Just want to thank Kelev, DJNS, A711owner, and after a short hiatus, Wavebreeze, for their reviews. Here comes Part 2 of Mai, starting with her first moment of a relationship with Zuko. Personally, some of Mai's traits are inspired by fics written by DJNS, who included a supposed future for the Avatar characters, as to what happened in the subsequent years following the war. I personally find Mai very fun to write about, as there are so many more complex traits to her than her "grey dingy aura." Let's see if you guys agree with me.
Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko own Avatar.
"Where is everyone? Azula told me that Admiral Liang was visiting and wanted to join us for dinner. All of us," I asked, looking around this empty courtyard. It was only a few days after the Fire Nation officially conquered Ba Sing Se, and Azula managed to bring Zuko back on our side. I didn't get much of a chance to speak with Zuko even after he came back, so I hadn't heard too much about how he was doing. In fact, this dinner with Admiral Liang was officially the first meal I had with Zuko in years.
But for a gathering with one of the Fire Nation's most skilled admirals, it was very quiet. There was a small table in the courtyard with only two seats. Plates of food encircled a series of candles in the centre, making this more like a dinner for two than anything else. From the other entrance to the courtyard, Zuko stood with a perplexed look on his face. "She told me the same thing, Mai," he replied, "She's up to something."
We slowly approached the table, my face warming up as I peered at the plates. Zuko and I were dressed in traditional Earth Kingdom outfits tonight, opting for a mix of green and yellow rather than the traditional Fire Nation red. I couldn't say that I liked this colour any better, but after wearing it for a while I started getting used to it. We hovered over the table, letting the smells of steamed buns, fried rice, and other dishes waft into our nostrils. "The food doesn't look that awful," I stated, picking up a pair of chopsticks and poking a fried item, "I guess we shouldn't let it go to waste." I suggested to Zuko.
Zuko shrugged as we took our seats. I took a quick glance at him, trying to gauge his face, but to no avail. I knew from his experiences that he was very conflicted, having to send his own uncle to prison, but whatever troubles present inside his mind were being masked quite well. He calmly grabbed some food from the plate, slipping it into his mouth and chewed it thoughtfully. "Almost tastes like Fire Nation food, just not seasoned enough." He commented, his eyes not even lifting up. Despite the relative calmness, I could sense some uneasiness in him. The Zuko I knew was a bit more expressive than this, and didn't hesitate to voice out or take action. The best case in point was the incident with the flaming apple game, when he didn't even hesitate in supposedly rescuing me from having my hair lit on fire. So for me, this was definitely a sign that all was not well with the Fire Prince, who was more focused on his food than me.
Whatever train of thought I had was disturbed by an out-of-tune, inartistic Dai Li agent. He stepped up to us strumming his instrument, his song so bad that we just lost whatever appetite we had. "Can you please stop that? You're giving me a headache!" Zuko yelled, gripping his head, the horrible music almost making our ears bleed.
As the Dai Li agent smiled sheepishly, I could hear a couple of voices giggling in the bushes. The sudden sounds did not sit well with Zuko, who promptly marched over to the shrubs and showed off his famous fieriness. "I know you're back there, Azula! Don't you have something more important to do?" He snapped, his entire body tightening.
Indeed, to neither one of our surprises, Azula and Ty Lee popped out from the bushes. Earlier, when Zuko and I approached the table all alone, I had some idea that Azula and Ty Lee had something to do with it. While Azula calmly brushed herself off, sliding the blame on their presence here to Ty Lee, Zuko and I decided to leave the area immediately. "Let's go to the city for a walk," he suggested, shooting Azula a dark look.
As we strolled into the markets, a series of smells blasted through my nostrils. Most of these were foreign to me, and some weren't exactly pleasant. "Ugh, do people actually eat any of this?" I complained, casting a downward gaze at the stalls. I had to admit that I had never really been outside of the Fire Nation, and my knowledge of the culture and cuisine of other places was limited. Knowing Zuko's journeys, I tried to stay open-minded, but some stuff was just too disgusting to bear.
Zuko was about to elaborate, but an Earth Kingdom girl soon monopolized his attention. The Ba Sing Se native had a green tunic with a yellow belt tied around the waist. "Lee, I can't believe it. It's been so long!" she exclaimed, clinging onto Zuko. Seeing the new girl's excitement, I couldn't help but wonder who she was.
But before I got a chance to respond, it was the girl who demanded of my identity first. Zuko glanced at me uneasily, trying to spin a way out of this. "Hi, Jin, um…" he stuttered, his hand wringing nervously. I had to admit that nervous Zuko was a rare scene, but was loads of fun to watch. "This is just my friend. My friend Mai, from the circus, is the knife thrower. Yeah!" He concluded with an apprehensive chuckle.
The new girl, Jin, glanced at me in awe and amazement, wondering what type of skills I had. I couldn't help but smirk, as in this dingy and overpopulated Earth Kingdom metropolis I inadvertently gained a new fan. "Here, I'll show you," I offered, pushing Zuko to the fountain at the middle of the square. As Zuko got to position, I grabbed a fish from a nearby stall and slapped it onto his head. "That's better." I commented.
I could feel Jin's nervous stare as I strolled back to the stall and casually broke off a long icicle. Although I had no confirmation of this, I guessed that Jin met Zuko, or for her case Lee, some time during Zuko's stay in Ba Sing Se. Whether they actually got to know each other well was uncertain, although I doubted that Zuko would release that much information about his past to her. In my mind, I felt that experience might have been Zuko's first taste of happiness in years, as I could tell it being relative positive given Jin's tone alone. If only you knew what Zuko has been through, I thought.
Staying in character, I positioned myself in a direct line with Zuko, showing Jin the grip I had on the icicle. "It's all in the wrist, really." I told her, recalling the countless projectiles I had tossed throughout my life. Taking aim at Zuko's head, I reeled back and let the ice loose, the sharp transparent blade going straight at the Fire Prince.
Then, as if it were attracted to the fish, the icicle impaled it right on the belly, the sharp end sticking out the other side. Zuko, his eyebrows curled tightly, was completely unharmed. I couldn't help but snicker at his reaction. Did he really think I was so poor in the skills department that I would send the icicle straight through his head? Beside me, Jin couldn't help but applaud. "Wow! That was amazing!" She exclaimed.
