Crossroads of being happy

Chapter1: Haru

Ty-Lee was in the middle of training with the Kyoshi worriers, when Haru walked in. It had been six years since Firelord Ozai had been defeated by Avatar Aang, in that time Zuko and Mai had gotten married, Suki and Sokka had also been married, as did Aang and Katara.

The Duke had married Toph, and most of them sent Ty-Lee letters saying they'd had children. The last she'd heard Katara now had three children, Suki had one child and Zuko and Mai had a little girl.

Ty-Lee and Haru had gone out a few times after Firelord Zuko's wedding, but Ty-Lee was usually busy as a Kyoshi warrior, and Haru was busy at Ba Sing Se. But he still managed to come to Kyoshi one day every week. Ty-Lee always looked forward to that day, she loved spending time with Haru.

He waited as she finished her practicing, she walked over to him a smile lit up her features. "Hi," She said. Haru smiled back at the always perky girl. "Hey," He said. "So, what do you wanna do today?" He asked. Ty-Lee thought a moment. "Anything really, as long as I'm with you." She replied with a large smile. Haru chuckled.

"Ok, how bout, lunch, then a walk along the beach, then.... Then..... " Haru thought hard. "Then, come to your house and play a game of Gi Long?" Gi Long was a famous Earth Kingdom card game the couple liked to play.

Ty-Lee nodded happily. "As long as I can be back here at eight, I have to help Suki train some new Kyoshi warriors." Haru frowned. "You always seem to be doing Kyoshi warrior-girl stuff." He said.

Ty-Lee's smile faded somewhat. "But I'll have the rest of the day with you, and it's only an hour, afterwards I guess we can do something." She said. Haru scoffed. "Yea sleep." He said. Ty-Lee got sadder. She wanted to spend time with Haru, but she already promised to help Suki. Haru's smile returned to his face as he said, "But that's alright, I guess I can't always have you all to myself." He said teasingly. Ty-Lee smiled. "Yea," She muttered.

She quickly changed to her normal clothes and Haru took her out to lunch. They took a walk, and then played Gi Long for about an hour and a half.

Ty-Lee looked out the window to see it was getting dark and she needed to go help Suki. "I gotta go now, you know, to help Suki with the new Kyoshi's." She said. "That's just an excuse, you're upset cuz I'm winning." Haru teased. Ty-Lee crossed her arms. "As if! You haven't beat me yet!" She declared. Haru only laughed. "Well, I can beat you now, one last match." He said, pleadingly. Ty-Lee really wanted to, but she just couldn't right now, she'd promised Suki. "No, I really do have to go," She answered solemnly. Haru frowned. "Don't you ever get a break from those guys?" He asked. Ty-Lee sighed. "Why would I want to? They're like family to me, I love being a Kyoshi warrior," She said cheerily. Haru gave her a half smile that made her blush. "Ok, see you later," He said. She smiled. "Thanks," She stood up reluctantly, and walked out the door.

After she left, Haru put away their Gi Long cards and then went outside. He took a walk around the town, deep in thought. Ty-Lee really seemed to love being a Kyoshi warrior, maybe she even loved it more than him. Haru was in love with Ty-Lee, he didn't want anything to come between them. But, being a Kyoshi warrior was really important to her. Maybe even more important than a relationship. Maybe he wasn't important to her at all, she's just afraid of hurting his feelings or something. Haru tried not to think about it. He didn't think Ty-Lee didn't love him, he decided just to forget the whole thing.

The next day Haru decided to stay awhile before going back to Ba Sing Se. As he waited for his ship to be ready to leave he talked with Ty-Lee.

"So, if you could do anything, anything at all, like open a shop in Ba Sing Se or whatever, what would you do? What's your dream?" Haru asked. "I'd stay a Kyoshi warrior," Ty-Lee answered right away. "Kyoshi is my life, it means everything to me." She said cheerily.

Suddenly Haru didn't want to talk anymore. He seemed nervous and jumpy. "Yea, well, um see ya," He said.

Ty-Lee was confused. He was acting weird. He grabbed his bags and ran to the ship. After awhile the ship took off and Ty-Lee went back to the training shack. "What's up Ty-Lee?" Shakira, one of the Kyoshi warriors, asked. "Oh, what?" Ty-Lee didn't quite hear what she said. "You look, sad." She repeated. Ty-Lee shrugged. "Haru was being weird right before he left, that's all," Ty-Lee said, rather half heartedly and distant. She sounded like she was a bit unsure of herself. Shakira had an attitude quite like Ty-Lee, she was very cheerful and perky all the time.

