<div class="floatleft">(http://i.imgur.com/y9NOTA1.png)</div>A reverie took hold of Ty Lee in the moments before Azula offered her hand.<br/><br/>She was on stage, but it wasn’t a circus. Ty Lee was in a grand theater, of such exquisite design as to seem impossible in the world she knew. The seats were filled with fabulous people of all types, from all four nations; even Air Nomads! They watched on intently as she, alone, weaved her flexible way among a complex array of bars. It was some sort of artistic performance, clearly, and it came easily to her.<br/><br/>As her body slid sensuously among the intricately intertwined metal, Ty Lee became aware that she was wearing a leotard rather than her typical outfit. It clung to her strangely but wasn’t uncomfortable. Her hands and feet were powdered, making it easy to slide about. There was no way to see it, but she was certain she wore facepaint as well, though what sort was impossible to say.<br/><br/>At long last she completed her display, performing a flourish of a dismount to the great pleasure of the crowd. They seemed to be patrons of the fine arts, though Ty Lee would never have described her circus performances as fine art. Odd words came out of her mouth as the apparatus behind her was rolled away and the curtain drawn for the moment. She seemed to be introducing someone or something…<br/><br/>The daydream skipped forward, and there she was: Azula, as yet the Fire Princess, but she seemed softer. She was speaking heatedly with several others on the stage. Ty Lee realized she was now in the crowd, watching, rapt, as Azula moved the theater with her beautiful, heart-wrenching acting. In this strange alternate world, Azula used her talents for entertainment rather than world domination.<br/><br/>When Ty Lee’s hand finally landed in Azula’s, her moments-long dream ended, and she knew. She had seen,<em>felt</em>Azula put that mask on as the Avatar entered. Thoughts of what might have been still lingered in her mind as they made their way toward him. What Azula wanted was best, of course, but what of a world where circumstances had led her to want something different? Would they have been the same people? Would they have still been happy? Might they have been even happier?<br/><br/><em>Don’t be so thick all the time, Ty Lee. You’re happy now. None of that matters.</em>It was easy to say that, but sometimes, she wanted…<br/><br/>Azula put an end to that train of thought quite suddenly when she caressed her Water Tribe pet. There was no one else in the world that challenged Ty Lee for Azula’s attention… except Katara. In truth, Ty Lee knew better, but sometimes Azula would touch Katara in such a way, or say something just so, and it would seem that Katara was Ty Lee’s rival. Azula said otherwise, of course.<em>No one shall ever come between us, Ty Lee.</em>And yet, who was it that had too often shared their marital bed? Who was it that Azula was grooming?<br/><br/>Ty Lee was not envious by nature, but Azula was a prize to be coveted. It didn’t help that only a short time ago, she had been the one being caressed. Frustration was setting in…<br/><br/>Azula was playing the feminine diplomat, and so Ty Lee would have to play the gracious queen. Even after a few years, it was a role she was still rather uncomfortable with. “We’re so glad to see you well, Avatar Aang.” She curtsied in the way that Azula had taught her. “We feared the loss of both the Avatar line and the Air Nomads… but we never lost hope, as you can see,” she said, also indicating the place at the table.<br/><br/>Diplomacy and courtliness was almost physically painful for Ty Lee. She just wanted to run free, Azula at her side… but Azula’s side was here, and so this was where she belonged.