I don't own the Avatar series. If I did I wouldn't be writing a story about it on the internet now would I?
Ty Lee sighed to herself. Here she was, out in the woods with her two companions chasing the Avatar and his friends once again. After a while it started to get a little tedious with all the chasing and fighting.
Not that she didn't enjoy being reunited with her old friends from the Royal Fire Academy for Girls; she just wished it was under different circumstances.
Truth be told, she didn't like the war that was going on currently between the four nations. She hated the fact that her nation was responsible for all the death and suffering.
In fact, that's why she had run away and joined the circus, to get away from it all. She couldn't remember the last time she had been so happy and carefree. Her aura had never been pinker.
Of course, that happiness was to be short lived when her friend Azula showed up and requested her assistance in hunting down the fugitives Zuko and Iroh. She declined at first, explaining that she wanted to stay and how happy she was being there. To her great surprise, Azula did not protest and stated that she would watch her performance before she left.
That made Ty Lee uneasy. When Azula wanted something she didn't stop until she got it, no matter what the cost. Her suspicions were confirmed when all hell broke loose the night of the show. Burning nets and dangerous animals on the loose was not something she wanted to go through again.
So she agreed to help her friend, stating that the universe was giving her strong hints that it was time for a career change.
But she knew the real reason behind her decision. Azula probably would have done a whole lot worse if the young acrobat had not agreed to come with her right then and there. She didn't want to put her circus friends in any more danger.
Although she couldn't say her current life wasn't interesting, that was for sure.
"Well, I guess some things aren't meant to be." she said to herself.
"What are you mumbling about?"
Ty Lee snapped out of her train of thought and glanced over at her friend Mai who was looking at the acrobat with usual emotionless expression.
"Oh nothing." Ty Lee replied with a grin on her face.
Mai's only response to that was to roll her eyes and resume twirling the throwing knife around her finger.
"So what do you think Azula's up to?" the younger girl asked while doing cartwheels.
Mai just shrugged her shoulders.
"I mean she went to go scout the area, but that was a little while ago. I wonder if she's ok."
"I don't care what she's up to as long she gets here soon. I'm getting bored sitting around doing nothing." Mai said.
"You're always bored. What else is new?" Ty Lee replied.
"I am not always bored. When there's something to do, it isn't boring anymore." Mai stated as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"Oh. That makes sense………I think." the young acrobat said while still keeping her grin on her face.
Ty Lee stood there for a moment before her face suddenly lit up.
"I know what we can do until Azula comes back!" she exclaimed.
"No." Mai said calmly
Ty Lee blinked. "But you haven't even heard what I was about to suggest yet."
"Whatever it is, I'm sure it's not something I want to do."
"You're bored and want something to do right? Just hear me out? She pleaded.
Mai stopped twirling the knife in her hand and looked right at her.
"I know I'm going to regret asking this but what is it?"
Ty Lee clasped her hands together and said, "Let's do each other's hair!"
There was a long and awkward pause. If you looked closely, you could see Mai's left eye twitch slightly.
"Like I said before, no."
"Oh, ok." Ty Lee said dejectedly while hanging her head. Of course she wasn't one to give up so easily. She turned her face into a pout and hugged herself, beginning to sniffle as if she was on the verge of crying.
Mai was aware of her little act and turned her away, trying to ignore her as best she could. But it really wasn't easy to do since Ty Lee was making sure she was being heard. After a few moments Mai couldn't take it anymore.
"Will you stop that? That's really annoying." she said with slight irritation in her voice.
"I-I'm sorry." she stammered. "I-I just t-thought we could do something fun together. Y-you know, t-to pass the time."
"Don't fall for it Mai." the pessimistic teen thought to herself."You're like m-my best f-friend and all, so I figured it would nice to have a little bonding time. But I guess the feeling isn't mutual………" she trailed off, putting her hands on her face for an added effect.
"Damn" she sighed inwardly."Ok, fine I'll do it. If you'll stop trying to make me feel like a horrible person." she said in defeat.
Ty Lee's mood suddenly did a complete 180. She ran over to Mai and wrapped her in a big hug, much to Mai's dismay.
"Thanks Mai! I knew you liked me! Were going to have so much fun, I promise!" Ty Lee said happily.
Mai could only shudder inwardly.
In another part of the woods
"Toph! Come on! Everyone has been doing there share of work and you haven't even lifted a finger to help!" Katara said angrily.
"Look Sugar Queen." responded the blind earthbender. "You guys don't need my help and I don't need yours. I got by in life on my own, always have, always will."
"This isn't about being independent; this is about pulling your own weight around here!"
While the two girls were arguing, Aang and Sokka sat by the fire, with Aang watching the argument and Sokka setting up the tents.
