The Weight of a Title

by lPhoenixSpiritl

It's been nine months since Katara broke off her engagement, renouncing her title as the Avatar's betrothed and reclaiming her name. It's been three weeks of filling in as ambassador and dodging her ex-fiancé. Tonight Katara confronts the feelings she's developed for Zuko while Aang tries to fix things. Her friends might be watching her back but they've got schemes if their own.

p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Katara's reflection looked back at her from the mirror, normally, makeup had a way of making her feel like she was looking at someone else, but tonight she could use the bravery that comes with wearing someone else's face. She leaned in closer to examine the artful application, kohl accentuated her almond-shaped eyes and gave a sensual smoked-out look to her lids, Fire Nation crimson brought out her full lips and a slight rouge highlighted her cheekbones giving them a soft flush. Ayumi, the lady in waiting, drew her gently back by the shoulders before continuing to braid her hair into a proud top-knot, a blend of water tribe customs and fire nation style./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"The peace summit had closed with a grand banquet three nights ago and the Fire Nation flung open their doors encouraging ambassadors and attendees alike to explore all that Capitol City had to offer, while the palace prepared a celebration to commemorate eight years of peace./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="font-style: oblique;"Eight years./span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Had it been so long since she and her friends had brought the war to an end? Peace, it still felt strange to some after a century of war, but it was that peace that found her here, within the walls of the palace on the third night getting ready for a ball. Her father had sent her to the peace summit in his stead, citing some vague inter-tribal issue he needed to attend to. She would be fine, he told her, even if she hadn't yet been home for a year, she knew what the tribe needed and where they stood, and as ambassador, he knew she would put the needs of her tribe first. So after several briefings with the council and more policy scrolls than she could count, Katara found herself stepping off a ship and onto Fire Nation soil for the first time in close to a year./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"She was greeted by the Fire Lord and after nearly a decade of friendship, Zuko still doted on her. Her room was less a room and more of a decadent suite, a carved four-poster bed draped in crimson silks dominated the bedroom. The matching vanity and wardrobe could hold every item of clothing she owned two times over. The eastern wall boasted floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking his mother's pond, the rippling water reflected the morning sun casting the room in a bright glow with every sunrise. She guessed Zuko remembered she wasn't much of a morning person when they were kids, and had suspected that hadn't changed much even after they grew up. She would never tell him the truth but so far she had only been late when it was cloudy./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Many ambassadors and dignitaries resided in the palace during the summit sharing use of the palace springs and bathhouses. She had expected to do the same but upon her arrival, she discovered her own private bath. When she questioned the Fire Lord as to why he was housing her in quarters normally reserved for the royalty of other nations he simply shrugged, "You are the daughter of the chieftain of the Southern Water Tribe. It's a princess suite for a princess."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"She knew better than to look a gift ostrich-horse in the mouth, so that first night she'd spent hours soaking in the oversized marble tub, gifting herself the small indulgence before she embarked on the first day of three awkward weeks. She would appear as Master Katara of the Southern Water Tribe for the first time in four years. She said it out loud to herself over and over, letting the syllables echo off the stone walls. After nearly half a decade as the Avatar's betrothed, her old title sounded strange even to her own ears, if she had any doubts about her decision, they vanished at that moment./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"The summit commenced and while there was plenty to keep everyone busy, Aang had tried to seek her out on more than once. Thankfully the Avatar's sifu's had always been smarter than he was and managed to keep one step ahead of the airbender./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"The private room Zuko had provided Katara wasn't only to spoil her, it was placed on the eastern side of the palace. The Fire Lord had also graciously given Aang the recently built villa, on the western side of the palace grounds, near the stables. Unlike the rest of the nations, Katara had no entourage and to Zuko and Suki's dismay, she had brought no security detail./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"She was a master waterbender, it wasn't like she needed it./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Zuko took advantage and decided the simplest way to guarantee her safety, and keep her out of Aang's reach, was to have the Kyoshi warriors treat Katara as another member of the Fire Nation royal family, which included housing her in the royal family wing. Suki would later explain to a troubled Avatar, that the villa was built with Aang in mind allowing him to be closer to Appa while giving him room for his air acolytes. Its distance from Katara's chambers was simply coincidental. It did little to dissuade her ex-fiancé but between Sokka's scheduling and seating arrangements, Suki's security teams ushering her from meeting to meeting, Toph enlisting her cerulean eyes