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Ty Lee's passion for the circus wasn't so much cast in stone. More so she did it to escape her past and her family, although most noble families were more on the formal side, in Ty Lee's opinion, her's was the worst. Growing up with nine sisters who were an exact copy of yourself, couldn't be an easy one. But for Ty Lee, is a set of nine, where one could easily replace, was a no-brainer for her. Once she was old enough, Ty Lee left to forge her path and be her person.
"Ty Lee, could that possibly be you?" asked a familiar voice, breaking her daydreaming.
"Azula!" replied Tylee ecstatically, flipping from her upside-down stance and bowing before her, before giving her a huge hug. "It is so good to see you!"
To, Ty Lee was surprised Azula returned the hug.
"Please, don't let me interrupt you...whatever it is you were doing," says Azula, do backflips and lies on her chest in the grass. "Tell me, what is the daughter of a nobleman doing here? Certainly, our parents didn't send us to the Royal Fire Academy for Girls to end up in...places like this?"
'Seriously...why would Ty Lee come here? Attention is one thing...' thinks Azula, then sees a rather disturbing scene: containing a platypus-bear, three men and an egg. "I have a favor to ask you. I'm hunting a traitor. You remember my old fuddy-duddy uncle, don't you?"
"Oh yeah, he was funny," replies Ty Lee, her feet tangling.
"I would be honored if you would...help a friend out... I know you're not the first person I'd pick out but desperate times. I know you're quite, skillful what do you say?"
"Oh..."
"I..."
"Uh..." butter out Ty Lee, getting her thoughts scattered. 'Did Azula ask for my help...nicely? What's with Azula suddenly? Well, she looks the same: eyes, stance, hair...althought she looks a bit stronger...'
Ty Lee was beyond curious about Azula's change in attitude, 'she seemed less...bossy and more...talkable?' She couldn't quite figure out what it was until she looked at her aura.
"Ty Lee?...hello...?" asked Azula, seeing Ty Lee's mouth suddenly wide-opened.
'Oh, my...!' exclaimed Ty lee. Azula had changed, her crimson aura that had tiny black cracks in them before, was completely gone. Instead, 'she radiated a bright red aura, free of any cracks...and a yellow ribbon-thing circling around her aura.' "Yellowy...yellowy...what did that symbolize again?" she whispers.
'It couldn't be!' Ty Lee mentally squealed the yellow ribbon still there. 'Azula...is...in...lo...ve? Azula is in love. AZULA IS IN LOVE!'
"Okay, Ty Lee, you're starting to freak me out," said Azula, her friend going from confused to having the cheekiest smile she had ever seen.
"Well, I suppose I could help...the circus has been getting a bit...gray," Ty Lee lied through her teeth, but she couldn't just sit this out. Ty Lee's girl-motions told her 'to grab this chance, by the ears and maybe meet this cutey as well.' "I'll help!"
"You will?" asked Azula, a bit confused 'it seemed that Zhan's idea of a friendly approach worked well, too well.'
'Maybe I should give Zhan some sort of reward,' Azula though while playing with her lips with her index finger.
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In the city of Omashu, a dark-haired girl, was inwardly pleased, to see her...friends. The dullness of the life in Omashu was getting on her nerves, added to the fact her dad's political career here.
"Please tell me you're here to kill me," said Mai, bowing slightly at Azula. Her emotionless face having a slight smile on it before both girls, began to laugh.
"It's great to see you, Mai," exclaimed Azula, before Ty Lee hastens, forward and gave Mai a big hug.
"I thought you ran off and joined the circus. You said it was your calling," said Mai, confused about Ty Lee's appearance with Azula.
"Well, Azula called a little louder," replied Ty Lee, still being her cheery self.
"I have a mission, and I need you both," exclaimed Azula, placing a hand on both her friends' shoulders.
"Count me in. Anything to get me out of this place," said Mai, annoyed but also grateful to get out of here.
"Boring here?" asked Azula.
"Dull-town more like it," replied Mai.
"You think this is dull? Do the same things over and over for the past seven years without change and see how you end up," said Azula, laughing afterward and leaving Mai speechless.
"Did that just happen?" asks Mai, too Ty Lee, after Azula started to leave, them following behind her.
"Promise not to tell Azula?" asked Ty Lee, whispering close to her ear.
"I...promise," replied Mai.
"Promise-promise, no say, twirled shut, burned away, locked down, never to say, promise?" asked Ty Lee, sounding serious.
"Yes-yes!" replied Mai, with a hint of eagerness in her tone.
"Well, here is the thing..." muttered Ty Lee.
"Yes?" said Mai.
"Azulay Inlove!" whispered Ty lee rapidly.
"Pardon?" asked Mai, confused even more.
"Azula is in love!" whispered Ty Lee.
"Are you serious?!" asked Mai, shocked and confused.
"Positive! You know I can read auras, and Azula's showed she was in love," replied Ty Lee.
"Are you sure, I mean it could've been something else," said Mai, not believing the idea.
"No. It is this," said Ty Lee. "Doesn't Azula seem different?"
Mai pondered for a minute on the subject. Indeed, 'Azula seemed a bit different, but more on the physical side. Yet on the emotional side…'
'Hmmm...she seemed less aggressive, barely-there may still be thorns that you could find in roses, but more approachable. Her voice seemed to have a hint of respect as well,' thought Mai.
"You two coming or what?" asked Azula, good feet ahead of them, arms crossed over the chest.
"Coming!" said Ty Lee, cartwheeling ahead.
'Azula in love?' pondered Mai, then mentally chuckled at the idea to herself. 'I REALLY!' 'got to meet this person, who managed to stand face-to-face with Azula."
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Omake: A Challege to Forget#1
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Azula is now in another sparring match with Zhan, not of her own volition mind you Zhan has a way of pushing the right buttons.
"Why are we doing this again?" Azula asked Zhan. "You are already, good enough in your firebending there are still new things to learn."
"Another thing to always remember Azula one needs, to continuously worry, regarding whatever prowls beneath us. Zan explained once more, with patiently, "We don't know if I am not going to be around all the time."
"Then I can just make it a decree and place you beside me like a loyal puppy," Azula praise herself.
Zhan sighed, "this princess is not as simple as she seems to be, well that's the beauty of it." he whispers just enough for Azula to hear while giving her a small grin.
Azula was taken in by surprise making her blush as she quickly tries to hide it back. "Then, let's make this more interesting."
"What do you have in mind, princes?" Azula was tick the way he said it, "let's raise the stakes..." Zhan continues to listen, "how about a little wager?" she said smugly.
"Well, a spark of competition won't harm, anyone it may even push us more," he directed his sight to Azula.
"How about whoever does better in this challenge or training, will have complete control over the loser."
Zhan looks at Azula from top to bottom, "are you sure princess because if you lose..." he was immediately caught off, "I will not go against my word! And who said I would be losing."
"Good, because we are going to start our journey to Yin rei today I got all permits," Zhan said, wearing his coat, and strapping his gloves.
"It will take months to make that journey from here on foot Zhan." Azula pointed out.
"And during those months, you will use this blindfold," while handing the blindfold to Azula.
"This is..." Azula was shocked.
"Now, let's get going, to Yin rei isn't just going to come to us."
"Yeah, I will try" Azula sighed as tears could be seen on her face, Zhan stops walking, "no! Try not! Do or do not, there is no try," Zhan said, and once more he kept on walking, while Azulas mood, was more or less ruined. "Let's the journey to my prison await."
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