A/N This chapter is something of an experiment. I couldn't really get it quite where I wanted it to be, so it may be edited a bit later. Let me know what you think. If it doesn't look right, or you think there is another way to show events in the Fire Nation while Zuko is away, please do let me know as soon as possible, because this will impact the story for later. Enjoy! :)

Mai sighs sullenly for what must be the hundredth time as she enters the main hallway of the Palace. Some servants approach her to offer a small plate of refreshments, and as usual, she waves them off.

She continues down the hall to a door that leads to what used to be the war room. It's open and she sees that a new window off to the right is open to the air, letting in the special scent of a Fire Nation autumn into the room. The curtains, thin and translucent, billow in the breeze like a flickering flame.

In the middle of the room, sits General Iroh, now Acting Fire Lord Iroh. Across from him sits King Kuei of Ba Sing Se, King Bumi of Omashu,

Chief Pakku of the Northern Water Tribe, the two Beifongs and some other nobility from Gao Ling, a Sun Warrior tribesman, and a few teachers from the local Fire Nation schools.

Mai recognizes Asuri, the physical education and primary Firebending teacher of the Royal Fire Academy for Girls.

"It's good to see you again, Mai." Asuri greets her as she walks in.

"It's good to see you, as well, Teacher." Mai replies with the customary bow.

Fire Lord Iroh beckons her closer. She looks over at King Bumi a bit suspiciously, then accepts the Fire Lord's invitation.

"We were just discussing some of the ways we can all send a message of forgiveness and reparation to all of the major cities and territories. Would you care for a bit of tea?" He asks her. He stands and pulls out a chair for her to sit beside him.

"Yes, please." She says, accepting the cup when it's offered to her. She takes a small, measured sip, and settles in to listen to the conversation.

"Where did we leave off?" Iroh asks the leaders assembled across from him.

"I was just saying that, as far as Ba Sing Se is concerned, we need a way to improve our communication throughout the city." King Kuei states. "News can take days to travel from the different Rings. And with everyone so on edge after Princess Azula's coup, nobody is really sure what can happen. We can't trust the Dai Li anymore. We can't trust our neighbors anymore. Some peope are worried that they can't trust their families anymore! And with all the refugees in the city, everyone assumes that another takeover is right around the corner. I'm not sure news of the war's end has reached the Lower Ring yet. There are fights in the streets, businesses burning, theft." He shakes his head sadly. "It's an atrocious situation."

"I see." Iroh strokes his beard thoughtfully. "I doubt that my sending Fire Nation soldiers to restore civil order will help matters much. I could send messenger hawks with pamphlets to drop, but it would possibly only spread rumors. What about Omashu's mail system? Is there a way that we can replicate that within Ba Sing Se?"

"Certainly." King Bumi snorts loudly. "But it could take a few months to make sure it's up and working properly. What about...I know! Let's get Avatar Aang to do a spiritual projection of himself over all the main squares!" He stands and assumes a posture that looks like it's supposed to represent a ghost. "Oooo! Hello everyone! I'm Avatar Aang! The war is over, and the Fire Nation has left your city!" He says in a "spooky" voice. "Stop squabbling amongst yourselves and go about your day until you receive further instructions." He sits down again. "Something like that."

Everyone stares at him as though he's crazy. He does that weird snorty laugh again.

Mai feels somewhat nauseous. The man just creeps her out. Everyone else seems to think he's sane, or at least safe enough to be around.

She trusts Fire Lord Iroh's judgement.

"I'm not sure that a Spirit Projection is possible without a Solstice. Even for the Avatar." Iroh says. "I think it best that we commission some of our new printshops to produce enough pamphlets to pass out in the streets and then give them to the existing mail carriers. It will cause the least amount of panic and will not be too much of a logistical nightmare. I will write to Avatar Aang and ask if there is such a thing as Spirit Projections. I cannot guarantee any faster or safer solution than this."

