Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Avatar characters, places... or things. If I did I wouldn't be writing this.

-Chapter One-

Circus freak.

Ty Lee knew a couple things, and one of those things was to believe in what you are doing. If you can do that, you can accomplish almost anything. That was why she idolized Azula so much. Azula was born with everything, and she still had the determination to be the best. It was like what she overheard Zuko saying once to Mai. "Azula was born lucky."

Ty Lee also knew she was strong. A strength that really emerged from her time with the circus. Yet it seemed to be a constant point of shame to the others, despite her amazing skills. What did they know? Her time away from royal dealings and war had brought more experience than the rest of them knew.

Ty Lee knew how to survive in the normal world.


Mai leaned against Zuko with the perpetual sullen face as the boat moved smoothly across the water. Azula stood facing the destination, although it was not in sight yet. Ty Lee on the other hand tried to busy herself with holding a handstand with the motion of the boat. A swell in the water knocked her balance of just enough to send her butt first towards the deck.

"Ow!" Ty Lee said with a tear creeping into her eye as she tried to rub the pain off her butt.

"Can't you keep still for five seconds?" growled Zuko, jostling Mai in the process. A flash of annoyance flashed in her face, but she settled back against him as soon as he looked back to the water.

"Sorry Zuko, I just..," Ty Lee started, but realized he wasn't really listening. She knew Zuko was upset that he and Azula were sent away on a forced vacation by their father. It was obvious that Mai would go with Zuko regardless, but Azula demanded that both of them went on the trip. Not that Mai was the best conversationalist, but now that she had Zuko, Ty Lee couldn't help but feel lonely. Azula was usually busy calculating with an unnerving cunning unfit for her adolescence.

She was jealous of Mai for having a boyfriend. She doubted Azula would've approved of the distraction of a boyfriend, but this was a very unique situation. She wanted the hold over Zuko and Mai allowed for it, and Mai got to be with her crush. All things considered, Zuko was cute to boot. The disfiguring scar just added to his 'bad boy who needs a little healing' persona.

Ty Lee knew she was attractive, her time at the circus affirmed that. Cute boys with normal problems had often advanced her, and she had grown accustomed to the luxury of courtship. A luxury that no longer existed due to her leaving the circus with Azula. Ty Lee missed it.


Things looked up after they had reached Lo and Li's cottage overlooking the beach. Ty Lee examined her body in the mirror as she changed into her beachwear. Her age and athleticism had come together ceremoniously, and vested her with a lithe body and ample curves. She smiled in the mirror, because going to a beach would give her a chance to flirt with a guy or three.

"Ty Lee!" Azula's voice commanded though the door, "Hurry up so the rest of us can change!"

"Coming Azula," Ty Lee cheerfully smiled.


Ty Lee's spirits soared as the rush of cool water crashed into the warm sand. The air had the promise of excitement, and most important: social interaction. It didn't take long for her to attract a few boys to her. "Can you two fan a little?" Ty Lee smiled real big and moved her body just enough to diminish any hesitance in the boys. "There is no more breeze."

Zuko and Mai sat in the shade of a large umbrella, largely due to Mai. Ty Lee speculated Zuko might have done something active under the sun if he wasn't with her. Zuko was very different before he had been banished. Azula had laughed and retold the tale to Mai and Ty Lee a couple of times. Mai hid her concern fairly well with the same dull look, but Ty Lee saw it clearly. She felt bad for Zuko too. When he came back from exile he was serious, and quick to anger. Although she didn't have a crush on him like Mai, she liked that he had been happy and much more sensitive to the feelings of others. Now his aura had been hardened by a long voyage. Occasionally she saw care seep into his eye towards Mai, but he was usually coolly rebuffed.

Sometimes Ty Lee felt she would have to be happy for all of them. She liked to think Azula didn't just want her along for her fighting ability, but because they were friends and Azula recognized the importance of a little cheer. After all, life is what you make it right?

Ty Lee was a barrel of sunbeams.

"Ty Lee, get over here now!" Azula said scrutinizing the volleyball ring with a dread menace. Azula gave off an magnificent feeling that exuded power. It was electrifying.

The boys looked sad as Ty Lee walked away in a handstand, and she thought that was the cutest thing. She missed the attention already, and a feeling that she wasn't quite old enough to exactly put her finger on. The feeling that she had come to miss every time she was Zuko and Mai kiss. Ty Lee wondered Azula ever felt like she was missing out.


The game was an utter joke, and with Azula's quick, accurate, and cold planning they swept the other team entirely. The product of abnormal people in a normal situation was apparent. Their opponents had never worried about fighting, the war, or even survival. They lived in the shelter of prosperity. The biggest concerns they had were social standings, and pimples.

The net burned quickly as Azula's aura flared brilliantly as she had dominated the game with apparent ease.

"I'm having a party tonight," a voice said with a practiced nonchalant tone, "you should come by."

Ty Lee's heart jumped at the chance to go to a normal teenage party. It didn't hurt that the boys were cute, despite the smug air. "Sure, I love parties!"

The other one spoke, "Your friend come too." Ty Lee guessed the cool air Mai off somehow attracted the boys. She still thought Mai would be much prettier if she smiled.

Azula interjected with a confident demeanor, and Ty Lee knew Azula's confidence and tendency towards domination of all things tended to work. Ty Lee also could sense that this didn't appeal at all to the boys despite the beautiful face, and nymph-like body Azula commanded with cold grace. Azula had just never learned to play the game. It was no real surprise that Zuko wasn't invited. After all, what boys are looking to invite more boys to their parties? Especially one who had been receiving a couple of stares from intrigued girls. Ty Lee picked up on that quickly, and she wondered if Mai had too.

With the promise of a party on the horizon Ty Lee couldn't keep in the joy, and she flipped and cartwheeled about. Mai sighed, and Zuko walked beside trying to cool his smoldering anger from the arrogance of the two boys. Azula naturally walked in front of the small group, and held a sinister smile.

-End Chapter 1-

I wanted to make Ty Lee a larger focus for now, because I think she has the most potential as a character to be flushed out. I hope you enjoyed reading it, and I would appreciate it if you said what you liked. If you didn't like it I would also appreciate what you didn't like about it. Thanks!