So we are going to get a up close look at the emotional and physical abuse Azula faced. Especially why she is so against rape. Umm so trigger warning. This was hard for me to write guys. It's implied heavily but not like detailed or anything cause that would be nasty.
BOOK TWO
EPISODE TWO: SCARS
Her eyes stung with tears she could not release. Her back burned as he touched his fingers to the wound he had caused. However, she didn't let her head drop. Even though she knew what was coming. No, she refused to give into the pain. She refused to cry as he took her innocences from her. She refused to scream as her body was torn apart. Instead she did what she always did. She allowed her mind to wonder to a place that wasn't here.
She closed her eyes and when she opened them, she was no longer in her fathers bed. Her skin was no longer bruised and burnt. She was no longer facing the wrath of the man who gave her life. Instead, she was in a fog
She was surrounded by the thick fog she had created for herself. It had become her shelter. It kept her safe from what was happening. It protected her mind from what was happening to her body. It kept out the sounds of his voice as he whispered about her failing him. It kept out his grunts and other sounds she didn't want to hear. And it kept out the pain.
Times would come when she wished she could stay in this fog, however, she knew she couldn't. As soon as her father was done she would have to emerge. She would have to get up, though it would hurt. And, she would have to leave. She would have to continue as if nothing happened. She would clean the wounds and wash herself.
Her father told her it wasn't a punishment, but she knew differently. Her father blamed her for Ursas disappearance, as Ursa never liked Azula. And, this was her punishment. That's what she thought at least.
Though it hurt, overtime she became used to it. It began to hurt less. She was able to bear it for her father. All she had to do was remind herself that he was happy. That she made him proud.
Azula woke up screaming. She was sitting up in her bed, covered in sweat. She had another dream, though she didn't remember it. She didn't remember what her father had done to her. As a way to cope her mind hid that truth from her. So, when she woke up from a dream that brought this back, she felt terrified. She didn't know why, and that felt like the worst part. But truly, not knowing was a mercy.
Azulas door opened and a sleepy eyed girl walked in. The girl took one look at Azula's shaking form and quickly ran to her side.
"Azula are you okay?" Tylees worry was written all over her face. Azula knodded slowly, shaking the feeling of fear from her. She didn't remember the dream and yet it had overwhelmed her with fear. Helplessness.
"Just a dream," Azula sighed, hugging Tylee back. It truly was just a dream, but it felt different.
"So you wanna talk about it?" Her friend asked gently rubbing Azulas back. Azula shook her head. She didn't have anything to talk about.
She tried to smile up at her friend. "I'm fine, really." Tylee didn't look convinced.
"Fine, you don't have to tell me. But I'm not leaving you side." The girl stated. And with that she slipped herself under the blankets. Azula sighed, deciding to accept this kindness from her friend. Surprising both her and her friend, Azula began to sob.
It started as a silent shaking, but became a fit of tears. Azula hardly cried. But, Tylee didn't ask her what was wrong. Instead, she took her friends head and placed it in her lap. She began stroking Azulas hair, running her fingers through the sleek raven length. As Tylee did this Azula calmed down, however, her crying didn't stop.
Azula soon cried herself to sleep, but Tylee continued to sooth her. Every time Azula would begin to enter another nightmare, Tylee would whisper words of reassurance into her ears. She stayed like this all night, not daring to fall asleep. Not when her friend needed her. It reminded Tylee of the time long ago, befor she had joined the circus.
It had been a mounth since Azula had told her friend she was the avatar. Every night since that one, Azula had returned to Tylees. Tylee would show her friend the scrolls she stole from her grandma and Azula would practice the form. Getting to her house room Azula about half an hour, and sneaking back into the palace took her even longer. This is why Azula would normally show up at Tylees around ten, and leave around one am. This way Azula got enough sleep for the day, while still training with her friend.
And, Tylee waited up every night. This is why Tylee became worried when Azula didn't show up to her house that night. Tylee waited two hours, and was becoming increasingly worried. When she heard the knocking on her window she sighed with relief. She quickly opened the shutters, allowing her friend through.
As soon as she saw her friend, Tylee's relief turned into horror. Azula was covered in burn marks. Sometimes Azula would come with burns on her back from practice, but this was different. Yes, there were burns on her back, but there were also burns in other places. The most dense being the firebenders chest and thighs. Tylee was eleven and understood not what had happened to the girl, nor did Azula. But, she understood her friend was hurt.
She had quickly helped her friend to the bathroom and began to strip off her gown. As soon as she saw what lay underneath, something in her snapped. Her friends inner thoughts were red and aggravated. But, it was worse then that. She was bleeding from her privates. Tylee had learned about this. Apparently when a gr became a certain age she began to have what the older ones called "a cycle". Though this didn't explain the burns, it had to explain the bleeding.
"I'm getting my Nana," Tylee told her friend. She knew grandma would know what to do.
"No you can't," Azula said weekly. She shook her head frantically trying to tell Tylee that she couldn't. But, Tylee didn't care. Her friend was in pain. She turned on the water to cold to help soothe the burn and then left her friend.
