SMACK! SMACK! SMACK!

"Ow. Ouch. Ooo," Ty Lee cooed.

SMACK! SMACK! SMACK!

Azula's hand came crashing down on Ty Lee's voluptuous backside, repeatedly striking the bare flesh and producing a gorgeous pink glow.

"Oh, Azula, I'll be a good girl, I promise," she sang out, clearly not minding the vicious swats as much as any normal fourteen year-old girl would mind them.

SMACK! SMACK! SMACK!

"I'll never disobey again! Oh, never ever," Ty Lee continued her mock protest. She was enjoying this every bit as much as Azula enjoyed it. She loved having her bottom touched. Azula loved to touch it.

It was perfect. They were perfect.

But Azula wanted to touch other body parts. She stopped smacking Ty Lee's bottom, and the girl shifted her weight so that she was facing Azula. They traded coy smiles, and Ty Lee grasped Azula's right breast. The princess moaned her approval.

"I love you Azula," Ty Lee whispered.

"And I love you, Ty Lee," she swooned.

Ty Lee grabbed her hair. She closed her eyes and moved towards Azula's face, about to favor her with a taste of those luscious, magnificent lips. Azula opened her mouth to greet it, and closed her eyes so she could fully experience the sensations...

She woke up.

Another night, another wonderful dream, another missed kiss. It had been the third night in a row that Azula's dreams were solely occupied with fantasies of Ty Lee, her best friend. But ever since she had given her that spanking, which wasn't nearly as consensual or pleasurable as the ones that played in her head as she slept, it was becoming impossible to think of Ty Lee as just her best friend.

The princess had always been fond of Ty Lee, though this often manifested itself in jealously. She was so pretty, and funny, and happy, and talented, and sensuous. Azula certainly didn't lack in the looks department; she had caught a few of the younger guards checking out her bottom as she walked past. Doing this to the Fire Princess was a crime punishable by death, but Azula always let it go; she loved the attention. But Ty Lee was an entirely different kind of attractive. Boys didn't just casually size her up, their eyes feasted on her, and they would whistle and talk about the dirty things they would do with her if she gave them a chance.

Before, Azula would have growled and stewed in jealousy, but now, she found herself sharing the boys' thoughts. She wanted to kiss Ty Lee, longed to squeeze her breasts, dreamed of seeing her naked, fantasized about exploring her body with her tongue. Such thoughts were not encouraged; girls were supposed to marry boys and produce children. It wasn't unheard of for same sex couples to exist, but they were treated with an uneasy tolerance. It was deemed unnatural, and homosexuals were considered to be freaks.

Indeed, Azula had considered such a thing to be bizarre. She had never been an overly sexual girl to begin with, but on the rare occasions where she indulged her libido, she always fantasized about men. But after touching Ty Lee, after seeing her beautiful bare bottom, the fantasies were running wild. Azula couldn't control it; whenever Ty Lee would pass her on the ship, Azula's eyes would follow after her and her heart would skip beats. The last couple of nights, the princess had woken up to find herself in a hot sweat and on the verge of orgasm. She would feel guilty and try to repress the thoughts, but that just made them more persistent.

Once again, Azula found herself in this situation, her breasts jutting into her night-gown, her womanhood moist and warm, her hair in a wild, sweaty mess. She stood out of her bed and went to her vanity table, combing her hair until it was straightened out.

As she combed, her mind drifted back to the dream. It was always the same one; Azula would be spanking Ty Lee, just as she had in the tent. But then she would stop, and Ty Lee would face her and they would come so close to kissing, only for Azula to wake up. There was just one problem; that reaction was nothing like how Ty Lee reacted to the real spanking. In fantasy, it turned her on just as it turned Azula on; it was foreplay for what would be a long make-out session. In reality, she had been crying, kicking, and screaming as Azula blistered her posterior, leaving it dark crimson with welts.

More than the guilt over her culturally unaccepted feelings for Ty Lee, Azula felt guilt over causing Ty Lee such physical pain. The guilt had stabbed her minutes after the spanking, but as the days went by it consumed her almost as much as the fantasies. It was driving Azula insane.

There was no use. She would have to apologize to Ty Lee. Beg for forgiveness. Perhaps let Ty Lee give her a spanking in return. Azula was unsure if that last thought was repentance on her part, or wishful thinking. If she imagined Ty Lee getting turned on by being spanked, perhaps she would find it exciting. It would certainly be a new experience; none dared punish the Fire Princess.

So she left her room, walking by patrols who guarded the halls of her ship. Soon, she would be abandoning it; they were heading to Omashu to pick up Azula's other close friend, Mai. She was on a mission to bring her traitorous brother and uncle to justice. Mai definitely wouldn't need the convincing that Ty Lee had required; she was probably dying for the opportunity to do something.

The princess found the door to the guest room that served as Ty Lee's quarters. Taking a deep breath, Azula gathered her resolve, and knocked.

"Who's there?" Ty Lee's cheerful voice called through the metal door.

