a/n: This mostly stems from frustration I felt over Azula's character. You take a great villain, ruthless and cruel and turn her into an insecure teenager. One of A:TLA's biggest disappointments. She took control of Ba Sing Se, the city that refused to bow down to the Dragon of the West and is put out because a guy with no brains is scared of her? Pathetic.

[also, rewatching end of season two. zuko? terrifying. i never knew he could be so happy.]

dedication: to plot bunnies. Seriously? Stop breeding.

summary: The demons of your nightmares can turn reality into hell. – Azula.

prologue

chaos is both beginning and end

Faint sounds – muffled, as if traveling through water.

"You gave her to Ty Lee?"

A familiar voice, without the dull tinge of apathy. Rage and anger and fire, all around her. Azula felt like she was drowning.

"Ty Lee has six sisters, Zuko!"

The voice again, spitting fire.

"Blue fire, and everyone'd be dead!"

Not drowning, Azula decided – she didn't feel the cool touch of water and she didn't seem to have any problem breathing. It was a different kind of pressure that sat on her chest and deafened her ears.

"Mai, please, calm down!"

Another voice, comforting yet alien, seriousness coloring its tone.

"Zuko knows what he's doing!"

"Does he?"

Azula tried to test her boundaries, only to find she had none. It was a disconcerting feeling – a claustrophobia in open space.

"Because all I see is a Fire Lord trying to kill my best friend."

Fire Lord. Azula had been Fire Lord…or had she? Someone had come, challenged her – Azula had lost.

Despair welled up and Azula struggled, fighting against the unfamiliar feeling of panic as her stomach roiled – the curious sensation of falling in empty space.

No, a strict voice spoke, comforting Azula even as it demanded, no, Azula, you do not need that. Start over – I know you have the courage to do it.

Starting over was so boring, Azula complained to air. Faint memories pressed on her – the irritation at getting a kata wrong, the annoyance of having to practice until she got it right.

You can do it, Azula, the voice breathed, full of pride, you are my little dragon. If anyone can do it – you can.

Azula felt the instinctual desire to please the voice, to impress it, to make it proud of what she'd done.

Okay, Azula agreed, I'll do it.