AH!!! I'M SOO SORRY!! BLAME MY BETA READER!!! Here's an update, and I'm so sorry, its really short! But The next chapter has alrady been sent to my Beta so she can start working on it soon. Its longer than this one too. Well...not much more to say. Enjoy, and please review! I beg of you!
The sun caressed the earth below as a sweet wind blew through. Joy was filled in every object, love in every action. And Ty Lee was in the midst of it.
She carried the carried the basket of fruit waist-high so it wouldn't strain her arms. It was only an arrangement of papayas and pomegranates, and yet it felt so heavy. It was then that she realized that she needed to grow some muscles in her arms. She was strong enough to pull a few punches and to hold herself up, but most of her power was in her legs and abdomen. Perhaps they would grow during their daily routine.
She had finally memorized her official routine of activities that made up her day. If they could really be called activities. They were all strenuous and sweat-inducing, not at all what Ty Lee called 'fun'.Carting around shipments of various supplies, rebuilding assorted wreckages from the time Zuko had burned half the village down, and doing menial chores for random, rude busy-bodies vacationing on the island were definitely not fun. She did enjoy the stretches at the end, even though Nikumu said that she was a show-off. That irked her. She was not showing off. She was just doing what she did best, contorting.
Now that the routine was over the warriors were doing community service. It felt like the physical work was ongoing, but working for the people had its advantages. Ever since the town meeting three weeks ago instead of dirty looks she received smiles from the villagers. One man even wholeheartedly thanked her for her contribution to the end of the war. It was odd how one revelation could change one's opinion of someone so drastically.
She wasn't sure how to feel. She was glad everyone now knew what she did, and she especially enjoyed their praise. But they didn't realize how much pain she had caused to herself and Azula when she had intervened. She took her friend to the point of no return, to complete insanity. The honor for doing this felt a bit misplaced. Even though it benefited these people, it had hurt others. She may be a hero to them, but she was a villain in her own mind. Did a good person such as they thought she was betray their best friend? For any reason, even to end a war?
She shook her head and sighed. She didn't want to ruin this so-far perfect day by moping and doubting.
She set down the basket on the counter of the merchant's booth and wiped the sweat off her brow. The merchant grabbed one of the papayas and tossed it to her. She caught it, a bit surprised. Her face must have shown it.
"For you." He said.
"Oh, I couldn't…" It wasn't that she was against the idea of eating a papaya; actually, it was one of her favorite fruits. But the fact that she was kind of taking it from the merchant without paying felt a bit against the moral of the Kyoshi Warriors. Not that there was actually a set code concerning them.
"Please, it's the least I can do." He implored her to keep it. Was it against the 'code' to take it if they were urging you too? She took it hesitantly, unused to such generosity.
"Thanks, sir." She said gratefully.
"Anytime, Ty Lee." He waved as she walked off.
She bit into the papaya and let the sweet juice fill her mouth. Another thing that was different about the island; everyone knew her name. She felt bad for not knowing many of villagers' names, but they couldn't expect her to know them all by now. She was still fairly new there. She did know a majority of the shopkeepers and the children, but the sailors and travelling merchants were always coming and going, and she could never quite keep them straight.
There were also several farming families that lived further inland that she had never even met. They were supposed to check on them every month or so. She wondered if they felt neglected. She knew that feeling. But at the same time, she had heard that they preferred to be alone, so it probably didn't bother them. Absently, she wondered what it would be like to farm. The Fire Nation didn't much farm anything, and the few things it did farm were all far away from the palace, in the countryside near the two ends of the crescent the land mass made.
With her free hand she un-looped her braid and let it hang freely. Although it was more convenient put up during her duties, at the moment it felt heavy. And heavy hair really weighs a person down physically and mentally. Besides, it was the style she was used to, no matter how many times she had to wear it the other way.
She was about to take another bite of the papaya when it was quickly snatched out of her hands. She stared bewildered at the empty space where her snack once was.
"Wha…!?" She turned and saw the perpetrator, "Hasoka! What was that for!?" Hasoka flashed a grin as she took a generous bite from the papaya.
"Just hungry." She threw it back and Ty Lee caught it with better coordination than before. "Hm…it's a bit too ripe for my liking. You can have the rest."
