Katara's Masquerade-Part One

"Is this really necessary?" complained Sokka, pulling at the Fire Nation robe and matching mask. "This is really uncomfortable."

"Sorry Sokka," answered Aang. "We're sneaking in the Fire Nation. This Masquerade is the best way. No one will question us for wearing masks and costumes," he announced.

"I kind of like my outfit," admitted Katara, doing a little turn. The red skirt she was adorned in, puffed slightly. "Although the necklace was a little much," she said, eyeing the gold and ruby chocker around her neck.

They were on the outskirts of the city. A full moon shone silver light down, illuminating everything. To Katara's happiness, it was next to a lake. Bending a glob of water into the semblance of a mirror, she admired the outfit she'd chosen earlier that day.

The sleeves skipped over her shoulders and rested on her forearms; they were a light red color. They connected to her top at a golden sun embezzle. It showed a good portion of her stomach and was lined at the bottom with small, bronze beads. Gold cuffs twinkled in the abundant moonlight. The front of her skirt arced in a lopsided V, the back longer than the front. Like her top, it was finished with a row of beads lining the base.

The mask was the most favorable accessory. It was the type that only covered the eyes. Its base color was gold, though it was only painted that way. Red dust stuck on in swirling patterns around the eyes emphasized the blue irises it framed. A silver and red lace looped around the mask's edge. Multiple red and gold feathers were jammed into the right corner; curled ribbons hung from it. A jewel carved in the shape of a flame crowned the top.

"Are you guys ready to go?" Katara asked, turning to the boys and dropping the water.

"We've been ready for fifteen minutes," snapped Sokka.

"You look really great, Katara."

"Thanks Aang. We better get going."

~Skipping the walk there~

The ball room loomed up in front of them. A towering set of double doors seemed to say no entrance without an invitation—that or it was the guards watching them. A long line of people stood patiently waiting for admittance. Music could be heard from inside along with bits of conversation and the smell of food. Elegant wall torches cast flickering shadows across the cobblestone ground and walls.  

"It's, uh, big," said Sokka.

"There are so many people. What if someone recognizes us?" worried Aang.

"We have a bigger problem." Katara indicated to a couple flashing a pass. The guard nodded and allowed them admittance. "We don't have an invitation."

How they would get in without an invitation was completely lost on the small group of three.


Inside the ballroom, the royal family waited at the top of a large staircase, Fire Lord Ozai in the middle with Prince Zuko and Princess Azula on either side. They watched as people entered, smiling and happy. Maybe four hundred people had attended and more still were on their way in.

"I have some business to attend to," announced Fire Lord Ozai and he disappeared into the back.

"This is so stupid," Zuko muttered. "Father throws this party then leaves in the middle of it to do who knows what. Now we're trapped here."

"Oh come now, brother. It's obvious that you're just jealous that I'm getting more attention then you are," Azula answered. And it was true. Many boys made no effort to hide their stares.

"I am not jealous! And were these masks really necessary?" snapped Zuko, echoing what Sokka had said.

"Father said people would try to sneak in with their identities hidden and murder us." It was also why neither of them bore royal crowns. "At least it covers most of your scar." If Azula was the least bit surprised at Zuko's outburst, she didn't show it. "You know the only reason people ever paid attention to you was because you were either Prince Zuko or The Banished Prince. Now no one here does. Why? Because they can act like they don't recognize you. I bet if you asked someone to dance they'd deny you," challenged Azula.

If he accepted, then he would be playing right into her hands. If he didn't, then he'd loose and he hated to lose. Anger clouded over his sense of judgment. "I accept your challenge. I'll even let you pick the girl."

Azula smiled. "Excellent." Her eyes scanned the crowd before her, searching for someone whose beauty would cause her to easily refuse Zuko. As if on cue, a group of three stepped in. Two of them were males. The girl wore something Azula may have chosen herself if given the chance. She had strikingly blue eyes—not that she would ever admit it. "Ask her," she said, indicating to the girl.


"Okay, we're in," breathed Katara.

"Nice thinking Katara. Saying someone murdered your sister to distract the guards was genius! Although I'm sure I would have thought of it eventually."

Katara rolled her eyes. "You didn't have to add that last part, Sokka."

"Back to the reason we're here… I think we should split up," suggested Aang. "That way we'll be less suspicious. See if you can find any information that would help us."
Sokka nodded and hurried in the direction of the snack tables thinking, meat, meat, meat! Katara walked in the opposite direction in a much calmer and not meat induced state. Aang stayed where he was, watching the entrance. The millions of swarming faces quickly engulfed the three.

To Katara's relief, there were liquids in the vicinity should there be a fight. With her hands clasped behind her, she allowed the current to move her throughout the room. She listened to the whispers and gossip of the abundant female guests, though most of it was of no use. She was about to move to a different group of girls when a voiced stopped her.

"Excuse me?"

Oh no, I've been caught! Maybe the guards found out I didn't really have a murdered sister… Katara turned to face the voice. "Uh, yes?"

It wasn't a guard waiting to haul her away, but another masked man. She didn't recognize him as Aang or Sokka, though that was the point of the masks wasn't it?

The boy, he had thick blond hair and a white, silvery mask that covered almost the entire top half of his face, revealing only his eyes. His eyes were the color of ripened mango in May.

Katara smiled—more in relief than anything else. She poised her hands in the traditional Fire Nation greeting and bowed. The stranger did the same.

"My name is Ryuu. May I have this dance?" he asked bowing gracefully, hand extended.

"Sure," Katara said. This would be the perfect chance get information. She could talk directly and ask questions instead of hearing snatched conversations and hoping they would be of use.

She placed her hand in his. It seemed like a child's compared to his and Ryuu clasped it lightly. They walked to the dance floor.


"Oh? Sorry, Zuzu," sneered Azula. "It looks like someone has already picked her up." Azula shrugged. "I guess you lose the bet."

"What?" Zuko searched the crowd for the girl Azula had chosen. He found her and she was indeed being led to center room by some person. Anger bloomed inside him. "I haven't lost yet," he announced and proceeded to make his way through the crowd toward the couple.