Ok so I wanted to apologize for the lack of plot development in the last chapter--hopefully when you look back at my rather lengthy introduction it won't look so bad in light of the stort as a whole. And, I wanted to reward you with another chapter, this one containing the beginning of one of the major plotlines that runs through the story. The other will begin in the next chapter. I also couldn't help myself and had to write in a few Tokka shenanigans.
Please review, I really enjoy hearing from you. Let me know if you see something that needs improvement or something you like--I'm not averse to criticism.
Anyway, hope you enjoy.
I don't own ATLA so don't sue me--unless you want my textbooks--which I will gladly give you.
Enjoy!
Azula and the Cactus Juice
Later that evening, back at the palace, Aang was pacing with a nervous anticipation. Sokka had told him that he would come pick him up before he went to party, and, as usual, Sokka was late. Finally, throwing his hands in the air in an act of frustration and impatience, Aang decided to go looking for the tardy warrior himself.
"Sokka," he called when he reached his room, "are you ready to go? We probably should stop by the girl's room before head to ball, and we don't want to be late."
When no answer came, Aang repeated himself, but still there was no answer. Finally getting fed up with waiting, Aang turned the knob and stepped into the room. What he saw inside was enough to make anyone's head spin. Sokka was standing in the middle of the room with every article of clothing he had brought set out in concentric circles around him. He was muttering incoherently, something about not being able to find his socks. Upon finally noticing the slightly dumbstruck avatar, Sokka simply said, "Hey Aang, ready to go?"
"Yeah, but what about you?" he answered.
"Ummmm," he scratched his head, "I'm kind having trouble picking out what to wear. Do you think I should wear these blue pants with this white shirt, or the blue shirt with the white pants? Or maybe I should wear these khaki pants instead. But what about this red shirt; I should wear red because we're in the fire nation, right? But, I really like blue. Ugh, I don't know Aang." He sighed, sitting down in the middle of all the clothes. "I've been at this for an hour now."
Slightly perplexed, Aang thought for a moment. Then an idea struck him, "You know Sokka," he began, "this looks like something I used to do before I would go on a date with Katara, but seeing as you broke up with Suki two years ago and don't have a girlfriend right now…" he trailed off, hoping Sokka would rise to the bait. When he didn't, Aang continued, undaunted, "You're either obsessed with clothing or you're trying to impress a girl."
"Wait, what! I'm not obsessed with clothes!" he sputtered. Then, realizing why Aang was still grinning at him, "And I most certainly do not want to impress some girl. I'm perfectly happy being single…right…now." He finished uncertainly.
"Whatever you say, Sokka," Aang said, rolling his eyes, "I'm going to wait outside, and you're going to come out in five minutes, ok?"
"Yeah, sure, whatever. Now stop talking so I can choose." He answered distractedly.
Aang reached the doorway and was about to shut the door behind him when he called over his shoulder, "Oh, by the way, she'd probably like the blue." And, with that slightly ambiguous statement, he left Sokka standing and staring at the wall, wondering what Aang was talking about.
Five minutes later, as Aang had asked, Sokka stepped out of his room. He had taken Aang's advice and worn a blue tunic over some khaki pants. He tugged a little at the collar, not liking the fit; he was much more comfortable in his typical garb. On the contrary, Aang looked perfectly at home in his formal air nomad garb. The yellows and reds mixed nicely with the orange, and the robes fit much better now that he had grown. He had forgone the traditional necklace, however, in favor of a much smaller, discreet replica.
"Alright Sokka, let's go," he said, leading the way to the main ballroom.
Following Aang through the twists and turns of the palace, Sokka couldn't help but be a tad nervous. After all, he was still just a peasant from the southern water tribe, and he was never very comfortable among the politicians and dignitaries that seemed to frequent these types of events.
Finally rounding the last corner and stepping into the ballroom, Sokka gaped. The room that had been Fire Lord Ozai's throne room had been transformed from a dark, foreboding dungeon to a warm and lively place. The party planners had taken the time to add more lights, eliminating many of the shadows, and to add many paintings to the pillars and walls to create a warmth that the room had not previously had.
On the far left wall there was a diverse buffet table featuring food from both the earth kingdom and the water tribes, in addition to the more common fire nation fare. There were tables set up for people to sit in and a bar for people to get drinks. On the raised platform where the throne usually was, the customary wall of fire was gone, and there was a small band playing some quiet music. The middle of the room, closest to the band had been designated the dance floor and already a few couples had taken the opportunity to enjoy each other's company. All around there were people mingling, talking and laughing, simply enjoying the occasion.