Azula gasped, and fought back a sudden urge to run away to her room. Simply hearing that magnificent voice had caused her heart to skip a beat, and she had to catch her breath before she could answer.

"It's Azula," she shouted nervously and unnecessarily loudly.

"Oh, hi!" she greeted cheerfully. "Give me just a second, I'm changing!"

The princess once more found her imagination running wild, picturing Ty Lee slipping in and out of her clothes, though in a much more provocative manner than any girl would ever dress or undress. Thoughts of Ty Lee's bare, well-spanked bottom, as well as her shapely, strong legs rushed through her mind, tempting her lascivious desire to touch Ty Lee again.

Suddenly, the door opened, and Azula snapped back into reality, where the very real Ty Lee stood in front of her. Azula could only stare at her. She was wearing a pink shawl that rested on her breasts, and the only other covering for those was a red bra. Covering her lower parts was a pink skirt that did not cover Ty Lee's right thigh, and Azula could see the matching red panties peeking out. Once again, the princess was completely flustered by how sensual Ty Lee was without even trying.

"So, do you like the outfit?" Ty Lee asked, in a tone that made Azula suspicious that she was aware of Azula's gawking and why she couldn't help it.

"Yes, I do," she quickly answered. "You look stunning!"

"Aw, thanks Azula," sighed Ty Lee, and she hugged Azula unexpectedly. The princess tensed up, shocked at the touch and overcome by the pleasure she felt. Just like in her daydreams, exactly like the actual spanking, she could feel her nipples harden and an exhilarating ache between her legs. It wasn't just her mind that longed to touch Ty Lee; her body was naturally preparing for erotic stimulation.

"I love this outfit, but I never wear it in public," Ty Lee said, breaking the hug and then spinning around for Azula to get an eyeful. "It just shows me off too much. Imagine what boys would think!"

The princess had her eyes glued to Ty Lee's bouncing posterior as she walked back to her bed. When she turned around, Azula pretended to be looking in the mirror, and realized she should answer.

"Oh yes, boys would get hot and bothered if they saw you in that," she agreed. "And probably a few girls, too!"

Ty Lee tilted her head in a befuddled way, and Azula wished she could be invisible. It also took all of her strength not to cover her mouth; if she looked like she regretted saying it, she would look so guilty that anyone could realize the sort of lustful thoughts that were spinning in her head.

"Yes, I suppose some girls, too," Ty Lee said, shaking her head. Then she reclined on her bed and started to stretch her legs, one at a time, and Azula couldn't help but picture herself next to Ty Lee, exploring her body as she lifted those beautiful legs. She was giving the princess an unintentional strip tease, and Azula fought dueling urges to fondle her and to run away.

"So, why did you want to see me?" Ty Lee asked.

Her mind went blank. She knew that she had made an excuse to come see her, but for the life of her she could not remember. Fighting off the distraction that Ty Lee was providing, Azula went through her mind until the thought came to her, and when she finally remembered it came out in a nervous, excited shout that made Azula feel very insecure.

"I wanted to apologize."

Ty Lee snorted, and then started giggling. "You, apologize? For what?"

"For spanking you," she clarified.

She stopped laughing and seemed to ponder whether Azula was completely sincere. In truth, Azula would spank Ty Lee again in a heartbeat, just to feel her smooth bottom cheeks grow warm under her hand. But then, she was sorry for hurting Ty Lee, and with her feelings growing stronger by the second, she felt terrible for causing such pain.

"Please say you forgive me," Azula prodded, trying hard not to sound like she was begging.

"Azula, it's no big deal," Ty Lee brushed her off, and it appeared that she didn't want to think about the incident any longer.

"But it is a big deal!" Azula yelled desperately. "I, I hurt you! You were crying! I know I was awful to you!"

Ty Lee winced, obviously remembering every slap on her bottom and the accompanying sting, but she remained stoic as she looked at Azula. "I deserved that spanking. I was out of line and needed to be disciplined," she recited.

"But I wasn't really disciplining you!" Azula corrected. Which wasn't entirely true; it had started and even ended that way, but the sexual undertones were all she could remember, all she wanted to remember. Discipline Ty Lee? Beautiful, wonderful Ty Lee? She couldn't dream of it!

"What do you mean?" Ty Lee asked in disbelief. "Of course you were disciplining me."

Azula could barely stand the tension. Here she was, on the verge of spilling her secret, exposing her shame. Ty Lee would learn of Azula's feelings, she would know why she had been so thoroughly spanked, why Azula had bared her backside and massaged the blistering cheeks afterward. Could Ty Lee handle the fact that Azula had exploited her for sexual gratification? Would she forgive? Would she embrace Azula's taboo feelings? And if she did, would she reciprocate, or merely understand?

So many questions. Not enough answers.

She was a great liar. But not tonight. Too much was at stake.

"I...had...ulterior motives. For spanking you," Azula stammered, hoping Ty Lee would get the gist of what she meant without her speaking her feelings plainly.

"Ulterior motives? What ulterior motives?" she asked, clearly confused.

It's time to just come out and say it. "Like a convenient excuse to touch your bottom," she admitted.

