Fixing the past

Chapter II: Remembrance

Ty Lee walked through the snow of the Southern Water Tribe. She looked around trying to find Aang. He had been living here with Katara for some time now. Ty Lee finally spotted Aang and Katara's house, or.. igloo. Ty Lee knocked firmly three times. The door swung open and there stood Katara. She greets Ty Lee with a warm smile. She pulled the acrobat into the house with a warm hug. Katara closed the door behind them. The acrobat had become very close with the team avatar. Considering she was one of Suki's best warriors. And being friends with the girlfriend of one of the team avatars members. Turns you into a kinda part of the family. So, Ty Lee is friends with all of them now. Even Toph, although, it took forever to convince Toph to stop punching her. Ty Lee was especially close with Aang. He was much like her, both are very optimistic, sporadic, fun-loving, and sometimes oblivious. They got along well, which made her get along well with Katara as well. Even after she left on bad terms with Zuko, the whole gaang supported her; minus Zuko of course. Even Toph gave her a friendly punch on the arm. And Aang and Katara have suspected Ty Lee might have a crush on Azula ever since. "So, what brings you out here?" Aang asked as Katara served dinner. "I-I need your help." The acrobat began, as Katara sat down. Both of them now focus their attention on the acrobat sitting across from them. "With what?" Katara asked, "Well.. you both know me and Zuko aren't on the best of terms." She started, "So, I was wondering if you could get me in the palace to talk with him." She asked, "Of course we can, but may I ask why you want to speak with him?" Aang chimed in. "Well... it's about Azula. I know I wasn't meant to see her, but I snuck in and did anyway." As Ty Lee said this she saw Aang and Katara's faces look slightly shocked. "But how did you get past the guards?" Katara asked, "I sorta bribed them." Ty Lee said honestly. "How much did you give them?" Aang asked, "Ten thousand gold pieces." She said both Aang and Katara jumped in surprise. "Wow! That's a lot of money. Where did you get it all?" They both asked in unison, "I have been working my ass off at Kyoshi Island. After training, I do all sorts of jobs around town. I've been saving up all year. It was all the money I have." She admitted, feeling flustered. "Ty Lee! That's a lot for Azula." Katara said, "She's worth all of it." She spoke, but as soon as she realized what she had said she blushed a deep crimson. "You must care for her." Aang said, I nod. Still blushing, "But still." Katara spoke up, but Aang stopped her. "I understand Ty Lee, I would do the same for Katara. When you love someone you do crazy things." Aang said, Katara blushes, and they kissed. "But I still have to ask, why do you want to speak to Zuko?" Aang asked again, "Because I want to ask him to free Azula. Under armed guards of course. And I will look after her." Aang stopped her. "Are you sure that's a good idea? I know she means a lot to you, but.. she's still done a lot of bad stuff. She might not be well enough, yet." Aang said, that 'yet' made Ty Lee's heart skip a beat. "So, if she gets better.. you think she could get out." She asked, "I give you my promise as an Avatar, that if she gets better, I will personally convince Zuko, to let her out. Ty Lee's face lit up in excitement. "But until then, I will get Zuko to let you visit her freely, and I will try to get you to stay in the palace." He said, the acrobat leaped over the table and wrapped the Avatar in a large hug. "Thank you so, so, so, much!" She said, "Your welcome." He said giggling a bit. "Hey, that's my boyfriend." Katara chimed in making them all laugh again. The next day Aang took Appa with Ty Lee, and Katara, to the Fire Nation. As they landed Ty Lee began to get quite nervous. Aang noticed this and gave her a pat on the back. "Don't be nervous, I promised you that you will be able to visit her. And I promised you that she will get out if she improves. And I don't break my promises." He said the acrobat smiled wildly, "Thank you so much. I can't tell you how much this means to me. I... I do care about Azula." Ty Lee admitted, "Maybe a bit more than just friends?" Katara said with a bit of a question in her voice. The acrobat blushed, "Maybe." Ty Lee said, through her embarrassment. As they were greeted by Zuko and Mai, Zuko stopped when he saw the acrobat. But Mai (who hasn't seen the girl in a year) rushed over to her and hugged her. Which the acrobat returned. After a moment Mai pulled away, trying to play it off. Her face had a smile on it though before she could deadpan again. "It's so great to see you, Mai. It's been so long." Ty Lee said, then stopped, "I'm sorry about that, I did want to visit, but." The acrobat gestured to Zuko, who was now talking with Aang. "I think it's best if we talk privately." Aang said, Zuko nodded and they both went off. "So.. what brings you here after all this time?" Mai asked in a seemingly boring voice. Ty Lee hesitated for a moment, but then told her the truth. "Azula." The acrobat admitted. Mai nodded in understanding.
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Zuko finally came out with Aang. Aang was smiling, but Zuko had a frown on his face. "Ty Lee." Zuko started, "I'm sorry." Ty Lee blurted out before Zuko could finish. "I shouldn't have gotten so angry with you; I shouldn't have runoff, I should have fixed thing between us, instead of running away. I am sorry Zuko." The acrobat gave a sad smile and looked at Zuko. Zuko's face began to soften and he smiled slightly. "I'm sorry too." He said, Ty Lee, smiled back and gave him a small, awkward, hug. "You are allowed to stay here, with me and Mai. I will get a room prepared for you." He said, and then his face hardened again, ever so slightly. "And.. you are allowed to freely visit Azula. But.. if she gets worse. Then I will have to acknowledge what's best for Azula." He said, The acrobat smiled a bit more. And then frowned at the last sentence. "I don't think anyone could make things worse than they already are. When I visited her sh-" Ty Lee quickly stopped as she realized what she said, "Aang already told me." He said, and then his face softened again. "And if you were willing to risk treason, and spend your entire life's savings. Just to see Azula once... then I suppose you are good for her." He said, She smiles.
