Earth...fire...water...air...light...

"When the working day is done, oh girls they want to have fun, girls just want to have fun." -Cindy Lauper

AVATAR

The Celestial Sailors

BOOK THREE: DEATH

25: Girls' Day Out

Princess Kotono stared out at the vast southern Earth Kingdom, at the sprawling city of Omashu, at the farmlands and fisheries beyond it, at the plains and rivers and hills beyond that. She could just make out the hazy outline of a mountain, so far away that it seemed like a mirage. The day was clear, though, not a cloud in the sky: not a shade or shadow or patch of darkness to be seen anywhere. The sun was out, beaming with what seemed to be a weary light, driven to the point of exhaustion by an unknown and insatiable taskmaster. It had been over two days now since the Second Sun had appeared—telling time was becoming more difficult without the intermission of night—two days of wearying, blinding light. To say that Kotono felt uneasy about the situation would nearly be neglecting the universal dread shared by everyone and everything else. Her only relief came on a tray, balanced by a woman only a year or two her senior, a contemporary who was becoming a friend and confidante. She smiled as Unazuki handed her the tea saucer.

"Thank you."

"My pleasure. I hope you like it. We've started rationing food and that's all that's left." The tea was weak, inferior, almost without flavor, but it was hot, and it gave Kotono time to reflect on something other than the perpetual light.

"I imagine you'll have difficulty with your crops before long. They may enjoy the extra sunlight but not without any rain. Have you ever seen it go this long without raining?"

"A few times," Unazuki answered, joining the princess in her meditative vigil. "We had a string of droughts when I was young, back when my father was King. I heard even Beryl felt the sting a few times. That's nothing new, though: the Earth Kingdoms are vast, and water seldom finds its way far inland." Kotono nodded, sipping her tea.

"The Fire Nation's had a few, but we also get hurricanes and tsunamis. Oh, and volcanoes. Those are pleasant." Unazkui grimaced.

"Do they erupt that often?"

"Not as much as you'd think," Kotono shrugged. "I'd say one's gone off only three times in my life, excluding the one in Ember Island. You know, with the djinn."

"Did you ever find out more about that?"

"No, outside of a few fairy tales. But we also know little about the Fomorii, and you met one during your brother's wedding. I wish I had stayed to see that." Unazuki smiled as she nodded, recalling the peculiarities of that encounter. She had been fearful, true, but she had also been enraptured, and highly curious.

"It was definitely something that only happens once in a lifetime. Even seeing all the world leaders gathered together couldn't top that." The ladies said nothing else for a moment, content to look out at the wide world and contemplate what sort of future they would have, now that there were two suns. Would the world be thrown back into disorder, just when it was starting to settle? Would they see even more Lightbringers? Was the Avatar doing anything about this? Could she do anything about it? Kotono finished her tea, feeling helpless. Unazuki took her cup and washed it, even though she had plenty of servants to do the task for her.

"I wish I could get my mind off all this," Kotono said, gesturing to the outside world. Unazuki chuckled softly from the wash basin.

"Can't sit still, huh? I know the feeling. Even when I'm supposed to be resting, I feel like I need to do something—otherwise, I'm just wasting my life."

"Don't get me wrong," Kotono said, offering a more congenial expression: "Lately I've been relishing my leisure time more and more. My team and I have been pushing ourselves for over a year now, so we take advantage of any rest we can find. But this is...different. I can't feel at ease when it's like this. It's like..." She looked out at the world, at the sun and grass and sky and city, at the rivers and the wispy mountain, and shuddered. "It's more than anxiety or nerves. It's fear. The sort of helpless fear only children know. I guess...I need a distraction." She laughed bitterly and added, "So what kind of fun do you have in this city of yours?"

Unazuki finished washing and drying the dishes, returning with a grin on her face and a twinkle in her eyes.

"Kotono, my friend, you just said the magic word."

…...

