Second Chances

Marked

(A/N not edited yet)
Azula woke slowly, taking in her surroundings with care and attempting to determine what exactly was weighing her down. She discovered that in Ty Lee's sleep, the acrobat had slung a leg over her along with an arm and had settled her head upon Azula's chest. The situation was amusing to say the least, and the princess found herself brushing the acrobat's bangs aside.
Ty Lee's nose wrinkled as a strand of hair tickled her face and she woke with a groan. "Is it morning already?"
"Yes," Azula replied, her hand retreating from the acrobat's face.
"Ugh," Ty Lee frowned, grudgingly untangling herself from the princess. "I have things to do."
"I'm sorry," Azula apologized, though she wasn't sure why.
"It's fine," the acrobat sighed. "Do you go home today?"
"I was planning on it," Azula admitted, "but I could stay-"
"Don't bother. I'll be too busy for anything fun and Zuko needs help planning his wedding," Ty Lee smiled faintly. "You can write to me and tell me all about it. I'll use it as an excuse to avoid work I don't want to do."
"And here I thought you liked your job," Azula mused, earning an airy laugh in reply.
"I do," Ty Lee grinned, "promise."
Azula nodded and closed her eyes, feeling the faint fog of sleep call to her again. She felt a hand ghost across her cheek and a light breathe of air before two soft lips pressed against hers. Her instinct was to retreat. Eyes opening wide she realized what she'd done. "Sorry, I-"
"It's okay," Ty Lee assured.
"My mind still tells me...things." Azula explained, her brow creasing in worry.
"I know," the acrobat sighed, resting her forehead against the princess'. "It'll take time. For me too. I'm still...uncertain of things and a bit afraid if I'm honest."
"Why are you afraid?" Azula worried, her eyes revealing an intense concern.
"Well, my father won't approve. Then there's the fact that I'll return home at some point too. Our nation isn't all perfect you know. There's still people who hate what we've done with it. I just...there's a lot of unknowns. That's all. I used to be able to escape things. Join the circus, roam the wilderness, come and go as I pleased, but now it feels like there's no safe place to retreat to anymore," Ty Lee explained.
"I'll protect you," Azula insisted. She wasn't sure why the words came out as forcefully as they did, but her chest hurt at the idea of someone belittling the acrobat or wounding her. Azula had spent so much of her life fighting to keep Ty Lee at a distance and now that she'd slowly closed that divide her feelings were becoming clear. She'd always meant to protect Ty Lee. It was why she'd chosen to hate the acrobat instead of love her. Why she'd endured all that she had from her father and herself.
"I know you will," Ty Lee smiled, "but I'll still worry for you."
"You don't have to. I'll be fine," Azula assured, but they both knew she couldn't promise such a thing. "Now, go before you miss whatever it is you must attend to."
"Write to me," Ty Lee emphasized, kissing Azula on the brow, clambering out of bed, swiftly pulling on her shoes, and scampering off in a flash of pink.
Though the room was small it seemed colder now than before. Azula never realized how warm Ty Lee was, and now she missed it. Swallowing the thought of abandoning her acrobat in a city she didn't know, Azula woke the helmsman and small crew. They were to depart in half an hour's time.
While Ty Lee seemed comfortable in Republic City, Azula couldn't help but feel that it was ripe for the picking of ill intentioned individuals. In a fragile state of infancy, budding cities were in danger of falling into the hands of criminals. Hopefully, under the avatar's care such a thing wouldn't happen.
Keeping her thoughts to herself, Azula accompanied the crew above deck and it wasn't long until they were heading back towards the fire nation. She made small talk, nothing of importance to her, but enough to make the crew comfortable for the journey. She learned the names of their family members, their children's fields of study or careers, and even the names of their pets. Though she was likely to forget such details as they weren't particularly important, the crew seemed pleased to talk about things that brought them comfort.
"I heard the council was less than inviting," one young gentleman remarked. "Can't say I'm not surprised. Those chumps have it out for everyone. A buddy of mine in the earth kingdom nearly lost his job because of our correspondence."
"I'm sorry to hear that," Azula muttered, and she meant it. She didn't like the idea of people being overly hostile to those too young to be involved in Ozai's war. In fact, the gentleman couldn't have been older than ten when she was fourteen. Too young to even see the frontlines and most likely still in school. "They'll come around in time. It would be naive to assume others wouldn't be hostile to us. Our past isn't one of excellence. Their trust will have to be earned."
