Don't you just love random ideas that squeeze their ways through the depths of your mind as you're listening to The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee soundtrack on your iPod during a two hour car ride?
It wasn't even sunrise yet, and she was already awake. She tried her hardest not to move, for Zuko was still sound asleep next to her. But the fact that the room looked like it was spinning, and that her stomach felt as if it was churning did not help.
Carefully, Mai wiped the sweat off of her forehead, and turned over to try and fall back asleep. The bed shook slightly, causing a slight discomfort in her stomach. To ease herself, she tried taking a deep breath, still trying to not wake Zuko.
He, however, turned over, and Mai ultimately felt like she was going to vomit. Giving up on trying to stay quiet, Mai sat up and groaned.
She was hoping that Zuko would stir, but sighed when he didn't. The room was still spinning, so she closed her eyes, leaning her head against the bed frame.
It wasn't until her stomach churned again did Mai remove herself from the position she was. Immediately, she got out of bed and ran hurriedly to the bathroom, collapsing when she reached it.
"Mai?" Zuko asked, finally wakeful. He cringed slightly at the sound of retching coming from the washroom. With the sound of water splashing, Mai walked out, her face dripping.
"Are you okay?" He asked, getting out of bed and walking towards her.
"Obviously not." Mai replied, not even bothering to wipe the water off of her face.
"Shall I call for one of the healers?"
"No. I'm fine."
"But you just said that you-"
"I'm fine!" She snapped.
Her stomach now empty, Mai strode over to the bed and managed to fall back asleep, leaving a disgruntled Prince Zuko standing stupidly by the bathroom door.
It was mid-morning when she awoke once more, and instead of feeling like she was going to vomit, Mai felt as if she could eat an entire platypus-bear.
Removing herself from the silk sheets, she walked down a single flight of stairs to the dining room, where Zuko was finishing his own breakfast of fruit and pastries.
"Are you feeling better?" He asked, setting down a half eaten papaya.
"Much." Mai sat down and grabbed an apple, taking a generous bite from it.
"I thought you hated apples," Zuko said, cocking his head slightly.
"Na rilly." She said through a mouthful of the fruit.
Zuko looked at her, as if she had wings sprouting from her ears.
"What?" Mai asked, finishing off the apple, and taking another.
"Should you be eating apples after getting sick?"
"There's nothing wrong with eating fruit." She said simply, biting down hard on the apple.
"Yes, but-" Mai glared at him, causing him to close his mouth.
Zuko sighed. "Alright. I have a meeting today with Uncle, hopefully it won't run too long."
"Have fun drinking tea with the Fire Lord," She snickered, taking yet another apple.
Rolling his eyes, Zuko got up from the table and kissed Mai on the cheek, headed for the war chamber which was on the other side of the palace.
"Can I take your dish, Lady Mai?" A maid appeared at her side, gesturing towards the apple core-covered plate.
Mai nodded, and grabbed one last apple before the other servers cleared the table.
Having nothing better to do, she retreated to the courtyard, and finished eating her apple by the pond. She let the turtle-ducks nibble on the core, leaning against the stone that surrounded the water.
The turtle-ducks quaked happily, swimming around in circles. Mai eventually dropped the apple core in the pond, causing the animals to get scarred. She closed her eyes, leaning her elbow on the edge of the stone surrounding and sitting on the grass.
Though she had woken up only an hour before- not including when she felt sick before dawn- Mai was as tired as if she been awake all night.
"Mai?"
She wanted to open her eyes, but was quite content to keep them closed.
"Mai?" He placed a hand on her shoulder, which caught her by surprise.
"What?!" She gasped, immediately popping her head.
"Why are you sleeping by the pond? Are you sure you're okay?" Zuko asked, helping her up.
"I s-suppose I'm just t-tired today." She said, yawning.
"Are you sure you aren't sick?" He asked yet again.
"Yes, I'm fine."
"Well, come inside for lunch, then maybe you can have a lay-down."
Mai fallowed him back to the palace, just as hungry as she was in the morning.
"And what shall we have the cook make for us today?"
"Something sour. No, salty."
"Okay," Zuko looked at her with a confused look. "Any particular salty food?"
"I could go for a fruit tart." She said, thoroughly thinking abut what she wanted to eat/
"But that's not- Alright." Zuko stopped himself, going over to the cook to tell him to make a fruit tart.
Within the next few minutes, one of the servants brought out a fruit tart, while the other brought out a bowl of rice.
"Mmmm," Mai forgot all aspects of being a proper Fire Nation Lady, and began shoveling down her tart.
"Hungry?" Zuko asked, chuckling.
She shot daggers at him- through her eyes, not her stilettos- causing the prince to back off.
"Testy today." He murmured to himself, so as to not let Mai hear him.
Mai finished her lunch- well, desert- in a matter of moments, looking thoroughly satisfied.
"I think I am going to have a lay-down." She said, letting the servants clear her place.
"Should I come for you at anytime?" Zuko asked.
"No, that won't be necessary." Mai replied, shaking her head.
As she was about to climb up the stairwell, he tugged at her sleeve, and she turned around.
Kissing her lightly, he said, "Are you sure you're feeling alright?"
Mai rolled her eyes, and gently pushed him away, walking up the stairwell. She was unusually tired today, and immediately fell asleep when her head hit the pillow.
It was almost sunset when she awoke, her stomach growling. She was starting to feel like that Water Tribe boy who always ate- according Zuko's stories from helping the Avatar.
There was a knock on the door, and Zuko walked in quietly.
"Oh, you're awake." He said, sitting on the bed next to her. "You were sleeping for most of the afternoon. Ty Lee came by, looking for you. She wanted to tell you something."
"I have a craving for nuts." Mai said abruptly.
"Er. . ." He looked at her.
"Roasted nuts." She confirmed.
"Okay, then. Well, I go and tell one of the maids." The prince got up, looking befuddled, and went to fetch a maid.
Zuko returned within the minute, his confused expression wiped from his face.
"How did the meeting go today?" Mai asked, sitting up on the bed.
"Uncle droned on about how the Fire Nation needs more tea shops to attract more tourist." He sighed.
"Tourist?"
He nodded. "There's also going to be a fancy party, celebrating the peace treaty between us and the Earth Kingdom, next week. We're obligated to attend."
"We're?" Mai questioned.
"Your parents are going to be there." Zuko replied, half-smiling.
She made a noise that sounded like a cross between a groan and a sigh, witch frightened the maid that was walking in with the roasted nuts.
"The n-nuts you requested, Pr-prince Zuko." The maid spluttered, holding them out with her shaking hands.
"Yes, thank you," He relieved the women of the nuts, sending her off to help the others.
Mai looked at them, pursing her lips.
"I'm really not that hungry." She said, laying back down.
Zuko looked only slightly dumbfounded.
I know, I'm over exaggerating things a bit, so far.