Disclaimer for the whole story: I DON'T own ATLA

(THIS CHAPTER HAS BEEN EDITED! AS OF 10/9/12)

Chapter 2

The Lonely Fire Lord

"Darling what is going on?
Honestly that never happened ,
Lying is your favorite passion.
Leave me, go where you belong.
Higher heels and lipstick napkins ,

dying is your latest fashion."

The rising sun enlightened every dark corner of his room. He was more than touched by it himself. Thus, feeling the rays of heat sink deep into his pale skin caused his eyes to crack open. He scanned the velvet colored with gold design of the four large walls he was in. Nothing but comfort he felt. Still halfway asleep, he managed to make his way towards the door that led to the bathroom.

Water ran along his face, it was the last night, last morning, and possibly last time he would ever be alone in his room. Commitment did not scare him at all. He was loyal and serious about his word. He felt passionate for those whom he cared for and held strong beliefs along with his ideas. That was the man who he matured out of his boiling blood to be. Before, he was known to be useless, angry, and a pure failure. He was actually not. The Fire Nation's former prince let all these opinionated ideas swallow him and spit him out as a lie, but it all changed when he crossed fate with the Avatar.

Forgiveness

He believed he had to go through in order to accept himself before others could accept him, and he did so. His internal conflict was resolved, expanding his horizons about... well everything. He was happier, let's put it that way. A new person evolved that would commit to his country, friends, people, beliefs, and soon to be wife.

Returning to his king sized bed alone, he laid alone. Today is the official day that the Fire Lord will be not alone anymore but with the Fire Lady at the beginning of sunset. Excitement rushed all over him as he thought about how today's events will go. Sure Zuko loves Mai dearly but…

"Sorry to interrupt but I just wanted to make sure you are up and ready for today's event. Here I brought you breakfast and some tea. Non-sweetened because you're so picky about it too." Iroh came in sounding like a nanny.

Great!

It was possibly his last breakfast in bed too. Zuko nodded his head as a way of saying "thank you" to his uncle. Iroh placed the tray of food on his night stand and sat next to him. Iroh still held his Same appearance not having to given signs of aging in the past few years since the fall of his brother. He was proud, Zuko was who he was destined to turn out to be. A man of true honor. Smiling, he laid on his nephew's bed as if it were his own.

"You seem upset Zuko… is something bothering you?" Iroh looked curious at his nephew's silence. He was expecting Zuko to be well out of bed or already doing something instead of lying there.

"No, it's nothing really." The Fire Lord brushed off.

"Are you sure?" He did not want to be so pushy with him asking a bunch load of blunt questions. Iroh still contained a mellow concerned voice, never demanding.

Zuko closed his eyes. He knew if he looked up or down, Iroh would catch his lie. Side, to side wouldn't help either, it was too fishy. It was a skill he attempt to build with everyone, even with Mai.

"It's just that, I stood up late last night doing some last minute paper work and I'm sort of tired…"

"And…?" The elderly man questioned as he a raised eyebrow. Zuko blinked too rapidly

"I just feel bad that I wasn't abel to make it to the Aang and Toph's wedding."

"Oh oh I see." Iroh nodded and closed his eyes. He knew that this was not the only thing bothering him. There was more, but he would leave it for later. He decided it was enough of questioning his nephew and stood up to leave, stretching as he just got out of hibernation.

"Well instead of killing time this way, we should be killing time by preparing. Servants will be here any minute to assist you. Oh, and I have to tell Fat to prepare the catering service. I'll be back in a few hours!" Iroh walked out of his nephew's private bedroom with a wide grin.

Zuko stood up moments later, he heard the servants knock on his door.

This is going to a long day.

"That is not the color I wanted." Her eyes looked at the servant who brought her sample of the red and orange colored flowers. She blinked rapidly and contained her anger by breathing a few times.

Inhale… exhale.

"But Lady Mai, they are beautiful."

"These are hibiscus, and I clearly asked for marigolds with dark red roses." Mai looked down at the short male servant. He looked fearful but she didn't show anger or hate. Nothing, no emotion what so ever just the composed flawless structure she always had.

"Please make that arrangement to change them, or else. That is all I am asking for. Thank you." With that, the future Fire Nation Lady turned her heel and made her way towards her room. She sat in her dresser and looked in the vanity. Mai didn't like it when other people would touch her. The whole idea of servants helping was okay, but she was pretty picky when it came to them invading privacy.

