OH HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN! Tomorrow's Saturday! oh yeah, I get to sleep in until after 6. If my body lets me. which it probably won't. hmmm. But HeY! At least i don't have to drive to Orem tomorrow morning! Yay! Anyways. I really need to do some laundry tomorrow. I'm getting desperate for socks. I'm wearing my old softball socks right now. I had to scrape them from the bottom of my drawer and dust them off. They're actually pretty sweet. I should start a new fashion trend of wearing ten-year-old baseball socks. Viva le revelution! Anyways. I'm really weird today. I've been awake for the last twenty hoursmwahaahahhaaa! Pardon my temporary lapse of sanity. I'm trying to get over it.
Katara183: I know! Isn't Strongbad the greatest?
Khazia: I have seen the Japanese cartoon one. In fact, how's this for coincidence? There's a girl in my college class who was wearing a t-shirt today with strongbad on it in his blue haired, big shiny booted anime glory! And about your dream...Heck yes I still want to hear it! Geez gurl! You've been keeping me on edge all week doncha know?
Zukoscute2: Yes, let us. But we won't be seeing Ozai's reaction this chapter I'm afraid.
O-dragon: Miami's just the worst humidity place I've ever been to, I felt like someone was punching me in the chest when I stepped out of the airport. But then again I've been living in this dry, high elevation my entire life. Any kind of moisture in the air is suffocating to me. Oh hoho. You want to hear a sore foot story? I went with my church group a few years back on a pioneer handcart trek in Wyoming. It was a three day kinda deal. The first day was only two miles, second day was maybe four or five. Day three we had to walk sixteen miles with a handcart loaded with our supplies up Rocky Ridge. and to make things worse people would come up to us and tell us members of our 'family' had broken something so we would have to pile them onto the handcart we were dragging along. Somewhere around mile thirteen I wore through my shoes but I was too stubborn to give up and get in one of the cars. So I walked three miles with my shoes all freaked out. Anyways. DON'T STOP RAMMBLING! I like those kinds of reviews that are long and interesting. I'm glad you liked the palace!
Titan09: I want to marry The Cheat someday. Him or Gir from Invader Zim. There's a guy at my school who has a stuffed The Cheat. It's awesome. I want to steal it. A bunch of Firenation doing thriller would be hilarious. And what a weird coincidence. I know a kid who does a mean Michael Jackson impersonation (spelling?) from my school. He did it two years in a row for the school talent show. The first year he got third place, last year he won first. It's awesome. He even looks like Mikey. I figured that Zuko resisted from going after Aang because he was still all confused about whether he wanted something to happen to our favorite lil' que ball at the hands of his father. Or somethin' like that. I really want to see that flash movie site. I'll have to check it out next time I'm at my brother's place. My dad kinda blew out the speakers on our computer.
Athenera: I'm gonna tell ya! I'm gonna tell ya! Thanx, you're a wunnerful person too.
Skovmand: Hey, cool name. Welcome the black hole that is my mind. Once you're here you can't get out I'm sorry to say. I actually did what you said about writers block and deleting stuff I've already written. But the weird thing is that I did it just before I read your review. Freaky eh? I's psychic! Sorry again that you are now trapped here with the rest of it. Hope you brought a flashlight.
AAAHHH! There's a bug in my ear!
"Just smile." Zuko muttered to Katie and took her arm leading her off the ship. Hundreds of people were gathered, waiting to witness the return of their prince. Katie plastered a smile on her face and allowed Zuko to steer her off the ship. There was a loud cheer from the crowd as they made their way along a well kempt street with Iroh walking five paces behind them.
"So, where is your father?" Katie asked through her fixed smile.
"He'll be waiting for us in his court." Zuko said, holding a hand up regally to all his subjects. They paraded right up to the grand steps of the palace. There was only one thing standing between them and the gilded doors. And that was a girl around the age of fifteen. Katie recognized her right away as the girl she had seen from 'the Storm'. This had to be Zuko's little sister.
"Hello prince Zuko." She said sweetly.
"Zula." He said nodding to her in acknowledgment.
"I see that you have failed to recover your honor. But then again, it doesn't appear that you much care for honor anymore." Zula said giving Katie a sneer. Zuko glared at his sister.
