Unexpected, an A:tlA fanfic by Tsunami Storm

Chapter 10: The Ember Island Players

Aang and Zuko were practicing Firebending using synchronized fire blasts and sweeping arcs of fire that dissipated into the ground. Each raised an arm and then a leg, sending forth streams of fire before leaning forward and bending another stream of flames. Done with their training for the morning, Aang and Zuko stood upright and assumed a final stance before closing their eyes, relaxing their postures, and taking a deep breath. Toph and Katara were sitting on the steps leading to the courtyard. Zuko and Aang exchanged bows, and Zuko stretched his arms and walked away as Aang turned to two of his female friends.

Katara frowned. "Doesn't it seem kind of weird that we're hiding from the Fire Lord in his own house?"

Zuko sat on the rim of the dry fountain and wiped the sweat from his head with a cloth. "I told you, my father hasn't come here since our family was actually happy. And that was a long time ago. It's the last place anyone would think to look for us."

Some distance away from where Toph and Katara were relaxing, Sokka and Suki entered the courtyard, Sokka carrying a rolled up piece of paper. Sokka grinned widely. "You guys are not gonna believe this. There's a play about us!"

Suki smiled and elaborated. "We were just in town, and we found this poster!" Sokka proudly displayed the poster of the play to the team, depicting Katara, Aang and Sokka with Zuko's scarred face in the background.

Katara looked worried. "What? How is that possible?"

Sokka was unfazed. "Listen to this-" He turned the poster toward him and cleared his throat loudly. "-The Boy in the Iceberg' is a new production from acclaimed playwright Pu-on Tim, who scoured the globe gathering information on the Avatar- from the icy South Pole to the heart of Ba Sing Se. His sources include singing nomads, pirates, prisoners of war, and a surprisingly knowledgeable merchant of cabbage."

Suki added, "Brought to you by the critically acclaimed 'Ember Island Players'."

Zuko groaned loudly. "Ugh. My mother used to take us to see them. They butchered 'Love Amongst the Dragons' every year!"

Katara turned to her brother. "Sokka, do you really think it's a good idea for us to attend a play about ourselves?" Who knew how dangerous that could be?

Sokka was unperturbed, and he grinned persuasively. "Come on, a day at the theater? This is the kind of wacky, time-wasting nonsense I've been missing!" He held up the poster anxiously and smiled sheepishly. Katara just rolled her eyes and looked away, unimpressed. "Besides," Sokka continued, growing serious all of a sudden, "We've been so stressed lately. All these big individual missions with Zuko, dealing with pretty heavy stuff most of the time. I mean, there was when I found him in the forest and introduced him to the Gaang-"

"-and saved my life." Zuko interrupted suddenly, a grateful smirk playing about his lower face.

"Yeah, that." Sokka continued, also smirking. "Then there was Aang's journey with him to learn Firebending from the dragons, then Zuko and I snuck into the Boiling Rock and rescued Dad, Suki and three of Zuko's friends, and then Katara finally got over her anger toward him when he helped her avenge Mom. It's all been pretty serious. My point is, maybe we need a little vacation. Just one night of levity to break up all the tough topics we've been dealing with over the past few weeks. If we have just a little time to just be regular kids, we can avoid going crazy waiting for that crazy Comet."

Everyone nodded, acknowledging this as a valid point. They were all kids. Sometimes it was easy to forget that when they were busy trying to save the world. Maybe they deserved a little break.

That evening, Katara and Aang, Zuko and Mai, Sokka and Suki and Toph found themselves at the theater, sitting in one of the obscure balconies so they wouldn't be discovered. Aang even wore a pointed hat to cover his tattoos. Toph and Katara sat in the front row, as did Zuko and Mai. Aang tried to sit next to Katara, but couldn't when Zuko scooted over a bit.

"Hey, uh- I wanted to sit there." Aang tried to act casual, but failed miserably.

Zuko looked up, then at Katara. "Oh, right. Sorry." He apologized, then shifted over to make room for his friend.

"Thanks." Aang grinned, settling comfortably next to the young woman he loved and one of his best friends. Zuko nodded knowingly, then leaned over and gave a friendly and slightly suggestive nudge to his love, who blushed slightly. Sokka and Suki took their seats behind the rest of Team Avatar.

Toph wasn't exactly happy with their choice of seating. "Why are we sitting in the nosebleed section? My feet can't see a thing from up here!" She complained.

