Title inspired by the s3 episode "The Tales of Ba Sing Se"
A Tale of Cages
"Urgh, this is so not becoming to my skin. I know a pale complexion is considered très chic, but not everyone suits a death-like pallor. Not that you look death-like, quite the opposite, the raven hair makes your pale face stand out beautifully! But mine would prefer a bit more sunlight." Ty Lee rambles on as she paces their cell, her long braid swinging left and right with every stride, the little window in the door giving just enough light to see each other, the metal walls giving off a hollow echo of their voices.
"I think we have bigger problems to worry about then skin care."
"Oh, right. Of course you're right. It would have been easier though if you wouldn't have had to save Zuko. Why did he even have to join the Avatar? Didn't he finally have everything he wanted?" Ty Lee plumps down on her mattress that lays bare on the floor and Mai draws further into her own corner, pulling her legs closer and resting her chin on her knees.
Yes, for a moment he did have everything he always talked about he wished he had. After three years of banishment he was welcomed home as a hero, his own father viewed him as a hero for defeating the Avatar in combat, for standing up against the treacherous General, for the strategic advice offered in relation to the planed attack on the Earth Kingdom. For kissing his feet in submission. Yes, those are the things the public always heard him strive for, the things Azula always praises as the highest achievements in life. Yet, Mai knew better. She always knew him better, always saw behind the mask he would put up in public, put up in front of his father. How long those childhood days are over, how far away they now seem, those times he would climb a tree to bring her down her favourite doll that Azula may have thrown to the highest branches, those moments when he would have fed the turtle-ducks in the pond with his mother. Sometimes today, when it was just him and her, he would have that far off look in his eyes, those eyes that have already seen so much of things she can't even imagine, sometimes in those moments when they were just in each arms he would let slip some of his true dreams, his true self. How precious those moments now appear from the view of her prison cell.
"You think your uncle could swing it that we don't have kitchen duty tomorrow?"
"What if he is right?" She mutters aloud after a long spell of silence, even though her voice is as usual barely more than a whisper.
"Who? Your uncle?" Ty Lee asks, head down as she stretches and twists, as always unable to stay still for more than a moment or two.
"Zuko. About helping the Avatar."
"But the Avatar wants to destroy the Fire Nation." There is obvious shock and confusion on her friend's face, all those tales they were told in childhood visibly flashing in front of her eyes.
"No, the Avatar is ment to bring balance and peace to the Four Nations."
"Isn't that what Azulas dad wants to do as well…?"
"Fire Lord Ozai is leading a already hundred year long war on everyone. Not a very peaceful method to rule if you ask me." No one ever asks her about her opinion. Except Zuko. But he isn't here.
"But your dad was made governor of Omashu." Ty Lee continues in confusion.
"Exactly." Is all that Mai says before growing quiet again.
Her father's political career has always been like a shadow cast over her, a nicely furnished patted room where all she might utter aloud would stay unheard. Both her parents, already born nobility, were very ambitious, like their own parents were before, and their parents before that. Now that they had apparently reached the highest achievable position it was expected of her to just keep silent, to just not mare the perfect picture with own ideas or opinions. She was not expected to have any opinions at all. Just like Zuko. Another thing that connected them. Yet, he always wanted to hear what she had to say. How happy her family was when they realised she was dating the crown prince. Finally something she did that was worthy of a moment of attention. It did feel odd to be praised for something that actually made her happy too for once.
And now that she stepped out of line only the taste of disgrace would stay on their lips. But for once, she really, truly doesn't care. Let them think what they want. She is done pretending. It still hurt that Zuko hadn't told her his plans of leaving, that she wasn't allowed to stand by him at that moment of courage, not given that choice as well, that bitterness was there, but despite that all she is aware just how dangerous the path he took was and what her own rebellious actions could bring. Still, she would do it again.
Even though she is locked away in the most secure prison of the Fire Nation, a part of her had never felt so free.
