Hey y'all! Sorry this took so long (isn't this how I always start it out XD?) but I have a very strenuous (I think I spelled that wrong...) homework schedule, so this kept getting laid back. Then my beta got grounded...(So I kind of slacked off because of that XD) but she is good now and actually did a very speedy job in beta-ing. So now, I blame myself. Go on, create an angry mob. I've decided to pitch the whole 'write in my journal then type it up' idea unless I am computerless, because it just takes too much time...so HOPEFULLY the next chap will be up quicker, though I will warn you in advance I am taking a quick break so I can catch up on Many Phases. Hope you had a good halloween. I cosplayed as Tsukasa from Lucky Star, my first time cosplaying. Well...R&R I guess XD


"Aww!" Ty Lee cooed, "They are so adorable!"

"Yeah…if you don't let them get too close…" Nikumu muttered. Ty Lee made a face, and then directed her attention back to the group of young girls in front of her. They were all wearing the cutest matching blue outfits. Now that she thought about it, everyone she had seen so far on Kyoshi Island was wearing blue. A bit odd for an Earth Kingdom city.

Kyoshi Island was so beautiful. She could tell when they landed in the bay. The forests teemed over the vast mountains in the background. Oh, did Ty Lee love forests. The water was clear and the sand on the bay was pure white. Everything seemed so perfect. The island didn't seem to have a large population. There was a small town on the docks, and a larger one that was real close by. But even then there were only a few houses.

Ty Lee was now standing in front of this statue in the town square. It was of Avatar Kyoshi, who happened to be gorgeous. Her hair fell in perfect place and her eyes were very noticeable. Of course, Ty Lee had no idea if this was exactly what she had looked like, but the artist couldn't have been that off. She also bared a striking resemblance to Suki, outfit and everything. Now that was weird…

The girls had been watching from afar when Ty Lee had stepped off of the boat, like everyone else on the island. But now they had ventured closer, genuinely curious at this new warrior. Probably because they were a bit naïve and didn't have as much fear of strangers as their older counterparts did. Their little faces were so round and cute that Ty Lee wanted to hug them all.

One of the girls had reddish hair and immediately stepped forward to talk. Ty Lee deduced that she was their 'leader'.

"So, what's your name?" She asked.

"Ty Lee. And yours?"

"Koko." She replied, "Where are you from, Ty Lee?"

The question caught her by surprise, and she didn't know what to say. She turned her head to ask Hasoka, only to be reminded that Hasoka had gone on ahead with Suki, Takumi, and the twins to clean out the dojo. Nikumu was the only one standing there, and she just smirked in pleasure.

"Well…I'm from…" She tried hard not to stumble over words so she wouldn't embarrass herself before Nikumu. Fortunately, Koko didn't seem interested in what she was going to say and changed the subject.

"Have you ever met the Avatar?" She asked, eyes glistening. As soon as the 'a' word came out of Koko's mouth, all of the people who had been previously avoiding Ty Lee gathered around her. They looked excited and almost restless. Nikumu sighed as if this wasn't something unusual.

"The Avatar?" Ty Lee grinned, "Well, I guess you could say so. We met up a few times during the war." It wasn't a complete lie, but it wasn't the complete truth either. Nikumu rolled her eyes. A murmur of 'oohs' and 'ahs' rippled though the crowd. One man even foamed at the mouth and fainted.

"I've met the Avatar too." She then added under her breath, "Which is better than some people around here…"

"You don't have to rub it in!" A voice cried out. Ty Lee turned and saw a young boy appear from the crowd. He marched right over to Koko and gave her a face. "And besides, meeting the Avatar is nothing big…" Ty Lee looked at him intently, not quite sure what to make of him.

"That's just Ototo." Koko informed, obviously not fazed by the boy's presence, "And he's ticked because he was away visiting family when Aangy was here." She grinned with satisfaction towards the other girls, who all giggled.

