Chapter 6

The Deadly Flower Dance

Yeah the 6th Chapter. What will happen this time? Let us read and find out.

Kane bent down and looked into the spring. Her hair fell into it and got all wet. She frowned. "Maybe I should cut it." She shook her head and decided to wait. Then she Rao in the reflection looking at her. "I remember when you're hair use to be that long back in the village."

"That was long ago."

"You know more of the kids survived than you had thought."

"I guess so. But I have nothing to do with them. I am out seeking revenge."

Rao sat down and stretched out her legs. "Revenge can be sweet but at other times it can also be deadly."

Kane laughed, "You sound like Iroh."

Rao smiled. Back at the village she never smiled. It must be these Fire Nation people that are changing her. Rao looked up at the passing clouds and brought her legs up under her chin. "I would like to see one thing that we use to always do back at the village. I heard some of the towns are doing it as well now to honor our village."

"What is that?"

"The Peace Ceremony."

Kane's eyes got wide with fright. "I remember that you did a special dance called Water Flow. It was very neat. That was the last ceremony. Your hair was long then and it flowed with your movements. It seemed relaxing."

"It was something my brother taught me."

"Oh, you mean to calm yourself?"

"Yeah."

"That explains it." She looked at Kane. She was looking the other way playing with her hair.

"I also remember that the Fire Nation attacked the day before the ceremony." Kane stopped playing with her hair and just stared into outer space.

"I remember, also, that you were practicing a dance for the ceremony one day, and that one of the girls that was competing against you came up and grabbed you by the hair. She yanked you down and twisted your head so you couldn't get up and fight. You got out that sword there and cut your hair. It was short and she couldn't get a hold of it. Then I saw you do the steps you did in the dance you were practicing. You attacked her and she ran away. That was why your hair was short the next day."

"You remember a lot of things Rao."

"Well I was just thinking that the ceremony the town is doing sounds fun. I thought you should enter the contest."

"Rao that was a long time ago. I forgot how to dance and…"

"Did I hear of a ceremony being held in a town?" Iroh said coming out from behind a bush. Kane and Rao let out a yelp of surprise."

"Sorry didn't mean to scare you. But I would like to see this ceremony. When and where is it?"

"It is a five minute walk from here and it is in three days."

"Kane, you should enter it."

Kane stood up and turned around. "I'm not a dancer anymore. And I heard they changed the rules. After you dance you must sing or do both at the same time. I don't do any of that."

"Kane, you should do this for Iroh."

"No."

"For our village."

"No," Kane said walking off.

"For me."

"No," she said walking through the woods back to the house.

"For Mamoru." Kane stopped. "I know that he would like to see it one last time as well. Then I won't bug you about it any more I promise."

"Maybe," Kane walked off. Rao smiled.

"Will she really do anything if you say for Mamoru?" John said right beside Rao. Rao screamed and breathed heavily.

"Where did you come from, I have never seen you so quite. How did you do it?" Rao asked.

"It wasn't easy. I had to put a handkerchief around my mouth." Rao and Iroh stared at her opened moth, Iroh flinched. "Well, shall we go back," Iroh asked.

"Sure let's go."

"So, has the name of the ceremony changed in this town?" Iroh asked.

"Yes it is called The Honor Ceremony. It is very rare now that you see someone from the Fire Nation and they usually try to hide it. Even though the number one rule is do not argue with other nations people are just attracted to it."

"Very good rule if you ask me," John said, "or the Fire Nation wouldn't stand a chance there."

"We just have to hope that Kane agrees to enter it."

"Why?"

"The Fire Nation general will be there. And I think that if he doesn't like what he sees he'll burn the city down and enslave its people. The people are free to go as long as they come back. And I heard that if this ceremony is a dud then he will destroy it. That is why we need Kane to enter the contest. She'll win for sure against his daughter."

"His daughter?"

"Yeah, if she doesn't win then there is a sure chance he will spare the city because rumor has it, she is the best there is at dancing."

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Kane got up early and walked to the town. "I am only doing this for Mamoru," she murmured as she walked there. She heard noise behind her and looked at the bushes. She got in a fighting stance and glared. "Come out or I'll make you come out."

Zuko came out of the bushes. "What are you doing," Kane asked thrusting her hip to the side and putting her hands on them. They had been avoiding each other since the day she had turned in to the Blood bender.

"I promised I would protect you didn't I?"

