Hi, Avatar people. This is a weird idea I've been having about the future of Avatar. I promise to try my very best to keep all the characters IC and I want people to let me know if they are getting OOC. This takes place three years after the Finale. Thank You and Enjoy.

I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender

Love lives in strange places
It's the obvious that never shows
It just might find you when you least expect it
You'll never know, you'll never know
Until you just let go ~ Kelly Rowland. (Love Lives In) Strange Places

Book 4: Jiāng lái: The Future ( 將來 )

Chapter One: The Fortuneteller Part 2

The sun was just drifting over the horizon as Appa flew into Makapu Village with Aang, Zuko, Mai and Katara in tow. Appa let out a low roar as his feet touched the ground. Aang turned to the passengers with a smile.

"Here we are guys. Makapu Village," he announced.

Mai looked over the saddle, down at the village with an upturned nose. It wasn't anything impressive and yet Katara had insisted to bring her here. It was a way for them to bond since Zuko and Katara were the best of friends these days.

"Are you sure this is where you want us to be Katara?" Mai asked trying to contain the boredom in her voice.

"Yep, Aunt Wu is a great fortune teller. It'll be worth the ride," she said before turning to Aang with a pout. "I wish you would just come Aang it'll be fun."

Aang air bended off of Appa and shook his head. "Sorry Katara, but I think I'll take a page out of Iroh's book and stick to enjoying the present."

Katara climbed off Appa, followed by Zuko who helped Mai down. She still wasn't used to flying, but she secretly loved it. As Zuko lowered her down she whispered in his ear.

"You better not leave me alone with her, Zuko. I mean it not after last time," she said harshly.

Zuko looked over and saw Aang and Katara talking before turning back to his fiancée placing her on the ground. "Oh come on Mai she's isn't so bad. Besides didn't you say you had fun last time you guys went out?"

Mai frowned and dusted herself off. "That was because Toph was around and we were making fun of Katara behind her back."

It was Zuko's turn to frown at Mai. "You promised me you would be good."

Sighing she patted Appa gently. "I am being good."

You just expect me too much from me.

Katara walked up them both and placed a hand on Zuko's shoulder. "You two ready to go?" she asked with a small smile.

Zuko nodded returning the smile half-way. "Yeah I'm ready."

"You Mai?" she asked tilting her head to side to make eye contact.

"I'm all a-twitter."

"Good," Katara answered not hearing the sarcasm. "Then let's head out." She led them down the street, pausing to give Aang a kiss. "I'll see you in an hour. Don't forget to book the hotel," she reminded him.

"Don't worry Katara," Aang told her as he watched her and the other's go. After a moment he looked up at Appa. "Well I better do what she says before I end up in the bison house again. You go and find a good time buddy."

Appa let out a roar before licking Aang and flying off.

Three years had passed since the defeat of Fire Lord Azula and Phoenix Lord Ozai. Zuko had taken his father's throne and all the power, authority, legacy of hate built behind it. The people did not easily accept since a young ruler, never the less one who had been expelled from his Nation twice. Yet, he quickly showed a return to the old ways. The ways before Sozien, before the war. He'd even established a Senate, built up of delegates from around the Fire Nation.

Mai stayed by his side the whole time, quickly melting into her role as the royal girlfriend. Palace life had not been an easy step. She didn't care for the mingling and high-strung politics, but she did handle herself as gracefully as any Consort and in three months from now, she would officially be Fire Lady Mai, consort to the Fire Lord. That's what the people expected. To do otherwise would be…ludicrous.

Aang and Katara had blossomed into a couple over the years of rebuilding as the shining stars of the world. Their love had become the inspiration of books, plays, toys, etc. The whole world was watching them. Their love made everything right. It made the Avatar strong and kept him human. Katara was the people's way into the heart of Aang. If Katara asked Aang to do something he would do it and this was a balance no one wanted to see broken. A balance of love, trust, politics and duty that kept everything together.

But unfortunately order never stays unchallenged especially when it depends on the love between two people.

"I need two rooms with two beds each please," Aang asked as he rang the bell for the bookkeeper.

The man quickly turned around and broke into a smile as he saw the Avatar. "Good morning Avatar Aang! Welcome, Welcome. Of course you can have everything you like." He peaked around him holding the keys out. "Where is the Lady Katara?"

"At Aunt Wu's place to get her fortune told with Fire Lord Zuko and Lady Mai," he informed the man as he took the keys and placed them inside of his shirt. He bowed to the man. "Thank you for your assistance."

"Pisha, anything for the Avatar."

Aang crept out of the store and opened to door to find a crowd of people outside. They were yelling and screaming out for him making all kinds of demands.

"Please bless my child…"

"Can you marry my daughter?..."

"Can I pet your lemur?..."

"Ugh," Aang mumbled as he felt his body being pressed up against the wooden door of the hotel as the crowd closed in on him. The diaper of a baby was in his face. Only one word ran through his mind and that was escape, but too many people were on top and around him. He might hurt someone. "Please…need…air…"

"Blessed Lady Katara can you heal my leg!" a female voice cried out from the crowd and the mob instantly turned in the direction of the voice looking for the "Blessed Lady Katara".