for everything from correspondence to food, and Zuko's requests for advisement over nightly tea, Katara hadn't seen much of the airbender./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"The gaang couldn't take all of the credit though. Aang's harem of Air Acolytes had done their fair share in getting between the former lovers. She may have avoided Aang but she hadn't escaped the dirty looks and whispers from the gaggles of young women./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"It had been over a year since the fight that marked the beginning of the end. Nine months, since she had torn the citrine and yellow velvet collar from around her neck and thrown it back at him. All of it stemming from a simple request, she asked Aang to attend the Winter Solstice, just this once. Katara had missed it on more than one occasion in the last eight years - the Avatar's duties trumped everything after all - and every time she did make it, she arrived at the Southern Pole alone for only a few short days. Most of her year was spent at one of the four Air Temples with the various chapters of fan clubs turned Air Acolytes or traveling with Aang. She had learned about Air Nomad culture and customs and even practiced them alongside his acolytes./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="font-style: oblique;"So, why couldn't he do the same for her?/span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Katara had asked him for four measly days, she made sure to ask three whole months in advance and even offered to do all of the legwork needed to find animal-friendly food and clothing for the trip./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="font-style: oblique;"And why couldn't he go this time?/span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"His fan club was arranging a small concert for him during the solstice. These women knew he was engaged to a member of the Southern Water Tribe, they knew how much the Winter Solstice meant to her people and that didn't seem to matter./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"'But they had spent so much time learning the arias, they had been, and would be planning for months. They would be so disappointed if he didn't attend' he explained to her sheepishly./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Katara tried, but no matter how much she pleaded with the women they wouldn't budge on the date and Aang refused to step in and convince the acolytes otherwise./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"It was then she began to understand./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Katara always knew that Aang's priority would be rebuilding the Air Nation, that it would always come first and she had accepted that, taking comfort in the fact that she would have a role in its reconstruction as well, but this, this she had not expected./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"She wasn't sure when it had happened. Maybe it was a sudden occurrence and she had allowed herself to be blind to it? Or had it happened quietly, little by little over the months and years, and she, like a frog-slug brought to boil, simply hadn't noticed?/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"When had she become second to Aang's acolytes?/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"At the time, she didn't know the answer to that question but that understanding was only the latest markers in the beginning of their end./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"The dawn after the night that broke them, she sent home word of her severed engagement, the letter explained that she would be returning to the South Pole alone, and this time to stay. Gran-gran hastily wrote back and had all but demanded, she retrieve her mother's necklace, before even daring to set foot in the South Pole./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Not one to cross her grandmother, Katara obliged. After all the request, while strange, was not a difficult one, and the detour to Capitol City wouldn't cost her much time. Only a couple of extra days with two nights spent in the palace before embarking on the trip back home. In fact, she was glad for it. Despite spending the last few years among so many, the bustling crowds of acolytes always seemed to make her feel alone, and in the aftermath of it all, she needed a friend./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"What she hadn't understood about her grandmother's request, was why? It was, after all, Gran Gran's idea to give the necklace away./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"When Katara sent news of Aang's proposal, it was Gran-gran who wrote back asking Katara to present her mother's necklace to Zuko. Her letter stating that she was to present it to the Fire Lord as a token of thanks, for helping her find peace in the loss of her mother, for saving her life, and as a symbol of goodwill between the Southern Water Tribe and the Fire Nation. So she did exactly that, and every time after she would catch a flash of cerulean peeking from Zuko's sleeve. Every single day for four years, Zuko had worn it on his wrist, the same way he had when they were kids. Now she was supposed to just take it back?