Disclaimer- I, in no way, own Avatar: the Last Airbender and its trademarks, etc. This work is merely for entertainment purposes only and not for profit. Names and characters not part of cannon that reflect actual people are accidental and coincidental.

This fanfiction is the result of low points in life, inspiration from being an inpatient at a behavioral health hospital (aka the "loony bin"), times of desperation, and to counteract the horrid story compilation "Worst Fan Fictions Ever" that I created. So, expect a lot of angsty strangeness.

Please leave me a review saying what you like, what you don't like, what I should fix, writing advice, or just to comment. Just knowing that I have an audience gives me a reason to update periodically. *hint* *hint* And trust me, I will take any advice you may give me.

Also, in case any of you are up to the challenge, this story needs a beta reader. PM me to find out what my qualifications are, since I am quite a nit-picky person.

Full description and warnings:

The girl sees her mother in reflections to find that she wasn't there. The other has a constant deathwish. And the boy has murderous urges. In the outside world, they are alone and misunderstood. Here, they are forced to walk the same halls and make interactions with each other to, hopefully, settle their unbalanced natures. They must first accept the horrible truths in their lives, in order to begin the process toward healing. WARNING: deliberate self-harm, suicidal thoughts/actions, homicidal thoughts/actions, destructive behaviors, sexual and physical abuse

I, in no way, condone the behaviors in the warnings.

I dedicate this story to my sister, my friends, and those who have either directly or indirectly helped me through the good times and dark times in my life.

I ache for the day of my release. This place was in no part of my plan. In fact, this place was and is still to be avoided. I can't believe I was stupid enough to be discovered. It's only been one day, but it has felt like an eternity. The others are okay, once you look past their obvious issues. The problem is that I'm such a severe case that they just avoid me. It's alright actually. I was a lone wolf out there, why should this place be any different? The exception to that would be Cheng. But with a guy like that, it's to be expected. The problem is that he has been here longer, so companionship is hard to come by; since he's also considered a severe case.

I know it's selfish, but I wish that there would be more severe cases. If not for companionship, then for the purpose of knowing that I'm not the only one like this. But I guess that is expected, too, since those who are like Cheng and I are considered "insane." Insanity isn't very common, apparently. But I'm not insane. I need to get out of here. I know I would be leaving Cheng all alone, but there are things I need to-

"We have a new arrival coming this afternoon," Cheng said to me with a toothy grin. He turned his head down to what I was writing. He leaned forward for a closer look. "Can I see what-"

"No!" I snapped immediately. I swiped the paper away from his line of sight and pushed him more upright in his chair. With a quick motion, I ignited the paper and pushed the remaining ashes on the floor. One of the nurses shook her head disapprovingly and told me that firebending wasn't allowed. "Sorry. That won't happen again." This one rolled her eyes and said that if I did, it would be the isolation room for me. I nodded politely at her, for you don't want to cross the nurses if you want to get out faster.

"That was really smooth there, Lixue," Cheng said, laughing. "A few more things like that and you'll be labeled as 'red status'. Trust me, it's not fun."

"I'm new here. Give me a break. That was just a habit and I won't have a problem with it as long as you don't try to read anything over my shoulder unless I give you permission." I glanced around the room to see that the others have obviously seen the exchange between the nurse and I. "Anyways, you said something about a new arrival?"

"Yeah, I heard she's a heck of a case. She's from the capital. Probably someone of high social status, considering that the doctors and nurses are getting busy with straightening up the hospital and making sure the patients don't do anything insane. Which is kinda hard to do, since this is an insane asylum," Cheng said with a mock introspective look on his face. "Come to think of it, you never told me what crazy thing happened that landed you here. You don't seems to be the crazy type."

"That's because I'm not crazy," I responded, emphasizing my words slowly.

"And yet, you're here. Come on, I know it's all a front so you can get out of here faster. It's not gonna work since whatever happened categorized you under 'hopelessly insane'. I did the same thing, and it's been three years. You're not getting out anytime soon."

"Fine then. I'm insane. Happy now?"

"No, it's sad to think that someone like you would be locked up like this. Unless you're like me and it's just for the best. If I tell you why I'm here, would you tell me why you're here?"

I considered his offer carefully. Since I had nothing to lose, I nodded and said, "Fair enough."

