Chapter Seven: Friends In High Places

"Send word to the Fire Lord immediately- the Avatar has returned!

Fire Sage- The Southern Air Temple

Day seven

It's definitely interesting, being a part of this new group. It wasn't even a full two days into my journey with the Avatar, and we've already run into trouble. Thankfully, there were only two fire nation soldiers, and Katara escaped with ease, though now there's the worry that they know she's the Avatar. I didn't see for myself, but she says that she used airbending in her getaway.

Hopefully she killed them. If they did survive... well, I guess we'll be in for a rougher trip than I thought.

Suki sat a small ways from the camp fire that she had helped light, writing in her journal (a going-away gift from her mother and her little sister Koko) that was propped open on her knees. Suki had already written her lengthy introduction, and the more she wrote the more she realized that this journal was an excellent gift. It was a little hard to be fully open with Katara and Sokka at times-she had only just met them, after all- and by writing in here she could give an account of what the Avatar was really like. Certainly no one had ever done that with Kyoshi, and much about that particular Avatar was shrouded in mystery.

However, there had been a detailed account of Avatar Yangchen, written by her most faithful companion, a young Zhang tribesman who had met her very early on in her trip down to the South Pole to train in waterbending. It was through him that the lore surrounding the legendary Avatar sprang from, and it was through him that allowed many scholars to decipher what had actually happened during that era (as opposed to the myths that seemed to blow everything out of proportion). The records were currently kept in Ba Sing Se's famous university, and Suki had been toying with the idea of doing the same thing. After all, if Katara was able to defeat the Fire Nation before she turned sixteen, she would be one of the most legendary Avatars in all of history! Someone had to keep an accurate record, or else the truth would be lost within two generations.

Plus, she knew she would need to vent about Sokka, and it wasn't going to work if she spoke to Katara about him (or the invisible past Avatar tagging along, for that matter). Best to write instead.

For now, we are camped in the Kolau Mountains, a little ways north of Omashu. After our scare in Ban, we've decided that the Avatar would be safer if she only uses waterbending on our way up North, and to avoid most of the towns as much as we can for a few days, just to try and lose the fire nation soldiers that had seen her. Omashu was a toss up, since it's the only city besides Ba Sing Se that is still untouched by the war, and we weren't sure if we should go. In our arguing over that, we tried to look over the map again. That was when I noticed something- Sokka's map only showed the south half of the world!

I couldn't believe it- he's been bragging about being the 'leader' of our little gang, and he didn't even have a complete map! I chewed him out for it, because we need an updated, complete map to find our way around the colonies. We argued most of the day, though Katara lost interest after a while and started talking to her past life. So far, Sokka and I haven't come to much of an agreement on anything, even though we have a route set in stone and it's been six days since the map argument. Just before I sat down just now, he had the nerve to ask me if I was going to argue about the food too, since apparently I'm not able to be satisfied with anything.

Stupid boy! I have no idea how Katara deals with him...

"Aw, thank you, Aang! It's so pretty! Where did you get the stuff to make me a bracelet all the way out here?"

"Augh! Aang, that's my fishing line you've tangled up, you little sneak!"

Suki rolled her eyes. ...Actually, it's not that it's Katara and Sokka fighting (they don't fight much at all, actually), it's almost completely Sokka and I- we almost didn't go to Omashu at all, because we argued so much about it. It took Katara throwing a fit of her own over it all to finally make up our minds about going there, and I'm glad we did- we have new supplies, money (a very generous amount I might add), and an ally in King Bumi, who is old enough to remember the war's beginning- he's one hundred and twelve years old! The rumors about his madness are true- he is the most senile person I've met, and yet the smartest. He knew right away that Katara was the Avatar, because he could actually see Avatar Aang by her side the whole time! We didn't know what he was up to, but he suddenly announced out of the blue that Katara needed to be tested- that she relied on her friends too much, and needed to face things head on if she wanted to face the Fire Nation. I know now that he was mostly looking at Avatar Aang what he said 'friends', and not me and Sokka, but we didn't know it at the time.

He stuck some kind of ring made of jennamite on our fingers (well, mine and Sokka's), and told Katara she had to go through three tests in order for us to go free and get the alliance and help we wanted from him. We both started to freak out a little, when we saw that the rings were growing long, thick pieces of crystal a few minutes at a time, and Katara agreed to do the tests. King Bumi told her more than once that she wasn't allowed to have help from anyone... I guess that whenever he said it, Avatar Aang was trying to help Katara out, and the King could see it the whole time.

