Iroh, Isu and Hachi returned to the cave where Zuko, Toph, Katara and Sokka sat around a stewing pot.
"How did it go?" Zuko glanced between the siblings as Hachi shrugged.
"I've yet to drop out of another school. I know that's not what you wanted to hear, but it's nice for my self-esteem." Hachi took a seat next to Zuko as he smiled, linking their hands.
"Listen, I don't think it's wise for you to go to school anymore," Katara tried as Isu sighed.
"I know, but," she drifted off, unable to form her thoughts properly. "I'm not ready to leave school."
"Isu, this is getting too risky," Sokka reasoned as Iroh placed a hand on Isu's shoulders.
"They're right. If you slip up again, it won't just be expulsion."
That caught Zuko's attention, and his head shot up. "What?"
Hachi fidgeted, playing with Zuko's hand. "Apparently, the fire nation doesn't like misbehaving children. If we cause any more trouble, we'll be sent to the coal mines."
Zuko squeaked. "What? That can't," he went quiet. No, that was well within the Fire Nation memo. "You can't go back."
"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," Hachi pleaded as Isu grinned, nodding at him.
Zuko grew conflicted as Sokka grumbled. "What could you possibly do for a country of depraved little fire monsters?"
Zuko shot a look as Isu grinned. "I'm going to throw them a secret dance party!" The cave went silent until Toph started laughing. Isu huffed, crossing her arms. "You can't stop me. So either help me or be prepared to lose the fight."
~~~
"I can't believe we're having a dance party. It seems so silly," Sokka complained, putting the candles down as Toph Earthbent a stage.
"Don't think of it as a dance party but as a cultural event celebrating the art of fancy footwork," Isu sang as Sokka gave her a look.
Before anyone else could question her, Hachi grabbed her, pulling her to the side. "Are you sure about this?"
"Do you doubt me?"
"All the time."
Isu gave Hachi a disapproving look. "Well, that's why I had friends and you didn't." It was Hachi's turn to look offended. People began entering the cave as Isu smiled. "Now, if that's settled, we have guests."
"Wait," Hachi grabbed Isu's arm, stopping her from walking about. "How could you say all that stuff?"
Isu gave him a confused look. "Because you didn't have friends."
Hachi was not impressed. "Not that. The stuff about fighting for the Fire Lord. You spoke as if you believed it."
Isu laughed. "What are you talking about? I do believe it. We all fight for the glory of our Fire Lord. You especially."
Hachi blinked, looking at Isu in horror as she freed her arm. Hachi stared at her as she passed Zuko, whispering something in his ear.
"Are you okay? Isu told me to remind you I'm a prince."
And then it clicked. "She was talking about you! Oh, I thought she was edging on being a traitor."
"What?"
~~~
"Ladies and gentlemen," Isu jumped onto the stage, surrounded by various kids playing different instruments, "the band of.... I have no idea where we are, so let's go with.... Sirius!"
Isu nodded at the group as they began playing the music she gave them.
"Now, what do we do?" On Jin gave Isu a look as she jumped down.
"Now, we dance." No one took Isu up on her offer.
"I don't think my parents want me dancing in a cave," one muttered as the other shouted louder.
"Yeah! What if someone finds out?" The people were turning around and leaving as Isu huffed.
"You guys really need a healthy disrespect for authority," she muttered before speaking louder. "Come on, you're thinking too much. Dancing isn't something that should be hidden. It's part of the culture, part of the air, of the spirits and even fire. No one can ever take that away from you."
"Maybe it was different in the colonies, Meh, but we don't do that here."
Isu snorted. "Sure you do. It's been around for generations. I happen to know several classic Fire Nations dances."
"You do?" The members of the gang gave Isu a confused look as she smirked.
"This was known as the Phoenix Flight," Isu began moving, performing some ancient dance she was sure she was butchering, but it wasn't as if they had dance teachers. "And this was the Camelephant strut."
Isu rolled towards two boys as they looked at her. She poked them in the eyes before continuing her dance, finishing with a black flip and landing on one foot.
Toph sipped at her drink, listening to the dance living up. "Who knew the violent brut could dance?"
Katara smiled softly, unable to tear her eyes off Isu.
~~~
Isu grinned as she approached Hide and On Jin. "May I have this dance?"
Hide glared at her. "Why are you talking to me. I have a girlfriend."
"I'm aware. I was asking her." Isu held out a hand as On Jin smiled, taking it and letting Isu lead her away. Hide growled, storming off as Isu chuckled, teaching the dance.
"Thank you," On Jin whispered as Isu chuckled.
"You didn't look like you were having fun. What else was a good host meant to do?" Isu changed the dance. "And this is how they do it in the ballrooms of Ba Sing Se."
On Jin grinned, joining the dance, unaware of Katara's eyes on her.
~~~
Hachi huffed, leaning against his hand by the table.
"You okay, man?" Yirai gave Hachi a look as he shrugged.