"Mai!" Mai slightly jumped.

Privacy was so golden.

"Yes Ty Lee?" Mai asked. The brown eyed acrobat was nearly bouncing while walking her way into Mai's room. Her smile was radiant as her eyes were too. Ty Lee had on her Kyoshi warrior outfit since she decided to stay on the island and became a teacher. She taught ad trained young girls the art of chi blocking and other fighting techniques she had up her sleeve.

"I just wanted to know how you're feeling and if you needed help with anything you know, like doing your makeup or something?"

"Weren't you supposed to be helping setting up roof decorations?" Mai blinked rapidly as she brushed her long black silk straight hair. Ty Lee walked over towards her and pulled a chair as she sat next to her.

"I did that already. I did the ballroom, halls, and the garden." Ty Lee said. Mai put her brush down and looked to her left at her long time best friend, wondering why she still had that green get up of hers on.

"The garden doesn't have a roof…" Mai began to wonder off but was cut by the brunette.

"Well I meant I decorated it. You know, glitter, and stuff like that." Ty Lee said. Both girls abruptly jumped as the door somewhat busted open.

Privacy was golden. Mai thought again.

"Lady Mai, your three dresses are here!" The women holding the dresses looked more excited than Mai. Ty Lee had a wide grin on her face. Mai stood up and took them from the servant's hand. Analyzing them for approval she turned to look at her servant's pitch black eyes filled with concern and wonder.

"Thank you." Mai said quietly.

"Do you need help?" The young lady asked while Mai pouted her mouth.

"No thank you, I have Ty Lee here to help me." She shut the door somewhat in a rude way and placed the material on her bed, as Ty Lee stood up very energetically.

"Yay, I get to do something!" Ty Lee exclaimed.

"Don't count on it before I change my mind." Mai sarcastically replied. Ty Lee smiled and threw a pillow at her. Caught off guard, Mai squeaked and darted daggers towards her friend with an annoyed look. The brunette smirked and dogged them. The future Fire Lady smiled.

"Two can play at that game." The jet black haired woman playfully challenged. Ty Lee giggled. She loved bringing out Mai's other side.

"Ty Lee, I don't know why or how I am feeling this, I don't even know if I have proof but I feel like I'm being watched." Mai said out of the blue.

"Watched?" Ty Lee questioned.

"Yes watched." Mai blinked and looked out of her balcony of a few seconds and closed it. She sat back on the stool of her vanity.

"How so?"

"Well, I wake up in the middle of the night for no reason, and I am not the type of person to wake up at night except for that time when we we're younger and we're being ambushed." Ty Lee stood silent and thought of an answer for her friend. Mai was a very alert yet heavy sleeper. The sense of danger would activate when trouble was near, and these past few nights have evoked the sense within her.

"Maybe its Zuko watching over you?" Mai's face changed to a blank one, then annoyed one.

"No." Mai replied bluntly.

"Why not?" Ty Lee asked.

"He wouldn't, cause that's a pretty dumb assumption." Mai answered.

"Maybe you're just nervous or something. Plus, your aura is just grey with a tint of pink." Ty Lee gave her reason. Mai signed and sat down as her happy go lucky friend made her way towards her. She brushed her long black locks behind her shoulder, before beginning to powder pale face.

Honey brown hair swung its way down the corridors of the Fire Nation Palace. Her slanted honey eyes like her hair where captivating. She held documents and paper work that would be soon submitted to the Fire Lord and placed in his office. Opening the door, her eyes searched for anyone in the room as she locked it behind her.

"Linda?" Her eyes widen as her back was turned to the voice that called her name.

"Iroh." She turned to face him with the papers in her hand to show that she did have something to do her other than meddle.

"What can I do for you Linda? Tea?" Iroh asked.

"I came to drop off some paper work and files for the Fire Lord. I know today is a very busy day that won't involve reviewing them but I thought I should do so before I forget and yes I would like some tea." Linda stood still but held her posture. Her plan was ruined.

Iroh examined the Fire Nation noble woman's words, and tone of voice she used.

"Hmm… of course. Here" Iroh grabbed china made tea cup and poured jasmine for himself and the young girl. She walked towards him and grabbed the tea while then, making her way towards the door.

"Thank you I'll be on my way." She bowed while averting her gaze, leaving the room, and closing the door behind her.