Kane's eyes became wide with horror. "I know how it feels. To lose someone, to lose honor, and to lose a home. I know that it is difficult to make it through it, especially when you try to do it alone. But I found someone who is special to me. Someone I am about to lose if I don't help her fight. And I am not going to run away like a coward, I'm here to help you Kane. I'll protect you from anything that comes in your way." Kane looked down, his words repeating in her head.

"You did promise."

"Then I am going to follow that promise. Now where are you going?"

"To the town to sign up for the dance."

"Why didn't you tell me? Did you think I was going to laugh?"

"I just didn't want anyone to know."

"Well, let's go sign up for the dance then," Zuko said annoyed. He folded his arms across his chest. "Don't be scared to tell me something, I thought you were going to do something stupid."

He's scared I am going to become the Blood Bender again. Kane thought sadly.

Zuko started off toward the village with Kane following behind him. They entered and saw decorations all lined up everywhere. Zuko and Kane came up to a place with the words 'Register' written across it. A Fire Nation soldier looked up and saw them. He looked at Kane then at Zuko.

"You look familiar," he said to Zuko.

"How can I look familiar? I am from the Earth Kingdom you are from the Fire Nation. You must be mistaken."

"You're probably right. What would you like to sign up for," he asked. The man had brown hair and amber eyes. He had a scar across his let cheek that looked like an X. He wore Fire Nation soldier clothes.

"We would like to sing up for the dance," Zuko said.

"Sorry, but boys aren't allowed to enter the dance."

Zuko got mad, "Why the heck would I won't to enter the dance! It is for her!" He pointed at Kane.

"Oh, I see. Ok here is your form. You must…"

"I know the rules. After all I am from the original village."

"Oh, then you will be honored and are to feast with the commander at the ceremony for your bravery."

"Thank you but you don't have to do that."

"It is tradition is it not?"

"Yes for an Honor Ceremony not the Peace Ceremony. Everyone is treated as an equal there."

"But of course the rules have been changed," the soldiers said with a smirk.

"Yes they have. Then I will eat with the commander at the ceremony." They turned and walked off.

When they got back in the woods and out of hearing range Zuko looked behind him to make sure no one was following. "Why did you tell him the truth?"

"They can't do anything about it."

"What do you mean?"

"They know that the Fire Nation attacked the village but the do not know why. They probably just think I was spared because I was little then."

"I see." They reached a stump and Kane began to fill out the form. When she was done Zuko read it.

Name: Kane

Dance Type: New

Song: New

Meaning: Courage

Village: Eirene Village

"That was the name of you village?"

"Yes, Eirene is the goddess of peace and spring. Our village is peaceful and was founded in spring."

"That makes since," he said as they headed back. They handed the form back to the guard and left. "So the dance has never before been seen?"

"I've always made up my own dances. I figure that the Commander's daughter will be doing the dance I did the last time I danced in the Peace Ceremony. I've heard of girls who have won dancing competitions with it. I have to do a new, a better one." They came back to the house. "I'm going to go practice, see you latter Zuko." Zuko entered the house and saw Rao and John sitting at the table with Iroh making tea.

"She enter the contest?" John asked.

"How did you know?"

"We asked her to," Rao said.

"Well, let's hope she wins for the sake of the town.

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They didn't see much of Kane those three days but they heard her sing every once in a while from the woods. Finally the day came.

"Are you ready?" Rao asked.

"I am, I have popcorn as well!" John said.

"Yeah, I'm ready," Kane said.

"Then go get dressed." Kane waked into her room and when she came out she wore the Ceremonial dress that she had worn at the Ceremonial Dance only it was a little different. She had put the all the nations' design on it and some flower petals were put in her hair from a crown. Her lips were pink instead of red like most dancers and she had no white powder on. She wore light pink blush and her eyes shone brightly. Her sword was around her waist and a diamond sheath.

"The Geishas will cower in fear for they are only buds in the sight of a magnificent flower," Iroh said. Kane blushed. "Let's go," she said.

They arrived at the Honor Ceremony and were seated next to the Commander. Everyone fell silent as Kane walked by. They pointed and some of the girls looked scared thinking they were going to be out numbered by her beauty alone. They began to put more white powder and different types of makeup on. Some squirted strong perfume on them more then that was needed.

"There has been one slight change in the contest," a soldier said as they waited for the ceremony to begin. Everyone looked at him surprised. The girls in the competition looked scared. "If any of the girls beat Kagura in the competition then they get to marry one of the commander's two sons."

