Mai's story

Eight year old Mai sighed, Azula had just walked over to her closely trailed by Ty lee. Azula had started going to the fire academy for girls two years ago and Ty lee had immediately made friends with the fire nation princess. Even though Mai was a year older then Azula she had to admit that she respected her.

Azula had every body fooled. They all thought that Azula was generally a nice kid a kid with the occasional temper tantrum but if you were the princess that was considered spunk. Mai had seen right through it the moment Azula had walked through the door with a predatory smile lighting up her face.

Mai had given Azula the bare minimum of a smile when the younger girl had changed her expression the moment she had caught sight of the teacher. The expression had changed to one that only wanted acceptance and to please, but what had made the normally bored and aloof Mai smile was the fact that the young princesses smile was completely fake. Azula had seen Mai's slight smile and knew that Mai had seen right through her façade but what she also knew was that Mai wouldn't tell. That the older girl was amused and would rather sit back and see how things played out.

Azula stopped about a foot away from Mai. school had just ended and the young ladies were waiting to be escorted home. Mai turned to give the traditional fire nation bow to the young princess. By bowing Mai had signified that she knew that the younger girl had a higher status then she did. Then Ty lee had stepped forward and bowed to Mai. Ty lee's bow wasn't nearly as good as Mai's ( then again Mai's parents had been coaching her in politics and such since she could walk) but at least the girl had known that Mai was higher ranking then herself. Azula pulled herself up to full height with a look of supreme self confidence and spoke to Mai for the first time.

"I was wondering if you would like to come with me and Ty lee this afternoon to the palace that is"

The young princesses words came out like a request but looking into her eyes you could tell it was an order. Ty lee seemed oblivious and hugged Mai tightly when she pulled away she said

"this is going to be so much fun we can play games and talk all night, well except that I have to be home by sundown and then I'll have to talk to my lame sisters"

Ty lee's words had started out excited but towards the end they had caused the girl to scowl, then she started smiling again and looked like she was going to say something but were cut off by Azula.

"so I take it you accept my kind invitation considering you haven't left with your escorts yet"

Azula said still looking as if she thought that she was queen of the world. Mai turned around slowly but with grace. She hide her surprise that Azula had been right with a mask of indifference that she had so skillfully crafted. She must have been more focused on the two girls then she had originally realized.

"I would be ecstatic to join you this afternoon"

Mai said her voice clear of all emotion. She knew that if she refused her parents would find out one way or other and they would not be pleased. As well as the fact that she was genuinely curious as to what the princess was planning. Azula had never talked to her before this.

"good. now send away your escorts and tell them to pick you up at five o'clock this afternoon if things go well I will be inviting you to join me tomorrow afternoon as well".

Mai knew that she should be in absolute awe and that the princess would normally have expected people to be in shock down on their knees thanking her.

But Mai wasn't that kind of person instead her response was

"It would cause me a great deal of satisfaction to serve you"

Her expression hadn't changed the least bit. Azula had been watching Mai for some time before this and hadn't expected Mai to be like that. Which was one of the reasons she was standing here talking to Mai. Sure it was fun to have people react that way but it usually turned from amusing to annoying in only a matter of minuets. Mai then turned to her escorts

"you heard her"

She said to them in her dry voice. They immediately saluted and began to make their way to Yin Xio mansion (where Mai lived). Azula's palanquin showed up about then.

"it's about time"

Azula said as she climbed in. Both Mai and Ty lee ignored this comment and walked next to the palanquin. Mai had know idea that this would be only one of many walks with Ty lee and herself next to Azula's palanquin.

They made it to the palace in under twenty minuets. It surprised Mai that the palace was so close to the school. This wouldn't be the first time that Mai had been to the palace in fact she was here more then at her own home.

Lately her parents had come into favor with the royal family and Mr. and Mrs. Yin Xio were called about some meeting or other and they always dragged along their perfect only child who they had taught not to speak unless spoken to and what to say when she was to speak how to walk, bow, and even sit. Though the pair thought that they knew every thing about their daughter if you asked them her favorite color or her opinions they wouldn't be able to tell you.

In fact it was doubtful that they even knew their daughter had feeling's and if she did she certainly didn't show them you can guess who's fault that is.

Ursa watched as Azula entered the palace courtyard from her window. She noticed two girls walking beside her daughter. One of course was Ty lee the pink clad girl had showed up every afternoon for the past two years. Ursa was still amazed at the never ending amount of energy the young girl had. It looked as if it was physically impossible for Ty lee to stand still.

Which seemed to stand out even more today while she flipped around the older girl standing next to her. The older girl was wearing red and black traditional fire nation robes and looked about as bored as humanly possible. Which was strange in itself considering people were almost never bored around Azula. Ursa took a closer look at the girl and realized that was the Yin Xio's daughter. She had seen the girl many times of late and had never seen the girl smile or laugh or show any expression other then the bored mask she was wearing now.

