13th of September

Fire Lord Taishi (25)

Year of the Sun

Five hours after Noon

It's wonderful to be able to finally go outside again.

After a week of rain the sky has finally turned blue. The sun is out and there is a light breeze. All the leaves have left the tree's making them look lifeless and bare although the ground is littered with their orange and gold leaves.

Shinji is glad because now he can go riding again and muck out stables. Really...how stupid do you get? How can mucking out a stable please anyone? I mean I like Ostirch-Horses as much as anyone but I wouldn't want to muck them out!

Mielia and I have been riding a lot lately though. Like Mielia told me her house is quite far away from everyone. There's lots of hills and lakes...there's nothing like the feeling of the wind racing through your hair as you gallop. I could forget everything...

Mielia had finally stopped feeling sick. I suppose my suspicions where far-fetched after all for she is showing no more signs. The only thing bothering her is the Spirit festival next month.

I like the Spirit festival. It's on spirits day and each person dresses as a spirit to honour them. Last year I dressed up as the Painted Lady. This year I don't know what I'm going to be...I mean normally noblewomen don't do this custom but in our village they were used to it...also if you don't go to the fancy dress occasions there's always the private fancy dress parties for us...

Unfortunately for Mielia we have to go to Ba Sing Sei. The Earth King is holding one and we're invited as guests...so is Mielia's aunt!

Oh I hate that old vulture...I want to fry her to dust!

Anyway I feel nervous about going to Ba Sing Sei. For one Sozin shall be there...I mean meeting him in person again is a bit nerve-racking especially after my last less than polite letter...I never did get a reply out of him! Not that I'm complaining...he's got bored no doubt. Anyway if I go to Ba Sing Sei no doubt I'll meet Lee...my stomach is hopping around at the thought...I mean will it be awkward...after last time?

The festival is over a month away though. There's no point worrying now. I think I shall go train some more...my techniques are getting better...I can now produce blue sparks whenever I want too...still I will master lightening!

Eight hours after noon.

Shinji seemed in a very good mood. When we were training together he was grinning from ear to ear and I have no idea why. I practically had to burn it out of him when we were sparring before he would let it slip.

My pest of a brother had a crush!

I can't believe it...the little hypocrict has always made fun of girls but apperently not the Stable-Masters daughter Haku. I've seen the girl a few times before and she is polite and has a kind nature with animals. Her eyes are quite pretty but her hair is nearly as unruly as my own...still I'm sure she's a nice girl...what on earth could she see in Shinji!

Anyway this explains the visits to the stables. Well at least now I can torment him for the next few years of his life.

Mielia started laughing her head off when I told her. Shinji just glared and yelled at us both. Of course Mielia made one of her usual witty replies.

"What's wrong loverboy? Shout a little louder and maybe she'll hear you."

Maybe Mielia and I are evil. Still It's my right as his sister.

Mielia and I played some Pai-Sho afterwards. She won...she has a knack for it...still it was good conversation time. Mielia isn't my best friend...she's like a sister to me. Ever since we met at the Royal Fire Academy...she came in two months later than I and we were only nine.

"Lady Azu you may sit next to Lady Thi as she is new to this class. I trust you'll manage to instruct her upon this schools rules and any work she may have missed out..."

I tucked a strand of hair out of my eyes as I sat next to the new girl. I glanced at her curiously...her eyes wandered the class in boredom before they settled on me.

"So...Lady Azu...what's your name?"

"Maeko...Maeko Azu," I said proudly.

"Your the Grand Vizier's daughter then. Nice to meet you...I'm Mielia Thi...just call me Mielia...I hate being called Lady Thi!"

"Same...try Azu! It's silly why don't they call us by our names...it's stupid being refered to by our surnames!"

And that was that.

Of course we had other friends...but we were the two main ones. We stuck together through it all and she always stayed with us during the holidays. I guess my family accepted her like that. Kari and Chen liked her...and that was the main thing...Father was just glad I made friends with someone who was socially in my class. Of course nobody would be of higher class than me in the Fire Nation apart from the Royal Family.

I like having that kind of power. The power to be in control...that's why I disliked school and my Father...they were people who I could not control.

That's why there's something about Sozin that attracts me. He is power...If I chose him I would gain the ultimate power. I would eventually become Fire Lady and that is power.

The idea attracts me...but I know it's nothing but a dream. If I go to him I'm giving in...I wont just marry for power alone. I won't just give up my dreams for a man who I barely like.

Great I'm becoming melodramatic now. Why does my imagination run away with me. I've been reading books too late at night. It's starting to affect my brain!

So...Now we know the next major event on the Maeko calender. Spirit Festival which is on all spirits day...I mean in our world not theirs.

Anyway the chapter envolving the Spirit festival will not be in diary format because it is an important chapter, or should I say chapters because there will be two of them told in that way.

Anways REVIEW!