Thank you to my Reviewers: (The Prince's Choice) LaSpiritz (TWG) MissJinxy, SlythindorRen, Aaliyah92, Zutarawasrobbed, Astra Across the Stars, MissLuxe, Therecklessone, Queens Do It Better, sophieking123, ReadAllTheThings, Marvel17, emdofa, IceQueen794, sophiecambellbower, Aetzfeder, StarlightSoulWriting, Back With Snacks, shadowscharmer, Ari, greyerve, the-savage-daughter-0627, and LaSpiritz!

LaSpiritz (TPC): Not so much a prequel as much as it is the first book...but yeah, you woulda been super confused if you'd started with this one!

Back With Snacks: So I take it you figured it out along the way? Good, I was hoping a few people would pick up on it...and yes, the other side of this little revelation will find out. How, when, and by who? Well, that's a mystery still!

LaSpiritz (TWG): Interesting theory! I will for sure say there's far more about Aiga that we just don't know yet! And yes, Katara is just very...into her self right now I guess haha

This is late, yes, I know...

I ended up getting my Wisdom teeth out. I, because I am a scardy cat, waited until the last possible moment (basically nearly to when I'm not on my parent's insurance) to have all four pulled, and it's really not been fun. Today is the first day in nearly eight days I've been aware/awake/feeling okay enough to be on the computer. Word to the wise, if your doc tells you to have your wisdom teeth pulled, do it young! My 17-year-old sister had hers pulled with me, and she was literally back to normal by day 3.

In terms of the story, this is part one of THREE of the ball! Yes, we get three glorious, juicy chapters all before the fights ;) I hope you enjoy :D

This chapter is also written a bit...differently than others. I had a lot of little events I needed to happen and found myself having trouble writing the transitions between everything without sounding repetitive. So, being The Author, I just decided to write each moment as just that- a moment in time! You'll see what I mean in a second. I enjoy this because it gives a sense of time passed, and I hope you guys like this little deviation in story-telling style for these three chapters!

5:30 PM

As Zuko stood in front of the mirror, he couldn't help but feel like he was thirteen again. He remembered that day vividly, as though someone had dumped it into the forefront of his mind just now, and let it settle.

Zuko looked at himself in the mirror in the crown prince regalia. It hung off his body, not quite fitting right. He seemed gangly and uncoordinated, like a child playing dress-up with his father's robes for a festival. It did not seem like these clothes were made for him. Right now, at the tender age of thirteen, his body was somewhere on the edge between that of a man and of a child. He toed the line, though he knew that his childhood was gone. Eradicated. Strangled and choked away, and he was left, still trying to gasp for air.

In a few years, his shoulders would fill out the space, his legs would grow, he'd shoot up a few inches...but for right now, he felt like an intruder in such robes. He felt like he did not deserve to be allowed in on the war meeting that day. He wished he were still just the cousin to the heir, but all that had changed. The shift had been sharply noticed, like shards of broken glass cutting against his skin.

His face burned. His jaw locked as his eyes – fuck, no, eye – traveled up the length of the mirror, trying not to make a face of displeasure at his clothing that fit so strangely, but he could not help but feel ill when he saw the gauze over his left eye.

The skin beneath was tender, almost painfully so, so that even as Zuko touched the wound, it felt like his world burst with pain. Perhaps it was the pain of knowledge, that weighed so heavily upon him, something he would never be able to unlearn. He did not think he would ever grow used to this sight. It would be a reminder; constant and twisted.

The healer said she could not fix this. His mother had cried when Zuko had been told he'd wear this mark forever.

Azula was sitting behind him. She was still wearing her girl's clothes. She would not have a wardrobe fit for a lady for a few years still, but she too seemed to have shed her childhood innocence (if she had any, to begin with), and to see such a look in her eyes fit jarringly with her ruffles and pink. She had just about thrown a fit that she was not allowed in the meeting, and it had been all Zuko could think of to let her sit in on this fitting. It satisfied her for now, or at least, she was quiet.

She was watching him. Glaring daggers, more like.