Some of the girls sighed as two handsome boys walked on stage. One looked like he knew he was hot, Kyle, and the other looked like he didn't care, Yukio. They were twins and looked about the age of eighteen. They had black hair and amber eyes. Kane let out a sigh of annoyance. Rao looked at her.

"It's ok Kane; you can leave as soon as the contest is over. Everyone will be too busy to notice."

"Ok, I probably won't win anyways."

The candles were dimmed around the tables except for the stage fires. There stood a girl with a red dress with the fire nation symbol on it. She began to sing as she danced to the moves of Kane's old dance Water Flow. She sang

"Winter, Spring

Summer, and Fall" She sang doing water motions with her hands. The commander smiled and looked at Kane to see if she was getting nervous. Kane had danced that dance so much it had started to get boring to her, she yawned.

The song ended and everyone clapped. All the other girls had no match to Water Flow. The commander looked at Kane. "I hear you are the one who invented Water Flow."

"That's me. But I danced that a long time ago. After having to teach it and doing it over and over again it gets boring. Back then it felt like magic so I never taught anyone my dances or song after that."

"Smart idea," Kyle said smiling at Kane.

"Thank you."

It was finally Kane's turn to dance. She smiled trying to get rid of the butterflies in her stomach. She got on stage and let her sleeves drop on the ground. They were so long that everyone was surprised on how she hid them from view. She bent her head and body back. Iroh had given the musicians the music to her song to sing and dance to. She took a deep breath as the music began to play and she started to water bend.

"Water, fire

Earth, Air

These are the things

That brings us together."

She flashed water, fire, earth, and air out of her hand. Everyone was in awe.

"Water can give life," she sang as she moved a water dragon through the air.

"Fire gives us warmth," she formed a fire dragon to move with the water dragon. Everyone clapped.

"Earth can give us strength," An earth dragon came up from the ground and the three dragons flew around each other making a beautiful combo.

"Air can give us hope," an air dragon came blowing in like the wind.

"Put them to

Ge-e-ther

And you got one." The dragons crashed into each other and formed a person. Everyone gasped as it began to glow. The music began to get faster. A smile crossed Kane's lips. She pulled her sword out and got into an elegant fighting position. And began going threw combos going faster and faster. Then without anyone knowing how she spun around and quickly put her sword back in its sheath and started dong martial arts in one movement.

"Spin as fast as wind,

Be as strong as earth

Feel the life flow within

And be as quick as fire." She did a back bend and a back flip with a high swishing kick. When she landed she pointed her toe and spun going as low to the ground as she could. She stopped her head down in her dress completely hidden.

"War breaks out

And good turns bad

Lovers torn

And everyone forgets

The four nations' elements---." She stopped singing doing lightly touching ground kicks. She ended her dance doing the splits with a bow. But the music kept playing. She quickly got up and got her sword out doing tricks to the beat of the fast music. She threw her sword up in the air. Blue streaks twirled around and Kane shot up following them. She shot past her sword and grabbed it with her left hand. She shot down like a twirling bullet. Yukio watched in surprise. How can a girl do that? She's amazing. Oh no! Then beast is waking up inside me. Kane landed lightly on her feet then all the sudden she felt a hand grab her twirling long hair.

Kane gasped for air as her head got jerked back. There was a gasp from the crowed. Kane's head was pulled so far back she could see her attacker. It was Yukio. He looked evil and his eyes were red. "Do you want to dance," he said with an evil grin.

"Let go of me!" Kane said trying to get free. Zuko and the others stood up ready to go out there and get her. The Commander raised his hand and guards pulled them back. "I want to see what happens."

Yukio's hand grasped her neck and pulled her up so she could stand. He let his hand drop but didn't release his grip on her hair.

"Come one sing, dance, do something," he whispered in her ear with gritting teeth.

Kane struggled. She got her sword and brought it up to her face. She saw in it his reflection. She saw his grin get bigger. She grinned. In one quick circular motion she cut her hair. It fell neatly a little past her shoulders.

"Now time for you to see my real dance," Kane said with a grin.

She brought her sword's point up to eye level. Her hand behind her as if she were about to run and she looked Yukio straight in the eye. She twirled around and brought her sword down. Yukio blocked it and Kane grinned and whispered, "Wrong arm." She brought her other arm up to his side and jabbed him. The way they moved it looked like they were dancing. Everyone clapped.

She wrapped her sleeve around his wrist and yanked hard making it tighten around him. Then she brought it back making him spin. She took quick light steps back. He followed her movements grinning. She lunged at him and he grabbed both her arms and slung her over his shoulder making her sword come on sheathed. She did a flip and landed quietly on her feet. Her sword came down and landed hilt first in her hand.

