"So, tell me about yourself, Mai." Kei Lo says, leaning back and snacking on a fruit tart.
"Not much to tell. I was born. Got bored as a kid, and taught myself how to throw knives. My classmate from the Royal Fire Academy for Girls was a crazy Princess. My only friend was an overly chipper acrobat. I betrayed the Princess for Zuko at a prison. Got thrown in jail. Zuko beat her in an Agni Kai. The Avatar won the War, and I got let out of jail. My boyfriend didn't take too long to start sneaking off to talk to his evil father and crazy sister. So I ditched him. Now, I'm here, talking to you and wondering why." She shrugs. A server comes by with their order and she takes a bite of fruit tart.
"I see. Sounds like your boring life turned out to be really interesting in the last few months." Kei Lo smiles at her.
She ignores the flutter in her heart.
"How about you?" She asks.
"I'm from the Colonies. My dad was a Firebender in the Fire Army, and my mother was an Earthbender." He replies.
"Was?"
"Well, they both died when I was kind of young. Some Earthbenders tried to "liberate" our colony. My mother died in the fighting, and my father died trying to get me to safety. The invaders thought he'd kidnapped me or something." He finds a bird sitting on the wall of the little outdoor courtyard interesting, all of a sudden.
"I'm sorry."
"It happens." He shrugs, seeming to snap out of a trance. "I bounced around a couple places. Worked at a traveling circus, then tried my hand working on merchant ships. The sea and I didn't really agree, so when a storm washed us up on Hira'a, I took that as a sign that I should maybe stay on dry land from then on."
Mai smiles a little at that.
"Wow! Three smiles in a day! You're making progress!" He exclaims.
She quickly replaces it with a glower, before letting it drift back into a neutral expression.
"Ah, come on! You're beautiful when you smile." He makes an over exaggerated smile. "See?"
Mai bursts out laughing, and smothers the sound with her hand. The result is decidedly undignified snorting.
"Alright. You win." She says, when she finally regains her breathe. "So, what do you do in the city?"
"Right now, General Iroh is seeing to my education. Before that, I was mostly just doing odd jobs. The man that was caring for me in Hira'a was sick, so I came here to look for medicine for him. The lady wanted to come, but she's too frail with age. And someone had to tend to him. He passed away not too long after I left though. Now, I just try to look out for myself and make sure she has a comfortable place to pretty adopted me when I showed up, and I even called them "Granddad and Grandmother", so I feel like I owe it to them to help her now." A small breeze blows, warm and sweet, soft as a mother's touch, through the courtyard.
"Is she here with you?" Mai asks. She takes a sip of tea to loosen her tightened throat.
"Yeah. She lives down by the ocean. Plenty of clean air there, if you stay away from the docks. She insists on cooking for us most nights, although I have learned a bit of cooking for days when she's too tired. I work in the shipping warehouses down by the docks. A bit close to the water for my taste, but it pays the bills and keeps me off the ships. And when I'm not working, I'm usually studying with the tutors that General Iroh has hired for me." He finally begins to eat his fruit tart.
"How did you meet General Iroh?"
"I sorta just stumbled across him one day. Literally. He was sitting in a chair at an antique store up the road, trying it out, or something. I was chasing down some escaped merchandise, and wasn't looking where I was going. He helped me catch the animals and said I looked a bit young to be working and if I was in school."
Mai is surprised to find she isn't disgusted by him talking with his mouth full.
"So, how about you? What do you do now?" He asks.
"I work in my aunt's flower shop, and sometimes help General Iroh with decorating the Palace. He wants to give it "new life", or something like that. Other than that, I'm just sort of waiting for something happen, I guess."
"Something is definitely going to happen. And soon." He says, suddenly very serious.
"Oh? What would that be?"
"I heard that someone in the New Ozai Society is now in contact with Princess Azula." He lowers his voice. "And that they are planning to take over the Palace as soon as their plans are finalized. It could be a day, a week. A year. I don't know. But they definitely aren't just a random rebel group anymore. They're organized enough to get access to a mental institution. And I know they have connections in the Palace. I'm not sure where. But I know they are a lot more powerful than we originally thought."
