No Time for Mourning

10. Innocence

Azula revels in her innocence for as long as she possibly can. She loves the summer for more reasons than just the ever-present sunlight and dry, sweltering, stifling heat. She loves the summer because it means she is utterly freed from certain responsibilities, and she can go on (well supervised) adventures.

Last year's antlers mark the trail that the two nine year old girls are traversing like valiant soldiers. Alright, well, maybe this is on the palace property, and the walls blocking them in are well within sight, but they can pretend that it is very dangerous and exciting.

Ty Lee clears her throat as she clambers up a hill knotted with the roots of dying trees. "What are we even ─ eeeek!" And she tumbles backwards before a hand reaches out and grabs her wrist.

"Be careful, stupid," Azula remarks, with a teensy smirk. "You know, if you don't learn how to focus, you're going to die doing one of those fancy twirling things you like."

And Ty Lee shoves her body up onto the dirt plateau, letting go of Azula without reluctance.

"The training is just as valid and important as your firebending training," Ty Lee says huffily, her cheeks pink. "I am learning specialized military training which ─ "

"Which is just fancy dancing," Azula retorts smugly and Ty Lee sighs before scampering after her. The princess does not seem to care for calm, languid walks through the woods.

"Fancy dancing I was specially selected to study," Ty Lee says and Azula pretends not to hear her. Ty Lee scowls, but accepts it as she follows Azula even further. "Okay, where are we going? We're too far. We're way too far. We're going to be in so much trouble..."

"We're not too far. This used to be a prison. Or dungeon. Hm, I'm not quite sure what the proper term is," Azula says to herself as she waves for Ty Lee to follow her into the ruins.

Ty Lee looks around as Azula helps her into a manmade pit. It is absolutely certain that a viable heir to the Fire Nation is likely not meant to be in this deathtrap, but Ty Lee follows. She honestly does not like the creepy look of these woods, or how close they are to the fortress walls surrounding the palace. She kind of wants Azula to protect her. Stupid meerpuppy love ruining everything...

When her feet gently touch the ground, she is quickly taken aback by the ruins. It looks grim, and there are some questionably disturbing stains. Ty Lee quickly locates Azula and grabs her arm tightly.

"You're going to lock me in one of the cells, aren't you?" Ty Lee whispers as she tries to watch all of the shadowy corners at once.

"Maybe. If you keep whining..."

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11. Angry

"I am angry. Do not speak to me," a nine year old Azula says softly.

And a nine year old Ty Lee obeys.

And Azula then frowns. "Why are you not asking me why I'm angry?"

"You said... Uh, never mind. Why are you angry, princess?"

"Don't ask."

And Azula walks away carelessly, Ty Lee squinting after her.

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12. Lightning

Azula likes storms, and how they rage so viciously. It is the most relentless force of nature, in her mind. She has been told about eruptions, and how devastating those can be. But they are not made on the whim of the sky and clouds. They build up, slowly, evidently. She knows that runners in the farmlands go up regularly to check any active volcanoes, and prevent damage ahead of time.

But a lighting storm? It is odd that they call it the cold blooded fire, when the only example of it in nature is so sudden and unpredictable. So angry.

"Where did this even come from?" demands Ty Lee as she, Mai and Azula are quickly running inside. The thunder is so raucous that it feels as if the sky is cracking and breaking around them.

"I don't know," grumbles Mai as they at last slide into the palace, slipping on their own soaking feet.

They wind up in Azula's room, beneath the window, their hair hastily dried and Mai and Ty Lee's clothes exchanged for Azula's.

"I want to be kissed in the rain." And then Ty Lee pauses. "No, in a lightning storm so it's dangerous."

"It's dangerous?" Mai snorts. "Right, like the lightning is going to want in on the action and strike you or something..."

"Shh. You are just bitter because no one is ever going to want to kiss you and your gross dry lips," Ty Lee says confidently and Mai just shrugs.

Mai cannot help but notice Azula's hands gently touching her own lips, trying to figure out if they are repellently dry or not.

Thank the spirits Mai is good at keeping from laughing.

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13. Death

Ty Lee stares at the pyre.

Azula stares at Ty Lee.

Ty Lee stare at Azula.

Azula stares at the pyre.

Ty Lee averts her eyes.

Azula looks at her father, and at the small smile on his lips.

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14. Mourning

After the funeral, two young girls are walking through the halls after being ushered out of a variety of rooms. Ty Lee's face is ruddy with concern and Azula looks like a statue, or a lifeless doll.

"I'm sorry," Ty Lee whispers to Azula, even though she has been instructed not to comment on anything. "I'm really sorry."

"It's nothing," Azula says honestly and Ty Lee refuses to believe that.

She knows that Azula is hurt by the loss of her mother, and she wishes Azula cared about her enough to open up and talk about it. But feelings do not seem to be freely displayed in this palace, the palace that has slowly become her second home. Maybe her first home.

Maybe, she might imagine living here someday. It would be ideal, and Ty Lee cannot imagine herself as an adult not spending all of her time in these familiar halls.

"If you want to talk about it, you really can," Ty Lee says and Azula closes her eyes for slightly too long.

"There is no reason or time for mourning. As of today, my mother no longer exists. I am alright with that." Azula is silent before adding, "And I am, while saddened by my family's great less, very happy for my father."

Her hand breaks away and she and Ty Lee are separated as they leave the hallway and enter the main room of quiet nobles in nice white clothes.

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15. Hands

Ty Lee seizes Azula's hand and Azula does not know what to make of it. She can only stare at her friend, wondering if she should let go. The princess does like the warmth and the comfort. And she does not even mind the sweat or pounding of her heart that comes with it.

"You're safe," Ty Lee insists, batting her eyelashes and smiling. Azula gazes at her for a few moments longer before averting her eyes.

Azula purses her lips and shakes her head before quietly saying, "People who feel safe just get themselves killed."

Ty Lee just holds Azula's hand tighter.

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16. Ambition

The quiet, behind closed doors saying in Caldera in the months after Azulon's death is, 'There is no limit to Fire Lord Ozai's ambition.' In fact, there is no limit to the ambition of the entire royal family. Or the ambition of the Fire Nation. Azula is well aware of that, and she is also well aware of her own ambitions, and how perhaps they even rival those of her forefathers.

She and Ty Lee are in the derelict dungeon, sitting together as they very often do. Mai does not even know about this place, and while Ty Lee has always been second to Mai in their trio of friendship, Ty Lee does know that Azula trusts her more.

"I don't understand why you keep acting like I should be upset. Acting like my brother," Azula says with an angry contortion of her lip. "Ty Lee, think of it this way. We are one step closer to ruling a nation."

Ty Lee chokes. "You are."

And then Azula seems concerned by her frivolous words. "Well, you will of course be one of my two trusted advisors."

"What about Zuko?"

"Given his snot nosed whining and the downward slope of his worth in my father's eyes, I imagine there will eventually be some very petty reason for my father to... get rid of him." Azula smiles at that, and Ty Lee, for the first time, even during their very young years when Azula made her play dangerous games... fears Azula.