"You just don't want me to be angry at you for eating the whole thing." Ty Lee corrected.
"Maybe." Hasoka shrugged, "Anyways, Takumi wanted to see you. Needs you for a job or something." Ty Lee held in a sigh. She had just finished her work for the day. What could Takumi possibly want her for? It wasn't in her position to complain or to judge her work though. She had to obey, even if it meant working for another hour. Besides, she needed the exercise.
"Well, where is she?"
"Oh yeah, that might be important…" She laughed at her own ignorance, "She was over at the dojo when she asked me to find you, so I would assume she is still there."
"Thanks." She began to walk away, then turned back, "See you tonight!"
"You know it!"
Ty Lee started off the short trip to the dojo in quick, long strides. She wanted to get whatever Takumi wanted her to do done as fast as possible. Then she might be able to do something she actually wanted to do.
As she made her way over she finished off her papaya and threw the stem into the nearby woods. She had been afraid that Hasoka's bite would have completely ruined the rest of the fruit, but she found that it tasted completely normal. Odd.
When she came to the path that led to the dojo she found Takumi standing in the middle of it.
"There you are." The older warrior walked past her and motioned for her to follow, "C'mon, we have to go if we are to make it in time."
"Go where?" Ty Lee was confused.
"We have to pick up some…very important cargo at the docks." She smiled mischievously.
"Well, I just got finished moving cargo. Why can't Suki just do it?" Ty Lee wanted to say more but stopped there. She had noticed that her leader didn't do as much work as the others, but it wasn't her place to speak about it.
Takumi shook her head and poked Ty Lee's nose.
"Suki doesn't need to know about this quite yet."
"So…is it a surprise?"
"You could say that." This grabbed Ty Lee's attention. She loved surprises.
"What is it then!?" She asked in excitement. To her reply she only got another poke in the nose. "Guess that means I can't know about it yet either."
"You'll figure it out." Takumi replied, "Now come on, we can't miss the boat."
Ty Lee sighed and followed her second-in-command solemnly. No matter how much she liked surprises, she liked it more when she knew what it was.
They trekked over to the docks, where the boat had not come in yet. Ty Lee felt like giving some smart remark about how they didn't have to hurry, but figured that probably wouldn't end well.
"So…can you tell me now?" She asked, hoping the second time would be the charm. Takumi laughed.
"Be patient. Remember, curiosity killed the Cat Owl."
"…wait…it killed it?"
"It was a figure of speech." Takumi explained. Ty Lee blushed in embarrassment.
Ty Lee stared at the calm sea and saw the boat slowly sailing towards them.
"There's the boat!" She squinted her eyes to look farther, "It's rather big for a cargo ship."
"That's because its not." Ty Lee turned and stared at Takumi. She didn't return the gaze.
"Then…the cargo is…" She thought for a moment, "…a person!?" She felt more confused than ever.
"Bingo." Takumi winked.
As the boat sailed closer, Ty Lee considered who would be on the ship. Maybe it was Aang. Koko would be happy. If it was Aang, then maybe Katara would be with him. Then she wouldn't be so happy. She smiled. They were so cute together, just like Zuko and Mai.
Maybe it was Zuko and Mai. Mai had said she had planned to visit her every once and awhile, but wasn't this a little soon? She had seemed a bit worried about her. But if it was either of these possibilities, would they be coming on common passenger ships? Zuko was the Fire Lord and Aang was the Avatar after all.
Logic began to make her brain hurt, and she decided just to wait until she saw this person. It wouldn't be as fun as guessing, but it would be easier.
But wait. Hadn't Takumi said something that made it obvious who it was? Ty Lee's stomach churned, and she closed her eyes. When she opened them, the boat was close enough to see who was on board. She gulped, realizing she had been right.
"It's Sokka!"
Ah. Sokka has come to town (finally). This will make the story move by much faster. XD I love Ty Lokka, but with Suki and Sokka's infatuation its almost a dead fail ship...oh well. This is fanfiction after all XD
Thanks for reading! Odd...I didn't have a long rant anywhere in the a/n this time...I MUST BE SICK!! XD