Dressed down in coarse finery, loose and comfortable and discreet, Kotono followed Unazuki away from the castle, away from the streets and thoroughfares, away from the wealthier districts, and into the seedy corners of Omashu, areas hitherto renowned for being dank, dirty, and filled to the brim with ruffians. The ever-present light had done away with all that, though, down to the last alleyway and dive bar. Nothing was left hidden or obscured; Omashu was now fully exposed, in all her shame and glory, from the brightest platinum statue down to the rats scurrying in the sewers. Kotono wondered where exactly her friend was taking her, and how someone so refined would know her way around this place. She asked, but was only told to wait, she'd see.

A sharp depression in the street seemed to be their final destination; Unazuki hovered over it for a moment before descending the staircase. She urged Kotono to follow her, and even though Kotono had stormed Beryl's castle, faced off against a djinn, and had tangled with a Spirit of Decay, she hesitated. Unazuki was already ahead of her, completely concealed by a tunnel dug beneath Omashu, and since Kotono preferred not to be alone in this part of town, she followed. Even the tunnel, as long and winding and secluded as it was, was devoid of darkness. A few unlit torches hung useless on the walls, some of them only recently extinguished. They passed a number of people in the tunnel, many of them large, crude, and severe-looking. One made a pass at Kotono; she tried to glare but was still mystified by her situation. Eventually Unazuki stopped in front of a large steel door, guarded by something that was more troll than man.

"Be off with ye, wench," the bouncer snorted, his thick arms bulging as he crossed them. Unazuki smiled undaunted.

"It's me, Zhang. I brought a friend with me. Here's the usual cover charge."

"Oh, right." Nonplussed in the presence of royalty—or perhaps he still didn't recognize Unazuki even in full light—the bouncer took her money and thumbed his hair, mimicking the tip of a hat. "Very good. You know the rules, Zee. Make sure, uh..."

"Tee," Unazuki said.

"Make sure Tee does, too. I'm a bouncer, not a baby-sitter."

"She'll behave herself. Later!" Unazuki waved cheerfully as Zhang opened the door and ushered them inside. Almost immediately Kotono was struck by the chorus of barbaric screams and shouts, the wet smacking of flesh striking flesh, the acrid stench of blood, and the musk of sweat, seasoned with adrenaline and lust. It didn't take her long to figure out where they were.

"You brought me to an underground fight club?"

"You said you wanted some action," Unazuki shot back. Kotono snarled.

"I said I wanted fun, not carnage! I wanted to get away from violence for a few days and do something—"

"We'll just be here for a few rounds. Come on, there's a good seat over there." She sat next to a middle-aged man whose face resembled a withered carrot; Kotono had a woman who looked more like a hog-rhino as her neighbor. They had just caught the tail end of a match, the crowd roaring as one man surrendered and was carried away. Accolades and even a few coins were thrown to the winner, who pumped his arms and grinned, two teeth missing. Carrot-Man banged on a tambourine as another match started, while Hog-Rhino bellowed for blood. The crowd and even Unazuki booed as a mountain of muscle and a tattooed monstrosity were brought out.

"Get em, Tattooed Dragon!" the princess of Omashu screamed. "Show him who his daddy is!" Kotono stared at her friend queerly. Even the tournament her brother had once fought in (an eternity ago it seemed) had bored her; this was even less personal. She leaned over, shouting at the top of her lungs to be heard.

"Is this your idea of fun?"

"What?" She had to repeat herself slowly. "Sometimes! I come here when I'm in the mood. I just get tired of court life and have to do something extreme!"

"This is extreme, all right," Kotono shouted, just as the crowd roared. Mount Muscle had just picked up Tattoo and threw him against the wall. He lumbered in for the kill but got a fierce chop in the face for his efforts. He followed up with a bone-cracking punch to Tattoo's head; Tattoo kicked Muscles and tackled him to the ground, where he laid in with a few punches. The crowd booed as Muscles shoved Tattoo away from him, got up, rubbed his jaw, and went for another grab. Tattoo was faster, but he got caught eventually, and yelled as his ribs were crushed. He snapped his head against Muscles's face, no good; he bit the other man's arm, more success there.

"He bit him?!" Kotono balked. Unazuki grinned.

"Yeah. There aren't any rules here. I mean, there are still rules..."

"So no death or dismemberment, I take it." Unazuki's shrugged.

