Year Two: Ice Sculptures


"I'm sorry we have to be at the South Pole for our anniversary," Ty Lee says sweetly.

Azula personally doesn't care about that as much as she cares about being at the South Pole in the first place. Her idea of politics was melting this place, but she has to pretend that she just loves it and all its dirty inhabitants for the good of her country. And they said she couldn't help but be a tyrant when Zuko inaugurated her as his advisor.

"I don't want you to even look at that chief I can't remember that name of."

"You know his name."

"No I don't. And you don't either. What's his name again?"

"Sokka. Wait, I mean, I don't know!" Ty Lee frowns.

"You tried. My anniversary gift to you is points for effort," Azula says.

"That's a horrible present," Ty Lee says, frowning.

"Well, I didn't buy you anything before coming here. What is it you would like?" Azula asks, gesturing around this pathetic block of ice.

Ty Lee sighs. "How about the hand of one of those ice sculptures that look like we're not supposed to touch them? You're so less sexy when you're acting like a dignitary instead of a criminal."

Azula stares at Ty Lee admonishingly. "That sounds like a wholly irresponsible thing to do that would reflect very poorly on the Fire Nation," she says as she slows to a stop and hoists herself up onto the snowpack base of the ice sculpture.

Ty Lee presses her hand against her mouth until she can feel her teeth to contain her excitement. Azula nearly falls, but steadies herself, and with one finger lit up bright blue, cleaved the hand off of some Water Tribe hero with one smooth motion. Lunging forward, Ty Lee catches it.

Royal Advisor Azula jumps down from the statue. "Hide it before we get in trouble," Azula hisses and Ty Lee sighs again.

"No. I want everyone to know that you cut off this hand for me. Oh my spirits! Someone is coming!" Ty Lee screams and she shoves the hand into Azula's parka. It burns like cold fire against her skin and Ty Lee crushes their lips together to hide Azula's shriek of shock from the two guards walking past.

Azula is still agape when Ty Lee pulls away.