"In the meantime, I do like the idea of implementing Omashu's mail system in Ba Sing Se. It would be a far more efficient way of delivering mail and news to the people. It may help people from the different Rings get to know each other." King Kuei leans down to run a hand over Bosco's fur, waking the slumbering bear under the table. The pudgy bear had reportedly been exhausted by their travels around the world during the last months of the Hundred Year War.

Bosco yawns, reaches up for a quick hug and then flops back down into a deep sleep.

Mai sighs and rolls her eyes. Why bring a bear into a diplomatic meeting?

Then again, she realizes that aside from Iroh's invitation, she didn't really belong here either. She wasn't royalty or a high standing official.

"And what of Gao Ling?" Lao Beifong asked, impatiently. "Your soldiers took it over in the last days of the War. Most of our farmland has been destroyed. What little food is left is going to the Fire Nation soldiers first, then to us. We'd give more out, but there just isn't enough to go around! The soldiers watch our trade like hawks and distribute goods as they see fit. They raid our artisians' homes and sell whatever they find, giving anywhere between a quarter to a tenth of the profit back to the original makers. I don't even want to know how our farmers are faring!" His voice has risen quite a bit by the end. He takes a deep breathe to calm himself. "I just don't see how this can continue much longer." He says, shaking his head. "We might have a revolt on our hands in another few months. That might restart the War."

"It would not restart the War as far as I or my nephew are concerned. I can promise you on my nephew's behalf and on our honor that if such an uprising should occur, we would treat it as a local conflict, not a reason to resume hostility. Our soldiers would be given pardon for any violence they commit as a result of having to defend themselves and we expect you to hold your citizens responsible for their actions. However, we will certainly try and charge our soldiers there for any crimes they have committed up to that point that may have fed the fire in your people. They should have received word by now that they are to leave Gao Ling and to return home. If they have not done so within another month, I will ask my nephew to make a stop there and let them know that they are to leave immediately. I don't know what may have delayed the message, or if they are waiting to see if the change of power is permanent. But I can assure you, it will be dealt with." Iroh stands to give a deep bow.

"If I may, Fire Lord?" Chief Pakku asks.

Iroh nods his assent.

"The Northern Water Tribe was heavily damaged by the attack of your Navy. We have repaired much of the damage ourselves. However, I must ask for some form of reparation for our lost tribesman."

"I understand. What would you suggest?" Iroh sips his tea.

"I believe it would be beneficial to us that some of your younger students come and learn our ways. They can be trained into ambassadors between our people. I would like for them to begin by attending our funerals for our fallen. It may teach them something of the atrocity their country has committed." Pakku's voice is calm enough, but his eyes still seem cold.

"I also request several of your most recently built ships, so that we can defend ourselves in the event that someone should usurp you or your nephew and attack us again. It's not exactly a secret that several of your citizens don't believe in peace, or in the new Fire Lord and his Uncle." He continues.

"I will see to it." Iroh nods. He turns to Asuri. "Do you have anyone in mind for the student exchange?" He asks.

"A few. I will speak to the other schools and to the families. I'll need about a month to do a thorough sweep." She responds. She catches Mai's eye.

Mai shakes her head slightly and looks away.

I do not want to go to some frozen wasteland and learn about a bunch of backward peasants. She thinks to herself.

"I think we've accomplished enough for one day." Iroh says. "I have some personal matters that I must attend to. There are refreshments in the hallway, should anyone feel hungry. I'll have our kitchens prepare a lovely feast for this evening. It will start at sunset. Enjoy yourselves, everyone! And as always, if you should require anything, there will always be a servant nearby. I ask only that you treat them as you would your own family. Have a good afternoon." He rises and beckons Mai to follow him.

(page break) (page break) (page break)

"I apologize for interrupting your meeting." Mai dutifully says, as Iroh enters his personal office and closes the door. The room is dark until he lifts the curtain by the rice paper window.

"Not at all. I was actually hoping to hear your opinion on some things." He sits down at his desk with another cup of tea. He holds up an empty cup as an offer of more for her.

"No thank you." She says. How many cups of tea does he drink in a day?!

"Please, sit. There is another chair in that corner over there." He points in the general direction while opening a rolled paper with his other hand.

