~Rules are Rules~

Another summer day had rested upon the fire nation, where people stretched out of their beds to begin the days work in the lives of peasantry, those who lived within the palace were automatically ordered everyday to get up and begin serving their master, The fire lord, Prince Ozai and his family,
In this particular day, another family had started their chores in the palace, a Mother and wife, started to prepare breakfast for the royal family, A father and husband, worked as the fire lord's servant, a small little girl, a daughter worked to help her mother throughout the kitchen. Every morning, she was dressed in a finer attire, almost as fine as the princess' first maid, in matter of fact, she practically was. For today, like every other day, her mother prepare a lovely basket of fruit and sended her small child to bring it to the princess' chambers. While the door opened, she spotted a small boy in the hall.
~who could that be?~ she thought,

She stood there, frozen in place, she didn't know what to do, she never approached anyone, much less pass a stranger, (as if the halls filled with other servants and scary guards was bad enough). She gulped down her shyness and walked on ahead, besides, the boy seemed busy, playing with some wooden horse toy.
As she came closer, the boy finally noticed someone coming and looked up, she bit her lip and looked straight ahead, trying her best not make any contact with him. When she finally passed him, turning around the corner, she stopped and breathed before continuing on. The boy, stood there confused and intrigued, he'd never seen any other child around the palace grounds, other than his mean sister. But then, he just shrugged and continued playing his small game,

"Your highness!" A woman called,
"your highness, your family is waiting!" Bowed and panted the servant.
"Oh no!" He said as he got up and ran.
When he reached the doors of the dining room, his mother was already waiting for him outside, She brushed him up and straighten his coat, she ordered the guards to open the doors,
"You're late," Said the man at the table, his grandfather The fire lord.
"I'm sorry, I was just..." The woman thought of something quickly,
"I was still getting myself ready, you how we women are," She said, smiling gently, The boy she held close to her made eye contact with his sister, who scrunched her face at him. He didn't dare to look at his father, knowing that even without eye contact, he still disapproved of him, his grandfather, the fire lord, spoke again.
"And what about my grandson?" He said, pointing at the boy.
"I wanted him to enter with me" His mother lied. The fire lord grumbled to himself,
"You may sit," The two did as they were told.

When the boring breakfast meal was over, he and his sister were told to go back to their chambers and prepare for their fire bending lesson. As always, even when he tried to focus, he would somehow fall or forget to breathe to take out a good amount of fire that ran through his veins. But his sister, on the other hand, would gain praise when she striked, kicked or balanced. His sister was considered a fire bending prodigy, but the worst part is that she would never miss a day rubbing it in his face. The teacher would always rant on him about being more like his sister, the thing is, even if he is a fire bender, he didn't see it as a way to fight like his sister, much less annoy someone about it.
While the teacher continued ranting the boy about his stance and balance, his eye caught a curious being that shouldn't belong there.
"Hey! go back to where you came now, missy!" He yelled from across the field.
The children turned and saw a bobbing head froze as she got caught, she walked away quickly to the kitchen, which was her original direction she was heading to.
The boy couldn't help to think, ~that was the girl I saw today?~ He was willing to leave the lesson and find out, but what stopped him was the stinging consequences that could lay ahead of that road, so he best leave it for later.

When night fell, his mother tucked him cozily to bed,
"Mom, who was that girl?" The boy asked, His mother's eyes grew wide.
"What girl?" She asked, The boy sat up on his bed,
"I saw a girl today, she came from the kitchen, and during my lesson, she was watching, but then, Master Oashi told her to go away, she went into the kitchen again," He said, remembering her feared face when she got caught by his teacher.
"Oh, she's just a girl who works here," His mother said gently,
"Why does she work?" He asked curiously. His mother didn't know how to reply, she was afraid that the answer might disappoint her son. The small girl's life is a sad thing, she didn't want her child to sleep with that in mind.
"Because this place is her home as well," She said gently,
"Home? I thought this was our home!" He said aloud,
"Yes, but remember, all the servants and guards sleep and eat here, just like we do," She said,
"Oh," The boy laid back down,
"If she works here, can't we make Azula work too?" He asked brightly,
"Now, be nice to your sister," His mother said,
"Just saying," He said giggling.
His Mother smiled at his small mischief, she kissed him goodnight and he went to sleep.

The next morning, he got ready, and since today there was no fire bending lesson, he tucked his favorite toy in his coat and headed towards the dining hall. As he walked, he heard a light giggle and talking, he headed curiously towards the outside hall that led towards the kitchen. He caught sight of Three girls surrounding someone he couldn't make out.

"What are you doing carrying some rotten basket towards my mother," He heard one say, and he recognized it very well. Azula.
She picked up a shining red apple from the basket, letting it fall off from her hand,
"See? even the fruit is dirty,"
"P-p-please. Stop," A voice said,
"Stop what? This?" She said as she raised her hands and fire came out, scaring the person in front of her, causing the basket to fall and the fruit scattered everywhere,
"Azula!" Another voice exclaimed, The boy couldn't take it no more. He marched up to the three girls,
"Hey Azula!" He called, the three girls turned, Azula couldn't help but grin mockingly.
"Stop bullying everyone, enough already!" He said firmly, One girl, named Mei stared completely at him, another girl, Ty lee, just humphed at him.

