Chapter 9

Katara's POV

A light scent of sandalwood, parchment, and smoke filled my nose, becoming stronger and heavier as the sounds of footsteps came closer and closer behind me. The sweet sound of his voice echoed in my ear and made me melt, "Hello Katara…"

I couldn't hold back the smile that radiated on my face, but trying not to give my self away, I downsized it by sipping the cup of tea in my hand, "Hello Zuko."

He came around to sit right beside me, a smile stretched across his face, "Well, it's about time that you actually used my name. I was beginning to wonder if you just forgot it."

Giving him a smirk, I teased back, "Like I could ever forget YOUR name here in YOUR own palace, Fire Lord Zuko."

"Touché, Princess Katara. What does my uncle have planned for you today in your Fire Nation education?"

Rolling my eyes, but still giving a light chuckle, I answered, "The final lesson is dancing. He wants to teach me all of the proper dances for tomorrow, and I have to learn each and every single one of them since I have to dance with a bunch of 'potential husbands'," I felt myself become melancholy at the thought of having to find a guy to marry tomorrow.

"Well, I think they are going to get the surprise of a lifetime tomorrow: a Water Tribe girl, who is better at dancing Fire Nation dances than them."

I couldn't help the blush that crept from my neck up to my face, feeling the heat rise within me as he complimented me. His eyes softened when I did, but he didn't do anything about it, acting like he didn't notice.

Zuko's POV

Trying as hard as I could to avert my eyes from her face, I tried not to notice the increase of her body heat as she became flustered. Her cheeks tinted a pretty and flattering pink, accenting those beautiful rose-colored lips that drew me to her, taunting me. Her eyes gleamed and sparkled like a diamond sky, framed perfectly by her long and thick eyelashes.

I tried to look at her without throwing myself at her when she spoke, "So, Zuko… How do you think tomorrow is going to go for us?"

Anxiety filled inside of me, and I couldn't help but feel my own face heat up, "Us?"

Katara ducked her head when she realized what she had said, trying to amend for the awkwardness, "What I meant was: How do you think tomorrow is going to go for us finding our fiancées?"

A feeling of emptiness came through to me, and I couldn't help but stare at the beautiful woman who was sitting in front of me. She finally got over her initial meekness and looked right back at me. I could feel a certain tug at my heart from how her eyes began to shimmer. Our faces began to get closer and closer to each other as we leaned, yearning for the other's touch. Though we have fooled around quite a bit around the palace, we never got to the point where I was dishonoring her, just a bit of harmless fun.

Yet, this… it was different.

Katara's POV

Feeling the warmth of his breath against my face, I closed my eyes, waiting for what I hope would be his lips on mine. With my lips puckered out slightly, I felt as he drew closer to me, until the point where our lips only brushed lightly against the other as we breathed. Then holding my breath, I could feel my heart flutter in anticipation…

There was a shifting noise, and suddenly I couldn't feel his gentle breathing on my face or his lips brushing mine. Rather I felt cold air began to encircle me in a tight grip. When looking around, I saw that Zuko was scooted as far away from the seat as he possibly could from me, looking confused and angry.

My heart grew heavy and I could feel tears stinging my eyes, "Zuko…"

His jaw clenched as he closed his eyes, "I am so sorry Katara. I want this just as much as you do, but I don't think that it would be such a good idea, when we know that we are going to be married to different people soon. I wish that circumstances were different, but they aren't. I just don't want you to hurt more later if we do this than you do right now."

Although I felt hollow inside, I couldn't help but nod in agreement with him because I knew deep down that he was right, "I suppose you're right…"

Getting up from where I was sitting, I straightened my dress and began to walk out the door, but before I left I turned around to show him that I would be fine, "I will see you tomorrow Zuko. I'll be the one wearing the mask…"

Seeing him give me a half-smile, I returned it and walked out of the room, holding back the tears…

A couple hours later…

I was being spun around the entire room by General Iroh, what should have been a continuous flowing motion was held rigid by the repressed urge to not wanting to go tomorrow.

"Is everything alright Princess?"

I resisted the need to roll my eyes, "Katara please, and nothing is wrong. I'm just not really feeling the music."

Iroh began to chuckle at my statement, "That is no surprise considering how our distinct difference in tastes of music. Your people have more of a flow between the notes that are rhythmic, a bit more sensual, and long, flowing movements, yet, in the Fire Nation, after the Avatar helped with regaining our dancing culture after the war, we have more of the passionate, quicker rotations and such. The two cultures vary in so many different ways, but that does not mean that you shouldn't represent your own customs.

"I have placed many requests into the choices of music this year for Zuko's birthday, and there will be many different selections from all four of the nations tomorrow night. You will be able to show the council that though you respect the Fire Nation traditions, you will stay true to your own culture as well."

I couldn't help but feel joy in this news, and releasing our hands from their positions, I wrapped my arms around the old general's shoulders, "Thank you so very much."

Laughing one of the heartiest laughs I have ever heard, Iroh said while pulling apart from the hug, "It was not problem my dear. Now maybe after I teach you some of the dances, you will teach me some of your own culture's?"

I gave him one of my biggest smiles, saying, "Of course."

Dancing with Iroh was fun, but I still felt a little bit like I was hollow inside after the little talk I had with Zuko earlier. Making my way to the garden that I had a view of from my window, I saw a small little pond that had a little tree that hung over it. I sat underneath the tree, feeling calmer and relaxed as the water began to sooth me. Little turtle ducks swam the water making little quacking noises at me, looking so sweet, innocent, and cute.

