The Fire Nation.

Royal Palace, the throne room.

Sixth day of the second month, year 2 after Sozin's comet.

"Fire Lord Zuko, presenting Ty Lee of the Kyoshi Warriors!"

Zuko's head snapped up from the papers he had been buried knee-deep in for close to a year now. A hundred years of war, and especially his father's aggressive work, had caused much damage in the other three nations. Every time he looked at a map of the world, he was amazed how this relatively small country had managed to do so much damage. He had accepted the proposal to pay reparations to the other countries, especially the Earth Kingdom. Most of this was done in labor, resources and knowledge. It was almost impossible to actually pay in actual currency, as the coffers of the kingdom had gone woefully empty. Now, Zuko had to trust a group of old men, many who had worked with his father and never complained about the war. But they were the only ones who knew how the country worked.

"Out, all of you. I am not to be disturbed for the next hour," Zuko ordered as the door was opened for Ty Lee. "Yes, all of you," Zuko emphasized as the Royal Guards across the room exchanged glances.

There was some cause for their reluctance, as there had been attempts on the life of the new Fire Lord, one of them only two months earlier. But Ty Lee was one of the few persons he would trust with his life. Plus, it had been almost half a year since he had seen any of his friends, excluding his fiancee, though she had been away for a month as well.

Ty Lee reached Zuko just as the last guards closed the door behind them. She began to kneel in respect for the Fire Lord, before Zuko stepped forward to close the distance and pull her into a short hug.

"Please, none of you will ever have to do that, not even in public. Come, I've been in this room since breakfast. Much too long. Let's go walk in the garden."

The pair talked about many things on their way. How the Kyoshi Warriors were now a sort of elite team for the Earth Kingdom, hunting down former Fire Nation soldiers who had deserted when the war was over, and were still abusing weaker people. Sokka was with them usually, though he was also away often to work with the White Lotus order. Zuko explained how he had broken down the old throne room, where the flames had always been used to show the superiority of the Fire Lord. Now, in the back of the room there was a dais with two thrones. The original design had made the throne for the Fire Lady lower than the one of her husband, but Mai had expressed her opinion by throwing one of her daggers into the drawing on the wall, piercing the paper above the throne that would be hers, at the same height of Zuko's throne. The hint was quickly taken into the design.

It was a strange sight for people looking into the palace garden. A little over a year ago, the idea alone would have been impossible, as Ty Lee was in her Kyoshi clothing and make-up, the green and yellow showing a clear contrast with the red and black of the palace.

"But how are you doing Ty Lee?" Zuko asked finally as they reached the pond in the middle of the garden, where a mother turtleduck swam with a small group of nearly full-grown ducklings.

Zuko sat down on a small bench which had been put there for his mother once. His robes did not allow him to sit in any other way. Ty Lee dropped herself to the ground, crossing her legs.

"It's been great, they really accepted me, even when we help people and they find out I'm from here, they don't take long to deal with it. After all, we're all trying to do what we can to help them. The only thing I really miss is you guys. This was my home for so long, and now we don't even see Kyoshi island more than every few months," Ty Lee explained as she looked at the pond. She remembered this garden well, where she and the girls would play. The fountain a little bit further down the garden sparked the memory of dumping Mai and Zuko in it, by Azula.

"Why have you really come to visit, Ty Lee?" Zuko asked as he saw the short shadow of sadness pass her eyes. He could tell she wasn't just there for a friendly meeting.

"Well, I, uh," Ty Lee stammered as she was caught aback for a moment. "I want to see Azula. I know the things she did, but she was my friend for so many years, when we were kids. I just want to know how she is doing."

Zuko let out a short sigh as he looked to the sky. His father had passed away three months ago, a combination of refusing to eat, and having lost all will to live. He had ordered him cremated in silence, not willing to remind the people of their old leader. Azula was still alive, but the prison guards who kept him informed had said she was near catatonic. She would eat and drink, but for the rest she slept, or stared at the window most of the time. Unless she had a clear moment, when she would lash out with firebending at the guards coming to bring her food. Zuko hadn't been able to visit her, completely taken up with the affairs of state.

"I don't know if that's a good idea. I've been told she isn't herself anymore, dangerous to whoever enters her cell if she's in the wrong mood. You should..."

"Zuko." Ty Lee said his name with such finality, it completely stopped Zuko from continuing. "I know Mai has been visiting the Earth King for the last month. If you don't let me see Azula today, I will block your Chi in a way that she will be very upset when she comes home tonight, after being away from her boyfriend for this long."

The threat was both scary and amusing, but the way Ty Lee looked him straight in the eyes prevented Zuko from even trying to smile.

"Allright," Zuko agreed as he looked back at her. "I will write you a letter of permission, and send a personal guard to escort you. And no protesting, you are still dressed as an Earth Kingdom soldier, and I don't want trouble when you come into that prison. That's my only requirement for letting you visit her."

