We hovered in Aang's cloud camo over the sea.
"I think I see a cave below," he said.
"Shhush… Keep quiet," Sokka snapped.
Appa landed and Aang blew the cloud away with a large air blast. Sokka hopped off Appa and hid behind a rock.
"Great job with the cloud camo, but next time, let's disguise ourselves as the kind of cloud who knows how to keep its mouth shut," Sokka scolded.
"Yeah, we wouldn't wanna bird to hear us and turn us in," Toph said sarcastically.
"Hey! We're in enemy territory," Sokka said. "Those are enemy birds."
He pointed to four "enemies" perched on top of the rock he was hiding behind. On hopped down on his head and squawked. Toph, Aang, and I laughed. Sokka wasn't amused. We began to walk toward the cave with Sokka lurking behind. Suddenly he jumped from behind me and fell flat on his face. He sat up and peered suspiciously about as if an enemy got away. He walked into the cave as we followed.
"Well, this is it! This is how we'll be living until the invasion begins. Hiding in a cave… after cave… after cave…," he moaned dropping his head in his chest.
"Sokka, we don't need to become cave people. What we need was some new clothes," I suggested.
"Yeah, blending in is better than hiding out. If we get Fire Nation disguises, we'll be just as safe as we would be hiding in a cave," Aang agreed.
"Plus… they have real food out there. Does anyone wanna sit around in the dirt eating cave- hoppers?" Toph asked.
She punched the cave wall and several hoppers hopped out. Momo snatched one and began to eat it.
"Looks like we got out voted, sport. Let's get some new clothes," Sokka said.
We walked around for a bit and found a laundry. Several items of clothing hanging on lines over steam vents. We hid behind some rocks to observe the scene. No one was around except the laundry's lone attendant, who was stealing a nap in the doorway. I was getting excited but Aang stole the fun by worrying.
"I don't know about this. These clothes belong to somebody," he said.
To get him in the mood I didn't listen.
"I call the silk robe!" I yelled.
I leapt from the rocks and ran to my prize. Then I snatched it from the line.
"But if it's essential to our survival, then I call the suit!" I heard him yell.
I waited for the others to grab their clothes. They came over to where I was standing and we ran to a beach to put on our new clothes. I hid behind some rocks and changed quickly, then I helped Toph. Sokka and Aang were on the other side. I needed to do my hair so I told Toph to go with the boys.
"We're done!" Aang called.
"I need to do my hair. Toph's going over," I called back.
As Toph went over Aang said, "Ooh. That reminds me!"
I saw him tie a headband to his forehead to hide his arrow.
"Ta- dah! Normal kid," he said.
I finished my hair as Toph fixed her shoes. I finally walked over to the others and smiled.
"How do I look?' I asked them.
I saw a small blush caress Aang's face. It disappeared after he seemed to realize something.
"Uh… your mom's necklace," he said.
"Oh… oh, yeah. I guess it's pretty obviously Water Tribe, isn't it?" I said.
I removed the necklace and placed it in the palm of my hand. I closed my fingers around it. We returned to the cave as we placed our old clothes away. I folded my necklace with my old Kimono and sighed. I climbed onto Appa and put it in the saddle next to Toph and Sokka's items of clothing. After I slid down to the ground of the cave we ventured into town. Sokka, Toph, and I bought new accessories for our Fire Nation get up. I bought a new necklace, Sokka got a topknot clasp, and Toph got a new headband. Aang placed Momo in his coat to hide him.
"I used to visit my friend Kuzon here a hundred years ago. So everyone just follow my lead and stay cool. Or as they say in the Fire Nation- 'Stay Flaming!'" he said.
He ran into a man eating a meat shish kebab on the sidewalk.
"Greetings, my good Hotman!" he said.
Goof. I think that his lingo is just a tiny bit out of date.
"Uh, hi. I guess?" the man said very confused.
Sokka led us to a butcher's shop.
"Oh, we're going to a meat place?" Aang said revolted.
"C'mon, Aang. Everyone here eats meat… even the meat!" Sokka said and pointed to a cow- hippo chewing on a pile of fly- blown fish.
Aang made a face. He was obviously unconvinced.
"You guys go ahead. I'll just get some lettuce out of the garbage," he said.
I waved goodbye to him as we walked into the shop. A few other men were in the shop eating meats. They looked like a rough group. The room was dimmed and the butcher was big and angry looking.