"You're right," the young man nodded, "but the crew and I were talking. We have your back no matter what those air heads say or think. You're no different than us. If you can change then so can those old coots."
Azula spared the young man a gentle smile. She appreciated the sentiment, but the constant reminder that she and her people weren't welcome did little to soothe her anxiety. She still feared her own homeland, because even within the fire nation others were against her. Against change. And if her own people were divided then the rest of the world would be too.
"When we return home," Azula sighed, "find a place to settle and lay low. Avoid the troublemakers will you? You're young and they won't hesitate to intimidate you with numbers."
"You're young too," the man remarked, "but I get it. You're royalty. No one would cross that line. Me? I'm a commoner. Free game."
Shaking his head in mild amusement, the crew man headed below decks to rouse those still sleeping. Azula watched him go and wondered if he had anyone waiting for him back home. He was nice, kind hearted it seemed, and she couldn't help but feel that he deserved to be more than just a sailor.
— — —
"Welcome back!" Kiyi beamed, tackling her older sister in a hug. "I know you were gone for like two days but it felt like forever!"
"My apologies," Azula laughed lightly. "Is my brother still sane?"
"Pfft," Kiyi laughed, "he can't plan a wedding to save his life!"
"I figured that was the case," Azula mused, reminded once again that Kiyi was tall and nearly Ty Lee's height. In fact, she resembled the acrobat more and more. So much so that it was nearly unnerving. Of course, Azula couldn't help but wonder if Ikem contributed the height gene for Kiyi, or if she'd just been screwed over in receiving her family's dominant genes of being average height.
"It could be worse," Kiyi whispered, "but mother is doing most of the work."
"Ah," Azula nodded, " I see."
"Also," Kiyi frowned, "you saw the papers right?"
"From Republic City?" Azula worried.
"Yeah," Kiyi nodded, "somehow they've even been printed here. Zuko's already fixing the issue though, but the gossip's still taken flight."
"I'm not surprised," Azula muttered. "But my name's been dragged through worse mud than that."
"It just isn't fair," Kiyi sighed. "And besides, who even cares? People ought to like who they want."
"It doesn't work like that," Azula shook her head. "Not here anyways."
"Why?"
"My father," Azula explained, "and fear."
"He really is a horrible man isn't he?" Kiyi asked.
"Not horrible," Azula faltered, earning an incredulous look from her younger sister, "just... misguided."
"Misguided. How?!" Kiyi glowered. "You think he'll change? People like him don't do that."
"I did."
"You're not him though," Kiyi insisted. Silence settled between the two as Azula processed their discussion. She wasn't sure why she defended her father, only that it had been instinct to do so, and she hated that she had said anything in his defense to begin with.
"You're right," Azula swallowed tightly, "I don't know why I said what I did. Forgive me."
Kiyi's expression softened as she noticed her sister's downcast eyes, curled shoulders, and nervous hands tugging lightly at the  fabric of her sleeves in quick succession. "It's okay. I didn't mean to be insensitive."
"You weren't," Azula shook her head, "you were right to say what you did."
Kiyi contemplated hugging the princess once more but thought better of it. She could tell when Azula wanted to be left alone and this was one of those times. "I'm going to go make sure dad doesn't accidentally burn dinner. He wanted to give the servants a break today. He just sucks a cooking," Kiyi stammered, breaking the awkward silence.
"If anyone asks I'll be at the canal. I have energy to burn and a walk will do just fine," Azula decided. Really, what she wanted was space. Time to think and nurse her own thoughts. Her conversation with Kiyi had sparked a train of thought she hadn't paid much attention to as of late and it was something she could no longer avoid.
Leaving the palace behind, Azula ventured along the cobble stoned paths towards the long strip of a waterway that ran the edge of the city. It was something she'd watched be built as a child, and it had withstood the trials of time much like she had.
Letting the cool air prickle at her skin, she let her feet guide her as her mind wandered, but she couldn't keep from wrapping her arms about herself. I'm fact, she'd discovered some time ago why she liked the position. It was familiar and resembled the jacket she'd once worn at the institution. It was calming, grounding, and safe.
