A/N: Sorry about the long wait for an update. Hopefully, I'll get this story done before Christmas. Or, at least, that's my goal, but I never really stick to those.

Azula is not used to cruelty. True, she has known many things along the lines of 'hate', 'fear', and 'dislike', but outright, straight up cruelty is a new thing for the former princess. People did what she said, and if they didn't like it, or disagreed with her, too bad. Princess Azula's word was law. And her violent ways for dealing with people who displeased her were well known. No one crossed her, or said anything bad about her. Ever.

No one ever said a mean word towards her, which lead her to believe a great number of (untrue) things. Azula never pretended that everyone in the Fire Nation loved her, but she also never imagined that they all hated her. Hated her with a cruel, cold dispassionate hate.

She is used to her father's cold indifference, and him seeing her as little more than a weapon. She knows of her (late) mother's withheld affection. Azula grew quite used to Zuko's mixed fear and dislike. And she is aware of the fact that there is not a single servant out there who enjoyed serving the spoiled little princess.

Azula knows she's not loved; that's nothing new.

Yes, Azula has known many things in her life. But not love. And not cruelty. So maybe that is why the guards vicious teasing is such a slap to the face. These people are no longer scared of her. Azula can do nothing to harm them. Taking courage in that fact, the guards poke and prod her, taunting the young girl until she feels more alone and more betrayed than she ever has in her life. Azula thought she was making improvements in the way of mental wellbeing; thought she was getting better at keeping the visions and nightmares and just plain craziness at bay. But it's hard to tell with the guards picking on her every word, every movement.

In fits of anger, Azula will fling her arms at them, or launch a (still strong, well aimed) kick at the guards. She hopes for the familiar blue flames to appear. But the kicks stay mundane and normal; there is nothing special about her once-deadly strikes. When that doesn't work, Azula bares her teeth, and flexes her now clawless hands. Hands and teeth that used to harm; now they are as dangerous the stroke of a flower's metal. This only makes the guards laugh and jeer harder. Azula feels like she has become some sort of way of providing free amusement for them. Line up to see the crazy princess, free of charge.

Mai still comes to see Azula. Sometimes. She is very busy, and does not have time for the insane former Fire Lord. She tries to pretend this doesn't hurt. After all, they aren't really friends anymore, and Azula knows Mai does nor mean to be cruel. Still, it hurts. Hurts worse than a dagger of fire to the gut.

The cruelty of the people who are (supposed to be) watching her and keeping her same is sometimes too much to bare. Azula is afraid she's going crazy all over again; loosing what little sanity she managed to regain. But their blatant unkindness does give Azula much to think about.

This twisting, achy, painful feeling in Azula's stomach... The feeling she gets when a guard (she can't even remember which one. They all blur together in her mind) throws the food at her, letting it land on the filthy ground. The feeling she gets as her cage gets more and more dirty, yet no one will clean it, saying she deserves to live like the animal she is. This awful, awful feeling.

Was this what Zuko felt when she tortured him for not being good enough, or strong enough?When she upstaged and surpassed him in both school and fire-bending? When she abused him like the heartless bitch she used to be?

What Mai felt when Azula teased her for liking (that weakling) Zuko? Did the Weapon Mistress get this sick feeling in her heart when Azula put her own goal's and ambitions before her (best) friend's brother's safety?

Did Ty Lee feel this way when Azula pushed her around (both literally and figuratively), needing someone to lord over. Sweet, innocent Ty Lee, who could never say no to anyone (least of all her beloved Princess). Was she in this much pain, skillfully hiding it behind a bubbly smile?

Her mother, the countless servants and citizens? Azula's cheeks burn hot with shame as she thinks over what she has done. She is used to administrating cruel looks and unkind remarks. As a child, she would hit Ty Lee and Mai if they did something to displease her. And Azula would think nothing of the unfair, unjust treatment. They never complained, and she was the Princess after all.

She didn't know how much cruelty hurt until she was on the receiving end.

Azula thinks of the way she used to be, and wants to be sick. How could she have treated people this way? How could she have caused them so much pain.

Azula is wrong, wrong, wrong. She deserves to be locked away, facing the rudeness that she used to fling at people left and right.

If she ever gets out of here (is ever sane enough to leave this prison), Azula is going to make it up (somehow) to the people she hurt. Both emotionally and physically. Sometimes both.

That's the promise she makes to herself on the weak rays of sunlight. That's the promise Azula makes to herself as she runs her fingers raw, scratching a line for each of the days she has been locked away.

The promise she makes as she tries to piece together the crazy puzzle of her life.

No. More. Cruelty.