"It's never happened before. Fights go on until someone taps out. Ah, like that!" Tattoo had somehow gotten Muscles on his back, and had his legs locked in a painful position. Muscles slapped the ground with his hand three times, and Tattoo was declared the winner, to cheers. He and Muscles embraced and walked out, arms over each other's shoulders. Kotono snorted.

"I thought it was going to be a fight to the death or something."

"Nah, they're just fighting. They fight to fight. There's no anger or envy here, no winners or losers, only two warriors and the crowd. There's something pure about it."

"I guess," Kotono muttered, crossing her arms. She shook her head as Unazuki whistled for the next pair. "Must take all sorts," she remarked, before doing a double-take. She didn't recognize one of the two fighters, but the second was unmistakably Ku Sheng! Kotono jumped to her feet and called out the woman's name, but her voice was lost in the surge of jeers and whistles.

Ku Sheng's opponent was a woman who looked like she could pulverize bricks into powder. The bell had barely sounded before Crusher had her hands around Ku Sheng's throat, smashing their heads together over and over. Ku Sheng hit Crusher in the sternum, coughed a few times as she rubbed her neck, and braced herself for a tackle. Kotono shrieked as her friend was lifted off the ground and slammed on the floor, but Ku Sheng recovered almost instantly, wrapping her arms around Crusher's legs and causing her to fall. They wrestled on the ground for a bit, trading punches and pins. Crusher got an advantage and kicked Ku Sheng away; she stormed after the other woman and grabbed her hand.

"Come on, get up! We're not finished yet!" Ku Sheng bent over and coughed, but pulled her opponent in and struck her with a thunderous blow, right in the belly. She followed through with a kick to the chin, then picked her opponent up, over her head, and spun her around like a windmill until she was dizzy. She dropped Crusher, who tapped out as Ku Sheng stood over her. Kotono was livid with ecstasy; Unazuki just beamed.

"Now are you havign fun?" Kotono rolled her eyes, but had to admit...

"I suppose. But only because a friend of mine is here. I wonder how Ku Sheng knows about this place."

"Search me," Unazuki shrugged. "The first rule of this place is secrecy. If the authorities were to find out about it, they'd shut it down."

"But you are the authorities," said Kotono with a deadpan glare. Unazuki laughed meekly.

"Yeah, but I'm inclined to look the other way so long as they keep these fights out of the streets. These people know what they're signing up for, and they're not hurting anyone."

The crowd groaned loudly as the next pair of warriors disagreed.

"Well," Unazuki winced, "nobody that doesn't want to get hurt. Hey, do you want to congratulate your friend?" Kotono's lips curled in a half-smile.

"No, I'd just embarrass her. I'll stay for one more match, then we can try someplace else."

"Sounds like a plan!" Unazuki resumed watching the spectacle, and even Kotono got a little into the match. As much as she didn't care for this sort of "entertainment", she had to admit there was something therapeutic about it.

And, at times, exciting. She whistled as the match ended, and couldn't keep from looking back as they left.

…...

They first slipped into an upscale fashion boutique about a mile or so away from the slums—because as Kotono pointed out, where they were going, they'd get kicked out for their shabby clothes. The garments Kotono had in mind were a little more restrictive, but also quite flashy and, well...liberal. Unazuki had never shown this much skin in public, but acclimated herself to whatever Kotono had in mind—and after settling on a silvery-orange dress that flashed royal purple and green if she moved a certain way, paired with silk gloves so sheer it felt like she was wearing the air itself, she felt a rush as so much of her body was bared before the world. Kotono had a two-piece that cleaved at the bottom, flashing her legs with every step, and a top that seemed to cover everything and nothing all at once. Unazuki noted that people would still identify her as their princess, and she'd likely be scandalized forever if they didn't fix that.

"Just trust me," said Kotono with a wink. Next they moved to someone who painted on people for art shows and exotic balls. The ladies had their faces decorated and glittered until their ow kin wouldn't have recognized them, then set out, arm in arm. Unazuki felt her heart throbbing along with the distant beat of music, and knew exactly where they were going.

"The Stardust?" she said. Kotono nodded. "How do you know about that?"

