Burnings of the Heart

Burnings of the Heart

Chapter XXXIV: A Night at the Circus

A long line of civilians stood outside of the large entrance to the arena where four Dai Li stood placed upon the hand of every man woman and child that entered, a stamp made of a special ink that was harmless but would not come off for seven days. The stamp was away for the guards to tell who had already seen the show and who hadn't; and as the seats of the arena slowly filled up. Grand General Sairon, with Prince Zuko, Mai, Jet, Smellerbee, Iroh and the handmaidens Jin and Da Ling waited outside a hallway that was restricted to the public and led to a special booth for the royal elite and their guests. They'd arrived at the arena about ten minutes early and met up with Shan-yi and Azula. Azula had asked Shan-yi before meeting up the others not to say anything to Kai-lin about her earlier headache, but the pale skinned vassal's loyalty was to one person and one person only and she could not keep such a secret. When they met up with the group, Shan-yi, whispered the earlier happenings to her lord in a strange tongue and Kai-lin thanked her in the same tongue and then looked at Azula with concern and worry.

"I've ordered a team of Yu Yan to patrol the arena, if the Fire Ninjas have returned to the city they'll let us know," Shan-yi in a low tone.

"You did well in your actions, but somehow I feel that our mysterious enemy isn't fully behind the return of Azula's headaches?" Kai-lin said. His eyes still on Azula. "It is summer after all."

"What do mean my lord?" Shan-yi asked.

He didn't answer her right away. He turned towards her and said. "We'll talk more on this later. For now let's just enjoy what little time we have to relax."

"Yes my lord," Shan-yi said with a short bow.

Kai-lin looked at Azula as she chatted amongst the others. Her returning headaches were of great concern to him. He'd had the Yu Yan search around the palace earlier for any signs of Fire Ninjas only to come up with nothing. He had no doubt that the emperor was taking advantage of the power boost firebenders receive during the summer to increase his own power. Since he'd arrived he'd kept the truth about his original purpose for leaving home from all, with the acceptation of Sun Su, Iroh and Shan-yi, but he may not be able to do so much longer.

Azula looked at her fiancé and he immediately banished his worried look in exchange for a smile. She looked at Shan-yi and then took on a sad expression, she knew right away that Shan-yi had told Kai-lin of her earlier headache. She was well aware that her stagnate health was causing him worry and with so much already weighing on his shoulders and mind, she didn't like burdening him with anymore concerns.

"Are you alright, my princess?" Jin asked quietly.

"Jin," the princess replied. She took on an immediate smile. "Yes I'm fine."

"Are you sure, I'm here to talk if you need an ear," Jin said kindly.

"Thank you," Azula replied kindly. "But I'm fine, really."

"Alright," Jin said, still a little concerned.

The group continued to wait outside the hallway as they waited for the last of their party to arrive, Sun Su and special guest of his own.

"What's taking Sun Su so long the shows gonna start soon," Smellerbee said.

"Why didn't he leave with the rest of you?" Azula asked curiously.

"He's trying to convince that girl he's been looking after to leave her room," Mai said.

"Whoa hold on there, the Silent Stone, the stiffest human being alive, has a girlfriend?" Jet said in surprise.

"Well I wouldn't go that far, but he is at the moment her caretaker?" Iroh asked.

"Though very few have seen her."

"Has ever seen this girl?" Zuko asked.

"According Iniko, her handmaiden, she's only left her room a few times, but other than that she pretty much locks herself in and only opens the door for her and Master Sun Su," Da Ling explained.

"Well that's understandable considering the hardships she's been forced to endure. When I was appointed Grand General, one of the first things I did was go after the slave trade and its markets and from that experience I learned that girls her age and up are usually meant to be trained as pleasure slaves," Kai-lin said. "Fortunately the Moon Priestess that examined her reported her vir—her innocence was still intact," he said remembering Smellerbee and Da Ling we're amongst them.

"Such an experience has no doubt been very traumatizing for her. If Sun Su does succeed in bringing her we should try and make her feel welcome and not do anything that could remind her of past experiences with the slavers," Azula said kindly.