My eyes alternated between Zuko and Jin, my face gushing with pride as I managed to impress someone with my act. But then, my eyes landed on the fountain behind Zuko, and found it a great way to get some payback. Turning to Jin with a slightly mischievous grin, I asked her if she wanted to try throwing an icicle.
At first Jin refused, insisting that she couldn't possibly hurl one of those. But her words were nothing but murmurs as I focused in on Zuko's face. His eyes became bigger than the moon, and his body paralyzed like most of the fish on that stand. If my plan was to succeed, I would have plenty of stories to tell when I got back to the Fire Nation.
Finally, Jin was convinced, and gripped a piece of ice from the stand. I eased her into position and asked her to do as I did earlier. As Jin got into her wind-up, I could see Zuko's face scrunch up in fear. As the icicle was released, it headed away from the fish, as expected. Instead, Jin threw it low, aiming right for Zuko's face instead. Zuko shouted out in fear, dodging hard to the side and letting the icicle sail straight into the fountain. But as he did that, he lost his balance, and fell backwards into the water.
There were a couple of splashes here and there as Zuko struggled to regain balance, but my mission there was complete. Marching to the fountain and sticking my head in, I sneered, "Now we're even." I recalled back when we first met, when Azula played the apple game with me and Zuko tried saving me by pushing me into a pool.
Zuko roared and anger and pulled himself out of the fountain. That was my cue to run as he pursued me through the streets of Ba Sing Se. I didn't even get a chance to say goodbye to Jin as he cornered me in an alley. "Are you crazy? You could have gotten me killed!" He ranted, trying to hold me in one place as I weaved back and forth.
"Whatever, Lee!" I retorted, trying hard to suppress my giggles. All those feelings that I felt all those years ago, when I raced away from the fountain wet and embarrassed, all came soaring back. Back then, I had a small crush on him, and I still remembered how my face would flush red every time he marched by. I had always wanted some time with Zuko together, wondering what he was really like. Well, tonight, I got it all.
And Zuko wasn't completely oblivious to it either, as he stopped his wild pursuit of me. Holding me still, his golden orbs looked into mine as noise from our surroundings was blocked out. As we stared into each other, Zuko quietly reminisced, "You finally seem to be enjoying yourself. I've missed seeing this side of you."
My eyes shifted to the ground, unsure of how to react. While I had the natural urge to suppress my emotions, it was also a fact that I had never heard someone being so open to me before. And adding to this formula was that it came from the very same person I had a crush on. "A lot had changed since the days when I used to throw mud on your face," I managed to eke out, my mind still flustered from his words. I placed a hand on his face and turned him to me. "But not everything's changed," I concluded. Whatever confusion I still had, I was about to end it with my decision to show Zuko the feelings I had for him, the same feelings I had stored in the deepest parts of my heart.
I could feel our faces lean closer, almost like the brisk evening wind had blown us together as I felt his breath on my cheeks. I had never been this open with my feelings before, not even before my own family. But somehow, seeing Zuko again and spending time with him, reminiscing the times we had and understanding what he went through, I felt a sense of relaxation and release whenever I was near him. Maybe this was what I needed to stop suppressing myself? Who knows, but I felt for now, I didn't need to be the stiff as a board noblewoman that I had been all my life. Letting our natural feelings guide the way, our lips soon found their way to each other, and drank in the kiss to the fullest.
"Aren't you cold?" I asked, approaching the lone figure standing at the bow of our ship. It was a cloudless summer night, with the full moon being the only source of light illuminating the world. Even though the weather was supposed to get warmer as the year progressed, the night at sea provided a fair bit of ocean breezes, making it just that much chillier as I emerged from the lower decks of the ship.
"I've got a lot on my mind." Zuko responded, his quiet tone almost drowned out by the lapping waves against the boat. I leaned up against the edges, craning my neck and trying to see his face. Even as Azula and Ty Lee boarded this ship yesterday, Zuko was still hesitant, going with us almost involuntarily. As I continued to make sense of this new nervous side of Zuko, he merely stated, "It's been so long, over three years since I was home. I wonder what has changed, and I wonder how I've changed."
I couldn't help but yawn, my fatigue getting the better of me. While I was quite concerned with Zuko, I couldn't help but take a dig at him. "I just asked if you were cold, I didn't ask for your whole life story." I joked, trying to add some humour amidst the cool surroundings. Being with Zuko really got my happier and funnier side going, like it had been released from a ten-plus-year jail sentence thanks to my upbringing.
Still, Zuko kept his head turned away from me, and that only made me want to get even closer to him. Ever since the "date" at Ba Sing Se, I had made it my mission to get Zuko back to his old self, the one that I met all those years ago. If there was one thing the scrawny little boy had in common with this tall and muscular young man was the hesitant expressions on his face. Back then, Zuko had Lady Ursa to turn to, but today he was the one and only Fire Prince and heir to the Fire Nation throne. There must be a way to get him to relax a bit, right? Grabbing his face, I tilted it towards me and told him, "Stop worrying!" And with that, I planted my lips onto his, my body warming up immediately.
As I pulled back, I could see the muscles on his face relaxing a bit. It was still somewhat difficult to gauge his entire expression given the relative darkness, but I knew whatever I did had taken effect. Feeling the chill get through my clothing, I decided to leave the deck for the moment. As I pulled the hatch to the interior open, I turned back and told Zuko, "Give it a few days, and you'll be fine. Once you meet up with the Fire Lord again, I'm sure everything will be okay."
And indeed, everything was getting brighter for us. Zuko met with Fire Lord Ozai shortly after our return, and while I wasn't in the throne room for their private meeting, the gossip was all over the palace. From the servants to the guards, to even those nobles living near the palace, the word was that the Fire Lord could not stop singing praises to his son, claiming Zuko redeemed himself by staying loyal to the Fire Nation and slaying the Avatar. The latter piece of information was completely new to me, as Azula never truly explained the battle in the Ba Sing Se catacombs. Until now, all I heard was that she and Zuko cornered the Avatar, and they both took part in beating him. But it was Zuko who dealt the final blow? Now that was all news to me.
