A COUPLE MORE FREAKING THINGS I FORGOT TO MENTION: There is nobody who can control the element of firebending except Zuko. So Aang and Azula can't firebend! Also I changed my mind: Toph is blind and she has shoulder-length hair. And as you all know, Katara's hair goes down to her waist. And remember that the lyrics are from the 2004 film. THANKS!!!
Months had passed, and the Firebender of the Opera hadn't been seen since then. At first people were frightened. They were thinking that maybe he would come back to kill them all. But as the days turned to weeks, and weeks turned to months, people's worries faded away one by one.
But Katara was overall the happiest person alive in the Opera House. She had been the lead in all of the plays, she could sleep again, she got to see her brother and Toph everyday without worrying, and she spent most of her time with Aang whom she loved so much. Things only got better when Aang proposed to Katara and she happily accepted. But in a way, part of her felt left behind. She felt like she had left Zuko behind.
Tonight was the Masquerade Ball although some people weren't going to wear masks. Sokka was wearing a blue suit (like the Chad Michael Murray suit at the ball in Cinderella Story) and his hair was out of his ponytail which was combed back and he decided not to wear a mask. Toph joined her lover dressed in a stunning, long sleeved, light green and blue dress along with a gold mask. Haru walked up to in green robes and a light green mask with white lines. Sokka and tapped him on the shoulder. Sokka turned and greeted with a smile:
Monsieur Haru
Haru greeted him back
Monsieur Sokka
They both laughed and Sokka continued
Dear Haru what a splendid party
Haru joined in and they each sang a line
The prologue to a bright new year
Quite a night I'm impressed
Well one does one's best
They sang together for one line and then each sang a line again
Here's to us
The toast of all the city
What a pity that the Firebender can't be here
Inside, the ballroom was full of dancing people. People in elegant suits and gowns talking, eating, dancing, laughing, and singing:
Masquerade
Paper faces on parade
Masquerade
Hide your face so the world will never find you
Masquerade
Every face a different shade
Masquerade
Look around
There's another mask behind you
Flash of mauve
Splash of puce
Fool and king
Ghoul and goose
Green and black
Queen and priest
Trace of rouge
Faces
Take a turn take a ride
On the merry-go-round
In an inhuman race
Eye of gold
Thigh of blue
True is false
Who is who
Curl of lip
Swirl of gowns
Ace of hearts
Face of clown
Faces
Drink it in drink it up
'Till you've drowned in the light in the sound
But who can name the face
Masquerade
Grinning yellows
Spinning reds
Masquerade
Take your fill
Let the spectacle astound you
Masquerade
Burning glances
Turning heads
Masquerade
Stop and stare
At the sea of smiles around you
Masquerade
Seething shadows
Breathing lies
Masquerade
You can fool any friend who ever knew you
Masquerade
Leering satyrs
Peering eyes
Masquerade
Run and hide
But a face will still pursue you
Now Haru, Sokka, and Toph, entered into the ballroom along with Azula in a long, but tight orange, spaghetti strap, dress with an orange mask with black diamonds on it. Jet also arrived in a guard uniform with no mask. Mai also arrived quietly in a flowing red dress with her cane
Azula declared
What a night
Jet joined in
What a crowd
Sokka and Haru sang one line each and the next line together
Makes you glad
Makes you proud
All the crème de la crème
Azula butted in
Watching us watching them
Toph silently joined
And all our fears are in the past
Haru piped in
Three months of relief
Azula piped in while Haru continued afterward
Of delight
Of Elysian peace
Mai, like her niece, quietly joined in
And we can breathe at last
Azula kept chirping in
No more notes
Jet came in
No more ghosts
Once again Azula came in
Here's a health
Haru sang
Here's a toast
To a prosperous year
Sokka jumped in
To our friends who are here
Azula and Jet sang together
And may our splendor never fade
Everyone else joined in
What a blessed relief
Mai, once again, sang softly
And what a masquerade
Meanwhile, Katara was finishing up from getting ready. She was wearing a sleeveless purple dress that went flowing past her feet which were in glass slippers. Her hair was up in a bun with a few curls hanging down and on her left, index, finger was a gold band with a small silver diamond on it. Her engagement ring! Aang was dressed in his usual pants and boots and he had an orange, shirt on (Like the one that the phantom wears in Down Once More) which showed his well-toned chest. Neither wore a mask!
"Wow Aang, soon I'm going to be the Avatar's wife." Katara beamed
"I'm just as excited as you are Katara." Aang smiled back
"I love you…so much!" Katara said
"I love you too!" Aang stared into her eyes
"Just think of me as your future bride." she almost whispered
"But why is it a secret? What's to hide from everyone? You promised me remember?" Aang questioned
He kissed her softly on the lips and Katara couldn't resist, but after a while she broke away.
