Mai bumped into a rather large set of legs and she looked up with a gasp. An older man with a long, scruffy beard peered down at her and let out a comforting smile.
"Oop, where are you going?" He let out a belly laugh and squatted down to her level. "What's your name, young lady?"
Mai looked up at the man with big, round eyes. She was much too afraid to say anything. Her mother told her not to talk to strangers, but she was also told to not speak unless spoken to. Mai guessed that it might be alright to talk to this old man. He seemed nice enough. He did have a very nice smile, she decided. "Mai," she whispered, like it was a secret.
The man extended a hand to her and took her tiny hand and kissed it lightly, the whiskers of his beard tickling her. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Mai. I am Prince Iroh, but you can just call me Uncle Iroh. I have heard tales of your beauty from my nephew."
Mai blushed and hid her cheeks behind her chin-length hair. She didn't say anything, but smiled shyly at the old man. She hadn't heard much about the older crown prince, but she decided instantly that she liked him.
"Now what are you doing on this side of the palace?" Uncle Iroh asked again. He took Mai's hand and led her down the hallway. Mai looked around and only just realized she was in a new part of the palace that she had never been in. All of the hallways look exactly the same, but Uncle Iroh took her out through an archway into a small garden with a large pond and a red bridge onto a small bench. Mai's legs swung back and forth above the ground.
"I got lost," she said simply. She stared at her feet, purposely trying to avoid the older man's question, or at least not mention to the older man that she had purposely snuck away from her parents. However, she was met with a knowing look from the prince.
Prince Iroh sighed, but instead of trying to draw an answer out of her, he dug in his pocket and took out a handful of tiles with lines and swirls etched into the disks.
"Do you know what these tokens are for?" He asked, offering his hand out to her so she could see. "These are tiles used for the game of Pai Sho. I am quite fond of the game myself, and I love collecting different variations of the tiles." He picked out one of the tiles with red lines on it. "This tile has the symbol of fire on it. See how it looks like the symbol of the Fire Nation, right?"
Mai nodded and tentatively reached a finger out to trace the tile.
Uncle Iroh picked up another tile. "There is a token for each of the four elements; water, fire, earth, and air." He showed each of them to her. "I won't explain the rules to you now, but each of these tokens mean something to each other and are all a part of the construction of the game." He picked up a different colored token. "These are flower tiles, and they have different properties that help to heal or injure various objects in the game." He picked up a tile that had a white flower painted on it. "Do you know what flower this is, Mai?"
Mai shook her head.
"This is the tile of the white lotus." Uncle Iroh turned the tile around in his fingers. The blunt edges of the tile rounded from use, easily slid between his fingers. "I have always believed that this tile is the key to any strategy in the game of Pai Sho. It is believed that the White Lotus tile opens wide to those who know her secrets." Uncle Iroh looked up from the tile to look into little Mai's eyes. He gave her a very serious look. "All flowers bloom, little Mai. You are but a young bulb waiting to someday reach its full potential, like this white lotus tile." General Iroh patted Mai on her head. "I believe one day you will be a worthy opponent in a game of Pai Sho."
"I don't know how to play, though," Mai protested, finally speaking up.
Uncle Iroh's smile warmed. "I think you know more than you think. The game is all about strategy. You got away from your parents without them noticing, did you not?" Uncle Iroh had a twinkle in his eye. Mai had the humility to look sheepish, or at least as much as a six year old could. "I would love to teach you one day, but I think we need to get you back to your parents." He winked at Mai as he offered his arm to help her down from the bench. "Don't worry, I won't breathe a word. We can just say you got a little lost."
Mai gave him another shy smile. "Thank you," she murmured.
He patted the top of her tiny hand. "Anytime, Miss Mai."
Hotaru sat on the floor of the small sitting room with Sute in her lap and Teddy in the corner playing with Kiyi. Teddy was getting on her nerves. Every few seconds, he would glance over at her. Both he and Sakura had been looking at her like that all day, and it was infuriating Hotaru. They were looking at her like she was from another universe.
Hotaru shook her head. She grabbed Sute's hands and began a clapping game with the young baby. Playing with the young girl was familiar. Hotaru knew how to take care of children, however if Hotaru thought about it, she didn't know. Maybe she was just naturally good with kids; that must be it.
Sute cooed senseless words at Hotaru, smiling innocently. Hotaru smiled back at the young child, keeping a careful hand behind Sute's head when she started to tip backwards.
"You're as good with kids as I am." Teddy joined Hotaru on the floor. Kiyi had left to go find her mother, leaving Teddy to his own devices. Teddy booped Sute on the nose, sending the little girl into a fit of small giggles. "I used to have two younger cousins," he said by way of explanation.
"I have a younger brother," Hotaru said automatically, but she knitted her brows in confusion. That wasn't right; she was an only child. "Sorry, I must be tired. I am an only child." She shook her head. "I just really like kids."
Teddy hummed, looking at her suspiciously. "You don't really seem the type…you know with the whole knife thing."
Hotaru looked at him curiously. "Knives?"