"Don't worry." Katara assured with a smile. "I'll tell your feet what's happening."

At that moment, the curtain rose to reveal a set representing the South Pole seas. 'Katara' and 'Sokka' were rowing their boat along. Katara looked thrilled to see herself on stage and Sokka grabbed her shoulder, pointing at her, himself, and the stage in excitement. 'Katara' sighed dramatically. "Sokka, my only brother! We constantly roam these icy South Pole seas, and yet never do we find anything- fulfilling!"

'Sokka' groaned. "All I want is a full feeling in my stomach! I'm starving!" The audience laughed at that as Sokka and Katara looked at each other, confused. These actors were way too hammy! This was going to be a terrible play at this rate!

'Katara' sighed again. "Is food the only thing on your mind?"

'Sokka' grinned. "Well, I'm trying to get it out of my mind, and into my mouth! I'm starving!" He repeated, causing the audience to laugh again.

The real Sokka leaned forward in his seat, clearly annoyed. "This is pathetic! My jokes are way funnier than this!"

Toph, however, was clearly enjoying this. "HA! I think he's got you pegged!"

'Katara' stood up in the canoe, as dramatic as possible, delivering an emotional speech about hope and sobbing, hamming it up for the audience. Katara rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. "Well, that's just silly. I don't sound like that!"

Toph seemed to disagree. "Oh man, this writer's a genius!" She laughed, elated.

Onstage, an iridescent light suddenly appeared from above and 'Katara' turned her head upward after crying. An iceberg-like prop appeared behind them, a vague shadow of a figure visible from behind.

"It appears to be someone frozen in ice, perhaps for a hundred years!" 'Katara' breathed. The silhouette swayed from side to side. "But who? Who is The Boy in the Iceberg?"

Aang smiled and leaned forward in his seat, excited to see the play's portrayal of him. 'Katara' and 'Sokka' climbed onto the iceberg prop as 'Katara' cried, "Waterbend! Hi-yah!" performing a karate chop, mimicking Waterbending.

However, Aang's smile of excitement soon turned to a look of disgust. Was that a- a woman playing him? He closed his eyes and cringed in disbelief before leaning over the railing even more, eyes bugging out as 'Aang' leaped out of the fog and posed, winking with one hand on her hip.

"Who are you, frozen boy?" 'Katara' gasped.

'Aang' laughed in a high-pitched voice. "I'm the Avatar, silly! Here to spread joy and fun!" A crude prop of Appa then popped up, making strange growling noises and running around the iceberg, miming swimming in the frozen water.

'Katara' gasped. "An Airbender! My heart is so full of hope that it's making me tearbend!" She bawled as she dropped to her knees and grabbed 'Aang's' leg.

'Sokka' also dropped to his knees and grabbed 'Aang's' other leg. "My stomach is so empty, that it's making me tearbend! I need meat!"

'Aang' stooped down and put an arm around 'Sokka's' shoulders, pointing upward. "But wait! Is that a platter of meaty dumplings?"

'Sokka' looked around with excitement, shielding his eyes with a hand and turning his head. "Ooh, where? Where?"

'Aang' laughed jovially. "Did I mention that I'm an incurable prankster?" She crossed her legs as the audience laughed.

Zuko snorted at that and elbowed his friend playfully. "Well, they got that right, at least!" He laughed. "Remember when you knocked me off my feet with that otter-penguin? You're such a goofball." He teased.

Aang was not amused. "Pranks are one thing, but I don't sound like that! And I'm not a woman!"

Toph apparently agreed with Zuko. "Oh, they nailed you, Twinkletoes!" She roared with laughter.

However, as 'Zuko' and 'Iroh' appeared on the stage, it was Zuko's turn to feel humiliated by how the play cast him. The actor's costume looked pretty good, but the scar was on the wrong side of his face. "They make me look totally stiff and humorless."

Katara disagreed. "Actually, I think that actor's pretty spot on. Think about it. Can you name one time that you actually laughed before the Siege of the North Pole?"

Zuko looked offended. "Yes! When you guys stole those pirates' boat. That was the first time I'd laughed aloud in-" He broke off when he realized he was proving Katara's point for her. "Okay. I get it." He growled in embarrassment as he slumped down in his seat.

More things happened, and soon the Gaang found themselves watching a scene in which Aang was tied to a platform guarded by six Fire Nation soldiers. 'Zuko' stood in front of the platform.

