On their way back to the villa, Zuko and Katara run into Suki, "by happy coincidence." Katara's glad to see someone as calm and sensible as Suki, and hopes that she has advice for dealing with the "cavemen" from the Water Tribe, and eagerly agrees to help Suki with her sick warriors, while Zuko decides to let everyone know that Katara's with Suki.
Before Katara can talk about her problems, Suki tells her about her own. Perhaps it's a good change of pace to see Katara listening when someone else has something to talk with her about before bringing up her subject. Suki mentions a nice prison guard named Ming, who ensured that the two sick girls were treated well, and tentatively diagnosed it as summer fever. Suki asks for Katara's help before Dr. Yang comes over tomorrow at Iroh's request.
The house is full of girls, making Katara wonder how Suki can keep track of all of them, but Suki leads Katara to the sick ones- named Hatsu and Aya- who share the largest bedroom with the big window. After opening the window, Katara checks the girls and confirms that they have summer fever symptoms. She waterbends to cool their fevers, makes cold compresses and waterbends to make sure the compresses stay cold, while she wracks her brain for what she's learned about this, deciding to make something to clear congestion and sleep through the night.
As Katara gets what she needs, Suki mentions that the supplies came from two shy Fire Nation girls, whom Katara identifies as Mina and Yomia, and describes as being shy around her as well. Katara prepares the medicines, and the girls take them while politely thanking her.
Suki asks Katara if she'd like to stay for dinner, as a warrior named Nashi is cooking, and Suki describes her as significantly better than herself (Knowing Suki, that's not saying much), and Katara immediately agrees with the assertion. Katara's glad to spend time with other girls (interestingly enough, it seems that girls seem to like the company of the same sex more than boys), and wants to talk with Suki about her problems, so they sit in the kitchen while Nashi and Misa (two other extras who get names but no characterization so you can tell them apart) cook.
Another Kyoshi Warrior comes in, and it's not some anonymous girl, but someone Katara recognizes- Ty Lee, in spite of the fact that she isn't wearing her hair in the usual style, or her pink outfit. Katara immediately attacks Ty Lee with waterbending from the sink, but Ty Lee avoids it and hides. Suki reassures Katara that it's ok, and Ty Lee is meant to be there, earning a "What the hell?" from Katara. Suki explains that Ty Lee is an apprentice Kyoshi warrior, and Katara wonders whether Suki is "high on cactus juice," as Ty Lee had done nothing but attack the Gaang for Azula (by contrast, Zuko had a few Enemy Mine moments, both as the Blue Spirit and as himself). Suki and the warriors tell Katara about the time they spent with Ty Lee in prison, with her teaching them chi blocking and convincing them to give her a second chance (which is a bit of a misnomer, as unlike Zuko, she didn't have a first chance at redemption), which impresses Katara, since they know she, along with Azula and Mai, is part of the reason they're in prison. Based on that, and the fact that Ty Lee's not very manipulative, Katara starts seriously considering forgiving her.
Ty Lee peeks out from behind the door, apologizing for all the times she attacked Katara and the others as part of Azula's "dangerous ladies." Katara, wanting to have a proper conversation with her and noticing that she doesn't look very formidable, asks Ty Lee to come out. Noticing that it's hard to stay mad with Ty Lee as she is now, Katara accepts Ty Lee's apology, and immediately gets glomped by her, causing her to note that they're not at the hugging stage just yet as Ty Lee babbles enthusiastically, not nervously like Zuko does.
Ty Lee pulls up a chair and gives Katara a cup of tea as a peace offering, and proposes teaching Katara chi blocking as an additional offering to their friendship (considering that Katara's not a close-quarters fighter, it wouldn't do her much good), notices the many colors of Katara's aura, and asks about how to do her hair like Katara does. When Katara offers to show Ty Lee the latter, she says it's "cool," and says it's a joke because Katara's from the South Pole, which is quite cold. Despite being dismayed that Ty Lee has developed Suki's sense of humor in the space of an afternoon, Katara realizes how the two became friends in just as short of a period of time, as Ty Lee is cheerful and enthusiastic.
Ty Lee talks about how good-looking Water Tribe people are, like Katara (who's pleased to hear that), Sokka(Suki isn't so pleased, but Ty Lee says she'll look but not touch), and Hakoda. Ty Lee describes the latter as "A SEXY BEAST" on the way back from prison, and Katara spits her tea out in response while Ty Lee describes how he's good looking and like an older version of Sokka. As Katara's close to "breaking her brain," Suki also points out that Hakoda is in the "look but don't touch" category (possibly because he's older and a widower), and when Ty Lee asks if there's anyone who isn't off limits, Katara suggests that her options are open except for the aforementioned two men and Bato, but says that they wouldn't want each other.