While Sokka had been busy gaping at the room, Aang had been searching for Katara and the rest of their friends. Finally spotting them, he grabbed Sokka's arm and began pulling him through the crowd. "Come on, Sokka," he called, "I think I see Katara over there with Mai and Zuko."
Threading their way through the crowd, Aang and Sokka finally burst through a group of people to stumble on Katara and Toph talking with Zuko and Mai. Both boys stopped, staring, but for totally different reasons.
Aang, as always, blushed when he saw Katara, her body hugging, strapless blue dress accenting her curves beautifully; her mother's necklace conspicuously clasped around her throat. She had chosen to leave her hair down, allowing it to cascade over her shoulders, framing her face wonderfully. Seeing her boyfriend, she came over and gave him a hug and a quick kiss on the cheek.
Meanwhile, Sokka's brain was trying to get wrapped around what he saw. In front of him was a girl—no, actually a beautiful young woman—who he assumed had to be Toph. She was wearing a light green dress that accented her eyes perfectly as well as her petite frame, and at the same time, complimented her porcelain-like skin. Her hair had been done up, with a few intricately and intentionally placed strands allowed to escape from the tiara that held them, and a pair of understated, emerald earrings dangled from her ears. Much to Sokka's pleasant surprise, she had still elected to wear the meteor bracelet he had given her on her upper left arm.
"What's up Snoozles?" she asked, breaking him from his revere. "Forget something?"
"What? Ummm, no, I'm good thanks," he stuttered. Stumbling over his words, he managed to get out, "You look great by the way. You should dress up like this more often."
Toph, who could feel Sokka's elevated heart rate but wasn't sure what to make of it, smiled, a quiet blush gracing her cheeks, "Thanks Sokka. I'd return the favor but," she waved her hand in front of her face, "I can't see you."
Sokka snorted, his mouth—as usual—working before his brain, "Well, I'm sure I don't look as good as you." Right after the words left his mouth Sokka's brain pulled an abrupt U-turn. Did I really just say that? What was I thinking!? Why am I so nervous? This is just Toph after all. He looked up to see Toph standing, seemingly lost in thought. Thankfully, before Sokka could say anything else, Katara spoke up,
"Oh, Aang," she said, listening the band change to a new number, "I love this music, let's go dance." Happily, the avatar complied, taking his girlfriend's hand and leading her to the dance floor. Zuko looked at Mai, who nodded, and they too left for the dance floor.
Feeling the others depart, Toph turned to Sokka, "Well Snoozles, it looks like it's just you and me…"
"Yeah…" Sokka began, looking for something to do. Spying the buffet table—and still not feeling any effects from the slightly rotten meat he had eaten earlier, he offered, "Want to go get some food?"
"Sure," Toph shrugged, and the two friends went over to the lavish buffet table to sample some of its many delicacies.
Grabbing a plate from a nearby stack, Sokka immediately began filling his plate with meat. He grabbed a large moose-lion steak and plopped it on his plate, immediately following that with a turtle-duck drumstick and a fillet of some kind of fish. Finally topping it off with a large dollop of mashed potatoes, Sokka turned and began looking for a table. Spotting one a little ways off, he turned to tell Toph where he was going. When he looked back, he saw Toph, plate in one hand, serving tongs in the other, blindly groping for some food. Smirking to himself, he set his plate down and went back to help.
"Having a little trouble?" he teased.
"No," she retorted, "I'm just fine, and I can serve myself thank you." As if to emphasize her point, Toph reached out and, feeling some leaves brush the tongs, grabbed them and put them on her plate. "See," she said proudly, "salad, just what I wanted." As she began to continue down the table, she heard Sokka's barely stifled laugh behind her. Whirling, she exclaimed, "What now?!"
Scarcely holding back his laughter, Sokka managed, "You grabbed some of the flowers that were lying on the table for decoration, not the salad."
The embarrassment that clouded her face quickly turned to anger, "Well what did you expect! I'm blind!" she shouted, "Why can't you ever remember that?" Throwing her plate onto the buffet table, she stalked off to a nearby table and sat down, propping her bare feet up the chair next to her.
Sokka knew better than to chase after Toph when she was angry, so he simply grabbed her plate, pushed the flowers back on to the table, and began filling it with some food.
A couple minutes later Sokka came over carrying both his and Toph's plates. He deposited one in front of her and took the seat next to her. Sliding her feet off the chair, Toph sat up, "Thanks," she mumbled, before slowly picking up her fork and feeling around her plate. "What you know, it's not all meat," she commented.
"You said you wanted some salad, so I got you some. Besides, I got you some turtle-duck just in case you were hungry for some real food," Sokka explained.