"The Avatar is mine!" He crowed triumphantly, then he looked off-stage. "Wait, who's coming?"

Another actor, wearing a mask of the Blue Spirit that obscured his whole torso, jumped onto the stage holding two Dao swords. "I am the Blue Spirit, the scourge of the Fire Nation, here to save the Avatar!" He walked around the stage waving his swords. The guards fell down and 'Zuko' ran around the platform and threw a red strip of paper to symbolize Firebending. The Blue Spirit pointed a sword at 'Zuko', who then ran away.

"My hero!" 'Aang' cried, jumping off the platform and onto the Blue Spirit's enlarged head, and the two walked offstage. Up in the balcony, the real Aang and Zuko looked at each other, embarrassed.

Katara looked over in confusion. "Wait, is that really how it happened, only with Zhao instead of Zuko and Zuko as the Blue Spirit?"

Aang groaned in embarrassment. "More or less, but it was a lot scarier than that in real life." He explained, and everyone except for Zuko looked to the Avatar in interest. "I'll tell you later, it's kind of a long story."

On stage, the scene in which Aang turned into a giant water spirit beast was playing out, with 'Aang' wearing a silly 'Koizilla' costume and jumping around like a spaz, crushing miniature Fire Nation ship props in her wake. "The Avatar is back to save the day! Yay! Yay!" She cried joyfully before tripping over her own costume and face-planting comically on the stage. The curtain then fell, signaling the time for the first intermission.

Outside the theater, Team Avatar was arranged sitting and standing on a flight of stairs during the intermission. Zuko was leaning up against the railing. "So far, this intermission is the best part of the play." He growled, unimpressed.

Sokka walked down the stairs holding a bag of flaming fire flakes and sat next to Suki. "Apparently, the playwright thinks I'm an idiot who tells bad jokes about meat all the time!" He growled, offended, shoveling fire flakes into his mouth. The first time he'd tried them at the Fire Festival when they'd met Jeong-Jeong, the snack had been far too spicy for the Water Tribe boy's rather delicate palate. After a few months of hiding out in the Fire Nation, however, they had quickly become the warrior's favorite snack food.

Suki grinned sarcastically. "Yeah, you tell bad jokes about plenty of other topics."

Sokka didn't catch her tone. "I know!" He complained, ruthlessly tearing off a piece of spicy jerky with his teeth and making a wounded face at his girlfriend.

Toph grinned. She was loving this. "Listen friends, it's obvious that the playwright did his research. I know it must hurt, but what you're seeing up there on that stage is the truth." She stated wisely.

The play resumed after a fifteen-minute intermission, and the curtain rose to reveal a painted background with Earth Kingdom buildings. The Team Avatar players were standing next to a large rock. "Well, here we are in the Earth Kingdom!" 'Aang' announced proudly, opening her miniature air glider prop. "I'd better have a look around to see if I can find an Earthbending teacher!" She jumped up into the air with a cable lifting her up.

Toph leaned over the railing in an effort to hear better, excited. "This is it, this must be where I come in!" She whispered loudly to her friends. On stage, 'Aang' flew around the theater, over the audience, then returned to the stage. "I flew all over town, but I couldn't find a single Earthbending master!"

"Here it comes!" Toph beamed in anticipation.

'Toph' emerged from below the stage under the rock prop, holding it above his head. "You can't find an Earthbending master in the sky, you have to look underground!" He announced as he threw the prop backstage to stage right.

Aang, Sokka, Suki and Katara laughed, and Mai hid a smirk behind her hand. Zuko looked up from a piece of paper displaying the cast list, stunned. Toph still looked eager.

"Who are you?" 'Aang' gasped, surprised.

'Toph' leaned over and spit dramatically. "My name's Toph-" He announced as he flexed his impressive muscles, "-because it sounds like 'tough', and that's just what I am!" He boasted proudly as the audience laughed.

Toph frowned briefly in confusion. "Wait a minute." She stated, picking at her ear with her pinky to make sure she didn't mishear. "I sound like- a guy. A really buff guy!" Inexplicably, she grinned at the stage.

"Well Toph, what you hear up there is the truth. It hurts, doesn't it?" Katara grinned as she crossed her arms proudly, throwing Toph's words from earlier right back at her.