"Well, you know that people are in here for three reasons, right?" I nodded for him to go on. "Some are in here because they can't take care of themselves and have no one to help them, some are a danger to others, and the rest are a danger to themselves. I guess you would say that I'm a danger to others." He scooted his chair closer to mine and lowered his voice a few levels. "The first thing I think of when I encounter other people is how to murder them. Whether it is with a weapon, my bare hands, or my surroundings; I consider all options."

I fidgeted in my seat a little after learning this about him. It's surprising to know that someone like Cheng really thinks that way about other people. Yet, I was not really afraid of him. I guess after the events that happened the last few days, I'm just too exhausted to fear anything.

"But don't worry," Cheng assured me. "I've never killed anyone. It just got so bad I checked myself into this place. It got to the point that animals would fall into my murderous grasp to help resist doing it to a human being. But after being here for a while, I don't have the urges as much as I used to. The thoughts come occasionally, but that's all." It was strange to see him in such a serious state, but at least he says he's getting better. After a brief pause, Cheng's face contorts back to its usual form as a cheery complexion. "So, what's your story?"

Come to think of it, I shouldn't have agreed to the terms without thinking things through more. Lixue and her impulsiveness will get her killed one day. Haha, funny. Irony is afoot in life right now, and it is not welcome here.

"Okay, so you said you're here because you're a danger to others?" I asked, rhetorically. Cheng nodded and gestured for me to continue. "I'll just say that I'm considered a danger to myself." I stood up from my chair and walked to the only door in this room.

"What, no specifics?" Cheng inquired after me.

"It's too soon for that," I replied. I really needed to be alone before the uncomfortableness got to me. I told the nurse by the doorway that I would be heading back to my quarters. She followed closely behind me after she got another nurse to take her spot by the door.

As I reached my room, the nurse stood back against the wall on the other side of the hallway. She brought out a scroll with my name labeled on it and scribbled something on it. I rolled my eyes at the thoroughness of the procedures here and entered my room, slamming the door behind me. Lets see what she'll write about that.

I collapsed on my cot, shutting my eyes as tightly as I could. I will not give in. Not in a place like this. I'm not insane. I'm just tired. I just want to get out of here!

I felt as if I wanted to scream and burn this whole establishment to the ground. I didn't care if I couldn't get out. I doubted that I would even let myself escape. But there's just too many people here. I guess if I just controlled it enough to just burn down the adolescent ward; everyone here was just too into cliques. Just like at the academy. That fact alone irked me to no end. And then came the problem about what I would do about Cheng... Should I let him flee? Or do I burn him to ashes along with me to protect the general population?

Or I should just leave the plan to burn the ward alone. Much more logical, if I didn't say so myself.

I jumped off of my cot that resulted in a loud stomp on the ground that reverberated around the building. A nurse knocked on my door to remind me to keep the noise to a minimum because the other teenagers in the adolescent ward below might get set off and cause even more commotion to set the adults below them to get set off also, whatever "get set off" meant in a place like this. I apologized and made sure my steps weren't as loud as that one. I realized that the adolescent ward was on the third floor... Which meant that my room was-

I eagerly glanced out the only window in my room. It was a small one and it had the view of the pathway to the front of the complex. Looking down, I gauged that it was about forty feet to the ground. Forty feet, if all the floors in this place were about ten feet tall like this one. Adult ward then adult rooms, then comes the adolescent ward and on the top came the adolescent rooms. An architectural design made in heaven, in my point of view. And the perfect escape from this place.

I gripped the metal bars to my window and began the steady process of melting and reshaping them, making sure not to do it too quickly or the glass behind them would shatter from stress by the rapid change in fluctuating temperature. Unnecessary noises apparently are taken quick note of in a place like this. The heat from the bars started to heat up the air surrounding them, which meant that the room started getting warm and that I should finish soon before the other firebending doctors and nurses notice that unnatural temperature changes were isolated into one room. In other words, they would notice that I'm firebending when I'm not allowed to.

As soon as I pulled the bars far enough apart to fit both of my shoulders in, I thought about my tactic on carrying out my plan. If I angled my body this way... no... Ah, that's a better trajectory. Now, for leverage.

I pulled my cot near the window and stood on it. I had only a few moments before the personnel heard the broken glass, so I needed to be quick and do this right the first time. Before it came back for me...

I kicked the glass as hard as I could and propelled myself through the small opening, not caring if the remaining shards tugged at my clothes and skin, and attempted a headfirst dive into the ground below to freedom.