/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"She wrote to him the best she could before her arrival, an awkward letter for an awkward request. Zuko being Zuko had made no fuss, presenting her mother's necklace in a carved mahogany and mother-of-pearl box, that now sat on her dresser./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"But Katara had never been good at hiding her emotions and Zuko had known something was wrong the moment he found her on his doorstep. She spent the first of those two nights drowning her wounds in fire whiskey and breaking down in his chambers. She recounted to him the last several years, finally admitting her fear of losing herself and combing over all the signs she couldn't believe she missed. Maybe she had just flat-out refused to see them./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"The next morning she awoke to find herself in his bed, alone, with a dry mouth that rivaled the Si Wong desert and a staggering headache that made her head feel like it was split in two. She had rolled over to find ginger willow bark tea steaming on the night table and under it, a note with instructions scrawled in Zuko's enviously neat handwriting. A bath was drawn, breakfast was in the sitting room and clothes were laid out for her in his cavernous dressing room. She and the Fire Lord had plans./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"An hour later he met her in the training arena where they sparred for the first time in years. Their opposing elements clashed in plumes of steam and smoke, each pushing the other to go all out until they were drenched and heaving. She had spent so much time avoiding conflict, putting peace before action, that she had forgotten how powerful of a bender he was, how strong her own bending could be, and how it felt to have the push and pull of that power move through her./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"After another bath, Zuko took her to Jasmine Dragon's secondary location for a private rooftop lunch with Iroh, before meeting Ursa and picking up Kiyi from the academy. The four passed the time before dinner in comfortable quiet at the library, idly reading each other passages and poems and helping Kiyi with her assignments. But her favorite moment of that day by far, was when darkness fell. Zuko with a shy smile handed her a change of black clothes and a pot of red paint./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"In under an hour, they were changed and among the shadows, having slipped from the palace and past their security detail. The Painted Lady and the Blue Spirit moved from rooftop to rooftop exploring the slumbering city, making stops here and there to intervene in misdeeds and heal the sick. The night raced by and by the time they snuck back, both could do nothing but make a half-assed attempt at cleaning up before passing out in his bed. But the hours between them and sunrise were too few and before Katara knew it, she was on the ship home watching him disappear in the distance./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"The end of her engagement was still very much a fresh wound, stinging and bleeding over her hands, but that single day had been a balm upon her heart. It had eased her pain enough to remind her that this too she would /Back then, she thought Gran-gran just wanted her to see a friend, someone who would look after her before she made the long, lonely journey home, but over the last three weeks, she had caught Zuko still touching his bare wrist more than once. Nearly nine months later and he still felt the /Katara knew Gran-gran respected Aang but in her own subtle way, she had made it clear that she did not approve of him for her only granddaughter. The Avatar may not have been the man Gran imagined for Katara but there was someone she did approve of. The old woman's precious gift had kept Katara on Zuko's mind every day for four years, even ensuring that he would be the first person to know of her severed engagement./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Her grandmother was a sly hare-fox./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"With a final tuck and the gentle scrape of a comb along her scalp, Ayumi finished the elegantly beaded and braided top-knot. Ayumi took a step back and inspected her work, "Perfect."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Turning her head to get a better look, Katara admired the young woman's handiwork. Her quilliqti - or as Sokka affectionately called them 'hair loopies' - were beaded with carved, narwhal-whale bone dyed blue and inlaid with gold. Neat three-strand braids swept from her temples to the base of her neck, and a sapphire and pearl hair comb struck in gold, crowned her top knot. A tongue-in-cheek gift from Zuko and Suki for her borrowed alias, Sapphire Fire. The story, no matter how many times she and Sokka told it, never failed to bring tears of laughter to the Fire Lord and his most trusted guard./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"An impressed smile spread along Katara's lips, "It's beautiful, thank you."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Of course Master Katara, as the Fire Lord said, only the best."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"She raised a brow, "Did he now?" Katara rose from her seat at the vanity and headed for her desk, "I guess I will have to thank him in person."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Katara pulled a small envelope sealed with cobalt wax and embossed with the seal of the Southern Water Tribe, "Please give this to your highness. I have much to discuss with him later."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Ayumi wore a curious look but took the envelope nonetheless and tucked it into her sash, "Of course Master Katara."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Thank you, but please, just call me Katara."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Yes Mas- I mean Katara." the title-less name felt foreign on her tongue, "Would you like me to help you get dressed?