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RonaldM40196867: I doubt it. This show, with the Earth Avatar after Korra, would have been their chance to do something like that, but instead they've gone post-apocalyptic with it. So I don't think we'll see anything modern, or even '60s, '70s or '80s inspired.

As Always, Please Review!

The backstage area was full of joy as the group streamed off the stage, the applause of their Air Nomad audience still ringing in their ears. The stage manager, Teruo, was waiting for them holding a bottle of something alcoholic.

"We did it!" Fumika announced, jumping up and down with happiness. The others joined in, even Mai and Zuko getting involved. They had done it. The Chida Polytechnid Drama Society had put on the show of their lives, with only a few minor hiccups, and Zuko and Mai had helped them without being caught. So far, at least.

Mai grabbed Zuko and swung him around until they were holding each other, nose to nose. Their argument at last seemed forgotten. Zuko was certainly in no rush to bring it up again. She was even smiling.

"I..." she began. "I don't hate you."

"I don't hate you too," Zuko smirked, wondering where this was coming from. With that, Mai leaned in and kissed him, to a loud cheer from the rest of the group.

The door swung open, and they split apart hurriedly as Tsering, the Air Nomad who had initially hired them for this, came in, a big grin on his face.

"I knew you could do this!" He told them happily. "It is a triumph. They love you!"

"What did the Earth King think?" Chikao asked anxiously.

"I didn't see his reaction," Tsering admitted. "But I can't imagine him not liking it."

He produced a bag and placed it down on the table.

"Your payment, as we discussed. Don't spend it all at once."

"We'll try not to," Riku rumbled.

"Will we?" Fumika quipped in response.

"Maybe most of it."

"What's going to happen with the conference now?" Zuko asked.

Tsering frowned.

"I think we're about ready to vote now," he said "I don't think it will last too much longer. But that's an Air Nomad issue. I don't think you necessarily need to worry about it."

Zuko did think he needed to worry about it, because what the Air Nomads decided might well have direct consequences on the outcome of the war, but he said nothing. He only nodded.

"Thank you, again," Tsering told them, stepping back towards the entrance. "Now, I'll leave you to celebrate, shall I?"

They waved him off, and he turned and left.

"Now," Mai whispered in Zuko's ear. "Where were we?"

A loud horn-blast stopped them from going in for another kiss.

"Ow!" Zuko complained. "Why would you... do... that."

He trailed off at the sight of the well-dressed Royal Herald standing in front of them, holding a horn in one hand. He bowed to them.

"His Majesty offers his sincere congratulations for your performance," the man said, pompously, "and wishes for an audience with you."

"An audience? He actually wants to meet us?" Chikao asked.

"It would appear that he does," the herald nodded slightly. "Let me take you to him."

With that, he ducked out of the room.

Zuko looked at Mai. Had they been rumbled? No, they couldn't have been. The Earth King had never seen his face, had he? Zuko had only been on stage during the blackouts between scenes. But the rest were streaming after him, and so they had little choice but to follow.

Chomden was the last out of the door. She stopped to look at them.

"Are you alright?" She asked. "You suddenly seem worried."

"We're fine," Mai told her, smiling. "We're right behind you."

The group were led down a corridor decorated with an ornate tapestry, then down another one full of statues, and then a third, where they stopped in front of a door. The herald pushed it open, and was greeted by two stern-looking armed guards.

They stood aside, and the actors were ushered into the room.

The first thing Zuko spotted was the Royal couple themselves. Kuei and Dongmei sat in thrones in the centre of the room, their entourages spread out around them along with guards. At their approach, Kuei nodded, and the group prostrated themselves in front of him.

"I trust my congratulations have already been passed on?" He asked.

"They have," Chikao said, slightly in awe, as they picked themselves up off the floor.

"Very good," Kuei said, satisfied.

"We did so enjoy it," Dongmei added. She had a soft voice, and spoke quietly, so Zuko had to concentrate to make out what she was saying. "We found it awfully sweet and romantic."

The group stammered out their thanks. Kuei waited for them to finish, and then held out his hands. A scroll was passed to him, and he stood up and approached them.

"But that's not why I asked to see you," he said. "I have a proposal for you. I wish to... commission you."

"Commission?"

Zuko's head swam. They were really going up in the world if the Earth King himself was offering them work.

"We accept!" Fumika said quickly, before anyone else could speak.

"We don't know what it is yet!" Sachiko reminded her.

"It's very simple," Kuei told them, offering them the scroll. "Ever since the start of this terrible war, one of the only pieces of good news we have had the pleasure of hearing was the exploits of Avatar Yue."

Zuko was probably more familiar with this than anyone else in the room knew, but he kept his mouth shut and tried to skulk at the back of the group with Mai, while also not being too obvious in his skulking, which would ironically have drawn attention to him.

"So I would have you turn that story into a play for me," Kuei said. "A rousing, heroic tale to inspire the people during these dark times."

"I think we can do that," Makio told him, bowing. Teruo was already making notes, Zuko noticed.

"You'll have to research, I imagine," Kuei said. "But there will be plenty of people who have met her, a lot of Air Nomads who are in the city at the moment, apart from anything else. I don't think it will be hard. And stories abound."

"Who's going to play her?" Riku asked.

"Me!" Fumika, Sachiko and Airi all said at the same time, jumping in the air.

"I could play Rinzen," Chomden offered.

Kuei smiled at the sight, and Dongmei looked like she was trying not to laugh.

"Well, I'll leave you to work that out for themselves," the King said. "Rest assured, you shall be paid handsomely for your efforts. You will be doing the Kingdom a great service, I imagine."

Chikao nodded frantically.

"We'll start at once, Your Majesty."

"Excellent," Kuei returned to his throne. "Now, get to it. You've got a play to write."