A/N: The world is literally going to hell right now and at the same time coming together to take a stand on the things that have been allowed to go on too long. I hope that we can learn how to treat one another better than the Fire Nation treated the other nations of their world... "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters from this ATLA universe except my original characters. Fanfiction is for equality...
Chapter 8—A Debutante Ball to Remember
"Again." Ursa commanded. Zuko closed her eyes and concentrated. She was working on expanding her energy field to protect her immediate environment. The force field Zuko used formed a small bubble around her and her mother threw fiery darts and plumes of flame at her. She was trying to force Zuko to focus on keeping up her field while dealing with attacks and distractions around her. Agni forbid, if there were ever another war this skill would be invaluable.
Zuko would have the potential to protect her soldiers as they advance in war or she could block herself and others from incoming projectiles and fire. Today Ursa was teaching Zuko how to expand the field around herself infinitely. The small bubble or shield she developed to guard herself was now becoming a larger and larger dome. The field expanded several meters around her. "Good, Aki. This is good. You have enlarged your sphere of protection again. This will be quite useful to you in the future. Keep up the good work." Ursa praised. She gave her daughter a brief smile and reached out with a cup of water. Zuko took a deep breath and lowered her arms dissipating the force field. She took another breath and smiled at her mother as she walked over to receive the cup.
"I'm not as tired as I was the first time I did this." She remarked and took a long drink from the cup. Ursa nodded in satisfaction.
Ursa opened Zuko's eyes to the potential of her newly discovered skill. She proudly showed her mother what she did that day on the beach with her broadswords. Ursa didn't react with pride or joy or any emotion, she only formed her own energy weapon and attacked. This felt very reminiscent of fighting with Master Piandao. She was certain the swordsman was attempting to kill her as a final test. Zuko was forced to defend herself from her mother using the very weapons she promised would only be used for emergencies or not at all.
When Zuko's swords clashed with her mother's staff, she discovered that the weapons connected as if they were fighting with steel making sparks and resisting the force of the other. Understanding dawned on the princess that her new weapon though more powerful than fire was just as useful. Surely, she and her mother were not the only firebenders with this ability and she would need to be able to use her tool just as proficiently.
Zuko attempted to knock the weapon out of her mother's hand and end the skirmish, only to be caught off guard when Ursa swept her foot behind Zuko's legs and brought her down squarely on her bottom. She pointed her weapon at Zuko signifying the end of the battle and Zuko's defeat.
Zuko looked at her mother curiously as she rubbed the newly sore area and asked with a grimace, "Mom, what would happen if someone were to touch the energy field while I have it up?" Ursa mirrored her grimace.
"Let's just say that they would be no better off than the arrow you told me about." She said somberly. Zuko gasped. She had a feeling that the energy field was strong enough to destroy anything in its path and this thought sobered her greatly. Ursa held out her hand to help Zuko stand. Zuko took it and stood up gingerly. She fell down harder than she previously believed. Zuko rubbed the sore spot until the stinging sensation went away. After a moment, a thought occurred to the princess.
"Mom, did father know of your energy field bending?" Ursa started. How had Zuko come to that conclusion? Ursa stared at her daughter for a long moment. There was nothing preventing her from telling her daughter the truth now. She was no longer at the palace and this information might one day save her daughter's life. Ursa's voice was barely a whisper.
"No, your father didn't know about my ability until the day I left. He sent assassins after me. His surviving soldiers no doubt told him how I escaped." Zuko raised her eyebrows at her mother's confession. She understandably used her powers to defend herself against the soldiers, but why had father sent assassins after her mother in the first place? Ursa sensing her daughter had more questions now than before added quickly.
"If Ozai had known about this skill rather than the other, he would have used me in the great war as a weapon. I couldn't give him that advantage. At the time, your father was trying to eliminate any "loose ends" to his father's assassination. He didn't want me to be able to implicate him later if suspicions fell on him." She said rubbing her temples gently.
