Night Seven: Loss
Ty Lee struggles to adjust to reality, or what she thinks is reality.
She barely can see the world around her as Mai takes her by the arm and tries to guide her to food. She wants to ask how long she has been asleep, but she cannot remember how words work. Her head hurts and the walls spin.
All she wants is to go back to sleep, but she is too scared of what she will find there.
The truth is, she is too scared to confront what she lost. She may have been lost in some weird nightmare, but she was there with a woman who was slowly drawing her last breaths. Why would Ty Lee ever want to leave, even if she had to kill a thousand dragons?
"What's going on?" Ty Lee slurs. Mai releases her and she realizes she is sitting in a chair at the main dining room table. She can see and smell food, but it just makes her sick.
"You've been out for an entire day and night. I'm glad you woke up," Mai says and Ty Lee wants to punch her for some reason. She does not sound miserable enough about losing Azula. "Eat something. Drink something too. Probably drink something first. Here's some tea."
Ty Lee almost does not see the teacup when her sister-in-law sets it down in front of her. She touches it to see how hot it is, and then takes a sip, and then drains the cup.
"Water?" she asks, confused about how to make full sentences. She thinks she has forgotten that skill.
"Fine," Mai says. She sighs when she hands Ty Lee a cup of water. Quickly, she decides to offer the entire pitcher, because that cup is gone in a split second.
"Okay," Ty Lee says after she finishes off the whole pitcher. "Okay, tell me what's happening with everything and everyone and…?"
The world has come into further focus, but that does not help Ty Lee in the slightest. She still feels foggy and overwhelmed.
"Azula still isn't better. Your daughter is neglected and worried about you," Mai says and Ty Lee frowns. She tries not to burst into tears, but fails. "Stop crying. Stop. Stop crying. Okay, fine, keep crying. We're going to figure this out, but I think you need to accept the possibility that you'll lose her. I've been spending way too long telling you that you can't die too."
"I think my dreams are real," Ty Lee says.
"I think you're distraught and not thinking straight," Mai replies without giving Ty Lee's idea an ounce of her attention. She does not even try to consider that possibility and it enrages Ty Lee. "Please get up and comfort your child. She matters more than anything else."
Ty Lee grabs a small cake and goes to try to find Mizuki. She falls into the wall and smashes her head before the Fire Lady sighs and helps her to the courtyard.
The sun blinds Ty Lee as she walks into it, but she perks up when she hears her daughter's voice.
Mizuki needs her.
But Azula needs her too.
Ty Lee cannot lose either one of them.
She just can't.
睡美人的镜子
Katara's voice entering Ty Lee's chambers makes her jump. "I believe you about your dreams. At least, I believe that they are very powerful, and maybe involve the communion of your spirits. I don't believe your dreams can save her. I'm a healer and I don't know if there is much hope left. But I believe you about your dreams."
Ty Lee had no idea that the waterbender was still here. Then again, she still is not quite sure where here is. It feels like home in the Fire Nation, but she does not know if she will ever be sure.
She was moments ago with Mizuki, whom has just run off, and now stares aimlessly at the crimson wall in her new bedroom.
"Why?" Ty Lee asks, turning around. Katara makes an odd face. "Why do you even care?"
"Because I do. I understand how much you love her. I hope you know that all of your friends and everyone else is here for you no matter what, but you can't waste your whole life dreaming. You'd lose too much." Katara says, walking into the light. She looks weary, and Ty Lee regrets thinking she did not want to save Azula. Maybe she does, but nobody wants it like Ty Lee does. "You need to find out how to leave her when you need to."
"No. No!" Ty Lee jumps onto her feet. "No!"
"But you have to see how much the real world matters. You were knocked out and we were all worried for you. Your grief is complicated, I know, but please, if you want the dreams, want to live in them, remember to live in this world with your friends and baby girl too," Katara says and Ty Lee feels livid.
She does, however, realize how much she needs the bluntness.
Ty Lee whispers, "Maybe you're right."
She does not want to give a more definite answer.