Yes I've made Sozin Twenty-one because he needs to be older than Maeko by a little bit. Anyway next chapter see's the Water Tribe Princess! Keep reviewing cause I intend to get editing to chapter 15 by sunday!
15th of June
Fire Lord Taishi (25)
Year of The Sun
One hour after Noon
The last two days has been a rushed blur.
Yesterday Kairi insisted we go see the Royal Seamstress.
Or seamstresses as there seem to be a whole army of them divided into little sections. There was a Head of Embroidery, a Head of Sewing, a Head of Design and even a Head of Buttons. All of these little factions had at least five other people reporting to them and they were all over ruled by the Head Seamstess Dame Lori.
Normally if we want new clothes we only have to go into town and snap our fingers. Dame Lori though is brutally honest about our flaws and is lethal with a measuring tape. Kairi and I endured an hour of standing before her while she made measurements and asked us questions.
Her deduction of my physical appearence was charming.
Apparently I have beautiful eyes and my skin tone is divine but my hair is a mess. I need to loose weight and grow two inches and I need a smaller cleavage.
I then reminded her who she was talking to and showed her how quickly blue flames could burn through leather. I do not mind crictism and I accept it but there is no way I am being spoken to like that by some old seamstress. Especially when she makes ridiculous demands like growing two inches in a mere week. My height is perfectly acceptable as I stand at five, foot three and I see no problems with my weight as firebending definately stops obesity.
Anyway she fawned over Kairi. It was sickening.
Anyway after that gruelling experience I told Mielia of her anaylasis and Mielia snorted and patted me on the head.
"You are kinda titchy."
I'm not bothered by it. I like my height.
Anyway adding to the stress of yesterday after the seamstress I was formally introduced to Princess Mayleen and her court. Her main escort was her cousin Lord Yung and her guards were all armoured in green and black and there were a few shadowy black figures who I suspect as Dai Lee agents or spies.
Mayleen is pretty but she's not a natural beauty like Kairi. Her black hair was done in an elaborate bun with curls held in place by a sliver tiara. Her skin was smooth and peachy and she had faded green eyes. The dress she wore had to be one of the richest and exaggerated I have ever seen and it made all the other clothing look bare. Different shades of green and endless trails of silk and velvet. It looked beautiful but it was overpoweringly so.
Her voice is annoying.
It's high and shrill and leaves a ringing noise in your ears. I'd love to be able to burn out her voicebox and the stupid fan she keeps waving around.
Luckily we were only in her presence for a few moments. Any longer and I think Mileia's ribs would have caved in with her smirks and laughter at the specticle. Chen couldn't stop smirking and earned a nudge in the ribs from Kairi who reprimmed him. Shinji on the other hand looked entranced.
My pathetic little brother needs to get a life.
In the midst of it all I did manage to sneek a few pages at my mothers diary.
2nd of March
Firelord Taishi (1)
Year of the Pheonix
Where to begin?
My best friend and her husband have just been crowned Fire Lord and Lady. Today offically marks the begining of the reign of Fire Lord Taishi and Fire Lady Lien. Lien was excited about today but surprisingly nervous. It has been a long time on the horizon though due to Fire Lady Ila's poor health. I am sure she will make a wonderful Fire Lady.
I am personally excited for Lin. Today marks a big day in his career as Taishi announced him Royal Advisor! That makes my family the second most powerful in the Fire Nation! Today things do not seem to have a downside. There are parties in the street and the coronation was amazing.
Although I know Taishi is still upset about his mothers death, it really does prove that out of the ashes a pheonix shall rise.
A part of me feels thrilled to read that...but another is confused.
Lien always tells me how alike I am to my mother. Yet this diary entry is nothing like my own. It is happy...and light but it has no depth. It's like what I'd expect Mayleens diary to be. I cannot help but feel disappointed and let down and even a little hurt. I always had this grand fantasy in my head that my mother was different. That she had passion and determination...
She doesn't.
I hope that the next entry is better. Maybe she had trouble expressing her emotions like me...then again the rational side of my mind is having trouble believing this.
I think it's time I talked to Lien properly.
"Lady Maeko! Oh Lady Maeko!"
Maeko hissed under her breath and stuffed the diary under her pillow. The high voice sent shivers down her spine and before she knew it her lounge door had been flung open to reveal the Earth Kingdom Princess flanked by two silent guards in green.
Maeko rose to her feet and sighed.
That thing has no defination of privacy
"Oh Lady Maeko there you are darling! Do come to Luncheon...we're having it with the Bei Fong and it would be perfect it you were there!" Trilled the Princess ignorant of the look of malice on the firebenders face, instead she proceeded to grab Maeko lightly but firmly by the wrist.
Get...your...hand...off...me
"Oh dear I knew you'd agree! Come on darling or they'll start without us!" Said Mayleen sweetly walking at a running speed. Maeko glanced at the guards wondering how they managed to run and look like stotic moss coloured boulders at the same time.
"I doubt they'd start without you Princess Mayleen, your their Princess," Pointed out Maeko with a silky dangerous tone to her voice. Shrill laughter filled the corridor and Maeko clenched her fist fighting the urge to incinerate the Princess on the spot.
Maeko flung back her head and smiled sweetly.
"Yes your right but still...musn't keep the Bei Fongs waiting! I asked Lien if she'd like to attend but she declined...that adorable little girl Yin Wei will be there though!"