"That funny young man you're sweet on pointed it out to me during a tour. I figured it'd be a good place to visit if I ever got bored." The Stardust was an exclusive dance club and nighthall, mostly for the young, beautiful, and wealthy—the sort of place two refined princesses would feel right at home in. It also had a reputation for being raucous and a touch salacious, but since Kotono had been brought out of her comfort zone earlier, she figured it was Unazuki's turn. The bouncer here was far more attractive but no less intimidating, and was already overseeing a lengthy queue when the ladies arrived.

"Hmm, I don't suppose you have a VIP pass on you?" Kotono wondered. Unazuki soured.

"Coming here was your idea. I've never even been to this part of the city before!"

"And yet you hang out in fight clubs and dive bars."

"On occasion!" she retorted. Kotono laughed and took her friend by the hand.

"I guess we'll have to try our luck, then." They strolled to the front of the line together, drawing the ire of the bouncer. He gave them a cool but stern gaze as they approached.

"Back of the line, ladies. No exceptions."

"None whatsoever?" Kotono sang. He crossed his arms and shook his head.

"Not unless you're the Avatar or the owner." Kotono slipped close to his ear and whispered:

"(What about the princess?)" The bouncer flinched, swallowed, and gave the flashy brunette another examination. There was no way this gaudy creature was Princess Unazuki Furuhata...was there?

"Do you...have proof?" Unazuki sighed, removed her glove, and extended her hand. The Furuhata signet ring clutched tightly to her finger.

"Please be discreet. I'm touring the city incognito right now. I'll give you a gold coin for your silence." The bouncer's lips tightened nervously, and he slipped aside.

"Um...that's not necessary, your hi—err, young lady. It was my mistake: the owner clearly gave you permission to enter ahead of the line. Enjoy yourselves." Perspiring, he stood paralyzed as the women flitted past him, one offering her thanks while the other whispered an apology. Loud music and raucous chatter assaulted them the second the door closed; Kotono was already tapping her feet to the rhythm while Unazuki held her ears.

"Is this your idea of fun?" she roared. Kotono smiled.

"Yes! Much less violent, wouldn't you say?"

"So what am I supposed to do?!"

"Dance!" the princess laughed, throwing herself into a crowd and swaying her arms. Unazuki sighed, shrugged, and tried forgetting she was a liberally-dressed princess in a public place. She found a cluster of people to dance with, and had soon drawn the attention of two young men. They shouted something to her, but she couldn't hear anything beyond the thumping beat of music, so they had to settle for a helpless grin. They made gestures that suggested they wanted to dance, privately, which she understood perfectly, and acquiesced to.

Kotono had blended in perfectly with her group. She enjoyed dancing quite a lot, and had once entertained fantasies of being a dancer before the full weight of royal responsibility was placed upon her. Even today, she patronized performers, hoping that someone else's dreams could be fulfilled where hers could not. She wasn't the greatest—there were several in her group who were easily masters of their craft, drawing the attention of their contemporaries—but she definitely impressed people. As she shuffled and swayed, she bumped into someone, and let out an apology before realizing she probably couldn't be heard.

"Whoa, sorry bout' that," the other person muttered. Kotono faced them, halting a little as the flush of music, youth, perspiration, and movement overcame her. It was a young man her age, tall and a bit stocky, with glasses, hair that looked like it had never seen a comb, and pronounced buck teeth. He was pretty far removed from a prince charming, but beauty is ever in the eye of the beholder.

Whoa, he's cute, Kotono remarked. The young man smiled, sizing her up as men and boys will, stammering slightly as he realized he was in the company of someone ravishing.

"Uh, sorry—crowded room."

"Yes, definitely," she smiled. "Maybe we should find someplace less stifling."

"Uh, yeah, sure." The young man was as recalcitrant as a duck-mule, so Kotono took him with her, keeping Unazuki in the corner of her eye. Kotono started swaying and picked up the conversation, her pulse thudding with the beat.

"That's better. Friends of yours?"

"Uh, no, I came in here with my cousin. It's his birthday."

"Happy birthday to him. I'm here with a friend. We needed a change of pace from all..." She gestured, and he understood. The boy rubbed his hair, smiling morosely.

"Yeah, it...it's crazy out there. Did you notice they put up shutters around here to try and block out the light?" Kotono glanced around; thick black metal sheets were draped over all the windows, but even so, the light penetrated through. If a seedy underground fight club couldn't banish the light, what hope did this upscale dance hall have?