"You will show me respect Zula. And you will also show respect to your future queen." Zula shot Katie an icy glare and rapped on the door behind her. It opened at her command and they followed her inside.
"Father is having a meeting with his council on Korgan. He won't return until the night of the ball. Your room is right where you left it, I'm sure you can find it yourself." Without a backward glance, Zula disappeared through a door. Zuko sighed and led Katie to a stairway.
"That is my sister."
"I thought she was absolutely charming." Zuko snorted. They walked up two flights of stairs and down a few long hallways. The walls were lined with paintings of former rulers and aristocrats. Finally Zuko opened a door and held it open for Katie to enter the room first. It looked a lot like his room on the ship only everything was grander. There was an actual canopy bed instead of just a mattress on the floor and a dragon shrine against one wall nearly took up the entire wallspace. There were tapestries and weaponry all over the other three walls. A large armoire stood at the side of the bed and there was a door across the room leading out to a sort of balcony. The curtains on this door along with the bedspread were dark red and felt like velvet. "Um, the room could probably use a feminine touch." Zuko said, anxiously watching her look around.
"Are you kidding, I think this is awesome." She said walking out onto the balcony. They were three stories up. The crowd below had mostly dissipated but there were still a few stragglers standing around and chatting with each other.
"So, when is the ball going to be?" Katie asked nervously.
"In two days. We should probably find my father's seamstress to make you a dress." He said taking her hand and leading her back downstairs. Zuko called a servant to fetch a seamstress and within ten minutes a pretty woman in her thirties seemed to just appear at their side. She circled Katie, eyeing her critically.
"And I'm guessing she needs a gown for the Firenoble ball?" She asked taking out a tape and wrapping it around Katie's waist.
"Yes, and she could use a few just to wear around the castle as well." Zuko said watching the woman carefully.
"Well. We can't do anything here in the hall now can we? My lady, if you would kindly come with me." She took Katie's arm and led her away before Zuko could protest.
"So what is your name?" Katie asked the woman.
"I'm Imoen. I've been working as seamstress in the palace for nineteen years, so please forgive me for not wanting to stay in the company of the prince for too long. I've had enough experience with the royal family to dare try and dance around that temper." She said steering Katie to a room somewhere in the labyrinth of hallways. The room was quite large and decorated with…red. But all over the room were pallets of colorful fabric of every color imaginable. "Now. I have many many gowns in my possession that I know will fit you splendidly. But for something as important as the ball I will make something special for you from scratch."
"Oh you don't have to do that."
"But I want to. It's a far cry better than waiting to jump at the royal brat's voice." Imoen said bustling around looking through the fabrics for something specific. "What colors do you prefer to wear my dear?"
"Um, brown. I guess." Katie said not all to sure.
"Oh no. It far to dull a color." Imoen said shuffling through more fabric.
"I like to wear black and blue as well. Maybe olive green."
"No no. Blue is right out. Green would bring out the color of your eyes, but it's a bad color to wear among people at war with the Earth Kingdom. Especially when you have the skin and hair coloring of one of them. Now black. I do believe that could work." She pulled out a roll of black, shiny fabric and waved it in the air triumphantly. She thrust the fabric in Katie's arms and went back to her library of cloth. "But black is too plain to be by itself. What you need is a very dark red." Katie smiled. She should have seen that coming. Imoen was back within seconds carrying another roll of cloth. It was a beautiful crimson silk. "Oh I can already see you in it. I'm so excited!" Imoen said grabbing the cloth back from Katie and reaching for a measuring tape. Katie was growing fonder of Imoen by the minute. They laughed and talked for most of the day. Katie spent the time on a short table with her arms stretched out at her sides while Imoen took measurements. Katie watched in amazement as the woman skillfully cut the fabric and sewed pieces together with a speed and perfection that would have put most sewing machines to shame. Within three hours, a dark red dress was beginning to take shape. Within five hours, it was almost completely done. Katie stood on the table once more as Imoen pinched and pinned the cloth in various places, all the while gossiping about life in the palace.
