"Earth!" The ground beneath Usagi buckled and curved, forming an enormous stone crescent, clumps of grass and flowers still clinging to it. She sniffed at a violet before returning the earth to its original flat shape, saving a single tablet.
"Fire!" Usagi aimed a thin ray of heat at the tablet, carving a line in the stone that curved and twisted. She controlled the fire masterfully, never allowing a single ember to leap away from her, and although she was terrible at drawing, if a passerby squinted hard enough, they could almost make out a rabbit with antlers smoldering on the rocky surface.
"Water!" The dew in the grass shot up, becoming gossamer-thin needles. She fired the needles into her crude drawing, spreading the water until it filled the carving. She froze the water and stood back to admire it as the Pronged Hare glinted in the sunlight.
"Air!" Loose stalks of grass erupted and twirled. The petals from a hundred flowers weaved into the emerald whirlwind, spinning and cascading until Usagi fit them gracefully on the tablet, decorating her artwork. A few stray flowers found their way to her hair as it unraveled, wove, twisted, and coiled around, forming her trademark pigtails. She then grinned and pumped her fist in victory.
"Yesss! Back at full power, baby!"
AVATAR
The Celestial Sailors
BOOK THREE: DEATH
19: The King's Ball
It was a lovely day, though a bit hot. Usagi and Rei were meditating on blankets while Ami was boiling tea. Luna was off chasing grasshoppers, and everyone was generally enjoying the peace—while it lasted. The kettle began to whistle, so Ami took it off its stand and poured three cups. As she was sipping hers, she looked up and noticed something large hovering in the sky. She let out an exclamation and stood, breaking Rei and Usagi out of their trance. The three girls smiled as they watched Artemis descending, bearing the other two members of their close-knit team. Makoto grinned as she drew Usagi and Rei in for a hug; Minako was, oddly enough, more reserved as she embraced Ami.
"You are a sight for sore eyes, you know that?" she whispered, as she stared into the other girl's eyes. Ami beamed with love, touching their noses and foreheads together. Eventually they realized they were being watched, and broke away. Minako cleared her throat. "Um, so Ami and I are a thing now, just so you all know."
"We kinda figured," Usagi said. She and Rei both smiled. "Congrats on that, by the way."
"Yeah..." Minako blushed and looked away timidly; Ami just folded her hands, smiling as she stared down at the grass. Realizing their numbers had swelled a little, she offered everyone tea, but they only had three cups, so some would have to share. Minako cheered up a little and happily drank from Ami's; Makoto simply declined.
"I guess you all want an update on Mishkin," she said.
"Yes, how did that go?" Rei said. Makoto gestured to Minako, who just shrugged glumly. She didn't want to ruin the nice day they were having with the news, so they found a room inside the clinic Usagi had been staying in and got caught up. Mishkin's sentence of exile wasn't terribly surprising, given the Nomads' stance on capital punishment, though Usagi did wonder how Hotaru would take all this. Her own discovery was far more jarring. Minako wanted to prod her more about the previous Avatars she had met, but all Usagi could think about was the hostile takeover of the Spirit World by the Lightbringers, and how she was "outside the cycle". It was clear that the four Guardian Kings knew about it, and while they had their reasons for not revealing anything during Usagi's last encounter with them, things were different now. She and Rei had been meditating on the matter, trying to find the four Lion-Turtles so they could get some answers. They hadn't come up with anything yet, but Rei was still optimistic.
"After all," she said, "the first time Usagi met them, they contacted her. There's no reason they can't do that again."
"I just don't know why they haven't done it already," Usagi added. She looked at Rei, confused and anxious, then at her friends. "It's not like we can put this off much longer. Things are getting crazy."
"Tell me about it," Makoto nodded. "I overheard some people thinking that the world was coming to an end. It...kind of makes me feel a little scared." She shuddered, and the others couldn't blame her. Luna jumped up on the table, and Makoto attempted to smile as she petted the cat.
"So what's the plan now?" Minako asked Ami. They had been holding hands the entire time.