Zuko knew her mother was referring to her skills as an herbalist which she used to kill Grandfather Azulon. Her father implied that Ursa was banished and left of her own free will. She didn't know that her mother was running for her life as a result her actions. This changed Zuko's understanding of her mother's disappearance and the circumstances surrounding her leaving so suddenly. She also began to understand the kind of man her father was. He was dangerous like a coiled snake in the grass waiting to attack unaware passers-by.
Ursa frowned at having to share such grim information with her daughter. She would have preferred not to recount the sordid details of her actions almost nine years ago, but Zuko deserved to know the truth.
"Aki, I would not have taken such drastic steps against your grandfather had your life not been in jeopardy. Ozai knew that I would have done anything to save your life including take another. I'm not proud of what I did. If I had to do it over, I would have taken the risk and removed you and Azula from such terrible circumstances." She said wincing from the truth of her words.
Zuko reached out and grabbed her mother's hands. She knew that her mother loved her, and she couldn't hold ill will towards her knowing the difficult choice she had to make.
"Mom, I can't say whether or not I would have made the same choices under the circumstances. I wouldn't wish that kind of decision on anyone, but I understand it and I thank you for protecting me." Zuko said not taking her eyes off her mother's. Tears fell freely from Ursa's eyes. She didn't bother to remove them as they fell on the front of her robe staining it as the droplets rolled and soaked into the fabric.
Ursa released Zuko's hands and pulled her into a tight embrace. Zuko melted into her mother's arms and sniffled as she felt her mother's desperation and relief. Ursa held onto her daughter knowing that in a few short days she would have to leave her on her own once again. She knew that word would eventually reach Ozai that she came to see Zuko and she didn't want to endanger her daughter or herself. Ursa knew that she didn't have much time to impart the wisdom her daughter needed so she would use this time wisely. Ursa stepped back from the hug and sighed. She gave her daughter a serious look.
"Akiko, please listen to me carefully. You know that I will not be able to remain on this island much longer. I came because I wanted to help you with your gift, and it is a gift, dear one." Zuko looked up in surprise. She knew her ability was special, but she had yet to really consider it a gift. She wanted to explore that with her mother further but Ursa continued.
"Aki, you must not let your father know that you have this ability. He would use you…please don't let him know about it." Ursa looked up in thought and added. "Don't let Azula know about it either. She wants to please Ozai and wouldn't hesitate to share the information to advance her relationship with him. Ozai is only interested in how people can benefit him." She said frankly. Zuko was all too aware of this fact and took the advice seriously.
"Promise me that you will protect this knowledge and only use it if you are in dire circumstances. Do you understand Aki?" Ursa added. Zuko nodded with wide eyes.
Ursa placed her hand on her daughter's face and sighed again. Zuko looked down at the floor. She missed having her mother near her reminding her that she was wanted. Ursa lifted her daughter's head and admonished her.
"You must continue to develop your skill in secret. I believe you can trust your Uncle Iroh and your cousin Lu Ten to help you. There is so much more you can do with your bending that I don't have the time to teach you. Always keep in mind that your energy is strength. Use your strength to help others and protect it from those who would take advantage of you." Ursa gave her daughter a warm smile and wrapped her arms around her gently.
"I am so proud of you Akiko Zuko. You are my greatest accomplishment," she said softly. Her mother said her middle name with a different accent. It was the accent that changed the meaning of the name from one that implied shame and failure to one that signified being greatly beloved. Zuko swallowed the lump in her throat as her mother pulled back from her and said, "Let's try again." Zuko nodded happily and practiced with a renewed vigor.
The end of her mother's visit came much more quickly than Zuko desired. She had hoped her mother would remain until her debutante which was in less than a week. They had been making plans for her hair and makeup and working on a dress for her during the times Zuko wasn't practicing her bending, weapons, or in classes.
Her friends Muta, Mariko, and Chrysanthemum all loved spending time with Zuko and the Lady Ursa. They understood where Zuko got her kind and friendly demeanor from and realized this time was important for Zuko and promised to keep their secret about the energy field bending ability.
Zuko suspected that her mother's time was up when Lady Hayato came to her during one of their practice sessions and whispered to her mother urgently. Ursa stole a look at her daughter and caught her eye. There was no need for words. Zuko's face fell slightly as the realization sunk in that she would soon be saying goodbye. Lady Hayato watched the exchange between mother and daughter and placed her hand on Ursa's shoulder before she turned and walked back to the schoolhouse.
