Ty Lee insisted that we go to Ember Island for, what she called, 'a break to clear our heads'. Ty Lee and Azula are standing by the edge of the boat while Mai and I are sitting. Why would you stand if you can sit?
I glance at Mai, who is sitting on a bench nearby, crossing her arms. "Doing nothing is a waste of time." I stand to sit next to her. "We are going on a forced vacation."
"That Ty Lee made us go on," Mai said.
"I feel like a child." Azula turned around. "Oh lighten up, you two. So dad wants to meet with his advisors alone. Don't need to be mad about it."
"Yes, but why did it have to be here?" I asked. Ty Lee smiled. "Doesn't your family have a house on Ember Island?" She ignored my question. When Father told us to leave, Ty Lee suggested that we go here. However, no one said anything about it so she took us.
"Yes," Azula replied, looking at the sea again. "We used to come all the time when we were kids."
"That must have been lots of fun! Going to an island and getting to see the sea!"
"That was a long time ago," I said. Ty Lee is way too optimistic.
"Aw, come on! Don't be so harsh!"
Everyone was quiet as the boat pulled up to the dock. "Welcome to Ember Island, kids!" Two creepy ladies greeted us as we walked in. They both look exactly the same. "It smells like old lady in here," I whispered.
"Gee, I wonder why," Mai rolled her eyes. "Who are these two lovely ladies?" Ty Lee asked, pointing at a picture on the wall. The two ladies in the picture look exactly the same. Wait-
"Can't you tell?" the lady to the right asked.
"It's Lo and me!" the other said. The ladies pose as the same way as the women in the picture. I cover my mouth to keep myself from gagging. Then I look away. It's too disturbing.
Ty Lee ignored the women and ran over to a bed. She rubbed the blanket. "Ooh! I love the sea shells!" Mai walked over. "It looks like the beach barfed on it."
"We know you are upset to be forced to come here," one lady said.
"But Ember Island is a magical place," the other said, finishing her sentence.
"Ember Island can help you understand more about each other, and yourselves," they said, talking in unison. That just makes it creepier. Lo grabs a rock from off a nearby table. "It has a special way..." Li grabbed the rock from her sister. "...of smoothing out edges." She looks at me, specifically me. "Even the roughest of edges."
Azula yawns as she puts the rock back on the table. Why did she look at me? Does she know? Does she know that something is bothering me? Once again, they spoke in unison, breaking my thoughts. "Time to hit the beach!" The tore off their robes, revealing swimsuits. Swuimsuits that look the same as the ones in the picture. Mai raises her hand to cover my eyes but I was already trying not to gag again.
Lo and Li run out, with Ty Lee following. Mai left too but she didn't run. "I'm not here because I want to be," Azula said, walking past me. She stopped next to my ear. "I'm here because Father sent us away. He wanted to have his meeting." She paused. "While we're here, Zuzu, let's try to have some fun. Its the least we can do until we get off of this wretched island." She walked out the door. I followed. Sure, Father wanted us away, but I can't stop thinking about our time here, on Ember Island. Mother, Father, Azula and I used to hang around on these beaches all the time. Then it eventually became just me and Mother.
"Here it is! The beach supplies!" Lo said, as she skid to a stop in front of a large building.
"Grab what you need!" Li said, opening the door to a fancy supply shed. Ty Lee was the first to enter. "Ooh! This is a nice shed!"
"Whatever," Azula said, walking in after her. "Just get what you need." Ty Lee came out with a bag. Azula came out with a blanket. I went in after. I scanned the shelves for anything useful. Then an umbrella caught my eye. I pulled it out and when mai saw it, she gave a hint of a smile. "Great, let's go," she said. Ty Lee led the way, skipping on the beach. Mai follows under my umbrella. I knew she would enjoy being out of the sun. Even if she doesn't like to addmit to it.