That was where things stood right now, with me getting more chipper and giddy as the days passed. The fact that the Fire Lord wanted my parents to continue governing New Ozai, formerly known as Omashu, meant I had the house all to myself. He certainly seemed receptive enough to the idea of visiting me often, opting to spend the first day after his restoration with me. As we enjoyed our picnic on top of a nearby hill and just enjoying the sunset, I couldn't help but lean into his arms. Despite the extremely boring act of watching the big fireball dip into the horizon, I had to admit that I actually liked having Zuko around. "Orange is such an awful colour," I commented.
Upon hearing that, Zuko snickered. Even with my supposedly more positive and cheerful outlook, it was hard to drop my usually monotone life. To be honest with myself, I was actually a little afraid to let my feelings run too wild yet. It wasn't because of the old reason, where I had to consider my father's political career; rather, it was because I didn't know how to act before Zuko. Sure I wanted to be intimate, but what could I do in front of my future Fire Lord? But then again, it didn't seem like Zuko minded what I had to say. "You're so beautiful when you hate the world." He replied, grinning like an idiot.
I tried suppressing a laugh, as Zuko certainly got that point straight. While it did not represent the true me, my monotone side was an important part of how I grew up. And as I thought about it, maybe Zuko was trying to get me to let go of this side, given that we were together now. In a way, this was as much about me helping Zuko as it was me helping myself. "I don't hate you," I responded, tilting my head up at him.
Zuko's grin stretched from ear to ear, the first time he displayed that much happiness all at once. And would anyone have guessed that it was in front of me? "I don't hate you too," he concluded our talk with a firm kiss, linking our lips one more time. My more girlish side ate away at my brain as he showed his affection. Having no one that openly showed their love for me like this, could one blame me for being this excited?
Then, in perfect fashion, the bossy Fire Princess herself showed up and ruined the mood. She originally demanded for a conversation with her brother, and was roundly rejected by Zuko. I wasn't sure if this was true, but I could smell a smidge of defensive manoeuvring from Zuko. It had only been days since we had become a couple, and he was already becoming this protective? Or was there another reason why Zuko was so intent not to have Azula interrupt anything he, or we, did?
But for Azula, ever persistent and forceful, there was another way to get Zuko alone to her. Insisting that Ty Lee needed help with her braids, she told me to go check on my acrobatic friend. Hearing something like that usually meant not to get Azula mad, and I got up without question. I did, however, threw a side death glare at the Fire Princess as I departed, showing her my frustration with this disturbance. I had to admit that my open defiance for Azula like that was pretty brave, considering that Ty Lee and I never attempted anything like this before in our lives.
But for some reason, now that I was with Zuko, I felt bolder than ever before I felt I was more expressive with my distaste for Azula's actions, at least to an extent. After all, if Zuko had to go through all those messy experiences just so he could come home, then the least I could do was defend him. As I marched down the hill, I really hoped that I would get another chance with Zuko, one without the outside interference.
"Zuko, what is wrong with you?" I demanded, flipping my boyfriend around and making him face me. While our relationship had blossomed somewhat, things weren't exactly taking a turn for the better. Ever since Zuko learned that his father requested a private meeting with his top advisors, sending Zuko and Azula on a "forced vacation" to Ember Island with Ty Lee and me, he had been grouchy through and through. So I wasn't too impressed with him giving me a seashell, and he did spill ice cream onto my legs earlier in the day, but that shouldn't make him that volcanic, right?
But I hadn't seen anything yet, as Zuko just threw Ruon-Jian, one of the hosts for this house party, across the room. Ruon-Jian ended up landing on a pot, shattering it completely while Zuko's chest heaved up and down. That was when I decided enough was enough, and it was time to rein him in, Fire Prince or not. We were the guests at this party, and that was no way for guests to behave. Moreover, Ruon-Jian was just talking casually with me. What could possibly bring about such a violent reaction? "Your temper is out of control. You blow up over every little thing, and you're so impatient, hot-headed and angry!" I ranted, not even caring that every set of eyes in the room were on us.
That only drove Zuko angrier, as he tried turning the tables on me. "Well, at least I feel something, as opposed to you! You have no passion for anything! You're just a big blah!" He yelled, waving his arms dramatically in the air.
But it was that last line that was etched into my mind: you're just a big blah. I had not idea what was in Zuko's mind when he uttered that phrase, but to claim that I had no feelings for anything was going too far. He wanted to see me be expressive? He got it. "It's over, Zuko," I stated, turning my back to him, "we're done." I could hear Chan, our other host, scream in shock over how his family's favourite vase had been broken. But for me, it wasn't my biggest concern right now. Sighing, I headed away from the dining area, opting to get away from the explosive situation.
To nobody's surprise, Chan ejected Zuko from the party, sending the Fire Prince out into the evening air. Maybe it was the right thing to do, as the cooler climate outside might be good for Zuko to flush out his mind. Sensing something might be up, Ty Lee and Azula approached me, deciding that we should speak with Zuko. Azula told Ty Lee and I to wait on the beach while she fetched her brother.
Not a word was spoken as Ty Lee and I plopped ourselves onto a series of logs at a secluded corner of the beach, away from the beach houses. Only waves banging against the seashore could be heard as we waited for the royal siblings. Perhaps it was for the best that we were all alone and quiet, as it gave me some time to think. Even if I could attribute what Zuko said to his rage-filled head, it was still unjustified to launch into a violent attack against another person like that. Moreover, his over-protectiveness now made it uncomfortable for me to be with him anymore, as I couldn't do anything with anyone else without him getting all jealous. As if my parents weren't restrictive enough when I was young, now I had to put up with this? What did I look like, some prisoner?
Finally, I could see two shadows coming in from the hills above. As Azula and Zuko descended the hillside towards us, I couldn't help but fume at the male figure. It was one thing to say I didn't express myself often, but it was another to say that I had no feelings for anything. Not only did it imply that I cared for nothing, it also meant that I wouldn't react to any of Zuko's negative actions, so much so that he could run roughshod over me. In cases like this, there was no way I would sit idly and watch him mess around.
I wasted no time voicing my displeasure with Zuko as he placed a hand on my shoulder, asking if I was cold. I slapped his hand away, turning my head so that I didn't have to face him. The only cold here was the cold I displayed to Zuko, as I wanted him to know how much what he said hurt me. Ty Lee, sitting across from me, tried to lighten the mood by requesting a fire. This prompted Zuko to depart again, presumably to get some firewood. To me, it didn't matter, because until Zuko apologized, I wouldn't let this pass.
