Mai sat across from Zuko with a shared pot of tea after the two children had gone off to resume their respective lessons with their masters.

"Forgive the interruption, My Lord, My Lady," a messenger said, entering the room. "...but the Sword Master Piandao has asked me to ask you if you knew anything about the whereabouts of his next pupil."

"Masaru?" Mai asked, glancing sideways at her husband who shrugged.

"Yes, My Lady."

"It is unlike the boy to miss his lessons. He loves the broadsword dearly even if his is only wooden," Zuko commented.

"Shall I send some of the palace guards to search for the children?" the messenger asked.

"No, we will find him; I don't want the guards to frighten him," Mai replied, standing up and smoothing her skirts.

"I thought the boy claimed he feared nothing," Zuko replied, following his wife's lead.

"He doesn't so far as we can tell. But if he is missing, there is a high chance he is with Izumi, and she does have fears," Mai replied plainly. "Ren, I believe we're finished with the tea, thank you."

"Yes, My Lady," the serving girl responded, carrying the trays away.


On the other side of the palace, Masaru raced through the hallways with a pretty doll dressed in Fire Nation fashion from twenty years ago. He ran as fast as he could sliding across the floors when he reached the end of a hall and tried to turn, and kept running.

"SARU GIVE IT BACK!" five-year-old Izumi yelled, cutting him off. He ducked under her arm as she lunged forward out of a crossing hall and she fell. Both children were out of breath.

"Not until you return my sword, you little thief!" Masaru yelled, backing up against an open window.

"I didn't steal your sword! I was only borrowing it! Mother told us to share our toys anyways!" Izumi replied, seething with fury.

"Master Piandao says a sword is NOT a toy! It is an extension of one's own body! An extension of oneself and you've ROBBED ME OF IT!"

"I was going to give it back!" Izumi insisted. "Eventually!" she added, reaching for her doll. He held it just out of reach and out the window.

"Let go of me, or I'll drop it and it will fall, twelve stories down to the pavement below! Maybe it will bounce off a few rooftops on the way!" Masaru threatened glaring at the princess.

"Do it and I'll throw YOU out the window after it! Maybe YOU will bounce off a few rooftops on the way!" Izumi yelled back punching him.

"Fine, then I'll burn it and let the ashes spread to the wind!"

Izumi let go, trying to think of another way she could threaten Masaru. Her child's brain failing her in that moment.

"You're a Princess! Just get your own sword!" Masaru told her.

"I did! By TAKING YOURS!" Izumi yelled, lunging at him again. He lit his hand on fire, burning her doll.

She stepped back, eyes wide with tears. Her anger turning to grief, and before Masasru could blink again, she was screaming.

"Oh no! No- no- no- no- no-!" Masaru extinguished the flame and brushed off the doll.

"It was a controlled flame! I have been practicing! Look! Laika isn't even harmed! Izumi!" He said showing her the doll, pressing it into her chest. She didn't hold it. She just kept screaming, her eyes squeezed shut as fat, glistening tears poured down her face.

"Oh will you SHUT IT ALREADY?!" Masaru asked in a panic, dropping the doll and covering her mouth with one hand and holding the back of her head with the other. She kneed him between the legs, but he still didn't let go as the thundering sound of heavy boots filled the halls.

"Unhand the little lady!" the guards ordered jumping on Masaru as he released Izumi. Izumi snatched up her doll and backed away from everyone, including Masaru. The guards were about to cuff the boy's wrists before realizing he was too small and the cuffs wouldn't fit.

"What is the meaning of all this?" Mai asked entering the hall with Zuko by her side.

"Kioki, unhand my ward," Zuko ordered. "You are all to treat him with the SAME respect as you are to treat Izumi. He may not even seem of noble birth, but he is still worth more than you can imagine."

The guard, Kioki let go of the five-year-old who shrugged and cast a glare in the soldier's direction.

"Masaru, explain yourself," Mai ordered gazing down at the boy.

"Izumi stole my sword-" Masaru replied before being cut off.

"BORROWED!" Izumi interjected.

"Zumi, quiet," Mai snapped. "Saru, continue."

Izumi folded her arms over her doll and pouted.

"Izumi stole my training sword and caused me to miss my lesson, so I stole her favorite doll in retaliation so that she would miss her lesson," Masaru explained.

"Izumi, your turn," Mai said diplomatically, turning to her daughter.

"I only BORROWED his sword because I wanted to practice with it. I have been watching his lessons with Master Piandao and they look like so much more fun than mine with Della. I was going to return it before his lesson, but lost track of time and had to rush and left it hidden where Iliana wouldn't find it on accident while cleaning," Izumi explained.