Lien? Yin Wei? Your not a friend or a family member! How dare you not show them proper respect!
"You mean Fire Lady Lien and Princess Yin Wei?" Corrected Maeko firmly. The Princess nodded with her sickly sweet smile still in place.
"Yes I suppose."
Finally the Princess stopped abruptly outside a large oak door. Maeko recognised as the same one she'd walked past when Fire Lady Lien was showing her to her chambers a few nights ago. The rooms reserved for visiting Royalty.
Mayleen promptly straightened out her kimono skirts as her guards opened the door for her. Inside the room was furnished with dark sleek rosewood furniture. The room had vast amounts of sunlight pouring through the window and the walls were a pale yellow colour. A few comfy armchairs littered the room but in the centre there was a large table seated for twelve with dishes of pig-chicken and cold ham, creame and fruit and bread and a small box of fire-crackers.
All the occupants at the table rose to their feet and Maeko scanned them. At one head of the table there was Lord Bei Fong and to his right there was Mielia, empty seat, Yin Wei, Lady Bei Fong or Mielia's mother-in-law and an Earth Kingdom subject.
To the left there was more Earth Kingdom nobility including Lord Yung and Kairi and Chen . Mayleen smiled perfectly and sat down at the opposite head of the table. Maeko caught Mielia's eye and Mielia grimanced as Maeko sat in the available empty seat.
These people have no sense of courtsey! Princess Yin Wei should be lined at the other head of the table since she is the highest ranking member here. To her right there should be me, Chen, Kairi and Mielia since we are her subjects. Then to the left there should be all the Earth Kingdom people!
The conversation at the lunch table was bare. A few jokes were made by Mayleen and the whole table laughed falsely and Mayleen simpered. Chen remained in deep conversation with a famous Earth Kingdom Historian. Maeko listened to conversation with one ear while the other was devoted to Mielia's whispering. The cutlery scraped together and Maeko piled some ham onto a slice of bread.
"Burn her," Mumbled Mielia in Maeko's ear, "And while your at it burn my stupid husband!"
Maeko snickered and glanced across the table to where Shu was laughing loudly. In his youth the man had been a good earthbender but now his muscle had turned to buldge and Maeko could now see Mielia's point about the family emblem as the man stuffed a whole leg of pig-chicken into his mouth.
"So Kairi dear, have you met Prince Sozin?" Asked Mayleen, her round green eyes hardly hiding her curiosity. Maeko glanced at her sister who blushed faintly as the table turned it's attention to her.
"Yes Princess, our mothers were great friends...I've known Prince Sozin since his youth," Stammered Kairi.
"Oh splendid. You can tell me all about him!" Grinned the Princess. Maeko felt her insides burn but also a slight sensation of relief. If she wanted Sozin that much she was welcome to him.
Why is she asking Kairi? Yin Wei is right at the table?
Her eyes flickered to the Fire Nation Princess who had somehow produced a ben and was now doodling on a napkin idly. Then it occured that Kairi was twenty...and Mayleen saw her as a threat.
She's scared...scared because Kairi's ten times more beautiful than what she is!
"Um...I'm sure Princess Yin Wei could tell you more than I," Suggested Kairi. Mayleen smiled like a cat eyeing a squirming fish. Maeko glared as Mielia nudged her before speaking.
"Uh...Mayleen is it? It's sort of obvious Lady Kairi knows nothing important about Sozin, everyone knows he likes firebending and that sort of thing...why don't you just ask him yourself?"
The table fell silent as everyone eyed the outspoken Bei Fong. Mayleen stammered for a minute loosing her false smile and Maeko smiled with triumph.
"Uh...yes...I suppose..." Stuttered the Princess. Then Shu slurred out some words unintelligently.
"Yes...uh...Mielia's friend Maeko...you firebend don't you?"
Mayleen then turned her attention to Maeko.
"Of course you do dear. I doubt she's on the Princes's level...why even the Avatar himself!"
"Her flames are blue," Cut in Mielia smirking widely and crossing her arms.
"Blue!" Exclaimed Lord Yung peering down through his glasses at Maeko. Maeko smiled feeling pride as she spoke her words with perfect persision.
"Yes, I am cold firebender and I have been since I was seven."
Nine hours after noon.
Thank the spirits the day is over. Lunch with Mayleen was unbearable...still Mileia got the better of her in the end.
I've just came from firebending practice but I noticed I was being watched. It appears those Dai Lee agents were eyeing me from the shadows. I said nothing and went on with the drill...it was a basic one and nothing advanced so I doubt they'll be impressed. I'm amused that the Princess is so desperate and shallow.
It's a shame because I was intending to practice with the lightening scrolls. I've decided that tomorrow I'm going to go to the Royal Library and look up every single book they have on cold firebending. I want to extend my knowledge further and the only reason I haven't so far is because these lightening scrolls have put some things into perspective.
I also intend to talk with Lien at some point tomorrow. I haven't seen my Father since I arrived...it isn't surprising. Chen says he's been to talk with him but nothing will come from it.
Mielia and Kairi are in my room at the moment with eyes only for their game of Pai Sho. They refuse to play with me.
Apperantly I get too competitive.
Well there are two types of people in the world. The strong and the weak and I definately do not intend on being weak!