"What's that?" Mai asks.

"A letter from Zuko. He hasn't written me since he left, so I'm quite eager to read it. It arrived right before the meeting started this morning."

"I see."

"What's your opinion of the situation in Omashu?" He looks up from the letter to address her now.

"Oh, I was in the palace most of the time. I didn't see much of what was going on. I guess it's alright. The Avatar got everyone out. It was basically a ghost town after that. And then Azula showed up and hauled me along on her little adventure." Mai can't resist rolling her eyes.

She looks curiously at the letter in his hand.

"Would you like to read it? There is nothing here that is strictly confidential." He holds it out to her and for a brief moment, she wants to take it. To see her exboyfriend's handwriting again, to hear his voice as her eyes read his words.

A picture of Azula's face interrupts her moment of thought. She straightens back up in her chair and narrows her eyes bitterly.

"No, thank you." She says in a short, flat tone.
Iroh, completely unaffected, places the letter back on his desk.

"You know," He takes a sip of tea and leans back a little, almost as though he's in a rocking chair. "My nephew cares a great deal for you. It hurt him deeply when you decided to break off your relationship with him. I understand that you feel distrustful of him. The fact that you had to deal with Azula almost all of your life is probably no comfort to you. But Zuko is not normally duplicitous. He just wants to find his mother. If she can be found. He is not Azula, nor could he ever become her. And he is certainly not his father, no matter how alike they may look. He could have had any girl in the Fire Nation as a Prince. He chose you."

"I only ended up with Zuko because Azula arranged the whole thing. She knew I had a crush on him and that he may have liked me. When he came back after they defeated the Avatar in Ba Sing Se, she made certain to suggest I should hang out with him more. When she mentioned it more than three or four times, I realized that it was an order. I was happy with it, because I had liked him since I was young. But our relationship only existed because Azula said so. The minute that she was out of the picture, Zuko started to seek her and his father out for advice. Without telling me. Without telling anyone. I know he wants the throne. He talked about it all the time when we were younger, whenever I was allowed to talk to him. And I know it must be difficult for him. But..." She isn't sure that she's making any sense.

"It is understandable that you would be worried about your relationship with someone who wields as much power as he does, especially when things are so uncertain right now, with the war ending, his father in jail, and the fact that Azula set you both up as a part of her plans." He reaches out to pat her arm reassuringly. "But you must realize that my nephew is not like his sister. He is just like anyone else. Equal capacity for good and for evil. He has made the choice to be good. He could always choose differently. But his mother and I taught him better than that. And he has seen suffering with his own eyes, felt cruelty within his own body, and felt the guilt and regret that can come from making the wrong choice. He is not naive, and he is not stupid. He is growing in his wisdom every day."

"I'm still mad at him." She admits, not meeting Iroh's gaze.

"It's alright to be angry, disappointed, and afraid. As long as you don't let those emotions control you." He pours another cup of tea for himself and a cup of water that he offers to her.

She drinks it to help swallow the lump in her throat.

"My father always said the same thing." She mutters darkly.

"Your father gave you a valuable piece of advice, but he did so with the wrong intentions, and the wrong interpretation of what it means to control one's feelings instead of being controlled by them." Iroh gazes sadly out the window.

"I don't see how it could have more than one meaning." She shrugs and resists the urge to roll her eyes.

"To be in control is not to ignore or suppress the emotion. Emotions and thoughts work like fire." He lights a flame in his hand. "Fire is unpredictable, and the slightest thing can influence it. But it doesn't have a mind of it's own. Fire is pure energy. But it requires direction. It burns along the ground," he tilts his hand and the flame angles upward and starts to drift towards his sleeve. "And it's blown about by the wind." He blows it a little and moves his hand back to a flat position. The flame recedes. "It can be controlled by Humans. With Bending, or with tools." He throws a tiny fireball, no bigger than a coin, towards an empty space on the stone wall, then picks up a tea cup and holds it near the flame still flickering in his hand, the flame moves around the cold cup. "Water is it's natural solution." He extinguishes the flame with the remnants of his tea in the cup.