A Tale of Balcony Conversations
It is a warm evening, the skies clear and painted in bright oranges, purples, reds and yellows, far too many colours for her taste, but luckily already dimming with the coming of night, dark blue replacing the shrill pallets, tiny stars lighting up just like those lamps in the windows of countless houses. From the hight of the balcony of the Royal palace, Hari Bulkan appears like a great decorative plate, already circular in form by its setting in the cold volcano crate, the many alleys and streets, squares, houses of the elite and their neat gardens, nothing more than painted strokes and dots in the half-dark, the yellow candle light streaming through the windows like golden details on a blue-grey-ish background. Song and laughter carries from down there on the gentle wind, song and laughter echoes from those halls of the Palace. Inside a celebration was going on in honour of the engagement of Fire Lord Zuko with the daughter of Michi and Ukano. Only a small group of people were invited, an intimate celebration after the wedding is already ment to be a state event. Mai didn't really feel like celebrating at this moment though.
"Hi there! Noticed you been away from the hall a while now. Everything alright? It was Sokkas eel-hound jokes, right?" The chipper voice that cuts through her beloved quiet belongs to Katara, and soon the young woman dressed in a festive Fire Nation dress leans on the balcony railing by her side, open brown hair carried by the wind like waves on a stream. Mai has a hard time not biting her lip, a habit since early childhood when upset, and decides to rather stoically focus on the paper laters that dance in the wind in the square bellow.
"No, just needed some air."
"Can I join you?"
"Not really." She says flatly, hoping this would end the conversation, but growing frustrated when the other woman continues to poke further.
"Are you angry with me? You've been avoiding me since I landed her two days ago."
"Just busy with wedding preparations." Which wasn't really a lie, as it did take up a lot of time to read all those letters Ty Lee send daily via hawk from Kyoshi Island, sometimes three a day, filled with suggestions for flower arrangements, cake ideas, and dress-patters in an explosion of pinks and reds and gold. None of which she intended to use, but she did try to answer all of those letters.
"Can I help? I already planed Suki and Sokkas. A royal wedding can't be much harder."
"Do you mind? I waned a moment for myself. Go talk to Zuko, since you two are such good friends." She finally snaps, anger getting the better of her. The water-bender looks at her surprised, opening her mouth like to speak but then closing it again, letting a few moments of awkward silence pass.
"Yes, we are friends. Are we two not friends? Wait, hold on, are you jealous?"
"No, why would I be, just because my betrothed trusts you more to tell you things then me." It comes out far more bitter than she intended, but she doesn't try to take it back.
"Is it because he is visiting Azula?" The young woman's voice is quiet, and the gentleness of it throws her over the edge.
For some weeks now she had noticed Zuko disappearing for long spells, being neither in meetings, the library nor gardens, received contradictory answers from him or seen him quickly change the topic. She did not expect of him to always lay his soul bare before her feet, but being dismissed like that hurt. So she followed him, saw where he went, and after a confrontation learned that the only other person who knew about him visiting Azula in prison was Katara. Katara. Not uncle Iroh, who was his mentor in everything; not Aang, who was the Avatar; not even Sokka, who despite his appearance was rather insightful. But Katara. And something about that rubbed her the wrong way. Not because she was worried about his affections, but because she was wounded for his lack of trust.
"Why would he tell you about that, but not me? He told me when he went looking for his mother, Ive met Lady Ursa and kept her whereabouts secret since then. Why not tell me about Azula? Doesn't he know how dangerous she is? That she tried to kill him?"
Azula had tried to kill him those six years ago, tried to kill him more then once. Mai remembers well the hatred she had for her own brother, hidden for so long under what appeared like simple contempt and sibling rivalry, yet coming to surface in those last days of war as pure hatred. Mai remembers well how Azula knew to read people, make you feel seen, only to twist it all for her own purposes. She fears in what ways she might crawl under his skin and into his mind.