Ever since the event a few weeks ago, Zuko could not figure out what Azula thought about it. He knew better than to ask her. It had been years since they laughed as siblings, and now their relationship was icy. It had been icy before the...well, just before, but it was worse now. It had been days since she'd talked to him. Even Mai had written him with some sort of apology and asked how he was doing, whereas Azula has not offered up any comment on it.

He thought that perhaps he preferred it this way.

Ozai was a shadowy figure behind him. Zuko was not even sure he'd noticed his daughter in the room with them, poised on the red chair. If he did see her when he arrived, he's made no acknowledgment of her presence. His entire focus was on Zuko, and he regarded his son with a sense of pride, though through his smile, it seemed twisted and black.

Zuko could not help but to jump entirely when Ozai places a hand on his shoulder. He felt ill now, and not because he did not want to be in these clothes saved for the prince. He was not sure he wasn't going to hurl right now. Ozai's grip tightened and Zuko forced himself to stop shaking.

He wondered if he was ever going to be able to be in the same room as his father again without wanting to scream or cry or kill him.

Oh, the dark things that went through Zuko's mind terrified him sometimes.

Ozai nodded, finding his appearance acceptable. Zuko dropped his head, biting the inside of his cheeks so hard he tasted blood.

What his father said to him next was something he'd always said. It wasn't an uncommon phrase, though whenever others said it, it always seemed so comforting. Whenever his father had said it to Zuko – and it was indeed something Ozai seemed to like to say specifically to Zuko – it had always seemed vaguely like a threat. Zuko was always left wondering if there was a shadowed part to it that he'd picked up on, or if he was simply imagining villainous things where there were none.

Now, however, Zuko was absolutely sure that Ozai was capable of such awful things, and when he spoke this commonly-used motto, it was not meant to comfort Zuko.

It was a chilling reminder.

Ozai's warm hand, much too warm, was at his throat.

"Chin up, son, or your crown will slip."

The memory was corrupted. It wasn't Ozai's voice that spoke, but Sokka's.

Zuko was thrown back to the dressing room. He was not thirteen and scared anymore, he was nearly twenty-one and fit his costume perfectly. And Sokka was physically lifting his head up.

"What did you just say to me?" Zuko hissed, sure that someone put him up to it.

"I said 'chin up', dude, or I can't finish your coat," Sokka said, entirely unaware of the phrase he'd just uttered. And why should he be? It was perfectly innocuous.

Zuko swallowed hard and raised his chin, allowing Sokka in. He trusted Sokka, more than he'd ever trusted his father. When Sokka's fingers brushed his windpipe, he did not feel the quickening fear and his thudding heart like he did in his memories.

"Damn, this is tight. How do you Royals even breathe?" Sokka laughed, pinning the last bit at the top of his neck.

"We don't," Zuko deadpanned, but he couldn't help but smile a bit. Zuko's costume for the masquerade was not his choice, though he was mostly neutral about it. It was modeled after a black dragon, specifically, so he did not match nor clash with any of the ladies and their costumes. It was heavy and very ceremonial, to make a statement, and Zuko supposed that he looked fine enough in it.

His fingers brushed the mask lying on the table beside him. He didn't think he was fooling anyone in terms of his identity with this, but then again, perhaps that wasn't the point.

Sokka, Hahn, and Arrluk were all in the dressing room, too. Hahn was much too smug about the fact that he was allowed to be there, while so many other boys were told to wait in their rooms. He got to get ready with the heir apparent, as he told any lady who would listen. He was a step above the rest, having lived at the palace for months on end. If Zuko could choose, he'd throw Hahn to the patio. Arrluk, though still a bit jumpy, was nice enough. He could stay. There were some other sons of dignitaries from Fire Nation and the Earth Kingdom also floating around, but none that Zuko had made such close connections with. However, they were all good people to keep in his back pocket, and most of them were at the far side of the room, partaking in the drinks and food for the pre-party here.

And Sokka, of course, whom Zuko was grateful was there, was also present. Sokka stepped back and Zuko hoped that the boy didn't see how hard he'd swallowed.

