Screams echoed through the large temple. Azula braced herself against a wall, her arms holding onto her stomach. Squeezing her eyes shut, the pain ripped through her body once more. The baby was getting close to coming and Azula was scared. Ty Lee was right beside her, supporting her, a gentle hand on her back, comforting her as the pain coursed through her.
On their voyage, escaping the Fire Nation, they found a long-abandoned air temple, in a small jungle island, just outside of the boarders of the Air Nation. They took refuge inside, hiding from those that were after them and they had still yet to be found. At times like this though, Azula wished she had the medical expertise of the Fire Nation healers with her, telling her it was going to be okay.
Ty Lee's hand was firm on her back, comforting her, helping her to stand as more pain shot through her body. Squeezing her eyes shut, she waited a moment and slowly took in a few deep breaths, exhaling slowly. It was kind of helping and stopped her from screaming out loud.
Trying to distract herself from the pain, Azula thought back to when her and Ty Lee had discovered the temple. It was a hot day, and the lure of a jungle was strong, it looked cool and shady. They had been running from the Fire Nation for almost a decade and never in her days on the open waters did this island ever appear. They had fled their home of two years, discovered by a guard of Zuko's, and they barely escaped with their lives. When they docked their ship and entered the jungle, everything immediately felt different.
The jungle was large, full of clear water streams, blossoming flowers hung from above, and small bright birds sung from the treetops. The deeper in they got, the more beauty they saw, and then they spotted a white temple. Entering the building, they looked around, trying to find someone. No one was there, the temple was immaculate and the rooms were furnished, the beds looking as if they had been made that morning. They took refuge for the night, able to find clean drinking water and food to keep them sustained.
It was on the ninth day that they discovered a secret passage leading to an open meditation room. It didn't look like anything they had seen before; it was if they were on a different plane, somewhere no one had been in a long time. As they walked around, taking in the beauty, a spirit slowly appeared in front of them, welcoming them to the spirit realm.
The spirit observed them, staring right into their souls, seeing the true person they were and asked them what they wanted most, and Azula was quick to answer with her deepest wish, she wished for safety and a family with Ty Lee, Ty Lee wishing for the same thing. Now here she was, very pregnant with a magical baby, both part her and part Ty Lee, and about to give birth with Ty Lee by her side.
"You're doing great, 'Zula," Ty Lee calmly affirmed, helping Azula to sit on a large ball she could bounce on to help with the pain.
"I don't think I can do this," Azula replied, holding tightly onto Ty Lee's hand.
"You can my love, you are so strong and so brave, the spirits never would have given us this baby if we couldn't do it," Ty Lee responded, gently kissing Azula on the lips.
Screaming out in pain, Azula felt a different kind of pressure. "I think the baby is coming!"
"Okay, we can do this, we have everything we need, let your body tell you what it needs to do." Remaining as calm as she could, Ty Lee wiped the hair out of Azula's face and comforted her.
Azula knew the baby was coming and she couldn't do it in the position she was in. Getting down on all fours, she screamed as the pressure got too much. She pushed and she could feel the baby moving.
"You're doing great, my love," Ty Lee encouraged, putting towels down on the floor to help catch the baby.
Pushing again, the pain was getting unbearable. Azula didn't think she could do this, she didn't think she'd be able to continue. Another contraction hit and she pushed down hard. She could hear Ty Lee encouraging her, letting her know she could see the baby's head. The baby was almost out, only a few more pushes, Azula told herself.
Another contraction hit and as she pushed, Azula felt the worst pain so far, she felt like she was being stretched to her limits and it was burning. Pushing again, some of the pressure went away and with one last mighty push, Azula knew she had given birth. She could hear the baby cry and it made her sob.
"We have a beautiful little girl. You did so well, Azula," Ty Lee said, a large smile on her face.
Watching as Ty Lee cut the umbilical cord, Azula rested against the wall, tears streaming down her face as Ty Lee handed her their newborn daughter.
"She's just so perfect," Azula said, running a hand over her daughter's light brown hair.
"She is. I love you so much Azula, I'm so proud of you, you did amazing," Ty Lee said, sitting down next to Azula as the baby started to feed.
"I love you too, thank you," Azula replied, looking down at the baby with a smile on her face.
"What do you think we should name her?" Ty Lee asked, watching her partner and her child bond.
"Out of the two names we picked, I really think she looks like a Seina," Azula replied, adjusting the infant.
"She really does," Ty Lee agreed. "Welcome to the world Seina, we love you so much."
"We'll love you forever. We will teach you right from wrong, teach you to be strong, and teach you to love. It's okay to have feelings and we'll be right here with you through anything, your mothers love you very much," Azula promised, knowing the spirits had given her a second chance and she was going to use it. She was going to do right by her daughter and she was going to thank the spirits for completing her family.
Azula felt whole.