She made her way quickly to her grandmas room and hurried in. She didn't have to worry about waking anyone else. She had grown tired of living with her sisters and moved here, away from her family. The only other person here was her nana.
After she had woken her grandma she quickly brought her to her room. As soon as she entered the bathroom she gasped at the sight.
The fire princess, laying on the floor. She seemed to have crawled from the bath, the water seeming to hurt her wounds. Blood dripped from between her legs along with something else. The girl was covered in burns and seemed to be in excruciating pain. The older women didn't need to ask what happened, as it was obvious. No, they only question she had was "who did this to you?"
Azula shook her head weekly, not wanting to answer the old women. Niyo (Tylees grandma) sighed. It didn't matter right now. The women quickly turned to her. "Quickly child, go to my room and fetch me my first aid kit." Tylee knodded and scurried off.
When the girl left the women examined the princess. She took note of the fluids in between her legs, and felt a pang of sadness. She had never liked the royals, especially after what had happened to the prince. However, she felt bad for the girl nonetheless.
Azula now lay unconscious on the floor, and the women moved her to the bath. She began scrubbing in between the girls legs, trying to not wake her. It was better she wasn't awake.
After scrubbing in between her legs her grand daughter returned to the room with the kit. Without saying a word the women began applying medison to the young girls' burns. Soon, the girl began to awaken. Her eyes slowly opened and she realized were she was. Azula jumped up, and looked around frantically.
"I can't be here, father can't find out." She cried shaking her head. That was when Niyo realized what had happened to the child, and that was when her heart had Broken for her.
Tylee hadn't realized what was going on at the time. Only that every night Azula would come later. She would have burns covering her body along with blood. They used to spend their time practicing forms, but now Azula spent the time crying in her friends arms. Niyo often would give her tea to drink, though Tylee never understood what it was for. Eventually Azula stopped coming, and when she did she didn't bear any physical marks. Tylee thought this was an improvement, but something had happened to her friend. Whenever she saw her in school she would no longer speak to Tylee.
Eventually the girl had asked her grandmother about this. She had told Tylee that this was a common way to deal with trauma. One would lock themselves down so they could no longer feel pain. And, that must have been what Azula was doing. So, it made absolutely no sense when she showed up to Tylees house with a smile on her face.
She had asked Tylee if she had the airbending scrolls. When Tylee asked why she explained that it was because she wanted to practice again. Azula said she was sorry for staying away so often, and explained that she just had so much going on being crown princess and all. It had seemed as if her friend remembered nothing of what had happened to her, what was possibly still happening to her.
So, they had just continued as if everything was normal. Until Tylees grandma had eventually died and Tylee left for the circus. She would always regret leaving her friend who had Agni knows what happening to her. But, it seemed to have ended. And, Azula seemed to remember nothing.
Tylee stayed with her the whole night, crying silently. She was unwilling to wake her friend. Only when the knock came was Azula finally awoken. Azula arose, yawning as she strode over to the door.
"What do you want?" She opened the door to admiral Lee standing in the doorway.
He instantly glanced over to Tylee, sitting on the princesses bed. He cleared his throat, trying to regain his composure. "We have Omashu your majesty, we are docking now," he bowed, hurrying away from the sight he walked in on. The princess closed her door and jumped back on her bed, landing next to her friend.
"Looks like we have to get ready to see dear old Mai," she smiled at Tylee.
Tylee smiled back, meaning it. She hadn't seen Mai in forever and really missed her. She wanted to ask her friend about her nightmares, but she also didn't. If Azula didn't remember that part of her life, than Tylee was going to keep it that way.
"I've gotta get dressed Tylee," Azula said to her friend. Tylee nodded and began to walk towards the door. "There's clothes in your room." Tylee forced a smile, hating to have to leave her friend. But, she did, and headed towards her room.
She made her way towards her room and walked inside. As soon as she was inside, she plopped down on the bed, exhausting.
She had stayed up all night soothing her friend, and it have given her time to think. About everything. About what had happened to Azula all those years ago. About why she was only now turning against her father. And most of all, about the kiss.
Tylee had feelings for her for Azula since her first year at the academy. She had at first believed she just really admired the princess. But, when she came into her room that one night. When Tylee first saw what had been happening to her friend. That's when she realized it was something else. Tylee had always been a nice girl. She always believed in more peaceful ideologies. But, when she realized what had happened to her friend, she had become murderous. That when she admitted to herself Azula was more than just a friend to her.
Her feelings only progressed as the grew closer, but when Tylee left, she though it was over. She knew she shouldn't be feeling these things for her friend. It was considered a crime in the fire nation. And, to be feeling these things for it's crowned princess. It was so wrong. And so, she left the feelings behind her with Azula.
But, when Azula walked into her tent, Tylee couldn't help it. She looked so pretty, as if she was a goddess. When she admitted she was going to defeat her father, Tylee lost all self controll. She had kissed her friend. And, it hadn't felt wrong. For her at least. Azula had quickly brushed Tylee off her and pretended as if it hadn't happened. This hurt the girl more than she cared to admit. However, she understood where Azula was coming from. It had taken Tylee forever to come to terms with her feelings, to accept herself. She only hoped Azula would still accept her.