"Not very effective, is it?"

"No. I hear it's like this all over the city."

"It's like this everywhere," Kotono muttered, gazing down helplessly. She stopped dancing, but shook herself free of the dread. She had come in here to forget about the light, not discuss it. She attempted to grin and drew the young man in close, resuming her dance. "Hey, we came here to get away from that, right? What's your name?"

"Fong Wei. You?"

"Tonno," she replied, preferring an alias. "So are you a part of your cousin's business, or...?"

"Not really. My dad's a senior member of the merchant's guild here. He used to groom me for commerce, but then found I had a knack for designing carpets. I've already made and sold enough to buy my own place."

"That's incredible!" Kotono exclaimed. "Wasn't he upset?"

"Not really. A merchant's a merchant no matter what they sell. As long as I turned a profit, I got to do what I wanted." She smiled warmly, and danced a little closer.

"I envy you a bit. My father's...in politics, and he expects me to succeed him."

"Is that not what you want to do?" Kotono hesitated.

"Well, let's just say that I've found a way for it to work in my favor, so it's not something I completely hate. I just don't like the idea of sitting behind a desk all day scribbling ink on a bunch of papers."

"Tell me about it!" Fong scoffed. "I'd rather work with my hands any day!"

"Let me see them," she said, taking his hands. With gentle care she examined his palms and fingers, causing him to stiffen and blush. She looked into his eyes solemnly. "They're good hands. Mine used to be soft, but they've gotten calloused over the months. Lots of travel and...conflict resolution."

"Is being a diplomat that exciting?" he grinned. Kotono laughed.

"It can be, sometimes. But I needed to take a break from that, too. Hold on." She danced around him in a circle until she was looking in Unazuki's direction. So far the other princess was still holding her own with the two boys. Kotono smirked and raised an impressed eyebrow.

Two at once, eh? You go get em', Zuke!

She noticed Fong's inquisitive expression and said, "Just keeping an eye on my friend."

"Which one?" Kotono pointed her out, but gave a start as one of the boys leaned in, grinning and gesturing lewdly. Unazuki appeared to decline him and kept dancing, but then the other started becoming overly familiar. Unazuki could most certainly take care of herself—she was just as fearless in battle as Kotono—but there will always be a uniting sense of sorority between women in times of danger, and as much as she respected and trusted Unazuki, Kotono still observed. The two boys were becoming bolder and more aggressive, closing in on the princess like she was their prey. One of them touched her hip, which she politely rebuffed; another grabbed her rear end, which was met with more violence. Kotono winced.

"We're helping her, right?" Fong said. Kotono nodded and led him over; by now Unazuki and the boys were shouting at each other, drawing the attention of nearby dancers. One of the boys called her a nasty name and went to strike her, but Unazuki caught his arm and flipped him flat on his back. The second boy snarled and ran in to tackle her, but he was flattened as Fong smothered him.

"Whoa!" Unazuki shrieked. Kotono snatched her arm.

"You okay, Zuke?" She smiled and nervously combed her fingers through her hair.

"Yeah, just dealing with some overenthusiastic fans. Thanks for the help. Who's..." Before she could say another word, the boy she had flipped crawled to his feet and whistled. The next moment, they were surrounded by party-goers, evidently friends of their impolite companions. Kotono drew her friend close.

"I think we should leave."

"Good idea." Kotono called for Fong to join them, but the boy he had smothered grabbed him before he could get back up. Kotono's teeth flashed in a snarl and she jammed the pointed end of her heel in his face.

"Leave him alone!" The boy screamed and clutched his face; Kotono helped Fong to his feet and held on tight as they plowed through the dance hall. A crowd followed them, some getting close enough to grab the girls. Unazuki shoved her elbow into one man's stomach while Kotono cracked one against his jaw; Fong was no fighter but was pretty effective in shoving them away. He led them through several alleys, corridors, and streets, eventually losing the mob. The three of them took a moment to catch their breath and check for any injuries.