"Why are you telling me all this? Shouldn't you be letting General Iroh know?" Mai asks, narrowing her eyes.
"Let's go for a walk. It's not safe here." He says, looking around. There are two men watching them from across the courtyard. One sits at a table with his family, one sits alone in a corner of the room.
Both seem to recognize Kei Lo. He smiles and waves to them.
"Come on." He pulls Mai up and walks towards the man with his family.
"Kei Lo! It's good to see you! And who's this? You have a lady friend?" The man says, smiling towards Mai.
"Yes. This is Mai. Mai, meet Osore. He's a friend of my grandmother's."
Mai bows politely, betraying none of her confusion or fear.
"Haven't I seen you before?" Osore asks. "Weren't you the Prince's girlfriend?"
She doesn't miss how he refers to Zuko as "the Prince", instead of "the Firelord".
"At one point. I broke up with him." She doesn't volunteer details, and she can tell that she needs to play along with the situation.
"You left a Prince for this ugly dock scum?" Osore ruffles Kei Lo's hair, somewhat affectionately. "You must be crazy."
"Not at all." She replies evenly. "Kei Lo is pretty cute. And he's an absolute sweetheart." She leans against Kei Lo and stares lovingly into his eyes.
"You're a lucky man, Kei Lo. You take good care of this beauty." Osore laughs.
"Will do, sir!" Kei Lo chirps.
The other man just glowers at them as they walk past. He taps his head in a sort of "use your brain" gesture to Kei Lo, but Mai can't figure out if that's what he means or if it translates to something else. Kei Lo nods to the man.
As soon as they put a block or two between them and the place, Mai shoves herself away from Kei Lo.
"I'm never doing that again." She says, flatly.
"Oh come on, it wasn't that bad." He smiles at her.
"I want answers. Now."
"Soon. Let's wander around for a bit."
"No! I want to go back to the Palace!"
"Not safe for conversation there! Remember?" He raises his eyebrows pointedly at her.
She rolls her eyes and follows him.
After wandering around for an hour or two, he finally slows down and angles them into an abandoned building on the outskirts of the city.
"So, what's the deal, Kei Lo? Why were you telling me about all this? How do you know those two guys? Why did you want them to think I was your girlfriend so much?" Mai demands.
He sits them down underneath a dilapidated stairway and speaks in a very low whisper.
"You're a smart girl, Mai. I think you can figure out that I'm one of them. One of the New Ozai Society. But I'm not on their side, let me explain!" He holds up a hand to silence her when she opens her mouth to protest.
"Do it quickly!" She growls.
"When I first came here, when Grandfather passed away, I was alone. My grandmother couldn't come right away. She fell ill shortly after... Anyway, I was having a hard time finding food and work. Ozai was still on the throne, but the Day of Black Sun showed that there were sizeable groups of people who wanted to oppose him. They failed, and he seemed invincible. Especially since the Avatar had been with them and they had still lost.
But when the Prince joined the Avatar, when a Combustion Bender was killed in action, they realized Ozai was going to be overthrown and that the war would end. Many of them had prestigious positions within the higher ranks of the military. The air force was being created. Some of them were eyeing government positions in the Earth Kingdom.
If the war ended, they would all be tried for crimes against humanity, and most of them would also be charged with conspiracy, since they would be overthrowing local governments. None of them wanted to go to prison. Half of them got themselves demoted so they couldn't be held accountable, the other half retired. The war ended, the inexperienced people that had been promoted to their positions had been charged with those crimes, and the officers walked away.
They've rallied several people in the military, civilians, even some groups in the Colonies and Ba Sing Se to their cause. I joined them because I wanted some sort of security for myself and my grandmother. And to be a part of something bigger than myself. I guess I didn't really have an opinion of the War at the time. Now, I would do anything to get out of it. But they always find something to tie you to them. They watch where I live, they follow Grandmother. They watch where I work, who I talk to."
He shakes his head and runs his trembling hands through his hair.