Fail.

Linda threw the tea out the window waited around the corner for Iroh to leave. After what seemed to be ten minutes or so, he left.

Satisfaction boiled through her veins as she made her way back to the door to find it locked.

Fool thinks I don't have a key. She thought and unlocked the red with gold colored door.

Back inside, where she was just in slightly fifteen minutes ago, were books all over the place. Each placed on bookshelves, sort of like a mini library of any subject especially Fire Nation History. Portraits of past royalty and some Avatars were hung on the walls. Two large windows covered by long velvet silk curtains with gold Fire Nation symbol designs, on both left and right sides that caused light to enter. In the middle was Zuko's desk where all his paperwork sat. The pale woman walked over and smirked while she looked through Zuko's recent writings and documents.

"Bingo." She whispered to herself as she took the parchment and left the room and locked it behind her.

Mai looked at herself in the mirror. Her face was completely done. Red like yet pink blush speared across her porcelain face. Her eyes had heavy eyeliner with a natural shadow. Her lips had a red like glow, just like her blush. She felt like a clown but shrugged it off and smiled in an odd way when looking towards Ty Lee who was panicking on what to wear. The cheerful young woman picked random clothing out of her closet and brought them to Mai's room asking for her opinion on each set.

"What about this one?"

"It's too short." Mai replied. The brown eyed acrobat took off the short cottoned material dress.

"Didn't you specifically showed me one a few months ago and said 'Mai, this is what I am going to wear your wedding day!'." Mai mocked her while her voice when a few octaves high.

Ty Lee squared her eyes and tried to remember.

And it ranged a bell.

"Yes, yes, yes. I remember. I just forgot what I was holding."

Mai went over to her set of clothing and began looking through her things. She pulled out a long silk bright burgundy dress with the fire nation symbol printed on the bottom half. It was haltered style and had an opening on both right and left sides causing leg exposure up till the mid-thigh.

"This one." Mai handed the dress towards her friend as Ty Lee became thrilled.

"I'm going to go get ready myself." She rejoiced leaving Mai.

"Ok, I'll see you later and if not, at the ceremony."

Ty Lee stopped and had the sudden urge to embrace Mai. Her arms wrapped around the tall noble woman. Mai did not seem stiff at all but embraced her long time friend back. Ty Lee didn't know why she did this. She had a kind heart, and generous soul, but it felt like it was the last time she was going to see Mai… or see her this way.

"I just wanted to say that I'm happy for you, and I hope you enjoy today, and the rest of your new life that you will start officially at sunset. I'm glad to be your friend." Her classic smile sunk into her friend's pale skin. It has been giving her warmth for the past few years of their friendship. She smiled back, returning the love.

"Thank you Ty Lee. I feel the same way. I'm glad you are here. I would have been nice to have Azula with us but…"

"Let's not talk about that, we just have to embrace the good things now."

True.

"Yes. I was thinking I'm going to go talk to Zuko."

"Sure I'll be on my way; I need to do last minute preparations. See you later!" Ty Lee picked up her belongings and made her way out of the room.

Mai left the room and made her way towards Zuko's. She looked at the decorations Ty Lee, servants, and hired workers that had put up. They matched her flowers that she had requested earlier. Happy, she felt at the change of flowers that was done. Suddenl she, she looked to notice there were no roses. She frowned but brushed it off since fall was approaching in a couple of months, and it was reasonable to understand the lack of roses during this late in the summer. After walking a few corridors that felt like forever, she was in front of his door. Knocking.

No answer.

She knocked again.

No answer.

Mai didn't want to open the door. She knew better, and was taught better. Her days with Azula were different. She didn't care what she was doing. As long as she did not disrespect her herself, family, customs, and The Fire Nation, it was all okay.

Traditional much.

"Mai?" Zuko's voice ranged like sacred bells behind her. She turned to face him.

"Zuko."

"Yes?" Zuko questioned her in a childish yet concerned manner. He liked toying with her. He got more comfortable with all the time they have spent. Before, he wouldn't have done that, yet, now he knows about her other hidden side. She looked at him. Blankly didn't reply. Moments passed. Mai looked lost for words. She had it right in her head.

"Mai?"

"Oh um… I just wanted to see you before the wedding ceremony..." she paused remembering a theory her mother said. 'Seeing your bride or husband to be before your wedding on your wedding day is bad luck!' She bit her lip and continued. "and I wanted to say that…"

"Yes." He questioned.