Ty Lee's taken aback, and Katara says it's not about her, but their sexism, and Misa says they noticed it in prison. Over dinner, Katara hears about the warriors in prison, and the warriors are sad that all their fights, comebacks and other efforts did not help the men's sexism at all. Katara notes that they have a grudging respect for Kyoshi warriors, but they expect Katara to abide by their tribal customs. The Kyoshi warriors ask about how a strong independent woman like Katara would handle back home, and Katara says she doesn't. Ty Lee suggests giving a "bitchslap" to sexist males, and Katara points out that since there's too many of them, her hand would get sore (I have to wonder if the men tried to retaliate, how many Katara could fight off with bending), while the other Kyoshi warriors offer similarly violent suggestions.
After dinner, Ty Lee takes the girls into the living room, clearing the furniture to make space for exercise, and showing them how to sense aura. It involves sitting in unlikely positions, and most of the Kyoshi warriors seem stuck on that step. Suki and Katara observe the lesson until, after a few minutes, Suki calls her aside.
Suki advises Katara, in all seriousness, to talk with Hakoda about this, since he's chief and "a nice and reasonable man" who would be likely to listen, and if he doesn't, Katara can resort to "arse-kicking." Suki wants the Water Tribes to becomes less sexist, but believes that what Katara has to say as the chief's daughter means far more than what the Kyoshi warriors have to say as outsiders. It's an interesting point, and a good way of pointing out that change comes from within, not forced by outsiders.
Suki notes that violence is never the only answer, and Katara asks Suki if she's been spending too much time with Aang- remember that of all the Gaang, Suki's the only one who didn't give Aang any grief over not killing Ozai (save Zuko, who's just disappointed)- and so adopted his views on talking over violence, as well as forgiveness. For the former, Suki says that Aang isn't always right. For the latter, Suki says that she forgave Ty Lee for herself, for the sake of letting old resentments go and learning from each other(especially an "awesome skill" like chi blocking), as Iroh says, and because she sees Ty Lee as an essentially good person who's misguided, but needs a "proper chance and proper choice" that Azula never gave her.
Katara doesn't find it that hard to imagine that Azula didn't give Ty Lee much choice in things, and Suki notes that it's just a hunch, as she didn't talk to Ty Lee much about Azula. Suki's restraint is in large part because of Ty Lee's "confused and sort of hopeless affection" for Azula and Zuko, as she wants to see them, but thinks they'll be furious with her. Suki notes that as Katara knows Zuko well, and was one of the last people to see Azula before she was committed (although Suki doesn't use this term), she'd know whether the siblings would be willing to see her.
Ty Lee reveals herself, and that she's been eavesdropping, since she left the girls to do relaxing visualizaitons and started looking for Suki. Katara knows "a guilty eavesdropper's face," (since, once again, it's the only way for her, as first person narrator, to show us conversations that don't include her), and knows that people can't resist the temptation to eavesdrop on a conversation involving them, so Katara doesn't hold it against her.
Ty Lee asks Katara if Zuko still holds her attacking him at the Boiling Rock against her, because she didn't mean it. Katara has to think about it, because Zuko never talked about her much, but didn't seem all that angry, and has fond memories of her.
Ty Lee then moves on to Azula, whom she knows lost to Katara but is still alive, and asks if Katara hurt her, hoping it's not too bad. Katara, understanding Suki's comment about "affection," says Azula is mostly unhurt but a little "strange." Ty Lee asks if Azula is mad at her, and Katara mentally notes that Azula is certainly "mad", but keeps that comment to herself and says she doesn't know. She suggests that Ty Lee ask Dr. Yang whether Azula would like visitors, as even though Zuko heard that it's not a good time right now (something Katara agrees with), there's no harm in asking. Ty Lee gives her a hug and says she's nice before flipping away.
They go back inside, and Ty Lee plans to start training Suki tomorrow, since she didn't learn from them in prison. For now, Ty Lee shows her their progress, which includes Nashi chi-blocking an unsuspecting Misa's arm.
Katara notices that it's getting late and she should be heading back, and Suki accompanies her, wanting to spend the night with Sokka. Suki climbs in Sokka's window to "save hassle," while Katara goes in the front door. The house is oddly quiet, save for Lenka in the kitchen, who tells Katara that most of them are "celebrating freedom and peace and firewhiskey," save for Sokka, who's having "an early night" (which Lenka clearly doesn't believe) ,and Toph and Zuko, who are on the veranda. Katara goes out to join the latter two.
I'll stop here for now. There's a long way to go, but that's the end of the Kyoshi warriors segment.
What I liked
- Good examination of Ty Lee
- Interesting look at Ty Lee and Azula's relationship.
What I didn't like
- Aang's policy on forgiveness being far less nuanced than anyone else's.