"Continue to search for the Guardian Kings. I sent messenger-hawks to all our friends: Mamoru, Motoki, my mother, your father, the Fire Lord... I even sent letters to Suen and Ma-Ti. I asked them to give us any information they had."
"Do you think Setsuna would know anything about it?" Minako wondered. She then gave a start and slammed her palms on the table in excitement, scaring Luna and rattling their teacups. "Hey! Do you think Haruka and, uh, uh, what's-her-name might know anything ab—"
"Michiru," Ami provided.
"Right, right, Michiru! Do you think they might know something?!"
"They definitely know more than they let on," Rei muttered, crossing her arms, "but I'm not sure how we'd get in touch with them. Setsuna's as evasive as a dream, and I doubt Haruka and Michiru would even give us the time of day."
"Oh, don't be so distrustful!" Minako scoffed, waving at Rei dismissively. "Haruka's cool, I promise! Makoto can vouch for her, right?" Their resident Queen and wood-bender blushed, almost spitting out her tea.
"Uh, sure, I suppose," she muttered.
"And Ami can vouch for Michiru!" Minako exclaimed, leveling a finger at her girlfriend. Ami just tittered nervously. "And I will vouch for Setsuna," she continued, pounding her chest proudly, "because she's cool and gorgeous and sweet and has always been there for us when we needed her and there's no reason she'd ever leave us low and wet!"
"That's high and dry," Rei snarled quietly. She softened and attempted to smile. "Well, it looks like you've got that old air-bender spunk back, at least. We can't have you going melancholy on us." Minako gave her an encouraging smile (as Makoto and Ami calmed Luna down and mopped up all the spilled tea) and sat down. A knock came at the door to their room; one of the nurses stood there with a sealed scroll in his hand.
"Excuse me, but I've got a messenger-hawk letter addressed to the Avatar." Usagi took it and thanked him, broke the seal, and unfurled the scroll. After a few seconds, her face lit up in glee.
"What is it?" Makoto asked. Usagi hugged the letter tightly.
"It's an invitation to Mamoru's birthday party! There's going to be a ball! Ooooh, this is so exciting! I've got some all-new dance moves that I can't wait to bust out! Oh, heck, what am I gonna wear?! I only have two dresses and he's already seen me in both of them!"
The others stared at each other incredulously. Leave it to Usagi to worry about fashion when the world was on the verge of destruction.
…...
Even though Mamoru stood next to her, and she was surrounded by friends, fans, and well-wishers, Usagi felt horribly isolated. The last time she went to a royal ball, it had been an enchanting evening where she had danced the night away with (and occasionally on) Mamoru. Even then, a small part of her conscience had tugged at her, telling her that this might be in bad taste. Now, a year and more later, she felt that same tug, but so pronounced and persistent that she couldn't enjoy herself. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that she wasn't actually dancing. Maybe she felt the world really was coming to an end. Maybe she felt awkward because there were mostly strangers here, the hoi polloi of Ba Sing Se, whom she felt cut away from even at the best of times. Maybe it had something to do with that woman who tried to throw her wine in Usagi's face, accusing her of killing Beryl and usurping her throne (luckily she could bend wine just as easily as water, and suffered no indignity). Whatever the reason, despite this being one of the few chances she had to be with Mamoru, Usagi just didn't have the heart.
"You okay, dumpling?" she heard Mamoru call. He glanced over at her, looking positively wonderful in his evening clothes; he even wore a little white mask, which she would've found alluring under any other circumstance. Usagi tried to brush his (and her) concerns away, but it was a feeble effort. He put a hand on her shoulder and smiled.
"I feel the exact same way, but we've got to try and enjoy ourselves. Don't let what that woman said get to you."
"It's not just that," she said, a nervous twinge in her voice. "I wish it was just that. I can deal with that. It's...everything. What's happening in our world, what's happening in the Spirit World, my own identity and purpose, all the secrets that're being kept from me..."
"Oh, Usagi," Mamoru said, unable to hold back the soft laughter, "you've stepped too far back and now you're overwhelmed. Take a moment and focus on only one thing at a time. That's how I've been able to handle my responsibilities. Tell me, where are we right now?" She hesitated.
