Like A Disaster

By Kyatto

Chapter One: Strawberry Gashes

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It had been years since I last saw Princess Azula. To say we had a falling out would have been an understatement. When we were young she had been my idol – the kind of person I strived to be. She was my hero. I revered her, respected her, feared her, and yes…even loved her. I had always seen here as this strong unbreakable young woman. Then one day she showed her true colors. When given the choice between helping someone who risked it all for love, and helping someone only out to save her pride, I had to choose love. Who wouldn't have? But even still, I lived with regret. She imprisoned me because I betrayed her. She was so angry…I could never go back. Until now...

-;-

At the Fire Nation capitol there was only one institution where they kept the criminally insane, and it was even more securely guarded than Boiling Rock. It was where they kept their most dangerous. After the Avatar's defeat of her father (and subsequently, Fire Lord Zuko's defeat of her), Azula was shipped off to that place…never to be seen again. The Féng Asylum. The only person ever to escape was the legendary Third-Eyed Man. No one knew where he went, but it was suspected a member of the royal family had something to do with his breakout. It was the only place secure enough to keep the damaged princess for the rest of her days.

Ty Lee had been doing well with the Kyoshi Warriors. They replaced the Dai Li as the guards of the Earth King's palace. She was proud to say she had never had to use her chi-blocking since the time she used it on Azula. Now that the world was at peace, there was no need for fighting. With the exception of warding off the occasional bandit, the Warriors had an easy job and grew to rather enjoy their cozy lifestyle. Suki made it clear that when she retired she was going to appoint Ty Lee as their new leader. It was only a matter of time before that day, they all knew. Sokka had recently presented her with a Water Tribe betrothal necklace, and she had accepted.

In recent days she had taken time to mull over her past. To consider decisions and mistakes she had made. All she could think about in the last several years was Azula, the one she had left behind. Ty Lee had tried to keep herself busy between visiting with Mai when she came with Zuko to the Jasmine Dragon, spa days with Katara and Toph, and all the work she did with the Kyoshi Warriors, but all of it still wasn't enough. She knew there was emptiness in her heart. The hole still belonged to the princess. She would not be at peace until they reconciled, or at least until she say what became of her.

When there was a lull in activity and even the Earth King was showing signs of boredom, she decided it was time to journey back to the Fire Nation. She would visit with her family, as well as Zuko and Mai, but of course she had a much bigger motive. She was going to get into the Féng Asylum and find the princess. Ty Lee had to see for herself what she had done. Even if she was in a coma, or so gone it was as if she were dead, it would be something. Her best friend deserved more than to be left to rot for all eternity.

"Ty Lee, why are you packing?" Suki asked as she stepped into the Warriors' chambers. "Is something wrong?"

"Nothing is wrong, Suki," Ty Lee shook her head, clasping the clamshell case that held her facepaint. "I just feel it's time I took a small vacation."

"You've grown to become one of my best friends," the other girl told her softly, stepping behind her so she could grasp her chin and tilt her head so she could look at her. "You can tell me why you are leaving. Where are you going?"

She closed her eyes and bit her lip before finally returning Suki's gaze. "To the Fire Nation, there are some…things I need to take care of. Things I can't put off any longer."

"You know," Suki smiled. "You are a Kyoshi Warrior. If you want a consort with the Fire Lord all you need to do is request one."

"It's not Zuko nor Mai," she pushed her away. "It's…" Should she confess? No. That would put her mission in jeopardy. "My family. I haven't seen them since I left for the Earth Kingdom. They've been sending me letters. I think it's about time I visited home for a while."

"I understand," Suki nodded as she stepped back to allow the other girl her space. "You ran away long before the war ended. I'm sure they're very worried about you. You've changed a lot."

"Thank you, Suki," Ty Lee gave her a small smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Are you sure you can run the show the few weeks while I'm gone? I know you're planning to retire soon."

"Of course! I'm only engaged, it's not like I'm going to deliver a baby anytime soon!" Suki laughed softly. "My body is fine. Take all the time you need, alright?" She patted her arm and gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze.

"I will," this time, Ty Lee smiled fully. "Make sure the other girls know I'll be okay."

"Can do!" Suki stepped out into the hall and called for a messenger hawk. She could always be counted on.

-;-

Azula, please be okay! I'm coming for you. I can feel that you are waiting. I just hope you will be all right. Suki may be my friend now, but there is no way she and the other girls could ever replace you. You know that, right? I would never betray you like that! Why can't you see it was for your own good? You had turned into a monster!

