Hooray, we're finally to an Owl City song chapter! Obviously, I don't own anything having to do with Owl City, so let's just get that out of the way right now.

We also finally get to my notebook with the pretty giant yellow flowers on the cover!

I hope y'all are paying attention to our friend Don, 'cause he turns out to be more important to the story than I thought he would at first. Funny how that happens sometimes, huh? Makes it more fun, I think! ;)

Anyway, now Lenne is going to appear in royal court for the first time, virtually alone. How will she handle it? With an Owl City song, of course! Please enjoy!


"I'm just saying! There's only one way this is gonna go down! We'll fight for a bit, you'll tear my mask, but in the end, we both know I'm just gonna leap out of the way and you're gonna do something that makes you kill yourself!"—Spiderman, How Spiderman 3 Should Have Ended (are you starting to see a trend here?)


Chapter 6: The Tip Of The Iceberg
"Hi, Don!" Lenne chirped after dinner that evening.

"Well good evening, Miss Hakari," he saluted as he helped her into his boat, "You're awfully chipper. To what occasion should I give thanks for the grace of your smile?" Lenne blushed a cute pink.

"Miss Hewitt's taking me to see the Royal Council and she says they'll want me to perform," she answered while he helped Olivia, "That means they'll take off my manacle! I'll be able to bend again!"

"Congratulations," he said flatly as they shoved off, "How fortunate you are to have the government's permission to use your basic functions. I just got a license to breathe, myself!" Lenne snorted at his joke, thankful that Amos wasn't with them this time.

"So you like robins, huh?" he continued, "They all look the same to me."

"Not mine," she smiled, "My bird has golden feathers and brown eyes. He sings like the happiest little thing, and he's always with me. I also have a small white bird with blue eyes; he's always chirping away, as happy as anything. Do you have many birds here on the Poles?"

"None at all, I'm afraid," he shook his head, "There's not a bird alive that could survive the harsh climate up here, except maybe a penguin."

"Well, my birds will fly here," she said purposefully, "Make no mistake. They don't like to be away from me for long."

"That's enough, Lenne," said Olivia, "I know very well what you're talking about, and whom." Lenne looked back at her with a challenge in her eyes.

"So what?" she responded, "It's the truth."

"So stop it or I'll have you put away for sedition," Olivia narrowed her own eyes.

"Go ahead," said Lenne, "It's better than arranged marriage."

"Ladies, ladies," Don cut in pleasantly, "Please! The cab waters must run smoothly! Besides, frowning will give you some ugly wrinkles when you're old, and lovely ladies like yourselves deserve smiley wrinkles!"

'Smiley wrinkles.' Lenne giggled in spite of herself.

"See?" he said, "That's much better."

Several minutes later, escorted by Miss Hewitt, Lenne ascended the grand stairs of the Royal Palace; she was impressed by its majesty and hoped she'd make a good impression on the Council, despite the circumstances.

'I hope my hair looks okay,' she thought. She'd done her hair up Water Tribe style, with one long braid and two hair loops in the front. Her mother had taught her that style and right now she missed her terribly. If only they'd let her come with her! Who knew more about the Water Tribe than her?

She sighed inwardly, feeling an "I want my mommy" moment coming on; she shook her head to ward it off.

'I'm not gonna whine like I did my first day of kindergarten!' she thought stubbornly, 'I'm going to make Mom proud of me and hold my own until she and Dad get here!'

"Ladies and gentlemen of the Royal Council," Miss Hewitt bowed, "May I present Miss Lenne Rinoa Hakari, daughter of Riku and Ame Hakari of the Destiny Islands, great-granddaughter of Mizuki Megami of the ancient house of Megami, descendant of Avatar Aang."

Lenne bowed solemnly at the waist before the Royal Council.

"My lords and ladies," she said with grave formality, "It is an honor to me and my family to be called into court. I am the Tribe's humble servant and Yue's handmaiden." The twelve councilors murmured appreciatively, then a man with a short gray ponytail sitting in the middle of the line stood up from his cushion.