"I can't get away from them, but I can talk to General Iroh, to warn him about what they're up to. That's why I was there at the Palace today. To warn him. I thought that maybe I could be a sort of double agent, even if I can't get out of the Society. But when I got back to the compound today, the leader pulled me aside. That's when I found out that there are secret passages in the walls of the Palace. And just how far the infiltration went."
"What does any of this have to do with me?" Mai asks, worried. She hugs her knees.
"The worst part. The leader of this group...Mai, it's your father." Kei Lo looks at her again at last, his eyes full of sympathy.
"What?!" She feels like ice water has been thrown into her stomach and chest.
"Shh!" He admonishes. He peeks his head out from under the stairs and glances toward the door. He takes a spyglass from his pocket and stretches it out, then creeps towards the door. When he sees nothing through it's lense, he walks up the creaky old stairs.
Dust drifts down over Mai as she listens to him stepping around carefully on the second floor.
When he returns a moment later, his face is white as a ghost in the dying daylight.
"Be quiet. I can't see anything, and nobody is here in the building, but that doesn't mean they don't know we're here. In fact, I'm sure that someone is probably on their way to check up on us. So, keep it down, and let's do this fast." He says.
"Fine. So, my father is the leader. Why are you getting me involved?" She asks. She takes a blade from her sleeve and keeps her eyes in the direction of the door.
"Because you broke up with Fire Lord Zuko. Your father wants you on our side so that you'll be safe when Ozai is back in power. Actually, he was going to find a way to break you two up, but you took care of that part for him. He wanted me to convince you to join the group. That was supposed to be the point of our meeting today. I was going to pretend to fall in love with you, to sympathize with you about how mean the Fire Lord had been to you. When it seemed like you reciprocated, I was going to bring you into the meeting tonight, and your father was going to explain everything to you." Kei Lo is pointedly avoiding her eyes, staring at the ground.
"What made you change your mind?" Mai asks.
"Well, first, because I'm not on their side anymore, not when they threatened my grandmother. I want to help General Iroh as much as possible until Fire Lord Zuko comes back. Second, I want you to be safe, and I know the Avatar will get involved when things start to happen. Third, I guess I wasn't really pretending to fall for you." He smiles softly, eyes still directed firmly to the floor.
Mai isn't sure what to do. A swirl of emotions stirs in her thoughts. She's absolutely terrified of the New Ozai Society, how they are all around but she can't see them. Disgust, knowing that her father is a part of them. Anger too. She feels terrible for Kei Lo and the position he finds himself in, and the butterflies come when she looks at him again.
When she hears fast approaching footsteps, she does the only thing that makes sense to save them.
She reaches to bring Kei Lo's face to hers.
And kisses him.
He doesn't move at first, perhaps stunned by this unexpected event, but quickly starts to kiss her back.
"Well, what have we here?! Kei Lo! Didn't they teach you manners in those Colonies?!" A man guffaws.
They break off their kiss and look up at him, blushing profusely.
"What's going on here?" Mai hears her father's voice.
"Looks like you have yourself a scandal here, sir. Your daughter's kissin' Colony scum!" The man says.
"Mai." He commands, his voice quiet. "Come over here."
She obeys automatically, all her emotion from before gone, locked away in a cold, bottomless abyss.
"I see that you've met Kei Lo." He says. She nods.
"We were wondering why you weren't at the meeting tonight. Makes perfect sense." The man chuckles.
"Oughta have expected a little bit of distractedness from a teenager."
"I was going to bring her." Kei Lo starts, but the man holds up his hand.
"No harm done, Kei Lo." Mai's father says. "I assume he filled you in on what's happening, Daughter?"
"Yes, he did." She says.
"I can understand if you're upset, scared, or have questions. I'd be more than happy to answer them." He offers. He hands her a shawl to stay warm in the cooling air.
"No, Father. I understand what's expected of me." She says, keeping her face and voice as blank as an empty sheet of paper.
"Excellent. Let's go back home, and we'll discuss the details." He steers her towards the door. She looks back at Kei Lo.
He smiles and waves to her.
"Don't worry, Mai. I'll see you tomorrow." He says.
