Fixing the past

Chapter VIII: Asylum Again

Azula woke up in a bad, the smell of incense and candles burning was distinct and overwhelming. Azula began to rise but then felt an arm on her, she looked over and saw Ty Lee, partially collapsed on her, sleeping in the chair next to her bed. Azula lay back down and decided it wouldn't be so bad to stay here a little longer. As she lay there she was aware of the pain she felt, but more than that. She also felt Ty Lee's breathing and her hair which tickled her chin slightly, despite being in a braid. As Azula continue to lay there she tried piecing together what had happened. She remembered Zuko in front of her after the Agni Kai. She also remembered Ty Lee yelling at Zuko, then extreme pain, and then it all went black. She realizes that she must have fallen on a sharp rock when Appa shook the ground and she fell over. The rock must have lodged in her, but she didn't realize it because of all the shock, then when she got up she noticed it. Either that or she just got fire-whipped a little too hard. All of a sudden the door opened and Ty Lee shook awake. Azula looked to see Zuko and Mai, looking red-faced and angry, as well as a doctor and a couple of guards behind him. She recognized those guards, they were the same ones that "took care of her" at the asylum. "Wh-" Ty Lee was cut off before she could even get a word out, as Mai let out a burst of angry curses at Zuko. "Mai! I have to do it, I don't want to, but this is the only option!" Zuko shouted back at her, "Only option? I seriously doubt that considering you're the Fire Lord!" Mai shouted back, with more emotion than Azula had seen in.. well... ever. Zuko sighed. But didn't retaliate and instead just nodded at the doctor. "It's time to go," the doctor said and grabbed a wheelchair as the two guards behind him lifted Azula into it and restrained her before she even knew what was happening. She struggled a moment, but then proceeded to call Zuko a 'bastard'! But to her surprise, Ty Lee joined in as well! "Zuko, you asshole, I can't believe you're doing this!" Ty Lee shouted at him, he flinched slightly, surprised by Ty Lee's outburst. Even Mai looked a little shocked by it, and Azula wasn't sure what to feel. "Everyone that's enough!" Zuko shouted, "I am the Fire Lord and I have to do what's best for my people." "Best for your people, huh?" Everyone turned to look at a voice coming from the doorway. "I don't know if this is truly best." They all saw him now, as he walked into the room's light, it was Iroh! "Uncle," Zuko said, "I didn't expect to see you here." Zuko said, looking surprised, "I know, that was the point! It was supposed to be a surprise, now that Azula is out and free. I thought I'd come by to talk to her, but instead, I find my nephew trying to put his sister, my niece, back in an asylum." Iroh said, emphasizing niece in a way that made Azula feel like.. part of the family I guess? That wasn't right, but Azula wasn't sure how it made her feel, but whatever it was, it wasn't a bad feeling. Zuko, however, looked dumbfounded, "Uncle, aren't you on my side?" Zuko said, a bit firmly, "I'm on the side of what's right, but truly there are no sides. Just what is and what isn't." Iroh said, almost as if he was trying to sound casual, but came out like a monk reciting an ancient text of wisdom. "Enough, from everyone, I must do what I have to!" Zuko yelled, he nodded at the guards and they wheeled her out of the room quickly and without warning. No one even had time to react before they were already out of the room and long gone. As Azula was wheeled away she could hear the fighting continue, but louder now, she even heard Iroh sigh loudly and she looked back to see him walking away from the room shaking his head. She turned back and looked down at her lap, thinking about what this meant.