"He hasn't forgotten about that, and neither have I who was there during their Agni Kai. And he is well aware how dangerous she can be, how she still knows how to get into ones head. Why do you think he hadn't told you? Do you think he forgot how she mistreated you, how she kept you on short leech on her disposal? Placed you into the most dangerous prison in the world?"
"And he is strong enough to withhold her? I can take care of myself." Her arguments come out kind of hollow, a blush of shame on her cheeks as she remembers attacking Katara and her brother with her knives those years ago in Omashu.
"Of course you can. And I'm not saying it was fair of him to withhold that information from you, or that he always makes the best decisions- I spend nearly a year on the run from his bad decisions."
The sharp look that she gives the water-bender makes the other lift her hands up in defeat, the expression soft and understanding.
"Okay, not helping. Anyway, maybe you should have gone to him and told him what has been bothering you, instead of bottling that up. Aang and I also have at times our little fights, but one should never let those things come between whats really important."
For a while they just stand there in silence, night having fully fallen on the city, stars bright in the skies, the soft wind carrying the scent of autumn and caressing ones skin. Mai fumbles with the edge of one of her long sleeves, before sighting in frustration, not anymore with Katara, but herself.
"Its just, what I always loved about him is that he would care to listen to any weird thing I might have to say, without judging. I only wish him to feel as safe to do the same." She knows his father and sister always dismissed anything he might have wished to say or share, that his growing up was far more difficult then hers, even though she neither has a good relationship with her parents, but wasn't it time he moved on from that? Didn't he know she was different?
"He'll get there, you'll see. He loves you too much so as not to try." And somehow, this time the kind tone of her voice calms Mai.
"Thanks for listening, and for not being angry that I was angry at you."
"No problem. Thats what friends are for. Friends?" Friends. She never had many friends. Maybe having some more wouldn't hurt.
"Friends."
A Tale of Better Days
Spring is here with all its charms, the scent of fresh grass is in the air, the fragrance of flowers everywhere, soft wind making the branches with its young leaves shake and dance. All kinds of birds now gladly share their song, the sun shines brightly and warmly, little puffy clouds traveling the heavens, nature has awakened. The over-flow of colour blindes ones eye, it is difficult to find a spot where light does not reach.
Mai shields herself with a parasol as she steps out of the palace into the gardens, making her way towards the shadow of a great tree under which upon a blanket a little group of four is already seated. Some of their friends came to visit, and with Suki and Zuko still discussing what to do with the growing threat of former Fire Nation soldiers-turned-pirates wracking havoc by the western coast of the Earth Kingdom, Sokka volunteered to watch the children playing in the garden, Mai having had to take care of some matters with the staff inside before being able to join. Right now he was holding one of her twins and making funny faces while Toph was sitting quietly and calmly holding the other. Voices filled with laughter and joy reach her as she comes closer.
"Hello, little Ursa. Hello, hello there. Oh, you look like a Platypus-bear, yes, you do. Who looks like a cute little Platypus-bear?" Sokka coos at the little girl in his arms, her dark eyes wide as she considers him, round cheeks red with ever new laughter.
"I think she is more of an Polar bear-dog kind of person." Toph brings in while holding the little boy in her arms, apparently not minding a bit that the said boy was constantly trying to pull at her short-cut hair with his small but eager fists.
"Have you ever seen a Polar bear-dog? She looks nothing like that."
"Of course she does. Look at those ears and eyes."
"Really? You think- haha, very funny. I didn't fall for that- at all." He says, turning slightly away from the young woman, the later ones unseeing eyes sparkling with mirth.
"Of course you didn't." Toph says before lifting the boy in her arms towards the man sitting by her side, mischief on her face.
"But Hao definitely has something of a turtle-duck."
"Could you two please stop comparing my children to wild animals." Mai has reached them by now and laying down the parasol she takes little Ursa to herself, giving her daughter her own hand to play with.
