fell
Ty Lee knew how to climb trees. Azula did not.
It was a very bright and sunny morning that stained the courtyards pink. Ty Lee snuck over after school, hidden amongst the statues, fountains and endless plants. They were nine and Ty Lee promised to teach Azula.
Azula was not a very good student but Ty Lee remained as patient with her as she possibly could.
"You're the one doing it wrong," Azula snapped after falling two feet onto the ground. She had scrapes from the bark and was one more failed attempt away from burning down the tree. No, burning down the entire courtyard. "You're trying to sabotage me so I don't do better than you."
Ty Lee swung over and hung upside down from her knees. She liked how Azula looked upside down. Or sideways. Or any angle really. Azula only had good angles in Ty Lee's mind.
"I wanna help you. I mean, I'm sure you're really good at it but you just need some tips. Even the best people like tips, right?" Ty Lee beamed. Azula decided to humor her.
It made Ty Lee feel important, Azula told herself, even though she was pretty mad.
"How about come up to me?" Ty Lee asked as she clambered up to the higher branches. "This one is really sturdy. We can both sit!"
Ty Lee was excited; Azula was about as enthused as Mai would be. But the princess would not be defeated by a tree. She heated her hands and clawed her way to the top, burning the wood and stinging Ty Lee's eyes with the copious smoke.
Azula slipped. She burnt a branch too hot, it broke, and Ty Lee grabbed her by the arm.
The princess dangled. The princess hated this.
She hated that Ty Lee helped her.
"You should've let me fall! You patronize me and that should be treason!" whined a child but Ty Lee, for once, did not obey. She helped Azula up to sit by her.
"I just wanna have fun," Ty Lee insisted. She was being honest.
"Have fun that doesn't involve me nearly falling and breaking my neck next time," Azula grumbled with her small arms crossed.
Ty Lee somehow kept her face serious.