Avatar The Last Airbender Fan Fiction ❯ Fire Flakes ❯ The Bright Side ( Chapter 7 )

Title: The Bright Side

Author: Sephira jo

Rating: G

Warning: Focuses on Mai and Ty Lee and Azula.

Author's Notes: Ty Lee helps Mai deal with Zuko's banishment.

 

Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar; I'm not making any money off of this.

 

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Azula had watched with a smile. Ty Lee, from a more distant seat had watched with concern. Though Zuko was not the source of her concern, it was the girl next to her. Mai, seated next to Ty Lee had watched with a single emotion: horror.

 

Mai watched, her features showing her emotions plainly, unusual, Ty Lee thought, on a girl who never showed more than a scrap of emotion. Ty Lee, normally bright and bubbly, normally all smiles, laughter and flexible fun, frowned and reached out - not to hug Mai as she would in any other circumstance - but to simply hold her hand.

 

Zuko was burned and banished by his father. At the prince's reflexive, pained cry Mai had turned away, tears streaming down her normally stoic face. Ty Lee held her friend - far away from her normal all consuming embrace, she simply held the taller girl as she sobbed.

 

Later on, Ty Lee would reflect Azula's friendship and the private viewing box that came with it were good things, as Mai would be horrified at the overflowing emotions if anyone else were present.

 

Later, when they all sat around a tea that Azula drank with relish and Ty Lee and Mai would not touch, their princess-friend had looked at Mai and said simply, “Look on the bright side, Mai. Father had every right to kill Zuzu, but only banished him instead.”

 

Ty Lee gave Azula a look that had its own daggers in it; Mai had stared down at the tea. Later on, when they were alone, Mai sobbed again and Ty Lee held her. “Azula's right you know,” she said, “he's still alive, you'll still have a chance to tell him.” Ever the diplomat, Ty Lee twisted Azula's words from the barb they had been (more against her brother than against Mai, Ty Lee knew - or hoped) to a hopeful statement for their friend.

 

Mai wiped her eyes and nodded once. She didn't smile, it wasn't her nature, but Ty Lee knew she had made her friend feel better. “I'll stay in your room tonight, okay?” Ty Lee said plopping down on the bed with a bounce.

 

“Thanks, Ty Lee.”