Teddy pantomimed throwing knives, trying to explain his point. "You know? Throwing knives? Ring a bell?"
Hotaru did not know what he was talking about at all but she just nervously smiled and nodded. "Oh yeah! Knives. I can still like children and be good at knives…and throwing them."
Teddy frowned and put a hand to her forehead. Hotaru backed up involuntarily, batting his hand away. "What are you doing?" She asked with a giggle.
"I was hoping you had a fever. You hit your head really hard last night. Something's not right"
Hotaru waved him off. "I'm fine; what's wrong with you?"
Teddy growled at her, making Hotaru jump back in shock. "I knew we shouldn't have gone back to the forest. Maybe Ursa has something around here." Teddy got up and started searching around the room looking for something, Hotaru didn't know.
"Ursa?" Hotaru questioned. "Who?"
Teddy froze. "Uh-uh I mean Noriko. She'll know what to do."
Hotaru reached out and grabbed Teddy's arm. "I'm fine."
Sute began to cry on the floor as the two of them argued.
"What is going on?" Ikem asked aggressively as he came into the room to see his youngest crying. He looked at Hotaru and Teddy sternly. "If you need to fight, go outside," he demanded, bouncing Sute in his arms.
Before Hotaru could reply, Teddy dragged her out the back door. Hotaru pulled her arm from his grip and glared at him. "You don't get to drag me wherever you want," she spat angrily.
"Do you remember anything that happened last night?"
Hotaru huffed in frustration. "Why is everyone testing my memory today? First the letter and now this! I went to sleep like normal last night; nothing out of the ordinary."
"Mai, we went to the forest last night. I had to carry you home because you fainted. Don't you remember that?"
Mai, that name kept reappearing and it was driving Hotaru crazy. "I'm not Mai, or Maisy. I'm Hotaru, and no I don't remember going into the forest last night."
That caused Teddy to pause. "Where did we come from before arriving here?" He asked suspiciously.
Hotaru strained her mind, but could not remember a single moment before this morning. That didn't feel right, but Hotaru ignored it. "We've always lived here," she replied as if it was the obvious answer.
Teddy was silent for several minutes. Hotaru crossed her arms and glared at him. "Maybe you were the one to get knocked on the head this morning," she retorted.
"What letter?" Teddy asked, referring to something else Hotaru had mentioned by chance.
Hotaru's eyebrows knit together
All of a sudden Hotaru fell onto the floor, cradling her head in her hands, crying out in pain. Her head hurt so much and all she wanted to do was sit there until the pain passed. She heard shuffling around her and someone grabbed her around the middle, but the whole world felt blurred.
"Mai," someone called out.
The world swam in front of Hotaru and time passed at weird intervals. The next thing Hotaru knew there was a cup of tea being pushed into her hands. "Drink this," said a soft voice. A hand was put to her forehead, pushing her bangs back soothingly.
Hotaru scrunched her nose up, pushing the cup away. It smelled disgusting. "Do I have to?" She asked, her throat feeling like it was closing up.
A hand forced the cup to Hotaru's lips. "Drink," a woman's voice demanded.
Hotaru took a sip of the tea, but then was forced to swallow it all. Hotaru choked and coughed heavily, holding her head in her hands. The world spun around her, forcing her to close her eyes.
Mai rose in a bed of silky sheets. The deep, yellow sun rose in the window across the room, its rays spreading across the bedspread. Mai rubbed her eyes, squinting into the sunlight. Her brain felt muddled and the room looked unfamiliar. There were swords hanging above the mirror across the bed that she lay in, and there was a vanity to the right. The room was bigger than any she had been in, and she was surprised to find that it didn't feel lifeless and empty like she expected it to be.
There was rustling beside her and Mai turned to see a figure with long, dark hair resting on a pillow like an ink pool. The man looked up at her, his features crinkled with slight aging and the smile lines. Mai was fixated by his eyes which blinked at her sleepily. They were soft and of a deep gold color. The features were familiar, but Mai couldn't place them.
The man's lips parted and the deep, rough voice rumbled in a low moan. "Morning," he murmured, lips upturned. "How did you sleep?"
"What?" Mai wanted to say, instead the words: "Fine, if you didn't hog the covers so much," came out in a breathy laugh. The man just laughed, resting an arm above his head and letting out a big sigh.
"I only took the covers back after you took them all," he retorted in kind, giving Mai a mischievous look. The man turned his head and gazed at her, however it was as if he couldn't actually see her. It was as if he saw someone else in her place. The words Mai said felt foreign to her mouth, but they felt right to hear; speaking words not yet spoken.
The man reached out to her, and she leant towards him like second-nature. Mai reached out with a hand, resting it on the left-hand side of the man's face. Only then did Mai notice the rough texture and the red complexion of a face burn. He was her Zuko, but in the same way, he wasn't. He was older; his hair much longer and face much more at ease than when she had last seen it. His shirtless chest was wrought with scars and scrapes, but they looked long healed. His voice was deeper and scratchier, but so was hers. Her fingers rubbed patterns into his cheek, deep in thought. Zuko leaned his head into her hand and closed his eyes, humming a content noise.
