Avatar Book 4 Chapter 4: Engagement Ball, an avatar: last airbender fanfic

Chapter 4: Engagement Ball

The Gaang arrives at the Fire Nation Palace. After leaving Appa at the stables, they meet Zuko and Mai.

"Welcome to my palace, my friends." Fire Lord Zuko greets his visitors. "I hope you made a good trip."

Aang and his friends wonder if they should tell Zuko about the Air Nomads. "Oh, yeah. Pretty much." Katara replies to break the silence.

"Well, the others are arriving right now." Zuko says. "Do you wanna join me as I greet them?"

All of them answer affirmatively with joy except for Mai, who simply utters "Whatever."

The Gaang goes to the palace front to greet the other visitors. The first group to arrive is from the Southern Water Tribe.

"Dad!" Sokka and Katara exclaim as they see Hakoda.

"Sokka. Katara. How good is to see you again." Hakoda replies.

"How's everything back in the Southern Water Tribe?" Katara asks.

"Gran Gran is taking care of everything back there." Hakoda explains.

"Isn't she in the Northern Water Tribe with Gramp Gramp?" Sokka asks.

"Gran Gran and Master Pakku are still helping us with the rebuilding of the Southern Water Tribe." Hakoda explains. "And, do you really call him Gramp Gramp?"

Sokka was about to answer when he's interrupted.

"Hey, guys." Toph yells as she arrives.

"Toph." Katara says. "How long I haven't seen you?"

"Hey." Toph replies. "I've never seen you my whole life, Sugar Queen."

"Hi, Toph." Aang says.

"Hi, Twinkle Toes." Toph replies. "Have you found other Air Nomads?" Toph then senses the uneasiness on the Gaang. "They disappointed you, didn't they?"

Despite having known Toph for some time by now, the Gaang can't help but be surprise at her ability to "see" things.

"After enduring one hundred years of war, the new Air Nomads aren't so peaceful." Aang says.

"Too bad I wasn't there, Twinkle Toes." Toph says. "You make them sound like they're not the wimps you originally were."

"They're not so bad." Sokka comments. "At least they like meat." He then notices his friends staring at him. "What?"

Zuko can't help but get worried about a possible retaliation. "Aang, do you think they might restart the war?"

"Don't worry, Zuko." Aang replies. "They still mistrust you but at least they agreed not to start any attach until the Fire Nation restarts showing hostility."

"Oh, that's very comforting." Zuko sarcastically replies.

"Hey, Sparky." Toph replies. "Snoozles is the meat and sarcasm guy of our group."

"Talking about meat, when do we eat?" Sokka asks.

"After welcoming all the guests." Zuko answers. Then the other Kyoshi Warriors arrive. "Welcome to the Fire Nation." Zuko says.

"Did you have any troubles during the travel?" Suki asks out of concern for her followers. "No." They answer.

"If you excuse me, I think I'm seeing the Northern Water Tribe representatives." Zuko says.

"Hi, Chief Arnook." Sokka says.

"Sokka, Katara, Aang, it's good to see you again." Chief Arnook replies.

"We're glad you're here." Aang comments.

"I don't even believe I came here before pointing out a new successor since my daughter, well, you know." Chief Arnook comments.

"Huh?" Suki asks.

"Oh, right, you were not there." Chief Arnook replies.

"She sacrificed herself to be the new moon spirit." Zuko adds.

Suki thinks a little about it. "Sokka, when you hesitated about kissing me, the moon was over us. Was it because of her?"

"You're gonna pay for this, Zuko." Sokka whispers to the Fire Lord. "Yes, Suki."

"Oh, I think we'd better leave them alone." Zuko suggests.

"Just now that's becoming interesting?" Toph asks. What they don't know is that somebody is watching on them waiting for a chance to strike.

Later on, Sokka and Suki meet the rest of the Gaang. "So, Snoozles, did you and fan-girl make up?"

"Yes." Sokka answers and then whispers to Zuko. "You're still gonna pay for that."

Zuko then prepares to make his announcement. "My guests, we're here not only to celebrate my engagement to Lady Mai but also to celebrate the return of my Mother, Princess Ursa."

The all applaud when suddendly Fire Lord Zuko is attacked by someone using dual broadswords. Zuko quickly dodges the attack. Not carrying his own broadswords to what was originally supposed to be a peaceful occasion, Zuko uses Firebending against his enemy. "Jet, how did you get past the guards?"

"It doesn't matter, Firescum." Jet answers. "Attention, everyone. Have you forgotten what his nation did to us? Let's kill them all."

"No, Jet." Katara replies. "The war is over."

"You can't trust the Fire Nation not to be just buying time to restrenghten itself after Ozai's downfall." Jet says.

"Jet, I've been supervising Zuko's efforts to restore peace." Aang pleads.

"Like we could..." Jet is interrupted by Ty Lee, who had taken advantage of this distraction to block Jet's chi.

Jet is arrested and the rest of the party goes without complications. After that, the Gaang talks about the happenings.

"Zuko, how did you know Jet?" Katara asks out of curiosity.

"Uncle and I first met him on the way to Ba Sing Se." Zuko explains. "We used to be friends until he saw Uncle Firebending to warm his tea."

"Wow, if I couldn't feel you're telling the truth I wouldn't believe he's so careless." Toph comments.

"You know Uncle and tea." Zuko comments.

"Point taken." Sokka replies.

"After Uncle and I got a job in a tea shop, Jet tried to expose us." Zuko adds. "However, because I had my own broadswords back then, I couldn't defeat him without Firebending. With that and the fact it happened in front of several witnesses who told the Dai Li he attacked Uncle and I without provocation he was arrested. And you? Did you already know him?"

"We met him in a village in the Earth Kingdom." Aang explains. "He and his Freedom Fighters hated the Fire Nation to the point he was destroy a whole civillian population only to have the Fire Nation away from a village."