Chapter 206: Freak Show (2)

Chapter 206: Freak Show (2)Chapter 206: Freak Show (2)

"We should have taken a seat in the back... at least, things would have been more interesting then," Azula spoke in a tone loud enough to let her voice drift over to Nik. Much to her annoyance, frustration, and sheer speechlessness, SHE wasn't sitting next to Nik and was made to sit next to Mai... the galls!

Why should Azula have to care who came 'first' or not? Why is it that Suki and Katara got to sit next to him? Everything annoyed her... but not more than the freak show happening in front of her.

*Fssht*

The dragon made of flames continued to fly around in the arena as Azula noted how worthless this skill at manipulation of flame was. It was decorative. A luxury. A dragon made of flames would burn an enemy as much as a ball of flame. Read latest chapters at novelhall.com Only

It wasn't like flames had a solid substance that could make use of the dragon horns to pierce something.

Her words made a few of them smile as Yue chimed softly, "I think it's really good. This is my first time seeing something so colorful and festive."

The white-haired exotic treat's ocean-blue eyes reflected the fiery dragon as Nik's smile broadened, "You know, Azula did make a good point. We'd get many things done on the back of the seats." His words made a few bashful as Jin shuffled in her seat. She was somewhat of an... enthusiast of secret plays. Often trying to peep at him even when with other girls.

"But," Turning his head towards Yue, Nik suggested, "Why not volunteer yourself?"

Yue blushed a little before averting her gaze, embarrassed at the thought of it as she mumbled, "I cannot—"

"My friend wants the dragon around her!" Katara declared loudly and grinned as the fire-breather was stunned before making the dragon he controlled flow around the edges of the stage and spoke loudly, "Well, a dragon deserves a sacrifice. Lovely viewer, do step forward."

Shooting Katara an annoyed glare, Yue stepped out with an eager strut. Being the only one with such different hair color, Yue was known by many within and outside of Old Ba Sing Se. The other villagers from Old Ba Sing Se cheered and even a few from the neighboring village knew of the tea store and had Yue waiting on them. Thus... the response she received as she stepped on the stage was astounding. But trailing gazes on her form as she adopted a modest sky-blue kimono top with a white belt over her navy blue pants barely made the former tribal princess uncomfortable.

The flames parted for her as she grew more interested. It was always hard for her to imagine a tool of destruction such as fire used for such entertaining purposes. She'd only heard of festivities as such but seeing with her own eyes was different.

"The Dragon asks the name of the lovely lady who wishes to offer a sacrifice," the fire-breather, a middle-aged man wearing his grey hair back slickly with a thin grey mustache over his lips smiled widely.

"Yue," She smiled and looked around as the flames began to grow lively again. They collected above Yue from the marked perimeter and the dragon's head emerged again.

The fire-breather moved around, his style of bending flames reminiscent of dance as the dragon flew around Yue, making her yelp and clap at times as others cheered, too.

"I almost forgot the tradition to offer sincerity to dragons," Ursa, among others in one of the top seats grew a bit fond of the sight in front of her.

"What do you mean?" Poppy inquired as Ursa shook her head, "Before the war, there was said to be a civilization of the first fire benders. They were also considered descendants of the extinct dragons. One of their traditions included letting a Dragon test their hearts."

"All the dragons, unfortunately, were hunted down," Michi added while looking at Iroh who blinked before stroking his pointed beard and chuckling, "Dragons are far too fearsome. It takes a natural disaster to end another disaster and since the beginning of the hunt, many firebenders used these words as an inspiration."

Poppy's eyes almost popped out, "You fought a dragon?!"

"A blemish in my career," Iroh smiled sadly.

Before Poppy could satiate her curiosity, the flaming dragon opened its fierce fiery jaws and rushed towards Yue. The act made her smile freeze as she stepped back with a frightened expression only for the dragon to stop in front of her and then bow its head.

"The Dragon is pleased!" The fire-breather smiled widely, proclaiming loudly, as he looked at Yue and knelt on a knee with one arm stretched towards her.

"And allow me to express my gratitude for livening the show with your presence."