What were supposed to be firewood became Zuko's old family relics, as he explained to us that he returned to his family's old beach house and removed all the old items there. As the flames engulfed old paintings and other materials, Ty Lee couldn't help but ask what happened. That turned out to be a bad move, as Zuko unleashed his anger on her. "You don't know me, so why don't you just mind your own business?"
I winced as Zuko continued berating my friend, claiming that Ty Lee was stuck in her own little world. As the insults got more and more outrageous, I couldn't help but interject. "Zuko, leave her alone." I chimed in, hoping he would calm down.
But then Ty Lee did the unthinkable. Not only did she ditch the ever-optimistic attitude, she hit back at Zuko by claiming that she actually had to go through hardship just to get to her current stage. "I joined the circus because I was scared to spend the rest of my life as a matched set. At least I'm different now. Circus freak is a compliment!" Ty Lee concluded emphatically, glaring daggers into Zuko.
While I admired Ty Lee's courage for speaking up, it was evident that she did it because she craved attention, not because it was the right thing to do. "Attention issues," I pointed out, my calm and steady voice a total contrast to Ty Lee, "you couldn't get enough attention when you were a kid, so you try to make up for it now."
That seemed to have touched a nerve with Ty Lee, who took swipes at my life as an only child. Given that Tom Tom was barely a year old, it meant I spent almost fifteen years of my life being the centre of attention for my parents. While Ty Lee ranted about my grey aura, I merely told her I didn't believe in them, as my childhood wasn't the least bit harsh at all. "I was a rich, only child who got anything I wanted, as long as I behaved. I sat still, and didn't speak until spoken to," I reminisced the number of times my parents got me to be perfect, just so I didn't make them look bad before some high-ranking folks who frequented our house. Sure my parents got meticulous, and sure I got annoyed at their every attempt to straighten out even the slightest crook in my posture, but I soon got used to it when my parents rewarded my every effort to conform to their wishes. It wasn't hard to keep emotions bottled in when you got whatever you wanted as a result.
"That's why afraid to care about anything, and why you can't express yourself," Azula concluded for me, arrogance laced throughout her tone.
Those words ended up doing what couldn't be done for the whole night: getting me up in arms. I had no idea what Azula was trying to prove, but it seemed like she was taunting my current state. As if Zuko calling me out and publicly humiliating me was not bad enough, now Azula had to rub it in my face? This was too much. "You want me to express myself? Leave me alone!" I screamed, letting my anger shoot through the night.
It was like the fire increased its power tenfold as I turned my eyes to Zuko, taking it out on him as well. "Don't touch me. I'm still mad at you!" I yelled at Zuko, even when he complimented how much he liked it when I unleashed my emotions more. "There's no excuse for the way you've been acting." I snapped, keeping him at a distance.
That only provided ammunition for Zuko, who went on to describe his tough life. "My father decided to teach me a permanent lesson on my face!" Zuko shouted, pointing at the scar around his left eye. As he paced up and down the beach, his words echoed off the hillside. "I should be happy for returning, but I'm not! I'm angrier than ever and I don't know why!" He ranted, sounding almost confused as he presented his dilemma.
That ended up getting all of us talking, as we tried to figure out why a war hero like him would be so frustrated. Even when we considered the factor of needing time to adjust to life after exile, it was still very unusual to see that much aggravation in a person. "Who are you angry at, Zuko?" I asked, suddenly forgetting any grudge I had against him from the party. Instead, I felt the need to show my caring side, trying to find out just what went wrong with my lifelong friend, who seemed flustered than ever.
We began listing off name after name, trying to figure out what was wrong with Zuko. The Fire Lord, General Iroh, Azula, everyone close to us was named, but it only drove Zuko crazier. He gripped the sides of his head, shaking it violently as his voice went closer and closer to cracking. That was when I realized Zuko was truly in trouble, and needed my help more than ever. In one last blast, he slammed his fists down. "I'm angry at myself!" He cried to the skies, turning our fire into a pillar of flames.
That ended up burning up all our fuel, turning whatever old relics still inside the pit into ashes. I could see Zuko's silhouette against the night sky, his back hunched over and his head never leaving the ground. He was so pitiful, so helpless, and so lost. "I'm confused. I'm not sure I know the difference between right and wrong anymore." Zuko muttered, his tone sounding like he was close to breaking down in tears.
Finally understanding the situation, I decided to do the right thing. Stepping up to Zuko, I placed a hand on his shoulder. "I know one thing I care about: I care about you." I declared. Maybe I was a bit harsh on Zuko earlier and perhaps my usual monotone and emotionless self did not sit well with Zuko. If I wanted a long-term relationship with him, I ought to understand him more, and tried to help him deal with his problems rather than condemning them. Leaning in, I planted my lips onto his.
It didn't matter that Azula tried to rub it in our faces that she had no sob stories to tell, or that Ty Lee felt Ember Island truly changed us. All that mattered was that Zuko and I were together again, and we would both take steps to rectify the rift between us. But for some strange reason, I noticed Azula growing extra quiet as she told us about how her mother favoured Zuko more than her, and that she was once called a monster. Perhaps it was something in the royal family that wasn't revealed? I made a mental note of this, and I should probably ask Zuko for an elaboration should I get the chance.
But for now, we had a party to crash. Azula suggested that we returned to the very house that we were thrown out of and did some serious work of our own. As we marched up the steps again, with nothing but retribution on our minds, I decided on one thing. I would be more open with my thoughts, and expressed myself more freely. Whether my parents liked it or not, I was almost an adult, and it was only right that I spoke with my own voice. Besides, communicating with Zuko was probably the best way to deal with both our problems, and I wouldn't trade being with him for anything in the world.
"War meeting? What are you talking about?" Zuko demanded, suddenly shooting up from the couch. It had been a couple of weeks since the incident at Ember Island, and Zuko and I had been well on our way to not only patching up, but proceeding with our relationship. He had been visiting me more often, and we'd hang out in my currently empty house, getting whatever we wanted from the servants. Overall, I must say that I really enjoyed my every moment with him, even amidst all the trouble with war plans and such, as evident by the Fire Lord's special meeting tomorrow night.
But that apparently touched a nerve with Zuko, who demanded to know what happened. "Azula mentioned something, so I assumed you were going too," I explained, sensing Zuko's sudden downward spiral in spirits. Seeing Zuko hunched over with his eyes to the ground, I couldn't help but feel a pang in my heart.