All agreed and they continued to wait to see if Sun Su would arrive, and their wait was not a long for shortly after their talk Sun Su came walking down the hall with his arms behind his arms back, and stiff as usual. However, their eyes quickly diverted from him to the sixteen year old young woman walking closely and timidly behind him, with brown hair that reached to the bottom of her back and had two long braids forged at the sides and bond together in the back by blue a sapphire blue ribbon. She wore a white regal dress robe of silk, outlined in sapphire blue, white, heelless slippers and a silver-white choker-like necklace with a tear shaped sapphire pendent hanging in the front.

"Good evening my lord, everyone," Sun Su greeted frankly.

"Good evening yourself my friend," Kai-lin said. He looked at the girl hiding behind his right hand. "So I take it that girl behind you is the one you wanted the extra chair set up for."

"Yes, my lord," Sun Su said in a void tone, but blushing a little red. He looked at her. "It's alright," he said in a gentle tone. "No one's going to hurt you," Sun Su explained kindly.

The girl looked at him and he nodded with a light smile that no one noticed. The girl smiled back and he stood aside a little and she looked down at the floor timidly with her hands in front of her.

"Hi, I am Azula, Princess of the Fire Nation," the princess greeted kindly. The girl didn't reply. "There's no need to be shy or worry. No one here is going to hurt. Why don't you so us your face?"

The girl was still nervous she glanced over at Sun Su.

"It's alright, your as safe as you could possibly be, there's no need to be afraid," the Silent Stone said in a calm and comforting tone.

The young lady was cautious this was her first time outside of the palace since she'd been rescued, but the voice of rescuer eased her fears and she slowly raised her head and the moment it was all the way up Zuko and Iroh froze in surprise.

"It can't be," Zuko said.

He and Iroh want to the girl and when she saw them her eyes opened in surprise as while.

"Song! Is that you?" Iroh asked.

"Uncle, you two know her?" Azula asked.

"Yes from our fugitive days. Uncle ate some poisonous berries and she and her mother happened to have an antidote. They also took us in a for a short while," Zuko said. "But what is she doing here?"

"They must have been attacked by slavers sometime after you left," Kai-lin said, "But now is not the time to speak of harsh pasts." He walked up to the girl. "Such things can talked about later when the she is alright with it. For now let's just enjoy this evening for we may not have a another chance like for many weeks to come."

Everyone agreed and one by one they introduced themselves to Song who they learned was unable to speck because of the trauma she'd experienced as victim of the slave trade.

After introductions were complete the group entered the hall a headed for the royal box. When they reached the end of the hall Smellerbee immediately ran ahead with Da Ling following closely behind her. The young Lady Sakura stopped at the rail and was in awe at sight before her.

"WOW! This place is huge!" she cried.

The arena held hundreds upon hundreds of people many of them in the stands, but also some sitting on benches just outside of the ring behind a protective barricades lined with guards extra protection in case any of the animals went rogue. A large tent hung over head and lantern-stands stood embedded into the corners of the ring, and atop the stone wall that separated the bleachers from the arena floor. Two stone pillars stood opposite of one another near the ring with a long wire held tightly between them and a net half way down.

The royal box where Kai-lin and the others would be sitting was close to ground, not close enough to were anything, be they man or ten foot long lagged beast cold jump in, but close enough to where the they could clearly see everything that was going on. The railing of the booth was parallel to the well that separated the stands and the arena floor. Six cushioned chairs were lined up near the railing while on a large three foot high platform, that had lantern-stands, and three cushion thrones stood in the center, and about three feet in front of each throne lay a luxurious large, dark red pillow decorated with the design of a golden dragon spiraled around it.

Jet gave off a whistle when he saw the place, "Man when the Earth Kingdom builds they build big."

"No kidding, I knew this place would be big, but not this big," Jin said.

"So Jin, wanna sit with me?" Jet asked flirtatiously, as he put his arm around her.

"Sit with you, now why would I want to that?" Jin asked with a seductive smile.

"Well I hear the circus is known for having some pretty dangerous beasts. You never when one of them might get loose and go a rampage, but if you sit with me, I guarantee you'll be safe and sound," the former bandit chief said.

"Hum…well you are an elite officer," she said gentling rubbing the side of his face, "but…as temping as your offer is I'm going have to say…no," she replied seductively as she pushed him off of her.