((page break)) ((page break)) ((page break))
"Have a seat." He tells her when they arrive home. She sits ramrod straight, her hands laying across her lap, eyes ahead, lips silent, as she'd been taught.
Father hands her a glass of water. She takes a small sip to be polite.
"Now, Mai, surely you have some questions for me." Father says.
"Will I be allowed back at the Palace? I can inform you of General Iroh's movements." She asks.
"And here I thought you're first question would be if you'd be allowed to continue seeing Kei Lo." His eyebrows go up in surprise.
"That would have been the second question." She deadpans.
"The answer to both questions is yes. And while I'm not too fond of the idea of you marrying low, I think that my part in getting Ozai back on the throne is sufficient to solidfy my position when we resume the war. You have my permission to continue your relationship, for now." He sits beside her and takes a steaming cup of tea for himself from a tray.
"You will be permitted back into the Palace to inform on General Iroh and any relevant meetings or members of the staff. However, you do have a history of choosing the wrong side for just the person we are trying to get rid of. So, you will be watched closely by Kei Lo, who has already proven himself. And you should be informed that you will no longer hold your position at the flower shop. There will be agents there, watching your aunt's every move. If you step even slightly out of line, I don't think I need to warn you of that consequence. Your mother is, likewise, being watched and isn't to know of these operations."
"I understand. But," She pauses, unsure if she will jeopardize anyone by asking just the wrong question.
"But? What?"
"If you're the leader of this group, why do we have to worry about our family? Why would you put Mother in danger?" Mai asks.
Her father laughs, loud and long.
"Mai, I'm not putting your mother into any danger! I certainly don't intend to desert the cause I've been working so hard for! And I know you don't want any harm to come to your aunt, mother, or Tom Tom. Do you?"
"No Father."
"Then there is no danger! You see? Just do as you're told, and all will turn out fine." He sets his teacup down.
"But what if something made you change your mind?" She asks.
"Now, that is an interesting question to ask. Are you having second thoughts so soon, Mai? Any trace of remaining allegiance to Prince Zuko, perhaps?" He stares closely at her.
"No, Father." She isn't sure why it feels like a lie. She decides quickly that it's because she isn't alligiant to this movement either. "I'm just curious as to why even the leader would need to be watched so closely to be held so accountable. Isn't it a leader's divine right to rule?"
"Only in the case of the Royal Family, my dear. A leader outside of that only has a right to lead so long as he doesn't desert the cause he leads for. And people change. It's necessary to have some sort of leverage, just in case."
"That sounds like something Azula would say." Mai mutters.
"Yes, she might. We are waiting for a response back from the Princess at the moment. When we have it, we'll know more about our plan from there."
"Will I be expected to work with her directly?"
"It's possible, but I'd think not. Word is that she still isn't too happy with you after you betrayed her at the Boiling Rock."
"I suppose those are all the questions that I have for now, Father. When will I return to the Palace?"
"Tomorrow. You'll sit in on any meetings, and report back your findings. We are most interested in what will become of the Colonies. And anything you can find about Ozai's current state." He pats her shoulder, like he had when she was very young.
"I know you will not disappoint me again, Mai."
((page break)) ((page break)) ((page break))
"Class, I'd like you to turn your attention to Princess Azula, as she demonstrates our next form." Teacher Asuri said.
The Princess went through a highly skilled demonstration that Mai thought she wouldn't be able to master for at least a year.
It's not like it really mattered anyway. Neither of her parents were Firebenders, although one of her grandfathers had been. It was very unlikely that she would ever Firebend.
Still, it would help her father's prestige if she developed the ability, so they were always going to keep making her get up early for the Firebending classes at school.
The only other nonBender in this class was Ty Lee, a strange, overly chipper girl with boundless energy and annoyingly positive outlook on life.
When the Princess had finished her form, Teacher Asuri began to instruct them on the correct stance for the first movement.
"No, Asuri, you're doing it wrong." Princess Azula shouted. "You do it like this."
Mai couldn't really tell the difference between what Azula was doing and Teacher Asuri. It wasn't even a very complicated stance.