-;-

The harbor was in view from where Ty Lee stood on the ship. She checked her reflection in the metal siding, adjusting her long wavy chestnut-brown hair. It had been quite some time since she was dressed in Fire Nation garb – she hadn't realized just how much she missed it. Her appearance changed marginally over the last several years. Perhaps she had grown taller, had filled out more from doing less gymnastics, and maybe her hair had gotten longer. The hole that formed without Azula took with it her care for her appearance – she hardly noticed if she changed at all. When she ship docked into port she wrapped herself in a burgundy silk cloak and pulled the hood up over her head. She still had a short journey she had to take by foot, and the less people who recognized her meant the less people who would try to stop her.

Féng Asylum was in the heart of the city, near the Fire Nation palace. It was still secluded, yet seemingly close enough that the Fire Lord himself could keep an eye on it. It was a tall, broad tower, with a basement that could've gone as far down as the core of the earth. The farther down the cells went, the more dangerous and gone they were. They were the most undeserving of ever seeing the light of day. Tales spread all over the world of the horrors that went on there, of how tortured the "patients" were. The people who worked there weren't doctors and healers, most of them were rough inmates transferred from other prisons; they were trying to prove their worth by guarding those even lower on the scale than they were. They were brutal and ruthless, and only made those condemned there suffer more.

She made her way past the gates to the entrance, a determined look on her face. Of course they would turn her away. No one except perhaps the Fire Lord was allowed to enter. The place was much too dangerous to risk allowing a civilian to enter. A young woman like her? Would be torn to shreds. But she didn't come all this way to be told no. She had been one of Azula's elite partners, and then an esteemed member of the Kyoshi Warriors. She would get in no matter what.

"Ma'am, this area is restricted," a uniformed guard flagged her down. "Do you have anything to present to show authorization?"

"I know one of the patients," Ty Lee replied quietly.

"Ma'am, please," the guard tried to stare her down. "Certificate of Authorization, or else I will have you escorted."

"My best friend is in there," she said sharply, refusing to blink or advert her gaze.

"Either you present a certificate signed by the Fire Lord or I will have you removed!"

She countered it quickly. "I demand you let me speak to the warden!"

"He doesn't have time to bother with the likes of you," the guard shook his head. "He's a busy man."

"Fine then," Ty Lee pulled out a patch that was sewn on all the Kyoshi Warrior uniforms and showed it to him. "I am second in command to the Kyoshi Warriors, consorts to the Earth King himself. I order that you bring me to the warden. Do not make me break the law by trying to get in by force." She lowered her hood to show him her face… A face that was once respected and adored by all of the Fire Nation.

"Miss Ty Lee!" The guard gasped. "Of course! Right this way…." He led her down to the warden's office. "Out of my way! Move it! There's an important meeting!"

The warden's office was in the center of the ground floor and the most heavily guarded. He was feared and loathed by every last person in the Asylum. Not even the princess herself could break him. He was old and weathered, but the amount of muscles bulging through his clothes covered up his age. He looked like he could take out all of the Rough Rhinos with a flick of his wrist or even just a glare. The man had seen it all, and was still secretly a supporter of Sozin's agenda. Not to say he didn't take much pleasure in torturing the deranged princess, because he did, but at the same time he still wished the former Fire Lord finished what he started. His son was such a disgrace – preaching about love, peace, and prosperity. It was disgusting. The world has turned into such a vile place.

"Well, well, well…" He rumbled as he leered over the desk to meet her eye. "If it isn't little Ty Lee."

"I'm not so little anymore," she replied softly, meeting his gaze with narrowed eyes. "...Dad."

"What? No hug?" He chuckled with a sneer. "You wound me, girl. What could you possibly want here? It's been years. Finally felt like paying your old man a visit?"

"I did not come for you," she told him.

"Why don't you run along then?" The warden looked her up and down. "Your mother has been so worried about you all this time. And don't you want to catch up with your sisters?"

"There will be plenty of time for that later," she glared at him. "After I'm done here."

"You know," he stood, showing that he was nearly twice her height and four times as broad. "You've really done it to disgrace your family. Running away from home to join the circus. Pretending to aid our beloved princess only to nearly murder her. Then running off to become a guard for the Earth King…It's hard to believe you come from such an esteemed name. There hasn't been such failure since my brother, Zhao. Yet you chose to live up to that."

"You brought it on yourself," she replied, refusing to show fear. Ty Lee knew by now that she was better than him. Better than the entire family. She escaped it all. "You refused to accept my differences. The only thing you cared about was my friendship with the princess. But other than that, we were all the same to you. I ran away because I was tired of being one of seven. Tired of being one of 'the girls'. I'm different now, and I'm happy."

