I got a review! (somehow this makes me proud) And it wasnt even a negative one! (somehow dis makes me proud too).
Well, just for you guys here is the next chapter. If any artists out there have too much spare time on their hands give me a shout. This story still needs a cover! I'm not the picky kind, but it's a little barren when you scroll through the "manage story" tab and there is this gray outline instead of a pretty picture.
Next chapter the pace will pick up! As always show your love through spam of review/PM. Enjoy!
Aang Groaned and opened his eyes. He was buried neck-deep in comfortable pillows and blankets. Funny, his room only had one pillow and one blanket. His suspicion was confirmed when he opened his eyes and the room seemed a little pink for the castle of the fire lord. A golden ray of sunlight shone through a crack in the curtains.
He felt refreshed, as if he had been buried in ice for 100 years again. Aang folded back the covers and stepped out of bed. All his vertebras cracked back into position as he stretched. His staff was set against the wall next to the nightstand on top of which lay his folded shirt.
Quickly he looked down, letting out a sigh of relief that his pants were still on. Quickly pulling the top half of his uniform on he grabbed his staff and stumbled out the door. The hallway lead into a spacey well lit room. He was greeted by a slender brunette in a white kimono. "Morning, Ty Lee." Aang greeted her.
"It's almost noon you know." She giggled. Aang chose to forgo that particular topic. "This is your house?" He asked. "Yup. Tucked you away in my older sister's room." She poured water out of a carafe and handed it to him. "You got many sisters?" Her smile turned a little artificial. "Six older sisters. I don't particularly like discussing it." She said.
"Wait, did you just say that you put me to bed?" She looked at him. "That a problem?" Ty Lee asked. "No, no, no, not at all. I just thought you were going to ask someone to do it for you." She looked at him a little incredulously. "I would have walked here first and saved you the trouble if you'd asked." He apologized.
"I'm a strong girl. I can take care of my own." She said. Turning away from him. "You should probably go. Your friends will be worried for you." She said. "Unlikely. Katara and Zuko are busy and I saw Toph sneak away with Sokka earlier yesterday. Since the rest of the city still has to… warm up to me a little, I don't think I'm that missed at the moment."
"Where will you go then?" She asked. "I don't know. I should probably start heading out. I had hoped to get traveling two days ago. You know, retrace my footsteps, visit old friends and enemies. Not to mention the earth kingdom is a mess no one wants to sort out right now and that therefore the task will befall me. Toph, Sokka and Katara didn't seem too keen on leaving, so I think I am going to leave them to their rest and undertake the journey on my own."
Ty Lee looked around her, seemingly looking for something. Suddenly she turned to him. "Take me with you." Aang was a little startled. "What?" He replied. "You heard me. I want to come with you." She repeated. "If you will have me at least…" she trailed off a little shyly. "Erm. Sure, if that is what makes you happy of course you may come with me. It'll be a lot of boredom though."
They stood in silence for a full five minutes, neither of them really knowing what to say. Eventually Aang broke the silence. "May I ask why though?" Ty Lee gestured around her. "I'm in a house meant for nine people on my own, my family chose to flee with most of the old aristocracy and many of my old friends won't even talk to me anymore." She fell silent. "I'm lonely." She finished.
"All right, tell you what;" Aang said, "You go pack what you need for a long journey and I will go to the palace to round up a few lose ends there." he finished. "Don't you need to pack too?" She asked, already rummaging through a cupboard and pulling out a knapsack and walking to what Aang supposed was her room. "I told you, been ready for two days. I will be back before sunset. Since it's so uncomfortably warm right now we can travel a lot more comfortably during the night." He said.
"Alright. See you at sunset!" She yelled from down the hallway. Aang smiled and walked outside, opening his glider. He looked over his shoulder one last time before taking off towards the royal palace.
"Are you sure? I think they won't like it when you leave them behind with zero explanation." Zuko said. "Don't worry about it, I left a note in each of their rooms." Zuko seemed to mull this over in his head for a few moments.
"Well, I wish you a pleasant journey then." Suddenly Aang remembered something. "Oh, I will be taking someone with me though." Zuko's interest perked up. "Oh really? Do tell me who." He smirked. "Ty Lee insisted on coming with me." Zuko's chin dropped to the ground. He searched for words, almost saying something a few times. "Actually I don't even want to know." He finished. "Just do know that she doesn't like talking about her sisters-"
"Know it." Aang replied. Zuko raised an eyebrow. "Also she has been having loneliness issues-" "Know it." Aang said again. "Since when do you know Ty Lee so well?" He asked. "Oh, I spent the night over at her place." Aang said casually. Zuko's chin dropped to the ground again. "You. With her? At night?" He stuttered. "Not that way." Aang quickly corrected. "I ran into her yesterday and she offered to chi-bend me to sleep."
"You been having nightmares again?" Zuko said. "No, it's not that. It's just that having a banquet in your honor every night can wear you down." Zuko grimaced. "I can imagine." He said. "Although unexpected, this does make for a timely opportunity. Hold on a moment."
Zuko walked over to his desk and grabbed a scroll, a quill and ink. He wrote for a good five minutes, before folding the scroll and sealing it with his seal. He then shouted for one of the servants to come and told him to go fetch something. Zuko walked over to his window, where a message bird sat perched on the window sill. He hesitated for a moment, then reconsidered.
"Take this to Ty Lee for me when you go to her tonight." As if on cue the servant walked in with a bundle wrapped in brown paper. Zuko took it from him. "And give her this too." He said handing it to Aang. Aang knew better then to ask what it was. Chances were he would find out later today. "Safe journeys Aang." Zuko said. "Stay safe Zuko." Aang replied, then left.
She broke the seal, which was proudly displaying the royal symbol of the fire nation. The long scroll unwound in her hands. Carefully Ty Lee read the long flowing lines of Zuko's handwriting.
Ty Lee,
Do not fear what this letter will say, because it
Will only bring good news. Or so I hope. Although I don't
Know you well, you strike me as a trustworthy person, and
If the Avatar trusts you enough to take you with him
On his travels, I will respect his judgment.
I am aware of your situation since this war
Has ended. By doing this I hope that you
Will find attention and company wherever
You go. Although these colours don't stand
For a lot in this new world, you can wear them
With pride and make sure they stand for the values
They once stood for once again.
To help Aang on his Travels and help him solve the mess
our predecessors Created, I am naming you Ambassador
of the FireNation, With all its accompanying rights and duties.
I beg of you to Accept this gift. Aang, though young, is wise.
If you may ever Cross with uncertainty, don't hesitate to go
to him for advice. Safe journeys.
And please, for once in your
life, enjoy yourself a little. You need a vacation.
Fire Lord Zuko.
Ty Lee finished reading the letter in awe, then looked up to Aang. "He named me ambassador to the fire nation and gave me full negotiating powers in his name." Aang held the wrapped bundle out to her. "Then this probably is your uniform." He smiled at her.
She accepted it with shaking hands. "I don't understand though. It is so sudden. Why me? I am only a child by most standards." Slowly she undid the bindings, revealing a red and orange ceremonial gown. "I wouldn't say that. You and I only differ less than a year in age I think."Aang replied. "You are a kid too, Aang! Granted, you fought a war and saved the world, but still!"
Aang was not certain what to reply to this. "Some of the best decisions are made on gut feeling. I was there when Zuko wrote that letter, he made that decision on gut feeling." Aang paused for a moment. "I am sure you will prove to be the best decision he has made so far." Appa groaned and impatiently shuffled left and right.
"Come." Aang said, holding his hand out to her. "It's time to go."
R&R people! See you next chapter