Hey There,

This is my third story for Avatar Last Airbender, but my first chaptered works for this fandom. I'm so excited and this story just happened on the page and I hope you like it!

Standard disclaimers do apply, I don't own any of the trademarked items or characters mentioned. Most will be returned unharmed.

Dedicated to my dear friend Rose-Aki! Without whom none of this would be possible. Thank you so much! This is for you!

Enjoy!

"They Forgot!"

Chapter 1 - Hell… Just Hell

(Mai's Perspective)

I don't know why I thought today would be any different really. But I had let myself hope since my parents had brought it up, to me. Earlier in the week, "the big day was near," and I hadn't even bothered mentioning it once…

Today's my birthday… My twentieth birthday and apparently, no one in the Governor's House remembers. Any more than they did the nineteen birthdays before this one.

Now that the day is here, this year is just like last year, and the year before, and the year before that. I was in prison for one of those birthdays. But my parents didn't even realize that till I was out, and they wouldn't accept any letters from me then either. They were afraid of what it would do to their image, to accept such things from a daughter that was incarcerated. More concerned with that, than their child's well-being…well, mostly grown child. It's still messed up.

I mean, Tom-Tom writing the entire alphabet for the first time on his own. With no help from anyone at all… that is a major milestone, undeniably. It had even made me smile with sisterly pride for all of a minute… Even though he'd managed to finger-paint these characters all over the Meeting room walls and one of my favorite dresses. I was still smiling, he had me for a minute. Before the little brat's existence was back to ruining everything it came in contact with… especially if it's at all connected to me.

Why did he have to do it TODAY? Why did he have to take over today of all days? Twenty is a milestone year. Ask anyone.

Even when my parents looked at the date and wrote it down in his baby book. Making such a scene about it… It never even occurred to them that those numbers meant anything else. But their son's new accomplishment. I never even crossed their minds and when I was noticed. I was told to move because I was blocking the back half of the alphabet. Now they're back to being disgusting over the kid and I want to move out.

If I had done anything like that, even at his age. I never would have lived this long. But he does it and they're trying to figure out how they can have it framed. They are still having the walls repaired and re-painted. They're not that far gone, but still. What has made my parents both so soft? Is it the fact that he's a boy? Just the favorite? Or is it all a crack at me because I'm such a problem child? I can't even be as mad as I want to be. I'm always on their case about Tom-Tom needing more from them. In the same way, I'd needed more from them, I STILL need more from them and I was ignored… for life!

Can I help it if they forget about me entirely, to listen to me, about something else I said? Is it really asking so much for them to just acknowledge me? This one day out of the year? Within that twenty-four-hour span? I'm not even expecting a party or cake or anything. I just would like a word.

No, I know I can't be mad about that… Doesn't change the fact that I am mad...at them.

So Angry.

So Livid! I'm over with this whole thing. I can't be around these people right now.

What's giving this anger so much fuel is the hurt I still feel. Even after all of these years, nothing's changed, even though I should have expected this. I don't know why I subject myself to such vulnerability.

Shame on me really.

When I leave where they are to head back to the refuge of my own room. I almost run right into Sokka, who was coming in for a meeting with my father. I'd forgotten he was supposed to be doing that today. Or even this had been why I was in the meeting room in the first place. I had been hoping to see one friendly face today.

Sokka was here about something having to do with the order of the "White Lotus." He was here to speak on the behalf of his former Master (Piandao). On some venture, my father had agreed to help out with. Sokka must be shooting for a more permanent spot with the "White Lotus' centeries. Because he was wearing his full suite of Southern Water Tribe Armor. Though thankfully he's skipped on the face paint he's dawned in battle.

When I almost collided with him, he caught me by my shoulders and told me, "Hey there, sloooooooow down, Mai. Where's the fire?" Then he stage-whispered behind his hand. "Besides your firebending boyfriend's place, of course."

"Not now Sokka," I said twisting out of his grip. Continuing to head back toward my room. I called over my shoulder. "Just… he's in there. Go talk to my father. Good luck keeping his attention. He can't focus on more than one thing at a time. Be sure to use charts, lots of pictures, and small words. And even then you'll be luck to garner his interest."

Then I angrily slammed the hidden door that was a passage leading to several private locations (including my private quarters). Why did Zuko have to be away in some faraway kingdom today of all days? If I could at least see him I would feel so much better. But this all hurt that much more just because he was away and I was here all alone…

Instead of heading for my room, I went straight to my hideout. It's really a private library hidden away with our private quarters (it's also where all the banned books are kept). I'm usually one of the only people to go there. It's just more comfortable than my room, more lived in, and has way more books. I built a fire in the fireplace and planned on spending my birthday here. Just like I had for two decades of being forgotten. It wasn't like anyone would miss me.

I wasn't cold or anything, just having a big fire like that, or sitting near one. Always makes me feel closer to the people I love most. My boyfriend is the Fire Lord after all. It's not a completely ridiculous idea.

Zuko was far away, Ty-Lee, and Suki were with him. Aang was probably off doing Avatar things, Katara probably wasn't far from Aang. Toph was teaching metal bending to the masses of Earth-benders brave enough to try her methods. Sokka was here, but I doubt he remembers Suki's birthday, or Katara's... so mine is out of the question. Azula was still locked up, but even she'd sent a gift and card. Her gift was a painting she's painted in art therapy. It was gory, grotesque and dark, so of course, I hung it in my room. Ty-Lee had sent her birthday card two days early, in case this happened and I was trapped here another year.

I think Ty-Lee squealed to the rest of Team Avatar, about my parent's doing this. Because just as her letter arrived. So did cards and letters from the rest of Gaang.

I'd asked Zuko, since he couldn't be here to write me a letter. Just like he had back when he was banished. He'd written me every year and all in between. But I guess he got so busy that he forgot this year. But I kept all of his letters from before. Every one of his letters that I could keep I had.

After the heath was healthy and self-maintaining. I slipped over to the couch and popped open the hidden compartment containing my box that held all of my letters and things from that simpler time. I looked through all of the things my friends had sent too. I did...

I read through some of Zuko's letters, just trying to cheer myself up. Even though I knew every one by heart...

Some birthday this was turning out to be.

That's all for chapter one!

But don't worry! I'm posting the first few chapters altogether. Not just because they're done either, or because I can't leave Mai like this. But because I also can't leave you like this. Till next time! Much Love!

~DarcyBeDippy85