Azula Pov:

As the sun entered the master bedroom Azula woke from her slumber and greeted the day by spreading her massive wings as she stretched and flew out of the bed. As usual moments after her feet touched the floor the doors opened and two lines of maids formed on either side.

"Good morning mistress Azula" they said in unison bowing as she passed them her glowing yellow eyes tracking their every movement. Being the leader of all dragons ment that not only did she lead all of dragonkind but also had legions of servants at her beck and call. As each maid went about cleaning and grooming her body for the day Azula couldn't help but notice one more maid then usual which made her slightly aggravated.

"You there, why are you here? You're not part of my morning team so tell me why I shouldn't burn you where you stand." she threatened one hand filled with her blue flames.

The maid instantly started trembling knowing full well that Azula can and would kill her like all other things she deemed useless.

"...I...I was sent by lady Ty lee she's awake wishes to see you." The maids instantly stopped working as Azula's breath stopped and her eyes widened.

"Tell my council that I'll be late to the meeting." The maids nodded before finishing their work and leaving. Azula now dressed in her crimson robes lifted her wings and took off down the halls heading straight for Ty lees wing of the palace to see how her friend was doing. For as long as Azula had known her Ty lee had been suffering from a dark spirits curse that was slowly killing her, but that never stopped her from being Azula's only friend even when Azula killed the old leader and took his place as leader of the dragons she still made time for Ty lee even going so far as to move the girl to the palace to make sure she got the best care and was always close to her.

Just as she reached the door to her room the royal doctor emerged looking at her chart with a unreadable expression on his face.

"How is she today doctor?"

"Well the good news is that we finally found a possible cure."

"And the bad news?"

"I'm afraid the only known cure is full immersion in water blessed by the ocean and moon spirit but as you may be aware..."

"Yes those spirits left the spirit world long ago to live in the human world, but tell me what are her chances without the water?"

She had always admired the royal physician for his inability to give false hope. And as he looked her in the eye his facial muscles never moving she knew the answer.

"And how long does she have?"

"One year if she's lucky nine months at minimum." He bowed as he left me alone to deal with this new information.

Nine months at minimum, I'd always knew I'd outlive her but I didn't expect it like this. But if tis is is all the time she has left I'll at least make sure she gets everything she could ever want.

With that decided I pushed open the massive doors to her room which was once an indoor garden which Ty Lee had massively improved upon. But that's not surprising seeing as Ty lee was a nymph. In fact most people had found it strange that a dragon and a nymph could be anything but enemies but we'd found we didn't care what others thought. As I walked around the massive tree trunks and plants that littered the room I was completely blindsided when Ty Lee sprang from out one of the trunks tackling me to the ground in a hug.

"Azula you came!"

I've told her thousands of times not to tackle me it's undignified but I just can't bring myself to yell at her.

"Of course I came no matter how busy I get I'll always have time for you. Besides one of the maids said you had wanted to see me."

She helps be to my feet and I can't help but see how sick she was. Her skin had lost it's normal glow and waist was a lot thinner showing she probably wasn't eating as much as she should.

I must have looked to long because before I knew it she was calling my name.

"Azula!"

"Huh what?"

"You were staring again. I knew you're worried but trust me I'm fine just a bit tired some days but I feel great today."

I knew better then to try and argue with her knowing that it would only make her stressed so I could only not and sit down on a chair she had made with a wave of her hand.

"I know you're busy will you council business but I've decided you and I are going to the portal celebration this week.

Portal celebration?... Oh right that dreadful festival that the spirits go to to celebrate the one day the avatar opens the portal for twenty-four hours so that people and spirits can enter the worlds before they're closed off for the year.

"Ty Lee you know how I feel about crowed events not to mention all the council meetings and would be suitors that are starting to drop by. I'll be busy dealing with all that for weeks." All the happiness drains from her face and her pointed ears drop as the disappointment appears on her face and with a sad but understanding look says.

"I understand... I just wanted you to go with the festival with me I've never been and I've always wanted to, but I'm not going to go without you beside me."

Damn she only has a year left and If I don't let her go now she'll never get to go. Curse her and that innocent face of hers.

"Well I'm the queen of all dragons and as such can do as I please and if that means they have to wait while I enjoy a festival with my oldest friend so be it."

She instantly grabs and hugs me as she jumps up and down in excitement.

"Thank you! thank you! I promise it will be super fun."

You're doing it for her, you're doing it for her, I can get through one crowed festival filled with idiots that will do nothing but flirt with Ty lee.