"No Aang please don't they'll see." she warned
"Well just let them see. It's an engagement, not a crime." he told her and then sang
Katara what are you afraid of
Katara smiled and sang
Let's not argue
Aang repeated
Let's not argue
Katara started off the first line then Aang came in
Please pretend
I can only hope
They sang together
I/You will understand in time
And with that, they walked into the ballroom. Aang put his arm around her waist and took her hand. Katara put her arm on his shoulder and put her hand in his. They began to dance to the beautiful but particularly fast. As they danced, they passed Azula at the refreshment table who rolled her eyes at them. Then they danced near Sokka and Toph who were also dancing. They then switched so Aang danced with Toph and Sokka got to dance with his little sister. Then they switched back!
Sokka and Toph left to go to the stairs where most of the people were on the stairs getting ready to sing the last part of the song. Aang took her into the center of the floor, facing the stairs full of people. He then gently caressed her face keeping one hand on her cheek and the other on her waist. Katara smiled and put both arms around his neck and kissed him. The kiss was tender at first and then grew more passionate as Aang put his hand on her neck and Katara gently put her hand on his cheek. They broke apart and Katara rested her hands in his. Then they turned around to watch the crowd as they sang
Masquerade
Paper faces on parade
Masquerade
Hide your face so the world will never find you
Masquerade
Every face a different shade
Masquerade
Look around there's another mask behind you
Then everyone began to sing an octave higher
Masquerade
Burning glances turning heads
Masquerade
Stop and stare at the sea of smiles around you
Masquerade
Grinning yellows spinning reds
Masquerade
Take your fill let the spectacle astound you
All of a sudden a booming, particular tune came down on everyone. A tune that almost nobody liked. It was like a disaster to their ears! As they all listened, scared out of their will(s), they slowly turned to look as a flash of red appeared on the right steps above the main stairway, and people gasped and screamed silently.
It was the Zuko! He was back just as he had promised he would be. He was dressed as Edgar Allen Poe's Red Death, in a red jacket (like a medieval jacket) with black pants and he was wearing a white wrinkled skull-like mask that covered both of his eyes. A sword was in a scabbard connected to his pants and dark boots on his feet.
He looked at everyone with disgust, but he didn't notice Aang and Katara at the bottom of the steps. He slowly and menacingly took a step down the stairs and people took steps back. He kept on doing that and sang:
Why so silent good messieurs
Did you think that I had left you for good
Have you missed me good messieurs
I have written you an opera
He held up a folder which held music and scripts for a new play that he had written himself. He continuedsinging
Here I bring the finished score
He then yelled out the name
Don Juan Triumphant
He then calmed down a bit
Fondest greetings to you all
A few instructions just before rehearsal starts
Aang, still in shock, whispered to Katara:
"I'm going to get my glider! Be careful!"
He then ran away as Zuko walked down to Azula and Jet and continued:
Azula must be taught to act
Not her normal trick of strutting 'round the stage
He waved his sword an inch away from Azula's face. Jet boldly stepped in front of Azula which gave Zuko more ways to have fun.
Our Don Juan must gain some weight
It's not healthy for a man of Jet's age
He turned away and walked towards Haru, Sokka, and Toph. Sokka grabbed Toph and put her behind him and got into a fighting stance
And my managers must learn that their place is in an office
He drew his sword out in front of Sokka and Haru's faces
Not the arts
He then slowly turned around, found Katara and looked straight at her. Katara stared back
As for our star
Miss Katara
No doubt she'll do her best it's true
Her voice is good she knows though
Should she wish to excel
She has much still to learn
If pride will let her return to me
Her teacher
He repeated that line a little more softly
Her teacher
Katara felt herself fall into another trance and she slowly walked up the stairs. Zuko began walking up to her and they met and stopped halfway on the main stairs. Slowly she lifter her hand flat out and held it towards the Firebender. Zuko did the same and their palms met in the air. Their fingers started to close, but as they did the Firebender's hand grabbed her own and yanked Aang's engagement ring off her finger.
"No matter what happens, you will always belong to me." he menacingly exclaimed
Then he turned and ran up the stairs and disappeared in a trap door which suddenly came up from the floor. People gasped and shrieked in fear while Katara only stood there stunned. Then, all of a sudden, Katara came out of her trance and fell to the floor. Sokka and Toph came running up to her while Haru ran to fetch a doctor. Sokka held his unconscious sister and Toph felt her pulse and knew that she had only fainted, but was still concerned for her best friend.
Suddenly, Aang came running down with his glider and jumped into the trap door before it closed. Now people were even more concerned. Aang held his glider up in defense and looked around but suddenly got dizzy. There were mirrors everywhere! Zuko was shown in all of them and Aang whipped his glider everywhere, but Zuko had vanished. Then there were bursts of fire everywhere but Aang dodged them all.
Then he felt a hand on his shoulder and whipped around to find Mai who led him out of the trap and near her room. Aang, all the while still dizzy, followed Mai to her room
"Mai…" he began but she interrupted
"Please Avatar, I know more than anyone else ever will. Even Katara!" she exclaimed
"That's not true!" he argued
"Avatar Aang, please don't ask! There have been enough accidents already." she protested
This time, Aang grabbed her shoulder and turned her to face him.
"Mai! What kind of accidents? Please tell me! For everyone's sake." Aang pleaded.
"Very well!" Mai sighed
Mai and Aang reached her room, Mai walked over, turned on a light, and sat down next to Aang on her bed as Mai began her flashback.