The three boys were all wearing costume variations based on Water Tribe animals. Arrluk's leaned the most toward subtle, toeing the line of Fire Nation influence. He was a good diplomat, Zuko considered, playing both sides. Hahn had tried to be as intimidating as possible, while it looked like Sokka just wanted to look cool.

Zuko turned, still looking at himself in the costume, a part of him terrified he'd blink and be thirteen again, or that all night he'd be swimming in memories...

"Damn, you look a bit scary."

Zuko spun and grinned immediately as Aang unlocked the door to the room, slipping in, fully in costume already. He'd known that the troops had returned, having seen Zhao skulking about the halls, but he'd figured that Aang was exhausted and it was best to leave him to sleep.

"Buddy!" Sokka went for him with wide, open arms, giving him a huge hug. "You're a sight for sore eyes."

"Hey, Kuzon!" Arrluk said, high-fiving him. The other boys in the room patted his shoulder or gave welcoming sounds, waving. Even Hahn smirked and greeted him.

Aang was easily liked. He had trouble making enemies. His presence was just infectious, addictive, in a way that Zuko's never had been. While Zuko had questioned every step he'd taken his whole life, and often put his foot in his mouth, Aang seemed to attract companions. People just wanted to be around him.

Perhaps that was why he had slid into the Royal Family so easily. If anyone had any doubts about his lineage, he was just so damn likable, which was rare in the Royal Family, that most just let it slide. He won people over from the first time they met him. It was a shame...if Aang truly was part of the Royal Family, he might have been able to do some good. He surely had the influence.

Aang was a dragon tonight too, as everyone in the Royal Family would be. Zuko could not help but snort when he realized that the colors in Aang's costume were mostly golds and oranges. Yes, they were the colors of fire, but they were also the colors of air benders. It was subtle enough that probably no one would notice, but Zuko wasn't sure if he was pleased by this silent 'fuck you' to Ozai or worried by it.

Aang collapsed on the couch, crinkling his costume. It was a good thing he'd have a mask on, as there were huge bags under his eyes. He yawned.

"Think your dad will notice if I slip out early? I'm still basically dead on my feet," Aang moaned. "And there's the tournament tomorrow…"

"C'mon, half the fun is getting wasted tonight," Hahn ribbed him. "And preferably, ending up in bed with a lucky lady…"

"No!" Zuko growled, "No more Royal Scandals."

"Well, it wouldn't be a Royal Scandal for Hahn, not really." Arrluk's face slipped into an unusual vicious grin. "Besides, the girl he wants to bed won't even look at him, much less sleep with him."

"Who...ack, ew, no!" Zuko wanted to leave the room. Very badly.

"It's true!" Arrluk said, ignoring the fact that Hahn looked as though he wanted to punch his face in right about now. "Besides, Azula invited her boyfriend here tonight."

"Boyfriend? I'll show him-" Hahn cracked his knuckles.

"Why are you bothering?" Sokka squinted. "Firstly, I do not understand the appeal. Let me just get that out there. But more so, you have zero chance. The only way you'd be allowed to go for Azula is if Yue won the competition and Arrluk took the Water Tribe throne. But at that point, Yue would be married to Zuko, so an allegiance with the Fire Nation would be pretty useless."

Zuko turned around to hide his laugh. Though Sokka was only being logical, it was simultaneously hilarious. Hahn looked near furious.

"You just don't understand!" he spit, "She'll realize-"

"Dude, seriously, you don't want to go there," Zuko said. He really didn't like Hahn, but Agni, no one should have to put up with his sister.

"Haven't you ever heard the old saying, 'Don't stick your 'rowing oar' in crazy'?" Arrluk pointed out.

"This conversation is finished!" Zuko announced before anyone could say anything else. "Besides, it's nearly time for our arrival. Masks on. Let's just get through this night with no issues, please?"

He wasn't sure who he was praying to, but if there were ever a time that a god or goddess thought about giving him such a boon, now would surely be the time.

6:00 PM

Katara stepped out of her bedroom into the anxious, meandering queue outside. The world was splashed in color and movement, texture and light, a mixture of old faces, and new shifting beneath masks.

