The Dragon Princess and the Wolf Warrior

Chapter 89 [~|~] The Beach

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.