Although a tiny bit flustered, Yue was quick on uptake and placed her hand on the fire-breather's hand as he pecked the back of her hand before pulling back and clapping.

"That was amazing~! Did you see that?" Yue returned to her seat with a chipper smirk before sitting next to Katara as Nik snickered, "Of course, we did."

"Now, now... you should have had some sleep before coming," Nik smiled, his hand around her shoulder as he pulled her close and let her head lean against his shoulders. Still, Katara grumbled, "I can't be sleeping when you managed to do THAT," Katara emphasized one skill that amazed and scared her to the point that she wanted to master it without a doubt to defend against it.

"Sleep is required for progress," Suki smirked, "After all, it is during resting that our bodies digest most of the results and gains of the day."

Katara snorted but didn't reply and snuggled against Nik now that she had a chance and finally... remembered something.

She stared at a set of blue eyes looking back at her unblinkingly with a weird, almost nauseous expression, making Katara scowl at Akkos who looked away while shrinking his neck. She wasn't about to let that disguised brother of hers stop her from resting with her lover.

'But... I should maybe talk about Nik being an outsider. Can't leave without him and Sokka also feels responsible for the village...' Katara made up her mind internally.

She needed to start from somewhere and since there still wasn't any information on her father, Katara wanted to have this discussion with Sokka. She was sure Suki, Michi, and others had their own considerations while Jin, June, and Azula weren't even aware of it.

Purring, Katara hummed against Nik's neck, "I still can't sleep and miss out on their show... and Pippinpaddleopsicopolis is next alongside Ty Lee."

Amazingly, only Katara managed to speak the entire name of the sage beside Nik as others didn't even try.

The show the four presented didn't require any volunteers because their game was actually skilled and dangerous, more so than a construct of flaming fire which Nik was now interested in practicing himself later just for the sake of refining his control. While Iroh was correct that fancy constructs didn't mean anything in a battle but Nik had a number of theories now long present in his mind that stated the higher the control in fire bending, the better the ability to manipulate lightning.

Nus would form rings of floating Lava and move them around as Sokka threw his boomerang that flew through every one of these circles of lava and then Aner used the giant barrels of water to create a miniature, contained swirl over which she stood.

Michi, however, almost leaped from her seat, fully intending to demonstrate her recent gains under Suki's spartan Kyoshi training and spank Mot-Mot who had the wits of a monkey to jump through the hoops of lava one by one with a massive, uncaring grin. And she would have most certainly ruined the show if not for Poppy holding her back with a wry and slightly empathetic expression. Toph happened to be a handful at times, too.

Well... it wasn't as dangerous as it looked since Nus happened to be an expert lava bender, a realm Nik strived to attain. Just because Nik was considered an expert in earth bending by the status of infinity didn't mean he was an expert lavabender, too.

All in all, Nik and others were certainly entertained. Well, entertainment was only one of the reasons why they came here, however. The other was for Mai and Azula, especially Mai, to have a good look at her friend. In their words, all they needed to know about Ty Lee was having a good look at her which was weird because... Azula hadn't seen the woman in years but her similar response to Mai just made Ty Lee all the more impressionable even if Nik hadn't met her yet.

'The one with six other sisters, huh... they must have one crazy father,' Nik chuckled internally. From her description to her background and not to mention, the boasts from the circus posters, everything painted Ty Lee as a woman that garnered interest.

Finally...

"And NOW!" the circus master gave a wide grin. His voice grew even louder as he revealed himself to be a firebender, too, with his arms spread out and the flames from the torches burning even higher out of a sudden, "Hold your breaths for the great Pippinpaddleopsicopolis, the master of Sky Bisons, and the Fire Nation's best and cutest acrobat— Ty Lee!"

"Did he just say cutest? Doesn't she have six identical faces back home or did they die?" Azula raised her brow in surprise.

"No... they're alive. Most probably Ty Lee had it added..." Mai narrowed her gaze and Azula blinked before shaking her head. This was very much in line with the Ty-Lee they knew. The one who wanted all eyes on herself.

***

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