Reports from Madame Hachi's network came in that Ozai was informed by one of the girl's parents who came to visit the school that they thought they saw the Lady Ursa visiting and interacting with some of the students. Ozai immediately dispatched soldiers to come with the captain and sailors who would be attending the debutante to verify the information and detain her if she was there. Ursa gave her daughter a sheepish look. She wasn't ready to leave Zuko as much as Zuko wasn't ready for her to leave, but they knew that it was an inevitability. It wouldn't benefit either of them for Ozai's men to come and find Ursa there.
Ursa decided to leave by private boat that night. A kindly old fisherman who made a stop at the island regularly offered to take her back to Hira'a. The moon was full and illuminated the dark night sky. Ursa wore a hooded cloak and pulled it more closely around herself as if for comfort. Zuko stood by her mother's side her face impassive. She had a strange sense of déjà vu as she watched and waited with her.
Zuko was trying to steady herself and be brave. She was about to lose her mother for the second time in her life. Ursa reached out her hand but then dropped it suddenly. She too was trying to be brave. She whispered softly almost reverently.
"Akiko, I know that this time does not make up for all the years lost, but I want you to know that I will treasure every one of these moments we had together until we are able to be reunited for good." She said. Zuko nodded for words would have been her undoing. She turned her head suddenly to wipe a treacherous tear from her eye. Ursa smiled apologetically. She understood her daughter's pain.
"Aki, I wish things could have been different, but I made my choice and that choice led to consequences I cannot undo. Perhaps one day…" she trailed off.
Zuko looked at her mother then, carefully, as if really studying her features to memorize everything about her: the tilt of her chin, the color of her eyes and hair, the way she stood tall and regal. She realized that this may possibly be the last time she will see her. Before Ursa could say anything else, the fisherman walked up to them.
"Welp my lady, it's time now. We want don't want the winds lee to our journey." Ursa nodded to the man gratefully signaling for an additional moment, and turned to her daughter. She held out her hands one last time and Zuko rushed into her mother's arms. Zuko held on to her for all she was worth holding back her tears and whispering how much she loved her mother. Ursa whispered in kind and gave her daughter a fierce and powerful hug. When they let go there was a sense of finality that accompanied it. The women sighed in tandem and giggled a little at the synchronicity. Like mother like daughter, perhaps.
Zuko thought quickly. She wanted to let her mother know how much she appreciated everything she had come to teach her, and she bowed to her mother in the traditional Fire Nation stance. Her mother's eyes widened but she understood. Her daughter was giving her a sign that she respected her as a teacher and master. She was showing her appreciation for what she had learned. Ursa then bowed back to her daughter a small smile creeping upon her lips. This would be the way she lives on in her daughter and how she would leave her mark. The lessons her daughter learned was Ursa's way of ensuring Zuko's ongoing future. Something Ozai could never take away.
Lady Hayato allowed Zuko to sleep in a little later since she was up very late sending her mother off on her journey. She knew how important the moment was to her and knew that a little extra sleep would be good for her considering this was to be her final night as a student. The debutante was that evening and it would do Zuko little good to be a sleeping beauty at the ball.
A few hours after sunrise Zuko yawned and stretched to the sound of frantic squeals of excitement in the hallway. Girls ran back and forth between rooms exchanging items like hairpins and ribbons, sashes, and flowers to complete a look that everyone wanted to be just right. Zuko poked her head out of her door with her hair sticking up on the side. She had a terrible case of bedhead and Muta didn't mind being the friend to say so.
"Yikes, do you have the ability to bend lightning too, cause your hair is all over the place!" she teased. Zuko made a face and then shrugged.
"Nope, I'm a bed-bender. I suppose it's time I started a new trend anyway." She said nonchalantly. Muta rolled her eyes.
"Ha! You already know there's no way on this earth I'm letting you go anywhere with your hair looking like that on the most important night of our lives! If you look bad, we all look bad. I'll be back in one hour. Make sure you're bathed and ready to go by then." Muta declared. Zuko laughed.