"I am not!" He roared furiously, which only made them laugh more. His cheeks burned red, and he turned to walk away, only to run into Suki and Hasoka. Caught off guard, he stepped back.

"Hey, Ty Lee. Meeting the people, I see." Hasoka smiled as she looked at the large crowd, "Good job." Suki, on the other hand, kept her eye on Ototo, who stared down at the ground.

"Are you okay, Ototo?" She asked, her voice taking a motherly tone.

"Yeah…" He muttered, then his face brightened, "Is Sokka here!?"

"Not this time…" She sighed, "But I wish he was…"

Me too, Ty Lee thought eagerly.

"Aw…darn…" Ototo pouted a bit, "I wanted to show him my new sword fighting technique."

"He said that he would visit once he leg healed up…"

"His leg!? What's wrong with his leg!?" Ototo was shocked, eyes wide, "Did he get hurt in the final battle?"

"Yeah, but it's not much of a wound. He just broke it, and it's almost completely healed by now. He stopped wearing the crutches because it embarrassed him though…" She laughed a bit, "So it will probably take longer to get completely better."

"That sounds like Sokka…" Ototo replied, "You have to tell me all about it!"

"Later, Ototo. First we have to show Ty Lee how things work around here."

"What, that airhead?" He jabbed a thumb towards Ty Lee, who puffed up in anger, "Can't everyone else do that? I mean, you were the only one who was actually involved in the final battle. You're the only one who can tell me!"

"You know, I think Sokka will want to tell you this. He is a better storyteller than me." Suki gave Hasoka a desperate look. She quickly got the message.

"Yeah! Sokka is a really good storyteller!" She insisted with fake enthusiasm, "Suki's is cold turkeychicken compared to his!" Her leader's hand on her shoulder told Hasoka that she had said enough.

"Okay, I guess I can wait until then." Ototo admitted. He slouched over towards Ty Lee and looked her in the eye, "But you're still an airhead." Ty Lee was appalled. Had she even said a word to this boy?

"And what makes you think that?" She asked, trying to contain her rage.

"Well, for starters, you look like a…" He stopped midsentence and appeared to observe her closely, "…like a…Hey, you're not from here are you?" Ty Lee's blood ran cold. Her background had been brought up again. She looked pleadingly at Hasoka and Suki.

"Well, Ototo, Ty Lee is…" Suki began to explain, but the boy interrupted her.

"She's Fire Nation isn't she?" He asked under his breath. There was a long silence. Ty Lee twiddled her fingers through her braid. Hasoka sucked in a deep breath. Nikumu smiled.

"What?" Suki asked hesitantly, "Why do you think…"

"She is!" He raised his voice louder now, so everyone could hear, "She's Fire Nation! I knew it! Something was different about her!" His eyes filled with pride for figuring out this 'big mystery'. The crowd's expression was completely different. Even Koko looked a little hurt. Several people stepped forward with angry faces.

"People! People! Just because she isn't from here doesn't mean…" Suki raised her hands in an attempt to restore the peace. Hasoka tried to do the same, but the crowd had squeezed in so tight that she couldn't move her arms up. They began to protest.

"Why would you put our families in danger!?"

"The Fire Nation tried to burn our island to the ground!"

"You're supposed to be responsible! You protect us!"

Ty Lee felt them grab at her hair and clothes. Someone pushed her, and she fell to her knees. The people who had seemed so warm and kind had suddenly been transformed into a horrid mob. Their reaction seemed a little overdone since they were basing it on her homeland. But she couldn't blame them. Not only had the Fire Nation as a whole hurt them, but she had also. It was partially her fault the Kyoshi Warriors had been locked up. She deserved this, even if they didn't know what they were punishing her for.

A hand grabbed her arm. She turned with tears in her eyes to see Hasoka holding her. She had a look of comfort in her eyes. She had kneeled down so that she was at level with Ty Lee.