"A gracious greeting, Miss Hakari," he said, "My name is Lord Hopa, Chief of the Royal Council, and on behalf of my colleagues, I bid you welcome to the Northern Tribe." Lenne bowed to him again.

"I feel we owe you an explanation, Miss Hakari," he said as he sat back down, "Would you care to have a seat?" He indicated a blue mat below him; the Council was seated on a sloping dais about five feet high with a large waterfall filling a pool behind them, which Lenne couldn't see from where she was. She curtsied her thanks and knelt neatly on the mat, just as her mother had taught her, sitting up straight like a lady.

"We received a full report of your retrieval from Agent Devereau," he explained, "We apologize for the chi blockers, but a Blood Hunter has a right to protect himself as well as take measures to have as little trouble as possible."

"With all due respect, sir," she said, "Agent Devereau's a waterbender and seems to be able to protect himself just fine as well as Miss Hewitt."

"And so he is," he nodded, "but they seemed to have a little trouble with you. However, we're willing to remove them both in return for your word that you will not try to run away anymore." Lenne had to bite her tongue to keep from replying "I don't need to." Instead she replied, "I give you my word as a waterbender and as a daughter of the Megami family: I will stay on the North Pole."

'But I will not marry against my will,' she promised herself. Lord Hopa looked at her for a moment.

"Your grandfather Nikko Yoake lived in a western village," he said with an almost wistful voice, "but I remember him well: He had that same honest face, that same steadfastness. (…) Agent Hewitt? Unlock the wings off this little bird."

"Yes, sir," the blonde lady nodded. When they were off, Lenne breathed in happily: Her focus was sharper now, and her strength was back!

"Now that you're feeling better," Lord Hopa asked, "Could we trouble you for a demonstration of your training?"

Her eyes lit up.

"No trouble!" she piped and stood up. She'd show them what an amazing teacher her mother was; maybe then they'd think twice about what they'd done! And she knew just the song to do it!

She stood in the middle of the room and summoned the music with her inherited celestial magic; her eyes rippled like raindrops in puddles and she smiled with both innocence and mystery.

Welcome back winter once again

On the next line, she hugged herself and nuzzled her face into her soft furry collar.

And put on your warm fuzzy sweater,
'cause you'll fell much better
when

She raised her hands to the ceiling and popped out her fingertips like a magician, causing some snow bursts to break from it and softly shower the Council.

The snowflakes fall gently to the ground

She smoothly waved her arms around herself and brought a thin stream spiraling up around her.

The temperature drops and your shivers
freeze all the rivers

It froze and she grinned as she sang, "around…but I keep you warm."

During the instrumental break, Lenne marched up a handbent staircase between Lord Hopa and one of the other Councilors, straight toward the ice-rimmed pool; she used her bending to raise three icebergs close to the edge and walked to the middle of the water on ice that formed under her feet and she made a little circle to stand on as the Council turned around on their seats to watch.

If speed's a pro,
inertia must be a con

As she sang that line, she swept a big stream around quickly, sent it flying up, and split it in two. They crisscrossed each other a few times and splashed back into the pool with the next line.

'Cause the cold wind blows at precise rates
when I've got my ice skates

She spun her back to the Council and popped her foot, showing ice on the bottom. She winked and sang, "on…" She then froze the entire pool, except where the waterfall fell in.

If all the roads were paved
with ice that wouldn't thaw or crack

She skated to each iceberg in turn, using them as an illustration.

I could skate from Maine to Nebraska,
then on to Alaska and back
'cause you keep me warm

After putting everything back to normal, she spent the next instrumental break skimming around the pool near the Councilors; as she passed, she left a frozen wave behind her. When she got to the end of their semi-circle, she slid on top of it and built another wave on it. She then seated herself on it and waved at them.

Peer over the edge-
can you see me?

She made two small waterfalls spill over on either side of her.

