I think this is the longest chapter I have written...Wow. Or maybe I just think it is... But it is pretty cute. My interpretation of a Poodlemonkey, fyi is like Momo except with poodle ears, poodle taill, and ppodle fur everywhere except its face and tips of its hands and feet. I drew a picture of it, and it is so cute. Maybe I'll show it to you guys sometime..! Oh yes, Flaming Fire Flakes (from 'the deserter') makes an appearence. It even has it's own song. Thank you for all of your support. I couldn't of got this far without my loyal readers. R&R


The morning rays danced on Ty Lee's face as she woke up the next morning. She yawned and began to dress herself. She had to look her best if she was going to pull this off.

She ran off into Kei's room. He was sound asleep.

"Kei! Kei! Wake up, sleepy-head!" She cried as she jumped on his bed. He awoke with a start, and quickly grabbed his pillow. Ty Lee didn't see the projectile coming. Feathers flew everywhere. But they just laughed.

"Kei, today we have to go to the marketplace so I can get Azula a birthday present." Ty Lee explained.

"Oh, so you want me to ask Father for you?" She nodded. "Okay, let me get ready." He picked up his patch and tied it around his head. Then he threw a tunic on and some leggings. "Come on, we better hurry." He took hold of Ty Lee with one hand and his shoes with the other. They dashed down the halls. Soon they reached the smaller dining hall. Lee and Sakura were eating. The meal was rice cakes with a hint of coconut. Ty Lee and Kei took their seats.

"Hello, children." Lee stated bluntly, "How was your sleep?"

"Good Father!" They chimed at the same time.

"That's good…" Lee continued to eat. The room was silent for a few minutes. Ty Lee struggled to eat. She was so excited to go shopping, that she was jittery. Kei had better ask him soon, or he was dead.

"…So, Father…." Kei started, "Ty Lee is going to Azula's birthday party tomorrow…and she needs a gift suitable for, well one of the royal family. So we were wondering if we could go to the mar-"

"You get two-hundred gold pieces. This is for your gift and lunch. I expect three gold pieces left over for me, to show that you are responsible. If you have more than three gold pieces after you buy the necessities, you can spend it on your choice. One servant will go with you, your pick. I expect you two to be home before dinner." Lee said with no emotion whatsoever. Ty Lee and Kei were speechless.

"..Okay, could Tay go with us..?" Kei managed to get out.

"Yes, I will inform him immeadiatley." Lee called for his personal servant and told him to get Tay. "So, what are you waiting for, get ready! Tay and your money will be here for you once you are done. Then, it is to the marketplace!"

Ty Lee and Kei walked quickly down the halls.

"The only reason he is letting me go is because it is for someone of the royal family." Ty Lee whispered sadly. Kei ruffled her hair.

"Don't get down, remember?" She smiled. "That's what I want to see."

Ty Lee entered her room and walked to the vanity. She stared in the mirror for a few seconds, and decided to leave it be. She didn't want to attract the wrong attention in a crowd. Kei came into her room and motioned for her to come on.

Tay was obviously pleased to be off his normal duties. The grin on his face almost reached Ba Sing Se.

"Here is the money." Lee said, handing a sack to Kei. "I expect you to be careful and…" Suddenly every muscle in his body seemed to twitch as he formed the words that seemed to be so difficult, "…make…sure your…sister…stays safe." Ty Lee's heart seemed to ache. Why was she different than her brother? Why couldn't her father love her like her loved him?

She felt better once they were a few minutes away from her house. The sun was shining, and she heard the songs of several birds she couldn't name. What could ruin this day?

The marketplace was bustling and buzzing with excitement. Men and women from all corners of the Fire Nation were in one place. Ty Lee was amazed. They walked straight into the middle of the crowd, towards the crafting area. Something caught Ty Lee's eye, and she pointed to it.

"Can we go in there, just to look, please!!?" She asked. It was a pet store. Kei shrugged.

"If you are quick about it." Ty Lee squealed. She just adored animals.

The store seemed bigger from the outside. A Reptile Bird screeched as they entered.

"Hello, welcome to Dami's Pet Shack. We have them all." The store owner announced. He walked from behind the counter and approached Ty Lee, "Why, hello, little girl. What's your favorite animal?"

"A poodlemonkey!" Ty Lee exclaimed with no hesitation.

"Well, what a lucky girl you are! We happen to have one in stock. You want to see him?"

"Yeah! Yeah!" She cried. Dami led her to the back room. Kei and Tay followed them. He took a cage and opened it. Ty Lee gasped. The fur was so fluffy and the face was irresistible. Not at all like the Hogmonkeys. This one was much smaller and its eyes were big. It was almost like a lemur.

Ty Lee reached out and petted it. The poodlemonkey made a soft cooing sound.

"Ah, he likes you." Dami explained.

"Really?"

"Yep, won't do that to too many folks that come around here."

"Wow…I wish we could get him…but my…"

"Yeah, I understand little girl. I can tell you come from a wealthy family. No pets allowed, right?"

"Yeah, exactly…"

"Well, I got something for you." Dami walked back around the counter. He returned with a little figurine shaped like a poodlemonkey. Ty Lee gasped.

"For me?"