"Are you commanding me, Muta?" she asked playfully. Muta rolled her eyes again. Zuko thought that if she kept it up eventually her friend's eyes would stay that way permanently. Muta smirked.
"If I were commanding you, I would have told you to bathe now. I'm giving you a reasonable timeframe to get ready if you desire my services your highness." She said matter of factly and with a mock bow. Zuko laughed again noting that she would have to introduce Muta and Toph someday. The two of them would get along well she suspected.
"Fine, come back in one hour and I'll be ready. Thank you, my friend." Zuko said warmly. Muta blushed slightly at the declaration of friendship and nodded. She hurried down the hallway to catch the florist who was selling bouquets out in the courtyard. True to her word, Muta returned an hour later with the help of her sister Mariko and Chrissy. The girls made doing Zuko's hair a tag team event and each girl chose a certain part of the steps to complete the style.
Muta was in charge and overall directing the efforts but made sure Zuko's hair was brushed thoroughly. Mariko was the expert in pinning and styles, and she remembered well what Ursa suggested for Zuko when they worked on her dress. Mariko's hands worked deftly as she pulled and wrapped Zuko's hair into an elegant coif that left delicate strands framing her face. Zuko's head jerked slightly with the pins as Mariko strategically placed them but she was otherwise gentle and sure.
Chrysanthemum traded places with Mariko because she was skilled in the aesthetics needed to complete Zuko's overall look. She began placing flowers in Zuko's hair. Ursa had suggested Fire Lilies before she left and Muta made it her point to pick some out both loose and in a bouquet to use with Zuko's gown. Chrissy pinned several within the elegant twist Mariko styled and secured the entire look with an iridescent mother of pearl comb that Zuko brought from the palace.
Zuko's silk red gown was unique. The cut of the dress accentuated her lithe but curvy frame and fell shimmering like a waterfall around her. The gossamer train of the dress was covered in hand-stitched fire lilies in white with stripes of red along the edges of the delicate petals. Gold thread accented each flower and the hem of her dress. The dress had a full red skirt and slimming bodice covered in a sheer white layer of the thinnest and finest silk. Her long elegant shawl was made of the same silk embroidered with the fire lilies and gold thread. The dress took two people to get Zuko in it safely.
Muta waited until the girls were all done and applied the finishing touches of foundation powder, bright red lip paint, eye kohl, and a pearlescent powder to her eyelids. When Zuko looked at herself in the long mirror standing in a corner of her room, she didn't recognize the young woman staring back at her. She felt herself growing emotional and took in a sharp deep breath.
"Oh my God! Ladies, I…You've done an amazing job. Thank you all for this. I just wish…" Zuko paused. The girls all knew she wished her mother could be there to see her and smiled sadly. Muta was the one to keep things from devolving into a cryfest.
"There will be no tears. I'm not redoing your makeup, your highness, so, hold it together… You look stunning, just as the princess of our nation should. Your mother would be so proud. We're certain that she already is." Zuko fanned herself to keep from bawling and ruining the flawless makeup Muta did. Her face tinted a deep red under her white foundation powder as she groaned, and she dabbed at her eyes with her handkerchief. Muta wiped a sneaky tear from the corner of her own eye.
"I won't hug you now because you're already dressed, but I'm warning you…" Muta eyed Zuko cautiously noting that her makeup was still good, turned to the other two girls, and nodded. She looked back at Zuko one last time and said, "Sit down somewhere and stay calm until we can come and get you, and no tears! That is a command." She added.
Zuko chuckled to keep from crying anew and had a seat in the chair she used while getting her hair done. The other three girls came to make sure that she was ready and perfect before they got dressed and ready themselves. Zuko felt quite lucky in her friends at that moment. She would have helped the other girls if she could, but Muta already gave her marching orders and there was no crossing those. Zuko felt deep down that Muta would make an excellent general if she were ever given the chance.