Mai sighed. "Izumi, you have your doll now. You will return to your bedroom and REMAIN there until dinner-"

"What?!" Izumi shrieked.

"Masaru, you will return to YOUR bedroom and remain THERE until dinner-"

"But-" Masaru began to protest.

"-Your sword will be promptly returned to you by way of a messenger. In the meantime, I need a word with your father," Mai said, looking at Izumi. "And your uncle," she added, looking at Masaru. "About what we shall do about this unruly behavior from the BOTH of you," Mai decided.

"Nooooo!" the children whined as they were both lead away by gentler maids and nannies while the guards were ordered to return to their posts.


Zuko retrieved Masaru from his room while Mai fetched Izumi later that evening for dinner together in the White Birch Dining room. It was deeper in the castle than the Cherry Blossom Galley that they often used when they wanted a cool breeze and a view of the palace gardens. That dining room had a balcony while this one was completely enclosed with a massive fireplace.

Zuko pulled out a chair for Mai and Masaru pulled one out for Izumi out of habit. Just as she was about to sit down, Masaru remembered he was still mad at her and yanked the chair and she fell with a yelp and he ran to the fire place as she took off after him. He stopped her by pulling a bit of the blazing fire out of the hearth and bending it around his waist like a shield. Mai grabbed Izumi and set her down in her seat while Zuko walked through the fire sand grabbed Masaru by the arm, spanking him twice before carrying him to his seat.

"That's for firebending inside! You know it could be dangerous!" Zuko scolded. "Someone could get hurt!"

"Zumi hurts me every day," Masaru muttered.

"I do not!" Izumi yelled.

"Do too!"

"How?"

"When you walk away…" Masaru mumbled.

"Enough! Another word from either of you, and you're sweeping out the ashes from the fireplace after dinner!" Mai ordered. "Now eat at least a little before we tell you our verdict on your little skirmish earlier today."

"Why to you always make us wait before telling us anything?" Masaru asked just before lifting a bit of rice and a piece of sausage to his mouth.

"For various reasons depending on the occasion and information you are seeking," Zuko responded while placing his napkin in his lap, tapping Masaru on the leg to remind him to do the same.

"This time, we're waiting until after you're fed because we know there is a high chance you two will both bolt from the dining room and we don't want you to starve this evening," Mai replied, dabbing the corner of her mouth delicately

"So your verdict will be something we find repulsive?"

"Repulsive? Where did you hear such a word?" Mai asked.

"From Saru," she whispered, her plate nearly chin level with her food, making it hard for her to not just shovel it into her mouth.

"You may kneel if it makes things easier," Mai whispered. Izumi climbs up in her chair and kneeled so she stood a little bit higher over the table and could use her chopsticks properly.

They are in near silence for a while, Zuko and Mai both thinking the same thing. The children were crushing on each other. It was the only explanation for their constant bickering. The Fire Lord and Fire Lady remembered pretending to hate each other as children. They remembered the lingering gazes, the avoidance of eye contact and the turning away when one looked in the other's direction.

"Finished!" the two children chorused setting their chopsticks down across the edge of their bowls in unison. Mai and Zuko shared a knowing glance while the two children growled at each other.

"Very well, beginning tomorrow morning at sunrise, you both will train with Master Piandao followed by you both attending a lesson with Miss Della in the Olive Orchard Tea Room," Mai decided.

"WHAT?!"

"Not fair!"

"Saru will HATE Della!"

"Zumzu will faint like a LADY! She has no stamina!"

"YOU TAKE THAT BACK!"

"MAKE ME!"

Izumi somehow from her kneeling position on the chair, managed to dive over the table without disturbing anything and tackle Masaru into the ground. Both Mai and Zuko jumped up. Zuko ran his fingers through his head trying to remain calm while Mai pried the children apart.

"ENOUGH!" Zuko yelled. "The decision is final! Izumi, if you have the slightest care for our family and our Great Nation, you must learn to behave yourself. And Masaru…" Zuko froze.

"I'm sorry, Uncle Zuko. I understand if you just want to send me back to Gaoling," Masaru said, standing up and brushing himself off, heading for the door on his own.

"No, we're not going to just 'send you back'. I made a promise to help you learn firebending and I will not go back on that promise. We will not go back on that promise. It would do well for you to also receive a complete education not just in academics, but society. Don't think of joining Izumi under Della as a punishment, but an opportunity. You too can someday be able to contribute not just to our nation, but the world."