Well everyone, this is my first chapter since the Season Finale, and I've gotta get my thoughts out. The only thing I can really say is HOLY CRAP!! I expected a lot of things on Friday, but I never thought that would be it. The Earth Kingdom fell, Aang almost died, and Zuko... God, I was just stunned. But let me say this folks; I don't think it will last. My gut feeling is that this is either a trick on Zuko's part, or he's going to regret his choice and betray Azula. Either way, he can't stay like this, or they've wasted a whole season of character devolpment. But I guess we just have to wait until next season to find out.

Anyway, now onto the story, in a universe where all is right with Avatar, at least as I see it...

Chap. 19

Interlude 3: Saturday Spectacular

The crowd before was small, barely a hundred people. In her time in the world, she had faced armies much larger then this. She had fought a great general, a banished, but still formidable prince, the living voices of the elements, and even the human incarnation of the world. But against this crowd, in this strange and twisted world, Azula had nothing. For this was a crowd that demanded something that the Princess did not know how to give. All the others she had faced had required fireblasts or lightning; these people required….. entertainment.

And as the crowd applauded as Mai and Ty Lee gave them what they wanted, Azula sat near the stairs to the stage with her troops, trying to think of something that she could possibly do to entertain these people, as she dealt with the last of the sickness from the ride. But all of Azula's knowledge was rooted in battle strategies and fighting skills and military history. None of that could be applied to the situation now, and for the first time in her life, Azula wished that her fuddy-duddy uncle was here. He always made people laugh. I'll bet that's how he and Zuzu survived until they got to Ba Sing Se. Azula thought. It always seemed so stupid, but people loved it. If only I'd paid attention, instead of just walking off. At least then I could shut her up. Bitterly, Azula thought back to when the group had learned of their situation and seen just what they'd have to do.

"We have to do what?!" Azula managed to spurt out, as the Captain helped her walk over to the entrance to the stage.

"We have to perform." Mai said again. "Apparently, there's some kind of performance going on today, and they think we're a part of it. That's what that discount was; an employee discount. Hopefully, Ty Lee will say we're on later when she comes back from the stage."

"What will we do then?" the Captain asked, as Azula glared at him. "Look at me when you ask a question!" the Princess snapped, just before she grimaced and turned her head back to the ground. The Captain wisely moved to the side, as Azula vomited for the second time. Since getting off the ride, Azula had not only been disoriented, but rather nauseous. She'd thrown up as soon as Mai had gotten her back to the ground, and she'd been barely hanging on once Mai had passed her off to the Captain.

"He didn't ask you, Azula. He asked me." Mai said. "Considering that we can't run in and burn this place to the ground, I think he should've asked me."

Azula snarled, but before she could say anything, Ty Lee returned. "The announcer says they need us to go on after this guy." The acrobat said. "Apparently the next performer couldn't make it and they need something to fill in the time. Oh, this is like I'm in the circus again!"

"Yah. The circus." Mai muttered. "Well, we'll just have to deal with it. Ty Lee, you and I will go on first, since Azula needs to rest. Remember that bit we worked out as kids?"

"Oh goody, the 'Flying Daggers of the Fire Nation!'" Ty Lee chirped happily. A second later though, her face changed into a somewhat reluctant expression.

"Don't worry, I've gotten better now. I'm not gonna hurt you this time. Besides, it would've been fine if not for that turtle-duck. " Mai assured her.

"Are you sure? I couldn't use my arm for a week after last time." Ty Lee said.

"I promise." Mai said, as the announcer suddenly yelled, "Hey kids, you're up."

"OK. I trust you, Mai." Ty Lee said, as she bounded up the stairs. Mai began to follow, but the turned to check on Azula, as the Captain laid the girl down near the steps.

"Feeling better?" Mai asked.

Azula muttered a response, but nodded all the same.

"Good. We'll go for as long as we can, so you'll have plenty of time to think up an act to do." Mai turned back to the stairs, but before she left, she said, "I'm sure that it'll be perfect."

But as Mai and Ty Lee went through their act, Azula's act was less then perfect. In fact, it was non-existent. Everything that had gone through her mind was either too dangerous, not impressive enough, or simply not entertainment-ready. All my planning, and I can't even figure out how to entertain a bunch of simpletons. Azula thought. For a moment, she wondered if she should ask the troops for some suggestions. But she buried that idea within seconds. She was the Fire Nation Princess; there was nothing some lowly troops could suggest that would suit her.