"Yeah, it has a clasp on it, so you can put it on a chain and carry it wherever you want to go."

"Thanks, thanks a lot!" Ty Lee grabbed the necklace out from her shirt and clicked the figure on it. Tay looked at Kei and smiled. Kei began to rummage through the sack.

"No, young man. This is for free." Dami said.

"Please, take a gold piece, it won't burden us." Kei explained.

"Yeah, we have one-hundred-ninety-nine more!" Ty Lee said. Kei glared at her.

"Well, if you insist…" Dami snatched the gold piece from Kei's hand. They hurried out of the store so they could get going.

"We should probably go to a gift store, like this one ahead." Tay pointed in front to a larger store. They entered it. Inside were many different things. Ty Lee looked around. Then she saw it.

"Look Kei, look!" She exclaimed. Kei walked over there.

"Yeah, what is it?"

"It's a firebending dragon!"

"…What does it do?"

"It says here 'The Jade Firebending Dragon helps young firebenders learn to use their breath of fire. Simply place mouth on the tail and breathe the fire through it. It appears that the dragon is breathing fire.' That sounds perfect. Azula will be so pleased!" Kei looked at the price.

"…Oh, uh….gosh…a hundred gold pieces? I guess we'll be eating flaming fire flakes for lunch…" Kei mumbled.

"Yeah! Flaming fire flakes!!" Ty Lee cried. Tay and Kei groaned. Kei went to the counter.

"Hello, ma'am. I would like to buy this Jade Firebending Dragon, please." He said to the cashier. She was a little older than Kei, and seemed to be staring at him. "Uh, ma'am?"

"Why do you wear a patch?" She asked.

"I uh…" Kei blushed. "I burnt my eye out." She gasped.

"No way, you're lying to me!" She exclaimed.

"No, I did it when I was born."

"Then show me." She dared. Kei blushed more, and slowly flipped up his patch revealing an empty socket. "Oh my, I am so sorry. I thought…well a lot of pirates have been around here lately and I am supposed to keep my eye out, no pun intended, for them. I wasn't sure…If I made you feel bad, I am terribly sorry."

"Its okay, it happens all the time." Kei placed the patch back on. He still seemed upset though. He bought the dragon and they headed out to get lunch.

"Flaming…flaming…fire flakes!" Ty Lee sang out. She looked back and saw Kei. "Kei, what's the matter?" Kei seemed surprised.

"Nothing, why?"

"It is something, isn't it?"

"Well, it is just hard to be different sometimes, okay?"

"Your boo-boo?"

"Yeah, that."

"Okay then…I guess I'll have to-Hey look! The flaming fire flakes vendor!" Kei laughed. Tay was already ordering their food, and Ty Lee was licking her lips. Tay returned with three bags of flaming fire flakes. Kei threw a handful in the air, and set them on fire with his firebending.

"Ah, burnt. Just the way I like them." He commented. Ty lee scooped up a few and thrust them in her mouth.

"I love the way they make my mouth tingle!" She said. Tay handed Kei the sack. They stopped at a fountain and sat down to rest. Kei opened the sack and started counting. At '1' Ty Lee pulled at Kei's sleeve.

"Kei, can I throw a piece in the fountain?"

"Yeah, sure…" He handed her one.

'I wish I could go back to the swamp.' She wished. Then she closed her eyes, turned around and threw it behind her head.

"So, what did you wish for?" Tay asked.

"Not telling, it will ruin it." Ty Lee explained. Kei continued to count. '1…2……2…2…' Kei suddenly jolted up. He dove into the fountain and tried to pull out the piece.

"No! Stop it Kei! You will ruin my wish!" Ty Lee cried. Kei came up sopping wet.

"Since when did the cost of flaming fire flakes go up?" Kei asked. Tay shrugged. "Man, we need one more piece, or Father will kill us…"

"I've got an idea!" Ty Lee said. She walked over to the other side of the fountain and yelled, "Everyone! Come and see the amazing girl do unthinkable tricks! Tips are welcomed!" Kei gasped and began to run over but it was too late. A crowd had already formed around his sister.

Ty Lee started with a triple flip, causing several cheers. Then she did a bridge which then helped her start to stand on her fingers. Ever so carefully, she lifted up each finger until only her pointer and middle remained. Then she flipped backwards. Ty Lee lifted her right leg and began to stretch it up to her head. Then she sat down and stretched both legs all the way out on either side of her body. Gasps erupted in the crowd, and she jumped up, higher than all the people. She landed in a bow, and the crowd applauded. She waited a few seconds and looked up again. Everyone was gone. She looked down and saw a single gold piece. 'Guess I didn't dazzle them enough…'

"Ty Lee, that was phenomenal!" Tay said. She turned around and saw Kei, who was holding the now filled sack.

"You got us way more than one gold piece." Kei smiled.

"I guess fancy flips are worth something now." Ty Lee said.

"Oh, more than Father could ever know." And they both laughed as they started their way home.


Okay, I know you want to read about the b-day party, but, I am making you wait a whole nother chapter! Sorry, I don't mean to disapoint you, but I have to add this part before the party. It should be short though...I hope you like my interpretation of a Fire Nation marketplace, even though I didn't really describe it at all...lol.