In about an hour, the other girls were dressed and ready to go. They came back to Zuko's room in beautiful gowns with variations of white and red in symphony. Chrysanthemum was the only one who dared to do something different with a pink bouquet of chrysanthemums. She also had several of the pink fluffy flowers pinned into and around the sleek bun in her hair. All three girls had long red gowns with a sheer overlay of white silk and an assortment of embroideries in the skirts or sleeves with Fire nation themes coordinating with the colors in the bouquets they chose.
Zuko's friends were truly lovely both inside and out, she thought. She never would have expected that they would have all become such good friends in short a time as this. Unfortunately, Aiko Renshi decided that she would not be friends with Muta Osaka and the others, which Zuko suspected had something to do with the influence of a certain golden-haired nobleman's daughter, but what could she do? Everyone was entitled to be friends with who they desired. She only hoped that Aiko was not being drawn into that group to become the kind of person Hilda was turning out to be.
She didn't have any more time to think about it because the bell rang and signaled it was time for the debutantes to arrive at the assembly hall converted to a ballroom.
The ball was splendidly decorated in rich tapestries of red and white, a riotous array of red, white, and multicolored blossoms arranged artfully in topiaries, table centerpieces, and sconces. Strategically placed candlelight bathed the room in a warm golden-yellow glow. An orchestra played soothing waltzes and music for dancing formally. Soldiers and sailors filtered into the room cautiously. The men wanted to make their best impressions tonight and wore full military dress uniforms. Fresh haircuts and shaves and the uniforms made it practically impossible to tell which sailors were the sons of noblemen and which were commoners who by virtue of being in the military appeared no different.
Zuko and her friends agreed in advance to bring their fans to communicate and warn one another about soldiers or sailors who may be too handsy or friendly. Hilda was the first to be asked to dance by a man with enormous sideburns old enough to be her father. Hilda giggled and gladly accepted the invitation and moved onto the dance floor with him. Muta slid next to Zuko quietly and put up her fan.
"Wow, that man has to be older than Hilda by decades. I wonder why he chose to dance with her." Muta mused. Zuko took a careful subtle look at the man again and recognized him as the captain of the ship that originally brought the girls to Madame Hachi's island. Suddenly it made sense. The captain was Hilda's father. He wanted the honor of having the first dance with his daughter as a woman of society. Zuko opened her fan and whispered.
"Muta, that man is the captain who brought us here a few months ago. I believe he may be Hilda's father, Captain Nishikawa." She said. Thankfully Muta's fan was still up because her mouth dropped open. "Hilda has human parents? That's…really normal. Ah, well." She said the intrigue in her voice strangely absent now. Zuko resisted the urge to snicker and push Muta over as usual.
"We are supposed to be on our best behavior tonight Muta…" Zuko encouraged. Muta just smirked behind her fan and walked over to the table laden with the punch and other beverages. A young sailor bowed to her and introduced himself. He poured Muta and himself a cup of punch and stood with her as they sipped and carried on a conversation. Zuko smiled to herself as she watched Muta walk away with the young man to the dance floor. Moments later Chrissy and Mariko both had dance partners as did most of the other young women.
Zuko stood off to the side watching her friends and smiling at the fun they were having. A deep voice broke her from her revelry. "My lady, would you care to dance? It doesn't seem fitting that the most beautiful woman in attendance should merely be an observer." Zuko turned to look up into the face of a tall ruggedly handsome sailor with great hair. He sported mischievous eyebrows over startlingly clear brown eyes. One brow rose in a perfect arch as he waited for her answer. Zuko didn't answer with words instead she rested her closed fan on her right cheek and offered her hand. The young man smirked and took her hand gently leading her on to the dance floor. The pair curtsied and bowed to one another before beginning their dance.
Within a beat, they were joining the other couples on the floor in a lively waltz. The young man was remarkably nimble on his feet and glided Zuko around in a rhythmic sway. Zuko marveled at how he led her effortlessly and was quite familiar with Fire Nation dance though he didn't look to be a national. After a whimsical dip, Zuko's curiosity got the best of her and she asked,
"Where are you from, if you don't mind my asking? Are you from the colonies? You don't look Fire Nation though you are quite adept at Fire Nation dance." The young man snickered softly and shook his head.
