee. The two women were arranged comfortably around a stone table taking advantage of the light lunch that had been provided for them. Between conversation and sips of tea they each observed their respective children with amusement and slight trepidation. Well, that is to say that Ursa was slightly on edge. These 'encounters' with other children were not usually met with much enthusiasm by her youngest.

The first two meetings were, if Ursa were to be completely honest, nothing short of a small catastrophe. Azula could not seem to grasp the concept of 'play' and eyed Lady Lee's daughters with immediate suspicion. Zuko was prone to boredom as the other girls weren't as interested in his more aggressive games. Well, that is until Azula was. As soon as Azula inserted herself into the round of 'seek and find' full participation became a bit more compulsory. This might have had to do with the fact that Azula played a slightly different version; one more akin to 'seek and smite'. After the third trembling child made it to the refuge of their mother's arms wide eyed and singed, Azula's reign of terror was brought to a quick halt.

Their second attempt (which featured far fewer of Lady Lee's daughters) ended predictably with no less than three sobbing girls, a limping Zuko, a smug looking Azula, and a family of miffed turtle-ducks.

Sighing deeply, Ursa turned to her companion, "I must say, Lady Lee, I was surprised to receive your letter announcing your arrival at that palace today with Ty Lee. It is not necessary to bring your children if you simply wish to visit with me."

Lady Lee chuckled, "I agree these little...skirmishes with our children could have gone smoother. But I could not come here without her even if I tried. Your Azula is all she has been talking about for the past several weeks."

"That is rather...unexpected."

"Every day she asks me when she can see the Princess again. I'm not exactly sure why, they don't even play together, but she seems happy enough."

They both turned their attention to the youngest of the Lee line, who was crouched comfortably under a dogwood tree across the garden. For the past fifteen minutes she had been busily arranging the delicate white blossoms into intricate patterns discernible only to herself.

"I wish Azula could find joy in something like that." Ursa lamented. "I've never seen the girl still. She's not...I just don't know what to do with her anymore."

"What do you mean?"

"She's so full of rage, and she is not even six! I even tried to stop Ozai from training her, and she screamed! Screamed like I had burned her. She kept saying that I couldn't take this away from her, 'Not this too'. She hardly lets me near her any more, I don't even know..."

"COWARD!" The shrill cry came from a distant corner of the garden, small puffs of smoke and sparks glimmering between the shrubs.

"Here it comes" Ursa muttered to herself as the destructive force that were her children tore through the garden.

"Leavemealone!" That was unmistakably Zuko's voice, and if his pitch was any indication, Azula was gaining ground.

"STAND AND FIGHT!" The statement followed Zuko's retreating form as he burst from the bushes right next to Ty Lee's dogwood. Running at full tilt towards his mother Zuko's feet tore right through the arrangement of blossoms sending them flying.

Azula knew when to stop pressing a retreat, and maintaining a safe scolding distance of her mother was definitely a tactical move. She skid to a halt before the kneeling form of Ty Lee, and watched in utter disbelief when the girl burst into tears. Not the small shameful tears that welled up in your eyes when all of your muscles ached and your hands and feet were literally burning from training. Not the angry tears that were quickly blinked away when you listened to your mother say goodnight to your brother through your bedroom wall, then listened to her footsteps patter softly past your door without stopping. No. These were big fat unabashed tears, open to any and everyone around her. What was this girls name?

"You. Um, girl." Azula began, authority quickly draining from her voice "Crying shows only despicable weakness and failure...so...stop."

Perhaps it was the strangeness of Azula's words, or maybe just the fact that the Princess had actually spoken to her, but Ty Lee stopped sobbing and turned to face her, large grey eyes still brimming with tears.

Those expressive eyes, full of raw emotion. It shouldn't have mattered to Azula. Pity is weakness. She could hear her father sneer. A basic manipulation that only the soft-witted succumb too. Are you soft-witted Azula? She shouldn't have cared. Should have walked off and left her to her tears. Like she was left to her own. A few blossoms were still settling around them, most having haphazardly settled around their feet. One drifted past Azula's hand and she quickly reached out and grasped it delicately by the stem.

"Just" Azula said, surprised that she was still speaking to this girl. "Just...here."

Extending her hand towards the girl, she offered the single blossom. Both girls wore matching shocked expressions at the gesture. Before Azula could retract her hand Ty Lee had leapt up and plucked the flower from her fingers. She stood for a heartbeat, gazing at the common blossom like it was unique and precious to her. Like she wasn't standing in a garden absolutely covered in them. Another heartbeat, then Ty Lee hurled her body towards Azula wrapping her in a tight hug. Stepping backwards from the impact, Azula tried to extract herself from the unfamiliar sensation of being held. She was vastly unsuccessful. When Ty Lee was ready to end her hug she picked up her head from Azula's chest and leaned forward and placed an impulsive peck on the princess's lips. "Thanks!" Ty Lee exclaimed. Then as quickly as she had attached herself to Azula she was gone, bounding off to her mother to show her the dogwood blossom still cradled in her hand.

Mouth hanging open in shock Azula watched the pink form dart towards their mothers. Zuzu was still sulking in their Mother's robes, and both Fire Lady Ursa and Lady Lee looked like they were having a good laugh at someone's expense.

Azula knew when to stop pressing a retreat, and she also knew when to signal one herself. Ducking back into the bushes she made her way to a remote corner of the garden where she could re-organise herself before her next advance. Idly she thought, perhaps next week's visit wouldn't be so bad.