25th of May

Fire Lord Taishi 25th

Year of the Sun

An hour after Noon

The last few days have been to be perfectly honest a mess.

Yesterday we recieved a hawk telling us that my Father is on his way home. This comes as some surprise because his last visit was only two months ago. Personally I am suspicious as to his motives. It must be quite some news if he has to come and tell us personally.

I shall try not to get too excited. Last time he came home personally to tell us something was a year ago and it was only to announce that Great Aunt Lao had passed away. I don't have many living relatives so I sincerely doubt it will be something of that sort again but it will most likely be something dull. It's better to keep emotions under control because otherwise you make stupid rash decisions.

Anyway due to his short notice my sister has been running around like a headless chicken shouting at any unfortunate individual to cross her path. The villa is being turned upside down and I hardly see the sense in it. He'll only be home for three days maximum and I doubt he'll notice.

Shinji is getting all hot and nervous too. For some reason he's desperate to impress Father but I haven't a clue as to why. He's an arrogant...individual and Shinji would be better trying to put his energies to better use. Although I suppose it's classic that people want the affection off somebody they never get it from. It's strange how Kairi's courting manners can reflect on day to day doings.

I must go. I heard a crash and I'd better go make sure Kairi doesn't explode.

"That vase was Earth Kingdom imported and is over fifty years old!" Shrieked Kairi. Maeko strolled down the corridor where sunlight flodded in from the large open windows causing dust to spiral above everyones heads. The green ornate vase lay in pieces on the floor and the poor maid in question was now feeling the wrath of paincked nobility.

"Kairi have you ever even noticed that vase before?" Suggested Maeko calmly. The maid looked up hopefully and Kairi scowled at her younger sister.

"That isn't the point! It's still-"

"Let me get this straight, you are yelling at somebody for knocking over an article which you've never even properly noticed before? Wouldn't you be better yelling at garden attendants or something of that sort?" Said Maeko calmly smirking as her sister silently fumed.

"Maeko...just go and find Shinji or do something useful instead of parading around and not lifting a finger!" Snarled Kairi.

The remark caused Maeko to glare at her sister before turning off and marching up the corridor. Maeko didn't like panicks where everyone got nervous and on edge. It was annoying and made her feel anxious.

Whatever Kairi. I'm going to the library and I'm not coming out until dinner.

As I write this entry I am sitting in a corner gazing at my Fathers study door.

The atmosphere at dinner was so cold that not even fire could have warmed it. My Father ate in relative silence saying only a few passing comments about Shinji and myselfs education. It was silent...so unlike our usual meal times. Instead we just sat there like statues and evenutally my Father got up and said;

"I shall retire to the study for a short while. Kairi when you've finished eating come."

It's not unusal. Usually he calls us by age so it did not come as a big surprise. Once he left we resumed our usual talking but now it was mostly turned against him. Kairi was quite pale.

"How can he address me like I'm a child," She hissed. Shinji immediantly protested on his behalf. I just sat and watched...privately I'm not even sure I recognise my Father as a father. He's just there...every so often. I don't need him.

I will admit to being slightly nervous and curious. I recently graduated from the Royal Fire Academy so I'm interested to see what he has to say to me about my grades and so on.

Maeko stopped writing and looked up from her place in the corner.

Unlike the sunny corridors in the other parts of the Villa, Lord Azu prefered to have his devoid of natural light. The thick red curtains were shut and torch brackets were already lit. On the wall were a few paintings but they were very bland and lifeless.

Maeko shifted her gaze uneasily towards the door silently anticipating her sisters exit. Finally the door swung open to reveal Kairi. Her eyes were red rimmed and she looked like she was trying to supress a sob. Maeko for a brief second felt her heart lurch as she looked into her sisters eyes.

"Kairi...are you alright?"

"You're to go in now," Murmured Kairi quietly. Maeko nodded and hastily concealed her diary in one of her sleeves before stepping through the study door.

The study was a large yet oddly bare room. There was only one window but there was a huge fireplace. The back wall was covered with bookcases in front of which, was a desk and a large plump chair. Sitting in the chair was a man who looked older than his years. His greying hair was in a semi topknot and his misty gold eyes gave the impression that the man was staring through you rather than at you. He was thin and tall with good bone structure but he looked like a wizened old tree bending over a lake.