"Ugh, some people," Kotono muttered. Her clothes had been ripped, exposing far more leg than she wanted people to see, and one of the straps on her top had been torn off. Unazuki had a bruise and a few scratches; her face paint was running and her dress had some mud on it. All in all, though, it could have been worse. Once they were rested, Kotono felt like introductions were in order—but before she could say a word, Fong and Unazuki smiled at each other.

"Oh, hey there, Zuki!"

"Fong! So you're the one who stole Tonnie from me! How's your father?"

"Worried out of his mind, just like all of us. Business has taken a heavy hit lately. People are starting to give up hope."

"Things do seem pretty grim," she agreed. Unazuki brightened as she noticed Kotono's confused expression. "Oh, uh, we've met several times. His father and my brother are on good terms with one another, so naturally..."

"I see," Kotono smirked, wiping a strand of hair from her forehead. "I guess it's not out of the question for you two to be acquainted. I suppose it wouldn't hurt if you knew who I really was: Princess Kotono of the Fire Nation." Fong's eyes bulged; he sputtered and stepped back, even bowing. Kotono and Unazuki looked incredulously at each other before laughing.

"Relax, there's no need for that. I think Zuki and I've had enough fun for one night, so we'll be heading back..." Unazuki suddenly went on full alert, her merry eyes flickering wildly as she scanned her surroundings. A voice had cried out in terror, but more alarmingly, bright flashes of light erupted, even more powerful than the two suns wheeling perpetually around their world. Unazuki darted out of their hiding space, and her hair stood on end as she saw a number of Lightbringers surging down the street.

"Not in my city!" she announced. As eager as she was to stop them, the princess knew she'd be helpless without a weapon. She glanced around and saw an arms dealer ready to close shop, and sprinted over to his booth, yelling for him to wait. Before he could explain that he was done for the day, Unazuki flashed her royal signet ring, pulled a small sack from her dress, and slammed it on the counter. Two golden coins spilled out and rolled on the floor.

"It's an emergency!" she shouted.

…...

The group of young men had sworn that those two insolent girls and their pathetic follower had ran this way. They looked around, cursing and cat-calling, some so spoiled for a fight that they started destroying property, knocking over trash cans and breaking fences. The city and perhaps the entire world was doomed, they figured, so who would care about a little vandalism—or worse? They were about to double back and check the other roads when a burning sentinel of pure white light appeared behind them, blazing with righteous fury. Most of the group ran; some threw rocks or knives, to no effect. Another Sentinel appeared behind the group before they could run anywhere, and then another, and another, until they were surrounded. One of the bolder men tried punching them, but shrieked in agony as he withdrew his fist; it smoldered and blistered as if he had shoved it into a furnace.

"All darkness must be banished," the Lightbringers decreed, and in unison raised their arms for a final judgment. Suddenly, one of them collapsed, run through by a heavy spear, while another crumbled beneath the stroke of a battle-ax. Arrows pelted the others, forcing them to withdraw, and standing in their wake was Fong Wei and two battle-maidens. The group of hoodlums huddled together, penitent and terrified out of their minds. Unazuki approached them, larger than life as she wielded her weapon in the full brightness of day.

"Get out of here, all of you! And if I hear you've caused any more trouble, ever, I'll make you wish those Lightbringers had their way with you!" The group scrambled away immediately, sniveling; the two men that had harassed her got a swift swat on the behind with the butt of her ax. That only left the remaining Lightbringers, who glared at the trio with unbridled fury.

"What in the world?" Fong whispered, holding his ground on shaky legs. Kotono pursed her lips grimly.

"Those are the Lightbringers. We believe they're responsible for the second sun." He swallowed fearfully.

"I...is that s-s-so?"

