Hello Readers! Here is a sequel to Sparky as promised:)
It is not pertinent that you read the first installment of the series, but I would highly recommend it. This story will just be little snippets that go together, describing what happens roughly 8 months after the end of the war. There will be fluff, angst, danger, and some struggles, but I hope you will enjoy it. I will update roughly every Sunday, so look forward to that! Until I write again, TTFN!
"You are thinking very deeply this morning, Councilwoman Mai."
Mai glanced up and bowed her head quickly to Councilwoman Sheiyi, grimacing. "Sorry, Councilwoman Sheiyi. I wasn't looking where I was going."
Sheiyi put her arms in her sleeves and laughed, her voice crackling. She looked at Mai with fondness. "What is on your mind, child."
"Just thinking about the upcoming meetings," Mai lied innocently.
Councilwoman Sheiyi gave her a look with a raised eyebrow. "I'm sure you were." Sheiyi held out her elbow for Mai to hold and she guided her down the hall. "We have some interesting topics on the docket today. I think you will be interested in a few of them."
"Something that would interest me? I don't think that's possible," Mai joked, letting her lips reveal a faint smirk.
Councilwoman Sheiyi cackled again, patting Mai's hand. "I'm an old woman, Councilwoman Mai, and I have been a part of the Fire Lord's council for many years keeping an eye on things I could control. I am fond of you because I see myself in you. I want you to do well here and feel comfortable making your own choices." Sheiyi paused and gave Mai a careful look, her head tilting ever so slightly to the side. "Do you understand what I'm saying?"
Mai blinked, processing the older woman's words. She nodded. "Thank you for your concern."
"It's more than a concern. I think you could go really far with that mind of yours. I don't want you to waste it on being another lady in the court without a backbone who agrees to everything, not that I think you could ever be one of them," Sheiyi amended. The councilwoman guided Mai down the hallway again towards the council room.
"I don't think I could ever be one of them either. Too much smiling." Mai grimaced.
Councilwoman Sheiyi wheezed, holding her side as she laughed. She patted Mai's arm. "You're not wrong."
In the council room, people were filing in, some grumpily arguing with each other, while others were amicably talking to one another. Councilwoman Sheiyi and Mai sat together on one side of the table in their designated seats, about halfway down the long table. Mai was one of the youngest in the room, but the young man, Jiro, across from her at the table was just a few years older than she was. He smiled at her. He was too far across the table to be able to be heard above the hubbub in the room, but he raised her eyebrows at her, then down at his papers, before rolling his eyes. Mai nodded sympathetically. Some topics might be interesting, but today was going to be a long one.
With much fanfare and a blare of tsungi horn, the doors at the front of the room opened and everyone stood up to welcome the Fire Lord. Fire Lord Zuko stepped into the room, his hair perfectly tied half-up in a knot, the glimmering headpiece nestled on top. He was wrapped up in somewhat of a casual robe, but the red and gold robe was still elaborate in how it was wrapped around him and how it floated down to the ground. Zuko inclined his head slightly to his council and sat at the head of the table, ignoring the extinguished fire wall behind him that used to be the barrier between the Fire Lord and his people. Now Fire Lord Zuko sat amongst his council members with a tired but focused expression on his face. "Hello," Zuko said awkwardly. He may have had meetings almost every day since his coronation seven months ago, but he was no less awkward. He sat down and motioned for everyone else to do the same.
Zuko cleared his throat, putting a fist to his lips to cover it. "Shall we get started?" He said in a more serious voice, kickstarting the meeting.
The morning passed with general ease as they passed from topic to topic, covering topics ranging from local business to nation-wide issues. It seemed the displacement of soldiers from the war were still impacting the runnings of the Fire Nation even eight months after the end of the war. They broke for a quick meal before reconvening in the afternoon for another round of meetings. The scrolls in front of Mai were filled with scrawling notes and ideas. Mai circled one in particular to bring up to Zuko later when her attention was pulled to a voice from across the room.
"Now Firelord Zuko, I have to bring up this next topic of interest as a matter of serious importance. You have done a wonderful job of securing your reign, but I think I am speaking for the rest of the council and the rest of your nation when I say we are worried about the future. There is a group wishing to put your father back on the throne, possibly even your sister, and we are concerned." The older man looked uncomfortable as he scratched his beard absentmindedly. He cast a glance around the table of councilmen and women, seeing a few encouraging gazes. Mai had a feeling of what was coming. "You are only one man, and while your powers are great, and you have no one to follow your reign if something were to go wrong."
Zuko looked at them with a confused twitch in his brow. "I have Uncle if something goes wrong; I thought we already covered this."
The councilman looked uncomfortable again, and he paused several times before speaking again. "I am referring to an heir, my Lord, as in… a child."
If asked, no one in the council will have confessed to hearing their Firelord squawk. "I'm sorry?" Zuko choked out finally.
Another councilman spoke up next, giving his old friend a break. "You are unmarried, which for your age we understand. Having just turned 19, we understand how it may not be on your mind to marry and settle down, but it is tradition that the Firelord or the crown prince must marry by the age of 20, like your fath- I mean the disgraced Phoenix King did when he was 20-" the councilman stuttered when he saw Zuko's murderous look at the mention of his father. "A-As well as your uncle who married at age 18. By choosing an heir, it would secure your place and prove to those wishing to put someone else on the throne that you are Agni's choice. Your sister has been missing for several months, which could mean she might be planning something. Your father is still very much alive. By the end of the summer of this year, I think it would be appropriate to choose an heir or at least have a plan to make-"
Zuko held up a hand to stop the flow of words from his council. His eye's bounced over to Mai's before skittering off to the other faces in the room. Mai's hands curled into fists into her lap. A few eyes traveled to hers, and she met them steadily. It was well known that she and Zuko were together, but in the aftershock of the war, nothing had been made official for a reason. Mai knew why the council were worried about Zuko's succession, but that didn't give them a right to assume her hand in the matter. Mai pursed her lips and said nothing.
Zuko finally spoke up after looking everyone in the room right in the eye. "I understand your concern, and I will consider what you have said. I will choose an heir by the end of summer, but it may be longer because it is not only my decision. Understand?" Zuko said with finality.
Everyone nodded their heads, dropping the subject.
Zuko gathered his papers and stood up, causing everyone to bounce up and bow acutely at the waist. Zuko let out a deep sigh and gave a small bow to his council. "Thank you. We will adjourn for today." On his way out of the room, he caught Mai's eye and his eyebrows raised just slightly, a worried frown pulling at his lips.
Mai shook her head tiredly and rolled her eyes but subtly nodded in his direction.
Zuko's hand reached out for hers s she passed by him. "Meet later in my office," he said under his breath.
Mai nodded her head, shuffling her papers and risking a glance at him. The poor boy's ears were bright red. "I'll be there in ten."
She continued past him, joining the rest of the council down the hallway, leaving Zuko behind.
Jiro hung back and smiled at her with a shit-eating grin. "So you and the Firelord-"
Mai growled, stomping on his foot. "Don't. Start."
Jiro laughed, massaging his foot with one hand, hopping along beside her on one foot. "Oh come on Mai, you know I'm just teasing."
"If you're not careful, I'll step on your other foot," Mai warned. She raised a hand in farewell. "I'll see you later, I need to stop by my office to drop these off." She gestured with her armful of notes and drafts.
Jiro smirked. "You mean his office."
It wasn't Mai's fault that a small little knife lodged itself into the sole of his shoe. It didn't hurt him, but the warning was still there.