Two years passed. I never spoke of Ty Lee or her disappearance. That's what they called it, a disappearance, and there was no mention of the fact that she was shamed and disowned and sent away like a kicked dog. And of course there was no mention of the Princess.
It wasn't that I didn't remember that day, that night. I remembered every instant perfectly. And that was the issue. I was getting my all of lessons directly from my father since I had turned thirteen instead of a few here or there and most from Lo and Li. He was teaching me many things besides firebending, like how to lie flawlessly and how to rule a nation. He told me that I was born lucky and that my stupid, exiled brother was lucky to have been born. We both laughed because we knew it was true. I was nearly perfect at everything and he was often furious with me anyway. I couldn't count the number of time that he hit me or burned me. It didn't scar, though, because I was always dispatched to our waterbending Healers and the marks never stayed.
The one lesson that I struggled to learn was the one he said was most important. My father taught me that any affection is a weakness and that everyone will stab you in the back. That was why I did not, could not think of Ty Lee.
Immediately after Zuko and Uncle Iroh were officially declared traitors I was sent after them. I tried to trick them with a Royal ship at my side, but when they escaped I realized that wouldn't work.
"I'll need a small, elite team," I announced to Lo and Li, flicking through my mind for possible candidates. Ty Lee kept coming up. I rationalized that it had nothing with her and only with her fighting prowess. Laboring under this delusion, I set course for the last place my spy had seen her circus.
When we found her, it was a shock. She had filled out and her braid was even longer and she looked happier than ever and it was all I could do not to stop where I was and just stare. I wanted to run to her and hold her but I knew it was not an option. I remembered what my father had said and layered his words over the memory of our last night together like some kind of armor. Thus protected, I shook out my shoulders, put my chin up, and approached.
"Ty Lee, could that possibly be you?" I asked, acting surprised like I hadn't tracked her circus for days to find her, like I didn't know it was her with every fiber of my being. She flipped out of her strange contortion and ran over to me.
"Azula! It is so good to see you!" she hugged me and I hugged her back for just a second before disengaging her hold. She looked up at me, confused, but I couldn't let myself get distracted by her big grey eyes. I couldn't get trapped. I had a mission to perform.
I asked her some fool question about how she ended up here to protect me against enemy spies that could be listening in. Her look of confusion deepened and I almost felt bad. I was about to give in and explain to her that affection was weakness, spies were many, and enemies were always hunting for the chink in the armor, but I stopped myself and launched into an explanation of our traitor-hunting mission. She said something nice about Uncle Iroh, probably to get back at me for being distant and strange.
"I would be honored if you would join me on my mission," I told her, meaning every word. I put the emotion into my voice, that one sentence humming with subtext.
Because of this, I was stunned when she says no.
"I'm really happy here." She said
"My aura has never been pinker" she said and I wanted to yell and scream and beg her to come with me, even though princesses never beg, and I realized that this is what he meant. It is foolish to give another person this much power over you. He was right. And so I told her I would never want her to give up her life for me and she smiled brightly and I didn't see it because I didn't care couldn't care wouldn't care. I spun on my heel and walked away. Then suddenly I got an idea.
"Of course, before I leave, I'm going to catch a show tonight." I told her airily, throwing the words over my shoulder. I heard her gulp and couldn't help but smile.
"Do you think she'll fall?" I asked the ringmaster at the circus. He answered firmly that she will not.
"Then wouldn't it be more interesting if you removed the net?" I wanted to test my ally and force her to change her mind. The ringmaster did not answer me and just looked nervously at Ty Lee all the way up in the air.
"You're right, that's been done," I paused for a moment, letting the ringmaster think his troubles were over. "I know! Set the net on fire." I suggested in such an imperious tone that he simply had to do what I said. Watching Ty Lee's expression as she tried to hold on to her little stand in the blaze was hilarious. I knew when I released the animals on her that she was done. Not caring was easier and much more fun.
I gave her flowers after the performance, a meaningless gesture. As I expected, when I talked to her I learned that she was leaving the circus and joining me. She didn't look as defeated as I would have liked, but it didn't matter.
I almost wanted to laugh as I walked away because I had won. I defeated Ty Lee, both her and my feelings about her. She was just another subordinate who would do what I asked when asked and that was it. Victory for the Firelord.
Hi everybody! I'm just checking in to let you know that I'm back in school and, while I will do my best to update on time, I might be late sometimes. Alright, see you next week!