"Do you think it's a good idea to eat at this place?" I asked Sokka.
"Sure. They're just hungry. Besides," he said trying to act cool, "I've dealt with guys like this."
I rolled my eyes as we made it to the counter.
"What'll it be kiddies?" the butcher asked in a low gruff voice.
"Um… we'll take some meat kebabs and one of those yellow things," Sokka said browsing the meats.
The butcher leaned in close to Sokka's face.
"'Yellow things?'" he snipped at him angrily.
"I don't know what it's called," Sokka whimpered.
"Are ye even from the Fire Nation?" the butcher asked.
"We're from the Fire Nation colonies. The ones in the Earth Kingdom," Toph said quickly.
"Oh… well then," the butcher said leaning away.
"The yellow ones are liver. Or would you rather fish?" he asked.
Sokka thought for a second. Then he turned to me.
"You and your boyfriend eat fish right?" he asked.
"What!?" I yelled.
Several heads turned to me. Sokka smiled.
"Aang," he mouthed.
"He's not my boyfriend," I hissed silently.
"Just for cover," he whispered back.
"No. I do though," I said.
"Great," Sokka said.
He turned back to the butcher.
"No liver just two meat kebabs and one fish kebab," Sokka said as if nothing happened.
"Alright kiddies. 'Ere you go," he said handing us a bag.
"Thanks," we said and left the shop.
When we left through the door I grabbed Sokka's ear and tugged at it hard.
"OW! OW! OW! OW! OW!" he yelled.
"Boyfriend?" I growled.
"I thought you wouldn't mind," he said as he pushed my hand off.
"He's twelve! And besides, I thought we might settle as all brothers and sisters!" I snapped.
"Fine! If that makes you happier!" Sokka said.
"Wait, where is Aang?" I said.
I looked around the courtyard in front.
"He said he'd be here," Toph said. "I can't feel him."
I was getting worried. What if the Fire Nation discovered him.
"Sokka? What do we do?" I asked.
"Look, let's not panic now. Let's ask around town if they've seen him okay?" he said.
"Ask around town!? What!? Do we go up to random people and ask: 'Hi, have you seen the Avatar in disguise and hair?' or 'Have you seen a kid on the street with a headband being taken away by guards?' or, oh how about this one, 'Have you seen an Airbender with hair and a headband to cover his arrow?' How about those Sokka!?" I snapped.
Sokka gulped. "We can just ask people if they've seen a twelve year old kid with a headband and brown hair."
I stopped being angry. Then I thought for a minute.
"Whatever, you two. All I know is that if Twinkle Toes got out of a lot of more stuff, then he can get out of whatever he's in right now," Toph said.
"Fine. We'll eat in the cave and wait. I'll get some fire wood," I said.
As we walked through town to get back "home" Sokka stopped in front of a shop.
"Sokka let's go!" I shouted.
"Guys! Come 'ere!" he said excitedly.
"What?" I asked as Toph and I trudged back over.
"Fake beards," he said pointing at a bunch of fake mustaches and beards.
"What do you need one of those for?" I said.
"You never know," he said choosing one and paying for it.
I sighed hopelessly as he held it excitedly against his chest. Toph nudged me and indicated me to come closer.
"The only thing that'll help with is proving that he desperately wants a beard. He won't fool anyone," Toph said.
We both giggled.
"I can hear you, you know," Sokka said.
"I know," Toph said.
--
--
--
--
Aang finally appeared at the mouth of the cave. He was covered in burn marks. We were seated around the fire as he approached.
"Where have you been!? I've been worried sick!" I demanded.
"You?" Sokka said next to me. "I was too."
"Katara was the one freaking out," Toph pointed out.
"What?" Aang said confused.
"Never mind but where were you?" I asked.
"I got invited to play with some kids after school," he said removing his headband and wiping off the ash.
"After what!?" Sokka yelled standing up, flummoxed.
"I enrolled in a Fire Nation school and I'm going back tomorrow," Aang said happily.
"Enrolled in WHAT!?" Sokka screamed.
He keeled over.
"Sokka relax. At least Aang isn't dead or captured or in prison," I said.
Sokka sat back in his seat and crossed his arms.
"Aang, I'm trying to be mature and not immediately shoot down your idea. But it sounds… really terrible," he said.