Ty Lee's eyes went wide as saucers and her lips thinned, but she said nothing.

Azula knew she had to go all in. "Which looks even cuter when it's red and pink."

She looked at Ty Lee, the world's most wonderful, most beautiful girl. Her best friend. The girl she dreamed about at night, the only one who had captured her wild heart. Ty Lee held the power to break that heart right now, or to make Azula truly, completely happy.

Yet she said nothing. She simply sat still, clearly deep in thought, unsure of how she felt about this.

Finally, she spoke. Her eyes narrowed and her head tilted. "Azula, are you hitting on me?" she asked in a slow, purposeful whisper.

Azula winced at her straight-forward question. Her hands tightened into nervous fists, and she found she could not look Ty Lee in the eyes. Finally, she bowed her head in an uncharacteristic sign of submission, and forced out the word that was dying to escape, but that she was terrified to say.

"Yes."

The princess covered her face with her hands, too horrified to look at her. She knew Ty Lee was going to reject her, she just knew it. They wouldn't be friends anymore; she probably wouldn't even speak to her again. And it was all Azula's fault, her stupid fault for falling in love. A few tears escaped her eyes and slid down her cheeks.

Several moments passed, and neither girl said anything. Azula expected Ty Lee to start shouting at her, calling her sick and twisted. But there was nothing but silence. Still terrified, she moved her hands away and looked. Ty Lee was still sitting, but was now staring at her intently. The princess felt like an animal in a zoo, on display for the world to see how strange and bizarre she was. She could not read Ty Lee's intentions. She looked angry, but unsure of what to do with her.

Mortified and wishing to hide away and cry, Azula stepped closer to the door, but kept her eyes straight ahead. "I'll just...go, now," she managed to say weakly, and started to turn the handle.

Just then, Ty Lee stood up, and walked towards her in slow, measured strides. Her eyes were focused on Azula's and the princess found herself unable to avoid her gaze. She was paralyzed by fear, and felt certain that Ty Lee was going to slap her across the face. Azula would allow her to do so; she deserved it.

The acrobat stopped, and looked ever so slightly up towards Azula's shaking face. Her eyes closed, and the princess felt deep shame at her indecent admission that she saw Ty Lee as someone to flirt with and to touch sexually. It just wasn't done, but she could not change her feelings.

Suddenly, Ty Lee embraced Azula in a warm, comforting hug. Azula could not bring herself to reciprocate; she gasped at Ty Lee's sign of acceptance, and found that she could not hold tears back. She leaned her head into Ty Lee's shoulder, and sobbed as Ty Lee held her ever more tightly. The proud, composed facade that Azula usually wore was nowhere to be found. Here she was weak and vulnerable, scared and ashamed. It was unbecoming of a princess, but that didn't matter. Nothing mattered now, except for Ty Lee's arms holding her close.

"I'm sorry, Ty Lee," she cried.

"Don't be," she whispered into her ear. Azula could hear that Ty Lee was trying to be comforting and reassuring, but it only made her feel worse.

"I'm glad you told me," she continued. "I needed to know. You're very brave."

The last bit of Azula's resistance shattered. She grabbed Ty Lee in a desperate hug, unable to support herself. Tears flowed freely from her eyes, soaking the girl's shirt. They were accompanied by loud, heavy sobs as Azula broke down in her would-be lover's arms. Ty Lee responded by supporting her weight and holding Azula close. Her left hand was in Azula's hair, rubbing it soothingly. As the princess wept, she could hear Ty Lee gently hushing her cries.

"What you must think of me," she lamented.

"What I think of you," Ty Lee said in a sweet tone, "is that you aren't nearly as pretty as usual when you are crying like a little girl. It doesn't suit you."

Azula stopped crying abruptly. Hardly daring to believe her ears, she wondered if Ty Lee was returning her advances, or merely passing a friendly compliment. She lifted her head and looked into Ty Lee's eyes. They had lost the sharp edge they had held minutes before, but none of their intensity.

"You think I'm pretty?" the princess asked tentatively.

Ty Lee smiled broadly, and her eyes narrowed. Her right hand moved from the princess' back and she placed it on her cheek. Azula was sure there was nothing more beautiful in all the world than the smiling face of Ty Lee, and for a moment, she thought she might die.

"You're the prettiest girl in the whole world," she said in a sultry whisper. Her voice was deliberately seductive, and it worked. Azula longed to press her lips to Ty Lee's, but was still too terrified to make a move. Indeed, she couldn't help thinking that she was in another daydream.

Ty Lee leaned towards Azula's face, and her hands gently brought her head closer. Azula's lips trembled as she was pulled towards the girl of her dreams. Ty Lee's eyes shut slowly, and as they closed her lips parted. Knowing she was about to wake up, Azula shut her eyes and longed to remember this wonderful moment.

Then she felt smooth, wet skin press against her lips, and felt all of the air leave her mouth in a rush.

She wasn't dreaming. No dream could possibly be this perfect.

Ty Lee was kissing her.