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The acrobat walked into the Asylum with Zuko. The guards stand up straight at their arrival. "Which are the guards you bribed?" Zuko asked, Ty Lee, looked around. She pointed to some guards picking them out one by one. She pointed to all the guards that were there that day. Zuko nodded. He made sure each one that was pointed out by Ty Lee, came over to him. A large group of guards and some nurses were around them. "You're all fired." He said bluntly and walked away with the acrobat. They made their way to Azula's cell. Ty Lee saw a different guard than last time at the door. And a nurse standing with him as well. They let them in. "We would like to speak with her privately," Zuko said and the nurse nodded and shut the door. Zuko opened the cell door, Azula was still asleep. The acrobat made her way over to her, and she gently woke her. Azula's eyes fluttered open. Azula woke up to the smiling face of Ty Lee. Azula couldn't help, but smile. A genuine smile. Ty Lee's smile brightened even wider. "You haven't smiled like that since... since we were kids." Ty Lee spoke, and Azula realized it was true. She hasn't smiled a real genuine smile, sense before her mother left. It was incredible, that just the presence of the cheerful acrobat, made Azula smile. But Azula's smile quickly went away when she saw her brother. Azula shrunk back a bit, and Ty Lee noticed. "It's ok Azula, Aang talked to him... I talked to him too. He said I can visit you whenever I want now. Isn't that great?" Azula exclaimed, but Azula was only half listening. "Azula. Are you listening to me?" Ty Lee waved her hand in front of the girl's face. "Yes," Azula said looking back at her. "Hey, Zuko.. can we have a moment.. in private?" Ty Lee asked, Zuko nodded and left them in the cell. Ty Lee turned back to Azula. And hugged her tightly, "I am going to visit every day! I promise! And Zuko said.. well... Aang said, that if you improve you could be let out." Ty Lee said, Azula looked at her and scoffed, "I will never be let out. They're lying to you." Azula said, "Don't be so negative... Azula. Please, try and get better ok? For me." Ty Lee pleaded, Azula felt something inside her awake when Ty Lee said that. A newfound urge to get better. For Ty Lee. "Ok, I will. I promise." Azula said with a heartfelt expression.
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Ty Lee walked into Azula's cell, with a cheerful expression. Ty Lee had kept her promise and visited every single day, for the past month. And in that time Azula has progressed extremely well. She had stopped fighting the guards and nurses. She'd started eating the food she was given without fuss. She was taking her medicine. She was doing so well, that she was now aloud to have her straight jacket off when Ty Lee visited. Azula used her newfound freedom, so to speak. To play board games with Ty Lee, or read, or write, or even paint. Ty Lee was very proud of the progress she had made. As the acrobat walked into the cell, Azula had already been freed of her straight jacket. And had already set up a game of Pai Sho. The acrobat smiled, Azula smiled a bit as well. "I thought we could play a game.. unless you don't want to, we can do whatever you want to do," Azula spoke quickly, with a hint of nervousness in her voice. The acrobat smiled, "I would love to play." She said and smiled at Azula, who smiled in return. As they played, Ty Lee began to speak. "I just wanted you to know that I am very proud of you." She said and Azula looked at her in surprise. "Why?" Azula asked, more forcefully than she intended. "Because of the progress, you made, in such a short time too. It's impressive." Ty Lee said, after taking her turn. "If I wasn't such a monster you wouldn't have to be proud of me doing simple things." Azula said, "Your not a monster." Ty Lee spoke up, forgetting the game altogether. "Yes, I am. And the progress I made is nothing! So, what! I am eating food, I am taking medicine, what a big deal." She yelled, "It is a big deal, and you've made more progress than that." Ty Lee said sternly, "Oh, yeah. I stopped trying to kill the nurses every time they get near me! Oh, and I stopped trying to bash my brains out on the floor because I have a reason to live now. Because I have you!" Azula shouted, she said everything so quickly and without thinking. Just letting her emotions take control for once. But she instantly regretted it. "You... I-I... I'm your reason for living?" Ty Lee asked slowly and carefully. "Well of course you are. No one and I means no one has ever truly cared for me. Everyone hated me, everyone still hates me. Except for you. You're the only person in the entire world that cares about me, for who I am. Even though I am a monster." Azula said, getting quieter as she spoke. "You're not a monster. I care about you for who you are. Not the cloak of anger and hatred, that you use to protect yourself. But for the real you, the person under the cloak." Ty Lee admitted, Azula smiled widely, tears in her eyes. Ty Lee wrapped her in a hug. And they both cried silently into the other. And Azula then realized something, she realized that every time she has ever looked at Ty Lee. Her heart skipped a beat. Her hands became sweaty and her legs went weak. She realized that she loved Ty Lee, much, much more than a friend. Much, much more than she had ever cared about anyone ever before. More than she's ever loved anyone ever before. No... wait.. this is the first time she's ever actually loved, someone. And she loved Ty Lee. And Azula cried more because she realized she couldn't tell Ty Lee. Because no one, not even Ty Lee, would jeopardize their future and happiness. For a monster like her. For a monster like Azula. And Azula cried more. Ty Lee just comforted her.
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Hey, I wanted to say that I might have made some spelling errors. And grammatical errors. But hope you enjoy none the less. Bye:)