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Ayumi glanced at the box sitting on Katara's expansive bed. The gowns of the various diplomats and dignitaries had been the talk of the servants' hall but none had gotten a look at the Avatar's formerly betrothed's gown. Curiosity and anticipation ate at the young handmaiden, what had the ambassador chosen to wear? Katara's dresses had always been a bit simple and demure, with high necklines, ankle-length skirts, and long sleeves. They were often crafted of an azure, embroidered linen or cotton that was occasionally trimmed in lace. The modest but elegant gowns were reflective of the Air Nomad's minimalist lifestyle while paying homage to her Water Tribe roots. The gowns were elegant and beautiful done in vibrant shades of blue that always managed to violently clash with the yellow choker around her neck. Ayumi was not the first to note said choker missing upon Master Katara's arrival but it wasn't her place to remark on it, at least not to the ambassador./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Katara followed Ayumi's gaze to the unassuming box quietly sitting on the plush mattress, "Oh no, I think I will be fine."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Are you sure? Almost all of the dignitaries required some assistance with their gowns." Ayumi pressed, "I remember the one you wore last year, the silver buttons were lovely but there were just so many. It took three handmaidens to close up the back."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Katara remembered that dress too. She was originally going to use traditional caribou-lynx bone buttons her father had carved himself, but after some grumbling from the acolytes, Aang demanded that she choose something else. He argued that the Air Nomads did not condone hunting animals and that incorporating bone into her gown would compromise that stance. Katara had been too tired to contend with him and the acolytes and instead spent days frantically trying to find some kind of replacement. She had nearly given up when out of the blue, Toph sent her the silver ones./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Katara nodded, "I'm sure." a soft smile played along the corners of the ambassador's mouth, "Things have changed around here, so I thought it was time to do something a little different."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Ayumi, despite feeling slightly defeated, returned Katara's smile because things had not just changed, they were in a quiet uproar. Avatar Aang's betrothed had been quietly sitting in his shadow for the better part of a decade, but according to chatter among the staff, that was no longer so. On all sides, there had been complaints that the Southern Water Tribe ambassador was abrasive and combative. Unsurprisingly, a majority of these gripes and grievances came from the men of various councils and committees - though, rumor had it the women they shared these seats had been all smirks and gleaming eyes when the ambassador spoke./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Ayumi gave a deep bow, "Well then Katara, I will leave you to it but don't be afraid to call for me if you need to."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Thank you, Ayumi, enjoy the rest of your night."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"The young handmaiden gave a small wave before shutting the door behind her. Finally, alone, Katara nervously approached the box. Lifting off its lid, she was met with a deep blue silky satin and sheer organza the color of Ember Island storm clouds. All of it, dotted and threaded with pearls and gold. She had asked Ty Lee for some help finding something elegant but daring and the seasoned Kyoshi warrior had certainly delivered. That day they had spent hours going from shop to shop looking for just the right one but without much luck. By the time the sun was about to set, Katara had become fed up and ready to resign herself to giving the palace seamstress some simple pattern that could be ready in a day or two, if it meant getting things over with./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Ty Lee, on the other hand, had not lost hope and was still going full steam ahead despite her aching feet./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="font-style: oblique;"Just one more./span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Ty Lee pleaded./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Katara rolled her eyes having heard that for the fifth time today but gave in anyway./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Last one," she warned./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Ty Lee raised her right hand, "Last one, promise! I really think this one is it, this place has a bright aura about it. Whatever you're looking for, you'll find it here." she assured her./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""We'll see." Katara shook her head and headed into the shop, she didn't want to get her hopes up but she also wanted Ty Lee to be right./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Inside they were greeted by the scent of sandalwood and jasmine, it immediately reminded her of her last visit to the Jasmine Dragon, it had been much too long./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"The clap of hands pulled Katara from her reminiscing, "I'm Anita, can I help you, ladies?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"The dressmaker, a woman about Ursa's age, approached them. Before Katara could get a word out, Ty Lee breezed past her and took the dressmaker's hands in hers./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Oh, I think you can!" Ty Lee tossed a glance over at Katara, "This is it! I can feel it!"br /Katara looked from the confused dressmaker to the excited Ty Lee a bit warily before giving her friend a nod to proceed./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Ty Lee had been buzzing with excitement at this point, "We're looking for something elegant but daring."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Daring how?" the dressmaker's confusion persisted./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Well, it has to be alluring but still professional?" Ty Lee explained./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"The poor woman's confusion descended into befuddlement./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Katara pinched the bridge of her nose, "Ty, just tell her."