Rivulets flow from your eyes

She stood up and made a bigger one flow around her feet and made a misty rainbow overhead with her snow breath.

Paint runs from your mouth
like a waterfall
and your once-crystal eyes

At her command, the wave wall shattered into a million streams that flew and danced around her as she skate-danced on the water.

I'll travel the sub-zero tundra
with great glaciers and frozen lakes

She smiled with that light in her eyes of innocent mystery as she turned on one foot.

And that's just the tip of the iceberg!
I'll do whatever it takes to change

She raised her arms and all the streams arched towards her; she then bent her knees slightly and moved her arms in smooth, slow motions and the large stream they'd converged into swirled around her like a typhoon. Her eyes looked serene as she controlled it.

The musical break took on a DDR techno quality and her stream instantly changed into the famous Octopus form, its tentacles waving in time to the music. She made some snowballs fly toward her and destroyed each one, like popping off clay ducks.

Farewell, powdery paradise

On that, her large stream boosted her over the Councilors' heads and towards the wall, which she skated along with the water following her as she sang the next line.

We'd rather skate on the thinnest ice!

She hopped back on the water and it spiraled deftly to the ground for a smooth landing on her feet. She bowed her head with her eyes closed and folded a hand over her fist as if in prayer.

Fingers failed us before they froze

A pair of water wings unfurled behind her, giving her the brief image of an angel before a liquid swan took flight above her and circled her before landing at her feet.

And frostbite bit down on all our toes

Her swan flew in a spiral up to the ceiling and sliced into it with an icy sharp wing, sending a thick snow shower down on the awestruck Council as well as Lenne, who gathered the snow into a pile behind her that turned into a crude shelter.

Snowdrifts build up and enfold us
as we wait out this winter storm

For a final touch, she created a snowman holding her while her swan perched lightly on her snow pile.

So we'll snuggle close in the darkness
and keep each other so warm

After the snow stopped falling, Lenne put the snow back and dissolved her swan while the Royal Council murmured and applauded her.

"Most impressive, Miss Hakari," said Lord Hopa. She took a bow.

"Enchanting performance," said a woman beside him.

"And a most amusing song!" chirped another lady.

"You've covered nearly every required area for a typical waterbending recital," said Lord Hopa, "Defense, freezing, snow breath, skating, control, landscape change, even an animal! All you've left out is the land animal." She blushed. "But that's all right. I take it your mother trained you?"

"Yes, sir," she nodded, "She also assessed my recitals."

"She's taught you well," he nodded thoughtfully, "Thank you very much for that. You've provided us with some valuable input. How do you find your living quarters?"

"Very well, thank you," she answered properly, "thought I'm not sure I deserve such luxurious accommodations. It's very generous of you."

"Well, we have some more business to take care of before we adjourn," he said, "but we're very glad to have met you, Miss Hakari."

"Thank you, my lord," she humbly bowed again.

"We'll probably call you back in a few days' time," he continued, "We want to pick the perfect husband for you." Lenne's heart pounded and her cheeks sizzled angrily, but she guessed he'd take her for a blushing bride.

"Um, my lord, sir," she stammered a bit, "I don't have my parents with me. Am I not supposed to have parental supervision throughout the engagement process?"

"We will provide you with a guardian," Lord Hopa smiled in a way that was meant to be friendly but just gave Lenne chills.

"That's very generous of you," she said politely, "but if it's all the same to Your Lordship, I'd rather wait for my parents." Lord Hopa looked surprised.

"Your mother is coming, then?" he asked.

"And my father," she answered, irritated at the obvious omitting of her dad from their minds. They probably thought he was an outsider, like some of the rich folks back home.

"According to Water Tribe custom," she continued, "when a man proposes to a woman, directly or after asking her father, the parents or guardians of both parties have a formal meeting to discuss the details of the ensuing marriage. I don't need a guardian appointed to me; I only need to wait for my parents, both of whom are law-abiding citizens."

