I sat across from Iroh again, finding comfort in talking to him.
"We're going to Ember Island... I think I'm going to leave after that..." I said.
"You're leaving from the island?"
"I mean, it gets me farther away from the Palace." I explained. Iroh nodded.
"Well, try to have fun in the meantime." Iroh said. I smiled sadly.
"I'll miss you Iroh." I said. I held a hand through the bars and Iroh took my hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze.
"I'll miss you as well. Now go, you leave very soon." Iroh said. I nodded and gave his hand one last squeeze before standing and leaving.
"I'm so excited to spend the weekend on Ember Island. It's going to be great to hang out on the beach and do nothing." Ty Lee said. She placed her hands behind her head, imitating a relaxed position.
"Doing nothing is a waste of time. We're being sent away on a forced vacation." Zuko said angrily. He rose from his seat next to Mai and walked away, gripping the railing of the boat. "I feel like a child."
"Lighten up. So Dad wants to meet with his advisers alone, without anyone else around. Don't take it personally." Azula said.
"Doesn't your family have a house on Ember Island?" Ty Lee asked.
"We used to come every summer when we were kids." Azula said.
"That must have been fun!" Ty Lee said.
"That was a long time ago." Azula said distantly.
"Welcome to Ember Island, kids." two woman said. I tried figuring out who they were. They seemed familiar... They led us into their home and entered the living room of sorts, followed by Azula, then Mai and Zuko, then me, then Ty Lee. Zuko whispered something to Mai and she rolled her eyes before whispering back. Ty Lee inspected a painting of two young women in bikinis posing back-to-back. The home owners approached. She raised arm and pointed at it.
"Who are these two beautiful women?" Ty Lee asked.
"Can't you tell?" One said.
"It's Lo and me." The other said just as the first said, "It's Li and me."
Everyone looked at them, disturbed. Well, everyone but me. I mean, I've seen worse. Zuko covered his mouth with his hand, about to vomit. Ty Lee laid down on a bed.
"Ooh, I love the seashell bedspread." She said, rubbing the pillow admiringly.
"Are you serious? It looks like the beach threw up all over it." Mai said.
"Really?" I asked.
"Yeah. Can't you see it?" Mai said. I frowned.
"No actually, I can't. I'm color blind." I snapped. "Color blind to everything but scent that is."
"Are you saying you see scents?" Azula asked, intrigued.
"Yeah, I see with my sense of smell. I'm part shirshu." I said. Ty Lee sat up and grinned.
"Really?! That's so cool!" She said. I smiled at her.
"Thanks."
"What color am I?" She asked.
"The brightest shade of pink I've ever smelt." I said, sitting on the edge of the bed. She squealed in delight.
"Ooo! Like my arua!" She said.
"You see aruas?" I asked. She nodded excitedly.
"You're a reallypretty bright green." She said. I smiled.
"Aww, thanks." I said. Ty Lee and I joined up with the other's in front of Li and Lo as they spoke.
"The beach has a special way..." Lo began.
"... of smoothing even the most ragged edges." Li finished. They clapped twice.
"Time to hit the beach!" They said in unison. They tore off their robes to reveal that they were wearing loosely-fitting bathing suits. I lifted a hand and covered Zuko's eyes from the sight.
We headed onto the beach. Everyone else was already in their suits but I had mine covered by a large black cover up. Azula was carrying a blanket, Ty Lee, a bag, and Zuko and Mai, an umbrella. A sandcastle being built by two kids was crushed as Azula stepped on it. Azula looked down at the kids intimidatingly. The boys ran away screaming. Azula kicked a bucket out of the way. Ty Lee and I began unpacking when Ty Lee was approached by a boy.
"Hey, you need some help unpacking?" He asked.