"Thanks Meathead," Toph said, coming up with yet another nickname for her friend.
The two friends continued eating in silence for some time until Sokka, finally finished with his meat, pushed back from the table and sighed contentedly. Taking a surreptitious glance at his friend across the table, he again couldn't help but be surprised by what he saw. When did she get curves like Katara? How come I haven't noticed any of this? Am I that oblivious?
"Enjoying the view Snoozles?"
"What view?" Sokka blurted, a fierce blush coming to his cheeks, "I was just…thinking. Yeah, I was thinking."
"You, thinking…right," Toph snorted.
"Hey, I resent that," Sokka protested, "after all I am the idea-guy."
"Alright," she smirked, "prove it."
"Well," Sokka thought for a long moment. What was he supposed to come up with? After all, he was at a party, it's not like he had a bunch of options. But, just when he was afraid that he wasn't going to be able to come up with anything, a thought struck him. "Ok," he began, leaning forward and beginning to whisper excitedly, "I've got an idea; remember that time when Zuko burned your feet?"
"Yea…"
"Well how about we get back at him?"
At this a huge grin split Toph's face, "Sweet! What's your plan?" she whispered back.
"Well," he began in his most conspiratorial voice, "over at the end of the tables is a bar and because Sparky is the Fire Lord and this is such a big celebration, they're bound to have lots of different kinds of drinks."
"Ok…."
"Well remember that time I got high on cactus juice?" he prodded.
"How could I forget? You were obnox—oooooh," Toph exclaimed, finally realizing where Sokka was going with his plan. "So you want to spike all the drinks of all the other guests? Because after that Zuko's party will turn into a living hell for him and everyone will be going crazy?" Toph laughed, "I like the way you think Snoozles, let's go."
"Alright, well we're going to need a distraction, think you can do your little blind girl act?" he teased.
"Of course," she snorted, "just point me in the right direction and watch me fall."
Sokka laughed, he really enjoyed spending this time with Toph, she always made him feel the most comfortable, the most like himself. It was doing stupid things like this that he had missed over the past couple years. While he was at home in the Southern Water Tribe, or even when he had spent time on Kyoshi Island with Suki, he didn't get to make mischief like he always did with Toph.
Approaching the bar, he signaled Toph by reaching out and squeezing her hand twice. She veered away, hiding the slight blush that was gracing her face. Leaning over the counter, Sokka began speaking in what he liked to think of as his "business voice." Instead it came off like a snob-nosed politician telling you why he thought sea prunes were better than ocean kumquats. Either way, it brought the obviously tired and hassled bar tender over to him, "What do you want?" he asked grumpily.
"Well, what do you got?" Sokka asked.
"Everything, now make up your mind. I've got other people to serve," he said.
"Hmmm, what's that?" Sokka asked, peering over the counter and pointing to a bottle with a blue label.
"That's high concentration cactus juice. Never put more than a couple ounces in a drink or you'll be high off the stuff for hours." He explained helpfully.
"Can I see it?" Sokka asked.
"I'm not going to let you take it if that's what you mean. There's no way I would give that out. The Fire Lord would probably banish me if some idiot got a hold of that and started acting like a complete fool." Nevertheless, he reached over and grabbed the bottle, plunking it on the countertop in front of Sokka. "Seen enough yet?" he hassled.
It was at this point that Toph decided to make her entrance. "Owwww!" she cried as she intentionally kicked a nearby chair, causing her to stumble and fall hard into the bar. As she fell, she managed to guide herself through the side entrance used by the bartender and land among the racks of bottles and flasks that were against the bar. Immediately glasses started to fall, and bottles began to clink against each other. The bartender, completely forgetting about Sokka and the cactus juice, rushed to keep more glasses from falling and the flasks from spilling.
"Spirits!" Toph cursed, rubbing her foot, "Who the hell put a chair there?"
Crouching beside her, the bartender put a hand under her arm to help her up and asked, "Are you ok miss? Do you need me to go get some help?"
Shrugging his hand off angrily, Toph stood up, "I'm blind, not weak. Now I'll be on my way if you don't mind."
Slightly startled, the bartender shrugged, "Ok, whatever you say. Just please be more careful next time."
Toph didn't answer but simply walked out of the bar and back into the crowd, but before she was too far away she heard the bartender grown and the telltale sound of someone's palm coming in contact with their forehead. She smiled; it looked like Sokka had managed to get the cactus juice after all.
Fire Lord Zuko smiled, the stress of the day was over and there was nothing he needed to do now but enjoy the evening with his lovely wife. The band was playing a soft tune, Mai's arms were around his neck, her body pressed against his, swaying slightly in time with the music—nothing could ruin the moment.
