Chapter 5: Learning to Love
"You," Maeli gasped as she backed away from Zhao. "How'd you find me?"
Zhao smirked, "Didn't think I noticed you on Zuko's ship?"
Maeli's eyes widened.
Zhao circled the girl like a shark; "I saw you sneaking off of the ship and followed you here. I was curious as to why a girl was with the Banished Prince...Hmph, don't tell me he's gone soft?" He stopped in front of her, "Now, go get your little Avatar friend or he'll have to come running when he hears your cries for mercy."
Maeli balled her fists, "What do you want with him anyway?"
"That's none of your business. Now," he grabbed Maeli by her shirt, "Are you going to cooperate?" Maeli struggled away from Zhao and dashed off. She started calling Aang's name when she thought she was a good distance away from the Admiral.
"Maeli, where are you?" Aang shouted.
Maeli pushed aside a patch of corn stalks and finally caught up to him, "We've got to get out of here! Its Zha-!" she was snatched back by Zhao. He held a ball of fire up to her face and said, "You'd better surrender or I'll melt this girl's face off." Aang glared at him and blew him away with a hard blast of air. Maeli was amazed at this young boy's power. "Hold on to me!" said Aang as he picked Maeli off of her feet and leaped high into the air. They landed just outside the cornfield.
"You're pretty heavy," Aang breathed.
Maeli laughed, "Yeah, well, you're strong."
The two found themselves surrounded by five of Zhao's guards. The guards shot a fiery flare at them but Aang diminished the fire with a giant swirl of air. He then ran in circles around the guards, creating a tornado. The men were flung into the sky and scattered like papers in the wind.
"We'd better get out of this area, we don't want Zhao to catch up to us," said Aang.
"Um, actually, I have to get back home."
"But, we may never meet again. I'd still like to hang out with you and I'm sure Katara and Sokka would like to have you around too."
"Sorry, but I can't. There's someone who needs me right now...and I need him."
Aang held his head low in sadness, "...Okay." Maeli gave him a hug, "Cheer up!"
The cornfield suddenly burst into flames.
"Well, maybe we'll run into each other again," Aang said hopefully.
Maeli shrugged her shoulders, "Maybe...We'll see."
"I'll let my friends know that you're okay." Aang opened his glider and flew into the sky.
Zhao angrily emerged from the cornfield; flames surrounded him. "You're not getting away!" He shot a fireball at Aang. One of the wings on Aang's glider caught fire and he crashed onto the ground. Maeli tried to stop Zhao but he pushed her away. Zhao tossed a net over Aang and tightly tied him up.
"I've got you now, Avatar!"
Aang glared at him.
"Release him!" Maeli screamed as she ran over to them. Just as Zhao was about to inflict damage upon the girl, a man came jumping out of the bushes and kicked Zhao aside. The man wore a black outfit with an eerie, blue demon-like mask. The masked man unsheathed twin swords and charged at Zhao. Zhao rose to his feet and used advanced firebending skills against his opponent.
While the two men were busy fighting, Maeli was trying to free Aang from his binding.
"Its no use, its too tight," Maeli groaned.
Aang tried to get up, but failed. "Maybe I can carry you," Maeli picked the boy up into her arms and ran. He was a bit heavy.
Zhao noticed that they were escaping, "Dammit!" he shouted. The masked man suddenly struck Zhao in his left leg. He followed after the two kids. Zhao knelt down in pain; his leg had a deep gash.
Maeli was growing tired of carrying Aang around. Her arms ached terribly.
"Hang in there!" Aang encouraged. He looked ahead and saw a small forest. "Look, there! Go in there!"
"But...Oh, alright," Maeli gasped.
The sky was just starting to turn dark. Aang's friends were still at the abandoned house; unaware of what was going on. Katara was spending her time sowing, while Sokka was fast asleep.
Aang and Maeli made it to the forest and stopped to take a breather. "I'm getting all sweaty in these ropes," Aang moaned as he struggled to break free. Maeli tried to untie him but the rope was just too strong. "I'm sorry," she said as she sat back to rest on a tree trunk. "Don't worry, I'll find a way out," said Aang. There came a rustling from the left. Both Aang and Maeli's hearts raced. "Please don't be Zhao..." Maeli prayed.
"Let's go!" Aang whispered. The girl picked him up once again and they began to run. The masked man emerged from the trees and tried to pry Aang away from Maeli. Maeli took one of the man's swords and cut Aang loose. Aang inhaled deeply and blew the masked man into a tree; the man was knocked unconscious.
"Go, go!" Maeli pushed Aang along to get out of there. They ran a good distance away, and then Aang stopped. "I'd better get my friends out of this place. Can you make it home safely?"
