The grass was greener than grass was likely to be, the sky: picture perfect as only a picture would dare- the landscape was mountainous and flat- wide and narrow- brimming with life and yet full of pristine emptiness.
As black dragons swooped through poorly formed clouds and horses rode past, but disappeared without interest, Mai stood in the middle of a field that had flowers and then didn't.
Azula walked casually up to Mai from somewhere where she hadn't been, and with a casual swing to her step and a lazy look of gratification, she let the unharsh rays of a poorly defined sun light her features.
"Is this your dream or mine?" A large grin spread across Mai's face as she asked the question. It was nice to see Azula enjoying herself again.
"Well that's up to you- as always- young Miss Bo Feng 'lady of the court'." The words were a strange mix of playful taunting and endearance- a voice Azula had never used. "... I'd of said both: but we both know that'd be a lie." Suddenly Mai realised that something had attracted Azula's attention stage left.
With a curious shrivel of her nose and a crease of her eyebrows Mai turned to inspect the object of the young Princess's concentration only to find a sizable hole in the surroundings that she certainly wasn't going to take the blame for.
In the middle of the darkness stood Zuko. However Zuko didn't look like Zuko- but was Zuko nonetheless. He was larger and older and meaner and getting further away by the minute despite not moving an inch. He kept shouting at strangers and walking away while a fading female figure, that Mai didn't recognise, sat alone amongst whining and screams.
"It is kind of what you were born for- I don't know why you're complaining." Mai had forgotten Azula was there. "... I'm always there." Azula was clearly insulted by the implication.
"I'm not complaining."
"Exactly. You were always too good at this game Mai, you win without playing."
Mai looked behind her and saw the world of lights and colours had faded without her realising. Time chokes away choice- it makes everything straight forward and simple.
The words were soft and sweet when whispered in her ear. "... So is this your dream or mine?" Azula plunged a black knife in to the noblewoman's gut while wearing a look of concerned regret. It didn't hurt, the inevitable rarely does.