Zuko's POV

It has been 3 weeks since I killed the young boy. It's been a blur, just training, eating and sleeping along with all the other stuff I had to do.

Well, not so much sleeping. At night, among other things, the boy has joined the faces that haunt me at night. Just something else to add to my long, long, long list of regrets and every time something's backfired or blown up in my face.

At least there has been one positive development recently. I found out that the bride-to-be is on her way here now, and we're being given just over a year to woo until her sixteenth birthday when we would marry.

Mai should be here soon. We agreed to meet every night in our usual spot deep in the forest by the palace. That used to be one of our favourite places for dates.

A fraction of a smile forces it's way onto my lips as I recall all the fond memories created here with Mai.

Many a time have we trampled through the various trees and undergrowth, carving a path to a small clearing. Near the back of the clearing there is a large fallen tree, on which I am currently perched.

Dawn will break soon. Where is Mai? She should be here by now.

A rustle from the path alerts me to the presence of another.

I tense but relax again quickly when Mai steps out of the shadows.

"Sorry I'm late. I kinda overslept."

Speak of the devil and he shall appear.

"It's fine, Mai. All that matters is you're here now."

Mai flops down on the tree next to me, landing a small kiss on my cheek. I wrap my arm around her and she rests her head on my shoulder.

"Hey, I've been thinking about us a lot recently..."

I look down into her eyes and give her a smile, or my best attempt at one anyway.

Does she want to take our relationship to the next level?

"Yeah, me too."

"Well, I want to talk to you about our relationship."

She pulls away from me slightly.

What is she doing?

If she's acting this way then it must be something really major and or scary.

My heart starts beating faster, pounding in my chest.

"So what do you want to say?"

She pauses.

This is it.

"I don't think we should see each other anymore. At all."

And just like that, my whole world shattered into pieces all around me.

I'm too stunned to speak for a few moments.

"What did I do wrong?"

"You agreed to marry someone other than me Zuko! Your own girlfriend!"

Her face contorts with rage.

"How could you just sit there and look pretty as your own father is looking for a wife for you when you already have a girl in your life?! Why didn't you say you could marry me instead of some girl you've never even met?!"

I stand up, my own body starting to burn with anger.

"I had no choice! Father has never listened before so why would he start now?"

"You could have at least tried!"

"Why? You're not exactly Queen material anyway-"

My head whips to the side and my left cheek stings. Mai just slapped me.

"Don't ever talk to me again!"

And with that, all light and goodness left in my life ran away with tears in her eyes.

Why must I be such a goddamn idiot! Saying she wasn't worthy of being a queen. She's worthy of being a goddess! I have to go after her.

Running as fast as I could down the rough path, I leaped over anything blocking me.

"Mai, wait! I'm sorry!"

I am starting to feel an ache in my body, where my heart is. I haven't felt that since mother disappeared. I really loved her. I really love Mai.

"Mai!"

I trip on a loose rock at the end of the path and am sent slamming into the dirt. I can just make out the shape of Mai's silhouette vanishing, both into the distance and out of my life.

The colours of dawn are starting to creep over the horizon now, but I feel darker than ever before.

Warmth runs down my head and I see a few droplets of red on the ground. Am I bleeding?

I feel tired. I'll worry about it when I wake up. I then slip unconscious.

Sorry about the filler chapter but it had to be done. In the next chapter, we meet the bride-to-be so that's something I'm looking forward to writing. Anyway, I hope you have enjoyed so far :3 Bye!

- Emi