I'm not a failure! He's the failure! I'm supposed to be fire lord! I'm the one strong enough to be fire lord, not him! So what if mother loved him only? She thought I was a monster, and look where that got her! And she had the nerve to finally say that she "loved" me right before my coronation? It's either she finally realized that I'm the one that deserves her love or that she came to taunt me just so he can take the throne from me. That's it, she was in on his plan the whole time! She's just trying to get into my head, to prevent me from ever taking my rightful place on the throne! And now that he's telling me that she was never there just for an excuse to lock me up like Father.

With disgust and frustration, I pulled at the bindings at my wrists and ankles. I found it to be horrible and unusual punishment for them to be doing this, for that stupid Avatar took away my bending and I can't do anything to anyone. If he took away my bending, why not take Zuzu's away as well? I'm the better bender. He's just a poor excuse for one. I'm the prodigy! I deserve every right to keep my bending! I struggled in my seat, trying to find a way to untie my bindings.

"Untie me! I'm your princess! This is treason of the worst kind! You are to be put in a prison for this kind of treatment to royalty!" I spat at the palace servant pushing my wheelchair.

"I'm sorry, princess, but you must remain restrained. We must prevent any further harm to befall upon the others by your hand," the maid replied. I saw that there's fear in her eyes, and she was attempting to hide it. She wasn't there when I lashed out, but I'd have bet that she saw the broken leg and nose of that servant.

"He deserved it anyways. He accused one of the royal family to be insane. ME? INSANE?! He's the one who lost his mind for saying that in my face."

The maid obviously ignored me, which annoyed me to no end, and said, "Fire Lord Zuko reluctantly is placing you in a facility for you to take a break from recent events. He will be accompanying you to see if the place fulfills his expectations."

She maneuvered the chair to one of the docking planks on the boat I have just exited. I saw the disgrace of a Fire Lord walk down off the boat. Anger and fury rose up in my chest.

"How is she?" Zuko asked the maid. Of course, you think I'm crazy. Of course, you're not going to ask me that question. Because you think I'm crazy!

"She's livid, but she's more calm compared to the incident with Chao," the maid replied. He nodded and looked off into the distance. Seeing that he was distracted, I propelled myself at him by my bound legs. I miscalculated my force and ended up rolling off the other end of the dock. I landed into the water, desperately trying to make my way up to the surface again.

My bound limbs were useless to save me from drowning. I felt the displacement of water as someone dove in to retrieve me, just as I was struggling to hold my breath longer. The saltwater stung in my eyes as I tried to see what else was going on. My rescuer finally brought me back to the surface and onto the dock, both of us coughing and struggling to get air back into our lungs. As I blinked back the last of the salty sting in my eyes, I realized that the maid was the one who dove in to save me.

How heartless of a man he is! He didn't even care to save his own little sister from drowning! No, he'd leave a job like that to a worthless servant girl. Rage filled itself in my being at this realization. And just like that, as if nothing happened, he walked off the dock while I was wheeled by my rescuer to follow him.

We arrived at the facility at about three. I looked around at the place I was doomed to stay for the rest of my life, if it were to go his way. The lobby was horridly decorated with peasant stock-paintings and vases of painted metal with dull, white flowers in them. The front desk had stacks of scrolls and papers too sterilely arranged. The lobby was void of people except for the nurse at the desk, me, Zuko, and his entourage.

"Welcome to Tao Memorial Hospital, Fire Lord Zuko," the nurse said, bowing deeply. She turned to me and bowed her head as well. "And we welcome you, too, Princess Azula."

Zuko just nodded lightly, looking around at his surroundings. His gaze fell upon the nurse once again and said, "You will treat her well here?" The nurse nodded.

"Our facility is very different compared to the conceptions the general public have on hospitals such as these. We do not want to create an atmosphere that will interfere with the progress towards rehabilitation to become, once again, part of society. So, we will not make them do anything that they are not willing to do. But it is encouraged for them to engage and learn in the activities that will benefit their treatment."

"Will she stay here long?"

"It's all up to her."

"I do not want to be here!" I articulated with a hint of defiance.