"Don't you think we should stop them?" the young airbender asked.
Sokka took a minute to stop what he was doing and glance over at the two girls, then went back to his work.
Naw, just let them do their own thing." he said. "You don't want to get in the middle of two girls fighting. Especially if you're a guy."
Aang tilted his head in slight confusion. "Why is that?"
"I don't know. It's like whenever girls get angry, all guys suddenly become the lowest scum in the universe. Especially when that time of the month rolls around." he mumbled to himself.
"Time of the month? What happens when that comes? Aang asked curiously.
"Uh, nothing! Forget I said anything." the young warrior said hastily.
Aang just shrugged his shoulders and went back to watching the argument, which seemed to be coming to a boiling point.
"You are just so selfish!" the waterbender shouted. "You don't think of anyone but yourself!"
"Yeah, well you're a bossy little Miss-Know-It-All!" Toph shot back. "You think everyone should have to listen to what you say like you're the leader of this group! Last time I checked, Twinkle Toes was the Avatar, not you Sugar Queen!"
Katara had a look of disbelief on her face. "I am not bossy! I just try to look out for everyone's well being! Unlike you!"
"I don't need you acting like a mother to me. I got enough of that at home!"
"Well, I'm glad I'm not your mother! I couldn't put up with a spoiled little brat like you!"
If Toph had any restraint left, it was all gone in that moment. She stomped her foot on the ground and caused a pillar of earth to rise underneath the unsuspecting water bender and sent her flying into the nearby river.
Aang and Sokka could only stand there with their jaws wide, trying to process in their minds what had just happened.
Toph gave a smirk of satisfaction and stomped off into the woods.
"Toph wait! Where are you going?" Sokka called to her.
"A walk." the girl called back. "Anyone who tries to follow me will join Sugar Queen over there."
A half soaked Katara made her way back to dry land, glaring at the direction Toph took off.
"Fine! Leave! See if I care!" she grumbled.
"Katara, are you ok?" Aang asked.
"I'm fine. I'm just………I'm just going to go dry up and get some water to boil." she stated in a tired voice.
Sokka sighed. "Well, at least that's over."
"I hope Toph will be alright." the Avatar said with concern.
"Don't worry. Toph's a tough gal, she'll be fine." his older friend assured him.
"I hope you're right Sokka."
Ty Lee couldn't remember the last time she feared for her life. Well actually, she could. The whole incident with Azula and the circus was still fresh in her mind.
But she really didn't need to be dwelling in the past right now. At the moment, the current threat was right in front of her with numerous sharp weapons at her disposal.
"Come on Mai." pleaded the terrified girl. "You're hair really looks great! It really does!"
"You are so dead." responded Mai, who was slowly closing in on her soon-to-be-deceased friend.
It was amazing how intimidating Mai could be right now considering what she looked like. Her hair was, according to her, a complete disaster. Ty Lee had managed to put her hair into curly locks (A/N: think of Shirley Temple). To make things even worse, she added a pink bow at the top of her head.
Who knows where she got it from. It was like she carried one around for just such an occasion. Needless to say, Mai wasn't very happy when she saw herself in the mirror.
The acrobat was now backed up against the tree behind her with nowhere to go. She had no choice but to plead with the adorably menacing girl in front of her one more time.
"I'm you're friend Mai, remember? You wouldn't kill me over a little hairdo, would you?"
Mai stopped her pursuit for a moment and seemed to think about her comment for a second.
"Yes! Maybe I got through to her!"
No sooner had she thought that, a small smirk appeared on Mai's face.
"Yes, I would." came the simple reply.
"Or maybe I didn't." she thought dejectedly.Fortunately for Ty Lee though, luck seemed to be on her side at that moment.
"Mai! Ty Lee! Enough of this foolishness!" a stern voice called out to them.
Both girls turned to see the third companion of their group, Princess Azula, walking toward them. Ty Lee took the momentary distraction to get out of range of Mai's grasp.
"Azula, you're back!" Ty Lee said happily. "What were you doing out there for so long?"
"Searching for Avatar's group, which I just so happened to find." she answered with a cruel smirk on her face. "And to make things even better, there seems to be disharmony among a few of them. This makes our job a lot easier. Get everything together, we're going after them now."
"Roger!" Ty Lee saluted, making sure to avoid Mai until the whole thing blew over.
"Finally, something to do. I wish you had come back sooner, otherwise I could have avoided this." Mai complained, referring to her unusual hairstyle.
The fire princess stared at her for a moment with an eyebrow raised.
"Mai, you look ridiculous."
Mai rolled eyes.
"Tell me something I don't know."
End of chapter.