"Hold on a second, just one more! Sokka, does not Izumi look like a fire-ferret?" Toph says turning towards the Water Tribe warrior once more, not ready to let go of the topic as yet.
"Yeah, I think you might be right about that. Still not fallen for it." He says crossing his arms with resolution, Toph meanwhile grins from ear to ear.
"Where are Izumi and Min?" Mai wonders while looking around, unable to see her eldest anywhere close by.
"They're just over there. I gave them some ink and paper to draw."
"Great, then she'll be covered all in ink and her dress too."
"Nah, they're not that clumsy."
"Sokka, Izumi is four and your daughter not even six."
"How does Suki even allow you to take care of her, Water-head." The young earth-bender has begun to form a low slide for little Hao to come down from, pushing him with her powers up whenever the little boy made it to the end. The young woman in green didn't even have to look in order to form the ground around in a manner that was safe for a little child.
"Hey, I'm a very responsible dad." Sokka brings in, crossing his arms.
"Sure you are. Hey, Mai, what is it? You're even more silent then usual."
Mai is shaken out of her thoughts after her mind drifted away listening to the friendly banter of her friends, mind drifted away to her own rather lonely childhood, her own childhood marked by tales of division and superiority of her kin, rather than play and warmth and love. And somehow, even though she knows it was not her fault for having been born into such surroundings, and even though she has no right to feel ungrateful to the life she had been given for so long, the life of privilege and comfort, still, in that moment she found herself mourning the lies she listened to in her early years, and blessing the warmth the last few years have brought.
"Its nothing, just- its so nice all our children can grow up as friends. Can you imagine us having been friends at that age? How many childhoods suffered because of the Fire Nation? Sorry, I'm being kinda emotional." She stops herself, forcing her focus back to her infant daughter, years of being told to keep opinions and thoughts to herself as always making her lower her head whenever she feels like the words spoken might be to much for the listeners. Yet, she forgot that those structures of old are no more, and that there is no shame in sharing ones feelings when surrounded by friend. It is only good-humoured laughter that comes back at her, both of her friends not finding anything wrong with such sentiments.
"Its those baby-hormones speaking."
"Toph, the twins are nearly a year old, she's past that."
"Those hormones are a nuisance boomerang-head, trust me."
"You're not even been a mom yet!"
Warrior and earth-bender continue to bicker and banter with each other, and Mai feels a smile tug on her lips as she falls back into comfortable silence. Little Ursa has abandoned the hand given to her and turned all interest towards the tress of raven hair that falls over Mais shoulder, little fingers tugging at it, but never so much that it hurts. In that moment Izumi comes running to the small group in the shadows, throwing herself around her mothers neck with laughter, face, dress and fingers full of ink stains, nearly six year old Min picking-up Hao to play with him on the slide that Toph is still forming.
It is true, the world may never be a perfect place, but the Dark Times have passed, and the bright ones that followed are not that bad at all.
Hey, look at this, my first ever Avatar: The Last Airbender fic! Can you imagine that I only recently actually came to watch the show?
Anyway, among the million things that are absolutely phenomenal in the show, one of the things that just captured my heart are Zuko and Mai as a couple. Idk, they are so chill?
So, to clarify these there stories: the first one happens right after the s3 episode "Boiling Rock" where Mai and Ty Lee finally stand up against Azula, who would have killed Sokka and Zuko if not having been stoped. Given Mai and Ty Lee's upbringing, they would have wondered a bit if this was the right course of action. The second story happens a few years later and is inspired by the fandoms idea to ship Katara and Zuko (really?) and how Mai might have felt left out with their close friendship. Finally, the third one happens a few more years later again and is just ment to have Mai reflect on the changing times as all their children play together as friends (in my head-canon, Zuko and Mai not only had Izumi- source ATLA wiki- but also twins Hao and Ursa. Suki and Sokka had only one daughter, Min)