( Mai POV )

Mai had always been a victim of her circumstances.

She learned, true to a malleable child's nature, that to keep silent and pretty was rewarded, while an kind of crossing lines, even the invisible ones, was severely punished. She was never flogged as a child, or anything the like.

She was isolated.

Ironic how only her closing the doors to others got the ones in her home to open.

The Royal Fire Academy For Girls only enforced these rules, if only through detentions instead of her spacious room at home. Her room, with countless puncture holes in the walls, the oldest from kitchen knives, filched when she went to retrieve herself some sweets for her good behaviour during the gala.

She hates these social events with a passion. The smiles she begets are utterly false. She would rather they frown and show what they truly think of her, the blank face along the stretch of wall.

Azula takes to her because she is not attempting to garner her favour. Ty Lee is just sweet. She is a balm to Mai's raw and hungry soul. She is light in her darkness of boredom.

At first, Mai isn't certain what it means for her, then later it's unclear what it means to her.

What is clear, is that she likes Azula's brother, Zuko, for the simple reason that he's never whispered about her when he thought she wasn't listening, and that his gaze doesn't pass her over, either. And then, the incident with the apple. She knows he'd do the same for any other person, even for his sister, whom Mai can't decide to hate or love in this sopping wet moment that feels like he's hugging her.

But then he is banished, and only a few years later, it feels like Mai is banished, too.

There have been whisperings of the Avatar that no one feels free to share with her. But the Siege of the North carries confirmation on the wind of defeat that the Fire Nation has not tasted since the likes of Ba Sing Se.

His companions, it is said, are siblings from the Southern Watertribe. And, since he has made it to the North Pole, it is assumed he will turn to the Earthkingdom next, to learn earthbending. She considers the possibility of meeting him, this Avatar who will change the world and has already changed the tides in this war.

The first time she sees him, not through the mist obscuring her brother from her seeking gaze, he is taking after King Bumi in a display of impossibility that she quickly discards from her mind. Azula is taking care of him, and she will be able to satisfy her curiosity later. First, she must do her part in capturing his companions.

Instead of the two people they expect, it is three, and she barely catches a glimpse of the tall figure taking on Ty Lee. He makes her usual grace look clumsy and it is clear that he is a skilled bender who doesn't underestimate the petite girl trying to get close to him. And then, when Mai lands on the ground with a thump herself, but doesn't allow herself to be captured easily, the three of them disappear below to where another fight is taking place. They are evidently far smarter than they gave them credit for.

Mai sees them all clearly for the first time in the middle of another fight.

The two siblings are easily identified, the girl the other bender, whom Mai gleefully challenges, the boy proficient at dodging and slinging his boomerang around. The third one is the tall one, locked in a confrontation with Ty Lee, out-manoeuvring her with her brother in strapped to his chest. She's not seen Ty Lee struggle with a stationary opponent before.

And then, she doesn't have any more time to watch, as the King of Omashu lobs rocks the size of her torso at her.

Next she catches a glance of him, he's shattered Azula's forearm, and she almost shouts out of worry for Tom-Tom. But her brother remains unharmed, thanks to his efforts, but Azula doesn't seem all that concerned. And what did Mai expect from her?

Then, the Avatar goes into the Avatar state, and it's all she can do to seek shelter as the enemy escapes. Azula is unmoving, Ty Lee is half dead and Mai has to pick up the pieces.

The tall one returns to offer her a missing shard later, stepping out of the shadows in a startling display of stealth, and proceeding to threaten her. She knows the 'negotiations' did not go well for her, she is still too unbalanced, and he was not nearly as civilised enough not to threaten her mother, who is a civilian and innocent bystander in all this. It infuriates her.

Yet, she must let him go.

But he doesn't seem all that intent on leaving, since she finds him in the kitchens, feeding her brother, and holding an interesting conversation with the cooks.

She finds him not altogether unpleasant when he's not choking her mother half to death. And she sees a chance when she notices his healed shoulder. She knows it was still hurt when they negotiated earlier.

Mai grasps this chance as delicately as she can with her trembling fingers.

Ty Lee means everything to her. More so than her infant brother, more than Azula, more than her half-forgotten love for Zuko.

And so she finds herself agreeing to that favour of equal value, and knows she would have agreed to so much more.

She hardly has the presence of mind to appreciate the reveal of his face. One she commits to memory, knowing it will be her only chance, and that she is extended a courtesy not many receive here. The cold and professional way he handles Ty Lee is in stark contrast to his gentle handling of her brother, and she wonders at the significance of it. He doesn't look old enough to be a father, so perhaps it is a sibling that gave him the knowledge of how to care for a child.

Mai watches in amazement as Ty Lee's breathing becomes easier and the bruises fade from her skin.

The confrontation later is far less pleasant, but Mai is only glad, so glad, that Ty Lee is healed. She tries not to give her disregard for Azula's state any room in her mind, but the thoughts are creeping back, stealthily, and somehow they take the shape of sardonic blue eyes on hers as she is mocked for her act of caring.

Several long hours later, when the fights are rampaging in the streets, she discovers two charred bodies where she left Azula, and an open window in the princess' stead.

It is imperative that they find her.

So, Mai and Ty Lee set out after her, hours before any of the soldiers are ready or willing to depart.

They pick up on the tales about a girl matching Azula's description and a tall man with the bluest eyes most of the female populace has ever seen carrying a baby and follow their trail.

She can tell they're getting closer by the frequency of the rumours, and the longevity of the stays of the trio in the villages. Azula must be getting her way more and more for her comforts. She always does get what she wants, doesn't she?

But they can't travel too quickly. Ty Lee, for all the healing he did, is still recovering. She only hopes they reach Azula on time.

On time for what, though, she has no idea.

...

Some say that pain is the most efficient teacher.

They are, in most respects, correct. It is a rare kind of pain to literally be thrown into another world. And, 'world' is a word I do not use lightly. It is, as I have found, a tricky thing to define. Where I would usually have claimed that the place I find myself in these days (days, a funny constant to have at all) is fictional, I had the privilege to find out that it is in fact my new reality.

On the outside, it looks fun and exciting.

Those emotions are unfortunately some that cannot be felt without some level of self-delusion, as I have found. A kind of selective forgetfulness, in order not to fall into complete and utter madness that I would have no chance of returning from.

Because I hold my rational reasoning in high regard and would hate to lose it, even if it would make so many things far easier than they have been so far if I were insane, I have decided that I will use the time I promised the princess to think through my situation.

...

Don't forget to throw some power stones :)

...

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