Maeli nodded, "Just hurry! Zhao and his guards might catch up to you!" She hugged the boy, "Be safe." "I will," Aand replied, not wanting to let go. When they released each other, he smiled and jumped onto a tall branch.
Aang waved, "See ya', Maeli!" He hopped from tree to tree, making his way back to the abandoned house.
Maeli watched him leave, and headed back to the ship. Once again, the masked man appeared and shoved her into a tree. Her eyes widened, "You!" She pushed him off and tried to punch him but he caught her fist. She ripped away from his grip and ran. He chased her, and pinned her to the ground. Maeli was trying to fight him off; she pressed her hands onto the man's mask to try and get him off. They struggled for some time. Then finally, Maeli ripped his mask off and met eyes with someone she didn't expect to see: "Z-Zuko!"
It was clear by the look on his face, that the young prince was trying to hold back the rage inside of him. He spoke in a soft yet angry voice, "Before I even begin to kick you off of my ship, I want an explanation as to why you were helping the Avatar escape. And it better be good, because I am on the verge of losing my rational side." He grabbed Maeli's wrists so she wouldn't escape.
At first, Maeli could only stare blankly; she was too shocked to speak.
Zuko scowled, "You'd better talk." He tightened his hold on the girl's wrists.
"Uh- he...He's an innocent boy! Aang - the Avatar - he's just a boy. His life shouldn't be in jeopardy every day!...Besides, I didn't want him to be captured by Zhao; he's brutal. And I knew that it would interfere with your plan to catch him."
"Then you should've been smart enough to lure the Avatar to the ship!...I thought I could trust you..." Zuko rose to his feet and was quiet for some time. Maeli sat up and awaited his next words.
Zuko looked down at the girl, "Tomorrow you will pack your things and leave. You're no longer welcomed on my ship." He put his mask back on and left.
Aang made it back to the house and explained what had happened. The gang immediately packed their things and called for Appa. Meanwhile, Maeli was back in her room on the ship. She knew that if she left, she'd never see Zuko, Iroh, or the crew again. She had grown to love everyone and considered them as her new family. Besides, Maeli still had to get to Pyor to see her aunt; she couldn't possibly go there by herself because she didn't know the way.
Iroh came out of his room that night to make tea, when he heard loud sobs coming from down the hall. He went into Maeli's room to see what was wrong.
"Maeli, what's the matter?"
Maeli's eyes and nose were red, "Zuko...he said...that...he told me to leave! He's kicking me out tomorrow!" she cried into Iroh's chest. "I don't want to go! You guys took me in and took care of me! I have no home to return to!"
Iroh sighed deeply as he held the sad girl in his arms. "I'll go talk to him."
Before Iroh could knock on Zuko's door, he came out.
"Ah, Zuko! Why'd you- "
"I know, I know! I'm going to apologize." He walked passed his uncle and to Maeli's room. Iroh stood blinking curiously, "You are?"
Zuko saw Maeli sitting on the floor with her faced shoved into the bed; he felt pretty guilty. He placed a hand on her back to comfort her.
"Hey, I'm...sorry...I...thought about what I said and I take it back...You can stay."
Maeli didn't say anything. She slowly lifted her head and wiped her face. She turned around and embraced Zuko. Zuko gently took the girl's arms off of him and stared into her brown eyes, but only for a moment. He then retired to his room without another word. Iroh, who was waiting outside, confronted the prince, "That was quick...Why were you going to kick her out?"
"Forget it."
"Hmmm...And now you're allowing her to stay?...Why, were you going to...miss her?" He raised an eyebrow.
When Zuko walked into his doorway, he faced his uncle and said, "I'm tired." He then closed the door.
Zuko lied in his bed, feeling foolish. His crazy emotions were getting the best of him. He rolled on his side and pinched an aching area on his head. "Yeah...I would miss her."
When morning came around, Zhao's ship moved out. Zuko's ship had set sail as welland kept a good distance away from Zhao's.
Maeli didn't feel like getting out of bed that morning, but got up anyway to see if Zuko was training. She dressed herself in her Fire Nation outfit and made her way to the deck. Zuko was there, staring out at the ocean. Instead of wearing his training clothes, Zuko had on his solider uniform. Maeli walked up beside him, "Good morning. No training today?"
"No. I'm tired."
"So, where are we going?"
"To another town called Pyor. I think the Avatar escaped there."
Maeli knew that Pyor was the place where her aunt lived, but didn't say anything. "You want to play a game to pass the time?"
"No...I need to talk to you."
"Uh-oh, am I in trouble?"
"No..." he paused for a moment. "Come over here." He led the girl to a wall and they leaned against it. "I'll tell you why I'm chasing the Avatar."
Maeli was surprised, "Okay."