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Really!"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Yes, really."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Ty Lee turned back to the dressmaker grinning from ear to ear, "Tara here needs a dress for the ball in a few weeks."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"The woman nodded as she began to understand./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""But there's this one thing." Ty Lee brought the tip of her index finger to her chin, "Well it's more of a person."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Ty" Katara warned./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Ty Lee sighed, and jerked her thumb at her very hopeless friend, "She, is going as an ambassador to the Fire Nation and needs something to wear to the ball."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"The dressmaker looked over at Katara, "I'm sure we have something to suit you, my dear, we specialize in formal gowns-"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""But there's more," Ty Lee interrupted, "she's trying to catch a certain gentleman's eye if you know what I'm saying."br /Ty Lee winked at the dressmaker./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Oh … OH!." the dressmaker's surprise quickly changed to understanding, before settling on a knowing look that made Katara squirm./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Katara wished Toph was around so she could have the ground swallow her up and save her from the embarrassment./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Letting go of Ty Lee's hands the dressmaker strode toward Katara sizing her up. Anita, gently took her by the chin, tilting her head from side to side examining her features./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Hmm …" Taking a step back she made a twirling motion with her finger prompting Katara to turn in an awkward circle./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Anita lit up, "I have just the thing, follow me."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"The pair of friends barely kept up with the dressmaker's march to the back of the shop./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I made this about six months ago but it hasn't found the right person."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Ty Lee and Katara glanced at each other./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Found the right person?" Ty Lee asked./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Yes. Many think that the dress makes the woman but after years as a seamstress I can assure you, it's the woman that makes the dress." Anita came to a halt in front of a shelf filled with boxes, "Where did it get to?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Anita traced a line along a row of carefully labeled boxes before pausing on one in particular, "Aha! Here it is." she pulled the box and thrust it into Katara's hands, "I think this is what you are looking for."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"TyLee materialized beside her, "Open it! Open it!" she bounced./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Katara carefully lifted the wooden lid to reveal sumptuous layers of deep blue and stormy grey, heavy with winking gems and gleaming pearls./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Oh wow." Ty Lee breathed beside her, "You have to try it on."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Katara shook her head and gave an exasperated smile, she wasn't going to win this one. She lifted the box and let Anita guide her behind a curtain. Under the seamstress' skilled hands, Katara was dressed in the decadent gown in mere minutes./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Anita slipped away and left Katara to slide back the curtain, revealing the dress and Ty Lee's eyes widened, "Agni Katara."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Her friend's reaction confirmed it, she was right, this had been the one./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"The Kyoshi warrior smiled mischievously. "If Suki and your brother ever break up, I'm going to have to get me one of those."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Katara rolled her eyes, "I'm sure Mai would love to hear her girlfriend is still pining after my brother."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Oh she knows, she has a knife with his name on it." Ty Lee stood and gave her shoulder a nudge, "She has one with Aang's name on it too, you just have to say yes."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Katara sighed, "As tempting as it may be, we just got done with one war, let's try not to start another just because of my ex?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""You know, I really thought you and Zu-zu would have gotten together after his coronation. You did save each other's lives you know."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Katara shrugged, "I didn't Ty, he had his destiny and I thought I had mine. Besides he had Mai and I had Aang."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""That's true, but your auras were always this bright, really pretty teal when you two were together, even now it's like that."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Really?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Of course," Ty Lee wrapped her up in a hug, "This is the brightest I've seen yours in years."