꧁ chapter eighteen ꧂
just dance

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MEILUNA DOUBLE CHECKED her room for her belongings. It was completely spotless, as if no one had ever been there. She sighed shakily, still feeling tense with how things were left with Katara and Sokka.

Aang had also found out about Meiluna knowing of Zuko's whereabouts. He told her that he didn't blame her, and that he had once thought Prince Zuko had the potential to even be his friend at a certain time. Meiluna was shocked to hear this, but entirely grateful. Of course the Avatar had forgiven her. He had been nothing but kind to her and all those around him.

"Luna?"

Meiluna turned around quickly, seeing the two water tribe siblings standing awkwardly at the doorway. Sokka had his eyes trained to the ground, standing slightly behind his sister while Katara looked at her with an unwavering stare.

Meiluna looked straight into her eyes, unable to get any kind of read on how she felt inside. The three of them stood in each other's presence for a moment longer, a heavy silence blanketing over them.

"I'm so sorry for what I did," Meiluna dropped her gaze the the floor, her eyes watering slightly, only annoying her more.

All she wanted to do was make up for her catastrophic mistake and she couldn't get through a single second of facing her friends without crying. How pathetic she must've looked.

"Please, let me redeem myself, I'll do anything!"

Sokka finally got a proper look at the disheveled Princess, who stood with her hands clasped in front of her. He shared a look with Katara. She could recognise the way Sokka was pained to see Meiluna in such a state.

"I don't know what I'd do without you, you're my family now, and I let you down," Meiluna said softly, "I've never regretted anything more than this"

Katara slowly made her way over to Meiluna, placing a hand on her shoulder,

"I'm sorry too"

Meiluna's eyes looked to their point of contact, her tears still blurring her vision.

"You don't have anything to apologise for" She shook her head.

"I thought I was angry at you," Katara explained quietly, "But I think I was more angry that Prince Zuko hurt you"

Meiluna listened carefully, feeling her heart still racing in her chest as Katara continued.

"He lied to you and used you, and that isn't your fault"

Meiluna nodded subtly, still remaining silent.

"I could never hate you for that Luna, we'll never leave you"

The Princess hardly got to process Katara's words before she got engulfed in a tight hug. Her hands instantly shot up to return the gesture. Her heart was full. She was surrounded by the people she loved the most, and now she knew for sure, that they loved her too.

"Sokka, this is supposed to be a group hug" Katara lifted her head from Meiluna's shoulder to face her brother, who was still standing a bit further away from the girls.

His scowl expressed annoyance but the light in his eyes revealed how happy he truly was. He reluctantly stepped forwards and placed his arms around the girls' shoulders.

"I'm glad that's over! Katara's annoying when she complains"

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"I think I see a cave below!" Aang pointed out.

"Shh! Keep quiet!" Sokka whispered.

Aang airbended the cloud that surrounded Appa away as they landed on the ground.

"Great job with the cloud camo, but next time, let's disguise ourselves as the kind of cloud that knows how to keep it's mouth shut" Sokka said sarcastically as he faced Aang.

"Yeah, we wouldn't want a bird to hear us chatting up there and turn us in" Toph mocked.

"Hey, we're in enemy territory," Sokka turned to point at the birds behind him, "Those are enemy birds!"

One of the toucan puffins jumped onto Sokka's head, letting out a screech.

Meiluna laughed at Sokka along with the others as they continued walking towards the cave.

"Well, this is it," Sokka announced standing in front of the group, "This is how we'll be living until the invasion begins. Hiding in cave after cave after cave after cave-"

"Sokka, we don't need to become cave people" Katara cut him off.

"What we need is some new clothes" Meiluna added, looking down at the red cloak she wore.

"Yeah, blending in is better than hiding out. If we get Fire Nation disguises, we would be just as safe as we will be hiding in a cave" Aang smiled.

"Plus, they have real food out there, does anyone want to sit in the dirt and eat cave hoppers?" Toph asked before punching the cave wall, causing the cave hoppers to jump out.

"All yours, Sokka" Meiluna grimaced, moving away from the creatures.

