Author's Notes
I highly recommend listening to Kim Ji Soo's "Wing of Goryeo" while reading through Chiyo's performance. Look for the (***). I hope you enjoy reading this chapter as much as I did writing it!
-TheGreatestConWoman-
is a sucker for killer soundtracks and historical films. #RIPReplayButton
Night time came into the Royal Caldera City and the streets are filled with light from the Fire Lily Festival. Stalls that sold different varieties of food, masks, clothes, and other novelties lined the streets and catered to the townspeople, nobles and commoners alike. Lines upon lines of red festive lanterns were hung throughout the city, illuminating the streets. Different bands played festive music, accompanied by fire dancers as they circled about, entertaining anyone who would stop to watch. Fire lilies were seen everywhere, hung on windows, on costumes, on people.
It truly was a sight to behold.
Chiyo rode the palanquin with Lady Suiren as they set out to go to the plaza where she would perform. Her heart was beating so fast, she thought it would burst out of her chest. Lady Suiren placed a calming hand on top of hers and smiled reassuringly. "Stop worrying, child! You are a beautiful and talented apprentice of mine. They will all love you!"
"What if I let go of a fan?! What if I stumble on my skirt?!" Chiyo listed a lot of 'what-ifs' to her mentor and eventually got everything out.
"And what if things go right, exactly how we planned them? What if you succeed and they love you?" Suiren countered and placed a finger on the crease of Chiyo's forehead. "Stop frowning, you'll get wrinkles fast."
She relaxed a bit and tried to regulate her breathing. "Yes, Lady Suiren..."
They arrived at the plaza and were immediately greeted by Suiren's old friends. Just like her, they were entertainers of the Capital City. They belong to the most coveted troupe in the Fire Nation, the Salinja Troupe. Out of more than the original 20 members, only a few handful had remained in the city aside from Lady Suiren. Two of those were Lady Lee and Lady Anita, Suiren's closest friends. Both of them were dressed in elaborate kimonos and had their hair fixed into a braid that wrapped around their head, adorned with fire lilies and red jewels.
"It's been a long time, my sisters." Suiren greeted them first and hugged them tightly. Ever since she had entered the palace as a Royal Concubine two years ago, she had not set foot in the Capital Plaza. Seeing her two best friends really brought out a certain youthful glow in her.
"You look well!" Lady Anita gushed and cupped Lady Suiren's face in her thin hands. "That Fire Lord Ozai must be taking good care of you!"
"And who is this little darling with you?" Lady Lee approached Chiyo, and the latter smiled. "Is this little Chiyo?!"
"Hi Auntie Lee!" She ran and hugged the lady. "I've missed you so much!"
"Oooh! Our little darling Chiyo has finally come back and look at you!" Lady Lee pinched both of Chiyo's cheeks, earning a giggle from the girl.
"The Fire Lord has given us leave to perform in the festival." Suiren explained. "Little Chiyo already had her debut in the palace, and now, in the city."
They sat down in the dressing area of the performers. Some of the junior ones made way for them, giving young Chiyo a jealous look at being seated with the three respected seniors of the troupe. "Yes, we heard about this young one's... explosive debut." Anita giggled and held Chiyo's hand. "She certainly takes after me in that area."
"Hey, during your debut, you sang the last two songs off-key!" Lee countered.
"Well your face looks off-key to me!" Anita sneered pettily.
The organizer of the performance approached the ladies. "Lady Suiren!" He bowed immediately. "It is an honor to have you here with us this year!"
The lady gave him her signature charming smile. "The pleasure is all mine, kind sir. I was wondering if you had an open slot for a performance."
"Will you be giving us a performance tonight, Lady Suiren?"
"I am afraid I still am not allowed by law to perform in the Capital grounds." She pouted. "As you know, being a Royal Concubine entails that I only perform in the palace and with the presence and permission of the Fire Lord."
"Of course, of course. Forgive my foolishness. Then who will be performing?"
"My apprentice," Suiren gestured to her side where Chiyo was seated.
The organizer's eyes widened. "The great Suiren has finally taken an apprentice?!" He immediately pulled out a scroll from within his robes and rescheduled the performance. "Hers will be the grand finale, Lady Suiren!"
The Lady bowed her head slightly. "You are too kind..."
Finally, it was time for the start of the stage performances. The first group to perform were the young kids aged five to nine years old. Like Chiyo, they were apprentices of entertainers. This is their first public performance so everyone was very nervous. Chiyo smiled, remembering how nervous she was when she first put on the armor during Azula's birthday.
Lady Suiren helped her out with her makeup and hair, while Anita prepared the cheongsam she was to wear. It was a tight-fitting, deep red and black dress lined with gold details on the neckline, hem and sleeves. The thigh-high slits on the side will help Chiyo with the movements for her performance later. The hem and sleeves of the cheongsam fanned out, giving the impression of fire lily petals. The most outstanding feature of the affair was the golden dragon that was embroidered into the back, its long body circling around the waist and its head was draped on the right shoulder.
It took at least thirty minutes to get Chiyo into the cheongsam. They had to make minor adjustments along the way and make sure the accessories matched.
Lady Lee entered the tent breathless and panting. "I have the bracelet... and the ring... but they ran out of red masks, and I only got this blue one!" She took out the mask and set it on the table before sitting down and asking one of the juniors for a glass of water.
"Lee! This blue mask clashes against the red of the cheongsam!" Anita screeched and was about to strangle her colleague.