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Katara pulled back from her and fixed her friend with a perplexed look, to which Ty Lee gave a sad sigh./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""After Zu-zu's coronation, your aura was really bright, and everything seemed great. Then it began to dim and it would get more drab and grey every time I saw you but you always seemed so happy - Mai-Mai's is always grey even when she's happy - so I thought that maybe I was wrong." Ty Lee's usually happy demeanor wilted under the weight of her guilt, "Now, I wish I said something."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Katara rested a hand on her friend's shoulder "Ty, you didn't know, spirits, even I didn't see it."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Ty Lee with a sad smile gave her a nod./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Anita returned to the pair and clapped her hands together, "So, are you going to take it?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Yes, she is." Ty Lee's demeanor took a one-eighty and she beamed answering for Katara./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Within a few minutes, she was back in her usual tunic and up at Anita's worktable counting out several gold and silver coins./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""My dear, a bit of advice, if you're looking for daring," Anita - much like Ty Lee earlier - looked up from her till with a mischievous gleam in her eye, "maybe leave the sarashi off when you wear that dress."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Anita winked and Katara blushed so fiercely her cheeks burned. For once she was glad that Ty Lee tended to wander off./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Anita slid the package across the counter with a reassuring smile, "Good luck my dear, not that you need it. You'll knock his socks off, I know it."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Katara nodded and collected her box from the counter hoping Anita would be right. Now that same box stood open before her waiting to find out just how daring she could be. Rising from her seat on the mattress, she discarded her robe and lifted the gown from its box. Without Anita's help, getting into the dress would take a fair bit longer, pulling it over her head, she was careful to not let the embroidery snag on her hair and muss Ayumi's hard work. The silken fabric slipped down her skin like water, clinging in all the right places. With a little twisting, turning, and a bit of awkward contorting for the lacing, Katara finally got the dress on. Next was jewelry starting with a long pair of beaded, ombré, fringe earrings that flowed from a rich cobalt blue to shimmering gold. A rope of sky-blue jade beads wound itself around her left wrist and a gold spiral armlet gleamed on her left arm, her mother's necklace, ever-present, sat at her throat./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Taking a few moments to smooth her hands down her skirt, she finally braved a look in the mirror and what she found did not disappoint. The sleeveless sheath gown had a corset bodice, wrapped in cobalt silk that hugged her every curve. Embroidered gold thread and seed pearls wound their way across her bust and down her sides before flaring out from her hips into the full-length skirt. More glimmering gold and creamy pearls traced their way up the edges of two slightly less than modest thigh-high slits that, with every step, gave enticing winks of her mocha skin. A floor-length cape sewn of storm cloud grey organza hung from the tops of her shoulders. It formed a deep 'U' that framed the corset's open back lacing. The gossamer fabric shone with swirling currents of embroidered glass and more pearl beads. A giddy smile broke out on her lips as she gave a small twirl, letting the blue and silver fabric fan out around her. The dress was beautiful./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"span style="font-style: oblique;"You are beautiful./span/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"She spoke the small affirmation as a reminder to herself. With the way she held her own in the council chambers no one suspected that her battered and shored-up confidence was still healing after being at the mercy of Aang's acolytes for years./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"With every piece in place, she couldn't stall much more, it was time to go. Taking a deep breath and a final glance at the sarashi draped on her chair, she shut the door behind her./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"It was time to attend the ball./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Katara took her time winding her way through the deserted halls. Being the only diplomat housed in the royal family wing did have its perks. It had afforded her much privacy in the last few weeks while curiosity stirred whispers wondering about the distance between the Avatar and his fiancé. The title change, from the Avatar's betrothed to Master Katara of the Southern Water Tribe, had spurred murmurs and rumors among those attending the summit but nothing had been announced and nothing had been confirmed, letting her take shelter under the excuse of diplomatic professionalism./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"But tonight that was all about to change./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Very soon the cat-owl would be out of the bag but thankfully she wouldn't be alone. Sokka, Suki, Toph, and Ty Lee had become very proficient at steering conversations and running interference in the last few weeks and tonight would be no different./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Master Katara!"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Katara turned at the sound of her name, her eyes landing on a familiar face./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""General!" she took a few hurried steps and Iroh met her in the middle of the quiet corridor to fold her into a warm hug./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Hello, my dear." Iroh pulled back and gave her a mockingly stern look, "How many times do I have to tell you? Call me uncle, you're family and will always have a home here."