Of course, the tests proved to be more frustrating and harmless than dangerous (well, except for the duel at the end), and I think we all learned something: To win the war, we need to be creative and 'think outside the box', and Katara needed to rely on herself once in a while, and not need help from her past lives when trying to solve a problem. King Bumi also said that our rings were made of a type of rock candy (I should have guessed it would be something so innocent and stupid. I was so mad at him!) and broke it off of us. To our relief, he let us stay one more night, and he spoke with Katara and Avatar Aang alone for a long time after supper. When she got back, Katara didn't say much about the conversation, except to tell us that he was actually Avatar Aang's boyhood friend, and that she was given a list of trustworthy people among other things. Sokka has the list for now, because he doesn't trust the King's idea of 'trustworthy', though he admits that the new map is much more informative and detailed than the old one.

Oh, and I can't forget to write about what is most likely the weirdest thing to happen in all of my travels to date- before we got in to see King Bumi, Avatar Aang wanted to show us some fun, so he took us to ride the city's mailing system so we 'wouldn't forget that we're kids', to quote him. I think that the only thing to save us from getting arrested and put in jail for property damage is the fact that King Bumi recognized Avatar Aang, and in turn knew that Katara was the current Avatar when we were brought in by the city guards for judgment.

I swear that was the most fun I've had since I was a kid... and I also swear that I will never ever do something like that again. I almost threw up when we fell from one of the chutes three stories up, and Mother would have a fit if she knew I tore my uniform on the crate of spears that passed us. Hopefully, she will not read this part when I send this journal back home.

Glancing up, Suki noted that the fishing line bracelet crisis had been averted, and Sokka made some kind of wisecrack over something that she hadn't quite caught in time, prompting the young Avatar to chuckle. Her heart stung a little when she realized how much she missed the camaraderie of the Kyoshi Warriors, Mama's soft voice and sturdy manner, and even Koko's impertinent bossiness. Stroking the tip of her ravendove quill under her chin thoughtfully, she glanced down at the paper and reread some of what she wrote, and another pang of homesickness hit her even more strongly. Sokka and Katara (and even Avatar Aang, if she counted the bracelet incident just now) seemed to be so affectionate and fond of each other, and Suki... well, she felt like the odd duck of the bunch, even after all the time she had spent with her new friends.

She wondered if the feeling would ever go away.

"Now Mai, back straight, chin high, and eyes forward. Be demure and graceful- do not speak until spoken to, and only then! Do you understand?"

Those were a common variation of the words that brought Mai up from the moment that she could understand speech, and they were the words she heard every day as Mother coached her on how to walk, talk, eat, and breathe like a proper lady should. Today was no different, and Mai nodded absently at her mother's hissed instructions as she followed her parents and the palace guard at a fast clip, knowing that this particular evening they had good reason to be anxious about her behavior as they entered the grand halls of the royal palace. The Fire Lord had personally summoned her family to a private audience- and due to the recent banishment of the Prince that took place nearly three weeks ago, this could only be a meeting to formally dissolve the betrothal contract that had been in place for over a year now.

She stifled a sigh. It figured that one of the only people she ever truly liked in life had to go get himself banished before they even got married.

Mai had been away from the royal city at the time of the fateful banishment, and honestly, she still had no idea what on earth it was that Zuko said or did to earn such a harsh penalty (though plenty of rumors flew). She initially received the terrible news through the gossip grapevine thanks to the noblewomen who were over for tea; and she had felt so violently ill upon hearing that Zuko had been permanently disfigured before being sent away, that she had excused herself from the gathering in order to calmly walk out into the garden to puke her guts out behind a rose bush. Her mother, already in a delicate condition due to her surprise pregnancy, had been in a frazzled state of mind since the news of the banishment (she had fainted upon hearing the news, and had needed smelling salts and tea to calm her hysteria enough to prevent any lasting damage), and Father was also worried. Since then he had been absent most of the time; sequestered away in his study and writing papers at a furious rate, or holding meetings and generally doing his best to reach the next rung in the proverbial ladder now that Mai had failed them in getting to the top. Mother fretted constantly that they would be shaken off their newly gained perch within the nobles' tier of society, and as a result was a bit more strict in her lessons with Mai. After all, the banishment might have had something to do with Mai or her desirability, no matter how slim a chance it was, and it was 'only a benefit to have a higher degree of discipline and order'.

Turning down the inner Hall of the Ancestors, Mai's mouth was set in a thin line, and her eyes were hard as she pondered the possible outcomes. The most likely was that they would be given some amount of compensation for their disappointment (all the gifts would have to be returned as well), but with how things were lately she was starting to doubt that the Fire Lord would follow through on even that simple courtesy. Ugh, I'll probably end up working in Aunt Mura's flower shop, and end up becoming an old maid who throws knives at bad customers.