"It's fine, it would do." Suiren assured her and stepped back to admire Chiyo. "You look divine, Chiyo..."
The girl blushed at her mentor's compliment. In a matter of minutes, she will be out there, performing in front of hundreds of people. And she wanted to make Suiren proud.
Plucking a fire lily from the myriads that were scattered about, Suiren carefully pinned it into place, nestled in Chiyo's hair. The stark red of the flower brought out the amber of her eyes. "Perfect..."
The organizer popped back into the tent. "Five minutes until the grand finale!"
The three ladies and Chiyo thanked the organizer and they set off to take their places. Lady Anita and Lady Lee took the places of the music accompaniment while Lady Suiren stood to the side to watch over her apprentice.
Chiyo peeked from the backstage and saw a huge crowd. 'The whole Capital must be here!' She bit her lip and scanned the crowd, her eyes falling on the front row where she saw a familiar face. The Royal Family had decided to grace the capital with a visit. Zuko sat there beside Azula who was chatting with Mai and Ty Lee casually.
"Are you ready, Chiyo?" Lady Suiren gave the young one a pat on the shoulder.
"As I'll ever be, Lady Suiren. I promise to make you proud."
"I already am." With that she left the backstage and sat along the sidelines.
She heard the organizer take the place of the last performer and announce the finale. "Tonight, Agni has truly blessed us by bringing home one of the most beautiful fire lilies in the capital. Lady Suiren!" The crowd clapped and cheered, craning their necks to look at the most famous entertainer of the west. "Tonight, she has brought us a gift! Please welcome, Lady Suiren's apprentice, the young and talented, Chiyo!"
Everyone clapped, anticipating the performance of the pupil. And with a deep breath, Chiyo pulled down the blue mask that resembled a demon with white markings and fangs. She entered the stage slowly, her fans tucked in the folds of her cheongsam. The khakkara, a wooden staff with an ornament and six golden rings attached to one end, was placed at the center of the stage.
***The music slowly started, it was a lone dramatic trill of the fiddle. As she practiced, Chiyo sauntered to the center, until the fiddle stopped. And with the sudden loud beating of the drums, she kicked the staff up, catching it in mid-air. She spun the staff skillfully in one hand above her head, and took a fighting stance, towards her audience.
The drums continued their rhythmic beat, while Lady Anita sung the melody. Chiyo proceeded to perform the well-known 'Dance of the Monks'. It was a showcase of martial arts that most firebenders knew and hass incorporated into their stances. Chiyo's flexibility enabled her to kick high above her head and bend her body to impressive angles. The golden rings on the khakkara clinked together as she used it to fight against an unseen enemy.
Her audience was completely captivated. Their wide, almost unblinking eyes trained on her light and agile form as she conquered the stage.
Suddenly, the music slowed, and only Anita's voice accompanied by Lee's music could be heard. Chiyo moved forward and slowly removed her mask. She revealed her fair skin, made white by the makeup Suiren had put on. Her lips were painted blood-red, matching the fire lily in her hair. Her amber eyes were lined with kohl eyeliner, making them stand out even more.
She could hear sharp intakes of breath from the audience, making her smile inwardly, but this performance does not require her sweet smiles. She mustered up her courage and channeled Lady Suiren into her facial expression.
Like everyone else watching the performance, Prince Zuko was entranced. She looked different from the sweet girl that lived in the palace with him. Tonight, she was a young woman with a sharp look in her amber eyes and a fierce expression on her face, as if she was an empress commanding her people to look at her and only at her.
And they all submitted willingly.
She walked from one end of the stage to the other, dragging the khakkara on the floor, looking down, deep into the eyes of her audiences fiercely, as if she was hypnotizing them, poised as if she was ready to strike them down.
She went back to the center of the stage and let go of the staff. Slowly, she took out the golden fans in her cheongsam and opened them. She raised one above her head and let her eyes follow it. She stood motionless for a while, her body arched beautifully, as if she had stopped the very time itself.
The steady beating of the drums returned and Chiyo spun on her heels gracefully, her fans trailed along her sides as if they were the wings of the dragon on her back. She made one of the fan spin on her fingers, while she manipulated the other with her fast wrist movements. She showed everyone the fruit of her training under Lady Suiren, and the lady smiled proudly at her student as she watched on.
Chiyo felt no hesitation at all as she did a while ago. Her only focus was giving this performance her very all. Like Lady Suiren had said, 'We are artists, and we are art.'
Tonight, she will show everyone what it truly means to become a living art.
Not missing a beat, she tossed the fans in mid air as she spun, catching them again, just as Anita resumed her song. Chiyo willed her body and feet to flow with the steady beat of the drums, letting the fans glide, guided by her arms as if they were an extension of her and not a separate object. She spun, almost endlessly, the hem of her cheongsam flowing around her as if she had become the most beautiful red and golden fire lily in bloom.
She ended her performance by forcefully kneeling, her head bowed, and her hands holding the fans forward, offering herself up to the crowd.
Intense applause and cheer erupted from the crowd as they stood up to give their praise for the young apprentice. Even the Fire Lord and his children stood up, awed by Chiyo's remarkable performance.
Chiyo finally looked up and smiled, standing up and bowing deeply in gratitude. Lady Suiren was right. It was pointless to dwell on the 'what-ifs' and doubts. She scanned the cheering crowd, and found Zuko grinning and cheering loudly for her.
It was one of the happiest days of her life.