Ty Lee sighed and rose to her feet. She didn't need to think about this now. No, she needed to get ready to see her friend. So, she walked over to her dresser. Her friend have given her armor, and she understood why. But, Tylee didn't like armor. It made her feel weighed down, and she valued the ability to move freely. So, instead she put on her circus outfit. After her hair was braided to the side, she walked over to her friends room. She didn't need to knock for Azula to know She was outside.
"Come in," came the voice of her friend.
Tylee entered the room to see Azula putting on the outer prices of her armor. When Tylee entered Azula turned to face her friend. She smiled, but then realized what Tylee was wearing.
"Are you sure that's all you want to wear, Omashu is still a war zone Ty." Azula asked with concern in her voice. She wanted her friend to be safe, and she was too exposed wearing what she wore. But, Azula did have to admit she rather quite liked how it looked on her friend. She shook her head, ridding herself of the thoughts.
Tylee simply nodded back at her friend and smiled. "I fight better in this anyway." Azula understood that. Sometimes armor was a hindrance. So, she would allow it. Without saying another word she began combing through her hair.
"I can do your hair," Tylee Said smiling at her friend. Azula nodded and sat down at the bottom of the bed. Her friend then climbed on top. She started combing her fingers through the raven locks, and Azula rather liked the feeling.
"So Azula, about what happened when you found my at the circus…" Tylee started rather unsure. She had been meaning to talk to her friend about it, but had always been to nervous. Even now she was worried. She just wanted to forget the scene had happened. But, she wasn't like Azula. She didn't have a selective memory.
"It's fine Ty," Azula said smiling up at her friend. She understood Ty Lee had feelings for her. But, Azula was in no place to confront them or even think about the feelings she may have back. She was still worried about the marriage to Zhao. Her father told her it wouldn't be happening, but he could very well have lied. This is why Azula tried her best not to notice how beautiful her friend had become. She tried not to notice the figure she had grown into. It was hard, especially with what she was wearing. However, she still tried. She tried not to notice how kind her friend was. How she stayed with her last night. She knew Ty Lee had gotten no sleep, however, she tried not to show her gratitude.
Tylee nodded her head, seeing the look of contemplation on her friends face. She quickly tried to change the subject. "So what's with the knew headpiece?"
Azula laughed at the question and began to explain. She explained her she had met the girl, and had become rather close to her family. Then she explained how the girl had given her one of her family heirlooms. It sounded even stranger saying it out loud. Ty Lee smiled through the story, and by the time Azula had finished had secured the peice in her hair. She looked down at her friend who sat beneath her. Agni she was beautiful.
Azula staired into Ty Lee's gray eyes and couldn't help but notice how pretty her friend was. A silence followed, that felt as if it may never end. However, luckily the were interrupted by the open ring of the door.
The instant Zhao opened the door and saw the sight befor him he gasped. The princesses friend was seated on the beg, legs seperated. Between her legs, head tilted back so they were stairing eye to eye, was the princess. "What is the meaning of this?" He asked them angrily.
Azula rolled her eyes, the nerve of this man. "Ty Lee was helping me with my hair admiral Zhao. Are we here?" The man nodded and waited for the Princess to get up. She turned back, helping her friend off the bed.
Azula smiled at Tylee as she began walking to the door. "Time to see Mai."
Ty Lee gigoed and followed the princess out of the room. Azula shoved past Zhao, hand in Ty Lee's. However, it didn't stay that way. The admiral gripped the acrobatics hand, causing her to help as he heated his up. The sound of her friends pain caused Azula to look back, seeing the admiral gripping her wrist.
"Zhao what is this?" Azula snapped at him angered. How dare he treat her friend this way. "Let her go!"
Azula knew she couldn't harm him. Not while he was under to fathers protection. However, that didn't mean he could act this way.
"I prefer it no one lays their hands on my future wife." He sneered at the acrobat. Ty Lee's eyes widened in shock and looked to Azula. However she wasn't having in.
"Let her go Zhao," she said more forcefully. With our the mans permission, his wrist released it's grip. A cracking sound emanated through the halls as his wrist was bent backwards by the force of Azula's mind. Ty Lee's eyes widened more, if the was possible. And the admiral staired at the princess in fear.
He clutched his brocked wrist in pain. What had happened? It was as if she had seized control of him body. He shivered, never had he seen power such as this. Could the rumors be true, that she was some sort of spirit.
"Ever touch my friend again and I won't hesitate admiral." Azula hissed at him. "My fathers protection only means so much to me. And, not as much as my friend." With that she released his hand from her grip. Holding the control had exhausted Azula, though she didn't let it show.
She grabbed her friends arm where the burn was and pulled her into another hallway. As soon as they were out of his sight, she gathered the water from the air. She created a glove and held it to her friends burn. Closing her eyes the water began to glow, healing the wound the admiral had inflicted. Ty Lee staired at her confused. However, Azula shook her head. "Let's go find Mai," she said smiling.
A/N: ok idrk what to say. The beginning was kinda dark sorry. It hurt me to write. Please reveiw as I love constructive criticism. Also I hoped this helped Tyzula a little.
I rly don't wanna do my hw