"Hah, that's real cute," he smirked. "You were always the overdramatic one. So tell me, what is it you've come here for, if not to see me?"

"I'm here to find my friend," Ty Lee said. "Princess Azula."

The guards all around gasped, and one of them spat out the water he was drinking. The warden furrowed his thick, bushy brows. "No one is allowed down there. She's corrupt beyond repair. Not even the Fire Lord himself would be allowed."

"I won't leave until I'm brought to her."

"Even if I wasn't your father, I still wouldn't allow it," he told her. "It's. Not. Safe."

"Not even if I said please?"

He sneered once more. "Being coy doesn't work here."

"Alright," she shrugged. "I guess you leave me no choice…"

He recognized that tone and brought back his fist, intending on knocking her out. But Ty Lee was younger, quicker, and more agile. As he swung his fist, she managed to dodge and contort herself so she could smash her fists rhythmically into his sides and stomach. The man fell to the floor with a loud crash, barely able to twitch. She had hit his chi blocks dead on. The moment he fell, she dashed off down the corridor that led all the way down.

"Guards!" He roared. "Stop her! Don't let her get away! Firebend if you must!"

This was the most she had to use her chi-blocking in years. All around her guards dropped like spiderflies as she pushed through wall after wall of them. Ty Lee leapt, bounded, and dashed through the halls and down the stairwells. The screams of the prisoners were words of encouragement for her to carry on. Somewhere in the mix she swore she could hear Azula calling out to her. The air around her grew thick and hot, these cells were near the base of the volcano. She could feel the heat of the ground through her shoes. But she was almost there- she could sense it.

At the very end of the hall that the last stairwell led to was a large padded cell. It felt like an inferno down there, all the sweat that beaded on her skin burnt right up – she was practically steaming. Ty Lee grabbed the bars, ignoring how much they burned, and scanned for the princess. Much to her horror, she found Azula in a heap in the corner, wailing and screaming at a small broken mirror. Her uniform was torn and stained, her skin dirty, cut up, and burned, hair tangled and matted making her look like a feral beast. The noble, conniving princess of the past was long gone.

"Oh mother! How nice of you to say! Of course I would love some more tea! Here, drink up!" Azula cackled and threw the mirror at the wall. "What's that? It was so hot it burned? I'm sorry! Maybe you should've thought of how I'd feel when you burned my heart!"

"…Azula?" Ty Lee gasped.

"Oh Zuzu! Don't cry! I'm sure father didn't mean it when he said I was much better suited for the throne than you…Oh, wait, he did!"

-;-

Azula, what has become of you? What is this thing? Where has your pride gone? This isn't the princess of the Fire Nation. This isn't the Azula I know. If only I had known…if I could've foreseen…

-;-

"Azula!" Ty Lee shouted, unable to take it anymore.

"Hm?" Azula turned to face her and crawled towards the bars. Her eyes were pale and glassy, as if her soul was gone. "…Mother?"

"No, Azula…" Ty Lee bit her lip.

"Mom! You came!" The princess cried, clinging onto the bars, tears pouring down her cheeks. "Why mother? Why did you leave me? Why did you let Dad and Zuzu hurt me? I thought you loved me!"

"I didn't mean to leave you, Azula…" Ty Lee trembled, her voice cracking. She reached through the bars to cup the other girl's cheek, stroking her cut and swollen lower lip with her thumb. "I didn't know. I'd never abandon you…"

"You're a liar! You wanted to leave me! You hate me! Everyone hates me!" At this point, she was bawling. The dirt mixed with her tears strained her cheeks like messed eye makeup.

"No, Azula…" Ty Lee shook her head and managed to squeeze part of herself into the cell so she was face to face with the princess. "I don't hate you. I-I could never hate you…I'm sorry. I'm so sorry Azula. I didn't mean to abandon you!"

"You're a liar! You're a filthy rotten liar! Everyone is! You're just here to mock me! Then you're just going to leave!"

"No! I came here because I couldn't bear to be without you! I had to see…had to know! I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" The tears that had welled up had started to fall. "I could never abandon you! I…I love you!"

Before Azula could answer, Ty Lee crushed their lips together, holding her tightly. The metal bars felt like lava against her skin and ate away at her clothes. She didn't care. All that mattered was she had found Azula. She had her back. And she would do whatever it took to wake her up and get her princess back too. She wasn't going to abandon her again.

-;-

End of Chapter One.