I pulled a small stream of water from the pond, being careful not to mess with the little creatures. I decided that standing might be the best for me because I hadn't really had that much practice since becoming a princess (the council that it was improper for a princess to know how to fight like a man). Moving my arms in a continuous flowing motion, I whipped the water around my body and returned it back to the pond like the time water whip that Aang and I learned form the waterbending scroll…

Looking down at the scroll, I pointed out to Aang, "I just want to try this one move first and then it's all yours. Here hold it open for me."

"The single water whip. Looks doable," I began to imagine the flow of the water, and I made my arms move in the direction of the bender on the scroll. Calling on the water, I pulled a small stream of water and tried to move along with my arms, but it stayed in place, making some funky movements before it hit me in the face as I tried to whip it away.

"Ah!"

"Haha!"

The sound of someone laughing echoed in my ears from my left, and upon turning to see Sokka holding onto his stomach, I asked with venom evident in my voice, "What's so funny?"

He only looked at me and said, "I'm sorry, but you deserved that," then turning to Aang, "You've been douped. She's only interested in teaching herself."

Pissed out of my mind,I defended myself without turning around to face him, "Aang will get his turn once I figure out the water whip."

Pulling another stream, I thought that maybe I was too hesitant with the last one, so I tugged on the water faster, but it went backwards and hit Momo, "Ah! Why can't I get this stupid move?"

From behind me Aang said, "You'll get it," I glared at the back of his tattoed head, as he began speaking to me while executing the water whip effortlessly again, "You just gotta shift your weight through the stances. There, you see, the key to bending is..."

Obviously frustrated by this point, I began to yell, "Will you please just shut your airhole. Believe it or not your infinite wisdom get's a little old sometimes. Why don't we just throw away the scroll since your just so naturally gifted?" The entire time I was waving my arms in absolute anger.

I couldn't help but feel a little sorry for what I had said to Aang that day, and even though I apologized for it, there was no reason that I should have yelled at him for something that he was just good at. I mean, sure there were times when I surpassed him, but some of the time I felt a little disappointed in myself for not being able to do something that I was born to do. It wasn't until Pakku taught me that I truly felt like I was good at something.

Looking around the garden to see if there was anyone watching, I pulled more water around me and waved my arms in a more elaborate fashion, watching as the water began to create the octopus form that I had taught Aang so long ago and used to fight off the Dai Li in the Crystal Catacombs. The rapid motions brought me a comfort that I hadn't felt in such a long time, and it was a little weird for me.

I finally felt like… well me. I felt like the girl who was one of the greatest Master Waterbenders. I felt like the girl who taught the Avatar how to bend. I felt like the girl who took down Azula. I felt like I was truly happy…

AN: This part tells the letters between Zhao and his little spy in the Fire Nation over the last three days before the ball. Zhao and his little group are not that far away from the Fire Nation in the first place, hiding out nearby, but undetected. The rules of writing are different for ONLY this part. BOLD is for the Zhao and ITALISIZED is for spy.

As you wished, I have gathered all of the information as for the whereabouts of the guards in the palace. They are as followed:

Outside, soldiers will be positioned about every fifteen feet from the palace gates to the front doors. The walls of the outside of the palace will have a guard also at every fifteen feet, unless if there is a door, in which case there will be two stationed at both sides.

Inside the palace, there will be soldiers stationed up and down the halls every twenty feet, with one at every door. The ballroom area will have guards at every corner and every twenty feet of the other guard as well.

As far as I know about the ball, everything is still going according to plan. The entire affair is not going to be postponed or anything, so our window is still open.

"May the kingdom heal"

Very well, we will have the element of surprise with us. We will be arriving at the palace after sunset when all of the festivities begin through the front door. Keep me posted if anything has changed.

Z

AN: Hello my readers, I just wanted to say thank you for reading my story; I appreciate every single one of you. I did want to clarify some things that were discussed in this chapter…

Ahem. When Katara and Iroh were talking earlier about the different styles of dance that would be performed, I just wanted you to understand or see (if you really want to) as to how the cultures differ with the different styles of dance.

Air Nomads: I see the style for them would kind of be like the Foxtrot, the Quickstep, the Jive, the Lindy Hop, or Ballet/Contemporary. I thought that their style would be a lot faster paced and a little lighter step when it comes to dancing. They would be a bit better at these types of dancing considering how easy and light you have to be when it comes to the flips and stuff.

Water Tribe: Although their clothing style does not call for it, I think that since water is the element of change, that it should have more sensual and passionate dances. I thought that the Salsa, Rumba, and the Tango would be good, without all the fancy flips and stuff modern society has placed in them.

Earth Kingdom: I had a little harder time with trying to figure out a good dance for this one, but I thought that even though the Viennese Waltz and the Waltz are both more flowing dances, I thought that these would fit more since you have to maintain such a solid frame while only making constant turns rather than the modern style of adding a lot of complicated footwork as well.

Fire Nation: The typical style of dance within the Fire Nation is that of the Paso Doble, though the Waltz does appear as a very well and good dance for this considering how it is very fast-paced. I thought that the Paso Doble though was more in style of power and passion for this story.

All of the dances would be the more basic styles than it would be anything else, so bear with me here. Except maybe the Air Nomad style because that is just Aang and he can dance really good when it comes to being quick and fast. He does, however, dance considerably slower for Toph.