Glad you all have been enjoying this so far

chapter 17 of Shadow of the Day coming verrrryyy soon,

until then, enjoy chapter 5!

Buildings lay in shambles, destroyed tanks and armor littered the streets, and enormous slabs of rocks had been pulled out of the ground. The fire nation was in ruins.

But still the citizens cheered, still they woke with smiles on their faces, still they honored their firelord. For them the eclipse was a victory. They had hundreds of water tribe and earth kingdom warriors in prison and the avatar had left in shame. To them, that was worth the extra gold it would cost to rebuilt their city.

And still the sun rose, shone its light down on the people who worshiped Agni. Still the servants and messengers bustled about the palace city, making things perfect for Ozai. Birds chirped, and the inhabitants of a certain palace were in high spirits. All but one.

Locked away in a darkened room and hidden under covers in a bed surrounded by a canopy, one girl lay curled in a ball. Her normally perfect hair was a tangled mess. Her dark eyes, usually lined with kohl were red and puffy. The tiny pointed nose was also red and runny.

It had been three days since the Day of Black Sun. Three days since the avatar led an invasion into the fire nation. Three days that Zuko had been gone.

When the invasion had been declared over, Mai had returned to her home with her parents. It was that night while preparing for bed that Mai discovered the rolled parchment, tied with red ribbon, place on her bed.

Before reaching the end of the letter, Mai's heart had been broken beyond repair.

Zuko had been all she ever wanted since they were children playing in the palace courts. Azula and

Ty lee would tease them endlessly but secretly, Mai always enjoyed it because deep down she knew it was true. She thought Zuko wanted her as well. When he was banished, it had been harder on Mai than anyone would have thought. She never wrote him though. She had a funny feeling that Azula wouldn't have appreciated it much...

So when Mai read the letter, she didn't know what to do with herself. For the first time ever, Mai didn't hesitate to let her emotions show and the tears came pouring out of her eyes. And she curled up and cried like a baby.

Three days later and her tears still fell.

…...

Tempers were in a right state at the Western Air Temple.

Since the night of Aang and Katara's fight, the two had been avoiding each other and hardly speaking. Katara had very nicely asked Haru to help her move Zuko, her charge, into one of the rooms in the temple. In a matter of minutes, she had the place transformed into a healing room.

Zuko had not regained consciousness from the day he came, but Katara could sense his heart beating and from her healing, she was able to monitor his vitals. Throughout the day, Katara managed to divide her chores and tasks evenly; cooking breakfast for the group, healing Zuko, mending clothes, healing Zuko, washing clothes, healing Zuko, cooking lunch, healing Zuko, maybe a nap (if she was lucky), cleaning something in the temple, fixing dinner, healing Zuko and then waterbending with Aang at night. It was tiring, but it kept her busy, and for that she was grateful.

Despite being busy, Katara had not lost her edge. She only pretended to not hear Sokka and Haru whispering behind her back. No doubt it was about her insisting to heal Zuko. Knowing Sokka, he probably thought she was being suckered again like the whole incident with Jet. Katara still got made whenever she thought about it...

It had been nearly a week since they had arrived at the air temple. Slowly but surely, the place was showing signs of people inhabiting it; pots and pans near the fountain, clothes strewn about each room, rocks Toph bended to make furniture. It didn't quite have the air of permanence, but it was nice.

One windy evening, Katara had just finished a healing session with Zuko, who still remained unconscious, and herself, Aang, Sokka, Haru, Toph, The Duke and Teo all sat around a blazing fire in the large common area. For the first time since the Day of Black Sun, they all just sat back and enjoyed the little that they did have. It was unfortunate that their parents were back in the hands of the fire nation and they all counted this as the greatest loss yet, but no one had ever gotten that close to the fire nation in history. For some odd reason, they were happy about this.

Things were still rocky between Katara and Sokka, but Aang had bravely stepped forward and apologized for his actions. He said he would wait for Zuko to come around before he started asking questions and demanding answer. Reluctantly, Katara accepted but still kept a level of distance between herself and the airbender.

While they sat around the fire, they munched on seal jerky and leechy nuts. Momo crawled from one person to another begging for treats and to be scratched under the chin. Gradually the sun went down until the only light was the blazing fire.

Katara got to her feet. "It's getting pretty late," she said dusting her clothes off. "I think I'm going to go in for bed."

Toph sat down her small wooden cup and turned an ear towards the rooms. "I don't think you'll be sleeping for a while Sugar Queen." she said, half of a smirk on her face.

Katara gave her a puzzled look. "Why not?"

"Because your fire breathing prince is finally waking up."

The rest of the group turned towards Toph. "You mean that little spoiled fire nation brat is finally up?" Sokka growled, getting to his feet.

"I just call 'em like I see 'em." Toph said with a shrug. "Or not." she added as an afterthought and took another sip of tea from her coat.