"Yeah, we got our outfits. What do you need to go to school for?" asked Toph.
"Every minute I'm in that classroom. I'm learning new things about the Fire Nation. I already have a picture of Fire Lord Ozai. And here's one I made out of noodles!" Aang said as he held up the two pictures.
"Impressive, I admit. But I still it's o dangerous," Sokka said.
Aang got a devious look on his face.
"I guess we'll never find out about the secret river then. It goes right to the Fire Lord's palace. We were supposed to learn about it in class tomorrow," he lied.
"Hmm… I am a fan of secret rivers," Sokka thought out loud. "Fine. Let's stay a few more days."
"Flamey- o, Hotman!" Aang shouted in triumph and ran off in excitement.
Sokka turned to me. "Flamey- o?"
I shrugged.
--
--
--
--
That night I lay out the mats for us to sleep on. Aang was looking very happy. Toph and Sokka went into town for dinner.
"School's amazing Katara! It's absolutely amazing!" he said to me as he pet Appa.
"I'm sure it is Aang," I said dusting off the mats.
He turned and smiled unsurely.
"Are you okay?" he asked me.
I sighed. "A little tired."
"Oh, well sleep. I take your advice for rest, take mine," he said winking.
That sent shivers down my spine. I sat down on my mat and hugged my knees.
"I'm lying. I'm not tired," I said averting my eyes from his.
"Cramps again?" he asked sitting next to me.
"No. I'm fine but I'm a fourteen year old girl who's barely had any romantic attention," I said.
That was also a lie. I kissed Aang on the boat with out him knowing, I kissed his cheek all the time, I shared my first kiss with him, I developed a crush on Jet then Haru now Aang. I was actually trying to give Aang a message.
"Whatddya mean?" Aang asked still clueless.
"I mean I think it's time I found someone to, you know, like or love. But I've already shared my first kiss with you," I said.
I peeked at Aang to see if he was getting the message. But the only thing he was getting was redder in the face with embarrassment.
"I know that but, how could a girl like you fall for a guy like me," Aang asked me.
I finally turned to him and looked in his eyes.
"I don't know, how did I?" I asked him.
"Did?" he asked.
"I meant how would I," I said quickly.
Aang looked downcast. "Oh."
"Aang," I sighed. "Are you okay?"
"Yes. It's nothing."
He hopped on his mat and Momo jumped in his lap. The dorky kid didn't catch the message.
"Cabbage for you," Sokka said throwing to Aang. "Meat stick for you, you and me."
He handed me a stick and Toph a stick. Toph and Sokka chewed on theirs and finished it before me. Aang had finished his cabbage and I finished my dinner last. Toph and Sokka fell asleep on their mats almost immediately. Aang looked at me and smiled with a blush. I smiled back.
"Goodnight," I said.
"'Night," he said.
--
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--
The next afternoon, Toph dragged me outside the cave and punched my arm playfully.
"You kissed last night," she said.
"Um? No I didn't," I asked.
"But… your heartbeat was giving me a headache," she said.
"I'm sorry. Aang and I were talking," I said.
"I think it's cute… where is Twinkle Toes anyways?" Toph asked.
"School," I said. "It should be over by now."
"KATARA!" Aang's voice yelled.
"As if on cue," Toph said and walked back into the cave.
Aang crashed into me. We both fell over.
"Sorry," he panted helping to my feet.
"Why are you so sweaty?" I asked as I brushed myself off.
"I ran all the way here to tell you that I accidently picked a fight."
"YOU WHAT!?" I screamed.
"I didn't mean too! It was this kid named Hide. I was taking to his, so-called, girlfriend On Ji, my friend. I was suggesting I could teach her dance moves because I disrupted music class with it. She liked them so I figured: WHY NOT! Suddenly Hide tries to attack me. I easily duck out of the way but he fell and looked beat up. The headmaster showed up and wants me to bring my parents after school and if I don't hurry, I can get in big trouble so can you and Sokka be my mom and dad for tonight please?" he said in one, fast, long breath.
"What?"
"It was this kid named-," he started to repeat himself.
I covered his mouth with my hand.
"Shhhhh," I whispered softly.
That calmed him down. I removed my hand from his mouth and placed both on his shoulders.
"What do you need me to do?" I asked him calmly.
"I need you and Sokka to be my portrayal parents tonight, since I don't have any," he said.
