Azula, Flames Of Change

chapter 52: finale

The circus was alive with energy, the crowd roaring with excitement as Ty Lee executed her final flip through the air, landing gracefully with her signature acrobatic flair. The lights from the stage glittered in her hair as she waved to the audience, her smile wide and genuine. She had returned to the place that had always been her dream—the circus. After her time as a Kyoshi Warrior and a prisoner of the Fire Nation, she had found herself here again, doing what she loved most.

As she moved off stage, wiping the sweat from her brow and breathing in the familiar scent of sawdust and candied snacks, she heard a slow, steady clapping. The sound was softer than the roaring audience, but it caught her attention. Something about the rhythm made a memory from her past flicker to life. She turned with a wide grin, a name already forming on her lips before she even saw who it was.

“Azula,” she breathed.

Azula stood there, her posture composed, her face calm and serene—a stark contrast to the last time they had met. She wore a finely tailored suit and a long dark coat, her appearance formal but unassuming, as if she had learned to blend into the background while still holding her regal bearing.

"Back to your roots, I see," Azula remarked, her tone devoid of the biting edge it once held. There was no trace of the old, burning ambition in her voice, only a quiet observation.

Ty Lee’s smile brightened, and she moved toward her old friend. "This is my dream, after all," she said with a cheerful bounce in her step. "I never thought I’d come back to it, but here I am!"

Azula nodded, her eyes flickering over the circus tent, the performers, and the bustling crowd in the distance. "It suits you."

There was a pause, a silence that felt full yet comfortable, and then Azula made a slight gesture as if to leave, turning slightly. "I just wanted to see an old face," she said, her voice soft. "Nothing more. I’ll be going now."

Ty Lee stepped forward quickly, her hand reaching out but not quite touching Azula’s arm. "Wait," she said, her voice brightening. "We should get some ice cream, like we used to. Remember? I know this amazing place nearby. It'll be fun!"

For a moment, Azula hesitated, but there was something in Ty Lee’s carefree smile that softened her usual reserve. She nodded. "Alright, ice cream it is."

The two walked through the modern streets of the Fire Nation capital, now bustling with more life than ever. It was a strange contrast to the rigid, oppressive atmosphere that had existed years ago under Azula's reign. Buildings had modernized, street vendors sold exotic treats, and the people looked relaxed, at ease in their everyday lives.

Azula and Ty Lee stopped by a small shop nestled between larger, newer structures. Ty Lee pointed at the colorful array of flavors, her excitement contagious as she selected her favorite. Azula quietly purchased the ice creams without hesitation, her movements smooth and measured. As they walked with their treats in hand, Ty Lee’s eyes danced over Azula’s outfit—the formal suit, the polished boots, the elegant coat.

"You look... really fancy," Ty Lee commented with a teasing smile. "You must be rich now!"

Azula shrugged, her lips curling slightly in amusement. "I do well enough. I’ve kept busy."

They sat down on a bench by the water’s edge, the city lights reflecting off the surface of the bay. Ty Lee spoke animatedly between bites of her ice cream, recounting her travels and the adventures she’d had over the years. She told Azula about how she had reconnected with old friends, her time with the Kyoshi Warriors, and the many new people she’d met since her release from prison.

“And I’ve been loving every second of it,” Ty Lee concluded with a bright smile. “It’s been a crazy journey.”

Azula listened quietly, her ice cream mostly untouched. She seemed content to let Ty Lee carry the conversation, but there was a subtle shift in her expression as Ty Lee grew more reflective.

Ty Lee paused, glancing sideways at Azula, her voice softening. “Do you ever... miss your family? Zuko, your mom...?”

For a moment, Azula didn’t respond. Her gaze was fixed on the horizon, the city bustling around them but not reaching her. Finally, she shook her head, her voice calm but distant. “No. I’ve moved on from all of that. I severed those ties a long time ago.”

Ty Lee studied her old friend, sensing the finality in Azula’s words. Yet, there was also something deeply resigned in the way she spoke, as though she had accepted her place in the world now—a place outside of the Fire Nation, away from the throne, and far from the family that once defined her.

“You know,” Ty Lee said gently, “you don’t have to be alone forever.”

Azula smiled faintly, but there was a hollowness to it. "I’m not alone, Ty Lee. I just don’t belong where I used to."

The two sat together in companionable silence, the noise of the city fading into the background. Ty Lee, ever the optimist, hoped that maybe, just maybe, Azula would find her way back someday—not to the throne or the Fire Nation, but to the people who cared about her. But for now, she was content just to share this moment with her old friend.

As the night wore on, they finished their ice cream, and Azula stood up to leave. “Take care of yourself, Ty Lee,” she said quietly, turning to go.

“You too, Azula,” Ty Lee called after her with a warm smile. “And don’t be a stranger.”

Azula offered a brief nod before disappearing into the crowd, her dark coat blending into the city’s shadows. Ty Lee watched her go, a mix of sadness and hope lingering in her heart.

Azula may have left behind the empire she once ruled, but perhaps, just for tonight, she had found a small piece of peace in the simple joy of ice cream and an old friend.

The end