The only time she showed any type of emotion was when they were talking of battle strategy even at so young of an age you could tell she understood just about everything they said even when they spoke of weapons and fire bending forms. She was extremely bright though it was quite apparent that her parents didn't see it. The young girl would make a powerful ally when she was older. Ursa thought this as she was looking down at the three girl's and her golden eyes rested on her daughter she realized that maybe she wasn't the only one who had spotted Mai's potential.

Walking into the palace court yard Mai had spotted princess Ursa watching them enter she hadn't paid to much attention to it. When the three young girls made their way to about the middle of the courtyard Azula turned to the two other girls. "I have fire bending training to do now so you two wait for me to get back"

"of course Azula"

said Ty lee who was hanging upside down on a tree branch.

Mai just nodded her agreement and gave a slight bow to the princess. Azula seemed pleased as she turned on her heel and left the two. Ty lee jumped from her branch with a smile that would make a clown envious.

"we are going to be such great friends I can feel it"

Ty lee said happily.

"I'm sure we are"

Mai said with a raised eyebrow looking as if she thought Ty lee was crazy for even thinking such a thing.

"you know your aura would be so much brighter then that dingy gray if you just smiled" Ty lee said

apparently unable to keep silent for more then a moment. Mai had noticed it on the way to the palace but hadn't really thought about it since it was mostly directed towards Azula, but now that the other girl wasn't there Ty lee had directed her attention solely on Mai. For some reason Mai had the suspicion that Azula had done that on purpose.

"my what?"

Mai asked remembering Ty lee's question.

" your aura it's this thing around your body that shows different colors coordinating to your personality"

Ty lee said actually sounding pretty smart for a minuet before giving a girlish giggle. Mai just nodded she really didn't care about what Ty lee was saying, chances were the younger girl really was crazy anyway.

"so what is Azula like"

Mai asked after a few seconds of silence. Personally Mai didn't mind the silence but Ty lee had looked like she was going to explode.

"oh, Azula is well Azula. She's smart, athletic, and even funny in a way sometimes. Azula's just perfect."

Ty lee said, at first she had looked nervous but towards the end she had gained confidence. Mai nodded. Her suspicions had been correct. Azula used fear, her cunning, and her status to get people to do what she wanted. It was obvious from the way that Ty lee spoke of Azula.

As Mai thought about it she wondered if she had the choice of turning back and not coming here would she have done it. She knew that if she stayed she would be forced to serve Azula. If she went home it would be back to her parent's and dreadful tea parties with other nobles daughters and being patronized and annoyed by every one and every thing. Service to Azula would probably be interesting at the very least so Mai decided at that moment that even if she had the choice she would have still come.

Mai half heartedly listened to Ty lee telling her some anecdote about one of her sisters when she noticed the fire nation princess Ursa walking by with her son Prince Zuko at tow. Mai bowed to them both as did Ty lee. Zuko looked uncomfortable with the attention.

"how are you two this afternoon"

Princess Ursa asked.

"oh were doing great I was just telling Mai about this one time my oldest sister pushed me down some stairs it hurt really bad and I couldn't walk for weeks it was so boring"

Ty lee said with an extra cheerful smile.

"well I'm glad your okay"

said Princess Ursa

"aren't you glad Zuko"

Ursa said turning to her son.

"mom, how many times do I have to tell you that Azula is evil and that means that she probably has friends that are evil. So why may I ask would I care about what happens to evil people"

Zuko said rolling his eyes as if it was obvious.

" ZuZu I must admit that I have questioned your sanity before but doesn't it kind of cross the line when you start saying that people that you don't even know are evil"

said the voice of Azula as she walked towards them.

"I think Azula's right you owe these girl's an apology"

said Ursa. Zuko looked like he was going to argue as he looked into the smug eye's of his younger sister but decided against it.

"I'm sorry"

Zuko grumbled but it definitely looked like he didn't mean it.

"of course I forgive you Zuko"

said Ty lee enthusiastically and looked like she was going to give him one of her famous hugs but was stopped by Azula

"you don't want to get Zuko germs on you"

was Azula's explanation. Ty lee just shrugged and seemed to go back to her own little world. Zuko turned to Mai.

"no need to apologize to me prince Zuko, to some degree I probably am evil"

if Mai was joking she didn't show it.

"well you both can leave now"

said Azula looking annoyed. Ursa seemed to take the hint. Since she wasn't in the mood to argue with Azula and she really had no reason to stay Ursa left with her son.

"finally their gone"

said Azula sitting down and impatiently gesturing for the two of them to do the same.

"so did the two of you do any thing interesting while I was gone"

Azula asked curiously. Ty lee sighed and said

"no, nothing really ever happens when your not around"

Azula nodded looking as if she had expected that kind of a response.

" so how was your training session"

Mai asked changing the subject gracefully and skilled just the way her parent's had taught her. Azula knew that Mai was changing the subject but her pride in fire bending and in herself won against the subtle urge to call the older girl out on it.