"We look nothing a like. Sokka looks like a regular teen and so do I."
"Please? One night try?" he begged.
"We'll think of something. But we need to tell Sokka," I said grabbing his hand and leading him into the cave.
--
--
--
--
"Aang want us to become his parents for one night?" Sokka asked for the millionth time as we were getting into costume.
"Yes," I snapped as I pinned my hair into buns on the side of my head.
"So you're the pregnant mother and I'm the over ruling father? Ooh! I'll be Wang Fire and you should be Sapphire Fire."
"Yes and also, Sapphire is blue smart one. But Ruby Fire? Ugh. I'll stick to Sapphire."
"Good," Sokka said placing his beard on. "What's Aang's name? Wang Jr?"
"No it's Kuzon," I said climbing on top of Appa to grab my parka.
"Why do you need that?" Sokka asked me as I slipped down and into a dark cave.
"Your daughter's due in a month!" I taunted sarcastically.
--
--
--
--
We sat in the headmaster's office. Aang was in the middle of Sokka and I looking like any kid would when he's in trouble. The headmaster walked in and sat down in front of us and folded his hands.
"Thank you for coming Mr. and Mrs....," he began.
"Fire! Wang Fire! And this is my wife, Sapphire," Sokka said in a scruffy voice.
"Sapphire Fire, nice to meet you," I said.
"Mr. and Mrs.… Fire, your son has been enrolled here for two days, and he's already causing problems. He's argued with his history teacher, disrupted music class, and roughed up my star pupil," the headmaster said.
I tried to be as motherly as possible. "My goodness! That doesn't sound like our Kuzon."
"That's what any mother would say, ma'am. Nonetheless, you're forewarned. If he acts up one more time, I'll have him sent to reform school… by which I mean the coal mines. Are we clear?"
Sokka puffed out his chest. "Don't you worry, Mister Headmaster! I'll straighten this boy out somethin' fierce."
He suddenly rammed into Aang's face and screamed at him.
"Young man, as soon as we get home, you're gonna get the punishment of a lifetime!"
My eyes widened at each word. Great fatherly attention Sokka.
"That's what I like to hear," the headmaster said with a grin.
We rose and left.
--
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--
When we got to cave Sokka began to yell at him.
"That settles it! No more school for you young man!" he yelled.
Then he maturely backed off and straightened his beard.
"I'm not ready to leave. I'm having fun for once, just being a normal kid. You don't know what it's like, Sokka. You get to be normal all the time," Aang said.
"Ha, ha," Toph mocked.
Sokka scowled at her.
"Listen, those kids are the future of the Fire Nation. If we wanna change this place for the better, we need to show them a little taste of freedom," Aang said.
"What could you possibly do for a country of depraved little fire monsters?" Sokka asked.
"I'm gonna throw them," Aang tap danced quickly, "a secret dance party."
We were stunned. But Sokka was the first to recover and react.
"GO TO YOUR ROOM!"
--
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--
--
We found a bunch of old candles in the garbage. I Waterbended a small fountain for drinks. I bought some fruit tasting drinks and mixed them together. Toph bended a stage for the band. Sokka kept on his beard to be the "adult" figure in the room. I bended the fruit drinks and tasted it. It was really good if churned with bending.
"I can't believe we're having a dance party," Sokka said arranging candles. "it seems so… silly."
"Don't think of it as a dance party, but as a cultural event celebrating the art of fancy footwork," Aang said.
"Their coming! Everyone stop bending!" Toph said.
Toph bended up tables quickly and chairs for them. I placed the ice punch bowl onto one and grabbed an ice cup I made. Filled it up and acted. Aang walked over to Appa to hide him. Then he rushed over to me and asked the other two to gather around.
"Okay, Katara you'll be my sister tonight. Your name is Kenji. Sokka you'll be Wang, my dad, no wait be my older brother, and Toph you'll be Kucing, my twin sister who is blind okay?" Aang said quickly.
"What?" the three of us asked in unison.
"Just go with it."
He ran to the entrance and seemed to instruct the band to where they needed to go. Kids piled in all wearing the same uniform. That's why Aang was caught. They thought he was ditching. The band began to play an upbeat song. Aang grabbed one of the girl's hands and led her over to Toph, Sokka and I. Before he left he grabbed another kid's hand and dragged him along.
