Ye Xian, or School and Friends
Mai started school at six, just like any other child. Her father wanted to make a good impression on the world, and sent her to the Fire Nation Academy for Girls, where he knew Princess Azula would eventually be attending school.
School brought her out of her shell, just a bit. There was a girl, Xiu Yun Meng, who was friendly, but quiet, and liked to read a lot; and she did a lot to bring Mai into the world.
During free time, Xiu Yun noticed Mai in a corner, reading a book. "What are you reading?" she had inquired in the most sweet of small child tones.
"Ye Xian," responded Mai.
"I love that story."
"You do?"
"Yep!" She popped the 'p' sound. "Do you want to play Ye Xian?"
Mai nodded.
"I'll be the princess, and you can be the fish!"
"Alright."
Xiu Yun grabbed a long pencil from her pencil box and pretended it was a broom.
"My dearest fish," she giggled while quoting from the storybook, "What am I going to do about the festival?"
"Isn't the fish dead by then?" Mai asked.
"Yes, but I want you to still be alive! Dead fish are no fun."
Mai smiled, and then giggled. "Well, Ye Xian, we must find you a dress."
Mai produced several imaginary dresses and kimonos, which Xiu Yun said were all pretty, but were too pretty to pick from. Mai decided on a what she described as a "dark purple kimono with gold flowers." Xiu Yun clapped her hands and said that it was probably the most beautiful thing imaginable. She then imagined she put the "fish" in a bowl and carried it with her to the festival.
It was then when the teacher asked them to sit back down and work on penmanship.
"Next time, Mai, you can be Ye Xian and I can be the fish."
And the next day, she was.
Two afternoons later, Mai was summoned to the palace. This was not unusual, as Azula had been calling her to the palace for playdates for several months now. She didn't want to go, but her mother insisted.
When Mai arrived and entered the gate, Azula was already standing nearby.
"You're late, Mai."
"I apologize, my mother kept me at the house."
"Well then, let's play."
Playing with Azula always meant watching a display of Azula being "better", whether it was hide-and-seek, firebending (meaning Mai literally sat and watched), or just a simple imaginative game. And after watching Azula firebend for about 15 minutes, Mai was bored enough to ask, "Can we play Ye Xian?"
"Why?" Azula responded, her tone frustrated. "Aren't you enjoying yourself?"
"Yes, but I'm bored. I want to play, not just watch your bending abilities."
"Fine. I'll be Ye Xian, and you can be the fish."
Mai wanted to be Ye Xian, but knew it would be no use to argue against the younger girl. Azula always got her way.
Playing Ye Xian with Azula proved tiresome. Mai spent most of it pretending to be dead, and listening to Azula occasionally yell at her for not doing something the way she wanted it to be done. "You're my best friend, so that means you do what I want you to!" was yelled at least twice. Zuko walked by the room twice, casually glancing in, smiling slightly at Mai before rolling his eyes as his sister flounced across the room in an oversized dress.
A servant came to fetch Mai when it was time to go home. Azula ran up, hugged her and said, "Good bye. Always remember, you're my best friend, and that means you're special, even if you can't play Ye Xian right."
As she left the palace and walked home, Mai concluded that Xiu Yun was much more fun to play with than Azula.
Xiu Yun means Elegant Melody,
Ye Xian is the Chinese version of Cinderella