After about an hour and a half of talking about fire bending and how great Azula was at it Azula looked as if she had suddenly remembered something

"Mai I want you to switch to a knife throwing class instead of that boring tea serving class you take now"

Mai looked down at her hands she wasn't sure how she was to get this seemingly simple task done. Her parents had chosen all her of classes and tea serving happened to be one of their favorites. Instead of voicing all these concerns she turned to the younger girl.

"as you wish princess Azula"

Mai replied. This was going to be nearly impossible but maybe if she told them it was under princess Azula's order they may be a little more understanding. Her parents would do anything for the royal family as long it kept them in favor and just maybe listening to the young princess would qualify.

"what does Ty lee take as her extra classes"

Mai would have asked Ty lee this question but the pink clad girl was busy doing flips and other tricks across the courtyard.

"just classes on the human body"

Azula answered with a shrug.

"and why is that"

Mai asked surprised. Her surprise didn't come from the fact that Ty lee was taking those kinds of classes but the fact that Azula was letting her. Azula seemed to have figured out Mai's reasoning with more difficulty then normal for she usually relied on reading peoples faces to see what they were really thinking. Obviously this would not be the case Mai but she knew that Mai knew exactly what she really was and could figure out the meaning of the older girls words.

"if Ty lee learns about the human body she will also learn where the nerves in the human body are"

Azula said

"chi blocking"

Mai said instantly understanding where the girl was going with her words. Azula was pleasantly surprised that Mai had caught on so quickly she'd practically had to spell it out for Ty lee. At first Ty lee didn't like the idea of taking away someone's ability to move but she had early on discovered that she was a natural at it and had decided that maybe it wasn't as bad as she thought it was going to be.

"why did you chose me Azula"

Mai asked she knew it was risky but the question had been bugging her all after noon. Azula smiled

"maybe I'll tell you one day, or maybe you'll just have to figure it out on your own".

Mai said nothing she had known that she probably wouldn't get a straight answer from Azula.

At the end of the after noon Azula walked Ty lee and Mai to the palace gates.

"I expect to see both of you tomorrow afternoon" said Azula.

"of course"

said the two other girls. Mai and Ty lee bowed joined their escorts and parted way's.

When Mai arrived home that afternoon she was ambushed with questions by her parents.

"how did it go"

both of them basically shouted. Mai was unmoved and just shrugged looking as always bored. Her parents hadn't really ever minded before when she first started this attitude they had assumed it was merely a phase. But at it had started getting annoying about two month's ago. At times like this they just wanted to shake her out of it but they knew that would never work.

"did it at least go well"

Mai's father asked.

"don't know Azula isn't big on telling you where you stand, she prefers to keep you a little off balanced"

Mai said nonchalantly.

"but you didn't even get the slightest hint"

Mai's mother asked desperately. Mai decided to take pity upon her parents even if it was fun to see them squirm like this.

"well she did invite me over tomorrow as well and I don't think anything went badly"

Mai said. Both of her parents breathed a sigh of relief they knew Mai could sometimes not be the easiest person to be around.

"don't mess up"

Mai's father said glaring down at his daughter. Mai looked completely emotionless as she answered

"I wasn't planning to"

Mai turned on her heel and walked to her room with out another word.

Mai would never admit it but she greatly enjoyed spending time with Azula and Ty lee every day after school, and apparently Azula felt the same way for she sent for the both of them not only after school but every day know matter what day it was. Despite how hard both Mai and Azula had tried to stay formal they found themselves quickly becoming best friend's much to Ty lees satisfaction.

Ty lee knew that both her new friend and old one were not the most emotional of people and had wondered often if they could ever truly be friends. Mai admired Azula's fearlessness and determination. Sure the younger girl could cruel and had a twisted sense of humor but in her own way she could be both nice and loyal. Like an example of Azula being nice was on Ty lee's birthday Azula had a circus come in just for her.

Though she did end up regretting that one when all Ty lee started talking about was joining the circus. She showed her loyalty when she had the choice of waiting for their escorts after school with the other fire benders or Mai and Ty lee and she chose the latter. Mai enjoyed Ty lee's company because of her ability to know matter what remain positive, and believe it or not the younger girl was pretty humble. Mai spent all her life around people who thought that they were the best at every thing Azula being an amazing example but Ty lee wasn't like that. The younger girl liked praising others even more then she enjoyed receiving them. Though she did indeed enjoy her share of the spotlight.

Mai's knife throwing classes were going great. At age eight and a beginner she was doing stuff designed for people who had been training with knives for over a decade (yeah I know it's a stretch but give me a break I am a really big Mai fan) and had quickly become the best in both the boy's fire academy as well as the girl's. At first Mai's parents hadn't been to excited about their young daughter giving up such a helpful subject like making tea for knife throwing which Mai will never need. Protection is what guards were for, but when they got a messenger hawk from fire lord Ozia saying that Azula had requested Mai's transfer they no longer had too much of a say in the matter.