Yet that was the only bit of comfort her mind let her have. She was still mulling over why she'd defended her father. He was a horrible man. He'd done horrible things, said horrible things, and protected horrible people. There was no excuse for that yet she'd called Ozai misguided. He wasn't misguided at all. He'd chosen his path, he'd known what he was doing all along and he'd done it anyways.
It seemed that even though his influence had dwindled over time, she was so used to defending him that even now the need to do so presented itself. Frankly, she was disgusted with herself.
"Well," a gruff voice broke Azula's private thoughts. "If it isn't the little princess."
Eyes narrowing, Azula scanned the dark. She hadn't even noticed the sun had set or that she'd she'd been walking that long in the first place. Hands twitching slightly she refrained from setting them aflame. "And you are?"
"Oh I'm only one of the folk around here." The voice chuckled. "See, I was hoping you'd be out and about because I have a score to settle with you."
"Which is?" Azula asked, disguising her nerves with an authoritative tone.
"That you need some markings. See, we all saw that little paper and frankly I'm a bit ashamed that someone of your position would be...filthy. And since your daddy isn't here to do the honors we'll be doing it for him," the man came into view beneath the moonlight. He was accompanied by four others. They were dressed in black and only their eyes could be seen.
Azula took a step back, stance firm, fists igniting to reveal the group of men. She felt her heart hammering in her chest, felt her mouth go dry, and for the first time in a while she was afraid. "You can try, but we both know those papers are lies."
"Are they?" The man asked, his eyes shining with mirth. "Come on, princess, you've gotten worse at lying. I can see the fear in your eyes, and  you can't hurt us. What will everyone think if the princess attacks a group of helpless men? Surely she would prove to be the same sort of terror she was as a child. Burning, killing, scorching, and taxing those who simply want to get by in life."
The words tumbled about in Azula's mind and a lead weight settled in her stomach. They were right. If she hurt them, burned them, or even maimed them in any severe way the story would be twisted and those who already wanted her dead would leap on the story like a pack of hog monkeys.
"I will defend myself," Azula promised. She wouldn't go down easy, even if it meant she couldn't use her bending or the hidden blades tucked beneath her sleeves. There were things she recalled from childhood. Things Ty Lee and Mai had taught her.
The man was the first to move. His fire was bright, vibrant, but his form was stiff and uncomfortable. Azula was quick to respond. Ducking the jet of fire, she grasped his arm and pushed up. His elbow gave a rather unnerving crack and his eyes widened with pain.
The rest of the group followed their leader and a brawl erupted beside the canal. From a distance bright flashes of orange could be seen, illuminating the dark and igniting silhouettes. Yet all of the fire nation seemed to be sleeping.
Sweat dotted Azula's forehead as she realized just how outnumbered she was as others unexpectedly arrived. Under normal circumstances she would have ruined them, made them bleed, hurt them in every physical way possible, but that wasn't an option. Deep down she knew it was a lost fight but she would forget all formalities for the sake of survival. She would fight tooth and nail until their eyes were torn free if need be.
An arm wrapped firmly about her neck from behind. Struggling, Azula fought to break the  hold, but another man knocked her to her knees. A third captured her other arm. Gritting her teeth, Azula strained, fought until her muscles screamed that they would break if the pressure of resistance didn't yield.
She watched from the corner of her eye as the man who'd brought the battle upon her wrestled her left hand until her arm was fully extended. With malice in his eyes he ignited his free hand. Orange flames preyed upon pale skin and the smell of burning flesh filled the air.
Azula had never cried out in such pain before, had never felt such excruciating heat, and for a moment her vision went dark. Then, all too soon the pain called her back to the present and no matter how much she fought the fire continued to devour her arm, her hand, her fingers.
"Enough. That's enough," warned another, a woman from the sound of the voice. With a grunt and sickening smile in his eyes, the man released the princess. The others did not. She wasn't sure what happened next, only that she felt pain.
— — —
"Kiyi," Zuko called, he'd  heard that Azula arrived the previous night but hadn't seen her, "did Azula come back home?"
"Uh..." The young girl stammered. "I don't know. She said she was going for a walk on the canal. Did you check her room?"
"She wasn't there," Zuko replied, frowning in thought as his mind wrestled with the feeling that something was wrong. "We need to find her. I have a bad feeling."
"Yeah," Kiyi nodded. "Come on."
