DISCLAIMER: this gets very old after a while. I don't own it! No! no Avatar! If I did, aw, forget it…
2, Disappearing Acts
He was my friend, my savior, and the only guest that came to this that I liked! Why did he leave? Why did he leave me in this damned house?
He came practically every day since I was nine.
"Welcome, my Prince. Welcome." My Master said regally, bowing to our Prince.
His golden eyes scanned the Entry Hall, and I shuddered in the corner. Would my hard work, a full week, of mopping, polishing, dusting, and waxing the Entry Hall, would it not be approved? All my hard work, wasted?
"Your house is grand, sir." The Prince said calmly. My Master's eyes seemed joyous, it appeared he had not heard the disgust in his Prince's voice.
I bit back sobs. My work! Wasted! Unappreciated by my Prince! This was the worse day of my life!
"Would you like something to eat, my Prince?" My Master asked, a cruel smile playing his lips. Our Prince nodded.
"Yes, something to eat would be nice. Tofu, and raspberry wine." My Master bowed.
"SERVANT!" My Master yelled. I scrambled from the corner, wide eyes, and hastily bowed for my Prince and Master.
"Yes, Master? Prince? What may I get you?" My Master eyed me hatefully.
"Is your room clean, servant, and is the sitting room spotless?" I bowed once again, painfully, my nose almost touching the marble floor.
"Yes, Master, my room is clean, sheets replaced, the windows shining, the mattress fluffed, and the sitting room is beyond spotless." My Master sneered.
"It better be." I never removed myself from my most painful bow.
"Is that all, Master?" I asked, fearfully.
"Get our Prince tofu and raspberry wine." I nodded.
"Yes, Master, I will get the Prince what he wishes." I got up from my bow, and ran from the hall. Leaving my Master to lead my Prince to the sitting room.
"As the Prince wished, tofu and raspberry wine, finest from the cellars." I said kindly, laying the tray on the small table before my Master and Prince. The Prince nodded.
"Thank you, servant." My Prince said, and slipped me a gold coin. I almost gasped. But I didn't, with a bow, I rushed from the room.
I felt tears run down my cheeks. The Prince had decided to stay the night, and was sleeping in my room, which had been cleaned for him. While I slept in the sitting room.
There was no furniture to lay on, it had all been taken out into the Entry Hall, to be aired. So I slept on the wooden floor.
Early the next morning, I had finished preparing breakfast, and was mopping. I felt myself nod off. How tired I was, working since young childhood. How nice it would be, to just… lay… down…
I collapsed on the floor.
I moaned, and saw golden eyes. Those were not my Master's eyes, they were…
My Prince's.
I gasped. The Prince! He saw me laying down on the job! I was disgraced! I scrambled to my feet, and searched for my mop. Where was my mop? I couldn't find my mop! The floors were not clean yet! My Master would whip me again! I could not bend before my Prince, I would be beheaded!
If I were beheaded, I would never serve him again… I paused at the revelation. No more serving my Master, I would be free! Free of this curse-ful life as a servant. I could rest in eternal peace in Great Agni's Hall. Oh, how I would like that…
I pulled the water away from the bucket, and started bending it around the small room, cleansing it of dirt. My Prince watched with wide eyes.
From behind his back, the Prince showed me the mop. So he had it!
"I guess you don't need this." The Prince said coyly with a grin. I flung myself on my knees.
"Oh my Prince, I am sorry, I fell asleep on the job, and was disgraced, forgive me, for I bend, but not that of fire. I am disgraceful to the Fire Nation." I sobbed. I felt my Prince's warm hand grab my chin, and raise my blue eyes to meet his golden ones.
"No bender is disgraced." He whispered. I gasped. First the gold coin now this wisdom and mercy?
"I do not deserve your mercy, my Prince." I whispered. The Prince leaned in.
"All deserve mercy." He whispered. Then, began to mop with me. I smiled and began to help by bending.
I watched as the Prince rode away on his rhino. I sighed, and laid down on my cot. I felt something beneath my pillow, and pulled it out. I gasped.
A gold coin.
My savior, he was. My friend, always. Why did he leave?
I was there.
I remember the day my Master took me to the Capital, said there was an Agni Kai, and even me, a humble servant, deserved to see.
I had stood in the front row, and three people I recognized. The retired General, Princess, and Captain. The Captain was a very good friend of my Master.
I gasped. My Prince! In the Agni Kai! No! I remember the shock, the hurt, the loyalty in his eyes. I remember the tears streaking from his eyes. I remember his bitter screams as the fire ate away his flesh.
And I had stood there. I could have doused the flames, I could have saved him, I could have been beheaded, and freed from the curse of a life I led.
But I didn't.
I never again saw my Prince. I never knew why.
But I do know, that a year after my Prince disappeared, so did I.
Guesses, anyone?
INSANITY AT ITS FINEST
LONG LIVE THE HIPPIES!
Zukoscute2