Dun dun da dun! Ta-dah! I apologize... this isn't the most amazing chapter. But it IS the return of Power Hungry. Let's go!
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
The night after the Avatar's incredible display of firebending, I sat on the Earth King's throne, discussing the next move. He had progressed more quickly than I had imagined. And I had to admit, he had impressed me. So the more he improved, the more I was required to unfold the plan.
"So what now?" Zuko asked grudgingly. He was evidently upset that the Avatar had surpassed his own skill. Knowing him, he would rather be futilely practicing in his quarters.
Too bad for him.
"Now it's time for the princess to have some real fun," I laughed. Ty Lee clapped her hands together happily. Even Mai smirked.
"What do you mean?" His eyes narrowed.
"Well, now, Zuzu, I wouldn't expect
you to understand. But the best way to garuntee that the Avatar will remain in my power is to make him fall in love with me. It will be much easier if I appear even more beautiful than I already am," I explained.
"As if that's possible," Ty Lee gushed. Zuko snorted in fake disbelief. He knew I was stunning. I looked like a sharper version of our mother, who had been the most beautiful of all Fire Nation women in her day.
"Nevertheless, it is time for a shopping trip. We will set out first thing tomorrow." I glanced pointedly at my brother. "Be ready to judge outfits."
I stood up from the throne and glided out of the enormous hall. The girls followed, flanking me on either side. As soon as we left the room, I heard Zuko let out a frusterated groan and a thud... he probably punched a wall. Ty Lee giggled beside me.
I caught a glimpse of the sky outside. It glowed pink and orange, with magenta-tinted clouds. It would continue to grow hotter in the next few days. That meant skimpier clothing... clothing that were surely catch the eye of a twelve year old boy.
He didn't stand a chance.
The former upper ring was where we began in the morning. The shops were quaint, but the merchandise was quality as well as expensive. It was the perfect atmosphere for someone who wanted lovely clothes with deep pockets for their many heavy coins.
Zuko dragged along behind us. I wondered if his scowl would soon become a permenant part of his already hideously scarred face.
Ty Lee, of course, was overly excited. She bolted ahead into a shop that had delicately painted lotus petals scattered across its stone exterior. Mai and Zuko sighed simultaneously. I rolled my eyes, both at their mushy moment of mutual boredom and at Ty Lee's tendency toward frillyness.
"Mai!" Ty Lee exclaimed, bounding towards us. "This is just perfect for you!" She shoved a heap of brightly colored fabric into Mai's reluctant arms. It was a very short kimono, orange silk embroidered with pink flowers and black-and-yellow dragons. She wrinkled her nose in disgust. Zuko snickered beside her, cracking a half-grin. She shot him a murderous look of warning.
"I don't do orange. Or flowers," Mai told our spunky friend, gently pushing the gaudy trash back at her. Ty Lee frowned, but set it aside.
The day continued much the same. Ty Lee tried to convince us to buy silly, ugly outfits, we turned them down, and Zuko's attitude fluctuated between bitter boredom and amusement at our unfortunate luck in finding proper clothing.
Several hours after starting out, I still had nothing to show for it. I had purchased a simple short white kimono with pink lining for Ty Lee. I had even insisted on buying Mai a long black gown with slits that went straight up to the hip after seeing her smile briefly at it, and was even more insistent when Zuko blushed as she tried it on.
However, my patience had been exhausted. I had become so furious at one particular outfit that I shredded the fabric with my nails and left it in a ruined heap on the floor of the dressing room. I was beautiful, and everything I tried on fit me well. But everything was also either too plain or too wild, too fancy or too grotesque, too scandalous or too prim. Was there no suitable in-between in this ridiculous, flithy, earthan city?
Then I saw it.
Shockly, it was on display outside a lower-middle class shop. At first, I assumed it was made of scrap fabric, because it was very small. Perhaps it was. But it made me exceedingly curious, so I tried it on.
It was perfect. Dark green, with a short skirt and a simply wrapped top. The midriff was bare, but strings of tiny golden beads connected the hem of the top to the waist of the skirt. The same beads made up a halter top. It was simple and did not show off too much skin, yet was still slightly provacative.
A young boy of perhaps nine sat on the floor while his mother shopped. He was playing with a slab of stone, earthbending it into different shapes as he waited. When I stepped out of the dressing room to show my companions, he looked up as well. "Wow. You're pretty," he said, wide-eyed, his earthy toy momentarily forgotten.
That was all I needed to know.
Mmkay. So. I'm hoping to have some rather hideous but accurate sketches of the outfits described here soon. Meanwhile, feel free to use your imagination.
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Cute new emoticons!