Mai watches his display with curiosity, her brow knitted with concentration, and her earlier nerves and irritation forgotten.

"The key, my dear Mai, is not to extinguish your beautiful flames, but to direct them to do your bidding. Your emotions are there to fuel your action on your decisions. But your decisions should be made with the mind, not always with the heart." He throws an arm around her, and for some reason, it reminds Mai of Ty Lee. She wonders vaguely where Ty Lee ended up when she left with the Kyoshi Warriors. No doubt she was having the time of her life.

A knock on the door to the study echoes throughout the room.

"Come in!" Iroh calls.

The door opens to reveal a handsome older teenaged boy, with the thin, sharp features and amber eyes of a Fire Nation citizen, but the darker brown, slightly more coarse hair of the Earth Kingdom. A guy of colonial origin. And very cute, Mai admits to herself.

"Kei Lo! Please, come in! What's the news?" Iroh gets up and hugs him, then reaches into a cabinet to the left of the desk and window to get another teacup for him.

The boy smiles briefly, sits in the chair that Iroh pulls out for him, takes a sip of tea. He nods a polite greeting towards Mai, then starts to speak to Iroh in a hushed voice, his face now a picture of concern.

"Sir, there have been rumors in town of a group that wants to put Ozai or Azula back on the throne. They're calling themselves the New Ozai Society. I'm not sure how many of them there are, but people aren't too comfortable with Fire Lord Zuko being away for so long when he's only just become Fire Lord. A lot of Fire Nation citizens are angry about the war ending. They believe what they've been told all their lives about us spreading our greatness or something. I thought I should warn you." Kei Lo places his tea back on the table and leans forward, awaiting Iroh's response.

"I have heard mention of this group before. I will have some guards posted around the entrance to the Palace and we'll close the gates during the lunch hour in addition to at night." Iroh strokes his beard. "What do you know of them?"

"Not much, sir. Just that a few previous generals and governors of formerly occupied Earth Kingdom posts are with them." Kei Lo shrugs. "I don't know how many there are in total. I think they're still a relatively small group. But they're growing, from what I hear."

"Keep an eye on them." Iroh says, standing up.

"Yes sir." Kei Lo replies as he follows suit.

"In the meantime, this dear young lady and I were about to get some lunch. Would you care to join us?" Iroh gathers the tea things on a tray and hands them to a servant standing outside the study door.

"Certainly, sir. Although, I won't be able to stay too long. Master Piandao is expecting me back for my lessons." He says.

"Ah, yes. He trained my nephew. He is a very good man."

Kei Lo looks toward Mai, who's been silent for the whole exchange.

"I know you. But I don't think we've been properly introduced. I'm Kei Lo." He bows to her.

"I'm Mai. It's good to meet you." She bows in response.

"Likewise. Maybe we can get some fruit tarts sometime. I know a great place just down the road from here." He flashes an adorable smile at her.

Her heart flutters, but she keeps her face perfectly blank.

"Maybe. No guarantees." She replies, just short of sounding cold.

He shrugs nonchalantly as they continue down the hall. If her tone had bothered him, he shows no sign of it.

She finds that somehow irritating and endearing all at the same time.

Not again. She thinks to herself. Never again! She knows she's only fooling herself with that last thought though. She doesn't have a choice about whether or not she wants to marry. She will. But with Azula gone, she has a bit more room to choose...

Despite her devout efforts, a small smile sneaks it's way onto her face. Kei Lo notices and shoots her a grin. Her face burns of it's own accord and she quickly looks away.

Iroh continues on, seemingly oblivious to their silent exchange.

((page break)) ((page break)) ((page break))

After lunch, Kei Lo bides them goodbye and leaves the Palace. Iroh retires to his bedchamber for an afternoon nap. He tells Mai that she's welcome to stay as long as she'd like, to read books in the library, or eat in the dining area, or enjoy a cool afternoon in the gardens.