"Come on…I promise I won't let go." She smiled, and began to pull her out of the crowd. Ty Lee moved on, trying not to push any of the people as she did. Hasoka, on the other hand, pushed as hard as she could, "Move on! Move on! Nothing to see!"

The crowd slowly dispersed before Hasoka as she stormed through. Her grip on Ty Lee's arm was firm, but not painful. She wanted to make sure they wouldn't get separated. Ty Lee stared at the ground as they passed through the edge of the crowd. She could feel their stares at the back of her neck, making it all prickly. One man spit at her. Ototo stood there with his arms crossed.

"Fire Nation scum…" He muttered in her direction. She winced at his words and hurried along behind Hasoka when another man at the very edge of the crowd stuck out his foot. Ty Lee fell into the dirt, wondering why it was so different from the soldiers she had met after Zuko's coronation. At Ty Lee's small thump on the ground, Suki turned and helped her up gently.

"Come on." The leader whispered soothingly. Ty Lee felt like she might cry.

The small group of girls trudged away, looking back every now and then to see angry faces directed towards them. Ty Lee remained silent, her face ashen.

"I'm so sorry, Ty Lee. I was hoping since the war was over, they would have dropped their previous prejudices." Suki apologized once they were out of earshot from the crowd.

"No, its okay. I deserve some of that, I suppose." She gave a weak smile, "And the Fire Nation has been pretty awful to these people."

"But once they find out you were Azula's right-hand-man, your life here will be a living nightmare." Nikumu sneered. Suki threw a stern look her way, and the smile immediately left her face. Ty Lee sighed. She was so grateful for having Suki to keep that girl in her place.

"Don't listen to her, Ty Lee. Once you prove yourself to be a great warrior and a good member of the community, they will forget all of this." Hasoka said reassuringly.

"Oh, you won't have to worry about that." Ty Lee replied, "I'm definitely gonna prove myself to them so that they will know I am not like that. I'll do so many good deeds that they will consider me a saint!" She clenched her hand in a fist and raised it in the air, a look of determination on her face.

"And I'll help you get every opportunity you get to prove yourself!" Hasoka exclaimed with the same enthusiasm, thrusting her arm so that it crossed over Ty Lee's.

"That's great and all…" Nikumu said sarcastically, "…but why don't we head over to the dojo already? Takumi and the twins are going to be worried."

"You mean Ling Ling is going to be worried." Suki corrected, "You know how anxious she gets."

"Yeah…she is really ditzy sometimes…but it doesn't even compare to these two…" She tried to make a casual motion towards Ty Lee and Hasoka, but they saw it plainly.

"Hey!"

"We are not ditzy!" Hasoka replied with her cheeks sucked in.

"Well you certainly are loud…" Nikumu muttered as she walked past them. Suki shook her head in exasperation and motioned that they should follow. The two girls obeyed reluctantly.

Ty Lee watched her scenery as the moved closer to the dojo. The forest had grown denser the further they got from the town. The road that they had previously been travelling on had disappeared and now they followed a coarsely made path to the top of the hill. At the end of the way was a small hut that Ty Lee instantly recognized as a dojo.

"There it is! There's the dojo!" Hasoka cried out ecstatically. She grabbed hold of Ty Lee's arm and began to drag her towards the building, "C'mon, before Ling Ling dies of worry!" Ty Lee laughed and began to run a little faster. Hasoka raced in and gave a little 'whoop' of excitement.

Ling Ling and Ying Ying turned their heads. They were lying down on two fold up beds that were up against the far wall of the dojo. Ty Lee looked around. It was a pretty basic setup, just like the dojos she had seen in the Fire Nation. But what made it different was the decorative fans that lined the wall. Takumi was setting up another bed on the opposite wall.

"Oh! You made it back. Ling Ling…" Ying Ying started.

"…was scared that you had been eaten up by some horrible monster!" She finished, her eyes wavering in fear.