"Its been two years since I was banished and I'll never forget that day when it happened...As I was growing up, I wanted to know as much as I could about ruling the Fire Nation, so one day, I went into my father's war room. There was a General who had a plan to invade part of the Earth Kingdom. However, he was going to sacrifice the lives of new soldiers; use them as bait." He lowered his head, "I spoke up. I told him that it wasn't right to betray those soldiers. But I wasn't supposed to say anything. And then my father declared an Agni Kai to make up for my disrespect."
Maeli's heart sank; she knew that a fire duel could only end in pain.
"At first I thought I was going to fight the General," he balled his hands into fists, "But instead...it was my father. I begged for his forgiveness, but he kept pushing me to fight him...He told me that I had to suffer for being disrespectful...The next thing I knew, I was in excruciating pain and I could feel my face burning. I can't recall what happened after that," He touched his scar to remind himself that it was still there. "The next day, my father banished me from our kingdom and said that I can regain my honor if I bring the Avatar to him." His fists began to tremble, "I've tried really hard...but..."
Maeli held Zuko's arm to relax him, "I'm sorry. I know I've messed things up for you, and I really am sorry. And I'm sorry that you've been suffering for so long...You don't deserve to suffer; you were trying to do something right...I don't know if you'll agree with me, but in my opinion, I think your father is lying."
Zuko's fist twitched.
"I doubt he'll take you back if you have the Avatar.
Zuko was getting irritated.
"If your father really loved you, then he would've forgiven you."
"No. You don't understand; I know he loves me."
"Zuko, I know its hard to cope with, but I'm telling you this because I care about you; I don't want to see you get hurt." She placed her hands over Zuko's fist, "I think you should try to make a life for yourself, try to make your own future, instead of bending over backwards for your father."
"The only life I want is one with my honor and throne."
"But that doesn't mean you have to risk the life of a young boy! You can regain your honor in another way. Maybe do something great for your nation or- "
"This is the only way I can regain my honor. And whatever my father orders, I have to comply."
Maeli could almost rip her hair out; there seemed to be some serious problems in the prince's family. Maeli wrapped her arms around Zuko's torso and placed her ear on his chest, "I wish I could take all of your troubles away. I wish I could rewrite history so you wouldn't have to go through all of this."
Zuko, who's a bit knocked for six to have a girl hug him affectionately, placed his arms around her too.
Maeli looked up at him, "Maybe you could ask the Avatar for help. He's a kind person, and I know he'll help if you just explain everything."
"...I don't know," Zuko sighed.
"You have to try at least! Capture him, but talk to him - tell him why you have to capture him and ask for his assistance." Zuko didn't respond. Maeli hesitated to say her next sentence, "Or maybe...you can overthrow your father."
Zuko gripped the girl by her shoulders, "What? I could never do that!"
Maeli raised her hands a bit, "Its seems like the only logical solution! I think you could make the Fire Nation a better place!"
"...Uh..." For once, Zuko was speechless.
"I'm serious. I know you're not prejudice against the other nations; you could stop this idiotic war and regain the peace between everyone."
Zuko's hands fell to his side. He looked defeated, "How? How come you have so much confidence?...How can you be so concerned about someone like me?"
"Because I like you!" Maeli sighed and shook her head disappointingly. "Damn, Zuko, what other reason do you need? You need to have more self-esteem." She looked up at him, "There are people who care about you ya' know."
"I guess..."
"Your eyes are so lovely - I wish I had your eye color."
"Don't be stupid. Your eyes are fine just the way they are." Zuko looked away.
"He's shy," Maeli giggled in her mind. "Ya' know...I really like you...even more than a friend."
Now Zuko was even more taken aback. This girl actually had intimate feelings for him. What was the world coming to? Zuko couldn't believe that this would happen!
Maeli reached her head up and kissed him. It was such a gentle kiss, that Zuko could feel himself about to flush. Maeli smiled when she saw his expression, "Are you alright?" Zuko didn't answer. He placed one hand around the girl's waist, and the other on the back of her head; he pulled her into another kiss. When their lips finally parted, Zuko said softly, "I really like you too...a lot."
"I'm glad," Maeli smiled. "Care to join me for breakfast?"
Zuko shook his head, "I'm not hungry."
"Prince Zuko! You're needed in the conference room!" the houndsman informed from his post.
Zuko groaned irritably, "Alright!...I'll be back, Maeli."
"'Kay, I'll probably be in my room."
Zuko caressed her cheek and went to the conference room. Maeli clenched her locket as she watched him leave. When she was on her way to the galley, she didn't notice Iroh sniggering in a dark corner.
End of chapter 5!
Ha ha ha! Iroh was spying on them! Getting all kissy kissy. Ha ha ha! 'Tis funny...NOW LAUGH DAMMIT, LAUGH! Okay, I'll stop being stoopid.