{Hi everybody, it's me, your average wayward author. This story is going to be dark, so here is your very final TRIGGER WARNING. Now that that's over with, I'll explain how this will work: it's going to be written in rotating perspectives by Ty Lee, Mai, and Azula, in that order. You're going to get a short introduction from each girl and then the real story will pick up. I'll check in on you now and again, but nothing so long again, I promise. Sayonara!}

Growing up with siblings is tough, period. Growing up with six identical sisters is even harder. It's like living in a look-alike contest every day of your life with no way out. So, understandably, I've been trying to find my own identity since birth. All the even remotely interesting personality traits and hobbies had already been taken and I was left at the end with nothing of my own. The only thing that made me even a little different was the fact that I could see auras and that only got me branded as a freak. I tried to do my best to forget that little difference.

I grew up some and went to school. I met Mai and Azula and things changed a little. No one else was friends with the Princess. But I knew the truth: the Princess only tolerated me most of the time, rejecting almost all of my affection. Being the little idiot I was, I only tried harder. Her singularity was new to me and it attracted me like a moth to a flame. Here was this girl who was so unique that everyone the whole world round knew who she was. It was the perfect trap for a little girl with no identity.

At the age of ten I finally discovered a special little habit that no one else had: I would eat my meals like everyone else, but I would throw it up after. I didn't (couldn't) tell anyone about this thing that made me uniquely me, but I had it for myself and that was enough. Some part of me knew it was wrong, too different, but I loved it. And even though nobody knew what was going on, they all saw that I was getting skinnier and I loved it. Nobody suspected anything was wrong because no one who smiles is sad, no one who laughs is troubled. Do you want to hear the saddest part? My only goal was to look like Azula, with her razor-sharp cheekbones and collarbones like coat hangers. As much as I ruined myself, she helped.

At this point I had to admit that I loved her. It was almost inevitable, that I fall for the one person I could never have. It was so cookie-cutter, so cliché that I hated my love. At the same time, though, I couldn't stop. She was a pinnacle of perfection that I wanted desperately in every way and the love was a sort of burning hope that I could make it there. She was my worst mistake.

I was suffocating in my too-full house with too many expectations. I was skinny pretty and still not good enough. Azula barely acknowledged me most of the time. The only time I was alive was when I was crouching over the toilet, letting everything out and just being me. I couldn't make it living my life like I was.

So I ran. My only plan was to run until I was dead, or so far away that nobody would ever find me. It was fate and dumb luck that I found the circus, and even more luck that they took me in. I must have looked horrible that night, dripping wet and worn down to bones, but they accepted me anyway. I had always been somewhat good at gymnastics, so I took a position as an acrobat. I loved it there. I learned tricks I never even knew existed. I learned to chi block, to fight, and slowly developed an identity of my own. I tried to forget my family, my friends, and my love, but never quite left behind the pink clothing of my childhood. Despite everything, I was finally feeling the happiness I had faked for so long.

Everything was almost perfect for a while. But everything flipped over again when I opened my eyes and saw those boots again.