The entire room was silent as Zuko mulled his thoughts over. A sudden night breeze whirled through the open window, chilling us considerably. By the time Zuko lifted his head again, his mug was filled with bitterness and resentment. "I guess I wasn't invited," he spat, turning away from me. From that moment on, it became clear to me that no matter what I said, it wasn't going to make a difference to how Zuko felt right now.
As Zuko stormed out in a huff, I was left in my room, silent and alone. It gave me all night to think about what was going on. It was true that Zuko's return to his rightful place as the Fire Prince was an exciting moment for us all, but there was something quite unusual about this move. Until now, Zuko hadn't been invited to any royal meetings held by the Fire Lord, as we were sent on vacation during the last one with the Fire Lord's war advisors. So for Azula to speak to me about some important meeting involving the same group of advisors, it did arouse suspicion. Was the Fire Lord trying to send us all some message regarding Zuko's status? Did he feel that Zuko was still not ready or mature enough to handle these issues, even as his birthright had been regained?
And speaking of Azula, the entire way she went about announcing this news was also questionable. Assuming what Zuko had said was true, that he had no idea there was a meeting taking place tomorrow, then it was logical to conclude Azula had not told him anything. It really made me wonder why Azula would approach me to talk about this, as it was clear to both of us that this meeting was more important to Zuko than anyone else. I knew Azula was one to play mind games to control people, and both Zuko and I had been targets of her attempts before, but to have her toy around with her own brother's emotions was going too far. This was Zuko's chance to redeem himself, so why did she have to make life so difficult for him? Had she just approached Zuko and told him in a direct manner, maybe Zuko wouldn't get this upset and rant about being left out.
By the time Zuko returned to my house, he reported that he did speak with Azula. He confirmed my suspicions that Azula was indeed invited to the meeting, and he demanded to know why he never received an invitation. "She told me that since I was expected to go, it was obvious that I didn't get an invitation," he spat, trying to mimic Azula's usually haughty tone, "in that case, I told her I wouldn't go."
Zuko trudged to the window overlooking the capital city, his face tight and emotionless. Even when he insisted that he didn't regret refusing the meeting, I could tell the decision weighed heavily on his mind. Sensing his distress, I had to try cheering him up. Telling him that it was just a dumb meeting, I suggested that we tried to have fun on our own. "Let's order some servants around. I might be hungry for a whole tray of fruit tarts," I declared, reminding him of the even yesterday when he asked a servant to bring me a fruit tart with rose petals on top, "and maybe a little palanquin ride around town?"
However, nothing would lift Zuko's spirits, as his face was wounded up tight all night. Even as he left for the royal palace again, I could tell his uncertainty as he gingerly stepped into his palanquin. I knew that while Zuko chose not to go as an act of defiance to Azula, deep down he really wanted to be there. I could imagine how much he longed for his father's respect as he planned the final invasion of the Earth Kingdom and took it down for the Fire Nation. That way, he would truly be a war hero, and would be revered by all. Azula shouldn't have played that trick on Zuko, I thought.
Checking on the time, I realized that I should probably get to bed. As I went into my bedroom to change, I thought about the confrontation between Zuko to Azula. It probably wasn't a pretty sight, but for once I genuinely felt Zuko ought to speak up. The past few days that I had spent with Zuko, I felt I started understanding him better. He wasn't the hot-headed, foul-tempered royal brat that most past gossip portrayed him to be. Rather, I found him quite sensitive, both to others and himself. He was also fairly intelligent, and could be quite witty at times. In my mind, anyone trying to destroy his spirits was merely trying to assert the picture of the negative Zuko for their selfish purposes. Knowing Azula, I doubted this was too far from the truth, given how much she thirsted for power and control. Sighing, I changed into my nightgown and slipped into my bed, trying to take this out of my mind.
Zuko would return to my house the next morning, sulking as usual as he trudged to the upstairs living quarters. But before I could say a word, one of the servants barged in and requested a word with him. "Everyone is waiting for you," he informed us, bowing down to the Fire Prince, "the high admirals, the high generals, the war ministers and the princess have all arrived. You're the only person missing in the meeting. The Fire Lord said he will not start until you arrived, sir." He ended, dropping a bombshell to us.
For a second, the only thing we could do was stand there with our mouths nearly hitting the ground. So Fire Lord Ozai did want Zuko at the meeting after all. Was there any doubt to what Zuko could do for his country? Finally, after an eternity, we beamed at each other, realizing that Zuko's wish had come true. Dismissing the servant, we quickly got Zuko back to the palace, asking the servants to put him in his military uniform. As I waited outside his room, I was overjoyed and excited. There was no better way for Zuko to show the Fire Nation his real mettle by helping us achieve the greatest victory ever. "So that means our day's activities have to be all cancelled," Zuko told me as he stepped up, his sparkly new uniform making him look sharper than ever.
"Don't worry about me," I replied, linking his arm as we hurried to the main conference hall, "I'll keep myself busy. I managed to survive after all those years being bound by my parents, so what makes you think I can't do it?" As we stopped at the last door, I could hear Zuko inhale deeply, probably just to calm his nerves as he prepared for the biggest meeting of his life. "Don't fret about it, okay? I'll be right here waiting for you." I reassured him. Giving him a final kiss, I released his arm and strolled off to a nearby pillar, trying to keep out of the way as Zuko entered the large room.
The hours ticked by slowly and painfully as I sat next to the large pillar, doing nothing more than juggling the many projectiles hidden in my sleeves. It was this type of stewing that allowed me to develop my knife throwing skills, as throughout my younger years my best friend seemed to be walls. But now, I was being bored to tears for another reason: the love of my life. Zuko was in there talking about war strategies, which by the sounds of it was awfully dull already. But if sitting through these dreary times meant he could further his honour, then I was willing to go all the way with him. We promised each other that we would be there for one another, no matter what the circumstances.
After hours of looking at a wall and polishing my blades, the meeting was finally over. Many middle-aged men stepped out from the hall and into a smaller room, most likely to get refreshments. I got up and tried to find Zuko in the crowd, hoping to see through the seasoned war veterans who talked excitedly amongst themselves. After a few minutes of fruitless searching, I finally spotted him exiting the refreshments tent, a very thoughtful look etched onto his face. "So, how did it go?" I asked him.