———
"My nephew has been through much pressure as Fire Lord, but I believe bringing Azula back is taking much more toll on him. I believe he needs help, a guide, Spirits I call to you if you're there help I nephew." Iroh finished and put the incense out. He turned away and walked from his room, he went to the kitchen and began to prepare a meal, and of course, TEA! Iroh began boiling water and chopping foods when he heard a noise down the hall. "If you're trying to sneak out, you'll have to try harder than that, hoho." Iroh said, and Ty Lee walked into the kitchen with her head slumped over, as if she had been caught stealing a cookie. "How did you hear me?" She asked, "When you've been around as long as I have you tend to notice much." He said as an answer and passed her a cup of tea as if he was giving her breath or her life force. "Now drink, it's amazing!" Iroh said in a cheerful and calming voice. "Thanks, but I'm not in the mood for tea right now." Ty Lee said. He scoffed, "Not in the mood for tea? That's like not being in the mood for love or happiness!" He said as if it was a vital part of either of those. "Just drink, tea makes everything better, besides is it the worst thing to talk to old Uncle Iroh?" He asked and Ty Lee shook her head vigorously, "No, no of course not!" She said, "Then sit," Iroh said, she nodded and sat then took a sip of tea. Her eyes lit up instantly, "See? I told you it was good." Iroh said with a small chuckle. "Well doesn't even begin to cover it!" Ty Lee said exasperated, "Well it's my concoction, so I'm glad you like it." Iroh says with a fun expression. "Now tell me, why were you sneaking out? I suspect Azula, am I wrong?" Iroh asked, and Ty Lee nodded shamefully. "Why do you look so ashamed? When there isn't anything to be ashamed for." Iroh asked and stated at the same time. "I don't know, guess sneaking out makes it more shameful." Then Lee said, "I suppose you're right, but what is shame anyway? Just something we feel when others look down at us, but I'm not looking down at you." Iroh said, Ty Lee could never tell if she was trying to be wise, or just saying what he thought, maybe both. Either way, he wasn't wrong, and Ty Lee smiled slightly at him. "Now, what are you planning on telling Azula when you see her?" Iroh asked, Th Lee thought that was a bit of an odd question, but answered anyway. "I don't know,  just thought I'd be there for her. Maybe we could figure out how to get her out." Ty Lee said, "legally," Iroh added for her, and Ty Lee laughed. "But I don't mean that, I mean how are you going to tell her you're in love with her?" Iroh said just as cheerfully and casually as he did anything else, but Ty Lee spits out her sip of tea. "Tsk, tsk, it's a shame to waste good tea." Iroh said, "Sorry, but what did you say?" Ignoring his last comment. "You know what I said, Ty Lee." Iroh replies, "Yes, but what do you mean? I'm not in.. ha- love with... Azula! Please." She said half laughing half stuttering! "Ty Lee, you can't lay to me, mostly because you're bad at it, but also because I can read it easily. When you grow up with a brother like Ozai, or a father like Azulon, well.. you get used to knowing when someone is lying." He said but looked a little.. not sad, but something that was like sadness when he said Ozai. He must have remembered that Ozai recently.. died. She puts a hand on his shoulder to comfort him. "I know he was a bad person, and I don't care for him in the slightest, after all, he has done. But he was still my brother, I remember a time when he wasn't all bad." Iroh said remorsefully, Ty Lee hugged the man and smiled at him. "Thank you, Iroh, for your help. I-I think I know what to do." Ty Lee said, but before she left, Iroh called to her, "I'll be coming to visit Azula today, maybe at noon, so if anything.. happens." Iroh said, almost suggestively, "Nothing will!" Ty Lee said quickly, "But if something does, make sure it's done and descent by noon." He said, "Of course," Ty Lee said anxiously, "Now go," Iroh said, with a chuckle. Ty Lee ran off and headed to the asylum.
