-I get confused with editing at times. I think my computer hates me or just likes to mess around with me for entertainment. So much fun. Anyway, here is chapter 3. Enjoy reading.- SpiffyPixie1

The Avatar's Disciples: Story of Mayu

Chapter 3

About three months passed without any more incidents between me and Azula. Whenever Zuko had to leave, I stayed close by and out of site, but it didn't seem to matter; if Azula happened to walk by, she would just stare straight ahead and leave me alone, and for that I was thankful.

Maybe she did need the kindness. It was a nice thought, at least.

One day, Azula, also noticing the crush that Mai had on Zuko, placed an apple onto Mai's head and told everyone it was a game. She then shot fire at the apple, setting it aflame.

Since we were in the Royal Garden, Zuko tackled Mai into the pond so she wouldn't get burned and ended up on top of her, as well as both of them being soaked.

I had gone to fetch towels immediately as well as a change of clothes for both Mai and Zuko. I was irritated about the situation and no matter how hard I thought about it, I couldn't figure out why. I couldn't be mad at how close Mai and Zuko had been, right? I pushed the thought away and assumed that I was just angry at Azula for knocking them into the water.

The next day, Mai stayed home sick, so it was just Azula and Ty Lee wandering around the palace.

Needless to say, Zuko and I avoided them and stayed in his room. For a while Zuko lent me a spare wooden sword and was teaching me how to duel.

"Oh my god, you're terrible at this," he remarked, laughing a little.

I stuck my tongue out and swung at him clumsily, easily leaving an opening for him to just knock the sword out of my hands. I groaned, but I had to agree. "You're right, I really am." Sighing, I picked my sword back up and took a ready stance, feeling a little down.

Zuko took the sword from me and put it and his own away, looking concerned. "Are you okay, Mayu?"

I nodded but sat down in the usual way I did on the floor, legs tucked underneath me. Zuko sat across from me, obviously worried. "It's alright, Zuko, I just . . . Can I tell you something?"

"Of course you can." He was smiling now, reassured he hadn't done anything wrong. "What is it?"

I looked down and started playing with the ends of my dress again. "I'm not sure if I'm actually afraid of fire."

"What?" Zuko looked more than confused as he scooted closer to me, but I realized it was because he couldn't hear me.

Just as well, I thought, letting out a breath. I don't exactly want anyone to overhear. I motioned for him to move closer and said, "I don't know if I'm really afraid of fire or not, Zuko." Earlier that day I had sat in the dojo just watching him as he went through his forms, and I felt a strange ache as I saw the fire, an almost longing.

Zuko put a hand under my chin and gently tilted my head up so he could see my face. "Why do you think that?"

This is why Zuko is my best friend, I thought happily. He doesn't mock or ridicule me. "My mother is the one who told me to be afraid of fire."

"Kumiko?" Zuko had a puzzled expression. "Why would she tell you to be afraid of fire?"

"I don't know why. Mom just said that if I came into contact with fire, my powers would be revealed and I would be taken away from her. It makes sense for her to be scared, I guess." I smiled sadly. "Dad has been gone for a long time, and I don't think mom could handle it if I was taken away."

Zuko frowned slightly, still confused. "But why would you be taken? I don't understand."

"She's never told me why, Zuko." I was about to ask the biggest favor of my friend, and I could only hope that he'd agree and keep it a secret. "But I want to figure out why." I took a deep breath and continued. "I always assumed that I must be a firebender since whatever abilities mom thinks I have would be revealed around fire, right? So I want you to help me."

"Help you do what?" He seemed eager, which made me feel better.

"I need you to keep this a secret, okay?"

Of course he nodded, but I wanted to make sure. "Promise, Zuko? Pinkie swear?" And I held my pinkie up to him, biting the corner of my lip.

He smiled the gentlest smile I had ever seen in my young life. "I swear to you, Mayu." And he locked our pinkies together for a moment.

I felt the strangest warmth in my heart, and it made me happy. "Thank you, Zuko." I released his pinkie finger and got ready. "Okay. What I need you to do is make a little flame."

Again with the confused expression. "Why?"

"I need to touch it."

Zuko's eyes widened and he shook his head. "No! You'll get hurt!"

"But I need to see why mom thinks I need to stay away from fire. Please, Zuko?" I put on the cutest, saddest face I could muster and clasped my hands together.

My friend scowled and looked away, but muttered, "Fine."

I couldn't help but squeal with joy and throw my arms around him happily. "Thank you, Zuzu!" I have no idea how he let me get away with that, but he did. And, to add to his embarrassment, I kissed him on the cheek, thoroughly enjoying his blush and the warmth in my heart at his smile. Quickly, though, I let him go and sat back down, ready to get started.

Zuko seemed to have to take a moment to compose himself before cupping his hands and producing a small flame in the center. He still looked worried but held the flame up to me.

I watched for a second at how the flame danced, so full of life, and I held out my hand, fully intending to touch it.

It was a couple of inches away from my fingertips when the little flame seemed to come to life and reach for me.

I pulled my hand back, astonished, and saw that Zuko was just as surprised.

"Did you see that?"

He nodded slightly, his eyes still wide.

"The same thing happened when Azula was holding the fireball near me," I whispered, almost not believing it. "I thought I had been imagining it."

Zuko just shook his head a little but there was a determined look on his face now. "Well don't stop now, Mayu!"

I nodded and reached for the flame once more, waiting for the heat and the pain people said happened when you came into contact with fire.

It never happened.

Zuko and I watched as the flame moved immediately at my touch and I tilted my hand so it could travel and sit in my palm.

We sat dumbly, watching the fire writhe and dance in my little hand.

"W-what do I do?" I didn't know whether to be ecstatic or terrified.

Zuko just shook his head, mouth opening and closing for a moment. "Try making it bigger."

I let out a deep breath and concentrated on the dancing flame in my hand, willing it to grow just a little bit.

For a moment nothing happened, then the flame grew rapidly, much bigger than I had intended in an instant, overfilling my palm and spilling out, making us both jump back.

I was afraid it would set something in Zuko's room on fire, and I willed the fire to go away and it extinguished itself quickly, leaving behind a small puff of smoke.

Zuko and I just sat back on the floor, bewildered for only a second before we both burst out laughing.

I was completely enthralled by this new discovery. "Zuko!" I grabbed hold of my friend's hands and pulled him up into a hug. "I'm a firebender!" I pulled him along with me as I started to dance around, ignoring his feeble protests since he was smiling as well as complaining.

We stopped dancing when we ran out of breath, but we were laughing.

Zuko grinned widely and put a hand on my shoulder. "How about next time we work on your control a bit?"

I nodded and hugged him again, burying my face into his chest when I felt little tears trying to escape. "Thank you, Zuko."

He petted my hair and held me for a while as I began to cry. "What's wrong, Mayu? I thought you were happy."

I sniffled a little. "I am happy. I just . . . I'm still afraid. I'm a firebender, but why was mom trying to hide it? It's not strange for a child of the Fire Nation to be born a firebender. Am I different?"

Zuko just wiped my tears away and shushed my little sobs. "I don't know, Mayu." He paused for a moment and held me closer. "But we will find out."

-Yaaay, she's a firebender. From what you read in the prologue, she's a different kind of firebender. In time, you will find out why she is who she is, so look forward to that. For now this is all I've got. I need to get to sleep soon. Thank you for reading, and have a wonderful day.- SpiffyPixie1