We marched down the hallway, leaving the older folks behind as Zuko explained the situation inside the room. "When I got to the meeting, everyone welcomed me. My father had saved me a seat, he wanted me next to him," he described in a surprisingly monotonous voice, "I was literally at his right hand."
"Zuko, that's wonderful!" I declared, placing my hands on his arm. Whatever doubt we had last night regarding Zuko's status were erased completely as I continued, "You must be happy!" I tried gauging his face again, which barely moved an inch.
Zuko paused right at the end of the hallway. We looked up together and saw the royal portrait of Fire Lord Ozai, his pose straight and tall as his face proudly gazed over the hall. "During the meeting, I was the perfect prince, the son my father wanted," he stated. But it was what he said after that shocked me the most, "But I was not me."
I glanced over at Zuko, wondering what that could all mean. It was his wish that his father accepted him again, right? So why did it seem like his was still discontent? Did something happen inside that embarrassed him? The generals and admirals were usually tough-as-nails people, so maybe they said something that referred back to his exile, causing Zuko some humiliation. Either way, whatever the event, it left Zuko feeling a bit uncertain. As we stepped back to the living quarters of the palace, I made a mental note of this, deciding once I had the time, I was going to find out what was going on.
"I guess I don't know you," I stated flatly, unrolling a scroll before Zuko. When I heard there was an invasion into the Fire Nation capital city on the day of a solar eclipse, I heeded the emergency evacuation orders and hid in an underground safety bunker, just like most of the city's residents. In the midst of the chaos, I didn't manage to locate Zuko, so for the time I was in that stuffy chamber my mind fretted with worry, wondering if the invasion force could overwhelm him thanks to their sheer numbers.
But by the time I returned to my room, it was evident that Zuko was gone. All that was left was this farewell letter, which I now waved before him. For some reason, he chose to join the Avatar's group, making himself a fugitive again after only a few weeks of regaining his status. It was my uncle, the warden of the maximum security prison, who informed us that Zuko was found here. Given that Azula planned on going to the Boiling Rock to see some of the new war prisoners transferred there, Ty Lee and I were asked to tag along. I made sure to bring Zuko's letter with me, just to flush out his true motives for abandoning me like that. "All I get is a letter? You could have at least looked me in the eye when you ripped out my heart!" I snapped. All those times I had with him, all the promises we made together, even the celebratory mood I had after his first war meeting, all those were thrown out the window as I berated the way he abandoned me.
Zuko tried to explain, but I cut him off. In my mind, I felt there was no rationale for what he did, and I was willing to let him hear it. He opened my heart alright, getting access to the real me that I bottled up inside for so many years. But for him to just ditch me like that was unacceptable. Scanning the letter, I spat his every word back to him. "Dear Mai, I'm sorry that you have to find out this way, but I'm leaving…"
"Stop!" Zuko shouted, his back hunched on the lone chair in the interrogation room. The only source of light was from outside the open door shining only on Zuko, meaning he was front and centre for scrutinizing. "This isn't about you! This is about the Fire Nation!" He insisted, claiming that he did it for the future of our country.
I paused, glaring at the seated figure. His tone might have been strong, but I could still see weakness inside him. His body quivered slightly, his face kept relatively low as he tried not to look my way. Fuming, I tossed the letter at his head. "Thanks, Zuko. That makes me feel all better." I retorted, unimpressed with his answer.
Finally, Zuko had the strength to stand and face me. He got out of the chair and turned around gingerly, like he was afraid I would start launching projectiles at him. "I never wanted to hurt you," he insisted, "but I have to do this to save my country."
"Save it? You're betraying your country!" I replied angrily, appalled at what Zuko was trying to do. While part of me was concerned with staying loyal to the Fire Nation, the other side of me truly feared for Zuko's safety. Was it worth it to join the Avatar's group and be hunted all over the world again? He knew how much I loved him and that I didn't want to lose him, so why did he become this inconsiderate and started going off when he could have stayed with us? Didn't he know that he was breaking my heart even more should anything happen to him all the while I sat helpless at home?
"That's not how I see it," Zuko explained, offering his side of the story. He told me that he felt the Fire Nation based their rule by relying on fear and falsehoods, to the point where individuals were not being respected for who they were. He went on to say that his father was a great example, as all Zuko wanted was for Ozai to love him, only to get challenged to an Agni Kai, suffering a permanent burn. "Being banished was actually a good thing, because it allowed me to truly see the world. And it is with this conviction that I decided to join the Avatar's group." Zuko concluded firmly.
From my position, I could see a complete reversal being pulled. While I was the one ranting at Zuko, making him feel small, it was now the case where he was speaking with authority and I ended up being a reluctant listener. While my heart wasn't really into Zuko's words, as it still ached from the way he shattered it, I actually found his message quite intriguing. Was it true that I was merely conforming to ways that disrespected life in general? I knew Ty Lee and I always submitted to Azula, but perhaps that went over our heads, to the point where we didn't realize Azula's actions were hurting everyone overall? Maybe the Fire Nation might be better off if some changes were made, even if Zuko was overdoing it by defecting to the Avatar's side.
But the silence inside that interrogation room was shattered when a guard rushed in. "Madam, there's a riot going on. I'm here to protect you." He announced, pointing at my current position standing right next to a supposedly dangerous prisoner.
I turned around and glared at him, my eyes narrowing in anger. While I wasn't happy with Zuko's actions, there was something about him that made me feel welcome and comfortable, even in his status as a prisoner. So, to claim that whatever prison riot was happening and Zuko's presence would pose a threat to me was ludicrous. "I don't need any protection." I replied sternly, irritated by his words.
That didn't deter the guard, as he entered the room describing how my uncle told him to keep her safe. As I looked on flabbergasted, my eyes were completely off of Zuko. That was why it caught us all off-guard when a blast off fire slammed into our feet, the orange fumes burning at our legs as we hopped back. The guard, ever the imbecile, leapt in front of me, shielding me from moving while Zuko made a beeline for the door. "Get off of me!" I yelled, throwing him to the side and pursuing Zuko.