"No. How come?" Jet asked surprised

"Because one I'm working, two I'll be near his lordship so I'll be as safe as safe can be, and three I know you've flirted with every handmaiden in palace at the same time you're been flirting with me, and I'm not into your kind a men, now if you'll excuse I need to get to my seat."

She then climbed up the two small steps leading up to the platform and sat down on the pillow to left of the one before the center throne.

Jet stood stunned, "Okay…what just happened?"

"You're flirtatious behavior just bit you in the butt, now sit down," Iroh said pulling him down into the seat next to his.

Everyone took a seat. Kai-lin and Azula climbed onto the platform and sat in two of the thrones, Kai-lin in the center and Azula sitting to his left. Shan-yi sat on the pillow in front of Kai-lin and Zuko and Mai sat in the two center chairs, and Smellerbee sat down the chair closest to her but…

"Um…Lady Sakura what are you doing?" Da Ling asked with a somewhat confused expression.

"What does it look like, I'm sitting down so I can enjoy the show," Smellerbee replied smartly.

"But…but my lady…that isn't seat," Da Ling said.

"What do you mean this isn't my seat?"

Sun Su came up with Song, "That chair and the one remaining are for Song and myself."

"Then where do I sit?" Sakura asked.

"Smellerbee," Kai-lin called with a gentle smile. The tomboy turned towards him. "Your up here with us."

"Up…up there…b…but isn't that where…" Smellerbee replied in disbelief.

"Yes it is, now get up," Azula said with a smile.

"B…but I'm…I'm not…I mean shouldn't that be where Zuko sits?" the nervous tomboy asked.

"I plan to abdicate," Zuko said.

"But you're the crown prince," Smellerbee said.

"I'm not in this city and don't care to be. Now stop stalling and go sit down," Zuko said with a smart smile.

"But…"

"Hey! What did I tell you about turning down luxury? NOW GET UP THERE!" Jet said.

Smellerbee was hesitant. She never expected anything like this. Her of all people, an orphan once a bandit, sitting on a throne…like a princess…it was unbelievable, and she didn't know how to react. She was surprised, confused and yet happy all at the same time.

"My Lady, I know this a big surprise for you, but the ringmaster is waiting for you to sit down and won't start the show until you do, so if you don't mind…" Da Ling whispered.

"Uh…right…" Smellerbee replied nervously. She slowly stepped up onto the platform and sat in the last throne with Da Ling sitting on the remaining pillow in front of her lady.

Kai-lin looked at her and smiled softly and she smile back nervously.

Upon seeing his honored guests seated, the Ringmaster, dressed in a bright red orange tunic, that flowed pass the waist and took on the shape of a flower bud that was opened at the front, revealing his puffy yellow plants, and red boots with curled yellow tips. He wore a red hat, with an orange outlined, up side down tie shaped fin attached to the front, red cloth bracers, and a short orange cape.

"WELCOME ONE AND ALL TO THE GREATEST SHOW IN ALL THE NATION. I am your host and ringmaster Spec Lou," he took on a sad face. "We have heard of the tragic event that has taken place in your fair city. So much damage done, some many left without homes, and so many young men and woman lost in fierce struggle of against that most hated blaze." He took on a smile, "but tonight we hope to put those sad thoughts out mind. Tonight we will thrill you with daring feats, elegant acts, hilarious fools, and one of the grandest finales you shell ever see." He took a deep breath, "and now for our first act I give you our newest members in their first time performance, those lava juggling daredevils Zin and Zan!" he said as he moved off stage and a drummer near by started playing a fast and exciting beat.

Two men backed flipped out of a small near by tent and into the middle of the ring. They wore dragon tattoos, were shirtless, wore only pants that were puffy at the bottom, and leather bracers. The only difference they bore was in the color of their cloths, one wearing red and the other wearing brown and carrying a small bag at his side. The two then cartwheeled apart until there was enough space between to fit fifteen people. The brown one then reached into his bag and pulled out a pair of perfectly round clay balls slightly bigger than his hand bit and started to juggle them. He later added in another, and then another until he was juggling ten balls at once. The red juggler stood by and waited patiently as his partner juggled the balls a little more and then one sent them flying over to him.

The red juggler caught each one and immediately started to juggle them and set them ablaze. Everyone watched as the Firebending juggler juggled the enflamed balls until they turned black and bore fiery yellow creaks. He then tossed them back to his partner one by one who juggled them a little more and then tossed them back to his compatriot, and soon the two were juggling the balls between them in the form of a fast pace infinity eight.