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Katara chuckled, "Yes, Uncle."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Much better. Now let me have a look at you."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Katara took a step back and gave a slow spin./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Oh my, you look stunning, sure to turn more than a few heads." he gave her a playful wink./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Katara responded with a bow and a bright smile, "Thank you, Uncle, you look quite handsome yourself."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Iroh stood proudly, the deep reds, black trim, and intricate gold inlays of his dress armor gleamed from what must have been a recent polish, the white lotus etched on the inside of his bracer did not escape her notice. It was strange how much she had changed, those colors once upon a time wrought fear in her, but now - especially after the last few weeks - they brought her a sense of pride. It had been no small undertaking, but together they had united the nations and brought about a lasting peace./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Iroh interrupted her thoughts, "You are much too kind dear, are you on your way to the ballroom as well?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Yes, though I think I'm running a bit behind."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Nonsense, at gatherings such as these, one should be fashionably late." Iroh held out his hand, "Now then, will you give this old man the pleasure of escorting such a radiant beauty to the ball?"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Katara grinned while taking his hand, Iroh had earned the reputation of a charmer among the ladies of the staff and she was beginning to understand why "Of course Uncle."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"The pair chatted about tea and family along their amble to the ballroom. Katara was glad for the company, Iroh's chatter about the Jasmine Dragon, Kiyi, and Zuko helped take the edge off of what awaited her. Even with the small talk and leisurely pace, the walk to the royal green room was much too short, and within a few minutes, they were ushered through the door and down a narrow hall. The pair quickly found themselves standing behind a thick brocade curtain heavy with gold detailing./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Are you ready General Iroh? ?" the crier asked politely./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Iroh looked pointedly at the crier before bowing deeply to her, "Master Katara of the Southern Water Tribe, ambassador to the Fire Nation," Iroh stood up straight and looked her in the eye, "It has been an honor working with you in the last few weeks. It will bring me and others much heartache to watch you go."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Dropping the formality he pulled her in for one last hug, "I am so proud of you my dear, you have done so much for the nations in the past few years," he let her go, giving her a last once over, "but most importantly, you have done what is right for you. That is not always easy and requires more bravery than one might think. Don't forget that."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Katara's eyes blurred with his words, willing away the threatening tears she gave a bow in return, "Thank you, Uncle."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"With one last reassuring nod he turned to the crier who pulled aside the curtain, "Now I'm ready."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"In a voice much too large for such a lanky body the young man announced him, "May I present, General Iroh, Dragon of the West!"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Iroh stepped forward and the curtain dropped closed behind him leaving Katara on her own. For weeks she knew that this moment would be something she would have to do on her own, but that did nothing to make it any easier or any less daunting./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Her break from Aang may have brought about a slow sense of relief but it still hurt, even now she sometimes mourned the future that he had constructed in her head. The one where they married, bore children, and lived happily ever after, teaching their little ones the harmony in their mixed heritage. Just like in those story scrolls she had snuck from the Ba Sing Se library. She remembered how she quietly tempered her excitement for each new step that would bring them closer to that happily ever after but time quickly taught her another lesson. That her crafted fantasy future was foolish and naïve, then again so is anything a lovestruck fourteen-year-old manages to dream up./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Katara knew this, but that fourteen-year-old girl still lived in her and had found it perfect, and that part of her had clung to it, even now but time's bitter lesson was one she would hold dear. The passing years had taught her that simply loving someone was not enough and that loving only parts of someone was doing them an injustice. That night Katara had tucked this painful bit of teaching close to her soul because her broken heart could take no more, and left, because the time was right, she deserved to be loved as a whole./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"She reminded herself of that one more time as the thick curtain was pulled back and the crier beside drew a breath./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""May I present, Master Katara of the Southern Water Tribe ambassador to the Fire Nation!"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"The rabbit-fox had finally slipped the trap, and with all eyes on her, Katara stepped into the ballroom./p