#azula's team

[cherrry-treehouse]

[wingsfreedom]

"We lost."

I like that Azula didn't snap at Mai and Ty Lee here despite their failure. It shows how Azula handles such situations. First, it was acceptance. She didn't aimlessly snap at anyone (was never implied nor suggested).

She takes responsibility for the what happened, reasoned out why they failed, learned from her mistakes, rethought her options and created a better plan.

It was improvement from failure; she didn't regress or repeat it (though I'd like to mention that bit from the novelization on how she felt depressed at failing Ozai's trust).

Overall, it was a mature response to me. She may was a bad friend, but she's still a good leader.

[goryhorroor]

cartoons → girl groups

[myfandomtopia]

“Like a Girl” x Azula’s team

[vera-simik]

Ballpoint sketches of "Dangerous Ladies"/Azula's Team.

Also my first AtLA fanart.

[wingsfreedom]

Headcanon: how Azula, Mai and Ty Lee become friends

The Royal Fire Academy for Girls:

It's where they first met.

Azula seized the attention quickly in school. She's the princess, the granddaughter of the Fire Lord, daughter of Prince Ozai and above it all an excellent student. Azula was good at everything she does. But she's annoyed at people following her around or asking questions about her life so she pushes them away.

But there's one girl captured Azula's attention. The girl was 100% indifferent about her, she showed no fear or admiration of her status even though she's the Princess. Azula was fascinated by this, so she approached her. She started a talk, wanting to know who she is, Mai responds with a dry joke. Azula laughed. Then asked her "what's your name?" The rest of the class was in awe. Mai was barely a friend to anyone, now she's friend of the princess who refused to engage with everyone.

Mai thought Azula was fun.

There was another girl who was the most persistent of the folk following Azula. No matter how much Azula pushes her away, she keeps coming back. Azula was so angry at one point, before she threatened the girl to leave for the last time or else, the girl performed an acrobatic move. Azula was astonished, she never seen anyone moves that way before. Then there's something clicked, this girl could be interesting after all. Azula thought Ty Lee was annoying, then amazing, she could learn something from her, before she get to know her better as a person. She decided later that she can like Ty Lee after all.

Ty Lee's resolve behind aiming to be the (amazing) Princess' friend was because she wanted to be recognized as her own person, as Ty Lee, not as part of a matched set.

Azula and Mai bonded over comparable interests and personalities. Ty Lee got along with girls she normally wouldn't have gotten along with.

[wingsfreedom]

Azula and Ty Lee's hug // Mai and Ty Lee's hug

Edit:

[wingsfreedom]

Azula,Ty lee and Mai are supposed to be childhood friends, so why does Ty lee flinch when Azula tells her that she will see her at the circus? Why don't they say anything when Azula talks about her feelings on the beach?

I'm sorry I forgot to answer this.

I think you take one reaction out of many. Both Mai and Ty Lee were happy to see Azula again. They like her and she likes them too. But what that makes Ty Lee (and possibly Mai) uneasy? Consider this dialogue:

Azula: [To Mai.] I'm sorry, but a thought just occurred to me. Do you mind?

Bumi follows the conversation, shifting his eyes from one speaker to the other.

Mai: [Turning to Azula.] Of course not, Princess Azula.

Note Mai address Azula's title in this conversation. It's the power dynamic. Azula is their friend yes, but she also their princess; an authority figure, and Azula always make sure they should remember that line. It's the hierarchy, natural order. This power dynamic of the hierarchy and Azula's dedication to it is what makes Ty Lee and Mai uneasy.

Of course, Azula with her bad social skills can't see how this dynamics would severely damage a friendship. You can't mix between being a friend and authority figure. Mai in the Boiling Rock stands up against Azula as the princess not as a friend, hence used the phrase 'I don't fear you..est'.

I believe Azula would've sent Mai to prison without further drama if Mai didn't push her buttons.

As for the confession in the campfire, it's very unusual for Azula to show vulnerability, much less talk about her feelings. Ty Lee said nothing but looked at Azula sympathetically though:

And it's not uncharacteristic of Mai to contemplating this revelation instead of responding. She after all was more dismissive of Zuko's angst.

It's important to note too that neither Mai or Ty Lee weren't afraid to snap at Azula in this episode; an episode where they're supposed to be normal, where Azula is just their friend not their princess in a mission appointed by the Fire Lord or fighting against enemies of the state.

So yes, the sort of relationship they have is complex. A relationship got worse with time, with Mai and Ty Lee confused where to stand with a complicated, potentially problematic person like Azula.