Disclaimer: If I owned Avatar, you could be sure that Ty Lee's swimsuit would be A LOT more conservative. Obviously, I only own the writing below, not the content. Though the beloved OC's are all mine.
A/N: Sorry it's been so dreadfully long. A week away and reading obligations and all that. (My summers tend to cram a lot of stuff into the last couple of weeks.) Though, since the promo for season three has a Maiko kiss, I can hardly justify making you wait much longer! In congratulations to your ship, I dedicate this chapter.
Mai looked dismally around her suite for the last time: gathering the way the light played through the sheer curtains, her small luggage near the door, the Earth Kingdom furniture, and the belts of spring-loaded arrows on the vanity table. She purposefully strapped them on, feeling the weight, familiar yet new again. She let out a nearly imperceptible sigh and lightly traipsed for the door.
I knew it was all too good to be true—the entire dream… Zuko thought to himself, scowling at the nobles from behind his wall of fire. Below him in the court they argued about the best way to choose each his own daughter's, niece's, and younger sister's best way to become Fire Lady. Their veiled insults, masked innuendos, and self serving agendas— all of it made Zuko sick. Wasn't this what he had wanted done away with? Lock Azula and her lies up, set a time for her execution, usher the Fire Nation into a new Golden Age?
And now he was sitting in the throne room, seething about nobles bickering over women, and he couldn't tell if he preferred it to conversations on soil erosion.
Considering the fact that they could care less about, much less pay attention to, his ideas on the matter, Zuko decided to let his mind wander until it seemed like a good time to bring up other issues.
Really, it was too good to be true… especially the part about Mai...
Ty Lee hugged Mai goodbye for what felt like the sixth time that day, talking about keeping in touch and so forth. Mai's eyes flickered to Akamai Huong, whom she could swear was smiling on the brink of laughter at her.
"And make sure to write!" Ty Lee reminded her friend earnestly, releasing Mai.
"You officially became worse than my mother about reminding me to write… eight repetitions ago. She only asked me once," Mai said, kneeling. She looked at the cat, and held out a bent finger to it. Hua put her paw on Mai's finger, as though signifying they had shaken on some silent agreement. "Is your letter ready? The one to Azula for her last day?" Mai asked, still looking at the cat.
"I still need some time on it," Ty Lee answered soberly. They lapsed into a thoughtful silence as Mai stood and looked over at the assembling soldiers and lone Yuu Yan archer.
"It doesn't seem real, does it?" Ty Lee asked quietly after a bit. Mai said nothing, yet looked at her. "You know—Zuko's Fire Lord, we're here in the Earth Kingdom to promote peace, and Azula of all people is sentenced to die. None of it seems real, really. Just standing here in Omashu, knowing what we're about to go do, it seems like someone else's life." Ty Lee's cat jumped into her arms then draped itself across her shoulders.
"For better or worse, it's our life now," replied, and then walked off to check on the preparations.
"Where are you going, Uncle?" Zuko asked, turning. He saw General Iroh standing a bit off, apparently walking in the opposite direction of Zuko's study. It was uncommon for Iroh to have something scheduled other than the post-meeting debrief, and Zuko couldn't think of anything on the ever changing agenda to conflict.
"Fire Lord Zuko? Do you not remember?" Iroh asked, walking back to him. "We are having tea with the Water Tribe Ambassador. It's been on the calendar for a few weeks."
"Right," Zuko answered. Three weeks ago… that at least explains why I don't remember it. "When did he arrive?"
"Just this morning, about three hours after sunrise," Iroh answered.
Zuko followed his uncle to one of the drawing rooms. As a standing servant opened the door and Zuko saw the ambassador, he noted in greatly suppressed shock just how forgetful he was becoming.
"Halt!" Mai called to her company. They had just reached the meeting point with the Kyoshi warriors. Taking out a brass telescope, Mai looked down the road they were due to arrive on. Somewhat far off in the distance, she could see them.
Six…. The communications said five. This is not particularly good. Perhaps the extra is merely a traveling escort. Though, if she were a traveling escort, wouldn't there be two extra? This complicates things.
The Kyoshi warriors were astride ostrich-horses, slower than the mounts Mai and her company rode, yet quick enough. They eventually arrived, though not before Mai had proper chance to assess them.
The one in front—no headband, short black braid, familiar face and glint of continuous defiance mixed with care in her eyes. Mizu. Next to her, the girl's a bit small, young looking. Most likely Isamu. And the one with the map must be Hamako. Behind her, the girl looking off to the side, laughing. Seems likely she's Neko. The ones riding beside her, I have no idea. She could be the extra or Lien.
