So, it's been a while, huh? Didn't expect anyone to actually read this, so imagine my surprise when I see people actually asking for updates. Well, here you go.
The market was busy, which Katara was thankful for. Busy meant loud, and loud meant that their conversations were less likely to be overheard. Ruby's description of her world and her friends was...well it was crazy, no two ways about it, if anyone were to get an earful hopefully they would think she was just a writer. There was one slight problem however, and while Katara was trying to find a sensitive way to bring it up, Sokka had no such reservations. "Ruby, we need to find you new clothes."
The huntress whips her head towards Sokka in a flash of confusion. "What's wrong with my clothes? Did I rip something?" She asks, before inspecting her clothes for any tears or damage. Her clothes had practically been to hell and back and survived unscathed, she'd be surprised if they somehow got ruined within the twelve hours she'd been here.
"No no, they're in perfect shape but" Sokka gestures to her, and then to their own clothes, and then to the crowd. Ruby is slow on the uptake, but Katara jumps in.
"What my brother is trying to say is that you don't exactly blend in," She explains, before dropping to a whisper "And we do sort of need to keep a low profile." As stylish as Ruby's clothes were in Vale, they made her stick out like a sore thumb in the Fire Nation. Sokka nods in agreement, playing the part of the careful tactician, though a part of him was certainly excited by another excuse to go shopping. After all he hadn't bought something exciting like that since his bag after Aang won Earth Rumble, however ill-gotten those gains had been.
Ruby sighs. Compared to the rest of her team, her fashion sense was critically lacking, it had taken a lot of help from Yang for her to even put this outfit together, while avoiding ending up like... well, like Yang. But Sokka and Katara were right, she definitely did not fit in, and if she was determined to help them, she would have to blend in like they were. "Alright, I guess you're right." She relents, and for what she thinks might be the first time since she met him, Ruby sees Sokka's face erupt into a smile.
The garment shop was a modest store with a large awning hanging off the front, showing several different outfits on mannequins, none of which looked like they could be fought in. 'They all look so stuffy' Ruby thinks to herself, her distaste clearly visible on her face.
"Don't worry" Katara tells her "They put the fancy stuff out here to try and draw in customers, they'll have more normal stuff inside." So inside they go, and Ruby instantly sees what Katara was saying. As they look through the shelves, Ruby is approached by a girl who looks only slightly younger than herself, finding herself bombarded by questions about her clothes and where they came from. Katara comes to her rescue, explaining that Ruby's aunt is a seamstress who made very experimental clothing, but that they were looking for something more casual.
"Actually" Sokka pipes up "Do you have anything that you can fight in? Our friend here is starting her firebending training, and she could really use some clothes that she could practice in." Sokka had seen her agility firsthand last night, she would need something that she could really move around in.
"Oh for sure!" The girl replies, hurrying off to a few different shelves before returning to the trio with a small stack of clothes "These should be about your size, you can try them on in the back" She explains with a smile, pointing Ruby to the curtain in the back.
A few minutes later, Ruby emerges from the dressing room, practically looking like a brand new girl. In place of her old outfit she now stood in a long yellow tunic with black trims, a burgundy gi top with open sides, and a pair of slim black pants tucked into tall black and gold boots. However, her outfit wasn't completely devoid of Ruby flair, as her half-corset could still be seen around her waist, peeking out from behind the gi. Meanwhile her hood, usually worn around her neck and allowed to flow down her back was wrapped around her like a sash, pinned at the shoulder with her insignia and concealing Crescent Rose's new hiding spot across her back. Katara gives her a thumbs up while Sokka regards her with a careful gaze before giving an nod of approval.
After paying, which Ruby felt bad for being unable to help with, the trio makes their way back onto the market streets. After purchasing some much needed supplies, they make their way back to the cave, greeted by Toph as they enter, as well as a very sheepish looking Aang.
"So I might have gotten in trouble at school" He laughs nervously, scratching the back of his neck.
"No more school for you young man!"
Needless to say, the 'parent' meeting hadn't gone very well, but even Ruby, who was ready to accept pretty much anything at this point, was surprised by Aang's next plan.
"Wait, a dance party?" The huntress asks, making sure she heard him right.
"Yeah!" Aang replies excitedly, "If we want to help the next generation of the Fire Nation, then we need to give them some freedom!"
"I think Aang might be on to something, besides, it'll be fun" Katara agrees "Think about it Sokka, you get to sow dissent among Fire Nation citizens" She adds, trying to sweeten the deal.