But I was too late, as Zuko pulled the interrogation room door shut, and locked it from outside. I could only stare through the crack, angry and frustrated, but also fearful and anxious, as I still had strong doubts regarding Zuko's decision and subsequent safety. I could see his pair of golden orbs return my stare, his expression both determined and pained, before he hurried off down the aisle. Given I was left all alone with the guard in this room, I had to find a way out. "Is anybody out there?" I called, banging on the door.
Sensing that there was no one present, probably because they were all busy in the courtyard dealing with the riot, I had to resort to drastic measures. Pulling out a longer and thinner projectile, I tried negotiating it into the lock, hoping to free myself from this dark room. Amidst the shouts from the guard behind me, insisting I be careful with such an elaborate lock, I tried to work with the small blade in the limited light. I was by no means a lock-picking expert, but in my boredom I did manage to find more unique ways of handling sharp objects. If it was to include lock-picking, then so be it.
After a gruelling few minutes of working in the dark and being constantly bombarded by the guard's whines, I finally unlocked the door. The halls of the prison were completely silent, which enabled me to locate the source of the action. It came from the top tower, where the gondola was located. On regular days, the gondola was used to transport prisoners into the Boiling Rock, so it wouldn't put it pass me that Zuko was probably using it to escape. Taking a deep breath, I hustled up the stairs.
And indeed, before me was the scene of the escape, with the gondola heading out of the prison dangling over some boiling water. I pressed myself against a pillar, trying to stay away from the guards, who would undoubtedly shoo me away should they see me. The guards on the platform jammed the machinery, making it so that the gondola could not move while they brought out a huge saw. I could only stare in horror as my uncle's voice boomed across the crevasse, "Cut the line!"
Biting my lip to contain my fear, I tiptoed out from the shade, squinting hard as I could make out several figures standing on top of the gondola. One such figure dressed in dark red straightened up and promptly propelled off, blasting out a jet of blue flames from the feet and landing on the parallel gondola making its way down to the prison. She was followed by a figure in a pink belly shirt, acrobatically leaping across and landing in perfect position. My ability to read body language came in real handy again, as Azula and Ty Lee were polar opposites at the moment. While Azula was her usual confident self, Ty Lee was extremely uncertain, knowing full well that should they leave now, those on the stopped cab, Zuko and my uncle included, would surely fall to their deaths.
Then, a sudden surge of energy shot through my body. I didn't care for the so-called escapees, as I didn't exactly know them well. But a couple of factors kept urging me to block out whatever threats there were and approached the controls. One was the fact that Azula was leaving my uncle to die, even though he was doing his duties to prevent an escape. But the more important one was Zuko, as leaving the love of my life to drown in boiling water was unacceptable to me. Even if Azula saw her brother as a traitor, in my mind she was the bigger traitor of the two, as she showed me that she was willing to sacrifice other people's lives just to advance her own agenda. Flipping out a couple of projectiles, I proceeded to hurling them at the guards.
The blades whistled through the air and sliced at each person's clothing, pinning them against the walls and freeing up the machines. I made sure to not hit any major body parts or blood vessels, as to not inflict too much damage. After all, these were people my uncle worked with, and the least I could do was respect their lives, unlike someone else. Amidst their cries, I told them in a clear tone what I intended to do. "Saving the jerk that dumped me," I stated, reaching for the controls and letting the gondola go free.
Knowing that my uncle would be safe, and Zuko would at least get a chance to get off the prison, I turned my blades to the guards, brandishing them ferociously and holding them at bay. I couldn't really see where Zuko's gondola was, but I guessed that they would dock on the other side at any moment now. All I could do for now was giving them time, knowing full well that should I be apprehended, I would probably spend the rest of my life in this prison. Even as my arms and legs ached, my body wobbling from fatigue, the thoughts of Zuko pushed me forward. Zuko had done a lot on this journey to rediscover himself, and I truly believed he had changed completely. Maybe his actions were not acceptable in the current Fire Nation political environment, but his general ideas ought to be commended. Looking back at our history, had any Fire Lord experienced the hardships he did? Had any Fire Lord seen and understood the world the way he did?
My thoughts were jolted to a halt as I felt a huge tackle from my backside. I could feel the blades being ripped from my hands as a rough pair of arms yanked me to my feet. Looking on, I could only grit my teeth as Azula and Ty Lee got off the other gondola and made their way toward me. "I never expected this from you," Azula muttered, her voice laced with poison. She told the guards to leave the area while she dealt with me one-on-one. "Why would you do it? You know the consequences." She demanded.
Taking a deep breath, I brought out all my memories of Zuko to the forefront. It was time to show Azula that respect wasn't bestowed; rather, it must be earned. Royalty wasn't an adequate alibi for forcing others against their will, and comparing the siblings, Zuko was the one who worked harder to gain such respect. Maybe Azula's mother was right to call Azula a monster, as the way she treated others, both in the past and currently, was nothing short of despicable. "You miscalculated," I told her, my tone expressionless but strong, "I love Zuko more than I fear you."
That got Azula more enraged than anything else, as I finally poked through her years of façade via fear. I was proud of who I was, and proud of who I chose. While it was true that Azula had the privileges, it was Zuko who was truly worthy to become a Fire Lord. And while it was true that I obeyed others all my life, I also realized that when the time came, I must stand up for my beliefs. I always felt that had I stood up to Azula with the same vigour as I did to Zuko at Ember Island, things would probably be different today. As Azula got into her lightning bending stance, I whipped out my last projectile. I only had one shot, and I had to make it count should I want to leave with my body intact.
But before anything could happen, Ty Lee zoomed in and attacked Azula. Her hands were a blur as she jabbed at her various pressure points, blocking Azula's chi and preventing her from bending. I was completely shocked at Ty Lee, as I never expected her to take action against Azula. So did that mean Ty Lee agreed with me and decided to take our own path away from Azula? Whatever the case, the thoughts clouding my mind put me in a strange paralysis, not able to move a single muscle even as we were surrounded by guards. Two guards picked up Azula's limp body off of the ground, letting the princess get a good look at us before ordering us to our cells. As they marched us off, I had a sinking feeling in my mind. While I might have done the right thing to give Zuko a chance, I also realized that I might never see him ever again.
"Mai, you're okay!" Zuko exclaimed, his new tunic half-on and half-off as I appeared at his dressing room doorway. I was actually quite nervous when I was told that I could return to the Fire Nation palace to witness Zuko's big day. I didn't know what he would think of me after the Boiling Rock incident. I knew he would probably remember me, as shown by how upset he was to leave me. But given that the entire Fire Nation was in his hands, I couldn't help but imagine that he had many priorities at hand.