"Sure. Thanks." Ty Lee said. She handed him her bag, the sheer weight of which caused him to fall over. I smirked a bit. He 'helped' Ty Lee unpack by throwing out random contents of the bag until he finally found a blanket. I saw Azula watching as the teen began laying it out for Ty Lee. Azula looked away in annoyance and jealousy as Ty Lee sat on the blanket. She squinted from the sun. She gestured with her hand.
"Could you scooch just a little bit more to the-" the guy moved to the side to block the sun and gave her shade. "Perfect." She winked and I rolled my eyes.
"Are you actually going to go in the water?" I asked her.
"Maybe. I like the sun more." She said. She looked to me and cocked her head to the side. "Do you even have a swim suit on under that?"
"Yeah, I do." I said, crossing my arms.
"Then why do you still have this on?" She asked, tugging on the cover up.
"Because I'm shy." I admitted. Ty Lee smiled.
"I'm sure you look great." She said. I sighed and frowned.
"If I take this off, will you go swimming?" I asked. Ty Lee grinned.
"Sure!" She said.
"Can I wait a bit though?" I asked. Ty Lee smiled.
"Okay." She agreed. The first teenager, still standing over Ty Lee, frowned as a second teen quickly moved in front of Ty Lee, offering a shell that I swore Zuko had been offering to Mai a few seconds earlier. She took the shell.
"Wow! Thanks. This is so pretty." Ty Lee said. I smirked, sensing a competition about to start.
"Not as pretty as you are." Said teen #2. #1 moved to the side of the other teen, annoyed.
"That shell's not so great!" #1 said. Ty Lee blocked her eyes.
"Ahem! Shade. Shade!"
I used my arms as a pillow as Ty Lee and I relaxed on her blanket. Ty Lee was being fanned by two teenagers while a third boy held up a blanket to give her shade.
"Ty Lee, get over here, now!" Azula called. "Avery, you too!"
Ty Lee did a handstand and walked on her hands to Azula. I stood and walked after her. Zuko took off his shirt and threw it down as doves flew in the background. A group of girls looked at him dreamily while blushing and giggling. I snarled at them as I passed and they paled. The foursome, meaning Azula, Zuko, Mai, and Ty Lee, entered the frame and got together in a team huddle. Azula looked up at me.
"Are you coming?" Azula said.
"Oh, I shouldn't-"
"Oh come on! Why not!" Ty Lee asked, breaking off to grab my hands.
"I was injured recently."
"That knife wound is from awhile ago." Zuko said. "And you were fully recovered when we left."
"I-"
"Oh come, you did promise to take this off." Ty Lee said, yanking on the sleeves of my cover up. I huffed.
"Fine!" I said. I grabbed the hem of my cover up and tugged it off, throwing it to the side. Zuko stared with wide eyes along with Ty Lee's fan club along with any guy that had seen me. I sighed, regretting the emerald green bikini already. I walked forward and joined the huddle.
"Alright, game plan."
"See that girl with the silly pigtails? When she runs toward the ball, there's just the slightest hesitation of her left foot. I'm willing to bet a childhood injury has weakened her. Keep serving the ball to her left, and we'll destroy her and the rest of her team." We turned to face the other team. "Dismissed."
Azula threw the ball into the air. Azula leapt up and kicked the ball. The ball went flying past the other team. Zuko sprints forward and slid down to kick the ball up. I ran forward and hit the ball away as it fell. A teenage girl attempted to dive for the ball, but missed.
"Ever played before?" Zuko asked as I pulled him to his feet. I grinned.
"Nope. Never even been to a proper beach." I said. His eyebrows rose and he smirked.
"C'mon, we've got a game to play!" I said. The game went pretty swiftly. I served the ball and Ty Lee leapt up and kicked the ball down, then landed on the net. Two boys watched intently. Mai ran forward and she kicked the ball. Azula jumped on Zuko for a boost and kicked the ball. The ball rocketed forward. The ball expanded slightly before the ball explodes, setting the net on fire. My eyes widened in surprise before I smirked.
