Fire Nation Royal Palace

Mai

Zuko looked happier than he had all day. The stress of preparing for the wedding and helping arrange everything was weighing on him, and he'd had a headache for most of the day. In addition, he'd been up past midnight talking with his advisors about a planned revision to Eyiung Town. When Mai had finally left the palace, hours after sundown, Zuko was still in his meeting.

But as he talked and laughed with his friends, it was like the worries just melted away. He enthusiastically embraced Sokka, punched Toph on the shoulder (and obviously regretted it as his knuckles came in contact with her metal accessories) and gave Suki a warm hug. Katara was standing close to him, occasionally nudging him in the ribs or laughing at something he said.

Mai felt a momentary twinge of jealousy. Katara and Zuko were obviously completely at ease in each other's company, and his other friends made him very happy too. But she knew that Zuko had no romantic feelings for Katara, and Katara was the Avatar's girlfriend besides. No, it was just genuine friendship there.

Speaking of friends… Mai searched the crowd of green-clad girls clustered by her fiancee. It took her a moment – why did they all have to wear the same thing? - but she spotted who she was looking for: Ty Lee, her long brown braid hanging down her back, eyes dancing as she talked animatedly to one of the other Warriors. Mai's best friend since they were little girls attending the same Academy.

Mai finally stepped out of the shadows. Her black dress with the subtle red embroidery melted into the folds of the dark curtain, and she knew no one had seen her there. Katara looked up as she approached. "Mai!" she said delightedly.

Ty Lee looked up, her face lighting up underneath the thick paint on her face. "Mai!" she repeated, flying over and wrapping Mai in a huge, quick hug. "How are you? How's the planning going? I'm so happy for you! Zuko is perfect for you! Your aura has never been brighter!"

Katara was smirking, for some reason. Zuko moved forward, taking Mai's arm. "How are you doing?" he asked. "I haven't seen you since this morning."

Mai melted inside at the sweet concern in his eyes, although she maintained her stoic exterior. "Fine," she said. "Although Lady Hulong isn't too happy about the seating for the second table at the dinner. She insists that we move her because she doesn't want to sit next to the end. Why, I don't know."

"There's always someone who isn't happy," Zuko smiled. "Figures that it's her."

Mai groaned. "I swear I would have been throwing knives at people by now if it weren't for your mother. She has all the patience in the world."

"Comes from raising Zuko," Toph said. "She can do anything after dealing with Sparky."

Mai frowned slightly as she realized someone was missing. "Wait… where's Aang?"

Zuko's face fell. "He was called away on an urgent matter in the Earth Kingdom. I should have gone with him, but he insisted he could do it…"

"Why would you go with him?" Mai asked, startled. "He's the Avatar, it's his job to go. You are the Fire Lord, and you're getting married in a few days."

Zuko gritted his teeth. "He thinks… he thinks it's Azula."

Ty Lee gasped, and Mai's eyes widened. The armor around her was strong enough to weather most things, but even the mention of her crazy ex-friend was enough to put a crack in it.

"But it might not be," Katara said, sounding like she was trying to convince herself. "And even if it is, Aang's a lot more powerful than he was last time. And Azula's mental state isn't great. He'll be fine."

"Azula's certainly defied expectations before," Mai said. She put as much effort into maintaining her stony shell as possible, but her voice quavered slightly. Zuko seemed to read the fear in her eyes.

"It'll be all right, Mai," he promised, putting his arm around her. "Aang can handle my sister. And we don't even know if it is her."

"Who else would it be?" Ty Lee wondered bitterly. "Azula has always tried to ruin happy moments for those around her. It's just like her to surface in time to ruin your wedding."

"Aang will be back in time," Sokka said stoutly. "He always is."

"What are you wearing to the feast?" Katara asked as she and Ty Lee followed Mai to one of the palace's back doors. "I want to see if I can match it somewhat. I've got some dresses of my own, of course, but I thought it might be nice if we looked a little more Fire Nation-supporting at the Fire Lord's wedding feast."

"You can come over to my place," Mai said, switching directions and leading them around the side of the palace. "I'll show you the different outfits."

"I've got to go, Ty Lee suddenly said. She gave Mai a quick hug. "Suki wanted us to check out the area. Have a good time!" She hurried off towards the main pavilion towards the other Kyoshi Warriors, her uniform rustling.