Actually, the thought wasn't too terrible- just a little boring. But at least it was better than the horrifying idea of being demoted to her soon-to-be sibling's surrogate nanny, and it did serve to distract her from feeling nauseous at the idea of marrying someone other than Zuko.

Even now, Mother and Father were still murmuring among themselves, and whispering hurried instructions to her when they approached the throne room itself. Positioning himself beside the entry, the guard drew the curtain back and silently nodded for them to continue. Once inside, Mai fought the urge to scowl as she noticed the wall of fire that normally surrounded the Fire Lord- a visible sign of power, control, and intimidation- was nonexistent. The fact it was absent meant he was not even giving them the effort to bring it forth, or else he deemed this an informal or unimportant occasion.

Chances of them losing their newly gained nobility just got higher.

Without the usual wall of fire the dimmed room was chilly and the yawning silence emphasized their every step, making Father's meek greeting seemed ridiculously loud as the family prostrated themselves. "Fire Lord Ozai, Agni's Favored, Son of Heaven. You deeply honor us by requesting our presence."

"You honor me by coming so promptly," Came the smooth reply. From her position with her nose touching the floor, Mai couldn't see the the Fire Lord's signal to rise, though the rustling sound of his heavy silk robes as he stood signaled that it was safe to come out of the bow. She sat up, hands folded in her lap and expression carefully impassive as she tried to ignore the faint movement behind the thick curtain to her right.

Go away, Azula. You're too old to be sneaking around and spying on other people's misfortune.

The Fire Lord slowly descended down the steps, and made his way over to them. "As you may already know, Prince Zuko has been banished from the Fire Nation, and has been sent to find and capture the Avatar in order to restore his honor. Until his return, his birthright has been revoked." The Fire Lord's impassive expression matched Mai's perfectly, but his voice lacked the disappointment that should have been there.

Mai felt her disgust mount. The Avatar? What a stupid joke of a chance! Zuko, being the honorable idiot he was, would take that ultimatum seriously... and he would never return home because of it.

She swallowed roughly and made herself listen when the Fire Lord continued. "...As such, we regretfully must annul the betrothal that took place, lest shame should befall your family name through such a union."

Father, already breaking into a nervous sweat, immediately started babbling. "Oh yes, indeed. The arrangement had such a bright future, and it's a tragedy that such misfortune should befall your house. Our daughter had been looking forward to permanently joining your illustrious family."

The Fire Lord's sharp, golden eyes shifted, and he studied Mai for a moment. "How do you feel about this, Mai? You have been close to my daughter long before you were betrothed, and have had time to imagine your future here in the palace since last spring. Are you disappointed?"

To say that she was startled at being specifically addressed was an understatement- it was the first time she had ever been addressed by him at all, even during the betrothal itself. He was obviously fishing for something in her response, if she had Azula's examples to go by. She swallowed again, her throat now feeling a little dry. She had to be very, very cautious now. "As your servant, it is ...inappropriate, to feel anything outside of gratefulness that I was chosen at all," She murmured, "I am sure that in your wisdom, you made the right decision for the good of the Fire Nation."

The words left a bitter taste on her tongue as she smoothly forced them out, and she felt her throat tighten with resentment. I'm sorry Zuko. I wouldn't have to do this if you were still here.

The smile that curved across his face was unnerving, and the sharp laugh that cracked through the echoing room succeeded in making her jump slightly. "Well said! It is truly a shame that she has been denied a chance to become the a part of our lineage, as any child of hers would have made an excellent Fire Lord." He appraised her silently for a moment as her parents absorbed that bit of praise. "As compensation, I am willing to give you your own household here in the Royal City, staffed with servants and the furnishings of your choice."

Momentarily stunned, Mai couldn't think of what to say (really, what could she say to something like that?) and both her parents exchanged relieved looks before Father bowed once more. "Thank you for this generous-"

"The deed will be in her name only," Ozai clarified frostily, raking her father with an annoyed glare, "And after she marries the house will still be her private home. It will be her choice if she is willing to allow you to live with her there for the time being. It will never belong to you, Minister Kai."

Mai blinked at him, surprised at the incredible generosity. She had a few years left in her studies, and was unmarried. To be a literal homeowner at her age, with the entire household belonging to her alone... it was unheard of. She bowed, stunned at the favor being shown. "I am truly grateful, Fire Lord Ozai. You are too kind." Only to those who say the right things, though.

"You would have made a fine daughter in law, had things been different." Ozai said, returning the dais and seating himself, allowing the curtain of flames to reappear in a crackling rush of heat between himself and her family. "It shall be made ready in three weeks. Now, I have other matters to-"

"Fire Lord Ozai! I bring you the most urgent news!"

