Best Friends Forever?[SPORATIC UPDATES]

17: A Much Needed Vacation

"I'm so excited to spend the weekend on Ember Island." Ty says. "It's going to be great to hang out on the beach and do nothing." She's really excited for this.

"Doing nothing is a waste of time. We're being sent away on a force vacation." Zuko is not. He gets up from his seat next to Mai and moves to look over the water. "I feel like a child."

"Lighten up." Azula says. "So dad wants to meet with his advisors alone without anyone around. Don't take it personally."

"Doesn't your family have a house on Ember Island?" Ty asks Azula.

"We used to come every summer when we were kids."

"That must have been fun." Ty and I say in sync. She giggles and I smile lightly. 

I never got to go to Ember Island. The farthest place I went was one of the colonies for some meeting with my dad many years ago. Back when he still had hope for my bending.

We finally come to the dock and are greeted by two identical, elderly ladies.  "Welcome to Ember Island, kids." I nod while looking around in greeting. All the buildings around here are so nice.

Except one that stands out from the rest with it's shabby exterior. Which also happens to be our lodgings.

The inside isn't as bad as the out. It's actually kind of quaint. Homey.

"It smells like old lady in here." Zu comments.

"Gee, I wonder why." Mai responds. Her monotone voice made the interaction so much funnier than needed to be. I bite my lips to stop a laugh as I pass them.

I step with Ty to observe a painting. "Who are these two beautiful women." 

"Can't you tell? It's Li/Lo and me." Our guides answer. Followed by them imitating the pose. 

Zuko nearly vomits all over the floor. 

I laugh. "That could have been me and you, Ty." Swinging my arm around her shoulder, I give her a squeeze and smile. In another life, maybe.

Lo & Li show us to our room, Ty Lee immediately claims a bed. Commenting on the bedspread. Mai retorts with her distaste for the entire room.

"We know you're upset that you were forced to come here this weekend." one of the ladies says.

"But Ember Island is a magical place. Keep an open mind. " says the other.

"Give it a chance." 

"And it can help you understand yourselves and each other." They say in sync. Totally not ominous or anything.

"The beach has a special way-"

"of smoothing even the most ragged edges."

Azula yawns in response, but I think these ladies know more than they explicitly tell. I wonder if they can see the future. 

"Time to hit the beach." They must have been able to tell how bored everyone is, because they gave us quite the shock by pulling their robes off. Exposing their swimwear.

15 years I went without seeing that. I could have gone a hundred more.

◇◇◇◇◇

There are so many people here. All doing so many things from lounging, to surfing, to running around in the sand.

"Are you okay? You're shaking." Zu says.

"Oh. Am I?" I'm trying to hold in my excitement, because everyone seems so calm and serious, but I guess my body is betraying my emotions. "Actually... I've never been-"Children screaming interrupts my gut spilling. Azula scared them off and crushed their castle in the sand. 

Guess she really wants this spot hahaha.

"Hey! You need some help unpacking?" some guy, who comes out of nowhere, asks Ty. She accepts the offer, handing him the heavy bag. He lays everything out with impressive speed.

She could always get guys to do what she wanted. Not that she really had to try. They just fell all over themselves for her.

I've been told I look 'too mean' for that kind of response. Oh well. I can lay out my own things.

I lay on my back with my hands behind my head on my dark red fabric.  Taking a deep breath in and out of my nose, I absorb the atmosphere.

This is wonderful. The sun is so nice.

I wonder why, no matter how much my mom pleaded, he never thought I was worthy of coming to this place. 

And look at me now, Father. I'm here with Fire Nation Royalty. Bet you never saw that coming.

The sound of the waves lapping on the shore. The sound of children laughing. The sound of- 

Zuko yelling.

My yellow eyes crack open at the disturbance in my serenity. Flipping onto my stomach, I attempt to gain it back.

The smell of the ocean. The warmth on my skin. The-

Sound of Azula yelling.

Geez, can you tell they're related?

"Azeala! We are playing volleyball. Get over here." I whine into my blanket. "Now."

"I'm coming." I say begrudgingly. Goodbye, serenity. 

How ya doing, sport I've never played.

---------

Muahaha. We're finally here.

I've actually had this drafted for a while, but I was struggling with the last chapter to connect them.

Hope you enjoyed the chapter, see you in the new yr, and sweet dreams.