All hail the reuniting of the beloved pair in the story! : )
Chapter 7 – Favourite Person
"I can't believe it!" Suki shrieked. She shook a horrified Sokka in her hands. "You had me convinced you left!"
"I'm sorry!" Sokka said. "We wanted to go for a swim and we didn't want to wake you up!"
"Wake me up? You almost broke my heart!"
"Okay, calm down everyone," said Katara. Suki let Sokka drop to the ground with a thump.
"Tell him to get a brain!" Suki yelled. Everybody laughed.
* - * - * - *
"Ugh, why is it that Everytime we travel, it's by boat?" Mai asked with irritation.
"Because it's the handiest type of transport," answered Azula. "I believe we're almost there."
"Does that mean we're almost at Kyoshi Island?" Ty Lee asked. "It's smart how you can manage to track Zuko down so fast!"
"That's because he's too easy to find," said Azula. "Mai, are you ready for this? I want you to take on my brother while I find the Avatar. Ty Lee, you can choose and even combat with anyone you wish. We probably won't capture them today, but it's worth a try anyway."
"I can see the beach!" Ty Lee announced.
"Perfect," the princess muttered. "Just how I want it."
* - * - * - *
"Fire Navy ships have arrived on Kyoshi Island!" Tasha exclaimed.
"Azula," Zuko growled. "She's probably here with … her friends." Katara looked worriedly at Zuko.
"Don't let it come to you," said Katara, kneeling next to Zuko. "Azula's playing with your mind."
"Then she's playing it good," said Zuko. He felt confused and unhappy. Sokka scratched his chin, obviously in deep thought.
"Azula will definitely challenge Aang," said Sokka. "Ty Lee will either take me, Katara, Suki or Toph and Mai will probably take – um … well, you."
"She wouldn't," said Zuko. "She's got no bending."
"She doesn't need any," said Katara. "She's got her darts and knives."
"I can feel them," said Toph. "Let's get outside for a fight. I hope none of your bones had rusted during this time!" Suki, Sokka, Toph, Aang, Zuko and Katara headed towards the shore together. Three people awaited them.
"This is pretty simple," said Azula. "Hand over Zuko and we leave or we'll fight until you surrender. Your choice."
"I think we'll take the second option," spoke up Aang, surprising everyone.
"Just as I thought," smirked Azula. The princess made a move. Ty Lee flipped in mid air and landed in front of Katara.
Mai brandished a highly sharp dart and stared at the boy she used to love. "Why is it that Everytime I go somewhere, you seem to be following me?" an irritated Zuko asked.
"Because you make it too easy," replied Azula and she appeared next to Mai. "Bring my brother down," the princess ordered her friend. "Show him that he should've never left the Fire Nation!" Mai was starting to feel confused at the amount of pressure her friend was putting one her. Mai lowered her dart a little. "Throw it! What are you doing? Mai! Mai?" Zuko suddenly set the ground where Azula stood ablaze with fire. The sister dodged it and sprinted at Zuko to start her attack on him, when she was pinned down by Aang.
Zuko started to run but Mai was quick. She threw her dart at Zuko almost effortlessly, pinning red vest to the wall. "Go on," said Zuko viciously. "Attack me!" Mai walked towards Zuko and looked at him for a moment. A mixture of feelings whirled inside Mai.
Anger. Regret. Sadness. Happiness. Longing.
Mai pulled out the dart from the wall. "I don't want to fight you. You've made your decision and I can't change that. Our paths will go separate. I'll just have to accept the fact that things don't always work out, even if it is perfect at the time." Mai's words surprised Zuko.
"It's never been perfect," he said and ran away. Mai watched him disappear behind many sharp rocks. Ty Lee landed next to Mai.
"I saw that," she announced.
"Then go tell Azula," said Mai irritably. The acrobat blinked.
"Tell Azula?" she said incredulously. "Tell Azula something as important as this? Soon, you'll be on her target list as well!" Then Ty Lee caught sight of Mai's expression. "Don't feel guilty! I think you did the right thing back there by letting Zuko go! It was so sweet. Anyway, what did Zuko mean by 'it's never been perfect'?"
Mai knew the answer but she didn't voice it. "I have no idea," she lied simply.
* - * - * - *
"She spared me," Zuko said to Katara. "She let me go."
"Yeah, whatever," said Toph.
"What's your problem?" Katara yelled.
"What's my problem? Do you really think I like sitting around and hearing love stories? I reckon you should get over it, Zuko, and move onto another girl."
"How could you say that, Toph? Zuko's – "
"I sense a lecture coming," sighed Toph. "And I don't even need feet to know that." Katara ignored her while the others laughed.
"If you can't see, oh wait, you can't!" Katara said viciously. "Toph inclined her head. "If you can't see, Zuko used to be in love with Mai! He used to date her and – " The lecture carried on for five whole minutes. When Katara was finally finished, Toph laid back.
