And Then There Were Three

The first week in prison wasn't the best of times for Rae though on the seventh day, he had some excitment.

Rae was messing around with some other prisoners in the courtyard when he bumped into another man. When Rae turned to face him, he found himself looking into the chest of a man nearly twice his size. "Yes, punk?" he spat the word as if it were tobacco juice. Rae just stared in fear up at the stranger. "Well? You got somethin to say to me?"

"Wow, I never knew a guy could get that big." It was when he was picked up by the shirt and tossed across the courtyard that Rae realized that he should've kept his mouth shut. Oh well, I'm already fight-bound anyway. Might as well fuel the fire. Rae thought. "Well, I guess somebody skipped out on anger management today!" That led to punch after punch from the much larger man until he mysteriously stopped with a look of fear upon his face. "Yeah, that's right, caint touch this you over grown rhino!" After a brief look around, Rae made one good assumption. "The warden's right behind me isn't he?"

"Well Rae, that big mouth of your's got at least one thing right today." said a deep voice behind him.

"If it means anything at all, the fight was started by accident."

"Rae, my office. NOW."

After the long trek up to the warden's office, Rae sat across from the older and much wiser man. "Rae, realize that if I were any other warden, I'd have guards holding you and I'd have you thrown into solitary."

"So, why don't you?"

"I'm not like any other warden. I believe that if I can't handle the prisoners that I'm put in charge of, that prisoner should be transfered to a warden that can. I must say, you're not as challenging as I'd expected. It's almost disapointing. Yet you are quite brave. Trying to please a woman such as my niece can be a difficult task, look at where it's got you so far."

"So? At least I'm honest and every day I'm in here, I remember what I've done and what it brought me to."

"A woman twice your age who just lost her husband, her daughter, and almost her brother because of one man who is sitting infront of me right now. What you might think of as love, I see as lust and a big ego. You might not see it now, but you might be the beginning of this nation's second downfall."

"How?"

"Marry Mai and you're the Fire Lord's step father. If Shang dies before his kid is born, someone's gonna have to take the throne and the nation isn't going to be likely to accept a sixteen year old pregnant girl as a ruler."

"Can't Mai do it?"

"No I regret to say, that has been a law since the beginning. Women aren't allowed to single handedly rule. And you sir are in no way fit to rule and probably never will be."

"Well, rules are meant to be broken."

"And perhaps that's the attitude that got you in here."

"What if it is?"

"Then I hope nothing happens to Shang any time soon."


The next two weeks went by fast with little excitement. When Mai finally came at the end of the third week, Rae was brought up to the warden's office.

"This boy was quite interesting the first week. In fact, he revealed his smart mouth to many people, few of which were prisoners." Mai's uncle said as Rae stumbled through the door. "But I'd say he'd make a good man once you give him some responsibilities."

Rae leaned toward Mai. "So, does that mean I'm gettin' outta here today?" he whispered. Mai only nodded. "Good, I think a couple of those guys want to pound my insides out. So, will you marry me?"

"I didn't put you through three weeks in prison for no reason. I did it to test you, you passed."

"Number one) when? Number two) who's comin'? Number three) how do we tell Shang?"

"Number one) three days. Number two) family. Number three) no idea."


"So, ready for Rae to come home?" Ming questioned trying to lighten the mood. She didn't help much.

"No, I wouldn't mind if he stayed in jail 'til the day either he or I died, whichever came first."

Well, at least I got him to talk. She thought. Shang had refused to speak through out the morning knowing that today was the day he'd find out. Would his friend come back? And if so was he to marry Shang's mother? Shang was insulted with the answer when Rae strode into the room with Mai hung on his arm.

"I'm back." Rae whimpered.

"And?"

"Three days. That's how long we have until the wedding."

"Mom, you're not serious."

"Yes, I am."

"What do you think Dad's thinkin' in the spirit world right now?"

"He wanted to make me happy. That's what he was tryin' to fuckin' do when he died. This is what's going to make me happy."

"Whatever, I'm not arguin' with you. I am fuckin' tired of arguin' with you." Shang yelled as he stormed off.

"Damn it, Shang." Mai murmured.

"Well, aren't you going after him to straighten things out? That seems to be how it goes." Rae questioned.

"Nope, I'm tired of it, and quite frankly I think Ming needs to start doin' this shit."

"Fine, I'll be back." Ming followed in Shang's footsteps to find him pouting just outside the door. "What is your problem?"

"You know damn well what my fuckin' problem is."

"You know, just because you're Fire Lord doesn't mean everything goes your way. I mean, I'm sure Zuko didn't want to die, but he did."

"Don't you dare mention my father under these circumstances." Shang's voice so stern it would be worthy of his mother.

"I'm sorry, it's just that I was trying to make a point. So, would you please come back out and be with your family?"

"I suppose I should before Mom comes out here."


On the day of Mai and Rae's wedding, Shang gave a toast:

"I would like to propose a toast to the bride and groom. Mom, I know that we haven't been getting along lately, but I was trying for your happiness. I was just blinded by my own selfish version of happy. Rae, I know I was sceptical of what good you would bring for my family at first, but I have grown to accept you with a little pursuasion. They say that with every end, there's a new beginning. My family has suffered many ends, I'd say that it's about time for that new beginning. To family."


Ming gave birth to a handsome baby boy, who they named after the great Fire Lord he had for a grandfather, Zuko.

Shang continued his reign as a grand Fire Lord and even better father to his young son.

Mai continued to be of assistance to Shang through out his reign, while taking a little more time to herself to be with her new husband.

Rae moved into the palace with Mai and never saw his uncle again until his uncle assaulted him in the market and again on the court date.

Tom later moved back into his parents' home and proposed to Ira. . . she said yes!

That is the story of how one man with alot of power shaped the lives of a whole family.