Everyone present, from Mai to the Fire Lord himself, was startled when a hapless young messenger came stumbling through the entry, panting and sweating as he ran a few steps in before screeching to a halt. He gawked openly at the Kai family, and seemed to realize that he had intruded on something important. He froze, his eyes flaring wider than ever as he broke out in a fresh sweat born of nerves, and Mai wrinkled her nose in a rare show of disbelief when he tried to back away. What on earth does this idiot think he's doing?

Apparently, the Fire Lord was thinking the same thing, for his face twisted up in an almost comical expression of outraged confusion that was visible through the curtain of fire, and he held up a hand at the messenger to stall him from leaving. Mai and her family rose, knowing that this was their cue to quietly leave. Glancing at her parents as they scurried away, Mai left at a more sedate pace, eying the curtain as she passed it, fully expecting Azula's hand when it flashed out to grasp her shoulder. Allowing herself to slip inside the space between the tapestry and the wall without so much as a whisper, Mai nonetheless narrowed a glare at the Princess. "Azula, what are you doing? Don't you think you're a little too old to be spying on people like this?"

Pulling her farther in, Azula merely smiled her catlike grin that said she was up to no good. "Don't worry, I had to make sure Father followed my suggestion. After all, good things always comes to those who are my friends."

Of course it was her suggestion. That was too generous sounding for the Fire Lord himself. "I'm sure." She muttered flatly, a little unnerved that Azula went to such lengths. The unspoken question of 'why' hung in the air, thick and heavy, but the Princess ignored it. She glanced over her shoulder in her Father's general direction. "Let's see what kind of news this idiot messenger has to bring before we leave. I have some news of my own, but this looks too interesting to miss out on."

Mai allowed herself to be pulled in further, and soon they had crept up to the partition, where the Fire Lord could easily be seen behind his firewall, as well as the hapless messenger as he bowed on the opposite side. "Well, you've barged in here like a peasant's chickenpig," The Fire Lord growled coldly, tucking his hands up his spacious robes, "Now speak. What news do you bring that is so urgent as to interrupt me during a meeting?"

The messenger, now that Mai had a moment to truly look him over, was pathetically young— somewhere around her own age- and was probably a mere page that was interned over at the Royal Postal Center. "We received a messenger hawk last night from Captain Zhao, my Lord." He squeaked, "He marked it as an emergency letter, and one that could only be opened by your hand." The youth trembled as he bobbed another nervous bow before straightening, fishing out the metal cylinder and handing it to the nearest body guard. The guard examined it for anything suspicious before bowing and handing it over to Ozai, who took it with a subtle frown of ever deepening confusion. Glancing over at Azula, it appeared she was deeply intrigued as well, and Mai couldn't help the spike of alarm when the firewall suddenly jumped in intensity and heat. "Come back in an hour, and I will have a letter for you." He said slowly, eyes glued to the scroll and his expression indecipherable as he waved away the messenger. He turned to his guards. "Summon my advisers and the top Generals immediately." He frowned thoughtfully at the letter once more. "It appears we have a new development to attend to."

Mai's legs ached from crouching for so long behind a dusty curtain, but her mind was on other things when she finally made it home hours later, letting the door close behind herself with a soft click as she slipped inside. Mother was down the corridor a ways, gesturing worriedly as she spoke with Father, and upon her entrance, both of their gazes landed upon her. She concealed a wince when Mother let out a relieved sigh. "Oh, thank heaven, we were just going to go send someone after you." She cried, walking forward a few feet with the intent of rushing over to her wayward daughter before she remembered herself, and restrained the urge to coddle her. After all, Mai had been gone for hours- it was not time to reward bad behavior. She frowned, her voice hardening with irritation. "Mai, where were you after the meeting? We have been worried sick!"

Her lips pressed thin, Mai tried her best to offer a small smile of apology, though it came out looking more like a grimace. "I'm sorry I missed dinner. Princess Azula called upon me just as soon as we left the throne room. She had important news to tell me, and I didn't have the time to let you know where I was going."

Mother laid a delicate hand on the swell of her belly, her concern and mild irritation turning into true annoyance as she studied Mai. "Dear, a young lady always has time to let others know where she is at. Surely you had time to at least wave at us to let us know you were staying behind."

Satisfied that Mai was safe and sound, Father offered a nod before turning and leaving for his study, leaving Mai with Mother's increasing ire. She allowed a despondent sigh to escape as she ruthlessly stamped down her disappointment. They didn't even want to know what the news was... but then again, when had they ever shown signs of wanting to know about her personal life? "I'll be sure it won't happen again, Mother." She murmured, feeling the beginning of a headache start to buzz behind her eyes as she too turned to leave. "I'll be in my room. Please have Li bring up some tea- I'm not feeling well."