Ty Lee nodded and stood up, leaning in to give Zuko another hug.

"Thank you."

The Royal prison, just outside of the capital.

Even with the letter bearing the seal of the Fire Lord, and the Royal Guard standing behind her, there was clear reluctance to allow Ty Lee into Azula's cell, and she was asked to wait as they would check she wasn't in an aggressive state.

Once, almost two years ago now, Ty Lee had told Azula how her aura had never been pinker, because of the life she had at the circus. It had been a peaceful life, and she had been comfortable there. Not that her time with Azula and Mai had been bad, with all the adventures they had been on, but her aura hadn't been as pink.

But as the door to Azula's cell was finally opened, and she saw her old friend, red began to creep at the edges of her vision. A comfortable bed and mattress had been stored against a wall outside the metal cage inside the cell, along with a chair. In the cage itself, there was only a bedroll to sleep on, and a bucket to relieve herself. Her clothing had been torn, and the way the few scraps were placed to just barely cover her breasts and lower body, Ty Lee suspected why they had needed time.

And her aura. By Agni, Azula's aura was pitch black, like the aura of a person who had completely given up. Ty Lee turned to face the prison guard who was standing in the door opening, and her hands balled up into fists.

Royal Palace, the Fire Lord's private chambers.

"Fire Lord Zuko, a man from the prison is here, demanding to be allowed to speak with you," one of the Royal Guards said softly through the half open door, opening it fully for the guard to enter the room when Zuko nodded.

"Fire Lord," the prison guard said as he knelt on the floor, keeping his face down. "The prison was attacked two hours ago. A woman in Earth Nation clothing and a man pretending to be a Royal Guard came bearing a fake letter that was supposed to be from you, and released the former princess. I could only come now, because the woman used a technique that stopped us from even moving."

"Shen, if I remember correctly," Zuko said as he looked down at the man, who now raised his head to meet his eyes. "I appointed you and nine others to make sure my father and sister would stay in prison, but would also be comfortable, as they had been through enough, with my father losing his bending, and my sister almost losing her mind, right?"

"Yes, my Lord."

Zuko took a step away, clearing Shen's vision to the sofa, where Azula lay under some blankets, her head on Ty Lee's lap, with Mai and a doctor standing next to them. Shen could feel the temperature in the room rising immediately.

"Guards!" Zuko called out, the doors opening immediately as they had been instructed beforehand. "Arrest Shen and the others responsible for the care of my sister. They will be sent to join the prisoners performing hard labor to help the Southern Water Tribe. And they will be given only half of the regular food for the first month." Zuko ordered as Shen was pulled to his feet and dragged out of the room.

"Zian," Mai's voice pierced the room, making the lieutenant of the Royal Guard jump to attention. "Go to the prison. You will make sure all the other prisoners are treated as they should."

"Yes, my Lady," Zian replied as he quickly left the room.

With the room once again quiet, Zuko turned to approach the doctor who had been examining Azula.

"What can you tell us?"

The doctor shook his head as he closed the case with instruments.

"She has been wounded in many place. Some of them self inflicted. But there are also internal injuries which are beyond my skill. She is not in danger of dying, but she is in great pain, and some wounds might keep giving her pain all her life. I have done what I can."

Zuko nodded to the doctor, who left the chambers silently. Mai put her hand on Ty Lee's shoulder, who was comforting Azula as best she could. Azula's eyes were open, and they were not vacant, but she just stared into infinity. Ty Lee began to sing softly, a lullaby she remembered from her youth. Zuko slumped in a chair close by, looking at the scene. He had never hated his sister. Disliked a lot, yes, but his mother had always reminded him that she was his sister, and he had remembered her words. And to see her like this broke his heart. It had been hard to see her raving and ranting after Katara had caught her during Sozin's comet, and then to see her turn into a sobbing mess. But now, the way she was now because of those guards.

"I want to take her to the southern Air Temple," Ty Lee whispered when Azula had finally closed her eyes, unwilling to wake her accidentaly. "Katara should be there with Aang, or she'll be with her tribe, which isn't far away."

Zuko nodded in agreement as he rested his chin on his fist. It took him a few seconds to collect his thoughts enough to stand and walk to the door, opening it to speak with the guard waiting there.

"Prepare my personal airship. They are to take all orders given by Ty Lee as orders given by me personally. Have it ready to travel to the southern Air Temple in two hours. Then send four bearers with a carrying bed."

The guard quickly left to execute those orders, running down the long hall, with Zuko returning to give Mai a comforting hug. Together, they waited for the bed for Azula.

Southern Air Temple, the meditation garden.

Seventh day of the second month.

"Master Aang, a Fire Nation airship is approaching from the north," a young apprentice called out as he came into the garden where Aang was meditating.

Aang quickly bended some air under him to bring him to his feet, following the apprentice towards one of the balconies looking out to the North.

*Maybe it's Zuko,* Aang thought to himself with some elation. Sokka and Suki had visited on their way to the south pole a few weeks back, but it had been a long time since they had seen their other friends.

