Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar:The Last Air Bender. I make no profit from writing/posting this. Characters and the world of Avatar belong to Nickelodeon, Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko. Plot is my own.
Thank you so much for the reviews and favorites. They're always greatly appreciated! I've just rewritten this chapter, a lot of it has stayed the same, mostly it was a few small additions and grammar/spelling mistakes I noticed. I also added more onto the end of it, I felt like it had ended at a strange place, so I drew it out a bit more and ended it a bit better, at least I hope so.
Enjoy!
Over in the guest wing of the palace Katara, Toph and Suki were busy getting ready and were in a fairly giddy mood.
"I can't believe it!" Katara began while sweeping her hair up into an elegant bun. "We're guests of honor of the Fire Nation, who would have thought that a year ago we'd all be here today, getting ready for something this big?" she asked with a smile as she began setting pins in her hair.
Suki sent her a smile as she painted her face in the traditional Kyoshi Warrior paint. "I didn't that's for sure, I still can't believe it."
Toph, to her credit, was standing patiently behind them as two women helped her into her elaborate gown. "I knew." she said quickly, and at hearing the two other girls laughter continued on. "What? Sweetness, you mean I never told you that I can see the future?" she asked, waving her fingers at them.
"Toph..." Katara started before the door was flung open and Sokka rushed into the room, closely followed by Aang.
"I Just want you to know that you girls are taking forever!" Sokka exclaimed, flopping down onto the large bed situated in the center of the room. "I'm starving! And Zuko had the nerve to say that we had to wait for you!"
"Sokka... I'm sure he's waiting for Mai, and probably Ty Lee." Suki sighed, trying to calm her boyfriend down, while still painting perfect lines on her face.
"Not anymore!" came the sing-song voice from the hall and they all turned to look and see Ty Lee cartwheel by, followed by a calm looking Zuko and Mai.
Sokka turned back to the girls, his face looking exasperated, his hands flailing. "See?...See?" he said, launching himself up from the bed and now pointing to the hall where the other three were waiting.
"I want no part of the blame here." Toph said with a smirk as she pointed to the women who were finishing her hair and placing a headpiece on top of her head.
"Fine, fine, "Sokka sighed, "Katara?... Suki?"
"Just one second," they chimed together. Suki was meticulously painting the black lines on her face and Katara was placing a few more pearls into her up-do.
"Aang! Back me up here!" Sokka said turning towards the Avatar who quickly and guiltily stepped away from Momo.
"Ahhh... what Sokka?" he asked, bringing his hand up to rub the back of his head.
Sokka ran a hand over his face. "Never mind." He amended with a sigh, taking in Momo, who now had a pink bow perched on his head and one tied around his tail. The Lemur quickly attacked the one on his head with an angry yowl.
"Alright, alright, lets go!" Suki said, grabbing Sokka's arm and dragging him out to the hall.
Aang turned to offer Katara his arm and found himself blushing at how incredible she looked. "Katara..."
"Hey Twinkle Toes!" Toph spoke up, interrupting whatever he was going to say. "Think you can handle escorting two lovely ladies tonight?"
Katara and Aang both looked at the Earthbender with tender smiles. "Of course!" Aang said brightly, walking over and taking her arm while Katara took his other side. "You both look great!"
"I know, its so easy to forget how well we clean up after living it rough for so long." Toph teased.
Momo, who had perched himself on Katara's further shoulder from Aang chirped at her, sounding indignant.
"Of course you always look perfect Momo." Katara said, patting the lemur on his now bow-free head.
Sokka snorted and Momo launched himself atthe boy's head, causing Sokka to go flailing down the hall and the rest of the the gang to rush after them.
"Momo! No!" Aang called, dragging Toph with him.
"That lemur is so cute!" Ty Lee gushed to Mai, who merely rolled her eyes as she followed her boyfriend, who was trying to grab Sokka before he damaged anything.
Ty Lee sighed and launched herself over the group with a quick flip, landed near the still flailing Sokka and picked up the rampaging lemur with ease. "You're so cute." she murmured, tucking Momo in her left arm and tickling his belly with her other hand. "Yes you are!" she said in a baby voice. Momo's eyes grew wide as he tried to scramble out of her grasp.
"I'll take him. "Aang said as they came to the palace doors to the courtyard. Ty lee frowned by surrendered the squirming lemur over to the Avatar as they stepped out to the banquet area.
"We'll be sitting at the table to the left." Zuko said gesturing to one of only two empty tables left. Sokka took off, his grip tight on Suki's arm as he rushed toward the food. "Seats aren't assigned." Zuko called after them as everyone laughed at his antics.
