They're kind of like her bride's maids. Way back when, bride's maids were supposed to dress like the bride to confuse demons. And they're company for someone who is terrified of people hurting her. This Ty Lee runs mostly on anxiety and people pleasing, while Mai takes care of her. Ty Lee becoming clockwork is Mai's sign that it's a bad day, and she needs to break out the clockwork Ty Lees and leave her friend alone to work. I really don't have the time or energy to explore that verse at the moment, but I really kind of want to.