Sokka rolled his eyes,

"Let's get some new clothes"

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Meiluna reached for her golden hair pin, neatly securing it in her hair, which she had decided to leave down. She moved her hands back down to smoothen the red silk skirt she wore, turning around to face Sokka with a bright smile. He gave her a nod of approval making her smile grow.

"Ta-da!" Aang turned around revealing his headband that he used to conceal his tattoo, "Normal kid"

"Hm, I should probably wear shoes," Toph thought aloud, "But then I won't be able to see as well. Sorry shoes!"

She sat down, pulling the shoes roughly onto her feet, pushing out the soles, somehow managing to hit Sokka in the face.

"Finally! A show for the blind earthbender"

Meiluna laughed, watching Sokka's annoyed expression.

"How do I look?" Katara asked as she entered the cave.

"Uh," Aang's mouth hung open as a blush covered his face.

Meiluna watched him stare awkwardly before intervening.

"You look perfect Katara" She smiled.

"Your mom's necklace" Aang pointed out.

"Oh," Katara's hand reached for her necklace,

"Yeah, I guess it's pretty obviously water tribe, isn't it?"

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"I used to visit my friend, Kuzon, here a hundred years ago. So everyone just follow my lead and stay cool," Aang instructed, "Or as they say in the Fire Nation, stay flamin"

"Do they really say that?" Meiluna asked curiously looking at Sokka who simply shrugged in response.

"Greetings, my good hotman" Aang smiled at a passing Fire Nation citizen.

"Uh, hi, I guess"

Aang turned and noticed the display at the shop they stood in front of.

"Oh, we're going to a meat place?" He asked disappointedly.

"Come on, Aang, everyone here eats meat. Even the meat!" Sokka pointed to a hippocow eating a piece of meat, swarming with flies.

Meiluna gagged internally at the sight.

"You guys go ahead. I'll just get some lettuce out of the garbage" Aang shrugged off as the others waved goodbye to him.

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"Where have you been? We've been worried sick!" Katara chided Aang, who had just entered the cave.

"I got invited to play with some kids after school" Aang replied nonchalantly.

Meiluna lifted her head up from Sokka's lap upon hearing this.

"After what?" Sokka jumped up.

"I enrolled in a Fire Nation school, and I'm going back tomorrow" Aang explained calmly.

"Enrolled in what?" Sokka asked exasperated before falling back in disbelief.

Meiluna winced hearing him hit the floor.

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"Aang, I'm trying to be mature and not immediately shoot down your idea, but it sounds," Sokka paused for a moment, "Really terrible"

"Yeah, we got our outfits. What do you need to go to school for?" Toph asked.

"Every minute I'm in that classroom, I'm learning new things about the Fire Nation. I already have a picture of Fire Lord Ozai," Aang held up a picture, "And here's one that I made out of noodles!" He pulled out another piece of paper.

"Impressive" Meiluna nodded approvingly.

"But I still think it's too dangerous" Sokka said, crossing his arms.

"I guess we'll never find out about the secret river then," Aang feigned disappointment, peeking at Sokka's expression, "It goes right to the Fire Lord's palace. We were supposed to learn about it in class tomorrow"

"Hm, I am a fan of secret rivers," Sokka contemplated for a moment, "Fine, let's stay a few more days"

"Flamey-o, hotman!" Aang spoke excitedly before running off.

Sokka turned to Meiluna with a confused look,
"Flamey-o?"

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"Thank you for coming Mr and Mrs..."

Aang's headmaster looked between Sokka, who wore an elaborate disguise with a large fake beard, and Meiluna, who had stuffed a bunch of clothes under her dress to make her look pregnant.

"Fire, Wang Fire," Sokka spoke in an exaggerated accent.

Meiluna didn't know what accent that was but it wasn't one that she had heard in the Fire Nation, or anywhere for that matter.

"This is my wife, Sapphire" Sokka said putting an arm around Meiluna.

"Sapphire Fire, nice to meet you" Meiluna gave her brightest smile.