He turned his head and pressed a kiss into the palm of her hand, sending tingles shivering up her arm. "You're cold," he stated. His words made her fingers sizzle. Zuko looked at her like his eyes and soul were on fire. It was such an intense gaze, but it did not scare her. It made her bones relax and the worry in her brow ceased. His hand reached out for her, resting it on her knee. "But I can help with that," he said with a smirk.
Mai swallowed. This was a Zuko who knew every part of her. It was a Zuko she had yet to meet. This Zuko leaned closer to her, pressing a kiss to her lips. It tasted of morning breath and a hint of ginger tea, but there was something else that Mai couldn't pin down.
There was a cry from not too far away and Zuko pulled away, letting out a fond laugh. "Looks like there's another little person wanting some attention." He looked towards a crib in the corner of the room Mai hadn't noticed. Zuko got out of bed, his joints complaining aloud. Mai followed him with her eyes, looking on in curiosity. Zuko took a small, squirming package out of the crib, holding it under its arm pits before pulling it closely to rub noses with it softly. The whimpering baby had dark hair, golden eyes and a nose that looked a lot like her own. Of her own volition, Mai reached out for the baby, seeking to be able to hold it close.
Zuko cradled the baby in his arms, rocking it back and forth. He sat down on Mai's side of the bed and held the baby out to her. Mai tentatively held the swaddled baby in her arms like she had with Tom-Tom when she was younger. The baby opened its eyes for her and its tiny little hands caught onto her dangling strands of hair. It giggled and babbled at her, smiling so innocently. Mai felt a wave of shock hit her system as she held the child close to her chest. She couldn't explain it, but she felt the connection to the young baby. She looked down at the baby and cooed back at it. Mai felt Zuko wrap his arms around her waist and pull the baby and her closer. "Good morning Izumi," Zuko whispered to the baby. He pressed a kiss to the baby's temple before doing the same to Mai. "Good Morning, My Lady," he murmured.
Mai felt her eyes closing and a swimming feeling fill her consciousness and she fell into darkness once again, Zuko's words echoing.
Another dream filled Mai's vision.
She sat in a red, decorated room. There was only one mirror in the room, and it was cracked and shattered. Her breath was ragged and broken. Her hair was cut and tied together, ends sticking out from side to side. In the crumbs of the mirror, she saw a figure standing behind her. With a cry, she swung around, casting her gaze towards the room around her, but there was no one behind her. Mai looked again into the mirror, pearing closer at the woman that stood behind her in the mirror.
The woman was draped in robes of red finery, her hair halfway up in a tight top-knot. She looked familiar. Her face was of a deep sadness as she looked at Mai. "Look what you've done to your hair, Fire Lily," the woman whispered.
Words slid out of Mai's mouth, screaming obscenities at the woman in the mirror. "I hate you! You don't love me so why don't you just go away!"
"Come, Azula; I know you don't mean that," the woman urged.
Azula looked torn in the mirror. Tears streamed down her face, and Mai could feel their wetness pool at the base of her chin. "I wish you were never my mother!" The words were ripped out of Mai's mouth. They left a foul taste in her mouth, iron sliding onto her tongue. "I am Fire Lord! I was never the monster! You are!" Azula cried, collapsing in on herself. Mai felt the connection weaken, and she closed her eyes. "Please don't leave me," the princess murmured as Mai fell into darkness.
When Mai opened her eyes this time, it was to the kitchen table of Noriko's kitchen in Hira'a. Mai groaned. Her head hurt immensely and every part of her body burned, and her mouth felt gummy. Ty Lee, Teddy, and Noriko were looking down at her with unease painted on their faces.
"What's your name?" Ty Lee asked with the slowness of a turtleduck. Her eyes were wide and red-rimmed. Her words confused Mai as she cast her glance around the kitchen. Why would she not know her name?
Mai blinked slowly. "Hotaru?" She looked scantily towards Noriko.
Ty Lee swore loudly. She stomped around the kitchen, practically pulling her hair out. Noriko, however, sat forward in her chair. She lay a hand on top of Mai's, a motherly smile on her face. "It's okay; I know you two's secret, or at least I know that the names you gave me aren't your real ones."
Mai was suspicious. The last thing she remembered, she had been in the forest. Outside the kitchen window, the sun was low in the sky. That was impossible.
Noriko continued. "You don't remember how you got here, correct?" she asked softly, her expression kind.
Mai narrowed her eyes. "What if I said I did?" she asked, calculating.
Noriko's eyes had an intelligent light to them. Noriko wasn't blind to the lies she had been told. Might as well admit defeat.
"I'm Mai, daughter to Governor Ukano and Lady Michi. The last thing I remember is being in the forest," Mai admitted with a huff. Noriko smiled and a look of relief warmed Ty Lee's face. Ty Lee cried out Mai's name and ran over to give her a big hug, her arms swinging around Mai's neck. Teddy looked relieved as well, but he hung back towards the edge of the kitchen, arms folded. Ty Lee held Mai tighter, but Mai saved a moment to nod towards Teddy. She had a feeling he was responsible for getting her out of those woods. Mai hummed, pushing her dark thoughts away, and hugged Ty's arm, since it was the only body part she could reach. "How did you know?" Mai asked Noriko, her chin hitting Ty's shoulder with every consonant.
