Azula gets a surprise

"Ladies and gentlemen!". The ringmaster, a tall woman in a top hat, raised a hand, calling for silence. Almost the whole town stood in a mass before the stage, chattering excitedly, wearing their best festival outfits. Gradually, they fell into a hush. The ringmaster drew herself up.

"Welcome," she said, "to the Festival of the Bathing Maiden. As you know, this special day commemorates the founding of the hot springs around which our beautiful town is built. Here we have the spirits of cleanliness, represented by these four lovely models."

Four gorgeous women in kimonos, holding buckets of soapy water and big bristly scrubbing brushes, beamed and waved to the audience.

"Here we have the spring itself, represented by this wooden bathtub."

Steam rose gently from the warm water in the knee-high tub.

"And now, our special maiden will arrive!"

The ringmaster pointed to the door at the back of the stage. The musicians gave a drum roll, fading into silence as absolutely nothing happened. The ringmaster coughed.

"I said," she said, "and now..."

The door flew open. A very naked, very muddy princess of the Fire Nation tumbled out onto the stage. The ringmaster's jaw dropped.

"Where's your swimsuit?" she hissed, grabbing Azula's arm and pulling her towards the bathtub. "You're late! Now you'll just have to do it naked!"

"I... what? Unhand me at once, you..."

Azula stopped. She had suddenly realised where she was. The stage had been assembled in the main square, and hundreds of people had shown up to see the day's special performance. She was standing before all those hundreds of people. With no clothes on. Naked.

"...um," she whimpered. "Could you let go of me, please?"

"Well, folks, it looks like our silly little model has forgotten her swimsuit! Or maybe she's just a big believer in historical authenticity! Anyway, the show must go on, am I right?"

"Wait! No! Listen, I'm... I'm a princess!"

"Did you hear that, folks! She's a princess! And now she's going to be a nice clean princess!" With a slap on the butt, the ringmaster **** Azula to step into the tub. Bubbling warm water came up to her knees. She tried to kneel down and hide herself, but a swift yank on the elbow **** her back to her feet. The women in kimonos grinned as they stepped forward, brandishing their brushes.

"Look how muddy she is, girls! She's going to need a lot of scrubbing!"

"Hey! Stop! Don't! That tickles... aahh!"