"Yes! We defeated you for all time! You will never rise from the ashes of your shame and humiliation!" She cackled. She then turned to us Well. That was fun."
I looked up as two guys approached. There scents were red with hints of purple.
"I'm having a party tonight. You should come by." The first said.
"Sure. I love parties." Ty Lee said.
"Your friends can come, too." The second said, eyeing Mai and I. I frowned.
"Uh... What about me and my brother? Aren't you going to invite us? You don't know who we are, do you?" Azula said. I sighed and rubbed my forehead with my hands.
"Don't you know who we are? We're Chan and Ruon-Jian." Chan said.
"Yeah." Roun-Jian added. Zuko started walking toward them aggressively, but I stopped him by grabbing his shoulder.
"But, fine, you're invited. Just so you know, though, some of the most important teenagers in the Fire Nation are gonna be at this party, so try and act normal." Chan said. Azula smiled sincerely.
"We'll do our best."
We sat in silence as we ate with Li and Lo.
"Why didn't you tell those guys who we were?" Zuko asked suddenly.
"I guess I was intrigued. I'm so used to people worshiping us." Azula said.
"They should." Ty Lee said.
"Yes, I know, and I love it. But, for once, I just wanted to see how people would treat us if they didn't know who we were." Azula said.
"Like waves washing away the footprints on the sand, Ember Island gives everyone a clean slate." Li said.
"Ember Island reveals the true you." Lo added.
"Everyone deserves a chance at a new life, even if you only take on the life for awhile." I said. I looked to Zuko and smirked. "You should know, you gave me a chance to be a human girl for the rest of my life."
"What do you mean?" Mai asked. I looked down.
"That's not a story for now." I said. Li and Lo stood up, clapped, and snapped their fingers twice each, then they pointed upward.
"To the party!"
"You're wearing that?" Ty Lee asked. I turned and quirked an eyebrow.
"Uh, yeah."
"Oh come on! We're going to a party, not a funeral!" Ty Lee said. She dug through her bag and threw clothes at me. "Put those on."
"Ty Lee, you don't have to-"
"Of course I do! We're friends, aren't we?" She said. I nodded. "It's what friends do."
"Thank you, Ty Lee. For everything." I said. She grinned and squished me in a hug.
"You're welcome!" She said. She then let me go. "I'll be waiting outside."
"So..." I said, walking out into the living room. I looked to Ty Lee. "What do you think?"
"You look great." She said, grinning. "I knew you'd look good in red."
"Thanks." I said. She had given me a sleeveless red top that covered my chest and then became see through, seemingly ripped and ending at my hips. The black, skin tight shorts had the same ripped effect. The flats were red. I tied my bangs back and smiled. "C'mon, we have a party to go to."
We arrived at a beach house. Azula used the door knocker. The door opened to reveal Chan.
"Um... You're a little early. No one's here yet." Chan said.
"I heard you telling someone you'd be partying from dusk 'till dawn. It's dusk, so we're here." Azula said.
"But that's just an expression." Chan said.
"We are the perfect party guests. We arrive right on time, because we are very punctual." Azula said. Chan shrugged and then gestured us to follow as he turned away. Azula, Ty Lee and I entered inside to a wide room.
"All right, listen. My dad's an admiral. He has no idea I'm having this party," He turned to Azula. "so don't mess anything up."
"That's a sharp outfit, Chan. Careful. You could puncture the hull of an empire-class Fire Nation battleship, leaving thousands to drown at sea," She pointed at Chan's outfit. "because it's so sharp"
"Uh... thanks." Chan said awkwardly. He walked away. Azula smiled but then looked disappointed. I placed a hand on her shoulder and shrugged.
"Ever wonder why guys suck at pick up line? Because they don't realize a good pick up line when they hear one." I said. She smiled a bit.
"Thanks Avery..." She said.
I stood chatting with Ty Lee. The party had officially started and I noticed boy #1, #2, and #3 heading over towards us.