She would've asked Ty-Lee more, but she had to go to lunch with her boyfriend, Tuscan. Tuscan walked over and put his arms around Shakira's waist. "You ready for lunch?" He asked. Shakira smiled. "I'm talking to Ty-Lee, can you give us a minute?" She asked. "Sure!" Tuscan said. Ty-Lee didn't want to get between them. She didn't want to be a problem, and stop them from having lunch together. So she quickly spoke up. "Oh no, I'm fine, you go have lunch,"

Shakira looked skeptical. "You sure?" She asked. Ty-Lee nodded with a smile. Shakira shrugged. "Ok," She said and walked off with Tuscan.

The next week went by quickly, and pretty soon it was time for Haru to be back. It was the usual day he came to Kyoshi, but this time he didn't come. "Maybe his ship is late, or he is extra busy this week, or, or, I don't know," Ty-Lee said to Suki. Suki chuckled. "Stop worrying, I'm sure there's an explanation for why he's late, and he'll give it to you when he arrives." She reassured her.

Ty-Lee's usual smile came back. "Yea, probably right," She said. "Well, I'm gonna go, do.... Something I guess, see ya later Suki!" She said and skipped out of the kitchen.

But Haru didn't come the next day, or the next, he didn't come at all for the next few weeks. Ty-Lee was really worried so she sent him a letter addressed to his home in Ba Sing Se. There was no reply to her letter. Or the next few letters she sent. She was beginning to think he was ignoring her.

One night, she sat out by the ocean all alone, wishing that Haru was here. She had no idea why he didn't come, he seemed to of disappeared off the face of the earth. A tear slowly rolled off her cheek and landed in the sand at her feet. She wiped at her eyes, she didn't want to cry. Then she heard a voice, a soft voice, it was Shakira. "What're you doing out here this late Ty-Lee?" She asked. Ty-Lee shrugged. "Couldn't sleep." She said choking on her words. Shakira came and sat on the rock next to her. "Oh, thinking about Haru again?" She asked. Ty-Lee nodded. "Cheer up, I'm sure there is a perfectly logical explanation for why he's not here right now," Shakira said cheerily. Ty-Lee sighed and more tears came. "I know everyone thinks of me as the girl who's always cheerful and perky, the girl who is always happy and makes other people happy, but I have feelings," She said with a sob. "I do have problems and I'm not happy all the time, I just try to be happy around others," She began to sob heavily.

Tears streaked her pale face. "I don't know why Haru isn't here, and I don't know why he hasn't answered my letters, I just don't, know!" She screamed in frustration.

Shakira put her arm around her. "Hey, it's gonna be ok," She said reassuringly. Ty-Lee, however, wasn't reassured. She didn't like to feel so, so helpless, she didn't like the fact that Haru was ignoring her. And she refused to believe he'd been kidnapped or something. Haru was a fine earth bender and he could take care of himself. He was fine. Just fine.

"Let's go home and get some sleep," Shakira said softly. Ty-Lee nodded, and Shakira helped her up and took her home. Ty-Lee lived with some of the other Kyoshi warriors in an apartment-like building. Shakira took her to her room and then went to her own that was right next door. All night Shakira could hear Ty-Lee crying, until about two in the morning she finally stopped and fell asleep.

Months passed, Haru still didn't come, Ty-Lee still cried herself to sleep every night. One night Shakira came into her room and asked if she wanted to talk about it. She said no and then the next few nights tried to cry quieter so she wouldn't wake anyone. But Shakira still knew she was crying.

One day Ty-Lee ventured off on her own after warrior practice. She hiked up a large hill overlooking the town. She could see everything. She could see the village and the ocean and- what was that, a boat? It was. A small ship was heading toward the harbor.

Ty-Lee watched as people came from the ship, most were family of people on Kyoshi. Some were strangers. She was too far to see any faces, but she wondered what all these people where doing here. Then she remembered. Today was the annual Kyoshi holiday, it was celebrating when Avatar Kyoshi separated this island from the mainland.

Ty-Lee didn't feel like celebrating though. So she just stayed up here on her little hill and watched as the villagers brought out food and set it on the long table where everyone would sit and eat. She sighed. It was so quiet and peaceful up here. She liked it. She could sit and think without being bothered.

She lay back and watched the pigeon-hawks fly above. She wished she could fly. She closed her eyes and before she knew it she was asleep.

She slept all afternoon without realizing it. She was so tired from staying up late every night.