Mai glanced awkwardly over at the Water Tribe woman. She and Katara didn't know each other all that well, and while Mai hadn't minded it while Ty Lee was there, being alone with Katara was slightly uncomfortable.

After a moment she resumed walking. Katara walked by her to her house nearby. They went upstairs in silence.

"This is the feast dress," Mai said, pulling the screen away from the closet and pulling the dress out. It was a sweeping black dress with a filmy red fabric layered over the top. Gold embroidery and a shimmery gold sash completed the picture.

"Wow!" Katara said. "That's gorgeous, Mai. You have amazing taste. That will really bring out the gold in your eyes."

"Zuko's mom picked it out," Mai said flatly.

"Oh," Katara said, sounding a little surprised. "Well, she has good taste too, it seems." She smiled a little.

Mai returned to the closet, hanging up the dress and retrieving another garment. "This is the pre-festival dress." It was a simple design, long and slender, the fabric a rich, deep burgundy. Black ribbons wound around the hemline and neck, and a matching black belt hung next too it.

"Hmmm," Katara said. "That one could be it. I'll have to keep an eye out for dresses like that, with the ribbons."

"You won't find any," Mai said. "I added the ribbons myself."

"Really?" Katara moved closer, examining the stitching. "That's amazing. I can't sew like that! It looks very professional. And the looping pattern is beautiful."

Mai wasn't used to being complimented so effusively. "Anyway," she said, turning away. "The wedding dress itself is still being finished, but it's a mostly red dress with gold highlights. This is the second feast dress." She pulled it out and laid it over the bed with the others.

Katara's eyes widened. "Now that is a beautiful dress," she said. It was a layered, draped dress, slender but trailing. It started out as a brilliant red at the neckline, but faded darker and darker with successive layers so the bottom of the dress was nearly black. The edge of each layer was trimmed with a thin line of gold thread.

Mai thought so too. It had been her favorite out of the dresses, and she was quietly pleased that Katara thought so too.

"Can I see it on you?" Katara asked. Mai, caught off guard, stammered for a moment. "What?"

"Can I see the dress on you?" Katara repeated.

"Well…" Mai couldn't really think of any reason why not. Sighing, she took it over to the dressing screens in the corner. "You can look at the jewelry, too. It's over on the table."

Although Mai had been reluctant to put the dress on, she smiled as she pulled it over her head, carefully avoiding knocking into the screen. The cool fabric rustled against her skin, and she felt powerful. Even though her goal for most of her life was to be invisible, and the dress shouted "look at me", she still didn't feel as awkward as she'd expected.

She stepped out from behind the screens. Katara looked up from the table by the bed, and her face lit up. "You look amazing!" she gushed. "That makes you look so tall and beautiful. Not that you usually aren't, but you look even better than normal."

Mai felt her cheeks heating up a little, and she looked down at herself. Katara grabbed her hand. "Here, let's put the jewelry on you too. Do you have any picked out?" Mai shook her head no, and Katara scooped up a necklace of onyx beads. "How about these?"

Fifteen minutes later, they had settled on a gold chain with a glossy black pendant, black pearl earrings, and a gold flower hairclip studded with rubies and onyx. Katara expertly pulled Mai's hair up into a loose plait-bun combination and put the clip in.

Mai stared at herself in the mirror. With the hair, the dress, and the jewlery, she almost didn't recognize herself. The stunning, poised lady looking back at her had to be someone else.

"You look so good!" Katara gushed. "That is the dress for you. We will call it the Mai Gown and everyone has to call it that."

Mai smiled in spite of herself. "I don't think so," she said. "It looks almost like feathers, or fire. Maybe I should be the Phoenix Queen." Katara giggled, and Mai rose dramatically. "I AM the Phoenix Queen," she intoned. "Laugh at me and DIE."

"You could totally pull that off," Katara agreed. "Just impale anyone who disagrees with you. You may not be a firebender, but you're still hot and dangerous."

Mai smiled. It suddenly occurred that she was completely at ease. Somehow the waterbender had made it past her defenses. Mai wasn't even acting like herself! She smiled ruefully. She had a new friend, it seemed.

"Well," Katara said, "I know you are busy. I probably shouldn't have pulled you away this long, but this was fun. Thank you! I'll go shopping and see what I can rustle up."

"I'll come with you," Mai said on impulse. "The palace staff can handle it for a few more hours."

Katara gave Mai a warm smile, and Mai found herself smiling back as she headed back towards the dressing screens.