"Uh, Ty Lee... I don't want to alarm you, but I think we may be in trouble..." I said, jerking my head towards the approaching guys.
"So how do you know Ty Lee?" #2 said to #3.
"I met her at the beach today. She was pretty impressed by a sand pagoda that I made for her." #3 boasted to #1 and #2.
"Well, I met her first." #1 said. More teens appeared at the sides to form a circle.
" Look, i-it doesn't matter who I met first, 'cause I like you all." Ty Lee said.
"But which one of us do you like?" #2 asked.
"Yeah." #3 agreed.
"Tell us." #2 said. I frowned and then wrapped an arm around Ty Lee's waist.
"Me." I said. Ty Lee looked to me in surprise before catching on.
"Yeah, her. I like her." Ty Lee said.
"But... she's... and your... how..." #1 stuttered in confusion. I grinned.
"Listen, hun. The world doesn't always work how you want it." I said. "Now if you'll excuse us."
"But which of us does she like?" #1 asked. I facepalmed and ducked as Ty Lee snapped.
"I don't know! I don't know!" She said. She punched and kicked and the guys fell over, chi blocked. I stood again and huffed.
"Y'know, I'm surprised that didn't work. It always does at the bars." I said, nudging #2 with my foot. We cartwheeled over the guys and headed for Azula.
"Oh, I'm glad you two are here. Those boys won't leave me alone. I guess they all just like me too much." Ty Lee said, mostly to Azula.
"Come on, Ty Lee. You can't be this ignorant." Azula said.
"What are you talking about?" Ty Lee asked.
"Those boys only like you because you make it so easy for them. You're not a challenge. You're a tease. It's not like they actually care who you are." Ty Lee started sobbing. Azula changed to a softer and gentler tone. "Okay, okay, calm down. I didn't mean what I said. Look, maybe I just said it because I was a little..." her voice dropped to a whisper. "jealous."
"What? You're jealous of me? But you're the most beautiful, smartest, perfect girl in the world." Ty Lee said.
"Well, you're right about all those things... But, for some reason, when I meet boys, they act as if I'm going to do something horrible to them." Azula said. I placed a hand on her shoulder. Ty Lee giggled.
"But you probably would do something horrible to them. I'm sure they're just intimidated by you. Okay, look, if you want a boy to like you, just look at him and smile a lot and laugh at everything he says even if it's not funny." Ty Lee said. I shrugged.
"That's actually about it. And carry yourself confidently. Guys find confidence hot. Just, not too much, because they also want dominance." I added.
"Well, that sounds really shallow and stupid... Let's try it." Azula said.
"I'll do it." I said. I lowered my voice to be deeper. "Do you have a BandAid? I just scraped my knee falling for you."
Azula laughed very loudly. The entire party stopped to stare at her.
"Uh..." Ty Lee and I exchanged glances before shrugging in unison. "Alright, good enough."
"Zuko, what is wrong with you?" I heard Mai hiss at Zuko. I stood by a clump of people to listen in.
"What's wrong with me?"
"Your tempers is out of control. You blow up over every little thing. You're so impatient and hotheaded and angry!" Mai scolded.
"Well, at least I feel something, as opposed to you. You have no passion for anything! You're just a big blah!" Zuko snapped.
" It's over, Zuko. We're done." Mai said, turning her back.
"Who broke my nana's vase?" Chan asked loudly. Ruon-Jian pointed at Zuko. Chan ran up to him. "That's it! You're out of here!"
"I was just leaving." Zuko said.
"Have fun by yourself, loser boy." Roun-Jian sneered.
"Nice." Chan laughed. I frowned and headed over.
"What just happened?" I asked.
"Zuko was being overprotective and clingy." Mai said. I facepalmed, shaking my head.
"I'm going after him." I said. I ran out and sniffed the air, picking up the amber scent instantly. I hurried after Zuko but paused outside the large home. I peered inside to see Zuko moving forward and reaching out for something. He held a stone imprinted with his own baby hand print. He lifted it up and placed his hand on it. I walked forward hesitantly.