"Wow, that's amazing, I sure hope they don't they lose control. If one of those balls were to get lose into the audience…" Smellerbee started.

"There's no need to worry. They are both highly skilled benders one fire and one earth, and those balls aren't really made of lava," Kai-lin pointed out.

"They're not," Smellerbee said.

"No, they're using a special type of clay that can that turns black when ignited. They merely molded it in a way that it takes on the appearance of lava. I coated the surface of my gloves with same clay in order to block minor blasts from firebenders," Sun Su explained.

"Well fake lava or not, you gotta admit their good. Sure hope Ty Lee doesn't get intimated," Jet said.

"Don't worry she won't," Mai replied with light smile.

The night carried on with one performance after the next. Some were intriguing like the skinny earth bender who walked around on tall stone stilts and sprinkled flower pedals down onto the crowd below. Some were funny like the short skit about three men trying to build a house only to mass each other up by taking one another resources as they all tried to find material to do their part of the divided first task, and some were just surprising such as the lion-monkey tamer that tried to get the monkey to jump through fiery hoops only to have the monkey yell at him in anger take his wipe and then force him to jump through all the hoops. Everyone laughed at the end when trainer fainted from exstrution and monkey faced the audience bow in all directions.

Up in the royal bow, the young Lady Sakura laughed loudly and cheerfully having all but forgotten about where she was sitting. Kai-lin smiled at her.

"Enjoying yourself," he asked her.

She nodded with a big smile, "You bet, talk about your rebellious pets," she laughed as she remembered the act.

"and She's not only enjoying herself," Azula said in a soft tone into his ear. Kai-lin turned towards her and she looked at him with soft eyes and a gentle smile, and then gestured him out towards the cheering and clapping crowd. "Everyone here is having a good time. In all my life I've never seen so many people happy, and when I look at them I can't help but smile and feel good inside. Seeing the people happy, strangely, make me happy," She looked at him, "and you my precious Kai-lin…does seeing your people happy, make you happy as while."

Kai-lin froze silent upon hearing the first half of her last sentence and then smiled and said, "Yes…yes it does."

"I'm glad," the Princess replied. She blushed a little. "Um…Kai-lin when…this…when this over could we…well…could we tal—AH!" suddenly a sharp infuriating pain screamed through her head, and her scar started to glow.

"Princess!" Jin cried. She tried to go to her lady but was stopped by Shan-yi who quickly grabbed her shoulder and pulled her back down. "Lady Shan-yi!"

"Quiet!" Shan-yi said in a low, but strict voice. "We can't start a panic here; else the entire arena could go into an up roar."

"But…"

"I know you want to help, but right you must leave this to his lordship. We can't allow a panic to break out, especially amongst such a large crowd. As a handmaiden to the royal family there will be times when you must endure. Just as Mai is enduring now."

Jin was silent. She looked down at Mai as she sat with Zuko holding her tightened body close as she bit her lip in frustration, and she wasn't the only one. Other than Sun Su whose usual stiff appearance made him look content; Zuko, Iroh and Jet were holding themselves back from even turning around and checking. Even Smellerbee, who was closest wasn't saying anything. After seeing how strong they were all acting, the handmaiden then turned back towards the arena and sat straight on her knees with her hands in lap as she was before. Shan-yi nodded and then glanced back her lord as he tended to a doubled-over a Azula.

"Princess Azula…" he cried in a low tone. He looked around; no one in the audience had noticed anything yet. However, Spec Lou did and he quickly ordered the current act to quickly do an encore to keep the people's attention. The Grand General was grateful he turned to his fiancée.

"Ah! My head…" Azula cried as she continued to grasp her head as it rippled with pain when a dark sinister voice suddenly echoed through her mind.

"Do not ignore me…" it said.

"What…

"Do not ignore me…hear me—AHHH!"

The voice was instantly cut off cut off and Azula opened eyes to the feel of a gentle hand on her neck. She looked to her right, "Kai-lin…"

"Are you alright, my princess," the Grand General asked removing his hand, strings of fire lightly enveloping it.

"I…I think so…yes…I'm a little tired, but I'm fine now," she replied sitting up, but still touching her head.