She had thought her own costume would be a centerpiece, to say the least. And it was, there was no denying that. It had taken the entire day to assemble this, one last hurrah in the palace before she was sure to go. Even if she fixed things with Zuko – but alas there'd been no time today – she was unsure how long she could continue on like this.

Her whole dress was strung with beads. With every step, she jingled, and the noise rolled around her. It was impossible for her to step quietly in this dress.

Her mask was tied into her hair ribbons and her hair...by Tui, Aiga had done it again. Early on, Katara had described how she wanted her hair to look like she'd been caught in a frost. She wanted it glimmering with frozen light. Aiga had found little reflective beads and diamonds and woven them into her hair. When she caught the light just right, it seemed as though her entire head was covered in frosted finery.

But she was hardly the only girl who had made a spectacle of herself. Most of their faces were entirely covered as they stood in the hallway, sans a few who were adjusting their masks, or had pushed them up to talk with friends.

Katara could guess most by this point; she knew the girls well enough that she could assume from posture or nervous tendencies who was under each fake face, if not taking a guess on their appearance altogether.

There was one person who surprised her, however, and it was not until she realized she was staring openly and the person turned that the realization startled her.

"Yue?" she asked, coming up to the figure. "Did you…wow."

Yue giggled behind her mask, a delicate shape of a two fish swimming together, as she touched her hair, which was now jet-black. It ran down her back in waves, much more unrefined than it had ever been, taken out of her delicate braids.

"Well, it would have been painfully obvious would it not? White hair is rather a giveaway," she pointed out. "It's only temporary, of course, but it's a good show, wouldn't you say?"

"I hardly even recognize you." This was the truth. It was almost a little unsettling to see her like this, to imagine that perhaps if she had not been ill, this is what she would have looked like. She was just as pretty with her dark hair as she was with her startling white.

Across the aisle, a person with a wide straw hat caught the corner of Katara's eye. She swallowed, turning to see Ratana wearing the ensemble of the Painted Lady. Katara felt unsure how to proceed; she stared at her elaborate and rich finery and felt self-righteous anger in her bones. Even in her first life, even as a spirit, the Painted Lady had always worn what the people wore. She understood that this was in honor of the Painted Lady, a thank you, but it felt wrong to see Ratana wearing something embroidered in gold and silver threads, something that her people or the people Katara had watched would have given their right leg for.

"I didn't know you were…" Katara said, waving a hand toward Ratana's outfit. Ratana touched the brim of her hat.

"It wasn't the plan," she spoke from behind her full face-mask, "But after the trip, it seemed dishonorable. It changed quickly but I was pleased my handmaids were able to accommodate it," Ratana said, her voice full of joy and radiating respect.

Katara swallowed hard.

"You look...nice," Katara finally choked out, unsure how she'd act turning at every moment and seeing a fleeting ghost of herself in the crowd, as though taunting her.

"We all look fantastic, sure, yeah," a half-disgusted voice said, and Katara would have been able to guess who said it just by reading the words on paper.

"You can't see any of us, Toph," Ratana said, frowning. She clearly hadn't picked up on Toph's sarcasm. Before Toph could reply, and Katara was half-afraid what she'd say with the sour mood her friend was in, a shrill voice with a vulgar laugh broke through the crowd.

"Are you...a boar?" Nadhari sneered at Toph. "I mean, I guess a fat pig isn't too far off."

"Are ya looking for a broken nose?" Toph snapped, lunging forward, only inches from her as Katara and Yue pulled her back. "Or maybe I should wipe that little smirk of yours off your face by punching in a few teeth!"

"It's the sigil of her family line," Mai's cool voice interrupted, "Which you should know, Nadhari."

"I'm well aware." Nadhari crossed her arms, and even through the slits of her mask, Katara could see her eyes lit with fire as she stared down Toph.

"Perhaps you're merely jealous," Mai continued, the entire hall deadly silent as they watched the two most intimidating contestants square off, "That your family isn't so prestigious to have an animal as your spirit guardian. I wouldn't go offending those who so highly outrank you."