Noriko licked her lips. "Because I, like you, lost my mind in that forest at one time. I know the signs."
"She's Zuko's mom," Ty Lee jumped in, looking excited. "Doesn't she look familiar. I knew something about her was familiar, but I couldn't pin it down," Ty rambled.
Mai felt like she was several steps behind. Zuko's mother. She was dead...like dead dead. Mai's face scrunched in confusion. "That's impossible. You can't be...right?" She looked between Ty Lee and the woman beside her.
Ty Lee puffed up her chest in anticipation, but let the older woman lead the conversation.
Noriko looked down at her lap with a carefully curated look, however Mai noticed how her fingers shook as she traced the embroidery on her apron. "I was previously Ursa, wife to Fire Lord Ozai and mother to Prince Zuko and Princess Azula," Noriko began. "I left all I knew ten years ago when I was banished and divorced by my husband at the time. I ran as far away as possible and ran into Ikem...a childhood friend. I was tormented by what I'd done in the Fire Nation capital….. and how I left my children alone." The older woman paused. She held her head regally, but she would not meet the eyes of anyone in the room. The unsaid tragedies that she committed while in the capital hung low in the room. Mai clenched her draw. She remembers when Zuko's mother left, and she remembered everything that came after. Mai kept her mind blank as she forced herself to listen to what the older woman had to say.
"Ikem and I went to the Forgetful Valley, hoping to erase my memories and give me a different life by a creature known as Alkuhl by the people of Hira'a. Ikem was able to pull me out of it with a special herb, luckily in my stores at the time, right before I was to have Kiyi. I have remained Noriko ever since, but I have my own family here as well as the family in my memories."
Mai's head was spinning. She folded her arms and tried not to glare at the woman. "How do I know this is true? Why would I have to believe you?" she asked. "Even if what you said was true, which I guess, by your body language, it probably is; why did you never go and try to find your son? Or your daughter, for that matter?"
"I couldn't reveal myself to Ozai-"
"Bullshit," Mai said, her eyes growing dark in sudden anger. "He was banished for five years. It was common knowledge that he was. Why did you never try to at least contact him; tell him his mother was alive and safe?" Mai threw a hand on the table, startling all those in the room at her outburst. "On the other hand Azula was being tutored by the Fire Lord, to the point where she is eating out of his hand. Where were you when they needed you?"
Ursa stuttered for the first time since Mai had known her. The woman looked a lot like the younger woman in her memories, except this woman in front of her had shorter hair and wrinkles around the eyes. She was still a beautiful woman, and many of her features reminded Mai of Zuko; from her eyes to the way she tilted her head, Mai was eerily reminded of him. Mai was disgusted that this woman wasn't even trying to find Zuko when he had been heartbroken over her disappearance. He still hoped she was alive somewhere out there, but that was a child's dream that you hold on to for the rest of your life because the truth is too painful.
"I didn't want to hurt him more than I already had," Ursa finally admitted, hanging her head. She peered up at Mai. "I remember you Mai… you know what it was like in that palace. It was better if I remained a ghost of a memory to my first children."
One of the muscles twitched in Mai's jaw. In her mind's eye, she recalled the nightmare of standing in Azula's body staring at Ursa in the mirror. "The ghost of a memory doesn't protect them from the Fire Lord," Mai said finally. Mai wet her lips and looked down at her lap, taking deep breaths to reign in her emotions. Looking in Ursa's guilty eyes made Mai's heart hurt because her mother never held an ounce of guilt or love for how Mai had grown up. It was hard to see such a stark contrast. "Why are you telling us the truth?"
Ursa's hand appeared in Mai's peripheral vision. She didn't reach out to Mai directly, but instead held her hands out in a placating manner on the table; a sign of defeat. "I shouldn't have left my children alone when I did, or for as long, but what's done is done. I want to help in whatever way I can to end this war. You can contact my son, and I want to set things right for once."
Mai's eyebrow raised. She looked over at Ty Lee in confusion. "We're not in contact. We haven't heard from him since-" Mai trailed off at the letter that Ty Lee pushed her way.
"It came this morning while you were all-" Ty Lee circled her finger around her ear in the universal sign for crazy. "Go ahead, read it; it's for you," Ty Lee urged quietly.
My dear Maisy,
I have heard from sources that you are safe, to which I am relieved. I know I will never be able to repay you for your help on Boiling Rock, but I promise I will spend my life trying to. I don't know what will happen before the comet, but please try and stay alive. I will try to as well. I'm sorry for leaving you behind. I never meant to, but I wanted to keep you safe. Of course, you always have your own way of protecting yourself and others. I hope you and Ty Lee are somewhere out of my sister's hands, and stay that way. Come find me when all of this has ended and we can talk. I have something I want to tell you.