"Maybe you should return to the palace and rest," Kai-lin in calm, but worrying tone."

"No!" She said immediately. "If I leave now I'll miss Ty Lee's performance, and I'd really like see it."

"Azula…" he looked at her. "Very well, but here…" he put his arm around her and pulled her closer to him, "lean on me."

She took hold of his other hand and rested her head on his shoulder. Shan-yi saw this and bore a sad expression for a moment, but then it turned to a light smile that quickly faded when Jin tried to see it only to get a sharp glare of warning to get back in the proper position, which she did almost instantly.

Spec Lou looked over at the royal booth and breathed relief to see things were ok. The current act quickly finished their encore and then left the stage. He then sent a signal to the band they started to play a soft and enticing melody. The circus's firebenders went to all the lamp stands and dimmed their flames, Kai-lin personally dimmed the lamps in the royal box. Four men out side the ring pulled on a rope attached to the ceiling and pulled a away piece of cloth from center and allowing a bright beam of moonlight to shine upon a figure standing on the high-wire, and down to the middle of the ring where the ring master stood, he rose his megaphone to his lips and spoke…

"And now, for our final act of the night we have special treat for you all," he said in a calm tone and with a gentle smile. "If you will all lay eyes on the moon beam and follow it up towards to the high-wire you shell see the crown jewel of our fair circus, returning for this one night only, the one, the only, the beautiful, Ty Lee!"

Everyone's eyes turned up, following the beam of light as they laid upon Ty Lee who held two large white silver outlined fans twice the size of her head, and was in a in white, silver outlined silk dress, with a robe like top, a long skirt that reached to her ankles and as open at the sides, heelless silver outlined slippers, and her brown hair in two ponytails that hung from the top sides of her like horsetails and bond by bright silver ribbons,

She stood on a stool that was attached to the center of the wire and looked down at the audience particularly the royal box and took a deep breath.

"Well Ty Lee…this is it, your last show at the circus, for your friends and for Master Spec Lou, make it your best," she said to herself.

She took one last deep breath and then went about performing an enticing dance that captivated all who saw it. She spun, she twirled, and even flipped and landed perfectly back down on the stool before it could fall, maintaining a perfect balance. Her movements were flawless and graceful, and her dress sparkled in the moonlight. All who watched were entranced by her performance but gasped when she jumped into the flipped three time curl up like a ball, and the stool fall over and hung with its head aimed at the ground. Ty Lee finished her flips and the went into and a dive where she grabbed, the seat of the stool, and then flipped it and herself back up on the high wire, where she quickly rebalanced herself and continued her dance. Her eyes closed and mind focused, she was in a world of her own and did hear he sighs of relief that radiated from the audience.

"Magnificent," Iroh said with a stunned expression.

"For a second there I thought she was going to fall, but she really surprised me with that move," Da Ling said.

"She surprised me with this dance, I was expecting her to some acrobatics, but this…this is unreal," Mai said. "Her movements are amazing."

"I too must admit her performance is…impressive," Sun Su said half a smile.

"Ty Lee…you're…"Azula said captivated by her friend's performance.

Ty Lee's dance continued to entrance the audience until the very end, twirling, flipping and just moving in a graceful and enchanting minor, until she once again flipped into the air curled up like a ball, let the seat drop and then dive down grabbed the seat flipped around the wire three times then let go, flipped three mores times in mid air and then landed flawlessly into the center of the ring holding one fan in the air and the other at her waist while smiling happily. The audience was stunned quiet at first and erupted into a array cheers as they stood up and clapped joyously.

Back in her dressing room Ty Lee sat at her vanity, with a baroque of white floors leaning against the side of the mirror, with a small note reading, "best of luck in the future, love your circus family." She smiled at the card. She'd had given Spec Lou her answer to his question before she performed, and though her choice had sadden him, he supported her decision.

She looked at her self in the mirror and pulled out the silver ribbons in her hair, and set them down on the vanity. She combed out her hair a bit and then looked at her self in the mirror, and smiled, "That was fun," she said to herself, "I'm sure I'll have other chances to perform in front off people, though the crowds won't be as big as this," she breath in and out slowly, "Right now I should focus my attention on helping my friends." A knock came at the door. "Come in," she said turning towards it.

The door opened and Mai entered along with everyone else.