"I would rather die than have a smelly pig as my family's sigil," Nadhari said, refusing defeat. "But whatever, to each their own."

"She'll get her due, but you'll be thrown out if you started something," Katara reminded Toph, hissing in her ear. "Best behavior?"

Toph backed off, swearing up a storm and sending murderous looks around the room, as though hoping it would land magically on Nadhari on one of her swings. Katara followed her, as did Smellerbee and Toph's handmaid, who followed a bit too close for comfort. Toph grunted, "This night is already off to a truly amazing start." She turned her milky gaze toward her maid. "Can I at least get plastered tonight?"

The handmaid gave a regretful smile. "The Prince has capped you at two drinks."

"Sadist," Toph muttered angrily. "How am I supposed to get through this night if I'm not so out of it that I can't remember who I offended?"

"I think that's the point. Not to offend anyone tonight," Katara said carefully. "Right, Toph?"

"Sure, Sugarqueen," Toph said, her shoulders dropping at once. "We'll, uh, see how it goes."

It was as good as Katara was going to get from her. Also, by this time, Zhi was gathering the girls for their grand entrance. They lined up in no particular order. There was a lot of bustling and bumping to be closer to the front. Katara couldn't care less; she let herself be shoved near the back with Toph and Smellerbee.

"Smile, ladies!" Zhi said enthusiastically. "And really, try to enjoy tonight." Her second command was laced with sadness. She stared at the group, likely knowing that many would not win the fights tomorrow. There was the general idea amongst some that this was the last chance they had to bathe in this luxury or find a husband if it were not to be Zuko. The excitement that buzzed through the line was palpable, so strong that Katara too almost wanted to have a good time tonight.

They walked through the halls in a line, the girls all giggling and waving their fans already, as though overheated, through the night had scarcely begun. Katara was confused when she realized they were not being brought to the usual front of the ballroom, where there was a wide reception hall. Instead, they were being brought around the back. They were asked to merge into the group of people waiting, all of them clustered like cattle here.

Two thoughts hit Katara instantly:

The first was that it was clear now why the girls had fashioned coins to hand out. Because many high-powered men had been encouraged to bring their eligible sons, they had thought the same with their daughters. This was practically a speed-dating ball for the high and wealthy! She'd wrongly assumed the ladies in the competition would be the only young women in attendance, but she saw miles upon miles of frills and fabric. It was like a game, perhaps to some, that they'd try to suss out who was vying for the Prince's hand and who was not.

Secondly, she felt a stab of fear. Was this part of some overarching plot? Was Ozai stuffing them into a room where there was little movement and only two doors – the way in and the way out – to dispose of them all?

"Not everything is a plot, not everything is a plot," Katara tried to remind herself under her breath, but it was hard. Still, it would be in really bad form for Ozai to murder all the other party guests just to get to her, right?

Well, as it was, they were in such close quarters that a well-trained assassin could slip in and kill someone without anyone noticing. She pressed closer to Toph and Yue, not liking this thought at all.

There were so many more people already than there were at the first few balls. As she thought more people could not fit in this small antechamber, more kept pouring in. There were many that were out in the gilded halls, spilling in wait, and Katara wondered what the heck they were all doing here. Surely the ball wasn't being held in this closet-sized space? That would be stupid...right?

Spirits, Katara didn't know anything about the procedures or crazy plans anymore. For all she knew, this was some new 'thing' that everyone would be lauding over.

Just when Katara was really starting to feel claustrophobic, a tall man in a dragon mask stood on a small platform. He had nothing to enhance his voice, but his very actions quieted the hundreds (if not thousands) of people milling and waiting.

With a delicate flip of his wrist, he lifted his mask to reveal Ozai underneath.

