Okay then, although I had a small number of reviews, the ones I did get were quite nice and very encouraging so I thank you for your support. Hopefully this chapter and the next few to come will live up to expectations. On with the story!
This chapter is dedicated to my friend gigirl from DH whose beloved goldfish died not too long ago. This is for you fishy…
All standard disclaimers apply as I own nothing worth mentioning
She was already bored. Sitting in the carriage, Mai looked out the window seeing the countryside fly by. She was being married, to someone she didn't even know. It was some politician, a man esteemed by the government and bestowed with meaningless titles and riches. Nothing would be different from her old home, filled with material possessions carefully crafted images.
This was what she was born to do, at least before her brother arrived. When she was young she had, for a time learned the requirements to maintain the family name. She had enjoyed it and excelled but although she proved adept at it, her parents still needed a boy. They kept trying and trying until much to their joy, they had her baby brother. After that she was basically useless, just another means to strengthen political ties. She no longer went to the Fire Nation Academy and stayed with her mother, learning useless skills suh as weaving and keeping house. Every day as she sat on the loom her ands itched to feel cool metal on her palm again. So, every night she would steal away, knives hidden in her sleeves, and practice in a nearby field. Eventually, she grew bolder, keeping her weapons on her at all times playing with the smooth handles of the knives as she walked the halls. Her parents never knew, they didn't care as they were too preoccupied with Tom-Tom.
The announcement of the marriage didn't surprise her, she knew it was coming after the war ended. Right after she came home her parents plotted, evaluating potential suitors and their family histories and such. Once she heard them bring up Zuko once and her heart leapt to her throat but her parents decided against it. He was a banished prince and therefore not up to standards. Her husband was chosen because of his wealth. He was also a governor in a province near the Earth Kingdom. He was wealthy and his name was untarnished so he seemed like a good match.
Mai remembered as they prepared her for the journey to her new home, her hair was adorned with a heavy headdress that made it hard too keep her chin up. On her neck her mother clasped a necklace with a pendant of the ruby set in gold. It was a family heirloom and she was required to wear it although it was heavy also and she wanted nothing more than to rip off the ornaments and leave. She wore a long dress, red silk with gold flames and dragons embroidered on it. A slit ran up the side of her leg a little too high for her liking but it allowed more freedom of movement. She recalled the make-up applied liberally to her face, making her already pale skin chalk white and her lips and cheeks an unnatural red. Her mother's response to this transformation was sickening,
"Oh, dear you look so wonderful" she cooed as she surveyed her disgruntled daughter, "I'm sure your husband will love you". Embracing her daughter loosely she went on to explain the political gains their family would get from this marriage.
"Mother, I'm not feeling well" Mai lied as she loosened herself from her mother's grasp.
"Oh, I bet you're nervous honey, why don't you go to your room and rest up" replied her mother. As Mai walked away she heard her mother call,
"Don't muss your hair!"
Entering her room, Mai quickly began strapping on holsters and hiding knives in her sleeves. It was habit, and having her weapons made her feel more secure as she headed out to her new home.
Mai's reverie was interrupted by a large shaking of the carriage. Immediately her hands went for her knives but she relaxed as she realized that it was just a bump in the road. She wondered what Zuko was thinking about at the moment and her painted lips cured upwards as she remembered the kiss from the night before. She didn't mean to become so emotional, it wasn't like her but when she finally was able to set him free, she just had to say something.
Ever since she was a child she adored Zuko, maybe it was his rebellious attitude or the fact that he didn't follow all the set rules, she was attracted to him. It was what made her go to Azula to ask for his liberation. She knew of course, she always knew but she used any information as a weapon and that was what she did to Mai. Although Zuko was now free, he would never be able to see her again.
A sudden stop almost made Mai fall out of her seat, an old man appeared at the door.
"Welcome to your new home madam"
He lead her to a large room filled with gaudy decorations. She fell to her knees bowing her head down low as her future husband spoke,
"Welcome Mai"
Her eyes narrowed, his voice was raspy and although she could not see him, she already hated her husband.