Stroking his fake beard, Sokka gives an appreciative hum. "Well I do like sowing dissent" He agrees "Alright, I'm in"
Aang's next day of school passes (thankfully) uneventfully, as he makes it his mission to make sure all of the students know about the dance party. He was met with various levels of concern and interest, but the old Avatar charm seemed to work it's magic. As such, by that night Team Avatar with Ruby in tow were expecting quite the turnout, and they spared no effort. Their humble cave converted into a space that would put Beacon's ballroom to shame.
With the last of the preparations complete, Aang has scarcely enough time to move Appa out of sight after Toph announces their guests' approach. Before long, the music is playing, and Ruby finds herself in a near identical position to the last dance she attended, standing awkwardly next to the punch bowl.
"Not much of a dancer?" Toph asks, trying to occupy her mind so as to distract herself from the overstimulation of a hundred pairs of dancing feet.
"Yeah, that'd be a fair statement" Ruby chuckles awkwardly "My last dance went pretty much like this too, most interesting thing to happen there was seeing Jaune in a dress."
"Didn't you say Jaune was a guy?" Toph asks, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah, he made some kind of bet, I don't know the exact details, but out of nowhere in he strolls in a dress and his whole team broke into this coordinated dance, definitely the highlight of the night" Ruby explains. 'Especially considering the headache that followed' She thinks.
"Coordinated like that?" Toph asks, jutting her head in the direction of the new commotion on the dance floor. Aang and Katara were moving around eachother in perfect sync, a rehearsed dance to some, but Ruby and Toph could see the movements for what they really were, fighting forms. Ruby was nimble, but she was always impressed by how Weiss managed to dance across the battlefield, it seemed her new friends were equally talented.
"Huh, they look good together" Ruby notes. She might have only been with the group for a few days at this point, but even she could see the chemistry between the two.
"Don't let Sokka hear you say that" Toph snickers, catching the ear of the Water Tribe boy only a few feet away.
Cocking his head, Sokka raises an eyebrow in the girls' direction. "Don't let me hear what?" He asks.
Toph chuckles, and Ruby looks away, trying to be inconspicuous. "Nothing you need to worry about, Snoozles." Sokka pouts, but doesn't push the topic.
The duo's dance clearly encourages the rest of the partygoers, and before long even the most trepiditious of them are dancing, Ruby included. She certainly wasn't doing anything as fancy Aang and Katara had just shown off, but everyone else looked like they were having fun, and standing on the sidelines she had felt like she was missing out. Of course even though she was far from the most talented dancer a number of eyes, mostly belonging to boys, were drawn to Ruby. between the silver eyes and the red-streaked hair, Ruby certainly didn't look like most of the girls around. Before any could make their move, however entertaining it might have been to watch, the party is met with a sudden disruption. The headmaster of the school and the town guard had made their appearance, and a single thought runs through Ruby's head. 'Uh oh.'
Out of the corner of her eye, she can already see Katara, Toph, and Sokka retreating towards the back of the cave. Aang on the other hand seemed to be the last to notice, and as the headmaster shouts "The one with the headband!" Aang finally seems to figure out what was going on. He darts into the crowd as one by one the students tie their belts around their heads, each of them volunteering as a decoy for him. Ruby meets him just as he makes his way out of the crowd, and gives him a nod as she grips his arm before activating her semblance, whisking both of them away in a flurry of rose petals. The one boy who'd noticed their exit's jaw drops, and a second later his eyes seem to glass over, down for the count as he's hit with the sheer shock of the back of the cave getting earthbent shut.
Minutes later, and safely above the clouds on Appa's back, the Gaang finally has a chance to catch their collective breath. "We're safe now Sokka, you can take off the mustache" Katara says, finally acknowledging her brother's ridiculous disguise.
"No I can't, it's permanently glued to my skin" He protests, making it apparently clear to everyone present that he just didn't want to.
Ignoring the two, Toph turns to Aang "Way to go Dancy Pants, I think you really did help those kids. you taught them to be free"
"I don't know, it was just a dance party" Aang replies sheepishly.
"Well it was some dance party" Katara is quick to add, not letting Aang completely ignore the praise, before leaning over and giving him a quick peck on the cheek.
"You when got me dancing" Ruby pipes up "Well, if you can call what I did dancing" She chuckles.
Sharing a laugh with the group, Ruby can't help but smile. 'Yeah, I think this can work out after all' She thinks, though her thoughts turn to her teammates, her friends, her family. With a determined breath, she shakes away her doubts. She'd find her way back home, but while she was here, she'd do whatever good she was able to.