Yours,
Sparky
Mai held the letter close to her face, reading the words over and over again. The scrawl of the characters on the page were rough and were written in a hurry, much like her last letter from him, but it made her want to childishly trace the way he wrote her name at the top of the page. His words caused her heart to warm, and she fought to keep her emotions from surfacing on her face.
"Have you heard of the White Lotus?" Ursa cut into the silence, easing Mai back away from the letter mentally.
Mai hummed in acknowledgement. "I've heard something about them, but hasn't it been dead for years?"
Ursa shook her head. "The grandmaster has returned, and many of us have been advised to follow him. He says it's our time to come out of hiding." Ursa surveyed Mai closely. "Have you ever been told: The White Lotus tile opens wide to those who know her secrets, or something about the past repeating itself?" Ursa asked.
Mai was then reminded of Omashu and the exact words that the mad king had told her, which started her journey far away from her parents. Mai furrowed her brows, linking the other times she heard that phrase and question. Time and time again; past memories and past experiences of her own and others replayed in Mai's mind forming the present. In the case of Azula's memories, they had driven her to torment and fear as she lost those closest to her and she repeated her father's mistakes. In Zuko's case, he was given another chance to join the Avatar and go against his father. For Mai, the past was catching up to her as memories of spending time with her family in the palace and her love for Zuko led her to her choices she had made thus far. "So what if I have?"
There was a calming light to Ursa's eyes as she answered. "You are one of us then."
"I'm sorry, I think I'm missing something?" Ty Lee squeaked.
This time Teddy spoke up. "Mai is a part of the White Lotus," he said simply. "Makes sense."
Mai rolled her eyes sarcastically. "And how do you know all of a sudden?"
Teddy shrugged. "You seem like an important lady. I think people would rather have you on their side than have to fight you."
Mai pursed her lips but didn't refute Teddy's point. What caught her eye was Ursa's glance towards Teddy. Ursa's eyes flickered with recognition before she quickly turned away. Teddy's words from several nights ago rang through Mai's ears. She's my aunt...she was my aunt.
"Why did you ask?" Mai asked.
"The end of the war is coming. We can all feel it in the breeze. I am a member, but I'm technically no longer active." Ursa paused, taking a deep breath. "I want to help. I know it may be too late, but I want to offer my services to help you and my son win this war. That is why you're here right?"
Ty Lee shifted in her chair. "We're actually kind of on the run?" She twisted the ends of her hair around her pinkie.
Ursa looked from Ty Lee to Mai with an eyebrow raised. Mai sighed and rubbed her forearm where the week old burn still stung against the chaffing of her sleeve. "It's complicated," Mai finally said.
Ursa turned to Teddy, appraising him, and Teddy quickly held up his hands in a placating manner. "Oh I'm just along for the ride."
She pursed her lips. "And what exactly are you three on the run from?"
"Oh the normal stuff; the Fire Nation guard and royal princess, no biggie," Teddy said with a charming smile.
Mai quickly jumped in, seeing a slightly nervous look cross the older woman's face. "Don't worry; they don't know we are here."
"But they will," Ursa said. "Even in death, they will find you. I thought we would be safe here for a little longer," she trailed off as if she was thinking about her own past. She reached out to Mai and took her hand, gripping it firmly. "What did you see in the valley?"
Teddy spoke for Mai. "Airships; tons of them; all of them ready for lift off any day now."
Ursa's face turned a slight green.
"When Mai and I went the other night we found mysterious figures in the forest. Do you know about them?" Teddy continued.
"I have met them once. I lost my memories for a short time as well." Ursa nodded towards Mai. "That's how I knew how to treat it, but why did you even go near them?"
"Well I didn't exactly meet them. One moment I was…" Mai paused thinking of the Zuko she had met in the forest. That was the last thing she remembered before everything faded into darkness. "I saw someone and the next moment I was here."
"I saw it," Teddy said, a dark look coming over his face. "There was nothing I could do but get you back here."
Mai nodded to him. "Thank you."
Ursa looked between the two of them. "It seems that someone does not want you in that forest. Did anyone see you go in?"
"Anyone could have," Ty Lee chimed in quietly. "We went twice, or rather I went the first time and they went another time."
Kiyi, in the distance, giggled and there were pounding footsteps in the adjoining room. Ursa gave a tired, yet fond smile in the direction of the girls. "I think I need to talk to Ikem," she said with a sigh. She pointed to Mai. "And you need to recover from your memory loss. I'm afraid it will take a few days," Ursa explained. "I have some herbs that will help, but let me know if you have any severe problems with your memory." She got up slowly and nodded to the group of young adults before leaving the room to find her husband.
Mai rested her head against one of her hands, her head lulling to the side as she thought for a while. The others in the room were silent as well, having to mull over their own thoughts too. She thought about what Noriko, or rather Ursa, had just told her. Mai couldn't help but feel anger towards the woman who hid from her own son, but it wasn't Mai's place to make judgements when she didn't know the full backstory. Likewise, Ursa didn't know to the fullest extent what her son and daughter had to go through.