To her dismay, however, Toph burst out laughing. "Are you kidding me? I wouldn't have cast it any other way!" She crowed as she gestured to the stage. "At least it's not a flying bald lady!" Aang turned toward the stage and made a face, highly offended and annoyed.

'Aang' waved a hand in front of 'Toph's' eyes. "So, you're blind?"

'Toph' laughed. "I can see you doing that. I see everything that you see, except I don't see like you do. I release a sonic wave from my mouth." He screamed very loudly at the actor 'Gaang', causing the audience and Team Avatar to grimace at the scream. All except for Toph, who looked excited. "There. I got a pretty good look at you." 'Aang' and the audience clapped.

A few moments later, the Team Avatar players and 'Zuko' and 'Iroh' had cornered 'Azula'. 'Zuko' gasped, "Azula! My sister! What are you doing here?" He asked dramatically.

'Azula' put up her hands in surrender. "You caught me. Wait, what's that?" She asked loudly as she pointed off in the distance, somewhere out over the audience. "I think it's your honor!"

"Where?!" 'Zuko' demanded, but 'Azula' disappeared through a hidden door while everyone onstage was distracted. 'Katara' turned to the audience. "She escaped! But how?" She asked rhetorically.

During the Gaang's adventures in Ba Sing Se, 'Jet' jumped to the front of the stage, wearing googly-eye glasses and waving his hook hands around like a madman. The 'Team Avatar' actors surrounded 'Jet'.

'Aang' cried, horrified, "No, Jet! What did they do to you?"

'Jet' groaned, unhinged from the mind control of the Dai Li. "Must- serve- Earth King!" He groaned, swinging his hook hands wildly at 'Aang' and 'Sokka'. "Must- destroy!"

A stagehand hidden behind the curtain threw a hollow rock prop out over the stage, and it floated down slowly so that 'Jet' could position himself under it and disappear from view. However, the actor wasn't fast enough to completely vanish before the rock hit the ground, and he clumsily pulled his feet under the prop, looking comical instead of serious as the scene intended.

Zuko frowned. "Did Jet just- die?"

"You know, it was really unclear." Sokka commented, also with a frown. "We didn't stick around long enough under Lake Laogai to find out. But Smellerbee was crying as we left, and Toph said that he was lying when he said he'd be fine."

"Jet didn't make it." Katara answered quietly, looking down at her hands in regret. "I saw all the damage. No one could have survived from injuries like that. At least he was himself again at the end."

Apparently the Ember Island Players were 'Zutara' shippers, because the next scene depicted something that never happened in real life. Zuko and Katara glanced at each other wearing awkward grimaces and shifted away from each other on the balcony bench. Aang, unable to witness any more of this uncomfortable scene, stood up sharply and left the balcony, Sokka begging for fire flakes and fire gummies to snack on.

After the 'romance' scene, 'Zuko' stood between 'Azula' with a Fire Nation flag behind her, and 'Iroh' with an Earth Kingdom flag behind him. A spotlight shone on 'Zuko'. 'Azula' snarled. "Well, my brother, what's it going to be? Your nation, or a life of treachery?"

'Zuko' was torn, making dramatic gestures to both sides of his family, his sister who represented his home and the goal he'd been working toward for over three years, or his uncle who had loved and supported him in every way he could on his journey, who had taught him so much. Not just about Firebending, but about Life as well.

'Iroh' grinned with a cup of tea in his hand, winking and giving a thumbs-up sign. "Choose treachery, it's more fun!"

'Zuko' walked toward 'Iroh', causing 'Azula' to howl with disbelief. "No way!" She cried dramatically. However, 'Zuko' shoved the older actor playing Iroh, knocking him on his back and spilling the tea he'd been drinking. "I hate you, Uncle! You smell, and I hate you for all time!" The Earth Kingdom flag fell on 'Iroh' as 'Azula' and 'Zuko' exited stage right.

Katara looked over at Zuko, scandalized. "You didn't really say that, did you?"

Zuko looked down at his feet, ashamed. "I might as well have."

During the second intermission after the Earth Kingdom fell, the real Team Avatar minus Aang was sitting and leaning against the back wall of the theater, contemplating their respective life choices over the past few months and having them thrown right back in their faces by the actors and actresses on stage. Suki smirked playfully at Sokka. "It seems like every time there's a big battle, you guys barely make it out alive. I mean, you guys lose a lot!"

Sokka looked highly offended. "You're one to talk, Suki. Didn't Azula take you captive? That's right, she did!"