"We know the customs of our own tribe, Miss Lenne," said the gray-haired lady beside Lord Hopa, "and we have no doubt that your parents are decent people."

"Then why did your agents knock them out?" Lenne asked in genuine confusion, "If my mother is so famous and so important, why didn't they let her accompany me?"

"Mr. Devereau was ordered to retrieve you," said a middle-aged man three seats to her right, "Your mother engaged him in battle, interfering with federal business."

"Forgive me, sir," she replied seriously, "but does 'federal business' including accosting young women in the middle of the street and forcing them into cars?"

"As I said," he repeated, "He had orders to retrieve you."

"You have no laws about kidnapping?" she challenged, "Or does this not count, since it's federal business?"

"Now, my dear," said Lord Hopa, "We all enjoyed your performance. Let's not spoil a good first impression."

Lenne had the distinct feeling she'd just been patted on the head and it pissed her off; she could handle her family occasionally treating her like a child, but no stranger would do this and get away with it!

"Yes, sir," she bowed, "Good night."

She walked outside with Miss Hewitt, fuming with indignity.

"Top of the evening, ladies!" chirped Don, dispelling her gloom, "So? How about it, Miss H? They unhook you?" Lenne half-smiled and drew her swan from the water, which flew around the kind cabby and soared above them, drawing attention from nearby people.

"I feel so much better now," she smiled as she sent it back in, "like I can breathe again."

"I'm glad to hear it," he said and offered his hand, "Shall we?" She giggled happily, curtsied, and accepted. He helped her in, then Olivia, and set off. As they went, Lenne had a little bending fun; first she made a cat that loped alongside their boat. Then she made a pair of wings on the sides of the boat itself with a swan neck on the front. Don laughed.

"Thanks for the décor, Miss H!" he chimed. Lenne leaned over to the side with a glint in her eye.

"You can call me Lenne," she smirked, flicked her hands behind her palm-up, and kicked the boat into overdrive. Don and Olivia fell backward.

"I guess I deserve this," Olivia muttered, taking into account that Lenne's long confinement from her bending powers was her fault.

Fortunately, there weren't many other boats in the canal, so Don didn't mind the hijack joyride. Besides, he liked the way Lenne smiled, so free and childlike.

"You know something, Lenne?" he smiled back, "You've got the makings of a great cabby!"


Lord Hopa sat at his desk and leaned the side of his head against two of his fingers as he stared ponderously at the paper in his other hand.

Within hours of Lenne's arrival, this woman had petitioned to be the girl's parental supervision, which she would need if they were going to get her properly married off. The only problem was who the woman was; if what he'd heard about her was true, she could work against them. She had an illustrious reputation that would be dangerous to their work if she decided to use it; she'd get away with it too, because she had even more respect and prestige than Ame herself. If he accepted her petition, she could cause trouble.

On the other hand, if he denied her, she could use her power and prestige to cause an uproar, and she'd bust out the big guns—slanders, accusations, the femme fatale card, everything that made her the contemptible shrew she could be.

So really, his dilemma was choosing which was the worse of the two. Which one would be easier to handle? Accept and she fights the system, or deny and get neutered.

Finally he reached a decision; he laid the petition on the desk, reached for his stamp, and slapped it down firmly, leaving behind the official seal of the Royal Council in light blue.

"Petition accepted," he said, feeling like he'd just beheaded himself.


Author's Review:
Anyone who's read my stuff before will have a pretty good idea who I'm talking about right there! Just you wait! ;)

I've said it before and I'll say it again: It is VERY hard to type what is virtually a music video/dance sequence! (Can I get a witness?) I just hope I did it in a very non-confusing way that made you all see it the way I did.

I might as well mention that the Royal Council is kinda like the leaders in "The Giver," one of my favorite books in the universe, and in later chapters, I'll introduce a character that was named after the hero of said book! But it's a bit of a wait, so don't hold your breath.

Stay tuned for the next chapter, which will feature a DOUBLE CHARACTER RETURN!