Before Azula could mediate more on the matter, the yell of approval from the crowd broke her concentration. Annoyed, she turned around and looked at the stage. Within seconds, Azula was caught up with the crowd as she watched Mai and Ty Lee. The two of them were doing an act where Mai would hurl daggers at Ty Lee, who flipped through the air and caught them. As Azula watched, Mai drew four daggers from her vest, held two in each hand, and then throw them, one pair at a time, at Ty Lee. As the daggers flew through the air, Ty Lee suddenly flipped over and as the first set of daggers past the space where she had been standing, she came back down, landing on the flat of the daggers and them down onto the stage with her feet. Once she had landed though, the acrobat suddenly did a complete split, and once she was down, she reached up and grabbed the second set of daggers by the hilt as they flew past her.

Wow, that is impressive. Azula thought, as Ty Lee got back to her feet and took a bow with Mai. To think, they got that from a stupid game they did when we were kids….. Suddenly, inspiration struck, and Azula gasped with amazement at how simple a solution it was. But if it was to work, there was one thing she would need, and she quickly searched the group of performers for one. Thankfully, luck was within the princess once again, as one of the other performers happened to have it. Nodding her acceptance, Azula turned to the captain and said, "Tell that boy over there that we need his drum."

"Very well Princess. But why?" the captain asked.

"Have you ever done the Agni Ki Tai?" Azula asked. "It is quite hard to do without a drum."

At that, the Captain nodded and walked over to the performer, just as Mai and Ty Lee walked back down the stairs.

"Are you ready, Azula?" Ty Lee asked, concern in her voice.

"I'm fine. In fact, I got an idea from you two." Azula replied. As she said that, the Captain walked over with the drum in his hand.

"You'll see. Come now, Captain." Azula said, as the two of them walked up on stage, while Mai and Ty Lee watched and waited.

The crowd watched in anticipation as this girl and her accomplice walked up onto the stage. The Captain sat down near the entrance, and at a signal from Azula, began to beat out a rhythm using the drum. As the drum beats filled the air, Azula stood straight, placed her hands together and took a deep breath, as she readied herself for the task ahead. Finally, she broke apart her hands and began to perform the Agni Ki Tai- the Fire Dance. It was an ancient dance, one that had existed from the earliest days of the Fire Nation, and one that was still performed at all the great ceremonies. Like fire itself, it was a thing of great beauty and great power at the same time. Azula had been taught it as a child for ceremonial purposes, but she hadn't used it in so long, she had almost forgotten it. But Azula's battle training had kept her body limber, and once she had remembered the dance, her sharp mind had remembered the steps quite quickly.

Slowly, Azula began to glide across the stage, her body gently twisting, to represent the early stages of fire. The crowd watched in curious amazement, as the drumbeat began to pick up, moving faster and faster. Azula moved in tandem, her body's movements speeding up. Then Azula reached the stage of the dance where it gained its name. Throwing up her arms, Azula created two whips of flame, that she whirled around in the air as she danced. The audience gasped in amazement and then began to cheer, as they stared in amazement at the dance, as both Azula and the flames spun and twisted.

Finally, the drumming neared its climax and Azula prepared to finish it. Gliding to the back of the stage, she began to spin forward, moving faster and faster, as the flames fanned out around her. Finally, she reached the final spin of the dance, and as the drumbeat reached it's final crescendo, Azula came to a halt, the flames shooting out to the sides in two great and powerful waves. The flames vanished in an instant, but when Azula looked up, the crowd's applause went on for at least five minutes.

Smiling, Azula raised her hands in acknowledgement of the crowd, and then moved back down the stairs, the Captain following. Upon reaching the bottom, Azula was instantly hugged by Ty Lee. "That was amazing, Azula!" the acrobat said earnestly. "I can't believe that you were able to remember that old dance!"

"I have to admit, that was pretty cool." Mai added.

"Of course it was." Azula said smugly. "Once we got into this, I knew that it would work."

Before anyone could say anything to that, the Captain handed the drum back to the performer and said, "Thank you."

"No problem. That was amazing!" The boy said. "Where are you guys from anyway? Seeing the city for the first time?"

"Oh yes." Azula replied, seeing an opportunity. Running a hand through her hair, she said, "I swear, it's just so hard to find our way in this big city though. I can't even remember where we are staying."

"I can probably help with that." The boy said, smiling at Azula. "Where are you guys staying, Manhattan?"

"That's it." Azula said, her voice dripping with naiveté. "But our guide had to go back early, and we just don't know how to get back from here."

"Oh, I can help then." The boy answered. "My aunt and mom are coming in an hour to pick me and my cousin up. There should be more then enough room for us to take you and your friends into the city."

"Oh that would be wonderful." Azula said sweetly, as an all-too-familiar grin spread over her face.