"No, I'm not from here, I'm from the Earth Kingdom. I'm working to repay a debt to the royal family." At that Zuko's eyebrows raised in surprise.
"The royal family? How do you owe a debt to them?" she asked nonplussed. The man's brows furrowed.
"What, someone from the Earth Kingdom couldn't possibly have a royal friend in the Fire Nation?" he said keeping his voice down but straining to control his emotions. His nostrils flared slightly.
Zuko suddenly had a flashback to a cave near Lake Laogai where a teen boy lay dying after breaking free from mind control and protecting his friends from a common enemy's projectile. His nostrils flared as he struggled to breathe. Katara attempted to heal him but his injuries were grave. Her look said that he wasn't going to survive. Surely this man before me couldn't be… Zuko eyed the man curiously and smiled.
"The end of the Great War created many possibilities that didn't previously exist: Like a Fire Nation woman and an Earth Kingdom man enjoying a dance together. I mean unless you have a problem with my being a Fire Nation woman." She said coyly. The man she suspected to be her old friend raised his eyebrow again and smirked.
"I only have problems with those who have problems with me." He said showing a dazzling array of white teeth. Zuko kept her face impassive but inwardly her heart was going one thousand miles a minute. Could this actually be Jet? He was the only one who would say things like that to her. He fit the description perfectly though aged up and taller. She decided to ask a question only he could answer.
"Sounds like something we both have in common. Warriors like us must be careful in our friends. What's your weapon of choice?" The man's eyes widened. There was something oddly familiar about this beautiful woman. She was clearly a refined noblewoman, but she didn't shy away or demure to him and he perceived she could hold her own in a fight.
"Fu Tao or twin hooks, and you?" he answered cautiously. She smiled broadly and answered in return. "Dual Dao. Broadswords." Before "Jet" could respond the music ended with applause and Madame Hachi signaled for everyone's attention. As Zuko turned to listen to Madame Hachi, the young man was called away by the captain.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you so much for attending tonight's debut of our lovely class of noblewomen. Our students have worked hard and studied diligently to fulfill their obligations and to become women fit for the high calling of leadership in our great nation." The audience burst into rousing applause. Madame Hachi held up her hands to silence the crowd and continued.
"We especially want to recognize one student tonight who has shown us why the house of Kasai is still worthy to reign in truth and honor over our nation. Princess Zuko, will you come to the stage please?" Zuko was caught off guard as the debutantes, sailors, and soldiers applauded enthusiastically. She blushed as she walked slowly to the stage not wanting to rush and possibly undo all the training she received over three months in one moment.
She heard a loud exclamation in the back of the room and knew without a doubt that Jet recognized her. He continued shouting as he was escorted outside by the captain and another sailor. Zuko walked onto the low platform set up as a temporary stage for the ball and stood next to Madame Hachi. She smiled brilliantly and took Zuko's hand.
"Our dear, dear Princess. I know you are quite surprised to be called before us, but we wanted to make a special presentation for you." Zuko raised an eyebrow in confusion. Madame Hachi smiled knowingly and smirked.
"We know it wasn't easy for you to attend this school at first, knowing the reputation it has, but you understood and embraced the mission given to you without complaint." Madame Hachi placed her other hand gently on Zuko's. Lady Hayato stood next to them smiling and nodding in agreement. Madame Hachi smiled impossibly brighter.
"You have no idea the impact you've made on the lives of these women before you: You learned with humility, led with the understanding of the responsibility placed upon you and your house. You exhibited kindness in the face of ridicule and scorn and even stood up in the defense of others often. You are a true example of what leadership should be." Zuko's eyes widened with shock. Where was this all going? Madame Hachi signaled to Chrysanthemum who had a long, thin box in her hands to come to the stage. The room was silent as she stepped up. Lady Hayato stepped forward and began to speak.
"Your highness, it is quite unorthodox to have a member of the royal family here at our school, however, you came with the understanding that everything you do is about being a better individual first, a leader second. There is a tradition at our school, that in the last week everyone is required to submit the name of a person that they felt had guileless character, integrity, authenticity, and an overall positive and kind demeanor. No one knew why we requested the secret ballot until now. Princess Zuko, your peers almost unanimously chose you to be our lady of Congeniality."