She sort of wanders around for a while, appreciating how different the Palace feels now that Ozai and Azula are gone. It felt large, ominous, and empty before. It's still empty. Ish. Iroh has been moving things from various places around the world, trying to make it more festive.

Originally, Mai had been hired by her aunt at a flower shop after the war ended. Happy to have something to do that didn't involve Azula, or being locked up in a house with her mother and a baby and not much to do, she took the opportunity.

She hadn't thought it would be all that interesting, really. She ended up enjoying the scents of the various flowers and greenery, and the fresh air and light that came from several open windows. The people coming in and out were generally cheerful. And Mai had found herself actually liking the situation.

Then, Zuko had shown up one day, and noticing that she had developed a good eye for shades and arrangements, had asked her to come back to the Palace to help him decorate. He explained that his Uncle had suggested decorating the Palace, making it a more happy place to be, and an idea involving folding paper into the shapes of various kinds of flowers to go with all the new furniture and tapestries. She wasn't too sure at first about paper flowers, but eventually they'd figured out what they were doing.

Now, she looks at all the artwork along the walls, and the tables decorated with their paper flowers in glass vases that had Water Tribe patterns.

It makes her smile, just a little, with nostalgia.

A deep, peaceful feeling envelopes her as she feels a breeze coming through the hall, bringing in the fresh scent of the garden on the other side, unseen around a corner and through an open door.

Her feet take her towards the study, with it's door still open.

She picks up the rolled paper containing Zuko's letter. She hesitates before opening it, looking over her shoulder into the hallway.

He did say that I could read it.

Resolutely, she opens it. The handwriting is familiar, comforting, even as she wants to be angry at the person who wrote it.

Dear Uncle,

I'm not really sure what I've gotten myself into this time, but I'm certain that I may have bitten off more than I can chew here. I could use whatever advice you can give. I don't know the first thing about kids.

Oh, and I know I haven't written in a while. Sorry for that. Let me explain what's happened so far.

I started out on Kyoshi Island. They had me stay there and help them for two months to repay them for the damage I'd caused the last time I was there.

It actually wasn't too hard. They treated me pretty fairly, considering everything. The village leader, Oyaji, gave me some information as to where I might find Mother, even though they think it's an old Earth Kingdom folk tale. Or a new one. Whatever.
I'm looking into it.

As I write this, I'm heading for Gao Ling. I hope to speak to the people there to see if any new theater actresses showed up a few years ago. That's part of what they told me on Kyoshi Island. Someone went through there looking for work as an actress. Mom was an actress before Father married her.

The lady said that she told her to head for bigger cities, like Omashu, or Ba Sing Se. But Gao Ling was closer and has a port. So, I'm looking there first.

Then, I came across this village where I'd been when you and I were traveling separately. I found it burned to ashes, probably around two months ago. I think there may still be some groups of soldiers who haven't heard that the war is over yet, or maybe they went rogue and don't care. I aim to find out.

I found a little boy there. His name is Lee. I met him there when I was there last time. We were friends for a bit, until he found out I was a Firebender. None of them wanted me there after they found out. I had to blow my cover to help them deal with some rough bullies that were looting their town.

Now, they're all gone anyway...

But Uncle, he's the only survivor! His family is gone. He wasn't there when the village burned. I found him living in a cave on a mountain. It took forever to convince him to come with me, and he still wants nothing to with me. But there is a chance that his brother is still alive, so

I'm taking him to Ba Sing Se to see if we can find him.

He's a lot of work just to have around!

I don't know the first thing about kids! I mean, I guess he's Aang's age, more or less. But this kid is less mature than Aang was when we met him! I don't know how to deal with this! He pouts, and eats a lot, and whenever we stop anywhere, he's off climbing trees!

Uncle, I'm not really sure I know what I'm doing.

I know he needs to eat, excercise, sleep and stay clean, but he hates me, Uncle! I can't make him do anything! He stays close to me, but he won't talk to me, he stops to talk to almost every stranger on the road, he climbs trees, spooks the rhino (I've probably gotten thrown a half dozen times today alone!) and...Well, he just does what he wants, when he wants and doesn't really bother with me unless there's a chance of danger.