With as much grace as she could muster, Mai breezed past Mother and made her way upstairs to her room, sitting with an uncharacteristic slouch in front of her writing desk and leaning to rest her head in her hands. Her mind swam with all the information she had heard- Azula telling her that Ty Lee, unable to take the stress of Zuko's banishment, had run off to join the circus was by far the most disheartening piece of news. It made sense now why Azula had asked her father to give Mai a place to stay in the city- without Ty Lee, Mai was the only whipping girl Azula had left, and it was difficult to get Mai into the palace now that the betrothal was broken off. What better way to have her be closer than to give her a house that was literally across the street?

The most intriguing piece of news, however, made Mai's heart race with sheer enormity that the implications could bring. Captain Zhao was to be promoted to Commander... and given the permission to track down and capture a young water tribe girl who could airbend. The bounty that the Firelord put on this girl's head was astronomical- and anyone was able to turn her in to the Fire Lord directly, or to Zhao.

When Li quietly peeked in a few minutes later, Mai was already allowing her stress and excitement to flow away as she drew her brush methodically across the paper. The elderly woman smiled lightly as she slowly stepped in. "Your tea is ready, Miss Mai. I slipped you a lemon tart as well, dear. I know you have had a busy day."

"Leave it on the bed stand, please."

Mai's one-time nanny hobbled over to the bedside and set the tray down carefully before turning to leave. Looking over Mai's shoulder at the paper, she studied the writing for a moment before brightening. "Five, seven, five ...ah, haiku!" She enthused, laying a withered hand on her shoulder. "You have great talent in choosing the right words, my dear."

Allowing the first real shadow of a smile to flit across her lips all day, Mai nodded thoughtfully as she laid her brush down and surveyed her work. "Hmm... yes, I suppose I do."

A few days later...

Steam wafted in slow, lazy curls from the freshly poured sencha, disturbed only by the erratic ocean breeze that tugged insistently on the robes of the retired general as he stroked his beard and reread the small note that had arrived only moments prior. "How interesting," He murmured, sipping the tea and studying the note thoughtfully. "How very interesting..."

Looking up impatiently from his own cooling cup, the banished prince narrowed his good eye and leaned as far forward as the small tea table would allow. "Well, what is it? Who is it from?"

"I'm not sure," Iroh replied, handing the paper over, "But it appears that you still have friends in high places, my nephew."

Snatching it, Zuko furrowed his brow and studied the elegant characters with increasing bafflement.

Southern winter wind

Flies swiftly, chased by thunder,

The sun shall pursue

Author's Note: Good Lord in heaven above, the last month and a half has been nothing but chaos of the suckiest kind; what with the very bad illness that paid a visit to our house, traveling, having my kid brother over for two weeks, and making a bid for a house and having it fall through at the absolute last second (what a huge bummer). So yeah, so sorry that I'm late, and that the writing suffered in this chapter! I'm trying, I really am. Life just gets in the way, so thank you all for your patience and support. Every fav, review, and follow means so much guys!

I also had to so a lot of research for this chapter in regard to betrothals, and how one would be annulled. Surprisingly, there is very little info on the annulment side of things, so I had to make it up as I went, but I used a mix of Chinese, Japanese, and Korean customs when it came to what had happened in the betrothal of Mai and Zuko. I didn't elaborate on it here, but what happened was an exchange of letters and gifts, with both sides offering gifts to the other and having a fortuneteller come in to a mutual meeting and set up an auspicious date for the marriage. Mai's family would have went for a lot of visits to the Palace, and they would have enjoyed a fine roast pig of some kind when the betrothal date was set in stone (because pigs in Han Chinese culture apparently represented virgins and their purity. Yes, I kid you not, PIGS were the one animal that the Han deemed appropriate for representing the purity of maidens. The Jewess in me is utterly repulsed, but pigs were actually a highly respected animal in China, just like dragons and rabbits, so I really have no right to get weirded out... at least, not too much, anyway. lol)

Ozai's compensation gift of a house is my interpretation of why Mai had a house of her own in season three- and yeah, I know it might have been a family house, but I like the idea that it was her own, so here's my take on it.

Zuko has made his true debut! Thanks for being patient.

Hopefully I won't get shot, but this is my first haiku ever. Sorry, all poets!

Shout out to the ever awesome TheMelonLordApproves, with her input on Mai and her family status. She's been a big help in writing our favorite gloomy girl!