That was the only thing that kept me from going back and saying no to her.

"Just watch we'll see the spirts dance in the sky and drink spirit wine and..." she suddenly started coughing prettly baddly into her hand and when she pulled it back I could see small drops of blood.

"Think I might have overdone it a bit."

With one hand I guided her to her bed before placeing her in.

"You just save your strength for the festival aright."

After giving her a glass of water filled with medcine to help her sleep I leave her room and head straight for the council chambers where she would have to endure pompus dragons to old to fight but still powerful enough to be respected. She took her seat at the head of the table and with a wave of her hand the first issure was brought forth.

"Mistress Azula the first issue we need to disucss is the border issue we've been having with the forest dwellers. In the past we used force to remind them that we are in charge, but since you took over and forbid us from harming them they keep blocking access to the precious metlas we need."

This was no new issue they just love to remind me that the former ruler was a arrogent fool that took what he wanted and crushed those in his way... which in some ways she admired but unlike the rest of them Azula grew up near those woods with Ty lee and personally knew many of it's inhabinats.

"Perhaps if we sent an ambassador we could open up a trade agreement instead of shouting and demanding like a child." Said councilmen Iroh one of the few council members she could tolerate even if he was a tea obsessed fool.

"Yes if we sent someone like... lady Ty lee she's a forest dweller so she should be able to convince them." All eyes turned to the youngest member Zhou who looked both smug and proud at his idea.

Abloustly not! Ty lee can bearly be out of bed for a few hours yet alone take on the difficult task of an ambassador.

After taking a deep breath I looked over at the young man.

"Yes by all means lets send a girl that can bearly walk to be an ambassador that is if she doesn't die as she's doing her job. That was your plan wasn't it? To have her die and than say she was murdered so that we could wipe them out in retaliation." He wouldn't meet her eyes and looked to the other war like members for support but found they refused to acknowledge him.

"No... I was just thought they would respond better to somebody like them."

"Well that's good because for a moment I thought I would have to kill and replace you. Now on to the next issue." Zhou released a massive breath and shrunk into his seat as councilmen Roku presented the next issue.

"Our last issue is that of the new royal line. It has been nearly two years since you took the throne and you have not taken a suitor or even a consort."

Wonderful this again, honestly every week with this.

"Several kingdoms have already sent their sons to the palace to win your hand. The former ruler didn't see the need for a family and as such was easier to dethrone."

Most of the council was nodding in agreement but I could still tell what was going on. Sooner or later one of them would mention that he had a powerful son or nephew that I might like to make my king if only as a fake to stop the other suitors. In all honestly it was a tempting notion and it would grant me time to find a way around it.

Besides I'm not against having a mate but they would have to be strong enough to win my respect and I've yet to meet that person.

As I was thinking one of the oldest members Sozin saw his chance and spoke.

"Perhaps for the time being we should have somebody pretend to be the queens suitor, that is until she can find a person worthy of her."

And her it comes I wonder who they pick this time.

"Perhaps my son Ozai would be a suitable choice."

Ozai?! sure he's powerful but he's arrogant and vindictive not to mention a power hungry fool. He tried to overthrow the former ruler and was defeated and now he tries to earn my favor every chance he gets.

"I will take your idea under consideration but for now I'll deal with the would be suitors myself." Sozin started to protest but one glare from me shut him up. As soon as the meeting was over I collapsed into the chair doing my best to keep my cool as the council left, that is all but Iroh.

"You seem to have other things on your mind then just the suitors. I've learned that talking to someone can often lead to solutions that couldn't be reached alone." He said pouring two cups of tea before sliding one to me. And I had to admit that even though his gentle nature did aggravate me he was one of the wisest people I've ever met so decided to vent my frustrations on him.

"It's not just the suitors those I can deal with. My real problem is Ty lee."

"Ah yes your young friend how is she doing these days?" Iroh had been known to visit her from time to time but he'd been busy lately.

"Unless I can get a lot of spirit water blessed by the ocean and moon spirits she'll be dead within nine months a year if she's lucky."

A few moments passed and he seemed to contemplate something then he turned to me.

"There might be another way."

"What?!"

"I've heard that the humans or the water tribes have found way to heal just about anything with their bending. Perhaps you could ask one such healer to cure Ty lee."

Well I won't be asking but If it means saving her I'll do anything.

"I'll be sure to do that, thank you for your counsel now if you don't mind I have some research to do on these water tribe people."