"That's actually not that far from the truth…" Nikumu huffed as she entered the place. Takumi stretched out on the bed she had just set up.

"What happened?" She asked nonchalantly.

"Oh, the entire village tried to mob us," Nikumu explained, "All because of Miss Fire Nation scum over there."

"Nikumu it wasn't that bad." Suki corrected.

"Doesn't mean it won't get worse…" She muttered. "I see you already started getting ready for bed. A little early huh?"

"Well, since we have no training today…"

"…we might as well get some sleep." Ling Ling giggled. Ty Lee stared at her for a second.

"Wait…sleep…here?" She asked in a stupor. Her spirits suddenly dropped. It wasn't that the dojo wasn't…bad. It was just that she was so used to something a bit…bigger. She wanted to slap herself. She felt so conceited, expecting some luxurious place for her too sleep. But it was too late. She had already said the words.

"Of course, where else?" Hasoka asked with a grin.

"Oh well…I um…" She fumbled trying to explain herself. Nikumu glared at her.

"You're so full of it, you know? Just because you are spoiled and get everything you want at home doesn't mean you get it here." She spat.

"N-No! That wasn't it! It was just…" Ty Lee nervously stuttered, "Hasoka! Hasoka told me that you…you had a dormitory or something!" She gave her a desperate look.

"Yeah! Yeah! I forgot about that! I told her about the old dorms!" She said, catching on.

"And what…forgot to tell her that her friend Prince Loser burned them down when he tried to flatten the rest of the village?" Before Ty Lee could reply Nikumu had strutted over to the stack of beds that was lying in the corner. Ty Lee didn't know how she had missed that before.

"Sorry…" She whispered.

"No, its okay. You were confused." Hasoka said as she went over to grab her own bed. Ty Lee followed in suite. The beds were simply mattresses with slabs of wood that held them up. Simple. Ty Lee hated herself. She still felt like she should be getting more.

Ty Lee set up her bed next to Hasoka and started to lie down. She was quickly stopped by a hand tugging her braid.

"Nuh-uh. Not yet you don't. You have to come and receive an official 'Hasoka Kyoshi tour'!" She insisted.

"Not too long, Hasoka." Suki reminded as the girl began to pull Ty Lee from the bed, "She'll need her sleep so she'll get used to the schedule."

"The schedule?"

"Yeah. Up at sunrise, down at sunset. We don't waste an hour of daylight." Hasoka recited, "Start with jogging, end with stretches. You get used to it."

"I hope so…" Ty Lee gulped.

"You better." Nikumu inserted her opinion, "We might have to cut you if you don't fit all the requirements."

"Oh, c'mon Nikumu. You weren't exactly a morning person yourself." Takumi commented. Instantly deflated, Nikumu retired to her bed in a huff.

"C'mon Ty Lee! Let's go!" Hasoka said, pulling her arm towards the entrance. "I'll only be able to show you a bit today, but the next time we get a day off we'll hit the whole island!"

"Okay! Can't wait!" She ran forward, surprisingly dragging Hasoka. She just laughed and went back to her leading. They quickly passed the village, not wanting to attract any more attention. Ty Lee kept her head down, feeling stares boring into her as they went through. Hasoka held on harder to her hand, reassuring her that she was safe.

When they finally got past the village, Hasoka pointed towards where they were headed. It was the bay where they had sailed in. Ty Lee was a bit confused. Hadn't she already seen this?

"Well, you haven't seen what's inside it!" She replied with a wink. "Now take off your shoes." She complied, and they began to walk down the beach. The water hit their feet and Ty Lee jumped back.

"That's cold!!" She shrieked. A giggle behind her caused her to turn around. "Koko!" She stood there with her hand over her mouth, watching the new Kyoshi Warrior shiver in the chill.

"First time in the bay, huh?" The little girl asked with a spark in her eye. "It's always cold. Even now in the summer. Probably because we are so close to the south pole."