Everyone settled themselves down around the table and sat in silence for a few moments, everyone taking in their surroundings. As the gong sounded for dinner, they quickly piled their plates high with food and began to eat, conversation flowing easily among them all.
After the eating, dancing started and Toph immediately dragged Aang out to the dance floor. "Come one Twinkle Toes, lets see your moves."
Mai was asked to dance by a rather handsome boy from the Fire nation and Ty Lee ran off to find someone to dance with, which only took moments. After much persuasion Suki finally got Sokka out to dance, leaving Katara and Zuko alone at the table.
"So... ahhh, are you enjoying yourself?" Zuko asked slowly.
Katara nodded and then realized that he wasn't looking and muttered "Yes"
"Would you, uhm, would you like to dance?" he asked, turning to her, a nervous blush on his cheeks.
"Sure" Katara said standing and holding out her hand for Zuko to take.
Out on the floor Zuko drew her body in towards his and started leading her in the traditional dance. Clearing his throat he looked down into her clear sapphire blue eyes. "You look beautiful tonight Katara."
Blushing, the younger girl averted her eyes. "Ah, thanks, so do you... handsome! I mean you look handsome." She stuttered.
Zuko nodded. "So where will you all go after all of this?" he asked, waving his hand around to indicate the festivities.
"I'm not sure," she said with a small shrug, "we haven't discussed it. Probably to where ever needs the most help."
"Won't you go back home to your tribe?"
Katara frowned. "Of course I'll go back, I'm just not sure that's where I'm supposed to be anymore." she said slowly, "Everything is changing, and as much as that's my home, and my family, and my people... I want to help."
Zuko nodded. "Yeah, I understand. You're lucky to be able to do that. To just go where you're needed. I wish I could go with all of you, maybe eventually I'll be able to, but I just have so much to take care of here. There's been so much pain, so much mistrust; it's going to be along year for me."
Katara gave him a small smile. "You're gonna be an awesome Fire Lord though... and you'll have Mai." she said brightly.
Zuko smiled. "Yeah, Mai." he said wistfully.
"And you could always write us, and I'm sure we'll stop in to visit you every so often when we're in the area."
Zuko laughed. "Right, I'm sure you'll be in the area often.
Katara shrugged as the song ended. She looked around quickly to see if Aang was free, but Toph still had her arms around him, which caused a frown to mar Katara's face. Zuko, on the other hand was looking for where Mai had wandered off to with that boy. The music started up again and the two glanced at each other and began dancing again.
"Come on Sokka, try no to look so miserable." Suki said with a quick smile.
"I hate dancing," Sokka grumbled, staring intensely at his feet, "I'm terrible at it." he said with a heavy sigh.
"No! No you're great Sokka... Ow- alright, never mind." she amended with a grimace as her toes were trampled on once more.
A few feet away Toph and Aang were dancing. Toph's grip was tight on the Avatar, so she wouldn't loose him in the crowd.
"There's so many people here!" the young Earthbender exclaimed.
"I know! It's incredible." Aang concurred, "Maybe the nations will be more open to peace with the Fire Nation than I thought."
Toph snorted. "Or, they just know a good party when they see one. I know that's why I'm here. Alright... I heard about this one, it sounds and feels like a good one though." She said poking fun at her lack of sight.
Aang laughed. "Everyone seems pretty happy, so I guess it's good, but the celebration will last all week, so we'll wait until then to decide."
Toph nodded. "Good idea Twinkle toes. This is going to be such a long week. Parties every evening, each one a tribute to a different nation, plays and a musical near the end of the week and a masquerade on the last day. I'm going to be pooped come next Friday."
"Tell me about it, and I promised Zuko I'd sit in on a few meetings with him."
"I don't envy you that job." Toph laughed.
Ty Lee had danced her way through several cute guys. The current one though topped the list, but his laugh -ugh- she had never heard such and awful one, it was a loud guffaw that sounded more like a donkey-lion than a human. Her eyes drifted across the courtyard, resisting the urge to roll her eye as she laughed again when she saw Mai moving into a dark corner with that hot boy that had asked her to dance earlier.
"Gotta go!" she chirped, cutting off Bai, Bo... whatever his name was, mid rant. Twirling away from him and ignoring his shocked face she moved towards the place where she last saw Mai as quickly as her acrobatic moves could carry her.
Ty Lee slowed down when she heard a stifled giggle. 'Since when does Mai giggle?' With a shrug she continued on, shocked at the sight that greeted her. Mai was up against the wall, her hands gripping the guy tightly, their mouths locked in a heated battle. While making out wasn't a new idea to the acrobat, it still wasn't something she enjoyed witnessing much, and certainly not something she thought mopey-lovesick-pining-for-Zuko-Mai would be doing with someone who was most definitely NOT Zuko.