Teacher Asuri played along anyway though. She adjusted her feet when directed to do so, changed her hand position, and ended up standing in a sort of stiff, unbalanced way.
Azula walked over to her other side and gave her a firm shove and she toppled right over.
"You really shouldn't be so mean to the teacher, Princess." A girl spoke up.
"Who said that?" Azula whipped around, looking her assembly in a terrifying manner.
The girl stepped forward, unafraid. She looked younger than the Princess by about a year or two.
"Can you Firebend yet?" Azula sneered.
"No, Princess, I can't." The girl announced, not looking the least bit ashamed, unlike quite a few others who had no Firebending ability yet.
"Then an Agni Kai is out of the question. Too bad." She shrugged. "It's been a while since I got to kill something."
She walked over the girl. Mai absolutely envied the girl's bravery. Or stupidity. Whatever it was that kept her so still and stonefaced.
"Still," The Princess commented, tapping her chin. "You can't go unpunished for speaking out against royalty."
In a blink, the girl had flown across the room and hit the wall. Her clothes were on fire and she started to roll to put it out.
Princess Azula walked over and put her foot on girl's chest to keep her from moving.
"Let the burn remind who is in charge here. Who lets you live? Me. Who teaches you? Me. Who can kill you without a second thought and nobody would lift a finger to save you? Me." She told the struggling girl.
Tears streamed down the girl's face, and she writhed under Princess Azula's foot. But her defiant glare did not waver.
"Princess, if I may?" Teacher Asuri's voice betrayed her distress.
"You may not. Remain where you are." She lifted her foot and the girl took off, heading for the infirmary, her clothes still smoldering.
"Anyone else want to question me?" The Princess asked, looking around.
Everyone shrank back as far as they could and shook their heads.
"Good. I think it only fit that I be the one to teach today's class."
So they had to watch Princess Azula show off all day. Nobody got to try anything for themselves, unless she wanted to make an example of their inherent inferiority.
When it was all over, Mai was glad to get back home, where the only excitement she could look forward to was homework from her other classes and an early bedtime.
"Mai! You'll never believe it! You'll just never believe it." Mother exclaimed as she walked through the door. Her voice was quiet, as was expected, but shivered with excitement.
Mai looked up and acknowledged her.
"Your father has recieved a commission in the Palace Guard. You'll get to be friends with the Royal Children as part of the contract! Isn't that amazing?! Oh Mai, maybe you'll even be chosen to marry Prince Zuko! Imagine that, dear. Married to a Prince! The Crown Prince! Just like in the fairy tales I used to tell you!"
She really didn't want to ruin Mother's excitement. But Mother hadn't seen the Princess in all her cruel action.
"Mother, may I please just go to my room? I have some homework to do." She tries to keep the emotion out of her voice, as she's been taught, but some of it slips through.
"You won't have to worry about homework anymore, dear. If your grades aren't high enough, I'm sure you can get an official pardon by the Royal Family. You're clearly so intelligent. All you have to do is go to the Palace after school everyday and have fun." Mother pulled her close and handed her a fruit tart.
"But Mother, I don't want to go the Palace. I'm tired after school everyday. And Princess Azula doesn't seem very nice to be around. She made fun of our Firebending teacher today for no reason at all!" Mai took a bite out of the fruit tart, trying to enjoy the rare treat, even though she was angry and afraid.
"Mai! You shouldn't say things like that! It's not polite! And we have your father's political"
"Career to think about. I know." Mai finished for her.
"Mai! It's not polite to interrupt. Do you need extra time with your manners tutor?"
Mai shook her head. She hated the woman with a passion.
"That's my girl. Just go along with it for now. It probably won't be forever."
Mai very much doubted that. The girl from that day's class hadn't come back from the infirmary.
Once the Princess had her claws in you, it wasn't possible to get away again.
And why in the world would she want to marry a Prince? Then, she'd be stuck in the Palace and never get outside again. Ever.
It seemed a very boring and stupid thing to do.
A/N Ok, so I like where my Mai chapters are going. I think I'll keep 'em. :) Let me know what you think of the story. Reviews or pm's with advice make my day!