The room roared with applause. Some of the soldiers and sailors whooped and whistled though it was not the most cultured response, the ladies overlooked it understanding that some of these men once fought beside their princess in the Great war. The women knew the respect the soldiers had for the princess and these men agreed with the choice. Lady Hayato smiled with a deep sense of pride. Zuko used her handkerchief to catch the tears that welled at the announcement and overwhelming support. Lady Hayato continued when the applause died down.
"Dear Princess, please know that you were chosen, not because you are a princess or because they didn't want to offend the royal family, no, they chose you because that was genuinely how they felt as a class. You have unwaveringly been an example of grace to everyone, even when you made mistakes, and truly brought honor to us all." The applause erupted again, and Chrysanthemum opened the box. She removed a wide red satin sash with the words "Lady of Congeniality" on it in thick golden embroidery.
Zuko shook with emotion as Chrissy carefully placed the sash over her head and helped Zuko pull her arm through so that the sash rested across her bodice. When the cheers and applause intensified it became too much for the princess and she covered her face with her hands. Tears spilled freely now ruining her make-up to Muta's dismay and joy. Lady Hayato took the princess in her arms and held her while the young women, soldiers, and sailors continued to applaud. The band struck up another traditional Fire Nation dance to encourage the crowd to disburse and dance and perhaps give the princess a private moment to escape.
While the festivities continued, Madame Hachi clandestinely requested Zuko's friends to take their princess away discreetly and help her collect herself and touch up her makeup. Muta sat Zuko down in the powder room and huffed. "I told no tears and now look at you…" Zuko couldn't help but laugh through her tears as she looked at her reflection in the mirror.
"I know, all your work is completely undone." She moaned. Muta shrugged.
"Eh, I knew it wouldn't last, but at least you got to dance with that really hot sailor!" she said nudging the princess suggestively. Zuko blushed and the Osaka girls grew suspicious. Zuko bit her lip. Muta's eyes narrowed.
"You know that guy?" she challenged. Mariko and Chrissy squealed in delight. Zuko tried to cover her eyes and Muta gasped.
"You do know that guy! How..." she said suspiciously. Zuko opened her fingers and peeked with one eye.
"We used to fight together…" was all she said. Mariko covered Chrissy's ears and whispered.
"Wait. Is that a euphemism for something else? You can tell us you know; war makes people pretty desperate…" Zuko shook her head vehemently.
"No! No! It's definitely not…that. I—I thought he was dead and somehow, he ended up here in the royal navy and at my debutante dancing with me. I have so many questions." She explained her hands resting awkwardly in her lap. Muta huffed as she wiped away the remnants of her previous hard work on Zuko's face.
"Well, he looked very much alive and well tonight to me especially with his hand so perilously close to your a—" Mariko cut her sister off.
"As I see it, he obviously recognized you too after they announced for you to come to the stage. I think the captain dragged him out of the ballroom because he was practically beside himself. Perhaps he has questions for you too." She suggested with a smile. Zuko sighed blowing the hair that had fallen from her coif out of her face.
"Or he wants a rematch…" she said. The three friends gave each other a strange look wondering about what kind of rematch she meant.
Jet leaned against the outside wall of the assembly hall. He shook his head back and forth his hand gripping his forehead in disbelief. What is the probability that he would end up on one of the farthest islands in the Fire Nation and find the one person he wanted to see and dance with her no less? One in a million to be sure. He thought he should probably place a wager in the pool tomorrow since his luck seems to be high. Princess Zuko? Here? Gods she looked so different now he thought.
She lost all of the baby fat in her cheeks from being a young teenager and she looked every inch the woman that he always imagined she would be. She was gorgeous! Even when he didn't recognize her at first, he noticed her from across the room. He wondered why none of the soldiers or sailors were asking her to dance. She was clearly the most attractive girl in the room, but then again that made sense. They didn't think they could ask the princess of their nation to dance. That just shows they didn't really know their princess. She wasn't the kind of girl that looked down on people. That is what he really liked about her.
