The Phoenix

Celebration

"A party is always fun," Aang smiled back as the four teens joined in Kataras spare room the next day in the afternoon. 

"It's just cause Kataras still pissed off," Toph snorted as Katara was fixing her black hair in a lower bun but let her bangs still fall in her blind eyes.

"Oh I'm sorry should I be kissing their feet for forcing me to marry a man I met yesterday, who looks at least nine years older than me?" Katara asked sarcastically as she finished tophs hair and backed away annoyed.

"He's ten, ten years older than you," Sokka crossed his arms and Katara glared a little more.

"My apologies," she snarked.

"Hey I don't like this anymore than you do, I don't want you getting married to a fire nation prince, it's fucked up, that's why I'm not leaving," Sokka told her as Aang looked at Katara concerned.

"No, dad needs you, you should help him," Katara sighed shaking her head looking down. 

"I'm staying anyways, I'll make sure she's okay Sokka," Aang put a hand on his shoulder.

"I don't need protecting," Katara groaned flopping back on the bed.

"No, you need a friend," he smiled back at her. 

Katara pursed her lips looking at them softly and smiled back. 

"Thanks guys, I'm sorry you got dragged into this," she sighed standing back up and looked at the dress she was given for the event tonight. 

It was a celebration for the two nations to become allies, a masquerade so they'd all be equals, only the royals got gold and silver masks as everyone else got black masks, their choice of clothing, some people are mixing colors, some decide to wear neutral colors, or their own colors. Kataras dress was a light periwinkle with red and cold under at the hem. It was beautiful, she's never worn a dress like it, only furs and skins with cloth. But there they had silks and jewels, it was so different. 

"I mean I've never been to a fancy party like this," Aang bended himself to sit on the dresser lightly. 

"You shake hands and eat small portions of food, they're not that exciting," Toph scoffed. 

"Just remember your manners and no slurping, don't want them thinking your all savages," she told them all simply. "I'm talking to you meat head,"

Sokka looked at her offended. 

—— 

"You really think you'll swoon her by a stupid dance party? I feel ridiculous," Azula stood in her silk dress with a gold mask was on a golden stick for her to hold as her hair was pulled back half up half down with her cousin and uncle.

"Hey I'm charming," lu ten pouted a little. 

"You two better not be fighting," Iroh said in a sing song voice as he smiled while people came in the ballroom as well as servants bringing in food. 

"Wouldn't dare uncle," azula rolled her eyes. 

Katara walked in the room with her dress slim around her body as the skirt was A line that traveled behind her slightly, she had a silver band around her arm and a diamond ring on her middle finger, with her mother necklace around her neck that complimented her with her halter neckline, a silver mask over her eyes, she stood with her brother and father who wore water tribe clothes willingly. 

Toph wore a neutral dark gold dress as she stayed barefoot and her green headband to represent her element and a black mask over her blind eyes, Aang walked next to her as he had his monk clothes on as well as a black mask but it was obvious who he was with his bald head. 

"I feel like everyone's looking at us," Katara held onto sokkas arm as Hakoda smiled gently at his daughter.

"You look beautiful katara," he told his daughter softly. "They're looking at you,"

"Thats what you get for being their future queen," Toph smirked a little and Katara flushed softly at the idea of being a queen. 

"Let's just get this over with," she sighed as the three royals of the fire nation walked over with their gold masks.

"You look amazing Katara," lu ten bowed to her but her hands tightened around her brother, Sokka pursed his lips feeling his little sisters grip. He didn't care if it hurt but it was rare seeing her frightened. 

"Thank you," she mumbled. 

"Mind if I take the first dance with you?" He offered his hand as the music played in the background, the center of the room was for dance. 

Do I get a choice? "Sure," she gulped letting go of her brother and took her fiancés hand as he led her away. 

Lu ten gently pulled Katara closer as he held her slim hand as he placed his other on her lower back.

"You know we don't have to be in love, but I do hope to be your friend at some point of our marriage," lu ten looked down at her with his light brown eyes. He was handsome she couldn't deny.

"Is it weird I'm your younger cousins age?" She asked smugly and lu ten gave her a flat face. 

"You're a little spitfire aren't you?" He smirked a little.

"That's just a fancy word for my temper," Katara looked him in the eyes but gasped when he twirled her and brought her back.

  "But I'm doing it for my people, I don't like you and certainly don't love you, husband or not, so don't get comfy with nicknames," she inhaled deeply as her touch was light, she barely touched him, but his hands were warm on her body.

"I'm an honorable man," he nodded gently. 

"Was this as much your choice as mine?" Katara gulped a little after a moment of time passing. 

"It wasn't my idea if that's what your asking, I did agree cause I've heard of you master Katara and your bravery and pride, I didn't see many cons in the situation," lu ten told her honestly and Katara nodded a little.

"Thank you for the dance, prince lu ten," she bowed before walking away to get a drink. 

Suddenly a paler girl with medium brown hair in a high pony tail accident bumped into her and gasped squeezing Kataras shoulder, fingers digging in the back for a quick second. 

"My lady I'm so sorry, I didn't see you," the girl bowed as she wore a black mask. 

"I-Uh it's okay," Katara gulped a little rubbing her shoulder and kept walking. 

The girl smirked a little. 

"Got her," she walked passed two boys flipping her hair over her pale shoulder as they looked at Katara walking out of the ballroom. 

A boy with brown hair and olive skin followed Katara out as he wore gold and brown clothes with a black mask.

"Quite a dance," the tan boy hummed following Katara to the balcony that over saw the ocean that was in the distance.

"I'm not a dancer," Katara rolled her eyes at the stranger.

"I'm going for a walk, I'm not all for fire nation parties, care to join?" The boy asked with a smug smile.

"Why? I don't know you," Katara crossed her arms but the boy took off his mask and shrugged. 

"Need some air, I'm only here because my dads a commander," the boy told her. 

"I shouldn't leave," Katara gulped a little awkwardly. Something was off.

"My friends will be worried," she went to walk back but the boy grabbed her arm.

"Sorry princess but I wasn't asking," the boy whispered in her ear and threw her off the side of the balcony and jumped off after her smoothly.