"Hey, so how's the big star?" Mai greeted.

"Mai!" Ty Lee said cheerfully. She got up and hugged her friend. "What are you do here?"

"What do you think? To congratulate you on such a great show. You were amazing out there," Mai said.

"How amazing?" Ty Lee asked.

"You got Sun Su to change expressions," Zuko said.

"You're kidding," Ty Lee said.

"He's not, your performance was rather impressive," Sun Su replied with half a smile.

"What, is that all I get an impressive?" Ty Lee asked jokingly.

"From Sun Su, yes," Shan-yi said in a frank tone. "Even I found your dance rather good."

Song walked up to Ty Lee and gave a gentle smile.

"And who's the new girl?" Ty Lee asked kindly and curiously.

"Her name is Song, past traumas have rendered her voice silent, "But I have come to understand in others ways, and she was also impressed with your show," Sun Su explained. Song nodded her agreement.

"I imagine people will be talking about this for sometime. This night is one to remembered."

"I certainly won't forget, your dance even convinced to try a bit harder with my traditional studies," Smellerbee said kindly.

"I myself was also very moved by your performance Lady Ty Lee," Da Ling said politely and with a slight bow.

"As was I, Lady Ty Lee," Jin said in a similar formal tone and bow.

"Thank you, all of you. I'm glad you all enjoyed it," Ty Lee said. She looked at everyone and noticed a couple of people were missing. "Hey Where's Azula and Kai-lin?"

"We're out here," a weak and tired voice called. Ty Lee passed through her friends and to outside her room where a fatigued Azula stood hanging the arm of her fiancée. The princess saw her friend and smiled. She released Kai-lin's arm and tried to walk towards her, only to stumble forward.

"Azula!" Ty Lee cried running and catching her friend. She helped her regain balance. "What happened?"

"She had one of her headaches just before your performance," Kai-lin said, "Which by the way, was excellent."

"Thank you Kai-lin, but Azula, why didn't you return to your room and rest?" Ty Lee asked.

"Because I wanted to see you perform. I wanted to see how good you really were with out my…influence…"

Ty Lee smiled. "Oh Azula...well you'll be happy to know that you'll have plenty of chances to she me perform in the future."

"What do you mean, my duties as princess prevent—" Azula tried to say.

"Oh silly," Ty Lee replied with a smile. "I work for you remember, you can see me perform any time you wish, all you need to do is ask."

"What…but Ty Lee I…"

"I know you released me from your service, but you also said I could chose my own path and I chose to keep helping you," Ty Lee said kindly with gentle smile. "After all you're going to need me, who else are you going to get help plan your wedding. If you left it only to Mai everybody would be wearing black, it look more like a funeral than a wedding."

"Ha ha, very funny," Mai said with a smart smile. Ty Lee just smiled back.

Azula smiled. She was happy he dear friend would be staying. With what was happening with her body she felt she would need her friends comfort and support in the future. "Ty Lee I—AHH!" Azula said with sudden scream as her scar suddenly started to glow intensively and a harsh pounding pain ripped through skull along with the feel of a hot steel rob around her neck. Her hands flew immediately to her neck and she feel to her knees.

"Azula!" Ty Lee and Mai cried fearfully.

Kai-lin frowned and quickly moved to touch her neck, but the moment he did a bright violent flash of lightening engulfed her and transferred instantly onto the Grand General, engulfing his body a net of fiery bolts. Kai-lin held to cry of pain as he crossed his arms over his chest and attempt to break free of the encaging bolts.

"Kai—AHH!" Azula cried, as the pain suddenly intensified, and the sinister voice echoed through her mind once more.

"No…he'll not intervene again," it said coldly and cruelly. "I may risk…destroying us both with this ploy…but it's worth the risk…"

"What...who…" Azula said painfully.

"You will not ignore me…you will not deny me…" the voice cried harshly and angrily. "Cease your futile resistance. I am you...you are me! You will NOT ignore me! You will NOT deny me! YOU…WILL…HEAR…ME!"

The dragon spiral scar turned a fiery red and the princess's screams echoed throughout the hall before her strength gave way and she collapsed to floor just as Kai-lin broke free of the lightening net.

"Azula!" he cried as he went and held her. He stroked hair from her face and looked at her motionless expression, "Azula…please hang on…"