"I wish I could dance."
Yirai frowned. "You can't?"
That caused Hachi to chuckle, turning around and staring at the ceiling. "I mean, I wish to dance with my boyfriend."
"He not here?"
"No.... He stayed in the colonies."
"Well, I'm not a substitute, but we could dance."
Hachi seemed to think about it before he shook his head. "Nah, you've got a few eyes on you anyway. Don't want to ruin your night."
Yirai raised his eyebrow. "Just because we share one dance does not mean we have to spend the night just with each other. So stop being a dick, and join me for a dance."
Hachi blinked. "You're a lot more violent now. It must be I-Ymeh's influence."
"Says the guy who started that fight."
Hachi pursed his lips. "In my defence, I was defending the guy's girlfriend."
"Still started the fight."
The two made their way onto the dance floor, dancing together until Hachi's eyes caught a girl following them. He grinned, spinning Yirai into her side and giving the guy a thumbs up and thanks.
"You know, you could sneak away for a bit," Isu whispered, making Hachi jump.
"How long have you been there."
"You can still hear the music out back," Isu whispered, making Hachi smile. When he turned to thank her, she was gone.
"I really hope I'm not imagining my sister. She's annoying enough without living in my head."
~~~
Sokka hummed, watching Isu dance with On Jin. "Wow, they look pretty good together. Who thought Isu could lead when she is so much smaller."
Katara huffed, barely keeping her emotions in check. "If that's what you like."
Isu grinned, clapping her hands together. "That's it! That's the sound of happy feet." Isu laughed as the group began losing the rhythm but looked overly happy.
On Jin smiled, facing Isu and about to say something when she stopped herself, instead nudging Isu to look behind her.
Isu caught Katara, her heart beating as she approached her, offering out a hand.
Katara blushed, looking away nervously. "I don't know Isu. These shoes aren't really right for dancing and I'm not sure that I know how to-" Isu rolled her eyes, a chuckle on her breath.
"Just take my hand and trust me."
Katara's nervousness melted away as Isu pulled her up and into the crowd. Isu slowly led the dance, holding up her hand and walking in circles as Katara mirrored her. "Isu, everyone's watching."
"Don't worry about them. It's just you and me right now."
Katara blushed as the moves got more elaborate. The crowd stared as On Jin smiled. So that must be the amazing girl 'Ymeh' was always talking about.
Isu spun Katara, pulling her in and stopping close. She was close enough to steal a kiss. Instead, she continued the dance, doing a number of kicks and flips before finishing by catching Katara as she leaned over her arm.
"See, you're amazing," Isu whispered as the voice echoed out.
"It is a dancing party!"
~~~
Hachi hummed, happily dancing with Zuko. Iroh was sat a little away, telling stories to the bison and looking at the stars. "It's peaceful."
Zuko chuckled. "If you don't count the screaming school children."
Hachi snorted, shaking his head softly. "That all melts away when I'm with you." Zuko blinked in surprise as Hachi blushed at his own comment, pulling away from Zuko. "Oh, that was so mushy."
Zuko laughed, bringing Hachi back to him. "I like it."
Hachi smiled softly, leaning into Zuko's side. They stayed that for a moment before Hachi frowned. "It's really peaceful."
"You said," Zuko chuckled when Hachi pulled away.
"No, listen. I can't hear the party."
Worry flooded the boys as Hachi rushed back in, spotting Isu staring down the Headmaster and Hide. "She's the one we want. The troublemaker."
Isu cursed colourfully as she turned away, rushing off as the soldiers chased her.
A soldier reached forward, thinking they had found her, but it wasn't her.
"That's not the one. She's here somewhere. Don't let her leave the cave! And find her brother. It's not that hard, they have white and red hair."
No matter how hard they looked, they couldn't find the troublemakers, only finding their students. Soon, the students completely surrounded the soldiers and headmaster as Isu rejoined her friends at the back.
Hachi and Isu glanced back, seeing their friends winking at her. Isu smirked, winking back as Zuko pushed them both in. He turned, Earthbending the cave wall back up as the group stared on in shock.
~~~
The group found Iroh after, who hadn't even noticed the party had stopped.
"Way to go, dancy pants," Toph commented, sitting on Pickle's back. "I think you really did help those kids. You taught them to be free."
Hachi shrugged. "I don't know. It was just a dance part, that's all."
"Well, that was some dance party, Hachi," Zuko praised as Hachi blushed, smiling and leaning his head on Zuko's shoulder.
Isu smirked, leaning against her head. "I just hope they remember my lessons."
"What lessons was that?" Katara glanced at Isu as her smirk grew larger.
"Always have a healthy disrespect for authority."
Katara paused. "You do realise you're flying around with two members of the Fire Nation royal family and an important Earth kingdom authority."
"Yeah, and aren't you and Hachi meant to inherit the Air Nomad chief hood or whatever authority you have," Toph added as Isu ignored that all.
"Down with authority!"