"Zuko?" I said softly. He turned slightly.
"Avery..." He said. I smiled slightly.
"I heard the fight. Are you alright?" I asked. He nodded.
"Yeah, I'm just frustrated." He said.
"Lemme guess. It keeps blowing up in your face, 'like everything always does'." I said, leaning against the door frame. He looked to me in surprise. "I listened in on your lesson."
"How?"
"Hei-Bai taught me a trick. Here," I walked over to a vase full of water and shot a small amount of energy into it. The water rippled. "show me... my parents and Hei-Bai."
"Ah, Avery!" Lin called through the vase. "You finally called!"
"Hi mom." I said. I looked to Zuko. "Come say hi."
"Err... Hello?" Zuko said, peering into the vase.
"Ooo, that's Zuko? Damn, Avery. You got yourself a hot taco right there!" Lin said. I sputtered in surprise before glaring through the vase.
"Mom! Really? And what the hell is a taco?"
"It's a really yummy food here in the Spirit World." Chi explained.
"Alright then. Zuko, you've met my dad. The woman is my mom. And... where's Hei-Bai?" I asked. The panda grunted.
"I'm right here." He said.
"What's he saying?" Zuko whispered.
"Huh? You mean, you can't understand him? Weird, must be a spirit thing." I said.
"Regretfully." Hei-Bai said. "Tell him I say hi."
"Hei-Bai says hi." I said.
"Avery, sorry, but we have spirity business to attend. Ta ta!" Lin said before closing the image. I huffed.
"Well, that's my family for you." I said. Zuko nodded. I walked away and to the door. "I'll leave you to remember."
"Wait, Avery..." Zuko sighed. "Remember what you said after unparalyzing me?"
"The thing about your dad?"
"No, the whole company thing..." He trailed off. I smiled.
"Of course." I said. I sat on the steps and Zuko sat next to me. "Just wondering, what's your history with Mai?"
"What do you mean?"
"You seem to know each other quite well." I said.
"We were friends when we were little." Zuko said. I nodded.
"So... she knows a lot about your past?" I asked. Zuko paused, unsure of how to answer.
"I-I... no?" Zuko said. He huffed. "Why does it matter?"
"Sorry, just curious. I was thinking of why she blew up at you instead of talking it out." I said. "I mean, even I know not to fight fire with fire."
"Why do you even care?" Zuko said. I gave him a deadpan look.
"You seriously forgot already?" I said. Zuko gave me an innocent confused look. I held my face in my hands and stood. I was about to snap at him when Azula appeared.
"I thought I'd find you here."
"Those summers we spent here seem so long ago. So much has changed." Zuko said.
"Come down to the beach with me. Come on. This place is depressing." Azula said. "Glad you found him."
"It wasn't too hard. I know his scent." I said, looking away. Right now, his scent was making my nose itch, and not in the good way. I had made up my mind.
Azula, Zuko and I approached Mai and Ty Lee. Zuko walked past Mai and glanced at her.
"H-Hey." Mai said. Zuko turned to Mai.
"Where's your new boyfriend?" Mai turned away. Zuko sat down next to her.
"It's bitter." I said, raising my head to sniff the air.
"Are you cold?" Zuko asked Mai. She slapped his hand when he tried to place it on her shoulder.
"I'm freezing." Ty Lee said. I sat next to her and she leaned against me. "You're really warm!"
"I'm part shirshu, I'm always warm." I said. I shifted my arm to wrap it around her shoulder to warm her up.
"I'll make a fire." Zuko looked up to the vacation house. "There's plenty of stuff to burn in there."
"What are you doing?" Ty Lee asked.
"What does it look like I'm doing?"
"But, it's a painting of your family."
"You think I care?" Zuko snapped angrily.
"I think you do." Ty Lee said.