"You don't have to stand with us, Fong," Unazuki said, clutching her ax tightly. "Omashu's my city, and it's my duty to protect it. You should find a safe place and—"

"I-I'm not leaving you behind!" he cried out, quickly retrieving the spear he had thrown. His arms shook but his countenance was unbreakable. "I...I'd never be able to live with mys-s-self if I ab...bandoned two women to these th-th-th-things!" Tears streamed down his face, mingling with cold perspiration. He wiped it off and stood his ground. Kotono smiled proudly. She quickly let an arrow fly, piercing one of the Lightbringers; it dauntlessly charged after them, getting another shot before striking. Fong roared and clumsily plunged his spear into its body, recoiling as it faded. He dropped his weapon, wringing his numb hands, just as Unazuki covered him and started swinging. The streets burned with their fire; Kotono's hair was singed and her clothes set ablaze. She let off one more shot before her bow was destroyed, then backed off, whipping out a short sword. Unazuki took down another before she was struck, her dress melting. She gnashed her teeth and tore it off before it could scorch her skin, then swung again. The ax head melted to slag as the handle snapped to pieces; meanwhile, Fong retrieved his weapon though its weight was unbearable, slashing and skewering two more before the flames of righteousness consumed him. He rolled on the ground, screaming; Kotono rushed in, stabbing and cutting, desperate to protect him. Her efforts were valiant but ultimately futile; the sword turned to metallic goo and her arms fell limp to her side.

The Lightbringers closed in.

"No longer will we suffer interlopers to live," they announced, harsh and piercing as trumpets. "To stand against our order is to invite death and destruction. There will be no mercy."

Fong thrust his outer shirt off, clutching his burned arms as he backed away. Unazuki was on the ground, covering her face, while Kotono limped to her feet. She helped her friends stand, trudging away slowly. The Lightbringers drew closer, their blaze overwhelming, their vengeance unstoppable. Then one of them was smashed by a warhammer. Kotono jerked stiffly.

"What the..." An ululating battle-cry rang out as three Lightbringers were brushed aside by the war-hammer. A spear and harpoon found two of them and kept charging, impaling anything that stood in their way. A hailstorm of arrows kept the Lightbringers at bay while a fierce whirlwind of razors shredded them to pieces. Finally, a surge of fire, so alien to Omashu, slithered around the sentinels and matched their blaze. The destruction was swift, precise, and a welcome relief; Kotono couldn't stop smiling as she collapsed on her savior, kissing his face.

"I think she's okay," she heard a boy laugh. The recipient of her gratitude smiled awkwardly, embarrassed by the display of affection. Kotono hugged her little brother one more time before standing up.

"Y'ain't hurt, are ya Tono?" Ku Sheng approached her, concerned and more than a little bruised from her earlier fight. Kotono beamed at her.

"A little. All in a day's work for the Fire Nation. How about you, my friend? It looks like you've got a story to tell." She tapped one of Ku Sheng's bruises, hastily wrapped in gauze, causing the larger woman to wince. It took some time for the princess to assure her entourage that she was, more or less, in good shape, but she was more concerned about Unazuki and Fong. They were both burned fairly badly, though the latter didn't have a brotherly king to account to. Kotono took him aside and gave him a long, grateful embrace, which was salve enough for the time.

"Thank you. That was incredibly brave of you, Fong. If there's anything I can do to repay you..."

"No, just..." He muttered, grimacing through the pain, rubbing his injuries with a twinge of pride. "Nobody will ever believe I spent the night fighting fire demons with two princesses!"

"I would not say that," Kartta replied. She went down on her knees, bowing deeply. "The entire Fire Nation will hear of you, Lord Wei. Even among heroes, few could match your deeds today."

"Come on," he grumbled, fumbling with his hands, "you're embarrassing me!" Kartta laughed quietly and apologized; soon everyone was patting him on the back and shaking hands. Eventually Kotono got him all to herself, holding his bruised hands in her own.

"Well! Some night, eh?"

"Yeah, really!" he chortled. "First I go dancing with the princess of the Fire Nation, then I help defend Zuki from some creeps, then we get in a fight with...what did you say those things were?"

"Lightbringers. More like vermin, if you ask me."

"Harsh," he grinned. Kotono just winked, and they shared a laugh. Then, silence. She looked into his honest, humble face, glowing with love, admiration, pride—wondering if this was a sign. He was the son of an important merchant, and regularly rubbed elbows with Omashu royalty. Kotono could do far worse...

"Could I...see you again sometime?" she whispered, eyes glistening with hope. He grinned, though his expression was heavy with woe.

"Um, sure, but, uh...I have a boyfriend."