"Guys," he said to them, "This my older sister Kenji. That's Wang, my older brother, and that's my blind twin sister, Kucing. Guys," he now referred to us, "These are my friends On Ji and Shoji. I met them at school."
"Nice to meet you," I said.
They returned the greeting. Aang dragged them back to their spots and jumped in front of the band.
"Ladies and Gentlemen: The Flamey- os! Yeah, this'll get everybody going," he said.
He turned to reveal the students huddled together.
"What do we do now?" the kid named Shoji asked Aang.
"This is where you start dancing," Aang said.
"I don't think my parents want me dancing in a cave," one of the boys said hiding in his collar.
"Yeah! What if someone finds out?!" another said.
"Oh, boy. Listen, everyone… dancing is a form of self- expression that no one can take away from you," Aang explained.
"Maybe it was different in the colonies, Kuzon. But we don't do that here," Shoji said.
"Sure you do! You have for generations. It just so happens that I know several classic Fire Nation dances. A hundred years ago, this was known as the 'Phoenix Flight,'" Aang said.
He began to run in a circle, squatting and kicking his legs with his arms stretched out behind him to resemble wings. The students oohed and aahed.
"And this was the 'camelephant strut,'" Aang said.
He hopped on one foot and alternated. He repeated this hop passing his palms in front of his face as he did. Then he did a somersault through the air and landed in front of two girls who giggled. I narrowed my eyes slightly. Then Aang did two somersaults backwards and landed expertly on one foot, bowing. The students were amazed.
"Who knew Twinkle Toes could dance?" Toph said.
I smiled. But then it disappeared as Aang offered a hand to On Ji. She blushed as he led her to the dance floor.
"And this is how they do it in the ballrooms of Ba Sing Se," he said.
He passed his arms in a undulating motion across his chest, stepping from side to side. On Ji imitated him.
"Wow, the look pretty good together," said Sokka.
"Eh, if that's what you like," I said dismissively.
I stole a jealous glance at the couple. Why do I feel this way? Soon more kids joined the dance and the crowd loosened up.
"Yeah! That's it! That's the sound of happy feet. All right, go with that! Everybody freestyle!" Aang shouted.
After a few minutes of watching the dancing students Aang offered his hand to me.
"I don't know, Aang. These shoes aren't really right for dancing, and I'm not sure-," I said.
"Take my hand," he said masterfully.
It made my heart jump.
"Okay."
I took his hand and he led me to the middle of the dance floor.
"The Yin and Yang Dance," he whispered in my ear.
I loved that dance. I nodded and bowed to him as he did to me. Then we stretched out our arms and touched wrists and began to circle around the axis we formed. I saw the students gather around.
"Aang everyone's watching," I whispered.
"Don't worry about them. It's just you and me right now," he said.
I looked in his eyes and blushed. Then I became confident. The dance was all about the push and pull of Water and Air. So it was Airbending and Waterbending without bending. It included a lot of kicks over each other's head, crouching, and cartwheels through the air. The students were entranced. At the end, both of us were sweating heavily and breathing deeply.
"Thanks for dancing with me," he said.
"Thanks for asking."
We danced different dances throughout the night until punishment came along. I needed a drink to cool myself down. The headmaster walked in. The dancing came to a screeching halt. Aang was dead. Soooo dead.
"There he is! He's the one! The boy with the headband!" the headmaster shouted.
"Uh oh!" Aang said.
He dashed through the large crowd.
"Aang let's go!" I hissed.
"One second. Bye Shoji! Bye On Ji!" Aang said to his new friends.
"We'll see you at school," On Ji said.
"No, I'll be kicked out as soon as I walk on campus. I'll try to see you soon," Aang said.
"Bye Kuzon," Shoji said.
"Bye Kuzon," On Ji said.
"Kuzon! Let's go!" I hissed louder.
"Bye!" he said at last and ran off with me into the cave.
We climbed on Appa and flew off into the night sky.
"We're safe, Sokka. You can take off the beard now," I said.
"Oh, no I can not. It's permanently glued to my skin," Sokka said smugly, stroking it.
"Way to go, Dancypants. I think you really did help those kids. You taught them to be free," Toph said.
"I don't know. It was just a dance party," Aang said.
"Well, that was some dance party, Aang," I said.
I leaned over and kissed his cheek. I saw him blush softly.
"Flamey- o, sir. Flame- ee- o," Sokka said lazily clapping his hands.