15th of July

Fire Lord Taishi 25

Year of the Sun

One hour after Noon

It is one week today until my sixteenth birthday. It's one week until I come of age...until I stop being a child.

I think it's strange how they use your age to determine how old you are or how you're mean't to feel. Like when you turn sixteen your miraculously meant to start acting like an adult overnight and loose the childish innocent you had in a matter of hours. Personally I feel no difference when I turn a different age...I always expect to but I never do. Still maybe you do feel strange when you come of age...I'll have to ask Mielia.

Anyway my birthdays are usually all ways spent at home with Kari, Chen, Shinji, Mielia and my other friends from the Royal Fire Academy.

Father is never there. I usually get a letter and some money...on the other hand I'm usually allowed three friends to come and stay for the weekend in celebration. We usually go out to the restuarant in Azu (A town a few miles away from our home, it's our town). Anway after dinner we go home where we make a big show of the presents I have been sent such as money or jewellery from my family and trinkets from my friends. And I also recieve a small gift from Fire Lady Lien that has been sent to me.

This time, however I shall not be spending my birthday at home. I shall be without Kari and Chen and some of my other friends but at least I am getting a banquet in my honour and probably more grander presents than usual.

Anyway the last two days have been quiet. I most stay in my or Mielia's cabin or the training arena. I should desperately love to go to the art room but it is always occupied by Princess Mayleen. She has been really quiet of late...not her usual flirty self...I have many suspicions...but I shall confide them to myself for the moment.

Lee is as bashful as ever. He comes and goes as he pleases for most of the time but he is always laughing or at least trying to make me laugh. It's comforting having him around but it also confuses me. Sometimes I feel torn inside...I cannot feel such weakness though.

Prince Sozin is keeping away from me...or at least trying to but whenever I leave the arena he is entering and he always either glares at me like I've commited some horrible crime or smirks in triumph...it is most frustrating! Arrogant self-centred stuck up Prince that he is!

Shinji has also became withdrawn recently. I asked if it was because he was homesick but he shook his head and said I wouldn't understand...then he walked away. He spends a great deal of time training but there is a strange glint in his eyes now. Like he seen something he wants...but can't get it.

I shall speak with him and force it out of him. I shall go now because Mielia is banging her fists on the cabin door. Thank-Agni she cannot bend metal or I'd never get any privacy!

Sorry It's a short chapter but it has some major fore-shadows in it if you look closely enough. In fact this whole voyage section does.

Also I'm splitting this story into three books. First one is dedicated to how Maeko ends up marrying Sozin (not a spoiler kind obvious) The second is how she deals with being Crown Princess and that takes us up to her being crowned Fire-lady. Third book is the last but it's basically her witnessing the events of Sozins Comet.

Sorry I haven't updated in a while...school is time consuming and especially since I am in my exam year...I HATE HOMEWORK, MATHS AND BIOLOGY!!!!!!

Okay psychotic moment over...um...I am not insane...really...

Keep reviewing! x