Suki frowned dangerously. "Are you trying to get on my bad side?"

Sokka put his hands up in surrender. "I'm just sayin'."

Katara walked over, looking concerned. "Does anyone know where Aang is?"

Sokka frowned. "He left to get me fire gummies, like, ten minutes ago. And I'm still waiting!"

Katara was unfazed by her brother's impatient, unconcerned tone. "I'm gonna check outside."

Katara found the young Avatar standing alone on a balcony, and she slowly walked up to him and put a gentle hand on the back of his shoulder. "Are you all right?" She asked quietly.

Aang was angry, yanking his hat off and throwing it on the ground. "No, I'm not! I hate this play!"

Katara frowned. She wasn't too pleased with the actors' portrayal of them either, but- "I know it's upsetting, but it sounds like you're overreacting a little."

"Overreacting?" Aang shot back, upset. "If I hadn't blocked my chakra, I'd probably be in the Avatar State right now!"

Katara looked sympathetic. "I know you feel terrible about it, but from what you told us, you did the right thing. Opening all seven chakras is really hard, especially the last one. I know you. You're the kind of person who feels things really deeply, and you put your friends at the top of your list of things you want to protect. You can't let go of earthly attachments because you're the Avatar. Your duty is to the world. You can't separate yourself from yourself." She said wisely.

Aang looked down at his feet, surprised at her insight. "You sound kinda like Gyatso. He used to say stuff like that. Thanks, Katara. That makes me feel better."

Meanwhile, the rest of Team Avatar was still sitting and leaning against a back wall of the theater. Zuko sat with his knees drawn up, hood up and elbows resting on his knees, just waiting for his friends to return and the play to resume. Toph leaned against the wall to his left. They'd overheard Sokka conspiring with Suki to sneak backstage to meet his actor, wanting to supply him with some jokes to lighten up the otherwise shoddy play. That was gonna go well. Not.

Toph could feel all the tension radiating from her friends, and she turned her head to Zuko's general direction. "Geez, everyone's getting so upset about their characters. Even you seem more down than usual, and that's saying something." She teased gently, but Zuko wasn't amused. "You don't get it. It's different for you. You get a muscly version of yourself, taking down ten bad guys at once, and making sassy remarks. At least your actor is pretty accurate. Aside from the physiology, that's pretty much how it is for you. You're a sassy spitfire of a master Earthbender, and you probably could take down at least ten bad guys at once." He smirked, but his heart wasn't really in it. He'd meant what he'd said, but he just wasn't in a cheery mood right now.

Toph grinned proudly. "Yeah, that's pretty great! And truer words were never spoken."

"But for me, it takes all the mistakes I've made in my life and shoves them back in my face. My Uncle. He's always been on my side, even when things were bad. He was there for me, he taught me so much, and how do I repay him? With a knife in his back. It's my greatest regret, and I may never get to redeem myself." He sighed, mentally berating himself for what a jerk he'd been.

Toph sat down next to him, offering emotional support. "You have redeemed yourself to your uncle. You don't realize it, but you already have."

"How do you know?" Zuko looked over at her, confused.

Toph smiled at the memory. "Because I once had a long conversation with the guy, and all he would talk about was you."

"Really?" Zuko asked, surprised. When did that happen? When had they ever met?

"Yeah, and it was kind of annoying." Toph teased, causing Zuko's sudden elation to deflate like a balloon. "Oh, sorry." He knew he hadn't exactly been the picture of a model citizen back then.

"-But it was also very sweet." Toph continued, and Zuko smiled, touched by his uncle's concern. "All your Uncle wanted was for you to find your own path, and see the light. Now you're here with us. He'd be proud." She encouraged, suddenly punching the Fire Prince on the shoulder, perhaps a bit harder than necessary.

"Ow! What was that for?" Zuko yelped, rubbing his arm. That was gonna leave a bruise. The twelve-year-old was surprisingly strong for her age.

"That's how I show affection." She answered, blushing inexplicably. Just from that one punch, she'd gotten a pretty good look at the enigmatic young Firebender, and where his heart was. Although Yue and Katara had healed most of his visible wounds and scars, there was still something quite serious brewing just under the surface. Something that could only be caused by lightning. Had Zuko really been hiding that all this time?