"I am so glad you all could make it to celebrate this event with us," Ozai said, his voice hardly above his normal tone, and yet every word bounced off the walls. "It is a momentous occasion. Not only are we celebrating the solstice, but we are also very anxious about the upcoming tournament tomorrow that our ladies will be participating in," Ozai said. "I suppose you all are wondering why we are out here? Well, usually, there would be a party in the city streets to celebrate the solstice, a day where the spirits are said to walk close to us. Since we did not feel as though we could bring you down to the streets, we tried to bring the streets to us. I hope I might be the only one unmasking tonight; keep up the fun and keep your identity hidden. Who knows…" Ozai said with a grin that Katara would say was genuine, if she thought that Ozai had a bone in his body that enjoyed 'fun' in any sense," Perhaps a spirit will grace us and walk secretly among us tonight!"

Though it was said in good-natured fun, and the people around all laughed at the idea, Katara felt something quake in her bones.

"You okay?" Toph asked, nudging her.

"Wh…at?" Katara answered back breathlessly.

"You just had the legit weirdest reaction to whatever Ozai just said. Like, seriously, I don't even know how to classify what I just felt from you," Toph said. Katara cursed inwardly. She hated how Toph could feel emotions. But to be fair, she wasn't even sure how she felt about the knowledge that weighed upon her, or how truthful Ozai had unknowingly been. What would he say if he truly knew what Katara was? Or, spirit above, his own son? Or fuck, even Aang...or Yue…

"I just don't trust or like Ozai."

"Join the club," Toph muttered, sending a suspicious side-eye to her aide.

"He's…" the maid said cautiously, "Intimidating."

That seemed promising enough to Toph that she wouldn't be squealed on. Luckily, the doors to the back of the ballroom were opened and people were pouring in to see what Ozai had been hiding.

Katara felt her breath catch. Though she hated everything about the idea of his ball, she could not deny that the masquerade's setting was the most incredible thing she'd ever seen.

They'd lined the entire ballroom with shops and stores, making it look like streets. It spilled out into the waiting-chamber of the ballroom, which was why they had not gathered there. Above them, lanterns sat on strings that tied from one roof to another. The ceiling had been covered in a dark navy-blue fabric, making it appear as though they had stepped into the streets below.

There was the main square where people were to dance, but the rest of the large ballroom was filled with food, clothing, and other sorts of stands. Katara felt overwhelmed in the best possible way, as she had when Zuko had taken her out to see the town. She was so interested in exploring every inch of this that the magic of the ball night seemed to make her forget her bad attitude.

"Okay, uhm, this is pretty cool," Katara said out loud, to which Yue gave an enthusiastic nod.

"Lots of people, lots of things," Toph said, tilting her head, toes gliding across the ground. "Hmm. Whatever."

Suki breezed by, in full Kyoshi wear, though it was obvious she was trying to look more like Avatar Kyoshi than just a standard warrior. She grasped Katara and Toph by their wrists.

"Come on!" she giggled, "Let's take a walk on the town, shall we?"

It was not like the previous balls, where there had just been everyone in a big, wide circle. Katara wouldn't have known who was who anyway, but it made it harder to find specific people. Namely, Zuko. She was looking forward to that talk. Speaking of which…

"Toph, you said you wanted to talk with me?" she asked as Suki pulled them to a fried food stand. The thought had hit her at once. It seemed like a while ago that Toph had talked to her, but in reality, it had only been before going to the town previously. Still, she'd recalled literal lifetimes between those two moments.

"Later," Toph said, but looked uneasy, "Let's uh, just enjoy this."

There was something more to her tone, but Katara wasn't sure what it was. Besides, Suki was already beckoning.

6:30 PM

By the time they found a place to sit, their plates were doing a balancing act with all the mesmerizing, mouth-watering food that had been offered. Suki pulled them around until their plates were full of street-food and they found a place near the main 'square' to sit and eat. The mood in the room was much more carefree and there was an element of whimsy. This ball didn't feel stuffy or like it had a lot of rules; the opposite. This ball seemed like the entire idea was to forget who you were for a night or where you were, physically at least.

"Is that...Andica?" Katara asked, squinting across the ballroom.

"Possibly. Lots were invited from Kyoshi, so I heard," Suki said. "I'll talk to her later."

"There's a dude from the Kyoshi group that's staring at you, Suki," Toph said. "I can feel his intense gaze."