I watch as Azula stomps on a nearby sandcastle. It reminds me of when she stepped on mine. She ran to Father and told him that I stepped on hers. Only Mother would believe me. The two boys run from Azula, screaming. Then she kicks their bucket. Ty Lee stops. "Here! This is a nice spot!"
Azula unrolls her blanket and sits on it. "Do yo need some help unpacking?" a guy asks as he approaches Ty Lee. She smiled. "Sure!" Thankfully, Mai brought a blanket. She placed it on the sand. I stab the umbrella's stick into the sand and we sit on the blanket, under the umbrella.
Ember Island is just as I remembered. Except, its a little busier. That's fine. The ocean glimmering under the sun, the sand as hot as ever-
I picked up a shell. Then I look at Mai. "Here," I said, offering it to her. "This is for you." She glances at me. Then at the shell. "Why would I want that?" she asked.
"I saw it and thought it was pretty. Don't girls like pretty stuff?" I asked. Mai raised an eyebrow. "Maybe stupid girls." I look at the shell, then back at Mai. "Fine! Forget it!" I throw the shell in Ty Lee's direction, who has more boys surrounding her. Sheesh. She's a guy magnet.
Mai moved more under the umbrella. She seems hot. I check around for anything to cool her down. Then I see a long line of kids, and a few adults. I stood up. I wonder if there's something over there?
As I get closer to the line, I see a man and a cart. On the cart is a big sign with ice cream on it. That's perfect! Just the thing! I stand in line behind a mother and her kid. I turn my head away from them. More guys run over to Ty Lee. I can't tell what they are saying but two of them are pushing each other.
The line shortened quite fast. When I got up to the guy, he greeted me. "Prince Zuko! Its a pleasure to meet you! What can I do for you?"
"Two ice cream comes please," I said, holding up two fingers. He grabs two cones. "All rightie," he said, reaching a spoon inside the cart. I watched as he filled the cones. "Here you go! Careful, they'll melt fast."
"Yeah," I said. I handed him five silver pieces and accepted the cones. I walked back over to Mai, who hasn't moved since I left. "I thought, since its hot...here," I handed her the cone. She tried to take it but the ice cream fell off and onto her lap. She looked at it. "Thanks, very refreshing."
"Sorry," I apologized, "want me to get that?"
"No, I'll get it," Mai replied, standing. She was gone for so long, my ice cream was gone when she returned. She said nothing as she sat back down. "Hey, beach bums," Azula said, standing. "we're playing next. Ty Lee, get over here!"
Ty Lee walks on her hands, away from the boys, who were fanning her, and to meet with Azula. We watch as they finish their game. "All right, move over!" Azula said to the left side of the field. The group on the left move to join the right while the people originally on the right sit down. Azula calls us in a huddle. "See the girl with the stupid pigtails?" We look and she a girl juggling the ball with her feet.
"Yeah?" Ty Lee said, turning back to Azula.
"She has a small hesitation with her left foot. I'm certain a childhood injury caused it. Keep serving the ball to her left and we'll be able to cut right through her and the rest of her team. Dismissed." Azula broke the huddle and faced the net. "Okay, who's ready to get crushed?" she asked.
The pigtailed girl tossed the ball over the net, to Azula. She served it. She doesn't serve it over the net though. Instead, she jumps and kicks it over the net, to the pigtailed girl's left, just like she said. Someone from the other side passes the ball over the net. Now its my turn.
I slide down and kick the ball into the air. Azula jumps over and whacks the ball over the net, getting a close save. The ball bounced off of a guy's head. That started another game. Once again, Azula served and kicked the ball over the net. Mai kicks the ball that time as it was passed over. When it was passed over again, Azula jumped on me and kicked the ball. We all watched as the ball caught on fire. Then, before it hit the ball exploded.
I knew Azula was rough but not that rough. The other team stood in horror as Azula approached the burning net. "We defeated you! You will never rise from the defeat and humiliation!" Then she turned to us. "That was fun." Her attitude completely changed.