At that moment, a young boy dressed in a costume resembling the young Airbender jogged by, stopping in front of Zuko and grinning. "Your 'Zuko' costume's pretty good, but your scar's on the wrong side." He stated innocently, running off again to find his guardian.

Equal parts offended and slightly nervous that his identity had almost been revealed, Zuko made a face and pointed to his real scar. "The scar's not on the wrong side!" He groaned and pulled the hood down farther over his face, embarrassed.

As Sokka and Suki talked with the actor portraying 'Sokka' in the play, Katara and Aang were still alone together talking on the balcony.

"Katara, did you really mean what you said in there? On stage, when you said I was just like a- brother to you, and you didn't have feelings for me?" Aang asked, wringing his hands to mask his insecurity.

"I didn't say that. An actor said that." Katara hedged defensively, not knowing quite yet what to say. She didn't exactly know what her feelings were at this point, and she didn't want to find out yet. They had a pretty good thing going here, just friends on an epic adventure trying to stop a hundred-year war.

But then Aang took the conversation in a whole different direction, taking Katara by surprise. "What really happened in the Catacombs? With you and Zuko?" He asked, and Katara's eyes popped open, shocked at the sudden change of topic.

"Huh?" She asked, confused, but Aang waited for her to get her thoughts in order. "Oh! Nothing like what happened in the play. We were just talking. I called him a terrible person for trying to capture the world's last hope for peace, then we got to talking about our respective mothers, and how the war had taken them both from us. I offered to heal his scar with the water from the North Pole's Spirit Oasis, and that's when you and Iroh burst in. Nothing happened between us. Nothing like the play, anyway."

Aang sighed, relieved. "That's good. I didn't think he would've hurt you, but-" He trailed off, looking to the side.

Katara shook her head wildly. "Trust me, Aang. There's nothing between me and Zuko. Aside from the fact that we're both your bending teachers of our respective elements. He's a good friend, but that's it."

Aang smiled and hugged his very first friend in this world after a hundred years of being frozen in that iceberg. Then the two master benders entered the theater and sat down on the balcony among their other friends and family.

"Here's what you guys missed:" Sokka explained to his sister and closest friend. "We went to the Fire Nation, and Aang got better, and Katara was the Painted Lady, and I got a sword- and I think Combustion Man died. That's what the Fire Nation thinks, anyway. He really died when he attacked us at the Western Air temple. Ooh, look! The Invasion's about to start! Shhh!"

'Katara' and 'Aang' were standing atop one of the Invasion submarines, talking before 'Aang' flew off to confront the Fire Lord. "I just wanted to let you know, Aang, that I'll always love you. Like a brother."

'Aang' beamed and punched the air with a fist. "I wouldn't want it any other way!" Both actresses shook hands, and 'Aang' raised her miniature glider and flew off, 'Katara' waving goodbye. The real Aang frowned at the artistic liberties the play was taking, but he didn't really mind. He knew how Katara really felt about him, and how he felt about her. On another part of the sub, 'Toph' and 'Sokka' were looking around over the Fire Nation waters.

'Sokka' turned to his Earthbender friend. "Hey Toph, would you say you and Aang have a 'rocky relationship'?" He asked hammily as the audience burst out laughing at the pun. 'Toph' and 'Katara' looked genuinely taken aback at the improvised line. Up in the balcony, the real Sokka laughed hysterically at Suki and Aang, lifting up Aang's hat. "I told him to say that!" Aang smiled at his friend, glad that at least he was having a good time. Beside the young Avatar, Zuko snorted quietly into his hand. Typical Sokka.

The curtain dropped to end the scene, and it rose after a minute to display 'Katara', 'Toph' and 'Sokka' entering from both sides of the stage, while 'Aang' dropped in from above. "We finally made it to the Royal Palace, but no one's home!" 'Aang' exclaimed loudly. 'Zuko' entered stage left at that moment, and 'Sokka' raised his boomerang. "Actually, I'm home, and I want to join you!" He announced, to everyone's surprise.

'Sokka' sighed heavily. "I guess we have no choice. Come on!" He waved, and everyone followed him offstage as the curtain dropped once again to change the scene. All except for 'Aang', who was lifted back up into the rafters.

Sokka stood to his feet and stretched his cramped limbs. "I guess that's it. The play's caught up to the present now." He turned to leave the balcony. However, Suki gripped his upper arm and pulled him back down into his seat. "Wait," She whispered. "The play's not over!"