Toph pointed, to which her maid batted her hand down saying it was impolite to do so, but Suki followed her gaze and sucked in hard.

"Oh." She winced. "That's, erm, my ex."

"You sure?" Katara asked. He was dressed in a generic masked costume.

"Well, just as I know all of you in your costumes, you just...you know someone well, right?" she said, sounding completely embarrassed.

"Who broke up with who? Give me the juicy details, sister." Toph encouraged.

"Me," Suki said. "He's nice, he's just a little…" She trailed off.

"Just a bit what?"

Suki looked around, as though to make sure that no one was watching. "When he gets excited, he tends to get really excited."

"Oh!" Toph said with a suggestive tone.

"No, not like that. He usually faints and sort of...foams at the mouth?" Suki said.

"What?" Katara snorted on her spicy chicken, the peppers running up her nose. Agni, that hurt.

"You're joking." Toph was wearing a full-mouthed grin. "And how can I get him to do it here?" She was already standing.

"Toph, don't make a spectacle," Suki groaned, "I feel bad. But, c'mon, he might be one of the wealthier villagers, but…"

Katara made a hum of agreement. For a while more, the trio sat and talked about the masked people walking among them. They had no idea who anyone was unless they were to be recognized, but that was doubtful. Katara knew no one from her tribe was coming, but she vainly hoped that perhaps the Northern Water Tribe would send more people. She was itching to see Eva, but it seemed there were no other Water Tribe members here.

Logically, a newly-blinded Eva and a ball was not a good combination, but she was still a bit disappointed.

Soon, a group of masked boys, about their age, came up and asked them to dance. Toph gave the politest 'fuck off' she could manage with her handler present, but Katara couldn't think of a good reason for herself to reject offers other than just hating dancing. She knew none of them were Zuko, but she wasn't looking to stir up trouble currently, so she graciously accepted as Suki did.

This led to a few rounds of dances from a few boys, only two of which guessed that she was in the choice. One smelled of bad fish and the other seemed polite enough, so Katara relented and gave him a coin. None were particularly memorable, she had to say, each out of her mind as quickly as they entered.

After this, she made her way back to Toph.

"I need some water."

"Or a strong adult drink," Toph suggested with a waggling eyebrow. At this point, Alcina had found them.

"Oh! I tried the best one from a shop...erm, well, down this way?" she suggested. Suki was still dancing with various boys, but Katara knew that they'd find her again.

Alcina brought them down one of the paths that had a lot of 'events' going on. There was a place to get beautiful henna up and down your arm, a place to try on other masks or costumes, a place to get your picture drawn...Katara had not explored this area yet. As she passed a little curtained off area, she caught a pair of pig-tails.

She paused in the walkway, and the other two with her.

"Fortune teller?" Alcina said, a bit quietly. "Oh, look...it's Aunt Wu's."

"Her?" Toph said, bending over, "Uchk!" She made a barfing sound.

"Oh, come on," Alcina batted her shoulder, "You weren't there."

"But I know her." Toph scrunched up her nose. "She's famous and shit. So, my parents invited her to our estate and she read my fortune. It's a load of bullshit, that's what it is," Toph said loudly.

"What did your fortune say?" Alcina asked, crossing her arms over her chest.

"She told my parents I was 'destined to marry a prince'. Exactly what they wanted to hear. Easy money. The stupid paper about this stupid competition was received two days later. My parents thought it was a 'divine sign' and are convinced I'm gonna marry Zuko. She's the reason I was sent here in the first place!" Toph said. "Oh, I'd like a word with her-" Though, as she spoke, she clenched her fists. Katara knew to replace 'word' with 'fight'.

"Uh, no," Katara said, holding her back. "That's a bad idea. No punching people at balls!"

She hadn't realized until now that keeping Toph out of trouble was basically a full-time occupation, thus the handmaid, who she hoped was being paid well. It was also amazing how much Toph had gotten away with before until she was put under the 'best behavior' threat.

"Why don't you get me my drink? Alcina will show you," Katara suggested.