But all my worries that swirled in my mind were eased when I made those final steps to his chamber. My wobbling legs became stiffer, my queasy stomach settled, and my shaking hands calmly crossed themselves across my chest as I faced the love of my life. It seemed like Zuko had another battle scar to account for, as evident by the series of bandages across his torso. I left my position on the door frame and approached, grabbing a hold of the confounding robe-like tunic. "They let you out of prison?" he asked.
"My uncle pulled some strings, and it doesn't hurt that the new Fire Lord is your boyfriend." I stated, sliding his arm into the remaining sleeve and tying the belt up. When it was announced that Zuko took over as the new Fire Lord, my uncle immediately sent for a messenger asking him for leniency. It was unusual for any high-risk prisoners at the Boiling Rock to be released without the Fire Lord's approval, but I wasn't keen on just having me be released. While I was at it, I decided to convince my uncle to request Zuko to pardon all prisoners of this war, including Ty Lee and the Kyoshi Warriors, who were imprisoned with us. Apparently, Ty Lee had gotten along quite well with them. She even convinced me to get to know them better, which was an eye-opener for me.
"Does this mean you don't hate me anymore?" Zuko asked, his tone between coy and hesitance. When word returned that Zuko would grant our pardons, I immediately thought of ideas that could allow him to work better with the rest of the world, starting with a prisoners of war exchange, where we released Earth Kingdom and Water Tribe natives for Fire Nation nationals captured by them. Given I would probably have a role to play in helping Zuko with world affairs, I felt I should get used to giving him advice.
"I think it means, I actually kind of like you." I responded, swiftly silencing him with a kiss. This time, there would be no interruptions as we truly enjoyed this moment. I didn't have to worry about Azula or anyone else disturbing us, telling us how to think or feel. The palace staff informed me that Zuko bested Azula in an Agni Kai, in which the princess lost her sanity. She was currently locked away in an asylum, after Zuko spared her life. Personally, I had little intention to visit this individual again. Perhaps it was only right that, after so many years of playing mind games, she lost her own mind.
Releasing Zuko, I sternly pointed out that I didn't appreciate him breaking up with me, and warned him to never do it again. Giving him one more hug, I hurried off to the courtyard below, finding the best position possible to witness Zuko's coronation. I managed to catch up with Ty Lee, who was in full Kyoshi Warrior uniform. She was back to her chipper, positive self, which was I sight that I never thought I would miss seeing. Perhaps this type of attitude was something we all needed at the moment, as it was a new start for us all. Hopefully, the other nations could feed off of this and help us all make this world a better place to live, for now and eternity.
A gong sounded off, echoing throughout this crowd of Fire Nation, Water Tribe, and Earth Kingdom individuals, signalling the arrival of the Avatar and the new Fire Lord. I looked on as Zuko addressed the crowd, standing proud and tall as the new head of state. I couldn't help but feel that so much had happened throughout the years since I first met him. No longer was he the scrawny little kid that clung to his mother; now he was a true leader, one who had seen the world, experienced the same hardships most ordinary folk had, and could apply this knowledge to the Fire Nation. I was beaming with admiration and pride as I watched Zuko address the crowd. "The real hero is the Avatar!" He introduced Aang, in a traditional Air Nomad gown, onto the front steps with him.
After a boisterous round of applause, Zuko officially declared the war over. "I promised my uncle that I would restore the honour of the Fire Nation, and I will. The road ahead of us is challenging, as a hundred years of fighting has left the world scarred and divided," Zuko proclaimed, scanning the crowd who listened on intently. He then tilted his head to Aang, who glanced back eagerly, "But with the Avatar's help, we can get it back on the right path, and begin a new era of love, peace, and hope."
With that, Zuko got to his knees, letting the head Fire Sage place the royal head piece onto his head. He was now officially Fire Lord Zuko, and I couldn't be happier. I went through so much just to witness this day. Getting dunked into a fountain, riding through thick woods on Basilisk lizards, wallowing through wall sludge juice, getting thrown in a high-security prison, you named it. This was truly the beginning of a new age, and I swore to do my part to help Zuko. As he marched down the steps, heading in my direction, I couldn't help by embrace him again. "I am so proud of you, Zuko," I managed to eke out through my emotions.
Zuko merely nodded, and insisted that we talked at the group reunion at Ba Sing Se later on that week. General Iroh managed to reopen his tea shop, and had invited us for a reunion after the war. He told us that the Earth King Kuei, who I had a hand in ousting, would return to his throne, and was willing to discuss the prisoner exchange with Zuko. King Bumi of the semi-autonomous Earth Kingdom region of Omashu, and a close friend of Iroh's, was also invited to the talks. From what I heard the exchange would include my parents and Tom Tom, who were currently held by Bumi at Omashu. To regain so much in a span of a few days, I was overjoyed, and became more determined to keep our good fortunes. After years of grey, things were finally becoming brighter.
And that was where I found myself, sitting in Iroh's tea shop and getting into an intense chess match with Suki, Ty Lee's new leader. Sokka, the male Water Tribe warrior I ran across so many times, was busy doing a painting of us, while Zuko was serving us his uncle's famous tea. Never in my life did I imagine me intermingling with these folks from the other nations. Throughout my life, I was taught that they were weak and inferior to the Fire Nation. But now that I experienced them firsthand, I found they weren't bad people at all. And seeing Zuko out here, relaxing even as he was about to make the first meeting between a Fire Lord and an Earth King in over a century, it only made me realize how important this moment was, and how precious life was in general. No longer would I bottle my thoughts up inside, nor would I belittle anyone's thoughts with nonchalance. If Zuko could make changes to the world, then so could I, and I would help him every step of the way. As I enjoyed the laughter of this new group of friends, I thought to myself:
My name is Mai. That was my story. Those were my rites of passage.
On a personal note, Mai's fighting style is very similar to a ninja's, and in the not-too-distant past one of my monikers was "Ninja Boy." So I guess this was a chance for "Ninja Boy" to write about "Ninja Girl," although I doubt I'd actually steal Mai from Zuko! Anyway, thank you for reading and see you next chapter!