Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar or anything associated with it.

I never could bring myself to believe that all the Air Nomads could have been completely wiped out, and as soon as it hit me I had to write something. So it might not be perfect, but there it is.

Secret Smile

She didn't fall often, and never during a performance or battle. But when she was practicing, something different with her routine or a new move, she'd fall, and then she'd end up laughing at herself. Now wasn't any different. Flat on her back, laughing her head off, Ty Lee just couldn't keep it to herself.

"What are you so happy about? You just fell flat on her ass." Came the monotone and ever bored voice of her friend Mai. She didn't even bother looking at Ty Lee, she just continued laying there looking as though she were about to fall asleep.

"I agree." Azula said as she stepped out from the shadows into the small courtyard. "As amusing as watching you making a fool of yourself is, I fail to see what you find so funny."

"Have you finished ruling over Ba Sing Se for the day?" Ty Lee said bouncing to her feet.

"One is never finished being a ruler. But I have finished the necessary tasks for the day."

"At least now that your running things we don't have to wear those stupid outfits anymore." Mai spoke up from the verge of sleep.

Ty Lee poised herself on her hands and began walking, "I liked those clothes. It's fun pretending to be something you're not."

Azula sighed, if Ty Lee wasn't so good at what she did she would've been left at the circus."You were never very good at pretending to be anything other than yourself Ty Lee."

"Really?" Ty Lee rolled into a sitting position. " But, what if I'm not who everyone thinks I am, and I've spent my entire life being someone who isn't really me."

Mai scoffed, "You really are nuts aren't you. I'm going to my room."

One of the Dai Li stepped up behind Azula, "Princess Azula." he whispered.

"It seems something has come up." Azula left the way she came with the Dai Li following close behind.

Ty Lee stood up as strong breeze came into the court yard. She stretched out her arms and revelled in the feeling of the air flowing around her. She smiled. Not the bright ever cheerful smile people were used to seeing, but her own secret smile. Being seen as crazy or not so bright had its advantages. No one looked for your secrets, because if you were that nuts you couldn't have any.

But she knew how to prioritize. Even so sometimes she just couldn't resist.

Her smile grew bigger as the wind circled around her and gained strength with the subtle motion of her hands. What are a few buildings and physical markings compared to what was really important. After all those were the only obvious differences between air nomads and the average fire nation citizens.

Letting her arms fall and the breeze slowly blow itself out, she looked up to sky and let herself fall back onto the the grass. Watching the clouds she closed her eyes and made a wish. The only wish she'd ever made since her family had explained everything to her. And she hoped the Avatar succeeded, in spite of everything, and she hoped that she could be there and be the first to tell him, that he had never been the last.