"You don't know me, so why don't you just mind your own business?" Zuko walked away. I sighed, sensing an argument. Ty Lee scoffed.
"I know you."
"No, you don't. You're stuck in your little 'Ty Lee world' where everything's great all the time!" Zuko said. I frowned.
"Zuko, leave her alone." Mai and I said in almost perfect unison.
"'I'm so pretty. Look at me. I can walk on my hands. Whoo!'" Zuko did a handstand. Ty Lee looked upset. "Circus freak."
Azula giggled. Ty Lee began crying.
"Yes, I'm a circus freak. Go ahead and laugh all you want. You want to know why I joined the circus?" Ty Lee said.
"Here we go." Azula muttered. I shushed her with a dark look.
"Do you have any idea what my home life was like? Growing up with six sisters who look exactly like me?" She stood. "It was like I didn't even have my own name." She kneeled down, crying. "I joined the circus because I was scared of spending the rest of my life as part of a matched set. At least I'm different now." She lifted her head angrily. "'Circus freak' is a compliment."
"Guess that explains why you need ten boyfriends, too." Mai sneered. I looked at her in disgust.
"I'm sorry, what?" Ty Lee snapped.
"Attention issues. You couldn't get enough attention when you were a kid, so you're trying to make up for it now." Mai said.
"Well, what's your excuse, Mai? You were an only child for fifteen years, but even with all that attention, your aura is this dingy, pasty, gray,-"
"I don't believe in auras." Mai said sharply, cutting Ty Lee off. Zuko got up again.
"Yeah, you do not believe in anything." He said.
"Oh, well, I'm sorry I can't be as high-strung and crazy as the rest of you." Mai said sarcastically. Zuko walked up to the campfire.
"I'm sorry, too. I wish you would be high-strung and crazy for once instead of keeping all your feeling bottled up inside. She just called your aura dingy. Are you gonna take that?" Zuko said. Mai leaned back on her hands.
"What do you want from me? You want a teary confession about how hard my childhood was? Well, it wasn't. I was a rich only child who got anything I wanted... as long as I behaved and sat still, and didn't speak unless spoken to. My mother said I had to keep out of trouble. We had my dad's political career to think about." Mai said.
"Well, that's it, then. You have a controlling mother who had certain expectations, and if you strayed from them, you were shut down. That's why you're afraid to care about anything, and why you can't express yourself." Azula said.
"You want me to express myself?" She stood up and yelled. "Leave me alone!"
"I like it when you express yourself." Zuko approached, attempting to put a hand on her shoulder.
"Don't touch me! I'm still mad at you." She sat.
"My life hasn't been that easy either, Mai." Zuko said.
"Whatever. That doesn't excuse the way you've been acting." Mai said.
"Calm down, you guys. This much negative energy is bad for your skin. You'll totally break out." Ty Lee said.
"Bad skin? Normal teenagers worry about bad skin. I don't have that luxury." He leaned forward. My father decided to teach me a permanent lesson on my face!" He said, pointing to his scar.
"Sorry, Zuko, I..."
"For so long I thought that if my dad accepted me, I'd be happy. I'm back home now, my dad talks to me. Ha! He even thinks I'm a hero. Everything should be perfect, right? I should be happy now, but I'm not. I'm angrier than ever and I don't know why!" He said, standing in front of the fire, facing us.
"There's a simple question you need to answer, then. Who are you angry at?" Azula asked.
"No one. I'm just angry." Zuko said.
"Yeah, who are you angry at, Zuko?" Mai prompted.
"Everyone. I don't know." Zuko said, becoming frustrated.
"Is it Dad?" Azula asked.
"No, no."
"Your uncle?" Ty Lee asked.
"Me?" Azula said.
"No, no, n-no, no!"
"Then who? Who are you angry at?" Mai asked.
"Answer the question Zuko." Azula said.
"Talk to us." Ty Lee said.
"Come on, answer the question."