The two siblings were quick to leave the palace behind, not bothering to inform the others of their escapade. Zuko was anxious to say the least, but his anxiety gave way to fear. If Azula had gotten into trouble, if she'd caused trouble, it must've been bad.
Though it felt like forever until they arrived at the canal, Zuko broke into a jog. There was no telling how far down Azula had wandered. When she was deep in thought the rest of the world vanished and with it the concepts of distance and time.
"There!" Kiyi called, pointing urgently to a spot up ahead off the slope of the stone wall. Zuko's chest filled with dread as he noticed scorch marks decorating the canal's stony side and a heap of red clothing half submerged in water. Running like his life depended on it, he stumbled down the sloped side  falling to his knees when he reached the all too familiar person.
Hands shaking with adrenaline and worry, Zuko carefully rolled his sister over. The sight and smell nearly made him vomit. Her arm was horribly burned from her fingers halfway to her elbow. The skin wasn't blistered but black in color and the smell of burnt flesh clung to the air.
Azula's right cheek was badly bruised, and her lip was split painfully down the middle. "Oh god. Kiyi, get home. Tell the healers what's happened."
Despite Zuko's orders, the young firebender  stood rooted to the spot in terror. She'd never seen something so gruesome and gory. She felt like it was fake but knew that it wasn't. Let alone the fact that Azula, of all people, had been hurt in some sort of battle.
"Zuko-"
"Kiyi! Go!" Zuko yelled, snapping her from her daze. Turning back to Azula he noticed her eyelids twitch and suddenly she was stirring awake.
"Zuko? What-"
"Don't move," Zuko warned. "You're hurt."
"I'm fine," Azula insisted, pushing him aside and sitting upright. She'd gotten completely to her feet before noticing the extent of her wounds. Her eyes widened in abject horror and Zuko barely caught her before she fell to her knees. "No, no, no. No. How-"
"It's okay," Zuko soothed, "I've got you. I'm gonna get you back to the palace."
Before Azula could protest, he picked her up and walked briskly the way he'd come. By the time he'd returned home he was covered in sweat, his arms ached, and his back hurt, but none of that caused him to falter. His sister needed him.
But despite his best intentions Azula refused to acknowledge anything or anyone. Not even the healers could convince her to relax and coax her arm away from where she cradled it to her chest.
"How did this happen?" Ikem demanded.
"The papers," Zuko whispered. "Those damn reporters."
"But why?" Ikem asked, confusion decorating his face. "Does it really matter that much if it's true or not?"
"Unfortunately it does. While you were away in the wilderness and my father was still in power he made very controversial law. It existed in two parts. The first being that pedophiles were to suffer a branding punishment. Most people were fine with that, but the second part was that those of same sex relationships were to be branded too. Burned so bad that people would notice. Right hands were for pedophiles, left for those who broke the 'natural law'," Zuko explained.
"Pedophiles are one thing but people who prefer a gender over another? That's-"
"Cruel, and frankly sadistic," Zuko finished. "But right now I want Ty Lee back here where she'll be safe. I fear someone may try something with her while she's away. I can't have my friends and family in danger."
"I'll send a message," Ikem promised. While he and Azula never interacted much, he loved her as his own. There were times he saw Ursa in the princess and it only made him want to protect her more.
"Azula," Ursa spoke gently, kneeling in front of her daughter. "You have to let them help you. Come on honey."
But Azula wasn't there. She was somewhere else entirely. Her eyes were seeing past the world around her and her ears were keen on blocking out every source of noise imaginable.
— — —
"What's wrong?" Aang frowned as Ty Lee frantically moved about the house. Sokka had invited everyone over for dinner and for the second time in a row the acrobat was frantic to leave.
"Read it," Ty Lee breathed, passing the message over to the avatar. Aang's eyes widened in surprise then horror.
"We'll take Appa." Aang promised, getting to his feet as Katara took up the message to read herself. Sokka peered over her shoulder and his jaw nearly hit the floor as he read.
"Can someone explain what it says?" Toph grumbled.
Ty Lee ignored the conversation and followed Aang outside where Appa was happily teasing Momo. "Sorry big guy. We have to go quick. Something happened."
Appa, dutiful as ever, rose to all six of his feet and took off at the avatar's trademark call.
"The message was dated a day and a half ago," Ty Lee informed, "and if she's not letting anyone treat her that wound isn't going to heal."