"At your birthday ball."
"And how long will that last?"
"Until tomorrow."
"Then that's all you need to worry about. Tomorrow has tomorrow's problems." She grinned morosely.
"Isn't that a little irresponsible?"
"I don't see it that way," he answered. He gave her another warm smile. "I see it as carrying a more reasonable load. Why bother with something that hasn't come up yet? Come on, let's..." He was about to ask her to dance, when she gave a start and waved at someone. Thinking that Motoki was swooping in to steal her away for the night, Mamoru prepared a sly smirk and turned around, only to give a start himself. An androgynous blonde person in a white tuxedo, nearly as tall as he was, walked arm in arm with a gorgeous lady in an aquamarine dress. He didn't recognize them, but Usagi seemed to.
"Oh, hey, you're here," she stated, clearly surprised.
"Yeah, we heard there was a party going on and decided to drop by," the blonde said.
"I hope we're not intruding too much," the aquamarine lady said. Usagi chuckled; Mamoru bowed tentatively.
"Ah, good evening. I beg your pardon, but I don't recall inviting either of you."
"Oh, you didn't," the blonde said. She jerked her thumb behind her and added, "She did." Mamoru looked over and gave another start; Usagi grinned and let out a happy squeal. Approaching them, dressed in green and red and black, long emerald hair swinging like a pendulum, was Setsuna.
"Hello, your highness. Hello, Avatar. It's good to see the two of you again."
"And you as well, my lady," Mamoru said, offering a kingly bow. Setsuna curtsied.
"Please forgive the imposition I placed upon you. I've been traveling with these two for some time; our fates have become inextricably linked. I heard about your party and decided it was the perfect opportunity to contact you. It was my wish for them to accompany me, so I would beg your indulgence on the matter."
"As you wish," Mamoru said. "If the lady Setsuna vouches for them, then they are welcome. Might I have your names, please?" Haruka and Michiru introduced themselves. The music changed to a slow dance number, but before Mamoru could ask Usagi, Haruka stepped in.
"You don't mind, I hope?" Mamoru looked between them. Usagi just blushed.
"It's not up to me." Haruka focused on Usagi, piercing through her defenses with a gaze.
"Then I hope you don't mind." Her blush intensified.
"Uh, n-no." Haruka led Usagi to the floor with all the grace of a summer breeze; meanwhile, Michiru approached the king.
"Might I have this dance in her place?"
"Milady, I would be honored." They went off dancing, leaving Setsuna alone. She chuckled wistfully to herself.
"Ah, how nostalgic. I suppose I ought to find—" At that exact moment, Minako Aino came skidding into view, thrusting her finger into the air like a fencing saber.
"Setsuna!" she shouted, delirious joy spread across her face. Setsuna blinked. "I challenge you to a dance-off!" Setsuna giggled.
"Serendipity, you've done it again..."
Usagi was still blushing as Haruka put a hand on her hip, and asked her to do the same. She warned Haruka (nervously, smiling, enraptured) that she wasn't a good dancer, but Haruka told her to relax, just move, and with a wink, added that she'd take care of it. Usagi surrendered and began to sway. Haruka slowly taught her how to move her feet in time with the music, how to lead and follow, how to twirl, to weave, to gracefully slide. Don't think about success or failure. Just do.
Usagi still accidentally stepped on her foot a few times, but Haruka bore it. Luckily she wasn't wearing heels.
"Sorry," she cringed, positive she had broken bone with that last misstep. Haruka winced, but played it off coolly.
"You're getting better. Soon people won't just want to dance with you because you're the Avatar, or because you're beautiful: they'll dance because you're a great dancer."
"You really think I'm beautiful?" she whispered, grinning absurdly. Haruka chuckled, placing a hand on Usagi's cheek. She winked and the rest of the world was dead to her.
"I do indeed."
They danced together for a little while longer. Haruka's charms hardened.
"So how's the career, dumpling?" Usagi blinked.