"Come on, answer it." Azula said. Zuko lost it.
"I'm angry at myself!" Zuko yelled furiously. Slamming down with his clenched fists, he caused the campfire to turn into a pillar of fire. The other girls recoiled from the flames, but I stayed still. The flame died down and Zuko turned away.
"Why?"
"Because I'm confused. Because I'm not sure I know the difference between right and wrong anymore." Zuko said.
"You're pathetic." Azula scoffed.
"I know one thing I care about." Mai said, walking up to Zuko. "I care about you." They kissed.
"Well, those were wonderful performances, everyone." Azula said.
"I guess you wouldn't understand, would you, Azula?" Zuko said. He put an arm around Mai. "Because you're just so perfect."
"Well, yes, I guess you're right. I don't have sob stories like all of you. I could sit here and complain how our mom liked Zuko more than me, but I don't really care." She gazed into the fire. "My own mother thought I was a monster... She was right, of course, but it still hurt."
"What Lo and Li said came true. The beach did help us learn about ourselves." She picked up a rock and rubbed it, smiling. "I feel all smoothed. I'll always remember this."
"Yeah, we did learn... except for Avery." Azula said, causing everyone to look to me. I quirked an eyebrow.
"Oh no, dogo on." I said. "I'd hate to interrupt."
"Oh?" Mai prompted.
"Well, I'm just the loyal lapdog, so my opinion doesn't really matter, does it?" I asked rhetorically, standing in anger.
"Avery, what are you talking about?" Zuko asked. I huffed.
"Well, I thought I was actually getting past your barriers to become your friend, and now that you're crowned prince again, you're barely talking to me. Besides, I don't have any family issues to confess."
"Really?" Ty Lee said, ignoring Zuko's guilty look.
"Can't have family issues without a family. They're all dead or never were living." I said.
"So then what's your story?" Azula said. "Why are you so high and mighty?"
"'high and mighty'?" I said. "You're kidding right?"
"What's your story?" Ty Lee said. I huffed.
"Fine. Well, my mom died when I was really little and my dad had to return to the Spirit World, leaving behind his almost fully blind toddler. I was kidnapped into a orphanage and ran away about two years later to get away from abuse, because they tried taming a wild shirshu pup. They didn't want me running around harming the others, even though I wouldn't even try. I was fucking blind! Anyways, I then spent a month with a shirshu family, before a bounty hunter named June found me. She made me her weapon, a prop, a toy to track down runaways to get money. I was abused. I spent almost my whole life as a shirshu. I'm a teenaged girl, and I should be living that way. But even now, I'm just a lapdog." I said. I turned and walked away, leaving the foursome stunned, Ty Lee in almost tears.
"Avery, come back!" Ty Lee called. I whipped around and clenched my fists.
"What, so you can comment on my past? I don't care what you think of me! I'm a savage, a lapdog, a lovesick pest, a peasant. A total moron. I. don't. care." I said. "I'm so sick of all your opinions, and fights, and drama! Just leave me alone!"
"Avery, wait!"
"Fuck off Zuko! Oh, sorry your highness." I said, seeing his shocked face. "Sorry I don't bow down and kiss your feet like all of the other mindless 'peasants' you monarchs manipulate. I'm done. I'm leaving."
"Where are you going to go, huh? Back to June?!" Zuko said, gesturing wildly.
"It's better than being with you douche bags!" I said, gesturing back. I turned and bent an arch of sand and rock.
"Avery, what are you doing?" Zuko asked. I sighed, bowing my head. I turned back as I raised a hand, shooting a beam of green light at the arch. The light spread between the pillars and began glowing even brighter. "I'm breaking a promise."
"No!" Zuko yelled as I stepped into the light.
"Avery... welcome home."
Bwahaha I'm evil!
Damn, this chapter has 5000+ words. I'm so proud of myself, yay!
Disclaimer...
So, where do you think Avery's going after her detour to the Spirit World.