"We could head back and bring Katara," Aang proposed.
"If Azula won't listen to Zuko she's sure as hell not listening to your girlfriend. Sorry," the acrobat sighed.
"I understand," Aang nodded. "Alright Appa, how fast can you fly?"
Appa, bless his heart, put all of his effort into gaining as much speed as possible. He sensed the urgency of both his companions and was determined not to disappoint. What once would have been a two or three day trip was completed in record time. Nearly twenty four hours later, Appa crash landed in the court yard.
"Good boy," Aang soothed, patting Appa's head. "We'll give you all the food you could ever want. How does that sound?"
Appa gave a garbled grunt and fell asleep. He would be in a coma for some time, and although Ty Lee wanted to thank the sky bison she was more concerned with other matters.
"I didn't expect you to get here so soon," Zuko remarked.
"Where is she?"
"Mai's with her at the moment," Zuko explained, waving for the acrobat to follow. "She hasn't budged from the medical wing."
Ty Lee nodded and matched his brisk pace with ease. As Zuko had promised, Mai was keeping the princess company, but Azula sat on the very edge of the cot staring absently at the ground, arm cradled to her chest, and expression unmoving.
"She won't respond to anyone," Mai worried.
"Give them space," Zuko decided. "Ty Lee got her through a lot before maybe she can do it again."
"Are you okay with that?" Mai asked, but the acrobat was fighting back a wave of nausea at the sight of Azula's wound, "Easy."
"I'm good," Ty Lee promised, but she looked awfully pale. "I can try to talk to her but if it doesn't work I don't know what to do."
"It's worth a try," Mai sighed, taking Zuko's hand and pulling him from the room.
Swallowing tightly, Ty Lee moved so she stood in front of Azula. The princess didn't seem to notice her arrival. Sucking in a sharp breath, the acrobat sat cross legged on the floor, appearing in Azula's line of sight. For the first time since she'd arrived back at the palace, the princess' gaze shifted.
Recognition morphed her features but whatever relief had been there dissipated in a nano second and her brow furrowed, her bottom lip quivered, and her entire body began to tremble.
"Come here," Ty Lee whispered, rising up to her knees and enveloping the princess in a hug. Azula hid her face in the acrobat's neck as sobs racked her body. Though she tried to fight it, Ty Lee couldn't help the tears that fell from her own eyes. "I am so sorry Azula. I'm so sorry."
"How can he still hurt me when he's not even here?" The princess choked out. "I wish I'd drowned in that canal."
"Don't say that," Ty Lee worried, pulling back to study the princess' face. "Please, don't say that."
"But I mean it," Azula whimpered.
"I know, and it breaks my heart that you do," Ty Lee replied, her voice cracking with grief. "I just-why didn't you fight back?"
"I did," Azula insisted, "but if I hurt them they would twist the story. They would make a narrative and I can't-I can't go back to an institution. I can't. I can't have them all hate me again. I can't lose you or Zuko or Mai or Kiyi."
"You wouldn't lose me." Ty Lee protested. "Zuko would defend you. Mai too."
"He must listen to the people," Azula reminded, blinking away the remainder of her tears but it seemed that as soon as she collected herself another thought broke her heart again and the tears fell anew. "Why am the only one with monsters? With people who hate me from a past I can't seem to shake? This is my second chance and I already want to give up."
"I have monsters too. People who hate me," Ty Lee promised, gently wiping away the princess' tears.
"Tell me who they are. Please." Azula begged, desperate to not feel alone.
"You once asked me why I hated going home," Ty Lee began, gently pulling Azula into her lap and holding the princess with care. "And I always told you it's because I hated staying in one place. That was a partial truth. I just wanted to be anywhere other than home."
"Why?"
"My family was quick to forget about me until they needed a scape goat," Ty Lee explained. "I learned that criticism, that anger, that insults were the only way I was awarded attention. If my sisters forgot a chore it was my fault. If my father missed a work day it was my fault. But I love my sisters and they loved me which made things hard. Then my father began to suspect that I wasn't normal."
"You could chi block?" Azula asked.
"No, Azula," Ty Lee shook her head, "that I loved women as much as I loved men. He could tell by the way I looked at people, how I tried so hard to get them to notice me, and most of all how I looked at you. He hated it. Hated me because he was convinced that I would be the downfall of everything he worked for. There were times he scolded me, mocked me, and when I cried to my mother she defended him because what could she do? He was the man of the house."