"You and your friends are always picking on everyone, so I'm ordering you to stop!" He said pointing at her,
She said nothing, then she finally shrugged and walked away,
"I don't see why you're protecting this... peasant." She said disgustingly,
"But since I got bored, I really don't care," She said,
"Come on, girls, let's go." She called on them, one girl, Mei, was the last to leave, looking behind her, seeing the young boy helping the fallen girl on the floor.
"I'm sorry this happened to you, she could be really mean sometimes," He said kneeling down
"Here, let me help you pick up-" He paused as he heard a sniffle from the girl before him,
"Please..." She said quietly,
"Just go,"

He put the fruit in his hands into the basket, he came closer to have a good look on this stranger's face, she slowly looked up at him, through her dark hair, he saw a tear rolling down her face.
"Please don't cry," He said to her,
"I'm sorry," She said immediately as she started picking up the fruit as fast as she can.
"Wait, let me help," The boy said as he started quickly helping her as well,
When they picked up all the fruit up, She got with the basket and turned around back to the kitchen,
"You're welcome!" The boy yelled to her.

Meanwhile, at the kitchen, all who worked there cleaned up the pots and pans, a woman turned around when she felt a tug on her skirt, she looked down from her work to find her daughter,
"What happened?" she asked worriedly, seeing her daughter's eyes watered with tears, the little girl wiped them,
"I dropped the fruit," She whimpered,
"How, my love?" Her mother asked,
"Well..." She wanted to say the truth but she was afraid that probably tattle taling wasn't a good idea,
"I fell," She said.
"Oh sweetie, if we can find a way to pick up your hair, you could see better where you're going," She looked around and found a piece of string, she grabbed gently her daughter's hair and tied the string around.
"There," She said as she made a hard knot,
"It's not so much as an updo but at least your hair isn't in your face anymore," Her mother reassured,
"Now I must get back to work," She said as she handed her a basket full of oranges,
"I'm afraid you'll have to take this," she said,
"Okay mommy," She said,
When she came out, she first spotted the boy again
~don't make any eye contact to anyone~ She thought her father's words,
She walked on, the boy noticed her right away and stood up in front of her, blocking her path.

"Hi, I'm sorry once again about Azula," He said quickly. The girl stood, looking down
~don't make any eye contact~ she thought again, The boy didn't understand this treatment he was given, surely everybody else looked at him when he spoke. why not this girl?
"It's alright," She finally said,
"What's your name?" The boy asked, bending his neck to have at least some eye contact with the girl.
"O-o-omi..." She said nervously,
"Omi. I'm Zuko," He said,
"It's nice to finally see someone else besides Azula and her friends," He added,
"Why did they do that to you?" Zuko asked,
She just shrugged,
"Can I please go?" She asked, Zuko couldn't do nothing more than to move aside, she darted pass him but he was still too close, her shoulder bumped into his, making him fall, who grabbed her in the process and made her fall again as well. The oranges scattered all over, she layed next to him, she sat up and rubbed her knees, The boy, Zuko, he got up as well, rubbing his head,
She started to tear up again, pulling her knees closer, she hid her face and cried softly,
"I'm sorry!" Zuko said once again, this time, afraid that he might get in trouble for hurting her.
"I didn't mean to trip you!" He said,
"I can never do anything right!" The girl, Omi, whined.
Zuko paused for a moment, he really could relate to it, everything he tries to do to please his father, he always wind up losing to a bully named Azula.
He sat next to her, while she cried, he thought of something to say.
"I know how that feels," He sighed. The girl paused and slowly looked up.
"How? How do you know?" Omi asked,
"Because, in my fire bending, I always fall," He said, remembering the annoying rants from his teacher.
"I can't do it well like Azula, and worst..." He continued,
"She rubs it on my face, making me look stupid," He sighed.
"So yeah, I know," He said, he finally looked up at Omi, who sat quietly next to him, finally seeing her face clearly, he frozed, as if he never saw another human being before.
"Whoa," He said,
"You have nice eyes," He said sincerely, Omi immediately looked away, recently remembering her duties to be done. She blushed secretly.
"When you're done with whatever it is you have to do," Zuko said as he help pick the oranges,
"I'd like it if we hang around," He said,
"I... I don't know," Omi replied,
"I'll ask my mom and you can ask yours" He said excitedly,
"O..okay," She said quietly,
"I'll do it right now!" Zuko said as he headed out,
"Oh, it was nice to meet ya Omi!" He said as he bowed to her,
"Remember to meet me here in the evening," He said as he ran off.
She couldn't make out what just happened, she finally shook her head and continued to make way, heading to the princess' chamber, which was basically the direction where Zuko head off to.