Katara's stomach flip flopped. Zuko was awake. She pointed a stern finger at the group. "I'm going to check on him and none of you had better follow me." she warned. Without another word she turned on her heel and quickly exited.

She entered his room quietly, not wanting to disturb him if Toph happened to be wrong. Then again, Toph was never wrong.

There, stirring slightly on the bed was the prince of the fire nation; scar-less, paler than usual, and very sick.

Katara approached the bed cautiously, until she was standing right above him. His eyelids flickered then slowly opened. Katara's hand flew to her mouth, her eyes went wide. Zuko blinked several times.

"Katara," he said hoarsely.

Katara tried to respond but all that came out was a choked up sob.

"Don't..." Zuko murmured weakly, "Don't cry 'Tara."

Tears running down her face Katara managed, "Zuko- I can't believe this..."

"I'm sorry 'Tara." Zuko closed his eyes again.

Katara took a seat right on the edge of the bed. "Why, Zuko?"

He sighed heavily, looking up to the ceiling. "I should have come with you that night by the pond. So much would be different. Look what's happened because of me. I'm a failure."

Katara's eyes softened. "No Zuko," she said placing a hand on his arm. "You're not. It's not your fault..."

"It is." he sounded louder, stronger. He switched his gaze and his amber eyes met her cobalt ones. "I've missed you so much 'Tara. Everyday was...torture." he reached up and placed a warm pale hand on her cool tan cheek.

Katara sighed into his touch. It was familiar. Very softly she spoke, "I've missed you too."

Unbeknowest to the two benders in the healing room, Toph silently retreated from the spot just around the slightly ajar door. She made her way back to the common area where Aang and Sokka were sitting alone around the fire; Teo, The Duke and Haru all retired for bed after Katara's leave.

"Well?" Sokka got to his feet. Aang followed suit, an anxious look in his eyes.

Toph looked down and steeled herself. After a second, she bought her milky sightless eyes and seemed to stare right at the Avatar. The one friend who had never lied to her, not even a small pointless harmless lie.

"Nothing." she said simply.

"What do you mean nothing?" Sokka exclaimed.

"Lower your voice," Toph threatened. Sokka pursed his lips and Toph went on to say, "He woke up, Katara was there and he told her that he left his father to help us."

For Sokka this simply would not do. "That's it? The little firebending jerk just thinks he can waltz up in the place with a few cuts and bruises, gain sympathy from Katara and then bam! He's one of us?"

Toph chewed her tongue. "She's not giving him sympathy," she's giving him a little bit more. Although she didn't add that last part. Toph turned her attention to Aang. "He can be of use."

"He has no place on Team Avatar!" Sokka said indignantly.

Toph ignored him, still talking to Aang. "You need a firebending master."

"You can't really be thinking-" Sokka scoffed.

Again no one paid him any mind. "He can teach you firebending."

After a moment Aang spoke. "Do you think this is a good idea Toph?" he said quietly.

"The worst thing he can do is challenge the Avatar, a waterbending master and an earthbending master." she said avoiding his question.

Aang regarded her for a moment. She stared ahead of her blankly. "We'll wait until tomorrow, Katara will probably have an opinion as well."

"Unbelievable!" Sokka sputtered, still ranting.

As Aang bade her goodnight, Toph turned back in the direction of the corridor where Katara was tending to Zuko. "A great idea," she muttered to herself in reference of Aang's choice to include Katara.

Fraternizing with the enemy, oh Katara what have you gotten yourself into? Toph thought to herself as she too retried to her room.

….

After four days of post- Eclipse fighting, Azula decided that she had had enough of Mai foolishness. Azula felt she was long overdue in her "mourning the loss of her true love". Besides, there were lots of things to be done and who better to help Azula carry out her plans than her right hand girl?

So after being ushered into the small palace of Mai's family, Azula and Ty lee went to go and fetch their friend.

"Thank you so much for coming," Mai mother said kindly. "She's been in her room for days and nothing I say helps."

Azula responded with a cold smile. "Oh don't worry. I'm sure I can think of something to get dear Mai out from under her blankets."

Mai's mother smiled gratefully.

"Besides,"Ty lee said cheerfully as she climbed the grand staircase, "I'm sure it's not that bad."

Ty lee carefully opened the door. "Mai?" she said softly.

Mai hunkered lower into her ball of shame under the bed covers. "Go away," her voice sounded muffled to Ty lee, who pursed her lips in determination.

"Is that anyway to speak to your royal princess, heir to the throne?" Azula said, half mocking, half serious.

Mai erupted into sobs again. "Zuko always used to say that he was heir to the throne too!"