"Huh? What? Career? Oh, uh, the, uh, Avatar thing, yeah. Um, it...could be better."
"Tell me about it." The world spun. Around and around and around. Perspiration glistened on bare skin. They drew close, each reflecting in the other's eyes.
"I don't even know where to begin."
"Your friend the Wildflower—I mean, umm, the brunette with the ponytail..."
"Makoto."
"Right, Makoto."
"Queen Makoto," Usagi emphasized. Haruka looked genuinely impressed.
"Well, my compliments and congratulations. She's not married to Endymion, is she?"
"Motoki," Usagi chuckled. Haruka nodded.
"Ah. Well, she asked me to keep an eye on a certain Sifu who had betrayed his order. Any news on that?" Usagi's expression darkened. She told Haruka what Makoto had told her...and then mentioned Hotaru. Haruka instantly stiffened as her face turned grim.
"A Death-Bender," she hissed, squeezing Usagi's hand and hip harder. Usagi didn't notice.
"But she's not a bad person. I mean...she's not...bad or anything. I think."
"You think?" Usagi looked away. Her dancing had slowed considerably.
"We talked for a bit. We disagreed on a lot of things, but...she promised she wouldn't kill anyone again."
"Kill anyone like who? Sifu Mishkin?" Usagi said nothing. Haruka relaxed a little. "Well, then maybe she isn't so terrible. All the same, she sounds dangerous and unpredictable, which is always a bad combination. But if you got through to her..." She fully softened and assumed her previous charm, even offering a wink. "Well, I may have sorely underestimated you."
"I didn't do anything that special," Usagi muttered humbly. "I just talked to her, is all."
"Must've been some conversation. Is there anything else I need to know about?" There were the Lightbringers, the ghouls, and the wayward spirits, which Haruka was familiar with, so the only thing left was...
The Spirit World. Unfortunately, the song ended. Michiru tapped Haruka on the back.
"Pardon me. May I cut in?" Haruka grinned.
"Which one do you want?" Usagi stammered, looking between the two women. Michiru freed Usagi from her obligations and glided onto the dance floor with Haruka as if she were skating on ice. The two couldn't have been better paired if Fate itself had decreed it.
"And how was the King?" Haruka asked her.
"A very good dancer."
"And his...conversation skills?"
"Equally impressive. It would seem his trust in Setsuna only goes so far, though. He wouldn't indulge me beyond pleasantries."
"Ah, so you've met your match in verbal sparring." Michiru glared playfully.
"Oh, you...! I take it our friendly neighborhood Avatar had a few things on her mind?"
"Yeah."
They continued dancing in silence. The weight of the world seemed to be on Haruka's shoulders. Michiru drew closer to place some of it on hers.
"Such as?" she whispered. Haruka just said, A Death-Bender, her eyes coldly expressing volumes. Michiru paled, and their dancing slowed. She heard a bitter laugh from her partner.
"They're apparently good friends, our bun-head and this angel of death. She's got them on a leash now. 'No more killing', she said."
"I wonder what that portends," Michiru muttered. Haruka shook her head.
"Who knows. I'd like to prod a little deeper."
"I'm sure you would," she muttered. Now it was Haruka's turn to blush. Michiru just giggled. "You know I'm just teasing you."
"Are you, now?"
"It's not my mind that's in the gutter."
"Really. Could've fooled me."
"Just admit that you're in love with her, Haruka."
"Make me." The two glared at each other for a moment before snickering. They honestly couldn't remember the last time they had enjoyed themselves so unreservedly. The music ended and they drew apart slightly. It was only then that Haruka and Michiru noticed just how many people had stopped to watch them. A line of men and women were already begging for a dance.
"Oh my, it seems we have some fans," Michiru observed. Haruka scratched her head.
"Sheesh! Where's Wildflower and her indestructible dancing feet when you need them?" It wasn't Makoto but Setsuna who saved her instead, approaching with Minako clinging onto her arm.
"Hello again, my friends. How does this evening find you?"
"Very...pleasantly, I'd say," Michiru said, choosing to answer vaguely.
