Authors note: Alright, this one will be basically revolving around a lot of people and well…some information you might want to know. Some more character development and some secrets I hope you all enjoy.

Chapter Thirty-Four

Before It Began

The only she could feel as she lay on the cold grass was death. All she wanted was to die, nothing else could satisfy her. She deserved it too. Every general in Fa Wing was dead…all because of her and her curse.

"You've left me to suffer…" she whispered, "You were always the monster…yet I end up the burden. It's your fault…it's always been your fault."

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"Mai, please stop running around the house. Your mother is trying to rest."

"I'm not running…"

"Well, stop walking."

"I'm sitting down."

"Well stop talking."

"I wasn't talking until you talked to me."

"Be quiet!"

"You're the one who's yelling…"

"Ah!"

The maid walked around in fury as Mai just frowned. She did nothing and yet always seemed to get on someone's nerves. It just didn't make sense.

"I wish I could just see mother…" she thought, "They keep taking me from her."

Swinging her legs back forth Mai thought what she would do tomorrow. It made her smile happily. She was finally going to be able to go out with her mother. They were going to have a picnic and one of the hills near their home.

"I can't wait; finally no one can take her from me."

Mai was about to see if the cook was already preparing their lunch when the same maid who had shut her up came running back down the hallway. Soon after, two other maids ran in the same direction.

"What in the…" she muttered.

Mai propped herself off the chair and slowly went down the same path. Even though she was in a mansion she knew exactly where she was. She was coming towards the sick room, the room her mother was always taken to when something came over her.

It was like she couldn't be controlled. Her eyes would turn black and she couldn't speak. Her father would always stay near by, murmuring low words to her.

Mai always would turn away when this happened. It was too scary for her to bear. However, right now she was more worried than frightened. So she kept walking until her hands were on the door. Without even thinking, she swung the door open.

Mai wouldn't ever forget what she saw.

"Father, get away from mother!" she screamed, running towards him.

He quickly hit her and she dropped to the ground. Mai looked up, tears streaming down her face. All the maid's who had come running were on the floor, dead.

Her mother's whole face was black. Her eyes were the only thing that seemed normal, that seemed real. Her father was saying words to her, louder than he ever had. He was gripping her hand.

Mai watched as the blackness filled her mother and left her father. It will be years later until she knew it was the curse.

"Take it!" Mai's father screamed as he grasped her mother's hand harder.

"No…" Mai whispered.

Quickly jumping from the ground, Mai ran into the embrace. The two parent's hands broke and the blackness in her mother's face disappeared. However, it would already prove too late.

"Mother!" she cried, looking into her face.

She was dead.

"What have you done?!" Mai yelled, turning to her father.

"I…I've given you the curse…"

Her father turned from his dead wife to his daughter before running in horror. Mai wouldn't ever know but her eyes were black…

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"Princess Azula, your father has demanded your return. He says you're done."

"Tell him…I'm coming home."

Azula waited until the guard was gone to let her tears dispense. She couldn't remember the last time she cried. Maybe at tear here and there but cried…it had been so long.

"I tried and now…" she said, not able to finish her sentence, "And if the prophecy..."

She stopped instantly.

"Then who is the curse? I've plotted every obstacle, every single plan. Everything has to go as planned…the Day of Black Sun. How…how can this be?"

Azula stood up and firebended a chair to ashes.

"You wait Zuko…I'm ready."

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"Alrighty, let's stop here. Let's go Appa!"

Aang pulled the reins to the right as the bison landed gently to the ground. The Gaang had no problem adjusting to being on ground but the crew on the other hand…

"What's wrong, noodle legs?" Suki teased the acrobat, passing her with ease.

"Nothing, witch face," Ty Lee replied.

Sokka rolled his eyes, seeing as he was mad at them both. He had tried to explain to Suki that he was just trying to comfort Ty Lee. She said he was lying. He had tried to explain to Ty Lee that he and Suki for now were just friends. She said he was lying.

Seeing as he was telling the truth to them both, you can see his problem.

"You okay Firehead?" Toph questioned.

"Yeah, just getting used to ground," Zuko replied.

"You seem happy."

"I do? I'm not really."

"Yeah you are, I can tell."

Toph walked away with a grin on her face and Zuko just shook his head. He turned around though to see Katara struggling on the saddle to pick up a heavy bag. He walked back and lifted it up.

"Oh, thanks Zuko…"

He just nodded as the two slid back off. Katara glanced his way once or twice before speaking.

"So…how have you been…lately?"

"Airsick."

"Oh…well, you'll get used to it. Anyway, we're really close to the palace now."

"Right…"

Zuko and Katara soon met up with the rest of the group only to have a fight already arise. Sadly, Uncle Iroh had left with Momo to pick berries and no one was there to stop it.

"Okay, Ty Lee, it's on!"

"You already said that, Soka!"

"It's Suki!"

The Kyoshi warrior threw one of her fans and watched as it grazed against Ty Lee's skin.

"I'm sorry, did I get you?"

Ty Lee didn't even return the comment as she started to run up to Suki. Suki stood her ground as the acrobat came closer.

However, before the two could even touch each other, Toph earthbended a rock between them.

"Now stop it!" she screamed, "You both are acting like a bunch of idiots!"

"Toph, don't call them-"

Toph glared at Sokka who decided to keep quiet and just smile back.

Suki moved from the rock as did Ty Lee. It took both and Zuko and Sokka to grab them both.

"You handle Ty Lee, I got Suki."

Zuko nodded as he dragged her away and pushing her to the ground. Ty Lee looked up at Zuko with a frown as he scowled back.

"Ty Lee, what is up with you?"

"It's that hag…you just wait till night, someone will disappear and it won't be me."

"Ty Lee…"

"What?"

"Why are you doing this?"

"Doing what?"

"Fighting with…her name is Suki, right?"

"How should I know?"

Zuko sighed as he sat down next to her. He glimpsed at the acrobat.

"You know she had him first…"

"Well thank you for being on my side!"

"I'm not turning on you Ty Lee I'm just saying…what is the real reason for this?"

"For what?"

"For acting like this."

Ty Lee didn't answer as she played with her hands. Zuko waited patiently for her to answer. After awhile, she started to speak.

"I want people to care about me. I want them to understand how I feel…and he cares."

"I care."

"Zuko…"

"Well I do."

"I know it's just…it's just…"

"You want to go back to the circus."

"Yeah, really bad. I actually felt wanted there…I don't know what it is but…I feel invisible."

Ty Lee looked down in despair as a tear fell from her eye. Zuko looked away before whispering.

"I'm sorry…"

Ty Lee gazed up at Zuko who gave a short smile. She grinned back as her tears stopped.

She didn't even notice Sokka standing in front of her.

"Hey Ty Lee, Suki's sorry about what she did and was hoping you two could talk."

Ty Lee blew the hair in front of her face and sighed. She stood up and turned to Sokka.

"Fine…but she had better put those fans away."

"Trust me, there gone."

Ty Lee nodded, giving the prince a quick flash of a smile. In the end, Zuko didn't know if he had done something wrong or right but at least no one at night disappeared…that is no one that night…

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Authors note: The end was just for fun. You all see how the curse came about. I didn't want this chapter to be like everyone becomes friends because they don't. Zuko and Ty Lee don't have a real friendship so this is as far as I it might go…maybe a little farther. Anyway, please review.