Help me, Uncle! I have no idea what I've gotten myself into! Have to go now. Was supposed to be setting up camp. And I should probably go try to find Lee. He's been gone a while now. Probably got distracted by something in the woods. And there are still Fire Nation citizens and soldiers around here.

What in the world do I do with this kid, Uncle?!

Your Nephew,

Zuko

A gust of wind blows in through the window, pushing the thin curtains aside and letting in even more light than before.

The late afternoon sun casts a golden hue on everything in the room, softening the deeper reds in the walls and floor.

Mai looks out the window, into the little garden that contains a fountain similar to the one Zuko had pushed her into when they were children.

She remembers when they had visited Ember Island, around six months ago.

She tries to imagine him looking after a kid only slightly older than they had been that day at the fountain. She can't really picture angsty Zuko, Fire Lord Zuko, or even ten year old Zuko with someone that age.

She realizes that other than her and Ty Lee, he'd never had any friends up until he'd joined the Avatar. And she and Ty Lee probably didn't really count.

She sighs and puts the paper down and sets a few empty inkwells on it to keep it from blowing away.

Yeah, Zuko definitely can't relate to that kid. And has no idea how to look after him as the older guy.

An odd mix of sadness and mirth bubbles up as she tries to imagine him making conversation with a kid who wants nothing to do with him.

"Is that a smile?" A voice asks. "Oh my goodness!" It gasps. "I think it is!"

She turns quickly to see Kei Lo leaning lazily against the door frame. Blushing a little bit, she swiftly replaces her tiny smile with a look of glowering indifference.

"Ah, come on, Sunshine." He steps into the room.

"If you call me that again, I'll pin you to the wall with my blades." She threatens.

"You have a nice smile. You should smile more often." He holds his hands up in a conciliatary gesture, but doesn't step back.
Mai just stares at him, trying to figure out her next move.

"Want to go grab some food with me? I know this awesome place just a few streets away. It's a nice afternoon for a walk." He offers.

"No, thank you." She says, crossing her arms. "What are you doing here? Didn't you say you had a lesson or something?"

"Yeah, I, uh, had my dates wrong. It's actually tomorrow." He seems to suddenly find the wall interesting. "Nice tapestry." He comments, pointing to a smaller one.
It depicts a little boy who's eyes seem to gaze across looping and intertwining lines, some of which seem to break before reaching their destination.

"I have no idea what it represents." Mai responds, dryly.

"Listen, I think we got off on the wrong foot." He steps a little closer to her, and she stands her ground.

"You think?!" She says coldly. "You asked me out, I said no. And now, you're flirting with me and asking me out again. And I'm saying no, again."

"Actually, you said, "maybe, no guarantees." " He makes quotation marks with his hands.

"I have a boyfriend. And I don't think you'll want to mess with him." She reaches in her sleeves for some of her blades. She keeps them hidden for now though.

"I know you were dating the Fire Lord. I heard you broke up with him. I'm friends with your cousin."

"It's complicated. And I don't want to make it more complicated." She huffs.

"Ok! Alright. I'll quit flirting! Will you stop being angry if I say I'm sorry?" He backs up until he reaches the door.

"I might." She replies.

"So, fruit tarts? As friends?" He asks in a hopeful tone.

"Fine. But I want to be back here in time for dinner. And we're not going to talk about my boyfriend." She snaps.

"Deal!" He falls into step beside her and they make their way down the street.

A/N Ok, just to clarify for those who have not read the comics: Kei Lo is a character that appears in them somewhere. I stumbled across him during my research of Mai and if her father was still free of jail after the war. For those who have read the comics: I have yet to read them myself. I don't really want to read them yet, because I want to come up with how the story goes on after the show myself. I didn't know about the comics for a few weeks after finishing it, so I sort of started writing this before realizing they existed. So, again, elements and people from the comics may appear here, as I see fit. But the storyline is definitely AU overall, starting immediately after the show is over. Hope y'all enjoyed this chapter! :)