So much had happened in such little time. A week ago she had been by Azula's side and here she was with only Ty Lee, a mysterious man who goes by Teddy, and Zuko's lost mother and her family. They were in the middle of a war; Mai had had no time to think about why she did it except for the fact she made the choice. Even now, she doesn't have time to recover. The world didn't stop just because she wanted it to. "We need to get rid of those airships," Mai said, clearing the silence.
Teddy grinned. "I can help with that."
"Do you have experience with that?" Ty Lee asked in a mocking voice, but Mai could detect a small smile gripping the corner of her lips.
"Plenty," Teddy said with pride.
It was two days later, and Mai was getting anxious. It felt like they were running out of time just sitting and waiting for something to happen. They had a plan, but what good was a plan when they had no idea what to do after the airships were destroyed.
While Ursa and Ikem got in contact with the Order of the White Lotus, Mai and Ty Lee were in charge of Kiyi and Sute for the afternoon. The past two nights, Mai had received more visions. Some of them were of Azula through the princess' eyes, but some were of an unknown future in a bright room or on a beach with a soft hand holding hers. It disturbed her to see inside Azula's mind. Mai wanted to believe that they were just random nightmares, but Ty Lee was starting to convince her otherwise.
There had been no more news from Zuko, not that Mai was expecting any. Going into the forest at night was the only thing that relieved Mai's nerves. She was able to run away from her dreams and do something with her hands. She didn't have her knives anymore, and she had lost more than enough of Ursa's kitchen knives. Being anything but bored was the only way Mai could stop herself from worrying. The airships had been running into problems, and were now delayed from lift off. Yes, Mai may have done some tampering with the airships with Ty Lee and Teddy's help, but it was all for the cause, really. They needed to delay the airships long enough so they could maybe infiltrate their way onto one and sail off to the heart of the Fire Nation without a problem. Mai didn't really know what to expect after that. Hopefully the White Lotus would have an idea.
Caretaking Ikem and Ursa's two young girls was supposed to be the easy part of the afternoon. So far, taking care of two little girls proved to be a little harder than planning a coup of the Fire Nation. Practically two weeks ago she was following Azula's and her father's orders to hunt down Zuko to kill him, but here she was struggling to get Sute and Kiyi to stop running around the house.
"Mai! Look at my kicks!" Kiyi cried, leaping spectacularly across the sitting room, landing dangerously near the fireplace.
In Mai's lap Sute sat with a piece of scroll and some chalk while Mai tried to rope Kiyi into playing the sitting game. Ty Lee cackled from the kitchen.
"You know you could help!" Mai called out to her friend, wishing she could shoot daggers with her eyes when Ty Lee just innocently danced into the archway bridging the sitting room and the kitchen.
"But then dinner won't be ready," Ty Lee protested with an 'innocent' look.
"Dinner won't be ready, yeah your hide won't be ready," Mai muttered darkly, but smiled endearingly at Sute who was babbling up at her, drawing happily.
"Oh don't be so dark," Ty Lee chided. "You know you love me."
Mai rolled her eyes and chose not to respond.
"Mai?" Kiyi asked. Mai turned her attention to the older girl. "Are you going to get married to Sparky?"
Mai narrowed her eyes suspiciously at the little girl. "Where did you hear that from?" Mai asked.
Kiyi held her hands behind her back, looking exactly like Zuko when he was up to something. "Mommy said you got a love letter from him," she said in lew of an explanation.
Mai let out a tireless sigh, wondering how she got herself here. "He's just a friend,"
"Friend?" Ty Lee chimed in before bursting into giggles. "I didn't know friends could be that close. You never kiss me like you do with him!" she said in a mocking voice. "We're friends aren't we?"
Mai pursed her lips. "Fine, we are more than friends, but it wasn't a love letter."
The back door slammed and Teddy came in with an armful of fresh vegetables. He stuck his head into the living room and grinned mischievously over at Mai. He raised a finger to his lips and grinned down at Kiyi. "You want to know a secret Kiyi? Mai and Sparky have been in love since they were little kids."
"How did you know that?" Mai retorted, but her voice was overshadowed by Kiyi's yell of excitement.
"That's so sweet! You're going to get married and have a family like us!" Kiyi chittered.
Mai groaned into her hand, refusing to acknowledge or disagree with the statement. She and Zuko were probably not going to get married, or at least not soon. Then again they were technically broken up, Mai reminded herself.
"You're betrothed!" Ursa exclaimed, bursting into the room through the front door with Ikem close behind her.
Mai held her head by the bridge of her nose and took a deep breath. "NO. For the fifteenth time: No. We were simply dating."
"I'm pretty sure they're engaged," Ty Lee said in a stage whisper. Mai literally threw a metal chopstick in her direction, only making Ty Lee grin more and get Kiyi asking Mai to show her how to throw chopsticks.
Mai sighed, desperately wishing this wasn't her life. Where were those blissful months where she could spend every day training with her knives on that ship back to the Fire Nation. She would even take a month back at the Royal Fire Academy compared to this any day.
