Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender, and make no profit from this fanfiction.
Motives
by Katako-Chan
Mai was never one for saying much. Her mother, commanding and overbearing, had seen to it. A proper lady mustn't speak unless a delicate blossom of speech is to bloom from her mouth. A proper lady never insults directly, but lets a creeping vine of ivy strangle her victim with all the grace of a Fire Nation noble. And most importantly, a proper lady never complains.
Complaints are the thorns upon a rose, and a proper Fire Nation lady is a blood red rose in full bloom. Leafless, for no attachments; thorn less, for no complaints.
Raised in such a structured society, Mai was taught how to cultivate her words so they were as lovely as the palace gardens in the summer. As the daughter of an esteemed nobleman of the Fire Lord's court, she was expected to calmly wait out her days saying silly, pretty things about marrying for love like her peers, but dutifully go through a marriage with whoever was her betrothed.
Mai disregarded all of this.
The only words that did leave her mouth were the strictly forbidden complaints. In a dry, bored tone did they come, sarcastic and sincere simultaneously. Insults were straight and to the point; she never saw the purpose of slowly bringing something down for her own pleasure. That was Azula's department.
Mai never waited. She wasn't a helpless noble's daughter, caught up by chance in the crossfire. All noble children, regardless of gender, were trained in self-defense, but the girls generally forgot the training the minute the class was finished. Mai didn't. She perfected her art, thrown weapons, until she, thought to be weak and meek, was a force to be reckoned with.
When Azula asked Mai to join her in her Avatar Hunt, Mai joined her under the pretense of leaving dull, boring Omashu. Her reasons were sincere, but not the full truth. One never told the full truth to Azula, and Mai knew this full well. Tell Azula the full truth, and your life is forfeit.
Fire Nation nobility is a society of people who help each other under the pretense of friendship, but never tell each other the full truth. They each have their own motives. Those who tell the truth are weaklings, quickly eliminated. Those who tell the truth aren't worthy of the proud, noble heritage of Fire Nation. Those who tell the truth are like Zuko; weak, disgraced, banished, exiled, lovable, gone.
In addition to hunting down the Avatar, Mai knew that Azula planned to encounter Zuko, and if all went according to her evil, twisted plans; bring his head back to Ozai on a golden platter. Azula never stated her plans to do so, but Mai knew, and even Ty Lee knew, that the thought lurked at the back of her head, growing, twisting, blossoming into the cruel physical and mental torture that was Azula's trademark.
The plan would meld perfectly into capturing the Avatar. Zuko's inherent weakness would throw him onto the shameful side of the Avatar and his posse. He would travel with them, resolutely begging forgiveness for "past sins" and repeatedly displaying his "change." Azula would track down the Avatar; kill two birds with one stone. The former was something that couldn't be challenged.
But Mai would be there to stop the latter.
Ending Note: Comments and critiques are all welcome! Please review! Your reviews are what keep me inspired!