"Father," Said Maeko formally sitting in the empty seat in front of the desk.

Her Father nodded before speaking. His voice sounded cold like steel as he looked upon Maeko. Maeko maintained firm eye contact allowing her burning orbs to glare into his.

"Maeko, I received your final report from the Royal Fire Academy for Girls. I was quite pleased to see that you have very advanced grades in Language, History and Politics. Your Mathematic and Science grades could have done with improvement but overall you seemed to have done very well. Mistress Chi was particulary impressed with your Firebending capacity."

Maeko nodded and smiled feeling a small bubble of pride at her achievements. Lord Azu's face remained neutral as he continued to talk.

"I leave tomorrow but I trust you are aware of the event taking place next month?" Said Azu.

Maeko nodded. Obviously the whole nation was...Prince Sozin was coming of full adult age along with the Avatar.

"Well it's the Summer Solstice as well as our young Princes twenty-first birthday. Fire Lord Taishi is holding a festival...nobility from every Nation shall be attending. It's meant to signify the unity between us all...something which Taishi is keen to honor since Roku was chosen as the Avatar."

Maeko nodded.

"You have been invited along with your siblings to stay at the Palace for some time. Fire Lady Lien is particulary anxious to see you. She wishes for you to get better aquainted with Sozin."

It was then Maeko felt her heart sink.

My Fathers talk was...well enlightening.

Clearly Lady Lien wishes for me to court Sozin. Thats putting it bluntly and to be honest I'm terrified.

Or at least a part of me is.

Fire Lady Lien was very close to my mother. They were childhood friends in fact so for most of my early life I was at the palace. I was aquainted with both Sozin and his sister Yin Wei and Avatar Roku. Of course Sozin and Roku kept there distance thinking that they might catch a terminal illness by playing with a girl.

Of course after my mothers death I was sent to the Royal Fire Academy. I cannot recall a lot of the recent Sozin apart from his famed skill in firebending and his pride. The whole Idea is a long shot because Fire Lord Taishi wishes for Sozin to marry a foreign Princess to strengthen the links between nations. Besides I have absolutely no wish to marry and commite myself to someone for the rest of my life...the sheer idea makes me want to run.

My real dream is to travel with Chen.

I want to see other nations too. I want to see the rest of the Fire Nation...I'm curious about other peoples lives. Every since Avatar Kyoshi equal rights have been improving vastly. Save the Water Tribes where they marry off their Princesses at sixteen which is frankly cruel.

However...my best friend was married forcably.

Mielia...

We made friends at the Royal Fire Academy. She was the orphaned daughter of a very wealthy family. Her Aunt looked after her. Mielia and I were best friends. She was practically a family member.

Writing about it gives me the desire to burn her Aunt Cho to a pile of Ash. Mielia is a year older than me and nine months ago a few weeks after her sixteenth, her Aunt Cho and herself went on Holiday to the Earth Kingdom.

I got a wedding invitation through a month later.

Something which I know Mielia would never have done. She was too proud and stubborn. Yet she became Mielia Bei Fong...and I know she hates it there. I hate thinking of her there in that huge house alone. I'm worried her spark will diminish.

On the other hand a part of me is...

I won't lie. I love power. I love firebending because I'm in control. I love giving orders and if I married Sozin I would gain the ultimate power. The throne of the Fire Nation! I can even dream of what I could change. Of what I could improve.

For instance Equal Rights would definately go up a level with a strong Queen.

And my report card! Mistress Chi wouldn't let me take advanced firebending classes because it was unladylike! I'm not even an offical Master because of that old hag and my flames are blue! Cold blue!

Thats rare and advanced.

If I were Queen I could change that.

If were Queen I would be married to Sozin.

Theres the dilemma. I don't want to marry.

Maybe I'm getting ahead of myself. It was just a passing implication.

Anyway this Festival should be interesting. If noblity is coming then I expect Mielia will be too.

I think I'll write her a letter.