In a flash and with a few well placed jabs the boy was on the ground and Mai was staring into Ty Lee's disapproving eyes.
The two girls stared at each other for several long minutes as the boy rolled around groaning.
"What the hell?" he asked sharply, finally able to stand.
"Don't ask questions, just leave." Ty Lee snapped.
He went to argue but Mai sighed. "You should probably leave." After he had ambled away she turned to her normally bubbly friend. "What are you doing?" She asked with a glare.
"Maybe I missed a lot while I was busy trying to become a Kyoshi Warrior, but I'm pretty sure you were still madly in love with Zuko. You risked your life to save him."
Mai nodded. "We got back together before the coronation this morning, but I don't know, I think I'm in love with the idea of Zuko, the way he was before all of this. He was so passionate, so focused on getting his honor back, and now he has all of that... he's a good guy now."
"So are we," Ty Lee defended, "You've liked Zuko for ages! Now you're both back together after so much and you just turn around and trade him for an admittedly good looking, newer model?"
Mai shrugged. "I'm scared Ty Lee, I never thought when we'd be together again he would be the Fire Lord... I don't want the responsibilities of being his wife."
Ty Lee rolled her eyes. "You're both young, I'm sure the Sages aren't going to rush anything. I get that you're scared, nervous, and unsure and all of that stuff, but that's really no reason to sneak away with someone else. You should talk to him about all of this being afraid stuff."
Mai nodded. "I know."
"Good! Now, you should probably go dance with him and you and I can talk about how stupid you are in the morning!"
"Gee thanks." Mai sighed, moving back to the dance floor as Ty Lee beamed after her.
Zuko and Katara had retired to their table to grab a drink. Katara was lounging back against the table, her legs crossed at the ankles as she watched everyone dance.
"So when did you learn how to dance?" She asked, looking over at Zuko as he popped a dessert into his mouth.
He grinned and held up his hand for a moment. He swallowed thickly and then looked at her. "A long time ago." he said quietly. "It has been banned for a long time, since before I was born, but my mother loved to dance. On afternoons when my father was locked away in the Hall with the Sages, or his generals, my mother and I would spend our time in the gardens, and sometimes music from the streets would filter in by the wind, and she would dance. I used to watch her in awe, she always looked so happy when she danced, and then she decided it was time to teach me." Zuko laughed. "I was a terrible student at many things in life, but dancing wasn't one of them." He gave a sad thoughtful smile and turned back to watch the dancers.
Katara watched him for a few moments and then turned to fiddle with the sleeve of her dress, not knowing what she could say to him.
"I talked to my father today." he said suddenly, and Katara looked up and met his gaze. "He knows where she is." Katara felt her intake of breath and she leaned closer to him, wanting to hear what had happened. "He refuses to tell me right now, but I will find out, I will find her again."
Katara grinned at him. "I am sure you will, I am glad though, at least, that he does know where she is, it gives me hope."
Zuko shook his head, baffled. "Hope for what?"
"For you, of course!" she said, leaning back from him. "The world is changing Zuko, and if anyone deserves to have what they want, it is you."
"You give me too much credit Katara." he said with a shake of his head. "but thank you."
She nodded and watched Mai's slow approach to them, and she shifted even farther away from the Fire Lord. Katara grinned as she took her in, her eyes solely focused on Zuko, she wondered what it would be like to be that in love, to be so in love that you noticed no one else but that one other person.
She looked to Aang for a moment and grinned as he, Toph, Sokka and Suki were all dancing comically in a circle, imitating moves from that night in the cave when they had hosted that party. Katara barely noticed the hushed conversation happening next to her, but watched as Zuko stood and led Mai out to dance. Sometimes she felt a bit jealous of the two of them, but she knew that was completely foolish, one day she would have something like that too.
Katara sat alone at the table for a while, sipping on tea and watching everyone dancing. Momo approached her slowly, trying to avoid her to get at the sweets on the table. She spun around and looked at him and let out a laugh as he stared up at her wide eyed, cheeks stuffed with food.
"What do you say you and I go inside Momo?" she asked, holding out her arm for the lemur, and cautiously, he ambled over to her and up her arm.
She stood quickly from the table and made her way back into the palace, ready to be out of her beautiful dress and sleep for as long as she could.
Resting in bed, Momo curled up beside her, she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep, certain that things could only get better from here.
Hope you liked it a bit better this time around, and some of the sentences made a bit more sense, I accept any and all constructive criticism, so let me know your thoughts, if you hate reviewing, thats ok, just adding this to a favorite/alert lets me know you liked it! I will be updating the next chapters shortly!