"And that prince of yours. He was the most rambunctious little scamp. I had to sew up a new hole in his clothes nearly every day." Katie laughed. She thought every story she heard about Zuko's childhood was hilarious. She really felt sad that there weren't that many. Imoen paused from the hem she was sewing and looked up at Katie with a smile. "I don't know if anybody has told you. But you look remarkably like Queen Zerita."
"I do know. I saw a portrait of her at her aunts house."
"Hm, me and Zerita were best friends growing up. I don't think a better person has ever walked the earth." Imoen said returning her attention to the hem. "I must thank you. Today, it's been as though I've stepped back into the past to a very happy time in my life."
"Um, your welcome." Katie said with a shrug. There was a light knock on the door and it opened without invitation. Zuko popped his head in and glanced around.
"There you are. How is the dress coming?" He asked stepping in and shutting the door behind him.
"Really good. We've been having a great time." Katie said. She leaned down and kissed Zuko lightly. Zuko looked her up and down with obvious appreciation on his face. Katie really wished she could see what she looked like in the dress.
"My uncle wants us to join him for dinner in an hour." He said, finally able to move his eyes to her face.
"Alright, I'll see you then." She kissed him again and he left them to finish with the dress.
"Well. I think that just about does it." Imoen said sitting back and admiring her work.
"Do you have a mirror I could see myself in?"
"Of course not! The dress isn't done yet." Imoen said as though aghast at the idea of such a thing.
"But you just said…"
"This part is done, but the entire gown is only half finished. I'll have it done by the ball. Don't you worry." She said shooing Katie behind a screen to change into one of the other gowns she had given her. Katie had been wondering about the dress. So far they had only used the red fabric Imoen had picked out and the black stuff had been placed aside. Katie left Imoen and went to find Zuko and Iroh for dinner. She had made it through several twisting hallways when she realized that she had no idea where she was. She wandered through the palace trying to find someone to ask for directions. After several minutes she finally saw someone in armor disappear around a corner.
"Excuse me!" Katie called, jogging slightly to catch up with the man. He turned at the sound of her footsteps and Katie froze. It was Zhao.
"Well. What do we have here?" He smirked.
"Um. Sorry. I thought you were someone else." Katie said walking backwards towards an open door. If she could get in there and lock it…but Zhao seemed to be able to read her mind and quickly maneuvered himself so he was between her and the door.
"I must say that I was surprised when I heard the news. Not about the fact that the prince would stoop as low as to marry a slave, but that even a slave would consent to kiss that face." Katie bit back a harshretort tothis and tried to look dignified, looking him in the eye and refusing to look away.
"I'm sorry I cannot stand around and chat with you admiral. My husband and uncle are waiting for me to join them for dinner." Katie said stepping out of reach. Zhao watched her with his steely gaze.
"You don't even know where the dining room is, do you? I'm sure they would understand if you were late." Zhao said reaching out and grabbing Katie's wrist.
"LET ME GO!" Katie pulled her leg up, putting her foot against his chest she shoved him away as hard as she could. Her arm, which he was still holding tightly, felt almost as though it was being wrenched out of place. Her attack didn't hurt Zhao at all and he advanced on her, a menacing fire in his eyes.
"You've remained out of my reach for too long. I will not let you get away this time."
"Admiral Zhao! You will stand down at this instant." They both turned to see Iroh standing in a doorway. Katie rushed to his side. Zhao glared at both of them before straightening himself and stalking off.
"Thank you so much Iroh." Katie said hugging him.
"Are you all right?" He asked placing a protective arm around her shoulders.
"Yeah. I'm okay."
"What were you doing all the way in the south wing?" Iroh asked closing the door to what was obviously his bedroom and he began steering Katie in another direction.
"I don't have the slightest clue where I am or where I'm going. I was trying to find someone to point me in the right direction when I bumped into that…Augh!" Katie shook herself furiously. The arm Zhao had touched felt contaminated. "Why is it that he keeps popping up wherever I turn?"
"That's just the way he is I guess. Come. My nephew is probably growing worried. We were supposed to meet him ten minutes ago."
Okay. It wasn't a bug. It was just my sanity dripping out my ear. Holy cah-rap I need to get some sleep. Please review.