"A boyf—" Startled, she drew back. Fong kept his crestfallen smile and rubbed his hair. Kotono's love never left her, though; she felt it blossom as she took him into her arms and kissed his cheek. "Be sure to give him that for me," she whispered, "and tell him he's a lucky man." Fong's grin turned joyous, and slowly their hands slipped away from each other. She waved farewell, adding that he should probably have those injuries looked at. It wouldn't do for his special someone to see him so banged-up like this!

…...

"Ah, well," Unazuki sighed as Kotono related the whole affair to her. "You win some, you lose some." She looked over at Kotono, who stared out into the sky, meditative and tranquil. They were concluding their day off in the royal hot springs, although the atmosphere was dampened due to the overwhelming glare of light. One sun had already set but the other was climbing its way up, unnatural and foreboding. The cold sake they were sharing did little to help, but it was something. The edge of Kotono's mouth raised in a half-smirk, and she drained her drink.

"I doubt mother and father would've approved of him, anyway. What's a carpet designer next to a princess?"

"Didn't he say his father was a senior member of the merchant's guild?"

"That's right. May he and his boyfriend prosper." She poured herself another glass, trying not to look at the bright sky. According to the bell toll, the hour was late, nearly midnight, but it was difficult to believe. The light was altogether unnatural—and if the Lightbringers' aggression was anything to go by, it was anathema as well. If the Avatar didn't do something about it, and quick...

Kotono downed her entire cup and poured another. No. Best not to think about it. She refused to let anything interfere with her day off. Until she went to bed, this was about her and Unazuki, nothing else. She smiled at the other princess, who was wading around with her hair up, humming softly to herself. Unazuki had went from platonic contemporary to close friend in a matter of days; the two ladies were remarkably alike, each as skilled in diplomacy and philanthropy as they were in combat. They both had exemplary brothers people compared them to—one a king and the other a prodigy—and were both connected to the Avatar through their families. Their differences was what she appreciated the most, though: Kotono was the bolder when it came to conflicts, while Unzuki was better at intermingling with the people; Kotono was a born leader, while Unazuki preferred working behind the scenes; Kotono was reserved, contemplative, and somewhat cautious, while Unazuki was bright, cheery, and prone to act without thinking.

Kotono realized she loved Unazuki, and wished they would have more chances to meet in the future.

"I don't suppose you know of any good single men?" she posed. Unazuki chortled.

"Ha! If I did, I would've taken them for myself by now!"

"Ah, a rival for my future affections." The Princess of the Fire Nation raised her glass, and the Princess of Omashu clinked hers against it.

"A rival, and a good friend. I'm glad to have met you, Tonnie. I can call you that, right?"

"Absolutely not," she chuckled. "Would you like it if I called you Uni?" The other girl crinkled her nose.

"Just so long as you don't call me Zuke. That's my brother's pet name for me, and he knows I hate it." Kotono laughed softly.

"Tono and Zuki. What a pair we make." She then cast her eye out to the world, sighing as the second sun climbed higher. She finished her drink and put her cup down. "Be honest with me, Zuki: do you think the Avatar can do anything about that?" Unazuki joined her, rippling through the water as she sipped her drink.

"If anyone can... But this isn't like overthrowing Beryl, or Rolando Demys, or even a demonic spirit. I've seen the Avatar in action several times, and...honestly, I don't know. I don't know what she can do—if anything." She sipped again, and put her cup down. Kotono sighed.

"Look at us: two princesses who've led people into battle, who've contested against djinn and Lightbringers alike, and yet we're utterly helpless."

Both women were silent for a very long time.

"Hey, Tonnie."

"Hm?" Kotono blinked in surprise as Unazuki leaned over and kissed her chastely on the lips. She jerked back, alarmed, while the other girl hung back, bashful and a little fearful.

"Sorry. I...didn't want to die with regrets. That was my first kiss."

Kotono made a sour face, and was tempted to wash herself clean.

"Mine, too." But she didn't. "Look, just because my brother's dating another boy, that doesn't..."

"Doesn't what?" Unazuki said softly. Kotono sucked on her lip, biting it. She felt herself glowing with warmth, and it wasn't from the hot springs—or the sake.

"Nothing," she smiled, "forget about it."

The End of "Girls' Day Out"

Next time: "The Avenging Shadow Lights a Spark"