"I feel like I'm being watched." Bluntly her words echoed into his ears.

"Watched?"

"Yes, watched." His reaction was the same as Ty Lee's. Mai inhaled and began to prepare her explanation. "I feel watched because, I wake up in the middle of the night for no reason, and I am not the type of person to do so, unless I sense danger. I was well wondering if… this is embarrassing." Frustrated, she clenched her teeth.

"What is?" Zuko questioned.

"That if you were watching me… Ty Lee assumed it but I'm not sure." Zuko stared at Mai emotionlessly and then did a low chuckle. Mai blushed, and it was not just the blush she was wearing.

"No, I find it amusing because we have a high security, and if someone was watching you or planning something against you, I would have stopped them by now." Zuko placed a warm hug around his soon to be wife's frame.

"Really?"

"Yes." Zuko rested his head on her shoulder and looked up and thought about the time. "We need to get going, and you need to get dressed."

Mai nodded her head and left Zuko. She walked back to her room but still had the sensation of being watched.

The dark eyed girl kept turning her head back. Her eyes felt like they were going in carousels. Round, and round, and never ending. She reached her room and pulled on the knob to step into her room.

She changed into her first dress. The wedding ceremony one, it was traditional white colored with a veil. Stepping into the vanity, the young woman stared at herself. She still felt like a clown not being used to the whole makeup thing, but that didn't really matter.

"Mai!" Mai looked up and made her way towards the scream of her name outside of her door. She opened it only to find her brother bleeding.

"Tom-tom, are you ok? What happened?" She kneeled down to her seven year old brother's level. Mai looked at his wound across his check.

'It looks like if a dagger sliced right threw him, and I know well Tom-tom is not too clumsy to fall and scratch himself. He might be a troublemaker but not an idiot.' Mai thought to herself and began massaging his cut.

"Who did this to you?" Mai asked. Her questioned was answered when a dagger came flying towards her and the young boy. Mai managed to act fast, pushing Tom-tom forward as she leaned her body weight back slightly. Her eyes looked to her right. An average height, and about two inches shorter than her masked figure stood before them. Their whole body was covered allowing them to keep their sexual identity a secret.

Knowing Mai, she pulled out a few pairs of sharp stilettos from her chest, and inner thighs. With a blink of an eye, she threw them at her opponent. The masked figure attempted to avoid them. Mai grunted and with full speed, lashing out more daggers to cause a distraction. This time, she had control, and was able to pin the enemy down into the cold and hard floor.

"Identify yourself before I have your head." Mai spat and held both of the masked mystery's arms above their head and pressed all her body weight onto them. She felt their body, it was soft and slender. Not hard or masculine's like a man's. Mai's face had no emotion but determination. Seeking who would hurt her brother, and herself. ER grip tighten, feeling that her enemy would escape.

'She's most defiantly a woman…' Mai thought to herself as she never kept her eyes off of the body beneath hers.

"I was expecting you to do something like this." Mai's eyes widen when she recognized the voice. The mask enemy took this as an opportunity and switched their positions. The noblewoman's mouth was covered by the masked figure's hand as another held a dagger across her check running smoothly along to her neck. Mai's eyes held a sharp glare at them but widen when they took off their mask a portion of their mask. Their eyes shall haunt her vision forever.

"You may look stronger than me but you are not wiser than me." Mai gazed into their eyes, almost gold like Zuko's but more of a hazel, hazel eyes. "I've always wanted to do this, but never had the balls till now." She grinned, while the dark haired girl beneather her whimpered.

Mai didn't give up however. The tall noble woman took her free hands and began chocking the person above her. The masked mystery stood up before it got too out of hand and grabbed one of Mai's weapons. With a fierce move, the dark figure managed to outsmart Mai by pretending to throw her dagger back at her. Instead, the masked figure moved her mask slightly upward, allowing them to show their pouty mouth and blew flames fire. This time the figure grabbed Mai by her collar. The knife along her jaw line dangerously, and began moving south, eventually slitting her precious throat. Though, that was not enough, her heart was next.

"I wouldn't mind the back you know. Backstabber!" Mai spat out.

With a quick second she plastered the dagger into the most important and electrical organ that sustained her.

Her heart.

