Book 4 Air

Chapter 6 Opening Act

As the carriage rode pass the noble's houses, Katara lightly grew nervous as she saw the festival up ahead. "Geez…Relax will ya? You feel like a trembling baby pentapus!" complained Toph.

"Oh...umm...Sorry Toph…" Katara said as she blushed in embarrassment.

Once the carriage stopped, the two girls stepped out in front of a cheering crowd.

"What's going on, what's with all the hollering?" asked Toph.

"I am not sure…" Katara said as she tried to look over the mass of people.

"Hey Katara! Toph!" called out a feminine voice.

The waterbender looked over and saw Suki; she was amazed of how beautiful the Kyoshi warrior girl looked.

Her hair was pulled up in a low bun, and small braids flowed over the back. Her outfit was very stunning. Her kimono was a dark red with golden-white patterns shaped like long neck swan-ducks and tiny pink sakura petals scattered along the sleeve and front.

"Wow…you look so beautiful Suki." Katara said with a warm smile.

Suki smiled, "Nah…This is nothing…You and Toph almost look like princesses." Suki said.

Katara laughed lightly and thanked Suki for her sweet compliment.

"Do you happen to know where Sokka and Aang are?" asked the waterbender.

"No, I lost them in the crowd." Suki said as she looked around.

Toph then turned her head. "I think he's this way…" Toph said as she made her way through the group of people.

"Hey Twinkle-Toes!" called out Toph.

Aang turned and saw the blind earthbender. He smiled, "Hey how did you find me?" asked Aang.

"I know your light footsteps anywhere twinkle-toes…" Toph said as she then punched Aang's right arm.

"Ow." Yelped the airbender as he rubbed his limb lightly blushing.

"There you guys are…Hey, where's Sokka!" asked Katara as walked up to her friends.

"He's competing in some sword-fighting/freestyle contest." Aang said as he pointed to a huge stage near the crowd of people.

"Well come on let's go! I wanna see my brother make a fool of himself!" laughed Katara.

"You wanna bet on that?" asked Toph as she smirked.

"No thanks…" Katara said sarcastically.


"Sir, there has been a report down by the shoreline." The guard announced as he entered the Lieutenant's office.

"Go on…" Huo said.

"Sergeant Cheng has claimed that a strange woman was seen walking along the shore and then disappeared into the North-West Forest of Su." The guard said as he bowed.

"Hmm…Send for a recruit and search the area. I also want you to tell Private Ye-Shan to Double- no triple the security at the festival. Make sure to protect the Fire Lord and the Avatar at all times!" Huo said as he stood up and clenched his fist.

"Yes Sir, right away Sir." The guard said as he bowed again and left the room.

Huo turned and looked at the window, seeing the distant lights from the festival. "Roku…Help us all…"


Pushing against the people Toph, Katara, Aang and Suki got the front of the stage where acrobats and circus entertainers flipped in the air and danced across the mini theater. The deep loud of drumming was heard as three women entered on stage and then threw shredded dyed egg shells in onto the floor. Their costumes were of all the other nations aligned in order. Water, Earth, and Air. Of course each outfit seemed a little out-dated.

Aang beamed widely, "Oh Katara! Look! Look! They added an Air Nomad! I can't believe! It's such an honor!" exclaimed the airbender.

"I see Aang…" chuckled the waterbender. "She's beautiful…"

"Hey Aang…I can tell of course because of her outfit, but why didn't they add arrows like yours?" asked Suki.

"Well, back at the Southern Temple, it was rare for a woman airbender to have the original tattoos…Those who get one are reborn as a master." Aang said with pride.

"Wow..." Suki said in awe.

Katara smiled, 'It must have been from the peace treaty. To honor all the other nations, even if this is a Fire Nation Festival.' thought Katara. The waterbdner looked back at the performance.