"But it is over-" Sokka stated in confusion, then he made a silly face. "Unless- this is the future!" He breathed dramatically.

The curtain rose again to reveal Fire Lord Ozai on stage, standing on the Royal Palace prop. An orange lantern held by a small cable with paper flames slowly moved across the top of the stage above the actor's head. "With the energy harnessed from that comet, no one will be able to stop- the Fire Nation!" He crowed as he lifted his hands in the air.

'Azula' entered from stage left. "Father, Zuko and the Avatar are at the Palace. They are trying to stop you!"

'Ozai' frowned and pointed imperiously at his 'daughter'. "You take care of Zuko." He commanded. "I shall face the Avatar- myself!" He announced as he disappeared behind a smokescreen. 'Zuko' jumped up on stage and a rope lowered 'Aang' as she held her miniature glider prop.

"Aang! You find the Fire Lord. I'll hold her off!" 'Zuko' shouted to his friend, who flew off again with the aid of the cable. 'Azula' pointed imperiously at her 'brother'. "You are no longer my brother. You are an enemy!"

"No!" 'Zuko' cried. "I am the rightful heir to the throne!"

"We'll see!" 'Azula' countered before pulling out a blue streamer and snapping it at 'Zuko', who ducked out of the way. 'Zuko' was holding two red streamers and jumped to the other side of 'Azula', throwing them at her as she jumped over them. 'Azula' raised her empty hand, and five red paper cutouts resembling flames shot from the ground starting near 'Azula'. The last one enveloped 'Zuko' so that only his silhouette could be seen.

"Honor!" 'Zuko' cried as he disappeared through a trapdoor with the flames as 'Azula' bowed to the audience, who broke out into thunderous applause. Up in the balcony, all of the Gaang looked to Zuko as his eyes widened in shock. However, his 'fate' was not what took him by surprise. Honestly, he was expecting something like that from his crazy sister. It was his people's reaction to his 'demise'. Was that really how they saw him? As a disgrace and useless traitor who would go down so easily?

On stage, 'Azula' had left and had been replaced by 'Ozai', seated on his throne beneath the 'Sozin's Comet' prop, and 'Aang', who had just walked onto the stage. "So," 'Ozai' projected, "You have mastered all four elements?"

'Aang' pointed her staff at him. "Yeah! And now, you're going down!" She beamed at the audience.

"No! It is you who are going down!" 'Ozai' announced as he stood to his feet. "You see, you are too late! The comet is already here," 'Aang' looked in concern at the audience and the real Aang widened his eyes. "-And I'm unstoppable!"

A mass battle of Firebending versus Airbending ensued, and when the proverbial smoke cleared, 'Aang' was wrapped in a red blanket of fire and cried, "Noooo-!" falling to the stage with her eyes closed. 'Azula' re-entered the area and proclaimed proudly, "It is over, Father. We've done it!"

"Yes! We have done it! The dreams of my father, and my father's father, have now been realized!" Several sheets of flames erupted behind him as a platform lifted the actor into the air. A Fire Nation flag unfurled from the rafters. "The world- is- mine!"

The audience, sans Team Avatar, cheered loudly and gave the play a standing ovation. Standing to their own feet to leave the theater, the Gaang was noticeably concerned by the events. As the group walked away along the beach back to their hideout, Zuko observed quietly, still reflective about his potential fate, "That- wasn't a good play."

All around him, everyone voiced their own affirmations. "I'll say." "No kidding." "Horrible." "You said it."

However, Sokka somewhat disagreed, bringing up the rear with Suki. "But the effects were decent!" He commented brightly, trying futilely to diffuse the tension.

End of Chapter 10

Next Chapter Teaser: Sozin's Comet, Part 1: The Phoenix King

Okay, that didn't take too long. I basically just had to copy a transcript of the episode and add my own little changes. Take out stuff I didn't like and put in my own stuff. Not too hard.

Hopefully the next few chapters won't take very long to write. I am bound and determined to finish this story, and I'd like to do it before the end of the year 2020. That will make it about ten years since I started on FF. Wow. Long time ago. And this story was one of my first.

Now I have to go back to the beginning chapters and update some stuff. I recently received some ConCrit that Zuko was a bit OP, so I need to nerf his character a little bit and make him more 'believably human'. I tend to turn my favorite characters into superheroes.

All the best until next chapter!

God Bless!

Tsunami Storm