Avatar Chapter 3

I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender

Azula was not upset, but she was not pleased either. No she was most certainly not at the very least pleased. She did not know exactly what was bothering her as it could be a number of things, she was bored, the glare off the ceiling was annoying and then there was that excessive tapping.

"Ty Lee would you cease that infernal noise, I am not angry with you" Azula barked at the pink clad bundle of apologies and guilt that was her friend.

Said girl stopped the nervous bouncing of her leg and instantly sat straight up in her chair "I'm so sorry Azula, I really really am, you have to believe me I didn't think it would work I had never done it before and it was my first time…" the would be circus performer was once again prattling on for the third time about how sorry she was about paralyzing the heir to the Fire Nation throne.

Said heir to throne was still very much paralyzed and had to roll her eyes are her apologetic, airheaded "bodyguard". Rolling her eyes was still pretty much the only thing she could do as she was just starting to get full body feeling back, a full hour after she had unceremoniously dropped to the training room floor.

In all honestly Ty Lee was not to blame, she had ordered the girl to show the technique that could defeat a man with one strike. In hindsight an actual man would have been preferable test subject instead of the princess herself.

Azula had ordered Ty Lee, ignoring the girls protest, to use the technique on her, to illustrate that lying to the princess about one's combat prowess was not an advised course of action. She was certain the Ty Lee lied about knowing such a technique and was going to have her either admit to it, or attempt a harmless attack on the princesses person. So when Ty Lee closed her eyes and jabbed her at a point beneath and to the side of her neck, it came as a surprise to both of them when the princess stood for roughly two seconds before crumpling to the ground in heap.

Azula was stunned speechless by the fact that a girl who couldn't bring herself to kill a bug knew a way to bring down a person with a simple tap. Ty Lee was equally surprised and apparently horrified as she had yet out a very high pitched scream.

That led to a lot of commotion and fuss with guards running in, yelling, and Ty Lee babbling incoherently about who knows what. Luckily her mouth still worked and she had settled the situation with a blunt order for the guards to pick her up and bring her to the resting area of the room, a humiliating but necessary endeavour.

After she had instilled within the guards enough fear to keep them from EVER speaking about what happened she had them dismissed and had Ty Lee sit in a nearby chair while she lay on a padded bed, meant for those who suffered heat stroke from training too much.

She decided to give Ty Lee the silent treatment as the girl tried to explain her actions, though she was not to blame Azula would kiss a frog-turtle before admitting it was her fault so letting her friend fidget in worry was what she was going with.

It had been fun seeing Ty Lee go through the motions she did while trying to explain why the technique she had apparently never even attempted worked. Tugging her braid, fiddling with her thumbs, once again tapping that leg she was still trying to explain herself, not that it mattered as Azula knew all she needed.

Though not pleased with her current state the princess was intrigued that her bubbly assistant had skills outside her incredible acrobatic ability, "No wonder she choose the circus to run off to; she would have been a star" Azula mused to herself. But Ty Lee was hers and hers alone, and she now had plans for the girl.

"Ty" The girl immediately came to attention while Azula slowly rose to a sitting position. "Oh thank the spirits, please don't be mad Azula I…" Azula placed a hand over the girl's mouth before she could start apologizing again. "One more word and I'll burn your tongue, understand" Ty Lee's eyes widened and she quickly nodded her head. Azula removed her hand and slowly moved to face her friend, she still felt somewhat numb but it was quickly passing.

"Now then, I have already stated that I am not mad with you, in fact I am rather pleased with you." The girl looked like confused, of course she probably expected some sort of punishment for striking down the princesses, even if accidentally. Azula continued "Your skill in hand to hand combat seems to be true, but of course it would have to be as you would never actually lie about something like that, would you Ty" Azula smiled has Ty Lee looked down and her face flushed, like a kid being caught with a hand in the sweets jar. "She's looks so cute when she's caught lying" Azula caught herself as she wondered where that thought came from, "That is not what a princesses should be concerning herself with" though it was own mind, she heard that line in her father's voice.

Ignoring her impure thoughts and voice in her head, she continued "Of course your abilities will have to be refined and focused, to insure no "accidents" occur in the future" Azula knew she was laying the guilt on thick but it was just so much fun watching Ty Lee fidget and worry.

Ty Lee looked at her and, to Azula's displeasure, was tearing up "Don't worry Azula, I'll train really hard and I promise to never hurt you again". Now Azula had a very uncomfortable feeling as she never liked to see Ty Lee cry, most other people she enjoyed reducing to sobs and babbling but Ty's tear streaked face always rubbed her the wrong way.

And deep down Azula knew that Ty Lee's tears were her fault, they often were, and decided to let the girl off the hook. Taking a cloth from the bedside she thrust it into her friend's surprised face, "Stop crying and clean your face, you did not injure me and you were only doing as I ordered, so there is no reason for you to be snivelling."

It was not an admission of guilt or an apology but it seemed to cheer up Ty Lee as she wore a smile while she wiped tears away. "Thanks Azula" Ty Lee's smile was soft and genuine while her big grey eyes were looking straight into the Princesses.

Azula nearly panicked as she felt her face heat up and decided standing up was a good idea, it was not. Her legs were apparently not yet up to carrying her weight and she promptly fell forward, Ty Lee tried to catch her but was unable to secure her footing, causing both girls to fall onto the floor.

As Azula lay there, tangled on top of her once again apologizing friend, this time for not catching her, she was grateful they were alone as her reputation and pride has taken a number of hits today and she was certain the various spirits were mocking her.

Slowly and steadily, Azula pushed herself up off the ground and into a solid standing position. She noticed Ty Lee literally jump up next to her in a single fluid movement, which in spite of everything put a smile on the Princesses face "Oh Ty, just you wait for the plans I have for you."