The women bowed to the audience, then each one flew a silk sash up in the air, the fabric lazily tumbled down. Each color of the silken belt represented the three elements. Blue for water, brown for earth, and a translucent white for air. Each woman stepped aside and bowed again. Then in the middle a woman in long red dress stepped up and lengthen out her arms, her hands were enriched with red jewels that probably symbolized for fire.

The crowd grew wild and cheered louder for the woman dressed in the Fire Nation outfit.

She bowed to the gathering of people as her long sleeves fell to the ground dragging along with her dress. She then walked over gracefully and stood next to the woman in the air nomad costume. Two of each performer stood on either side of the stage. Water and Earth…Fire and Air.

Then a short stumpy man walked up in the middle of the stage, his outfit looked ridiculous and he had a long mustache across his face.

"Ladies and Gentleman, Feast your eyes on the strong warriors, traveling from distant lands of the Earth Kingdom, Water Tribe and beyond…To compete in the year of the dragon! A year of new beginning!" hollered the man as he swung a short cane.

Moving to the left of the stage he called out the names of the contestants.

"Tu Lang-Shan, earthbender and master swordsman of the Earth Kingdom village of Akamu!"

The curtain rose and out walked a teen boy; his hair was rustled and black. His eyes were a dark hazel and his face was firm. He walked to the center of the stage, and then removed his cloak revealing finely tuned abs and muscles as he flexed his body. The girl's in the crowd cried out with awes and screams.

Katara merely chuckled at the boy's cocky-ness. Suki blushed and giggled as she looked at Katara.

"Is he hot?" asked Toph, pretty much already knowing the answer from the whistles and calls of the crowd.

"He's a hunk…" Suki said.

"Hey now…Don't forget Sokka…" Toph said as she nudged Suki's arm.

"Haha, don't worry…Sokka will always be my sweetie…This guy looks like he would too much of a player." Suki said as she rubbed her arm.

"Aww…you're sweet little snoogles…" teased Toph.

"Wah, Stop it Toph…" Suki said as she blushed.

"Hey look! Another guy is coming out!" cheered Aang as he pointed.

"And from our beloved nation, winner of five gold-medals champion, Aeron Isamu!" called out the announcer.

The warrior stepped out from the curtains. The lean figure mysteriously was wearing a unique Fire Nation mask. Cupping the high cheek bones of the face and revealing two small slants of the eyes. The bottom seemed to stop right below the nostrils. Displaying his small mouth and lean chin.

The crowd cheered and called out for the warrior almost as if he was a celebrity.

"Wow this is going to going to be tough for Sokka…" Katara said with worry.

"Yea, do you think he will win?" asked Aang.

"Not sure, do you wanna bet on it?" eagerly asked the earthbender.

"No!" Katara and Aang both said angrily.

Suki looked at them confused, "Why can't she?"

Katara grumbled, "Let's just say she's had a bad habit in the past…"

"Aw! Come on! I won't cheat!" Toph said as she begged.

"No!" Katara said as she crossed her arms.

"Hey I think Sokka's up next!" Suki said happily.

The three friends looked up.

"And finally our last and youngest contestant! Sokka Tao! From the Southern Water Tribe." Called out the stumpy man.

The four friends cheered excitedly for Sokka as he walked out.

"Yea Sokka!" Toph exclaimed.

"Woo!" Katara shouted.

Sokka walked up to the left side of the stage in order with the Earth Kingdom, and Fire Nation swordsman. He gulped then he heard a couple of familiar voices, looking into the crowd he saw Suki and Katara waving at him. Bursting out his chest he felt his confidence come back, 'I can do this…I'll beat this guys!'


Hooray! Go Sokka! Haha! Get ready for Sokka's biggest challenge yet. And don't worry; you'll see Zuko too, along with some flirtious fan girls! Also as a note: I made up Sokka and in this case Katara's last name up...Ironically Tao means "Great Waves" in Chinese.

Also I tried to make this as realistic as possible, both in the series from a previous Frie Nation Festival to real life. So if there are any mistakes let me know.

Please review!