"It's certainly been an interesting night," Haruka chimed in. Setsuna smiled coldly.
"That's good to hear. His highness the King has graciously allowed us the use of a small private room for our purposes. If you would follow me, ah..." She looked down at Minako, still giddily smiling away. "If you would follow us, that is..."
"Oh? Is Sunshine coming with us?"
"That's Thunderbird of Love and Justice!" Minako exclaimed, thrusting her finger at Haruka. She withdrew just as quickly and grinned. "Buuuuuuut 'Sunshine' is just as good!" Michiru giggled, and even Setsuna laughed softly.
"Yes...this concerns all of us. Every single one."
…...
When Usagi finished explaining what she had witnessed in the Spirit World, everyone sat in contemplative silence, clearly shaken. Minako was no longer clinging to Setsuna; Haruka and Michiru looked pensive; Rei frowned and furrowed her brow while Ami looked around, curious how everyone else felt. Motoki, Makoto, and Unazuki sat together, the king and queen holding hands while the princess stared hard at the table. Mamoru rubbed his face.
"So we need to locate the four Lion-Turtles again," he stated, cutting to the quick.
"Seems so," Rei said. "But we're as likely to find them as...whatever is causing all of this."
"You'd think finding something that big would be easy," Makoto noted, "let alone four of them."
"The Guardian Kings are notoriously good at concealing themselves," Setsuna said. "Ages ago, their kind was nearly hunted to extinction. Since then, they've adapted to seclusion rather well. I do not believe we would be able to contact them unless they wanted us to."
"But I really don't wanna sit around waiting for them to call on me," Usagi sighed.
"I understand," Setsuna said, "but there's little we can do about it. For now we must maintain peace where we can, and stem back the tide where we cannot."
"I don't suppose we'd have any better luck tracking down the Death..." Rei caught herself, looking to Usagi, who leaned in attentively. She smiled faintly. "I mean, tracking down Hotaru. As long a she stays herself from killing people, she'll be nearly impossible to find."
"So much the better if you ask me," Haruka muttered. "We've got enough to worry about."
"She said she was going to extinguish the light..." Everyone looked at Ami, who had muttered thoughtfully to herself. She noticed their gaze and flinched. "U-umm, I mean, Usagi said as much, in so many words, a-a-and, ah, d-don't you all think it's strange that we've...um, well, become inundated with these, uh...these..."
"The Sentinels of Light," Princess Unazuki said. She focused on the group, laying her hands on the table somewhat forcefully. "It can't be a coincidence."
"So you think Hotaru's out fighting the Lightbringers?"
"That...or whatever is creating them." A silence, appropriately, fell over the group. Usagi thought back to the face she had seen as she transitioned from the spirit world to her own, but said nothing.
"Then she's on our side," Makoto offered. Haruka just frowned.
"Would you want someone calling themselves a Death-Bender on your side?"
"Normally, no. But what we're experiencing isn't exactly normal, is it?" Haruka shrugged, vaguely conceding the point.
"This isn't getting us anywhere," Michiru said impatiently. "I agree with Setsuna: we should just bide our time and try to maintain order. You said you've sent messenger-hawks to all your friends. That's likely going to be our best source of information. In the meantime, maybe a little more clarity and cooperation is required. Matters are becoming too large for one group to handle."
"Wait, so are you saying that you and Haruka are joining us?" Rei said. Michiru smiled.
"For the time being, at least until we have some solid answers. And don't forget Setsuna."
"Oh, she's already a member of Team Avatar!" Minako exclaimed, clinging to her again. Both Ami and the resident Time-Bender chuckled weakly. Mamoru smiled and stood, prompting the others to stand as well.
"Very well. From now on, the eleven of us will work together to find the Lion-Turtles, maintain order, suppress the Lightbringers if need be, locate Hotaru Tomoe, and...well...make sure we all live through it safely and happily." The group smiled politely, and without anything further to add, he opened the door and escorted them back to the ballroom. Ail and Ann were waiting for him, assuming their human forms; Mamoru asked that they reveal themselves, and introduced them.