Ursa patted Mai's shoulder and waved for her to follow her into the kitchen. "Kiyi, won't you take your sister upstairs to get cleaned up for dinner. I need to talk to our guests for a moment." The adults made their way into the kitchen and sat down at the table, the mood quickly sobering.
"They approved of the plan," Ikem said shortly. "They are suggesting that we join them in Ba Sing Se or the Fire Nation capital. There is word that the Avatar will bring an end to this war on the day of Sozin's Comet. We just need to get on those airships and hijack their plans and join the fight. Easy, right?" He let out a nervous laugh and raked his hands through his hair. Mai hadn't gotten much of a chance to speak with Ikem, but it was clear that he was a man who had led a joyful yet straining life. His hair was turning grey like Ursa's and there were both frown lines and smile lines around his mouth.
Ursa patted her husband on the shoulder. "Maybe we can get your father to watch the kids while we are gone," she mused.
"We might have a harder time explaining why we're leaving and where, love." Ikem leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples.
"Have they heard anything from Zuko?" Mai asked softly.
Ursa shook her head. "The last the Grandmaster heard, they were at Boiling Rock."
Mai hummed. "Then they're far away by now."
"You were at Boiling Rock with him?" Ursa prompted.
Mai shifted uncomfortably in her chair. Ty Lee answered for her. "Yes. That's when we disappeared too."
Ikem and Ursa hummed in unison. "Then you-" Ikem began, referring to Teddy.
"I escaped from the prison as well," Teddy finished, nodding his head like a soldier would when acknowledging his officer.
"Has anyone heard what is happening in the capital?" Ty Lee continued. "Does the Grandmaster know?"
"Who is the Grandmaster, by the way," Mai asked, a little suspicious of this information.
"We don't know," Ursa said after a moment, but Mai saw the tell-tale signs of a lie.
"If you're going to lie to me, at least try harder," Mai snipped.
"Mai!" Ty Lee rebuked.
Ursa's lips pinched together. "No, she has a right to question me," she said. "I do know who he is, but I cannot reveal his identity to those not in the order."
Mai pursed her lips. "I thought you said I was a part of it? I'm pretty sure I've had plenty of old men try to recruit me, so why not? If I'm going to be here helping the order, shouldn't I be privy to the same information?"
"It's not that simple," Ikem explained slowly, trying to keep the peace by putting his hands out in a placating manner.
Mai pulled herself back, but was still insistent. "How do I get in?"
"Well an official member must induct you," Ursa tried to explain patiently.
"Are you official members?" Mai asked as patiently as she could.
"No," Ikem said.
Mai took a deep breath and closed her eyes forcefully, trying to control her anger. "Then can you tell me some of the information?"
Ikem and Ursa shared a look. "I don't see why not," Ikem shrugged. He looked up at his wife, raising his eyebrows in question. Ursa nodded, offering silently for Ikem to explain. Ikem folded his hands on the table in front of them and faced Mai with a serious expression. "The Grandmaster is worried about what is happening in the Fire Nation capital. The members there say that Fire Lord Ozai is becoming more secretive and is planning something bigger than just taking over the Earth Kingdom. He wants to become the Phoenix King and leave the nation to his daughter."
Mai's eyes widened in shock. "Azula is in no right mind to be running a country," Mai protested. At Ursa's confused look, she elaborated. "For a while now Azula has been...losing control more often." Mai played with her sleeves. " I betrayed her on Boiling Rock, and she… lost her mind. She is used to everyone obeying her every word. Ty Lee and I were her closest friends, so she didn't take it well."
Ikem and Ursa were silent, their mouths hanging open in horror. "What has Ozai done to my children?" she asked in a whisper, like she was speaking her thoughts aloud.
Mai pressed her lips into a grim line. "If Azula is going to become Fire Lord, we have to stop her."
Ikem rubbed his temples. "I think that's what the Grandmaster was alluding to. He also thinks that the airships you saw in the Forgetful Valley are not for the Earth Kingdom. Our intel in the capital says it's for the Fire Nation."
"Why would they be for the Fire Nation? They are putting ammunition in them?" Ty Lee asked.
"That's the point," Teddy said, echoing the words of their conversation the first night they went into the forest. "They are going to burn the Fire Nation."
"Why?!" Ty Lee asked, horrified.
Ikem answered for her. "Several Fire Nation villages have not been compliant with the law, as of recently. They probably will be using the airships to...well...punish them."
"That's not right," Ty Lee protested.
"It doesn't matter if it's right. Ozai is beyond knowing what is right or wrong," Ursa said strongly.
"We know that none of the soldiers will go against orders," Mai continued. "There are too many airships for us to cover, however." She motioned to herself, Ty Lee, and Teddy. "We have been trying to delay them, but there are just so many."
Ikem got a grin on his face. Out of his belt he waved a heavy hammer. "Then I guess we'll have to damage a few more."
Teddy outright laughed, a snort coming out of his voice. Ty Lee joined him with her light laugh, and soon everyone else joined in, letting out their nervous laughter.