———
Azula sat there, sad and weak feeling, on her bed, which she was dreadfully unused to, after all that time in the palace beds. She stood up and sat down, at the very least she didn't have a straight jacket on, so she could play Pai Sho by herself at least. She moved another tile, she never cared for the game, but all her time in this asylum playing with Ty Lee, who was dreadfully bad it, made her kind of appreciate it more, plus she knew she'd always win when playing Ty Lee. Though, always winning was a lot more appealing when she wasn't winning at anything. Azula heard a noise coming from outside the door and looked up just as Ty Lee came in. "Ty Lee!" Azula said jumping up and running to her, wrapping her in a hug. Azula surprised herself by her reaction, but Azula wasn't even sure Ty Lee could bear to come back here, even to see her. Unless.. is she saying goodbye? Azula wondered in fear a moment but felt Ty Lee's arms wrap around her and tighten so vigorously that Azula almost yelped in surprise, and pain! Ty Lee, seeing Azula's discomfort let go and apologized. "Sorry, sorry! I didn't mean to do that I ju-." Ty Lee was cut off, by Azula, "It's ok," Azula smiled slightly and Ty Lee did the same then they both looked away with a blush creeping across their faces. "So, do you want to play Pai Sho?" Azula asked, "Do we have to?" Ty Lee groaned, knowing she'd lose, "Come on Ty Lee, how are you supposed to get better if you never play?" Azula asked, Ty Lee, surprisingly, gave Azula a devilish smile and said, "I'm already good at so many things, but I know one thing I'd like some more practice on." Ty Lee said suggestively, "Wh-what? What.. what is it?" Azula asked dumbfounded, "I think you know, don't you?" Ty Lee said, "I-I.." Azula couldn't finish her stammer because Ty Lee quickly said, "It's Pai Sho! You're so right Azula, I need more practice." Ty Lee went over and took a seat setting up the board. Did Ty Lee just tease me? Is she trying to mess with me or something? Azula wasn't sure what to make of it, but she knew one thing for sure, Ty Lee hadn't been talking about Pai Sho.
———
Zuko paced back and forth in the throne room. He felt awful about what he had done, but couldn't just let her free. This time it was to save Ty Lee, but next time, it could be for power, or the throne, or worse. Even if this ever happened again and Ty Lee was kidnapped, if Azula went psycho like this again, she might kill the person holding Ty Lee captive. Zuko wasn't even entirely sure she wouldn't have killed Ursa. He thought about Ursa a moment, The once loving and caring Mother he had known, deranged and sad, so much so to the point that she'd kidnap Ty Lee and nearly kill Azula. Zuko wasn't sure what to do about Azula, so he decided he'd visit his Mother. She'd been placed in an Asylum as well, but one in the Northern Water Tribe, to limit her power, but also to try and heal her mind. Not to mention the fact she wanted Ursa as far away from Azula as possible. Though, he mentally cursed himself for never trying to do the same for Azula. He had been wrong, and maybe still was, his sister needed help, not torture. And Zuko wanted to help her, he did, but.. he just didn't know-how. He needed to clear his mind, maybe a trio would be good, it wouldn't be long and all he would have to do is talk to his Mother a bit. Zuko nodded to himself and decided to go, maybe when he got back he could think of how to help Azula better. Maybe she could be free, or free-er, anyway. So he went to fetch some servant and get himself ready for a trip.
———
Iroh walked through the hall of the Asylum, "So many souls trapped by their minds, it makes me sad to see them without proper guidance or help." He said to a guard, "What? Why does it matter, they're just a bunch of loonies!" He said Iroh shook his head in disgust, "You sir are why these people are still suffering." Iroh said and pushed by him, with a gentle grace. Once Iroh approached the door he saw Ty Lee exiting, "So, how'd it go?" He asked, Ty Lee was a bit surprised to see him, then remembered he was here to see Azula, Ty Lee sighed. "I don't know, I just... I couldn't tell her, I tried, but.." Ty Lee liked ashamed again, "What did I tell you about shame?" Iroh said, and Ty Lee smiled softly at the old man, "Thank you Iroh," she said hugging him, "My pleasure, just figure out how you'll tell her soon." He said, she nodded and left, he went up to the door and breathed in deeply then out. He knocked on the door and he heard Azula's voice coming from the other side, "Come in," Azula said and Iroh opened the door.
————————————————————————

Hey guys! This is a bit of a longer chapter than usual, but I hope you all enjoyed it and are excited to see where Ty Lee and Azula's relationship goes. I hope you enjoyed this chapter, Bye!