"I'm sorry," Azula apologized.
"Shhh," Ty Lee interjected, nuzzling her face into the princess' neck. "It's not your fault. It's just that over time my sisters began to detest me because my father's anger was no longer contained to me. Some of them have changed now that we're all older but for a time I was alone. All I had was you and when I realized you didn't want me I left. I found the circus. So yes, I have monsters, and I lived with them like you. I saw them every day and I hated myself more than anything else in my life."
"What changed?"
"I learned to love myself. I learned to value what I had to offer and I realized that I only had to make myself happy," Ty Lee explained, closing her eyes and enjoying the moment of closeness. "I want nothing more than for you to do the same. So please, please, let the healers help you. I know you don't trust them ever since they tried to force you to take your medication, but your wound will only get worse if left alone."
"Will you stay with me? I don't want to be alone with them," Azula whispered.
"Okay," Ty Lee agreed. She stayed with the princess in her lap for a moment longer, kissed away her lingering tears, and for a little while Azula forgot the pain of her burn. Then, all too soon, Ty Lee stood and brought the healers back into the medical wing.
Azula eyed them wearily and she flinched whenever they made sudden movements but at the end of the day the burn was covered and Azula's pain dulled to a violent throb.
"They want you to stay here for the night," Zuko explained, having rejoined the two girls.
"I won't," Azula insisted, eyes angry and posture guarded. "I want to go back to my room and I want to stay there. I want...I want to be somewhere familiar."
"Alright," Zuko nodded, knowing it was futile to argue, and knowing she was seeking familiarity in place of safety.
— — —
That night, Azula struggled to sleep and when she did find a brief moment of rest she woke whimpering and crying. Her dreams were plagued by her father once more and now the humiliating ordeal of being marked. It was exhausting.
And though Ty Lee heard and wanted to comfort the princess she couldn't risk it. Being caught in Azula's room would only make things worse. Nothing in the palace seemed to stay secret long. But where Ty Lee couldn't be with Azula, Ursa could.
"Azula," Ursa whispered, sitting beside her daughter and watching Azula wake fitfully. "It's okay. It's just me."
"Mommy?" Azula muttered, seeming to forget herself. She hadn't used that word in years, but Ursa's heart ached because even as a child Azula only called her that when she was truly distraught.
"Why can't you sleep, darling?" Ursa asked, brushing aside Azula's bangs.
"D-Dad." The princess croaked.
"What are you so afraid of that you're dreaming of him?" Ursa asked.
"I-" Azula swallowed tightly, her eyes reflecting a silent panic.
"You think he knows don't you?" Ursa sighed. Her mother's words alarmed Azula.
"What do you mean?" She asked unable to hide the fear in her voice.
"Honey, I know. I've known for a long time," Ursa smiled gently. "I know that's why you shut everyone out. I know that's why this hurts more than just a wound."
Ursa gestured at Azula's wrapped arm and the princess' eyes welled with tears again. "How did you know? I didn't tell anyone. I didn't-I hated her. I made sure of it. So Dad-"
"Darling," Ursa worried, trying to calm her daughter before things escalated. "I'm your mother. There are things I noticed that your father never would. You wanted nothing more than Ty Lee's attention as a child. You loved her so much and I could see it in your eyes before you learned how to lie. I wasn't sure until you were a little older but then I knew. I knew the moment you distracted your father so Ty Lee wouldn't bear the brunt of his wrath when you ruined the hedges," Ursa smiled tenderly. "And I loved you because you loved her. Because there was a part of you that you would never give up no matter what your father did or told you. Because even when you knew he hated it, would hate that part of you which loved, you disguised it as the very hate you feared. And while it wasn't right, I understand it."
"Please don't tell anyone," Azula pleaded. "Please. They hurt me but they'll do worse to her. She's not from father's blood. She's a commoner. They'll kill her."
"Shh, Azula, darling...I won't tell a soul. I haven't after all this time. Not even your brother," Ursa assured. "Your love is safe with me."
Azula nodded and moved to nestle into her mother's side. Ursa said nothing as she pressed a kiss to her daughter's temple and watched her fall asleep. But a single thought echoed in Ursa's mind. Why was it that certain people were born with tragedy in their blood?