She turned around and started to attack again. He slung her over his shoulder again tying her sleeves together. This time when she lost her sword and she landed she shot back up and caught it with her teeth.

She smiled at him with her sword still in her teeth and ran at him. He tried dodging but she bent down and knocked his feet away. She quickly made the earth come up and surround his body, all but his head. Fire set to it and then water came down and made it hard. The air blew helping to cool it off. He sleeves came undone as the wind blew as well. "Too bad I didn't get to fin…" she started and then heard the commander come rushing at her. She smiled, "Never mind, looks like I do."

She twirled and danced away from his sword then with her own she knocked his away. Se sheathed her sword and brought her hands behind her and did a back bend. The Commander grinned and rushed at her. She brought her feet up and did a hand stand dodging his blow that way. Then she started to turn her self and brought her legs down and kicked him. He landed on the ground and quickly got up.

"Look at those flowers

They bloom so soon

One is left a bud in spring

She is not noticed

She's forgotten

But she becomes more to most." She sang her song and everyone listened and watched. The commander ran at her. She bends her back making his foot hit nothing but air. She twirled and danced away. Her long sleeves waving playfully.

"Other flowers get killed

Some get stomped or torn

The bud is left so she can bloom

And she is beautiful inside." She kept on. He grabbed his sword and slashed it at her. She bent down and kicked out acting like it was all part of the dance. She switched feet and kicked him again.

"The bud soon blooms

She's too pretty to take

She's left alone

And she grew thorns

So no one can take her away." She sang. She twirled her arm above her head. Her sleeve looked like a ribbon. Her other arm was out beside her twirling too. She bent over still twirling her sleeves and started turning going faster and faster. Her sleeves her like whips and hit the Commander slashing him and making him bleed.

"She's so smart and nice

She can heal the weak

But take with out asking

And you'll feel pain

And she can be poisonous." She twirled and brought her arms across her chest as she sank lower to the ground. She slowly turned uncrossing herself.

"She listens to the wind

And she speaks to the ground

She helps the water

And shows the fire friendship that will last." The commander tried to attacker her from behind but she moved her hips and back dodging the attacks.

"She shows no mercy

To those who have no heart

They try to take her

But the get town apart

By her sharp thorns." She twirled around and her sleeves knocked him over. She smiled.

"This flower can't be bought

She can not be sold

She won't let you take her

She won't let you have her

She will show you pain

For she knows you have done the same." Her anger rose as she danced to where he was knocked down. She rose her foot up in the air and brought it down smooth yet hard on his back paralyzing him.

"This flower seeks revenge

She won't let you go

If you get in her way

She will give you pain." She danced back to the edge of the stage and all the townspeople clapped. The Fire Nation Guards quickly left with Kyle.

"For this flower is made to kill

She will protect what's right

The weak are in her mercy

The good shall have her power

And the bad shall fear her thorns." She bowed ending her song. She walked off the stage as Yukio grabbed his father and took off after the others. Zuko ran up to her and check her over for wounds. He sighed. "Do you know how bad you scared me?"

"I'm guessing by the look on you face it was pretty bad."

He sighed again and rested his hand on her shoulder. Rao and John ran up to her. "See I knew you could do it. But I didn't think of it in that way."

"That was awesome, you were like this, and then you were like that and… and…" she saw everyone looking at her. "FOOD!" She turned and whistled to her self the song that Kane sang. The townspeople came up and thanked her. They gave her the medal and asked her what she called her dance.

"I don't know what I should call it; the first one was Peace and Harmony that I made up when I was little. But I don't know about this one," Kane said looking confused.

John stepped up and smiled, "It's called the Deadly Flower Dance." Kane smiled and nodded. They headed back to the house.

"Pack up we are leaving at the crack of dawn," Zuko said.

"Aw man, why?" John said slumping.

"Because the Fire Nation soldiers are sure to come after us. We have to leave."

"Can't we sleep first," John asked yawning. Zuko rolled his eyes and said, "NO!"

"Do they ever stop fighting," Iroh asked Rao.

"That would be a miracle."

Kane looked up at the crescent moon and smiled. She could have sworn she saw her family smiling down at her and her brother's dragon spirit wrapping around the moon. She heard a howl and smiled. She knew it was Ryu and Tala.

Chapter fades out of from the crescent moon as the music to The Deadly Flower Dance's ending plays.

That's all of Chapter 6. I hope you like it! Chapter seven is coming soon.