"Excuse me, Fire Lord?" Zuko tensed, this was the last thing he wanted to hear. This was supposed to be a celebration and he did not want to have to worry about the stupid whims of one politician or another for at least another twelve hours. Maybe if he ignored him, he would just go away.
"Fire Lord?" The voice came back stronger this time, more persistent.
Not taking her hands from Zuko, Mai asked "Do you think anyone would mind if I stuck him to the wall over there for, oh I don't know, maybe a couple hours?"
Zuko smiled, "I think that sounds like a fantastic idea, and I'm sure the Fire Lord won't mind, after all this is his party."
Mai gave a wry chuckle, unlacing her fingers from behind her husband's neck and made ready to flick a couple knives in the direction of the voice.
"Fire Lord," the servant squeaked, realizing his peril, "I know you didn't want to be interrupted but it involves Azu—"
Before Mai could even bring her arm around to throw the knives, Zuko had grabbed her arm, staying her motion for at least the time being. He turned slowly, every muscle in his body rigid, a faint steam rising from his nostrils. "What did you say?" he asked in a menacingly calm tone.
"I said," the servant began again, "I have urgent information regarding your sister."
Reacting quickly and without hesitation, Zuko strode from the dance floor, his ceremonial robes flowing behind him while Mai, in her floor length black gown, struggled to keep up. Zuko grabbed the servant by the elbow, pulling him roughly out of his abbreviated bow, and hustled him into an empty corridor outside of the ballroom.
Finally at a place where they could speak freely, Zuko began, "You had better have a very, very good reason for coming into my party, interrupting the little time I get to spend with my wife, and then mentioning Azula! I do not take any of these things lightly, least of all the mention of my sister. So tell me, what is it that is so important that it couldn't wait a few hours?"
"Well," the servant gulped nervously, "it appears that your sister escaped from prison yesterday…"
"WHAT! How could this happen!?" Zuko threw his hands in the hair and began pacing the hallway, nearly spitting flames.
Mai, who had been standing next to Zuko, let out a very characteristic sigh, "I knew this would happen eventually."
Whirling on his wife, Zuko fumed, "What!? How could you know this was going to happen? I had her sent to the Boiling Rock, put in a special room, and hired the best doctor I could find to take care of her. She's family, Mai. It's not like I could just toss her in the cooler and throw away the key!"
"Zuko, like it or not, even in the state she was in, she's still Azula." Mai began calmly, "She's smart, manipulative, and hell-bent on bringing the fire nation back into its 'former glory.' Some group still loyal to your father probably got up the courage to spring her in the hope that she would lead them to victory. It's not that far-fetched, and besides, you knew some of the treatments were working. She is far from the crazed lunatic she was right after Sozin's Comet."
Turning from Mai, Zuko glared at the servant, "Is there any other information I should know about? And why am I just hearing about this now?"
"We just received the messenger hawk an hour ago, sir. We debated whether we should bring it to you now, and decided that it would be best if you were informed immediately. As for any other information, it is believed that the doctor you hired helped her to escape. Apparently Azula was allowed out of the prison for a brief bit of air." Seeing Zuko's glare, he hastened to add, "It was by the doctor's orders, and there were at least six guards with them at all times. He said that the fresh air would help the healing process. Anyway, one of the guards stumbled back into the prison saying that Azula and the doctor attacked them, knocking out three of the guards, killing two others. Apparently it was a surprise attack…"
"Apparently so," Zuko muttered, "Do you have any leads on finding the doctor?"
"Well sir," the servant said, scratching his head, "That's the odd thing. The doctor reported the next day like nothing had ever happened. He claimed that he had been at home sick and sent a messenger hawk to the prison to let them know he would not be able to come in that day, and interestingly enough, his story checks out. A couple people from his village confirm that he didn't leave his house, but despite this, they still took him into custody for questioning."
Perplexed, Zuko dismissed his servant, "Very good. Thank you for coming and getting me. Let me know immediately if anything new comes up."
"At once, sir." The servant bowed one last time and left.
Turning to Mai, Zuko rubbed his brow, "This is the last thing we need. We've had almost four years of relative peace and now my sister is broken out of prison. This can only mean more violence. I'm going to have to meet with the generals soon. She cannot be allowed to roam unchecked for very long."
"I agree," Mai said, coming up behind him and wrapping her arms around his neck, "but I think that can wait. Besides," she teased, breaking into one of her few, but captivating grins, "I believe you still owe me a dance."
Mollified for now, Zuko smiled and extended his arm, and together they walked back into the party, letting the outside world be—for now.
Please review, I really enjoy hearing from you!