"Mr and Mrs Fire, your son has been enrolled here for two days and he's already causing problems," The headmaster explained, "He's argued with his history teacher, disrupted music class, and roughed up my star pupil"

Meiluna painted an expression of shock across her features.

"My goodness! That doesn't sound like our Kuzon" Meiluna shook her head.

"That's what any mother would say ma'am. Nonetheless, you're forewarned; if he acts up one more time, I'll have to send him to reform school," The headmaster stood up, "By which I mean the coal mines. Are we clear?"

"Don't you worry Mr Headmaster. I'll straighten this boy out with something fierce," Sokka turned to Aang, "Young man, as soon as we get home you're gonna get the punishment of a lifetime!"

Meiluna's eyes widened.

Sokka had gotten a little too into the role.

"That's what I like to hear" The headmaster agreed.

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"That settles it! No more school for you, young man!" Sokka scolded Aang, stroking his fake beard.

"Don't be like that, darling!" Meiluna called out dramatically.

"It's out of my hands, honey" Sokka shook his head solemnly.

"I'm not ready to leave yet," Aang said sadly, "I'm having fun for once, just being a normal kid. You don't know what it's like Sokka, you get to be normal all the time"

Toph let out an obnoxious laugh while Meiluna tugged lightly at Sokka's fake beard,

"I'm not so sure about that"

"Listen guys, those kids at school are the future of the Fire Nation. If we want to change this place for the better, we need to show them a little taste of freedom" Aang explained.

"What could you possibly do for a country of depraved little fire monsters?" Sokka asked sarcastically.

"I'm gonna throw them a secret dance party!" Aang announced excitedly, dancing on the spot.

Meiluna couldn't help but smile at the young boy while Sokka stared at Aang before yelling,

"Go to your room!"

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"I can't believe we're having a dance party!" Meiluna bounced up and down excitedly, handing Sokka a candle.

"It seems so," Sokka stared at the stage Toph was earthbending, "Silly"

"Don't think of it as a dance party, but as a cultural event celebrating the art of fancy footwork!" Aang explained as he danced.

"They're coming! Everyone stop bending" Toph warned, sensing the children approach.

"Sorry buddy, you should probably wait out back," Aang told Appa, who grumbled in response, "I know, you've got fancier feet than anybody. And six of them!"

Meiluna walked over to pat Appa's head,
"Don't worry Appa! I'll save you a dance"

Aang made his way to the front of the stage to address all his friends from school,

"Ladies and gentlemen, the flameos!"

Everyone stood shyly around the edge of the cave.

"Now what do we do?"A boy spoke up.

"This is when you start dancing" Aang replied happily.

"I don't think my parents want me dancing in a cave" Another boy spoke, hiding his face behind his collar.

"Yeah, what if someone finds out?" Another asked nervously before running out of the cave.

"Listen guys, dancing isn't something you think about. It's a form of self-expression that no one can ever take away from you" Aang explained.

"Maybe it was different in the colonies Kuzon, but we don't do that here" The boy from the start remained stubborn.

"Sure you do," Aang encouraged, "You have for generations! It just so happens that I know several classic Fire Nation dances. A hundred years ago, this was known as the Phoenix Flight"

Everyone watched in awe as Aang demonstrated his dance moves.

"And this was the Camelephant Strut!"

The Avatar began to jump from side to side before rolling close to two Fire Nation girls who let out small giggles. He then finished the dance with a backflip, landing on one foot.

Toph let out a small laugh,

"Who knew Twinkle Toes could dance?"

"Sokka!" Meiluna stood up excitedly, holding her hand out to the boy, "Let's dance!"

"Me? Dancing?" Sokka laughed at the very thought, standing up to walk away when he felt Meiluna grab his sleeve, tugging him onto the dance floor.

Sokka hadn't been paying attention and accidentally stumbled into her, stepping all over her feet causing Meiluna to crumble to floor in pain as she held her feet.

"Ow! Sokka, I didn't know you were that bad!"

"I'm sorry!" Sokka looked around frantically before giving her a look, "But I did tell you-"

"Ugh, we're getting a divorce" Meiluna flopped onto her back.

"Don't say that, sweetheart!"

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