This is really short compared to the norm. Oops.

Azula giggled as Ty Lee fell backwards into the fountain with a yelp, before the little princess glanced at Mai, giving her a quick, testing look. Mai's lips quirked in acknowledgment, but as soon as Azula looked away, she frowned.

It wasn't actually funny, Mai thought. Her parents said she had to get along with Azula, but she loved to push around the other girl in the group. Ty Lee may be way too cheery, but at least she wasn't bossy. Ty Lee was close to tears, and as Azula helped her up, still snickering, she crossed her arms.

"It's not funny, Azula! These clothes are brand new - my sister got them for me!" She looked to Mai for support, but she looked away, not missing Azula's glare. She wasn't allowed to stand up for Ty Lee, no matter what Azula did to her.

It was only after the princess of the Fire Nation left that Mai got up, walked up to her, and lowly whispered, "Why do you try so hard to show her your moves? Azula never gets impressed, only jealous. And mad."

"I want her to like me," Ty Lee sniffed, sitting down, "it's not that big a deal."

Mai rolled her eyes. "She's royalty. She's got other things to like."

Her head snapped up and she squinted. "Zuko likes you!"

Mai's cheeks flared a dark red, and she hissed, "Shut up!"

Her crush on Azula's brother wasn't something that was to be discussed at all. Her and Zuko had spoken to each other a few times, that was all. She was pretty sure he still saw her as Azula's lackey.

Which she was. She doubted that anything would ever change that, not even Zuko. It wasn't like she loved him or anything.

Ty Lee still looked upset, so Mai sighed and sat down next to her.

"How about this?" she offered hesitantly. "If - If either of us ever get into a serious fight with Azula, then the other is allowed to help."

There was another sniff, and then Ty Lee brought her knees to her chest. "Like a pact?"

"Sure. If that's how you want to take it."

"Will you promise on it?" Ty Lee asked, holding out her pinky.

Mai sighed - the other girl was going to take this to heart. It didn't matter, though, did it? Ty Lee was still too obsessed with making Azula happy to ever betray her, and Mai had no reason to. They were ultimately making a pact that would never be useful. Neither of them would ever go against Azula.

She intertwined her pinky with Ty Lee's.

They were in some dingy prison. Their clothes looked genuinely awful, the food they had been given had nearly made her throw up.

Mai rested her head on the wall, taking a deep breath.

Damn Zuko.

A few feet away from her, Ty Lee was animatedly talking to one of the Kyoshi warriors. You couldn't even tell she was in prison. Mai envied her a little.

As the known daughter of a noble, she wouldn't be making new friends any time soon.

Ty Lee came next to her, smiling brightly. "We have to sweep, that's all! I think we're getting off easy because of your uncle."

"Yippee," Mai said dryly, looking away, "why did you do it?"

"Do what?"

Mai scowled, looking into her eyes. "You know what. Why did you help me? I didn't know you hated Azula."

"I didn't," she mumbled, biting her lip, "I think she's someone who could have been a great friend if she hadn't been raised by the Firelord."

"Then why -"

"Because we made a pact, Mai," Ty Lee said, crossing her arms.

Somewhere in the back of her mind, a memory flickered, of them making a pinky promise. And her not thinking anything of it. How things had turned.

"I can't believe you remember that," Mai murmured.

Ty Lee cracked another grin. "I can't believe you betrayed Azula out of love for Zuko."

This time, Mai's cheeks did not burn, but she did let a small smile grace her lips. Who needed friends in prison? She had Ty Lee, a girl who had honored a pact they had made years ago.

That was the only kind of friend she needed.