AN: Thank you to azurecobaltandteal for the idea for this chapter. It really helped with my writer's block to have the prompt/concept.
This whole chapter takes place in the past and details everything that happened to Azula before she showed up pregnant on Ty Lee's doorstep.
Fugitive
16. Disobedient
For her entire life, Azula followed the rules set by only one person. Her father, and seeing as he is indisposed, she decides she will be a disobedient girl. At least when it comes to the highly unworthy Prince—Fire Lord—Zuko.
So, now, she sees she must live as a fugitive.
Princess Azula has no other choice.
She currently stands in the Earth Kingdom, somewhere a ways away from the port she entered from that looks like an endless prairie. Not much shelter, which she disapproves of, but not many people around either.
All she can think about is the mud on her skin. It never seems to end.
Being on the run from everyone is not as glamorous as she thought it would be.
17. Doe Eyes
Azula has manipulated enough people to know how to look helpless and meek. With glistening golden doe eyes and a tremble of her rosy lips she can accomplish anything.
She currently lies on a mat on the floor of some peasant's house. It only took a few tears and jumbled words about being lost to tug on the old woman's heartstrings.
What can she say? It is raining.
As she stares at the ceiling, she feels her thoughts derail the way they always do. They twist and turn and angrily bite at her heels like monsters under the bed and, like every time, her thoughts end up on the same person. Different memories, but the same person.
An old lost love.
Does everyone fixate this way?
An old enemy.
Does everyone fixate this way.
She closes her eyes and tries to sleep while thinking about that backstabbing bitch who forces her way into Azula's mind every single night.
18. Sweat
The dreadful heat of the summer day drenches Azula in boiling sweat.
She sits in a jail cell today, uncomfortable and waiting for her opportunity to strike. The guards here seem exalted to have the most wanted person in the world in custody. Little do they know, their happiness will be obliterated in due time.
Azula keeps thinking about the one person who preoccupies her. Anger; it has to be anger. She resents Ty Lee and everything about her and Azula holds grudges.
One of the guards who just went out for lunch has a braid.
That is enough to send Azula's thoughts flying as she wrings sweat out of her raven hair.
"You're the Mad Princess, aren't you?" asks the young man in the other cell.
"That isn't the most flattering nickname, but, yes." Azula rises and walks far enough forward that she can see him.
He looks traditionally Fire Nation, muscular and creamy-skinned and amber-eyed. Her lip curls in mild disdain.
"I'm—"
"I could not possibly care less who you are," Azula purrs.
"I'm somebody who admires you."
"Again, I do not care at all. I am waiting for something important and you are distracting me."
That important thing walks through the door. Azula waits again for one of the guards to be foolish enough to come close to her. At least one will eventually. She can be patient.
Thankfully, the one with the chestnut braid wanders near enough, and so Azula takes her out with one bolt of lightning and the other guard with one more flash. She kneels and grabs the key from the murdered woman with the braided hair and unlocks her cell door, stepping outside and turning to the boy with wide, hopeful eyes.
"What are you in for?" Azula inquires, thoughtfully picking at her lip. "Stealing or something petty like that?"
He casually answers, "I got in a bar fight. Two people ended up dead."
Azula sizes him up for a moment and then unlocks the cell.
"You're coming with me."
"You don't have to ask twice."
"No. I don't. I never do."
19. Follow Me
"I know somebody who could be of use," says the man Azula has dragged several miles out of the town where she was captured.
"I am not taking suggestions."
"She's nearby. She has a house out here."
Azula halts. "Fine. I could use somewhere to sleep that isn't under a tree."
"Follow me," he says and Azula scowls, but she knows it is in her best interest.
"Follow me," Azula orders of her two friends, two followers, two soldiers.
Mai looks huffy about it. Ty Lee gazes at her with admiring eyes and hurries to stand as close to her side as she can.
"To the ends of the Earth," says Ty Lee, batting her eyelashes.
"Of course. You have no other choice," Azula says, but her lips twitch.
Ty Lee sweetly says, "I wouldn't want one."
They kiss that night. More than once.
When Azula and her companion—whom she keeps nameless because she likes it that way—arrive at the doorstep of Mystery Woman, he knocks on the door and she waits with a bitter expression. Finally, a young woman answers, messy, clearly woken by the sound.
"Kai," she says, and Azula sees that must be the man's name. "Why are you way out here?"
"It's a long story, Jade," he says.
"I have time."
Azula keeps her lips pursed as she walks inside.
20. Legacy
In the morning, Azula takes them both with her. She is not reliving old times; she is taking advantage of two small time criminals with poor impulse control in order to more effectively evade her useless brother and his cronies.
It takes them an hour to reach the scarred Earth. The mark of the Fire Nation.
"Mining town," says Kai.
"Did I ask you a question?" snaps Azula.
In silence, she glances around at the destroyed lands.
This is her legacy.
This is her legacy.
This is her legacy.
She does not cry.
21. Firework
Fireworks. Celebration. A stark difference from the ghost town and scorched dirt they saw earlier today.
"Aren't they beautiful?" softly says Jade.
"Sure are," says Kai, smiling.
Azula catches them both looking at her.
"Aren't they beautiful?" Ty Lee bounces up and down like a small, cheerful animal.
"I suppose. If you're into that sort of thing," Azula says, gazing upwards.
"I'm into it," says Ty Lee.
She gently touches Azula's hand.
22. Precious Gems
Azula sells stolen gems in a quaint Earth Kingdom shop.
Jade laments it; she wanted to keep at least one.
Kai does not protest; he prefers the money, to tell the truth.
23. Silk Sheets
No one has silk sheets in this dreadful country. Nothing compares to the palace in which Azula grew up. Nothing ever will.
These ones are softer than usual.
These ones in a bed she shares and her thoughts derail like they always do and land on the same person and her stupid tangled braid and bright, beautiful eyes and Azula pounces on Kai.
She is doing this.
She is sleeping with him because it might as well make her forget that bitter memory.
Those thousand bitter memories that once were sweet but now leave a foul taste in her mouth.
24. Heartbeat
Azula's heart beats fast as she panics over the obvious pregnancy.
This is not the kind of secret a person can hide forever.
She grips the washbasin and glares at the chipped mirror.
25. Yearning
A few nights later, Azula gazes up at the stars.
She wants them to guide her home.
And so she rises, and begins her journey back to Caldera.