It really was a shame what the Earth Kingdom had planned for the Fire Nation if Fire Lord Ozai didn't cooperate with them about the colonies across the sea. It wouldn't be a pretty picture. Hopefully, his mission for his native land would never cause him to have to make a choice about loyalties. Jet frowned deeply.
Captain Nishikawa didn't have to address him so harshly about his display inside. He couldn't help that someone he thought was dead and who probably thought he was dead danced with him tonight! The captain didn't even believe that it was possible for Jet to know the Princess of the Fire Nation. He was the only person who knew aside from the princess that he was actually full Earth Kingdom and not some orphaned kid from the colonies, but he gave him a chance anyway and Jet didn't disappoint most times.
After he took a few more deep breaths he re-entered the ballroom and looked around for Zuko. She hadn't returned from her "moment," so he figured she was "powdering" her face or whatever other excuses girls use for taking forever in the bathroom. It's alright. He had time tonight. He would wait to speak to her again.
Muta was indeed a worker of miracles when it came to cosmetics. She managed to redo Zuko's face in record time and restore her to her previous "glory." As Zuko and her entourage entered the ballroom. Jet was waiting for her.
"Princess Hothead, I presume." He said quietly as soon as he made eye contact. Chrissy and Mariko gasped in shock at his forwardness and Muta snickered behind her fan. She tapped her sister and friend and urged them away so that they could give the two some modicum of privacy in a crowded ballroom. Zuko managed to maintain her decorum and didn't call him a "badger mole fucker" like she used to do those years ago. Instead, she addressed him formally.
"Mr. Jet, it is such a shock and surprise to see you here. You look well." Translation: "Oh my God! How did you not die?" Jet smirked remembering that they were at a formal function but couldn't resist poking a little fun at her.
"Yes, your high and mightiness, I am well. Thank you for saying so. After the war, I took some time off and reevaluated my life. Translation: "Nope I didn't die. I came pretty damn close though, not that you were any help. It took a while to heal, but I'm much better now." Zuko raised an eyebrow at Jet suspiciously and smiled.
"So, pray tell, how did you end up in the Fire Nation Royal navy? It's quite a change in career from your previous occupation." Translation: "What are you up to you dirty bastard? You and I both know you hate the Fire Nation. How are you working for us now? What's your angle?" Jet chuckled deeply his voice rumbling in his chest.
"I am aware of your concern, dear princess, but I assure you, as I said before, I owe a debt to someone in the royal family that I intend to pay with interest. I am only doing what I can to make this world a better place. Someone gave me a second chance and I took it." Translation: "Don't worry your pretty little head about it. I'm not here to kill anybody if that's what you're worried about. I'm only doing my job and trying to make an honest living for once. Someone gave me a second chance and I took it." Zuko didn't reply but nodded in understanding.
A slight feeling of unease nestled itself in the pit of her stomach, but she pushed it down and away since she was going home that next day. She could keep an eye on Jet on the return voyage. Jet smirked and knew that he would take this last moment to rattle her cage since she wouldn't be able to respond the way he knew she could under normal circumstances. He leaned in closely and whispered,
"The only reason I didn't choose you instead of Katara that night was that I didn't want to take advantage of your youth. I think you and I could have a real good time tonight if you're interested." Zuko stood as still as a board and her eyes and pupils blew wide. A pinkish tint began climbing up her neck and face. Zuko's lips parted slightly in awe. The rock that fell on him didn't do a damn thing for his manners!
She didn't want to ruin the celebration that all these girls worked so hard for in preparation by giving Jet a solid left hook in front of everyone. She opened her mouth to give him a scathing rebuke when Jet received a slap to the back of his head. Captain Nishikawa was livid.
"How dare you address our princess so! She was clearly uncomfortable by whatever coarse thing you just said to her. I should have known you wouldn't have the decency to know your place. Let's go!" The captain signaled for Jet to move with haste and purpose and gave the princess a deep bow and an apologetic look. Jet snuck a look back and smirked as he gave Zuko a quick wink. Zuko rolled her eyes hard and promised herself she would be the one to settle the score on the ship tomorrow.