"You know what I just heard? Ya de da de da. Something about a girl mumbo jumbo. Look, its Zuko's problem and he should be the one speaking up, not you, Mrs I'm-The-Boss-Of-Everything. Zuko, if it's bothering you so much, why don't you do something about it? Wouldn't that make things easier for the rest of us?"
"Don't listen to Toph. She doesn't know what she's talking about," began Katara.
"Toph's right," Zuko said.
"Usually am," said the blind girl proudly.
"If Mai's bothering me so much, I should do something about it."
"Let's start with Stop Talking About Her!" suggested Toph.
* - * - * - *
Ty Lee, Mai and Azula were getting ready for the night. Though it did not seem like it, Azula had waist length hair. "I think I'll undo my braid tonight," said Ty Lee.
"Wrong choice," said Mai as Ty Lee's hair immediately formed a big fluffy frame around her face.
"It just needs combing," insisted the acrobat. Mai snorted. "Then let's see you with your hair down, then!" Mai took out her hairpins.
"At least I don't look like a complete clown," she said.
"Wow! You do look good with your hair down! And I thought Ben was lying," said Ty Lee. Azula snickered.
"Aren't you going too far on this?" she smirked.
" I don't know what you're talking about," snapped Mai. "Ben's never seen me with my hair down."
"Oh, wrong person," said Ty Lee cheerfully. "Must've been Zuko."
"He's never seen me with my hair down either," said Mai.
"Are you two getting to bed? I'm turning out the lights."
"Actually, I'm not," said Mai. "I need some fresh air."
"If you want. Go ahead."
Mai sat outside on the front deck of the boat. The boat could be used on land and air aswell. Sighing, the fifteen year old girl touched her scar on her left arm. Mai flinched at the extra weight put on the tender skin. Slowly, Mai then touched her locket and searched deep inside herself. "I trust you've found your way here?" the familiar voice of Yue said.
"I guess so. Look, I need your help. I've been thinking about – "
"Zuko?" the spirit offered. Mai looked away. "He's been thinking a lot about you too."
"I doubt it."
"He has. He's confused at why you let him go."
"I don't know either. I didn't want to hurt him."
"Then don't. I believe if you think about this, part of you still loves Zuko."
"I know. I just feel confused."
"I know you're struggling between Azula or Zuko."
"I am not!" Mai snapped.
"Oh yes you are. You don't want to betray Azula but you also want to be with Zuko." Mai sighed in defeat.
"Could you help me make the decision?" she asked.
"No. I can't. Just remember that the option that appeals most to you isn't always the right one. Goodbye Mai."
"Goodbye Yue." With a flash, Mai was back in the real world.
"Wow, that helped," she said sarcastically.
* - * - * - *
Suki lay upwards on Sokka's chest. The couple looked at the stars. "I miss being a Kyoshi Warrior."
"Technically, you still are."
"I miss the uniforms and the face paint."
"I reckon you still look pretty without them though," Sokka said.
"That's so sweet."
"Are you two lovebirds gonna sleep or not?" Toph complained. Suki blushed.
"Does anyone feel like they don't want to sleep?" Katara asked. There was a considerable amount of grumbles. "Then lets gather around the fire and talk."
"Let's have a topic," decided Toph. "I've got it! Who would you rather kiss?"
"That's stupid!" said Katara and Aang at the same time. The two blushed after their outburst.
"Okay, okay. I was only suggesting."
"What about, your favourite person in the world?" Sokka asked. Everybody shrugged half-heartedly.
"That's okay."
"We'll go in a circle starting with Zuko," said Toph. Everybody's gaze diverted to the prince.
"Um, my favourite person is my Uncle Iroh."
"That's sweet," said Katara. "My favourite person in the world is my brother. He's almost always looks out for me and I don't know what I would do if I didn't have him." Sokka grinned proudly.
"I don't know who my favourite person is but I know who my favourite persons are," said Toph with a small smile. "You guys. You're the ones who saved me from living an ignored and secret life. Thanks, I owe you guys a lot."
It was until then that Zuko realised how together and strong the group was. Each person had a never-ending relationship with the other. Zuko looked down and smiled.
"My favourite person is … wait for it, wait for it!" said Sokka dramatically. Katara's eyes shone. "SUKI!" While Suki smiled affectionately, Katara hunched in disappointment. It wasn't until Sokka nudged Aang that he knew it was his turn.
"Oh um, my favourite person in the whole wide world is Monk Gyatso. He's helped me so much and given me such good advice. I'll never forget him." Out of the corner of his eye, Aang saw Zuko stir uncomfortably.
"My turn," said Suki. "My favourite person in the world is Ling." Sokka narrowed his eyes in suspicion.
"Who's Ling?" he asked.
"An old friend of mine who used to be a Kyoshi Warrior. It broke my heart when she left." Sokka relaxed at 'she'.
"Anybody feel tired?" asked Katara. No one answered. So the group kept talking.
Ooh. Who's Mai going to choose? Azula or Zuko? The friend or the ex-boyfriend? What's going to happen now? I'm the author and even I don't know!! I'd like to give a special thanks to my mum who believes in my story.