Zuko ran through the halls back up towards his mother's room,
"Are you really going to hang around with Her?" He heard a voice say,
He turned and faced Azula, who was leaning against the wall with her arms crossed,
"Leave me alone Azula," He said as he ran away, When he got to his mother's chambers, she was at her boudoir, but she wasn't fixing herself. His mother, hearing the doors opened, turned and revealed a small little girl,
"Zuko," His mother said gently,
"Mother? Omi?" He said as he saw her,
Omi looked at him in the mirror,
"Hi," She said quietly,
"I was just fixing her up a bit," The princess said as she pulled back the girls bangs,
"There," She said as she contemplated her work,
"Why, you look pretty as a lotus flower," She smiled,
Omi blushed gently, The grown woman giggled gently at the girl's small red cheeks,
"Th-thank you," Omi said quietly,
"Zuko, don't you think she's pretty?" The princess turned the small girl, facing him. Once again, she looked down,
"Her hair..." Zuko started to say,
"It's a water tribe thing, I know," His mother said,
"But it looks so cute on her, I couldn't resist,"
Zuko bit his lip,
"She looks pretty," He blushed nervously, why does mother make him do this?
"I knew you agree, Now we can finally see her pretty eyes! Don't you think they're pretty?" Seriously, it's as if his mother just wanted him to feel embarrassed! though Zuko didn't lie about anything he said.
"Yup," He said quickly, Omi looked at him, seeing his embarrassed look made her giggle a bit, The princess kneeled down,
"Zuko, from now on, you can play with your new friend," She said gently,
"If you would like that," She added,
Zuko's expression changed from embarrassed to a big smile,
"Actually, that's why I came, I wanted to have permission to hang out with Omi,"
He said sincerely,
Omi grabbed her newly made braid and stroked it nervously,
"Omi, did you ask your mother yet?" Zuko asked excitedly,
"Not...yet," She said quietly,
"Well you better go and tell her, dear," The princess smiled lovingly,
Omi smiled greatly, she bowed respectfully to the princess,
"Thank you for the braid your highness," She said confidently,
"I really love it," She said as she stood up,
"Your welcome, my dear," The princess nodded,
"Zuko, please escort your new friend to her mother"
Zuko nodded, Omi started heading out and Zuko went after her, but before he left, he felt his collar being tugged, his mother held him firmly,
"Don't tell anybody about this, neither about your friendship with Omi," His mother said firmly,
Zuko couldn't understand but he just nodded in agreement.

The two children walked quietly through the halls, Omi thought that probably this boy, Zuko, might be bored with her,
"Y-you don't have to escort me," She said shyly,
"No, I want to," Zuko smiled friendly, Omi tugged and stroked once again her new braid, Zuko stared at her,
~she really is something new~ he thought,
"I want to..." Omi started to say,
"Thank you for helping me today," She smiled shyly,
"Oh, no problem, if that happens to you again, just call on me," Zuko said confidently,
"Thanks," Omi replied, ~probably this friendship thing won't be so bad,~ she thought to herself,
"Zuko and the poor girl, why am I not surprise?" A voice was heard, up ahead,
The two kids looked ahead, Omi gulped nervously.
"Azula, move out of the way!" Zuko said firmly,
"What? I didn't hear any 'please' " Azula mocked,
"Have you already lost your manners hanging around with this loser?" she sneered,
"Hey, I'm no loser!" Omi suddenly snapped, which surprise Zuko.
"Oh, so the 'pretty lotus flower' can talk," Azula wasn't amused,
"What a miracle,"
"At least you admit that I'm... pretty," Omi smiled mischievously,
"Whoa," Zuko smiled,
Azula gritted her teeth, she balled her fists until her knuckles became white,
"That was sarcasm!"
"You should be careful what you say then," Omi replied calmly,
Zuko was cheering inside, Rooting for Omi of course,
"All of a sudden, you're being confident-"
"Because I now have a friend," Omi said, standing beside Zuko,
"So I'm not alone," She added,
Zuko smiled triumphly, now he knows he finally has new friend!
Azula's jaw dropped, She then smiled evily,
"Isn't that cute," She said,
"But Zuko, aren't you afraid what Father's going to think?" She threatened,

Zuko opened his mouth to reply but someone from behind cut him off,
"That's enough Azula!" the children faced to see the princess right behind them,
"If you want a friend Azula, you have to be nice to them," the princess said gently,
"What! I already have friends, a lot of them, Mother!" protested Azula,
"Don't talk to me with that tone young lady," Her mother said firmly,
"Come Azula, your grandfather is waiting," She said,
"But mom!-"
"Not. another. word!" She said as she dragged Azula through the halls,

The two children waited until Azula and the princess were out of sight, they both breathed, Zuko laughed whole-heartedly, Omi didn't know why.
"Why are you laughing?" She giggled,
"Because you totally blew off Azula!" He said,
"Did you see her face?" He said, he imitated a funny looking angry face of Azula, Omi laughed,
"I thought it was more like this!" she said as she, too, made a funny angry face. They both laughed and continued walking the halls,
When they reached to the kitchen, Zuko turned to Omi,
"Promise me we'll see each other soon," He said to her, she crossed her heart and held up her pinkie,
"I promise," she said. Zuko crossed his heart and joined his pinkie with hers.
Omi ran through the hall towards the kitchen, her long braid flying through the air,
"Omi!" Zuko called,
"Are we really friends?" He asked,
"Yup!" She said looking back at him, one last time before she entered the kitchen.