Aang fell to his knees as she tried to catch his breath. "That…was…close," he breathed. A shadow came over him and the same female voice that had cried out from before was heard.

"I know good thing I managed to distract them. You're a very important person Aang," she said with a hint of laughter in her voice.

Looking up Aang saw a girl, about fifteen, standing in front of him. She was tanned, not as tanned as Katara but still slightly dark. Her eyes were a dark grey color that almost looked brown and her hair was long and wavy with one strand in the front tied into a braid right by her long bangs. The purple kimono top and black pants she wore made her look slightly Water Tribe, but Aang knew that she couldn't be.

The girl tilted her head and looked down at Aang with a smile, showing off a mouth of white teeth. "You sure have grown up since the last time we've met."

Blinking Aang scratched his scalp. "Um? Are you sure we've met?" He looked at her again. "I can't recall your face."

"Really now?" she said with a half-smile. "Well maybe this will remind you." She cleared her throat and her voice went up higher. "And you've got some pretty big ears, don't you?"

Aang's eyes widened as he jumped up from his kneeling position on the floor. "Meng!"

"Ding! Give the boy a prize," she said as Aang embraced her in a hug which she happily returned.

"Wow," Aang exclaimed as he pulled back. "You look so different."

Meng nodded and laughed. "It's the hair and the teeth. Puberty had its blessings. But you," she said slyly as reached up to pat his head, "are so tall now. What are you 5'6?"

Aang puffed out his chest slightly and smirked. "Actually I'm 5'7. But what are you doing around here. I thought you would be at Aunt Wu's?"

The black haired girl shook her head. "No, I've been traveling for the past year all around the world. Today is actually my second day back."

"Really? What were you doing all that time?"

Meng waved her hand in the direction of Aunt Wu's place. "Come over and I'll tell you all about it over some snacks. I fact I have some question's to ask you if you don't mind."

"Sure, I have to meet Katara there anyway."

"Great it can be one big reunion…"

Katara hugged Aunt Wu tightly as soon as the old woman passed through the doors. Aunt Wu laughed and patted Katara on the back.

"Welcome back young one, I'm surprised to see you here. Didn't you get enough answers out of me the last time?" Aunt Wu asked with a slightly tired but happy tone.

"I'm not here for me," Katara said as she pulled Mai from next to Zuko and presented her to Aunt Wu. "I wanted Mai here to experience your wonderful talents. I think she would truly appreciate it."

Mai just nodded since Katara seemed to sell the idea better than she wanted or could do. Aunt Wu looked Mai over and opened her arm in the direction of the fortune room.

"Well come in my dear and have a seat."

Looking back at Katara's excited expression and Zuko's expression of sympathy Mai sighed and walked into the room. Seeing the fire in the middle she stopped slightly. Was this lady just a firebender who used her powers to trick people? The door closed and Aunt Wu sat down near Mai.

"Well aren't you going to sit down?" she asked the young woman.

"I'm gonna be honest with you. I don't believe in fortune telling I'm only here to 'make a good impression'," as Zuko had so often put it. He was lucky she loved him.

Patting the pillow in front of her she looked up at Mai with a gentle smile. "I don't mind skepticism darling, it's the sign of brilliance."

Mai couldn't help at smile at that statement and slowly lowered herself onto the pillow, folding her legs over the other. Aunt Wu made a motion that she wanted Mai to stick her hand out so the golden eyed girl responded.

Aunt Wu touched her palm as a shiver of power flooded through Mai. Almost like a sense of someone touching inside of you.

"You have a very powerful hand Lady Mai…no just Mai, you prefer that," the aged woman said as she passed a finger over the center of Mai's palm. "You are in love deeply and yet you feel like that love if both a blessing and a curse. Your voice is damaged to that of your younger self. Obeying quietly as you are told a proper lady should be. They only see you though that of your lover. Not by your own self. I can feel you are losing yourself slowly under all the things expected of you and it is not only taking away your voice but it is taking away your identity," Aunt Wu looked up at Mai who looked ay Aunt Wu with wide eyes taking in all that she said like it was the word of Agni. Her golden eyes widened with the pleasure of having someone just understand her without words. Having someone see her without having to poke and prod her for words.

Gold and grey met for a moment and Aunt Wu's hand fell over Mai's.

"My dear, I can not read your future now. It has been decided by someone else, not you. You have done nothing to influence your own future. You must go out and create it before I can read it."

Picking up her long dress Aunt Wu rose from her position and Mai slowly followed, her eyes still lost in a daze with the words Aunt Wu had spoken. Nothing fazed her until she heard Katara spoke her name. Mai blinked as she suddenly realized she was back in the waiting room. Katara looked at her slightly confused.

"Well what did you think?" Katara asked.

Mai looked at the Waterbender with a small smile of appreciation. "She was just as good as you said Katara. Thank you for bringing me here."

A/N: Well I wanted to start this story off dramatically. I hope you all enjoyed it. All criticism are welcome and any advice on how to keep characters IC is very welcome.