Ursa rose from her seat, wiping her eyes. "I'll get the children ready for your father's."
"I'll help you," Mai said.
The two women made their way up to the shared kids room. In silence, the two of them rustled through the clothes and blankets, wrapping them up carefully in one large bag. Kiyi and Sute seemed to sense something was happening, so they were quiet. To that, Mai was grateful.
With great strength, Mai finally said: "I want to tell you that I am sorry for my actions earlier in the week."
Ursa looked up, pausing her packing for a moment to survey Mai. "You are quite the young woman," she said after several moments of silence. "You seem very strong for your age; so grown up from the girl who used to play in the palace grounds with my children," Ursa said with a hint of sadness in her voice.
"I had to become one," Mai said in way of an explanation.
Ursa nodded in understanding. "The Fire Nation court is a...how do you put it? It is a place where you must grow a tough skin quickly." Ursa licked her lips and looked over her shoulder at her two youngest children playing. "Do you know why I left? The real reason?"
Mai stood and waited for Ursa to continue.
"If I didn't leave, Ozai would have killed Zuko that very night. So I packed my bags, and did Ozai's bidding before kissing my children goodbye." Ursa looked down at her hands, her eyes blinking; unseeing. She scrunched her hands into fists before unfurling her fingers slowly. "Everyday I spent there was another game, or at least that is what Ozai made it feel like. He was a different person every day. He pitted our children against each other, always comparing. He became more insane by the day. Don't get me wrong, he was never sane, but I had to watch him hurt my children and I could do nothing to stop him. This was the one decision I could make."
"Is that why you tried to forget everything?" Mai asked quietly, listening.
Ursa nodded. "Running away just made everything worse. I thought if I could change who I was, the memories would stop following me. I was wrong. They will always follow me."
Mai bit her lip, unsure if she should say what she was thinking. "Do you know about Zuko's Agni Kai?"
Ursa swiveled towards her, her brow furrowed. "He was banished correctly? That's all I know."
Mai grimaced, quickly looking down at the clothes she held in her hands trying to come up with the words to explain. "Zuko was...Zuko had to fight his father, he wasn't supposed to but... the Fire Lord...Ozai...He burned the left side of Zuko's face."
Ursa gasped, dropping everything in her hands. She held her hands over her mouth to muffle the sobs that seeped out of her mouth. Kiyi and Sute looked over at their mother with worry evident in their cries.
"Momma?" Kiyi asked, Sute mimicking her. They took one look at their crying mother, and came running to hug her around her legs. They cried along with her, even though they didn't understand why she was so sad.
"I didn't mean to hurt you by telling you," Mai said apologetically. "I just thought you would want to know before you see him again," Mai rambled, not really knowing what to say.
Ursa seemed to be unable to say anything, but tears continued to stream down her face. She embraced her children and bit her lip.
Mai tugged on the end of her sleeves unconsciously. "He's doing wonderful though," Mai said, wanting to prove that Zuko was alright as he could be. "He has grown into a kind and honest young man under his uncle's tutelage and his own growth," Mai continued to explain, now truly rambling. "You should be really proud of him," Mai insisted.
"Thank you," Ursa said finally, sniffling. 'Thank you for telling me and giving me more incentive to kill that bastard," Ursa spat, not even saying Ozai's name.
"What's wrong, Momma?" Kiyi asked, looking up at her mother from her vantage point around Ursa's knees.
Ursa petted Kiyi's head and brushed back her bangs. She leaned down and picked Noriko up and nosed her baby's cheek. "Your Momma is just sad." Ursa looked at her two daughters very seriously. "Now I have to tell you something very important, okay? Will you listen very carefully?" The two girls nodded, lips trembling and eyes still watery. "You are both my daughters, and I love you very much. I've never told you, but you have an older sister and older brother. Me and your Papa are going somewhere for a little bit, to visit your brother and sister. We will be back as soon as we can, but you two have to promise me that you will be safe with grandpapa? Can you promise me that?"
Her two children promised in sweet, young voices.
Ursa patted both of her children's heads and kissed both of them on their cheeks. "Now can you be big girls and help Momma bring these bags downstairs so we can go to Grandpapa's?"
Before all of them left the room, Ursa came over to Mai and wrapped her into a big hug, arms pushing Mai close against her chest. "Thank you," she whispered. She pulled back after several moments and framed Mai's face with her hands. "I can see why my son likes you," she said kindly.
Mai looked away, blushing. "Thank you," Mai barely whispered.
"Come on kids," Ursa called, waving her hand towards the door. "Let's get going."
Hello Readers! Long time no see? This chapter signifies the coming end to this story! There is still a lot to cover and a lot to come, but I will be finishing this story by the end of the year. I am planning to post the four days leading up to the 25th of December (starting the 21st) so look forward to that! The end of this year has been really busy for me and I am about to start my exams week (so if you saw that my December fluff one-shots stopped updating, that is why) but I will be back soon with the rest of the story. Thank you for those who have been here the entire time, but also those who have just joined. Please leave a comment or favorite if you would like, but I will see you soon!