Then she felt someone tap her shoulder. "Ty-Lee! Wake up! We've been looking all over for you, we were worried," She heard someone whisper. She opened her eyes and Meumi's face came into focus. Meumi was another of the Kyoshi warriors and a good friend of Ty-Lee. She had beautiful black hair that she usually kept in two braids at her sides. "Oh," Ty-Lee sat up and rubbed her eyes. "Did I sleep all afternoon?" She asked realizing it was dark out. Meumi nodded. She giggled. "I guess you were tired huh," She said. Ty-Lee nodded and stood up. "I better get home." She said with a yawn. Meumi walked with her down the hill. "What were you doing up there anyways? Weren't you gonna celebrate Kyoshi day?" Meumi asked. Ty-Lee sighed. "I didn't feel like celebrating." She said casually. Meumi frowned. "You doin all right?" She asked. Ty-Lee smiled at her friend. "Yea, I'm fine," She lied. Meumi nodded and they walked the rest of the way in silence.

The next day Ty-Lee sat by herself at a restaurant. She had just finished eating when a young man came over.

"Excuse me, sorry to bother you miss, but I'm new here and I can't seem to find the hotel, I wonder if you'd know where it is?" He asked rather shyly. Ty-Lee smiled at the man. "Of course!" She said and gave him directions. The stranger then smiled at her. "Thanks, I guess I'll see you around," He said. Ty-Lee nodded. "See you around," She said. The man waved and walked out the door.

Ty-Lee paid her bill and left. She decided to take a walk along the shore line. So she went alone. Nowadays Ty-Lee often did things alone rather than with her friends or, more importantly, with Haru.

As she walked she came across a shell. It was white and pink. It reminded her of when she had come to Ember Island with Zuko, Azula, and Mai, she remembered the party and how much she learned about her friends and how they understood each other better after that. She sighed contentedly. She felt a small child tap her leg, she looked down at the face of an innocent little girl. "Are you gonna keep that miss?" She asked pointing to the shell. "No, I was just looking." Ty-Lee replied.

The little girl smiled. "I have a collection of sea shells at my hotel room, I always collect shells," She said cheerily. Ty-Lee smiled. "That's neat! Do you have fun with that?" She asked. The little girl nodded. "I love collecting beautiful shells, and when they're dirty I clean them and make them sparkly," She said. Ty-Lee immediately liked this girl. She was so cute. "So, you want this one for your collection do you?" She asked handing her the shell. "If you don't want it, but you can keep it I got plenty!" She said. Ty-Lee smiled at how unselfish she was. "No, I don't need it, I don't have shell collections." She handed the little girl the shell and asked, "What's your name?" The girl happily took the shell. "Rayseal," She said. "My mothers name was Seala, and my daddy's name was Raynor, so they put them together and made Rayseal," She said with a smile. "That's cool, you must have great parents!" Ty-Lee said with a laugh. Rayseal's smile faded. "I don't know my parents, they died when I was little so I live with my big brother," She said sadly. A wave of guilt flooded Ty-Lee as they stood there. "I'm sorry, I didn't know-" Rayseal's smile returned. "It's ok, I didn't expect you to," She said. "And what's your name?" She asked. "Ty-Lee," She replied. "Oh, that's such a pretty name!" Rayseal declared.

"You wanna come see my shell collection?!" She suddenly shouted excitedly. "Sure!" Ty-Lee said. Rayseal took her by the arm and led her back to town and to the hotel. She ran inside and Ty-Lee shut the door. Rayseal went directly to the closet and pulled out a box. She set it on a desk and opened it.

"Come look." She said motioning her over. "See," She said. Ty-Lee looked in the box. Inside was a vast collection of gorgeous shells. Some green, some blue, pink, white, and aquamarine. "They're beautiful," Ty-Lee said. Rayseal grinned. She pulled out a small blue one that was twisted around and had a sharp point at the end. "I got this one when I was in the Fire Nation with my big brother, " She said. She took out another one that was a pearl color. It was an oval shape and had a small hole at the bottom. "I got this on Ember Island when we were looking for a job and a place to live." She explained.

Ty-Lee wondered what had happened to Rayseal's parents but she dared not ask. "How old are you?" She asked instead. "Eleven," Rayseal answered. Ty-Lee nodded. "How old are you?" Rayseal asked in return. Ty-Lee laughed. "Well,-" Then the door opened and in came a man. "What-" he began then stopped short. "You?" He said puzzled. Then Ty-Lee recognized him. He was the man from the restaurant who asked for directions to the hotel. "You," Ty-Lee whispered. Rayseal was confused. "You've met? This is my big brother," She said.