Azula rolled her eyes. "Oh Agni, spare me." Only because Mai truly was her best friend that she tolerated her in this state. Ty lee tutted silently,

"Mai, how many times do I have to tell you?" Azula said, speaking as if she were explaining to a child for the tenth time that lying is bad. "Zuko is a spineless, worthless little wimp that runs away and is the embarrassment of the Fire Nation."

This however, was not the right thing to say for Mai began wailing again. "He used to say that about you too!" her sobs were loud and her words thick with tears but Azula heard her clear enough.

"That bastard!" Azula spat. "I'll kill him!"

Ty lee gave a Azula a look and Azula extinguished the flames in her hands and turned towards the shaking lump that was Mai hidden under covers. She never was one for comforting, that was Ty lee's thing, but Mai was one of the ones who actually understood her and Azula really needed her for this next mission. But at the moment, it was Mai who needed her two friends.

"Mai?" Ty lee said tentatively. She perched lightly on the bed. "Do you want to talk about it? Will it make you come out from under the covers?"

Mai sputtered incoherently.

"I didn't catch that, Mai?" Azula said, confused. Suddenly Mai threw back the blankets violently and what a sight she was. Azula stepped back and Ty lee yelped and fell off the side of the bed.

They took in their friend's battered appearance and knew she truly was broken by Zuko.

"I don't get it!" Mai cried. She sniffed.

Azula raised a delicate eyebrow while Ty lee got to her feet. "Get what?"

"Why he would leave me!" Mai replied. "I mean, I'm nice!"

Ty lee gave a weird sort of nod. Azula stopped for a moment as if she were thinking about it.

"And I'm pretty!" Mai went on to say. "I'm a full fledged Fire Nation noble and I am the prettiest girl he'll ever meet! Aren't I pretty?"

Ty lee, true to her nature, got up and hugged the girl tightly. "Of course you're pretty Mai! Why else would Zuko have showed you any interest at all?"

Azula however, gave an uneasy smile. At the moment, with her hair all over the place, eyes puffy, makeup running and smudged, she was anything but pretty. Azula was feeling generous. "Would I be your friend if you weren't pretty?"

"So why doesn't Zuko love me?" Mai said softly, almost to herself. "I could have written him while he was banished I admit, but I was scared. How could I possibly comfort him? I shouldn't have been forward about him not having his scar, but he got so defensive." she looked up at Azula with big dark eyes. "I didn't mean to fall in love with him Azula."

The princess looked at her feet. In shame?

"What now?" Mai said helplessly. "I gave him my whole heart and he just took it and he just burned it right in his hands. He didn't even have the decency to tell me to my face!" Mai pulled the crumpled letter from her bed and brandished it at her friends. "A letter! All I got was a fucking letter telling me he had to 'move on' and some other worthless crap about his precious honor. I gave him everything I had and he leaves me with a fucking letter!"

Ty lee was at the point of tears. Azula carefully took the letter from Mai's hands, her face was stoic as she read it.

Ty lee patted Mai's hair affectionately as she cried on her shoulder. Ty lee normally got along with Zuko fairly well but this was beyond low.

Azula looked up from the letter. She took in Mai's battered appearance once more and Ty lee comforting her and it sickened her. She had had enough.

"That's it," she said finally. "Get up right now Mai."

Ty lee looked up, eyes wide. "Azula-"

"Shut up Ty lee." the princess said curtly. She turned to Mai. "Mai, I would think by now that you would come to terms with the fact that I do not associate myself with Zuko for a reason. Do you see what he is doing to you? That spineless traitor has taken you for granted and your resolution is to sit here and cry about it? I think not. So, you will get your noble ass out of this bed, take a bath, grab your weapons and I expect for you to meet me at the royal palace in exactly two hours. I have a mission that is of the utmost importance and you will be there with me. End of story."

Mai rolled her eyes. "You're not my mother Azula."

Azula narrowed her eyes. "No, but I am the Fire Princess and for you to fall short of my expectations is you not supporting the Fire Nation. And I think we all know what happens when Firelord Ozai thinks someone does not have the country's best interests at heart."

Mai scoffed and turned her head.

Azula regarded her for a moment. "I'm your friend Mai, I'd do it for you." At this point, Mai could tell Azula was being sincere. "And I assure you that if you come with me, I'll help you see your darling Zuko's true colors and I promise that you'll never shed a tear over him again."

With that she turned on her heel and strode out of the room.

After sitting in silence for a few minutes Ty lee spoke. "I guess we should call the servants to run you a bath now?"

Mai barely nodded as she climbed out of bed. Both she and Ty lee were thinking the same thing: Despite her twisted nature, Azula always keeps a promise.

A/N

At the beginning of this chapter, the scene with Mai, I couldn't help but think about this song by Rhianna called "Cry". It reminds me of Mai for some reason...

Anyway, hope you liked this chapter!

I'm still working on chap. 17 of 'Shadow of the Day' so yeah...

reviews are welcomed!

:D