"Didn't like your fortune?" Alcina ribbed playfully.

"Something like that," Katara said, gazing into the purple fabric that the tent was constructed out of. "I guess I just feel like we aren't quite finished."

Toph was more than happy to practically run and Alcina promised to return with the best drink Katara had ever had.

Katara slipped inside, the familiar scent of burning incense hanging in the air. It seemed exactly like the inside of Madame Wu's shop in her home village, having just been picked up and brought here.

"Kat?"

Katara turned to see someone lurking in the shadows. After a long moment, she realized it was Avizeh.

"Oh, hi. Are you getting your fortune told?"

"I'm just relaxing here, listening," Avizeh admitted. "Hiding from a boy who's sort of in love with me." She gave a shudder. "He's literally known me for like half-an-hour! And like, I love being worshiped, but he's a little bit intense. Ugg. But, hearing the fortunes of people is really fun."

Katara sighed. She didn't want to get into the fact that this was probably rude and an invasion of privacy, but leave it to Avizeh to find the one place where the gossip was sure to be hot.

"Anything interesting?" Katara asked, because well, she was curious too.

"It's hard to interpret," Avizeh admitted. "A few girls have come through here. Saoirse's wasn't really exciting. I'm pretty sure she's going to marry some guy she had a crush on back in her village. Guess that means she'll be leaving eventually. Nadhari was here."

"Really?" Katara took a step forward. "Did you hear her fortune?"

"She was foretold...oh, what did Wu say?" Avizeh rubbed her chin under her mask. "She would have to make a difficult choice. That she couldn't walk both sides forever. She said that she foresaw her choosing the side that would show her true colors."

"Oh," Katara said, a bit disappointed. There was hardly enough there to glean anything important from.

"Mai keeps edging around here. Didn't take her for the type. Maybe I'll hear her fortune before the night is up. Didn't you already get yours?" Avizeh asked after a moment. "In the village?"

"I just...needed to confirm something. Or...sort of." Katara said, unsure even now what she was doing standing here. "I guess if you hear anything really juicy from Mai, I'd be interested."

"Next!" Meng called from the next room.

Katara parted the curtain and found Aunt Wu sitting in front of her pile of bones. Katara lifted her mask partially up her face so that Wu could see her. Meng bowed to Katara and backed away.

"Sit, my child. I think that perhaps this time I could give you a clearer fortune," Wu offered. "I apologize for last time. I'm not sure what happened. I've never been so...wrong before."

"Uhm, there's no need. I just wanted to tell you that you weren't wrong," Katara said, the words catching in her throat. "We just didn't know it. You got me right." Or, rather, she had been reading the Painted Lady's fortune, intertwined with Katara's.

"Oh?" Wu said, examining Katara curiously.

"I'm not sure why I'm here. I just wanted you to know," Katara said, "And I guess maybe it warned me. Or maybe I sought it out." She gnawed on her lip. "But the truth is there. You weren't wrong."

"I might be able to see more, now that I know this," Wu said, motioning. Katara got the sense that even with Katara saying nothing, Wu knew more than she was letting on.

Katara gave a dry laugh. "That's fine. I think I've found out enough earth-shattering revelations about my life to last me, well, my entire life," she said. She knew her entire past. Some part of her wanted to keep her future shrouded.

"I see." Wu nodded sagely. "Thank you for coming back, Princess. You have given me much to mull over."

Katara slipped back out, and though she couldn't see Avizeh's face, she was sure the girl was confused. She didn't stay around long, though, because she could see Alcina lingering near the entrance with something fruity in her hand.

We still have lots of ball to get through! Already we've seen a familiar face from the show we haven't seen before hehe (as minor as he was...he was...uhm, memorable).
Fun fact! The creators of Avatar actually confirmed that Foaming Mouth Guy really was Suki's ex hehe.
We're in for a few old but new-to-this-story faces that appear here! Any guesses ;)

Because all these chapters sorta go together, and depending on how quickly my beta betas, I think the next chapter is gonna come out a week early. I'm also probably going to be gone during the usual three-week time, so it works out. So start checking back around August 6th!