"Your big brother?" Ty-Lee said a bit surprised . "Yea," Rayseal said with a smile. "Hi, nice seeing you again," He said. Ty-Lee smiled. "You too," She said. "So, I see you've had the pleasure of meeting my little sister," He said with a smile. Ty-Lee nodded.

"I don't know your name," He noted curiously. "And I still don't know yours," Ty-Lee countered. He smiled and nodded. "Fair enough, my names Shang," He said with a charming smile. Ty-Lee smiled back. "It's nice to meet you Shang," She said with a slight bow. Shang grinned from ear to ear. "And what's your name?" He asked. "Guess." Was all Ty-Lee said. Shang put his hand to his chin and took on a thoughtful expression. "Hmm, probably something pretty to match your pretty face," This made Ty-Lee blush. "Something like, Alea?" He asked. Ty-Lee shook her head. "Hmm, Leandra?" He guessed again. "Nope, wrong again," Ty-Lee said with a giggle. Shang smiled. "Ok, um, hold on I'll get it," He said and thought harder. "You look like you should be named...." He stared at her pretty face. Ty-Lee turned away. "Tiandra!" He said and snapped his fingers thinking he'd guessed right. Ty-Lee laughed. "No!" She said. Rayseal couldn't wait any longer for him to guess, "It's Ty-Lee!" She exclaimed. Shang sighed pretending to be sad. "Man, I shoulda thought of that," He said. Rayseal giggled. "Yep, isn't she pretty?" She asked. Ty-Lee blushed. "No-" She began, Shang stopped her. "Why yes, she is very pretty," He saw that Rayseal was holding one of her precious shells and he saw the box on the desk.

"I see you've shown her your shell collection," He said. Rayseal nodded. "Yep! She likes them," She said. Shang smiled. "Good, you show her your very special shells?" He asked. Rayseal gasped. "No!" She said.

She went to the closet and took out a small box. She brought it over to Ty-Lee and said, "Now, what you're about to see is very special, I only show it to special people, you are special Ty-Lee, so, look," She gently lifted the lid. Inside was a beautiful shell. It was very small, it was pearl white with pink swirls mixed in. It also had blue wavy stripes across the middle. It tucked under on one side and had a little wave part at the end. On one tip it twisted around and at the other it dipped in.

"Wow!" Ty-Lee gasped. "I've never seen anything like it," She whispered. Rayseal smiled, she was glad her new friend liked it. "And look," She said and lifted it out. As she pulled it out Ty-Lee saw that there was a string attached. It was a necklace! On the string hung pearls, some white some pink, and at the clasp, a very rare soft blue pearl.

"Amazing!" Ty-Lee said in awe. Rayseal smiled and placed it back in the box closing the lid. "My dad gave it to my mom when he asked her to marry him, she always wore it, until- well, you know, but Shang found it and gave it to me, he said I could have it to always remember her," Rayseal's ember eyes took on a faraway look. Ty-Lee felt so bad for her, losing her parents like that. "I'm so sorry, about your parents," She said sympathetically.

The young girl nodded. "It's not your fault, at least I still have Shang," She said and hit her brothers shoulder. She put the box back in the closet and then put away the rest of her shells. "Well, I gotta go," Ty-Lee said regretfully. "I'm one of the Kyoshi warriors, so I need to get going," She explained. "Aw, too bad you can't stay," Rayseal said sadly. "I'll see you around soon though," Ty-Lee assured her. Rayseal smiled. "Ok!" She exclaimed. Shang smiled as he opened the door for Ty-Lee. "See you around," He said happily. Ty-Lee nodded and waved. They were such a nice family, she mused.

She wondered what it'd be like to have an older brother. All she had were sisters.

There was something about Shang that she liked. She couldn't figure out what it was, but she liked it. He was so- so, kind, she liked him a lot and knew she'd see more of him. She had to.

A/N

I wrote this when I was around twelve and thirteen. I apologise profusely for how horribly I had done, I'm very embarrassed by everything that is wrong. (Whether it be punctuation, spelling and grammar, or general suckiness) currently I'm working on editing every chapter and rewriting some things. Some of the names will be changed, but the characters will remain the same. The only reason I haven't completely scrapped the book (because it's so bad), has to do with the fact that it was one of my very first novels and it launched my love of writing. So please, if you made it through the first chapter, bear with me because I am determined to make this an astounding work of art one day.
    -J. Jones