"I am honored," Motoki said, bowing to them. "I am King Motoki Furuhata of Omashu. You are the second and third Fomoriians I have had the pleasure to meet. If Mamoru trusts you, then I am at your service."
"Ditto for me," Makoto saluted. She winked and added, "Hi, Queen Makoto of Omashu. Charmed."
"Princess Unazuki Furuhata, her devoted sister-in-law and master of Omashu whenever my brother doesn't feel like it!"
"Minako Aino, Thunderbird of the west! Put er' there!"
"Rei Hino, priestess of the Hikawa fire temple. I love your hair!"
"Ami Mizuno, of the Northern Water tribe. I hope we can all be friends."
"Usagi Tsukino: lover of hot baths, long afternoon naps, good food, dancing, and a certain earth-bending King!" Ail and Ann were nearly in tears; they had never been so eagerly accepted by so many people before. They apologized for their emotional state, as they hadn't been prepared for such a reception. They had only stopped by to tell Mamoru that a play was being put on in his honor.
"Ah, is that so?" he replied, a sly expression on his face. "The last time I went to a play for someone's birthday, I was forced to cut my entertainment short. This time, I plan on fully indulging myself. Is it another production of The Avenging Shadow?"
"Why, yes," Ail said, a little surprised that he should know that.
"Then we shouldn't keep the performers waiting. My friends, my guests, my dearest Usagi, it would give me great pleasure if you would join me." He suddenly looked at Ail and Ann, nodding respectfully. "You're welcome to join us as well." Ann's eyes bubbled with tears of joy. She didn't bother wiping them away, so they streamed down her face.
"Ah...thank you, my king! W-we'll be joining you shortly." The group walked away; Usagi tugged at Mamoru's elbow once they were out of earshot.
"So are they friends, lovers, brother and sister...? All the above?" He stiffened; everyone else just groaned.
"I don't know and it's not my business to find out."
"You know, Mamoru," Rei grumbled, "if you would just kiss her more often, she wouldn't get a chance to put her foot in her mouth."
"Yeah!" Usagi chimed in, slapping him gently on the shoulder. "How dare you force me to embarrass myself like that! You really need to be more proactive!"
"Yes, bun-head," he muttered, unable to keep from smiling.
…...
Naru had turned around to chat with Princess Unazuki only for a few minutes when she noticed that Gurio was missing. At first she thought little of it, since it was so crowded in the ballroom, and figured he'd just be hovering over the snack tray or mingling with the other guests. Then she remembered that Gurio really didn't mingle, and he was allergic to at least half the food, and he probably wasn't on the dance floor, either. She didn't become truly concerned until it came time for the King's entertainment, and knowing that he'd never forgive himself if he missed a performance, she went looking for him.
Nobody had seen him in the ballroom, and he wasn't in the bathroom either (though the attendants were very helpful). Only a small portion of the palace was set aside for the ball, and since none of the guards had seen him, he couldn't have gotten far. She decided to check a few empty rooms (excusing herself as she stumbled into a few "private conversations") and made her way to the theater. Perhaps he had simply made his way there already—without telling her. He was still nowhere to be found. One of the dressing rooms, perhaps? Not entirely out of the question, as Gurio could've lost his glasses and wandered in by mistake. She knocked politely and slipped inside.
"Excuse me, I'm looking for my boyfriend. He's got large swirly glasses, frizzy hair—GAAH!"
"WAAH!" She covered her eyes, horrified to have run into someone while they were undressing. Her humiliation turned to astonishment as she recognized the person to be Gurio—and then astonishment turned to bewilderment.
He was partially wearing an Avenging Shadow costume. As in, the one the character wore.
"Naru!" he exclaimed, halfway between man and myth. He stammered, sputtering, unable to form cohesive thought. Naru blushed, gawking.
"What are you doing?" she demanded. Eventually he calmed down and let out a heavy sigh.
"Okay, you figured it out: I'm the Avenging Shadow."
The end of "The King's Ball"
Next time: "Happiness is Fleeting"