"As you wish, my never to be Fire Lady." Smirking she turned Mai around, and dashed the weapon into her back leaving it there.

The masked mystery stood up and looked down at Mai's lifeless body.

Pathetic. They thought.

The masked killer's head ranged and turned quickly to where Tom-tom was. He was gone nothing but the trace of his blood was stained on the floor. The unknown fire bender began running the other way down the hallway.

'Fuck! I'm screwed! I need to get out of here!'

Silence.

"What do you mean she is dead?!" He asked, nearly spilling his tea all over the paperwork. The room began to feel hot, very hot.

"She is dead. D-e-a-d, dead." The guard looked held a serious face while trying to explain the news to Iroh. He looked down then directly at the guard. His head shook. Nothing was going right. The guard nodded his head until Iroh spoke.

"Well, now there is nothing to do but to call everything off." Iroh bit his lip. He was pretty damn excited but he knew something was going to end up perfectly wrong. If the food was going to arrive late, the decorations fell off, or if the bride to be was going to be murdered? Eh, events such as these had to be taken seriously.

"There's only thirty minutes left, Sir. Everyone is here, everything is set up. How can we just call if off? Fire Lord Zuko is already possibly downstairs where the wedding ceremony is going to take place? He will be infuriated!" The guard questioned him while a wave of horror set upon his face

"You do have a point Shoji but how are we going to have a wedding without a bride?"

"… We both know that question but the questions we need to ask are different. The answers to all of this mess is finding out who in Roku's name did it and why did they do it." Shoji stated. He looked down closing his eyes as he thought deeply.

"I don't know what Zuko's reaction will be? I mean like you said, he would be infuriated..." Iroh questioned the young man.

"Wait… wouldn't he be upset or angry?" Shoji asked.

"I don't know. He seemed pretty off this morning like if he just didn't want to go through this. I tried decoding him, but it didn't work. He only told me that he felt bad for missing the Avatar's wedding…" Iroh signed. "But, I know there's more to his mind than what it seems. Something else is bothering him and I'm guessing, Mai."

"Do you think he killed Mai?" The young guard questioned. The middle aged man turned pale and looked at Shoji like he was seriously mentally ill.

"No, never. Zuko wouldn't find murder as the answer to escape, especially on loved ones." Iroh replied calmly.

"I'm guessing we should stop this then, right?" Shoji asked.

"Of course, let me have just one more cup of tea to calm these nerves down." Iroh poured more tea into his cup while offering Shoji a cup also. Both men drank the warm substance while staring out of the window and into where the ceremony was going to be held.

"Uncle?!" Zuko had burst through the door. Both Iroh and Shoji nearly spilled their tea.

Great timing.

"Zuko?" Iroh asked. Shoji raised his left index finger to dismiss himself, but Iroh placed his hand on the soldier's shoulder ensuring him to stay.

"I was in my office and found that one of my documents went missing that was on my desk. I was wondering if you had placed it somewhere." Zuko stated.

Both tea loving men shared glances while Zuko stood there, bewildered.

Are you serious?

They thought it was concern about Mai's incident. Iroh had to bring it up sooner than later.

"No I was in your office a few hours ago arranging the files for your marriage, but never touched your desk." Iroh stopped, but decided to continue. "Zuko, I need to tell you something."

Zuko nodded his head. Shoji was done with his tea and decided to pour himself some more, wanting to avoid the Fire Lord's reaction as Iroh inhaled.

"Mai is dead. Tom-tom told the guards who found her body in front of her bedroom." The middle aged man looked down. He closed his eyes and opened them. He did not feel the room heat up. Shoji bit his lip while his tea cup hugged his lips, slowly sipping, waiting for his Lord's reaction. Zuko didn't show any emotion. He too was looking at the floor.

"Excuse me." Zuko turned his heel and rushed to his room.

Then and there, both Iroh and Shoji felt the hallway heat up. It was pure inferno out there.

Sorry that Katara didn't make an appearance in this chapter, but she will in chapter three. *evil smile

Please review, I would like to read your comments.

So I did some editing on chapter one.

-Thank you Densharrfor correcting me.

-I'll try to update as soon as possible Yuuki Sakurai.

-And, yes. I will continue MADam-Hatter.

-Thank you other reviewers!

This chapter is dedicated to JessicaVirus!

Here is capitulo numero two. Enjoy!

-SweetNightmares