"Wow Koko, you should be a teacher." Hasoka smiled, "I've lived here most my life, and I didn't even consider that."

"Cold? All the time?" Ty Lee scowled, "Oh well. I guess I'll have to get used to that too…"

"So whatcha doing?" Koko asked.

"It's a surprise," Hasoka replied with a finger over her mouth. Koko nodded knowingly and copied the action. This irked Ty Lee. She wanted to know what she was going to see. Then Ty Lee remembered something.

"Koko, aren't you angry at me?" She inquired with a sad face.

"Hm? Why would I be?"

"Well…you know earlier…" She trailed off. It still hurt to think about it.

"I don't think that just because you are Fire Nation it means you are evil." Koko replied with a shrug, "You look too nice for that."

"Thanks Koko…"

"You're welcome. Now hurry, I think Hasoka's surprise is coming!" She pointed towards the sun. Ty Lee looked anxiously. Nothing.

"I don't see…" Splashing caught her attention and turned towards Hasoka. She was wading out farther into bay, a small fish in her hand. She was making a high-pitched chirping noise. Ty Lee watched, fascinated. Then suddenly, Hasoka whirled the fish in her hand and threw it. Ty Lee was amazed at her throw; it went a good distance from where she was.

"Get back! Get back!" She screamed with a smile on her face. Ty Lee instantly flew backwards. Then her mouth opened wide.

Right behind Hasoka was a giant sea monster, erupting out of the water. It had long tendrils coming from its head, and large nostrils. It quickly grabbed the fish in its mouth and jumped back into the water. A large wave shot up and almost engulfed Hasoka.

"What…was…that!?" Ty Lee asked in wonder and fear.

"Just the Unagi." Koko replied nonchalantly. "Hasoka feeds it."

"Really?"

"Yeah, but that was just a snack." Hasoka explained as she ran up to them. She wringed out her hair, which was soaked from the splash the Unagi had made on the way back. Her make-up ran down her face. "You should come when I really feed it. We take about four baskets of fish."

"I'd like to see that." Ty Lee nodded. She spinned around for a moment and then stopped. She pointed at the landscape further inland, "What's that mountain called? I noticed it when we sailed in."

"Oh that?" Hasoka shrugged, "That's Mount Hono'o. It's a dormant volcano. The evil dragon that eats children lives there."

"You're joking, right?" She gave a little face. "There are no dragons anymore, right?"

"Who knows?"

"Koko…she's joking…right?"

"Guess you'd have to go up and see yourself…" Koko replied with grin.

"Answer me…Koko! Hasoka!" The two of them laughed as Ty Lee ran after them, treading through the water to get her answer.


There. The end of this chappy. I got some good Hasoka-Ty Lee bonding (and no, not Yuri or Shojo-ai, just plain good ole friendship for pete's sake!!!) and some humor, and some Nikumu sarcasm XD and villager attacks. Please don't follow example of the Kyoshi village and attack me for not updating XD. Oh, and this is a forewarning. There is a big mystery in this story that hasn't exactly started yet but I want to lay out a few rules for when it does. 1) You may make perdictions, but please, if you really think it is close to the truth, do not simply state your perdiction in your review but say you have an idea and then I will pm you from there. This is because I think this is a really tricky plot, and I don't want every one to figure it out early because someone guessed right on a review and then everyone read it and realized it was logical and then it was no surprise. Not that I think that would happen XD. Well, that was this chappy. I actually thought the end was quite rushed, but my beta assured me otherwise so I will go with this. Hope you enjoyed it!! Oh, I forgot, Ototo is based on my little brother...Ototo! He has a real life crush on Suki, but I am enforcing a new ship...Kokoto! Koko and Ototo sitting in a tree...he's not very happy with me for that. But he wouldn't give me a laffy taffy one day, so I said I would write him into one of my fanfics (which he always BEGS about), so I got a laffy taffy, he gets into the story. He will actually be VERY important later.