In the darkness i dreamed about zuko. standing before him. he was dressed as firelord and his hand stretched out to mine. he whispered into my ear, "mai, stay with me." I don't know where I was in this dream but everything was echoey and flickery. Like i was fading in and out of reality. i was so happy to see him though that i threw caution to the wind. i kissed him with all the passion i had hidden for all these years, and all the hope that this would never end. he walked me in front of a mirror a big smile on his face. as i looked in and saw that i was dressed as the fire lady. i turned to him and we held each other. "I have a surprise." he said pulling me closer. When we turned back to the mirror Azula was in the mirror too. only in the reflection she pulled out a knife and stabbed zuko right in the heart. he crumbled to the ground pleading for me to help. Then i turned from the mirror and saw her standing before me with her knife coated in fresh blood. Then she sliced open my neck and laughed as i choked on my own blood. "You should've feared me more!" echoed off the walls. Just as her face contored with anger and her blue flames were meeting my body i woke to the sound of a gasp. I think it might've been my own. Then i heard lots of mummering, and felt dizziness and a strange tingling in my chest. Not a bad one, but a tingle similar to the wind on your skin just after swimming.

"mai? are you feeling any better?" ty lee asked as she stood next to the water tribe girl who's hands where glowing on my chest.

"i...whats going on?" i asked confused trying to sit up, only to be met with a hands holding me down and a pinch in my back.

"well you've lost alot of blood and your hurt pretty badly. so we brought you to a room and started healing. i can only imagine what zuko thinks i'm doing to you, since he saw toph drying out your clothes." the water tribe girl said with a smirk as she continued her magic, or bending. whatever i'm supposed to call it.

"ZUKO!AHH...where?" i asked with fear and excitement playing across my face. when i tried to get up the pain in my body was almost the same as the when i received to agonizing punishment. so i settled with covering my nearly naked body. "He hasn't come in right?"

"I told him to wait outside. i doubt you wanted him to see you like this. besides he's got work to do with aang." the water tribe girl answered.

"oh...um...thanks for...thanks. so...do...when do you think i can... see him?" i struggled to find the right words, and not feel like a helpless little girl as a nearly begged to see my prince. apparently I failed. Both ty and the water girl looked at me as though i were a mix of pathetic and hilarious.

"haha you sound just like zuko. You were right ty lee. well maybe not as winey and rude but close. Must be a fire nation thing. Anyway, I don't want you moving just yet, your not well enought to get up without straining your injuries." I can only guess I looked a little pathetic, because she added, "But if you want i guess i could go get him? if your up for it. too much excitement could just hurt you more. I'm gonna be close by though, just because your not in the condition to fight doesn't mean you couldn't be making plans with him to kill us all." the water tribe girl looked at me with a mix of concern and suspicion. which normally i would say doesn't mix well for anyone, but on her it just seemed to fit.

"Zuko's plans never work. If they did he wouldn't have been banished... twice." I say aloud to try calming her suspicions. Then for some stupid reason I go all zuko and try to save my pride, "And if i wanted to kill you i would've done it already." i mummbled , but one look from ty told me to retract the claws and just take the bash at my intentions. She looked a little frazzled herself so i assume the girl was giving ty an interigation while i was out.

"I mean... I'd like that...thanks. um...sorry i don't know your name." i said trying hard to be appreciative and not offended that she thought i couldn't handle myself, and that i was deceptive from the start.

"It's Katara. Remember it well... and don't think i'm not watching you. harmless or not your still fire nation. and so far the entire fire nation has proved that their all crazy." she said with a smile. i would've been more offended if not for her gentle joking tone. So i kept my glares and sarcasm to myself. Since my kives were no where to be found right now.

"I'll leave so you can have time with your love (*giggling*), besides i kinda wanna talk with that one guy haru. He said he would show me around. Oh, he's also an earth bender! And this cute little boy duke..." ty started saying before i'm distracted by something.