They eventual reached the Fire Nation party and dismounted. Mai and Mizu walked forward. Mai recognized the calculating, nearly emotionless look the warrior was giving her. They sized one another up for a moment, than Mai spoke, bowing:
"It is an honor to perform this mission, Mizu of Kyoshi Island," she said.
"We are greatly fortunate to have you as our allies," Mizu answered with a Fire Nation bow (not a perfect one, yet good enough to count and not bad enough to be an insult). They stood again, eyes flickering to the other's company.
"I was unaware that another warrior had been added to the party," Mai commented.
"She's only here for the archer," Mizu answered, beckoning the unknown girl from her team. She was tall and lean in a sturdy way, her long brown hair tied in a loose tail falling to her shoulder blades. The girl smiled as she came forward. Mai didn't particularly understand all the details of this, yet understanding the hints and the girl's face, she called the archer to the front.
"You must be Lady Mai. It is an honor to meet you," the girl said politely with a customary Fire Nation bow.
"This is Keiko," Mizu said, looking from Mai to the Yuu Yan archer. "And you must be Ran." The archer bowed silently, and Mai reasoned the end.
"The Fire Lord sends his blessing," she assured the radiant warrior and retiring archer. They bowed gratefully and stood a bit off from the rest.
Mizu looked back to Mai. "This is Hamako, Neko, Isamu, and Lien." Mai nodded to each in turn. "We'll be watering out ostrich-horses and then head out in about ten minutes?" Mai nodded again and went back to her company.
I really know nothing about these soldiers…Mai thought, returning to her team.
"Hello, Fire Lord Zuko. General Iroh." Ambassador Katara rose to greet them with a smile on her face.
"It is so good to see you again, Ambassador Katara," Iroh assured her, warmly taking her hands. Zuko merely nodded and sat tiredly.
"How have things been since the Day of Black Sun?" Katara asked, pouring a fragrant tea.
"Hectic, to say the least," Iroh answered, passing a cup to Zuko and then taking his own. "Monumental tasks arise when bringing a country out of a hundred year war.
"I understand," Katara said sipping her tea. Zuko tasted some of his own, and found his thoughts drifting back to Ba Sing Se.
"That mentioned, I have quite a bit of work to do, and must be off," Iroh said, rising. "Thank you for the tea, Lady Katara." She looked somewhat taken aback at Iroh's sudden and rather out of character announcement, yet still nodded and bade him farewell. Iroh left, leaving the Fire Lord and Water Ambassador alone.
"So… How bad is it?" Katara questioned, apparently noting Zuko's sleepless eyes and haggard posture.
"Bad." Zuko drank more of the tea, doing his best to relax.
Seeming to feel some obligation to conversation or something of the sort, Katara continued. "I've heard some of what's going on. People are blaming vengeful water spirits for the drought in the South. Political unrest everywhere. Nobles demanding very much from you."
"You don't know the half of it," Zuko said, doing his best to suppress the urge to put his head on the table.
"I know some. The city's newspaper is very informative." Another silence stretched on while they emptied their cups.
"So… How have you been? You specifically," Katara asked.
"Tired. Frustrated. I actually never knew that nobles could make decisions about my future without actually attaining my permission first," he said, pouring himself another cup.
"And you're referring to the fact that the first page of the papers are saying you'll marry before the season's out?" Katara asked. Zuko scowled.
"Didn't know they were that informative."
"It's politics," Katara said with another swallow. "Though the papers can't seem to agree on whom you're going to marry. It seems somehow wrong that the news is so focused on that issue while crime rates are climbing, new levels of trade are opening in the nations, and the Avatar is still trying to keep peace in troubled areas." Zuko grunted his assent.
"I don't suppose you have Water Tribe nobles arranging marriages for you left and right?" he said.
"Their sons are all too scared of me," Katara laughed, earning a grin from Zuko. "But really, Zuko, it is important. Don't marry someone just to please your people. These nobles are can come and go and be replaced, but your wife is going to be there with you all the time. She'll be your strength and rest. Find someone you love, Zuko." Katara grinned. "Even if you do have to find her quick to appease the snake-vultures." Zuko grinned and sat where he was to think while Katara excused herself.
Maybe there was something to that dream after all… Zuko thought, remembering the Dream-Mai's smiling face.