"Unfortunately, you can only be released if the doctors deem you ready. But it's up to you to show to them that you are ready to leave." The nurse motioned for us to follow her. She lead us to a completely empty room, save for a torch on one wall, and motioned for everyone else to exit. She knelt in front of me at eye level and said, "I'm going to remove the restraints. If you cooperate with me, this process will go faster and you will start out with more privileges that the other patients don't usually start out with. If you don't, you start out with the same privileges that everyone else gets and we'll both have a bad day today."

I sensed a hint of a threat in her words. I analyzed her closely to see who would have the advantage. Her arms and legs had muscles in them. Her stance was steady and balanced. And considering the way that the torch behind her moved to the rhythm of her breathing, she was a firebender as well. I nodded in agreement, as well as defeat.

"You are very observant, Princess Azula. You certainly don't fit the over-generalized conception that all mentally-imbalanced people are stupid. I don't believe the stereotype myself, but I've dealt with many cases that, unfortunately, fit that description." She smiled at me and untied my restrains. "It might either be a good or bad thing to you, but I have been assigned to be the nurse to have watch over you. So, I will introduce myself, firstly. My name is Li Ming." She stood up from her kneeling position. "This might be quite embarrassing and degrading, but this is for the safety of the other patients and yourself."

She handed me a towel and said, "I'm going to have to ask you to remove all of your clothing and hand them to me. You may use that towel to cover yourself as I search for anything that you might have that could potentially be used against others or yourself." I stood there, not quite believing what she requested of me. "I will turn around while you do so. It is required of me to stay in the same room as you are in this stage of the process, since there is a torch on the wall." She turned her back towards me and clasped her palms over her eyes, to emphasize the meaning that she will not look.

"I assure you that I have no weapons on my person. My brother saw to it," I reasoned with her.

"It doesn't have to be weapons. Just a simple object such as string is not allowed in this facility."

"But what about the things a patient isn't willing to do?"

"I was referring to aspects of treatment. Not the rules that all must abide by, including me," she stated, still with her back towards me. I reluctantly shedded my clothes and deftly wrapped the towel around my torso. I picked up my clothes and tapped her on the shoulder to indicate that I was done. She turned around, looked at the clothes in my hand and simply said, "All articles of clothing, madam." She turned around once again. I sighed, annoyed at such thoroughness, and removed the rest of my clothing. I wrapped the towel even closer to me, feeling even more degraded than I was the moment I was tied up back at the palace. I tapped her shoulder and handed the pile to her. She smiled, and searched through my clothing. The only thing that she removed was the sash from my robe.

"This robe without its sash wouldn't suffice for covering yourself. So I will give you a hospital gown in its place. I will give them to you when I have you situated in a room," she said as she handed back my clothes, turned around once more, and I donned my clothing. I made sure to keep the robe closed by hand. The nurse beckoned me to follow after I finished.

Outside of the room, Zuko and the others had surprised looks on their faces. I bet you were expecting a fight between me and this lady, Zuzu. Well, you were wrong about me again. I never underestimate my opponents.

"This is where you say your goodbyes for now, assuming that you will come to visit her," Li Ming said to Zuko. He nodded, looked at me sadly, and exited the hospital. His company followed closely behind him. The maid who saved me looked back, hesitated, and bowed, then caught up with the rest of the group. She's pathetic.

"Now, are you ready to meet the others?" Li Ming asked me. She had a brush in her hand and a scroll in the other with my name on it. She wrote down a few things and rolled it back up. "I'm just writing down that you get special privileges. The other nurses were debating on how you would react and who would be the best one for you to be assigned to. I guess we're all surprised that you decided to cooperate." She smiled at me. "Perhaps you're not the hopeless case that many have come to believe."

I only nodded slightly to show that I was still listening. She then lead me to a door that opened to an outdoor plaza with a fountain in the center. As we walked through the plaza, we passed by a pond with turtle-ducks swimming around. The sight of them brought a sense of revulsion, since I usually associate them with Zuko and his mother. The facility had a square-within-a-square layout, with the plaza as the inside square. On the side directly opposite the lobby was a building much taller than the rest. I assumed that this was where the rooms were. As we got nearer to this building, Li Ming started prattling off the rules. No fighting, no bending- not like that was possible on my part, no harsh words, etc. Doing so will end up in punishments that range from privileges taken to temporary confinement, depending on the severity. Also, doing so will end up with a closer watch.

In the middle of her obviously rehearsed speech, I heard glass shattering from above. To the right of both Li Ming and I, glass shards clinked and scattered about the ground. I looked up to see a person diving head-first into the ground.