Chapter 1

The blank white walls drove me crazy. There were no pictures at all; just an empty space. I spent my time staring at the walls because there really wasn't anything else to do here anyways. I was constricted in a strait jacket and wheeled around in a wheelchair. I no longer talked and I wanted to keep it that way. I was too ashamed of myself so I ended up distancing myself from everyone.

I had a lot of time to think and I thought about what put me here. The past haunted me and I would often cry hours on end. I was filled with regret; the princess that I was before scared me. I was no longer the power hungry person I used to be and wished I hadn't done what I had done.

Zuko, Mai and Ty Lee visited me regularly but I didn't speak to them either. The feeling of shame only grew when they came. Zuko usually came alone and only then I was freed from my strait jacket. I had no more motivation to fire bend anymore. He always brought some tea and I silently sipped it as he talked. Even if his presence made shame rise up in me, I had to admit it was really good tea.

Mai and Ty Lee always came to see me together. That was when I felt the worst. In the past, I had once ordered that they would be thrown in prison to rot. And yet, they still came to visit me. I began to have nightmares in which I was stuck in a trench full of blue flames. I would catch on fire but my body wouldn't disintegrate and the pain grew worse and worse.

One day, Zuko and Mai came in together which was a surprise because Zuko usually came to visit alone. Mai's stomach had expanded a bit and it didn't take a genius to figure out she was pregnant. They were getting married and based on my calm and good behavior the doctors were willing to let me go for that one day.

"Azula, you'll look so pretty," Ty Lee sang as she combed my long and disheveled hair. "You must be happy,"

I didn't answer and just looked into the mirror ahead. My hair was longer and Ty Lee was struggling along with the attendants to undo the knots. I was much paler and bags hung under her golden eyes. Suddenly, a tall woman appeared behind me in the mirror. I violently turned around, surprising Ty Lee and the attendants. My hair became disheveled again when I turned back around.

The only people who were there was Ty Lee and the attendants. The sound of the comb clattering on the floor that Ty Lee dropped was the only noise in the room. The figure disappeared and I settled back in the chair. Confused, the attendants resumed grooming my hair. I could've have sworn that I had seen my mother, Ursa.

"Azula, I picked out two dresses for you," Ty Lee held them up.

One had a beautiful golden color with delicate white embroidery while the other was a rich red colored dress with light blue beads decorating it. I looked over the dresses with careful consideration. I pointed to the golden one as one of the attendants wrapped my hair into a bun.

"I hate this," Mai entered the room.

"You haven't changed," Ty Lee giggled. "You hate everything,"

"Well, let's see, my feet are killing me, my ankles are swollen and I waddle like a duck. Oh and this dress wasn't made for pregnant women,"

"You shouldn't have married the prince then," Ty Lee teased. "Then you wouldn't have to wear the royal gown. Turn around, give us a little spin,"

Mai stuck her tongue out but did what was asked of her. It was a royal red dress with embroideries of black and gold dragons twisting around her waist.

"Azula, isn't she beautiful?" Ty Lee sighed.

"If being in pain due to wearing a tight dress while pregnant is beautiful, then yes, I am beautiful," Mai shot back sarcastically.

"What do you think, Azula?" Ty Lee turned to me.

The attendants were applying make-up on me so I couldn't talk. Instead, I gave my approval by giving her a thumbs up. A knock on the door made Ty Lee jump.

"Who is it?" she asked cautiously.

"It's me, Zuko," he answered.

Ty Lee elbowed one of the attendants who escorted Mai through another door. As soon as the door opened, Zuko found himself on the floor, unable to move. She had hit chi-blocked him.

"I swear, the next time you do that, I'll banish you," he muttered.

"You say that all the time," Ty Lee rolled her eyes. "Besides you can't see the bride before the wedding!"

"I know that!" Zuko lifted his head. "I wanted to talk to Azula. I thought Mai was in the other room,"

"Whoops," the girl turned around with a sheepish grin. "Well, I'll go and leave you guys alone,"

"Ugh," Zuko staggered to the nearest seat. "Well, you look better,"

I nodded in response.

"Anyways, I just wanted to know how you were doing,"

"I'm doing fine," I said in a small voice.

My voice was quivering and it sounded like I had a sore throat due to the fact that I haven't spoken in about five years.

"You look nice," he commented. "It's much better than a strait jacket,"

"Thanks," I softly answered.

"Prince Zuko, we are about to dress Princess Azula," one of the attendants held up the dress I picked out.

"Oh yes," he got up. "I have to go ready for the wedding myself,"

He left and Ty Lee re-entered into the room. I was put in the dress but I had lost so much weight that the attendants finally had to tie a red sash around my waist to make me look decent. Ty Lee then revealed a pair of red flat shoes.

"I figured you'd rather wear this, high heels were never your thing anyways," she said as I slipped my feet into them.

I looked down at myself and relief washed over me. At least for one day, I didn't have to wear that ugly strait jacket.