"Mai—can I speak with you privately?" Mizu asked her as they stopped for camp that night. The Kyoshi warriors and Fire Nation soldiers had already set up camp and were working on dinner. Mai cast a quick look them, then nodded and followed Mizu.
After a bit, they stopped by a sluggish river near the campsite. Mizu leaned against a large, pale boulder, and watched the moon and water in turn. Mai looked dismally around, waiting for Mizu to begin speaking.
"Somehow, it feels wrong," she eventually began. Looking at Mai, she continued: "Sending one more warrior off. Saying goodbye to her because of another Fire Nation citizen. I know she's happy and I have no right to stop her, but it just seems so very wrong." Mai made no reply, though thought it best not to hold the warrior's gaze.
"Did you know?" she asked after the pause. "That the Yuu Yan archer was for her?"
"No," Mai replied instinctively. "My information was that he was retiring to the Earth Kingdom to be with someone he met here." Mizu grimaced.
"It's strange. To think, after all these years, the faceless soldiers of the enemy are sharing our campsite as allies. You don't know them, do you? Maybe information, birth dates, home towns, battles in the past, but not them." Another pause lapsed as they both watched the river flow past.
"I know each girl out there. We were friends growing up. We trained together, played together, ate together, grew together. I know her favorite flower, dish, constellation, weapon, and time of year. And now I'm handing my Keiko over to someone I hardly know a thing about." Mai could read the developing bitterness in Mizu's face.
"In the Fire Nation, Yuu Yan archers are highly esteemed. Their skills are greatly respected, and no matter the outcome of the war, and most would be welcomed back as war heroes simply because of whom they were. But in the Earth Kingdom, where their tattooed masks are most likely a symbol of death, he can never hope for such veneration. I may not know him, but for a Yuu Yan archer to come to the Earth Kingdom like this and still be happy with the choice, he must love her very much." Mizu considered Mai for a moment, and then looked back at the moon.
"When the Avatar left Kyoshi Island, we used to tease Suki about her relationship with the Water Tribe boy. On and island like that, everyone knows almost everything about everybody else. It's just hard to accept someone whom we know nothing about, other than that Keiko loves him." Mizu stood abruptly and looked at Mai. "I didn't lie for the politics of it when I said you'd make good allies. We do want the war to be over. We're just not used to how foreign some things are yet." She gave Mai a half smile that spoke of so many past things then turned back to camp. Mai followed her to see a stew simmering in the fire pit.
"At least it won't take forever to get the fire going anymore," a girl commented, sampling their dinner and adding some spice.
Later, Mai sat in her tent by the light of candles to make her first report:
The Kyoshi Warriors seem very willing, yet somewhat reluctant about this arrangement. They are adjusting well and seem optimistic on the whole. I had a conversation with Mizu, the new Kyoshi Leader, which set many things into a brighter light. She admits that much about the alliance feels wrong, yet it is the right thing to accomplish. Something that was giving her many misgivings is the Yuu Yan archer's relationship to "the girl in the Earth Kingdom" he was coming to stay with. As things turn out, she is a Kyoshi warrior. They are splitting from the group to travel back to Kyoshi Island in the morning. Mizu admitted that she was less than enthusiastic about the union, though she will not stand against it. She is willing to work with us, and also willing to let go of nearly inherent reservations related to Fire Nation citizens.
Something that particularly caught my attention about her was that, unlike the rest of the warriors, she wore no headband. The leader's headband, previously worn by the late Suki, was more elaborate. Azula wore it during her deception against the Earth King. Since she stopped wearing it then, I have no idea where it went. More so than recovering Suki's remains, restoring this item would show in immeasurable ways how very much we wish to repair relations to those whom we were once at war with.
Also, it would do a great service if I could have more detailed information on the soldiers in my company. More personal information than hometowns, battles, and birthdates. Something to help me better know the soldiers themselves. In these times and present company, it seems best to know my men rather than know of them.
Your loyal servant,
A/N: Sorry it took so long. Really, I am. And next week I'll be gone again. Yikes, sorry. I will try to update feverishly again. And finally I can start with relationship stress, now that the plot is firmly established. (Hurray.) And to whomever asked me (because I had so much trouble finding it in the reviews): yes, Zuko does have some friendship with the Gaang, not just that he tolerates them. So, I'm not looking for places to stuff Zutara in; I just like Katara's character.
In other news, am I the first Kyoshi&Yuu Yan shipper? I know Kyoshi&Dai Li has been done, but that about the cool tattooed archers?
God redeems.
ZFF