The airship quickly closed the distance before turning in front of where the Sky Bisons once landed. Appa was resting there, raising his head for a moment as the sun was blocked out, but he decided his sleep was more important, and went back to it right away.

A walkway was brought out from the ship and put on the stones of the landing area, with Aang running up to it just as Ty Lee ran down from the airship.

"Aang, please, please tell me Katara is here, we need her help."

Aang immediately turned to the apprentice who was coming up behind. As he heard the words and saw Aang's reaction, the apprentice turned around and ran back to where Katara would be with some children from her tribe, training them in their heritage.

"What's wrong Ty Lee? Is something wrong with Zuko?" Aang asked as he saw four bearers with a bed between them coming into the Temple.

"Aang, don't freak out, please," Ty Lee asked as the bearers left the walkway and Aang could see who was on the bed.

"Azula!"

Southern Air Temple, Aang and Katara's chambers.

"Are you sure about this Aang? I know she's hurt, but what if I help her and she starts attacking us again. Shouldn't you take away her bending?"

"NO!" Ty Lee called out as she sat next to Azula's bed. "She lost so much, firebending is all she had left. Please, I promise I will stop her myself if she does anything. But not permanently, please."

Katara nodded finally before walking to a cupboard set into one of the walls.

"After Ba Sing Se, I managed to get Chief Arnook to send me a few more of these, just in case," Katara explained to Ty Lee as she took a small vial. "Water from the spirit oasis, which has greater power to heal than normal water."

Katara crossed the space quickly as she uncorked the vial, looking at Aang.

"Aang, would you mind joining the guards outside?"

Aang needed a moment before blushing and walking away, closing the curtain separating the room from the rest of the temple. They had been told how extensive the injuries had been, so Katara needed to work on Azula's entire body. Together, Katara and Ty Lee moved away the sheets covering her. Katara held up the vial and took the water from it, which began to glow quickly as it swirled around her hand.

"Azula, if you can hear me, this might hurt a little. Please trust me," Katara whispered as she brought her hand to Azula's broken body.

Southern Air Temple, the training grounds.

Eigth day of the second month.

"Azula is asleep now. And I mean really asleep, not what Ty Lee described what she was like on the way over here." Katara said as she joined Aang, giving him a quick kiss on the lips before leaning on the edge of the balcony. Ten young kids were training airbending, having been identified by Aang as those having the spiritual disposition to become airbenders. They weren't many, but ten in a single year wasn't bad. At least the Avatar cycle had been repaired somewhat. And ofcourse, one day he and Katara would work on bringing some more airbenders to the world, he often thought with a hidden smile.

"How will she be?"

"Her body is mostly healed. The last bit can only be done with rest. But her mind, I can't heal that. But it looks like she has a great nurse now. I think Ty Lee wants to take her to Kyoshi island. After all, not counting Zuko's visit, that place wasn't really touched by the war. It's peaceful at least."

Aang thought about it. It was a good idea, and hardly anyone knew what the princess of the Fire Nation looked like. All they could tell was that she was from the Fire Nation, but so was Ty Lee. Out there, she might be accepted.

"Is she fit to travel now?" Aang asked finally as he turned away from the training grounds, looking his girlfriend in the eyes.

"Yes, I think she can travel now. It might be best that when she wakes up, it will be somewhere she doesn't have to be taken away from again."

Kyoshi island.

Tenth day of the second month.

Azula groaned as she began to wake up. It was hard to open her eyes. After all, there was nothing to look at but those metal bars and bare walls, and that bed which those guards mocked her about. The guards, who hurt her...

Her eyes shot open as she realized her body was completely free of pain. Then, something else came to her. The scent of fresh flowers filled her nose as her eyes came into focus to show a roof right above her, made of wood instead of metal.

It was a dream. How unfair, to tease her with this, only to wake up to that nightmare she had been in for over a year.

"You're awake," Azula heard a familiar voice, the one calming influence she might have ever had.

"Ty Lee?" she asked as she tried to raise her head, but she still felt a bit sore and stiff.

"Wait, don't move,"

Ty Lee quickly came to Azula's side, gently lifting her head and adding a soft pillow.

"How are you feeling?"

"Where am I? What happened to the cell?" Azula asked instead, seeing Ty Lee dressed in a simple green and yellow dress.

"Kyoshi island. We took you out of the cell when we found out what happened. The guards have been punished by Zuko. You're with me now, I'll help you. I promise."

Azula squeezed her eyes together, both wishing to wake up and get out of this false nightmare, and to never wake up, to be like this forever. Everything was better than the truth, even the idea of living in an Earth Kingdom place.

"Try to sleep some more Azula, it's evening anyway. I'll explain everything in the morning," Ty Lee promised as she leaned over and placed a quick kiss on the forehead of her friend, taking her hand and holding it as the princess slipped away into sleep once more.