He didn't know why her leaving bothered him so much, more so than before. Questions ran amok in his head as he lay in bed, waiting for the morning to come. Why? He thought to himself, why would Mai do such a thing? Zuko remembered seeing the fire in her eyes as she drew away and he remembered seeing them grow cold as she closed the door. His fingers trailed down his scar as he absently recalled the events just a few hours before. He could almost feel her fingers as they brushed against the charred skin, they were slightly damp from tears. Her tears. He made her cry when he talked to her. Why he even went to see her was confusing, he had to see her, demand why she had convinced Azula to set him free. Mai, thinking about her made him feel a warmth in his chest but the feeling confused him, how was it that after one kiss the noblewoman invaded his thoughts. What was worse was that she was being married, leaving him in uncertainty. Maybe though, he thought to himself, that's what she wanted, and with that he drifted into an uneasy sleep.
His footsteps pounded in a steady drum as he strode down the hall. It was the morning, the time he would finally see his beloved sister and spit in her face. She was sickening but after tonight, he would never have to see her again. His pride no longer hinged on empty words from a family that scorned him, it came from within and he felt he could finally match his younger sister. Guards pushed open the large steel doors to the throne room, it was dark with artful sculptures crafted from various metals, each twisted into a cold spiral. They cast warped shadows on the walls, giving an ominous feel to the room. Suddenly, he saw her, Azula, her face was shadowed by curtains draped over the throne. All he could see was he mouth, curved in a sadistic grin.
"Hello Zuzu!" she chirped cheerfully, rising from her seat, "so you've finally decided to visit your poor little sister?" He snarled at the statement, she was the very reason that he had been imprisoned.
"What do you want Azula?" he said through gritted teeth. His hands were growing hot as he felt flames tickling his palms, his anger growing like the embers that had erupted from his hands. Slowly, Azula rose from the throne, her eyes never leaving his face. He tried to meet her gaze but found he could not, there was a look of mirth in her eyes that unsettled him.
"Poor Zuzu," she cooed, "is that any way to treat your sister? I am letting you go you know unless you would like to go back to your cell. If that's the case, I'm sure that can be arranged." At this, Zuko stood silent. He wanted nothing more than to get away and forget his past. He was lucky that he had a second chance, he had so many chances to do what was right, to find happiness but he never did because of pride. Now he was going to take this chance and never let go although he couldn't help but remember that the one who had set him free was being married. Somehow the thought gave way to a hollow feeling in his chest that he couldn't place.
"Mai" he whispered to himself, he wasn't sure if he had even thanked her. Suddenly Azula swooped beside him, a victorious smirk on her face.
"Do you like her Zuko?" she asked playfully and her laugh rang out as she saw him flinch. She continued on without his reply,
"Well, even if you do she's getting married. It was her parents' idea but I thought I could use it to my advantage. She gets married, I get the political ties. It's perfect, besides her parents are pleased with the arrangements as well. That's what I figured, they are rather petty and were quite eager to have stronger ties with the fire nation Government." She said this causally, as though she was discussing the weather and if one was not paying attention to her words, they never would have realized she was discussing a matter as important as her friend's marriage. Zuko felt his anger swell once again as he glowered at her.
"I though Mai was your friend," he snarled although his anger surprised him. Why did he care so much? He could not ponder this as he heard his sister's disturbing reply,
"She was a puppet Zuzu, a toy, a doll. I hate dolls remember? Although she did come to some use in the war, I was using her and she knew it too."
"Why would she do that?" Zuko found it hard to believe that someone as proud as Mai would consent to being a pawn if she knew it.
"Do you really want to know?" asked Azula, seeing his nod she continued, "She did all my dirty work just for a chance to see your sorry face again. She liked you Zuko, maybe even loved you. That's why she wanted you to be free, she didn't know at the time that her parents and I agreed to have you married but I don't think she was surprised. All she wanted was for you to be happy, how pathetic. She was a love struck doll dear brother, and you remember how much I hate dolls." Azula snarled the last statement, her distaste evident in her voice.
Zuko stood like a statue, his face frozen in a mixture of shock and sadness. He was so taken by the information that he did not see the amusement in his sister's eyes. Mai, had she really loved him? It would explain the kiss from last night and the desperateness in her actions. The news came like a blow, to know that someone had truly cared for him but now, she was gone. She would never be his. Maybe it's best if I do find the avatar, he thought to himself. He remembered the laughing group, so joyful in the midst of war because he had each other. Maybe, he thought to himself, I will see Katara again. As he thought this he noticed that the usual flutters that erupted in his stomach when he thought of the waterbender never came. Instead, his thoughts drifted to a silent warrior, being married and an empty feeling descended on his heart.
