An Avatar the Last AirBender Fanfiction: Alive

The Perfect Little Doll

Running running running.

Running through the halls so fast that hardly anyone could see him, let alone catch him.

The messenger was clad in the black and gold uniform of the asylum messenger, a messenger bringing bad news. All the guards let him slide through without much trouble (after sucking the news from him of course).

Running running running.

Running through the halls so fast that hardly anyone could see him, let alone catch him.

Racing ahead of him was the wildfire he created. The gossipers of the palace were already out and about on the streets of the Fire Nation capitol, telling the bad news (was it really bad?) to the world.

Zuko was pinning his hair up into the regular everyday bun. He was thinking, thinking about how much the world changed since he and the Avatar took over the Fire Nation. He looked outside of the window, finally seeing children play on the streets without having to worry that guards would throw them in jail for disturbing the Fire Lord. Zuko looked around the room, noticing how even the dark colors of scarlet and gold seem to brighten in his presence. He looked over and smirked at the slim girl sitting at the vanity table, he knew she definitely brightened in his presence. Mai noticed him looking at her. She raised her eyebrow. He chuckled and looked away. Mai rose up and walked over to him. Placing a light kiss on his cheek, she helped him don his scarlet cloak. The atmosphere was lovey-dovey, each had gentle smiles and light blushes on their cheeks. Suddenly…..

The door burst open, Mai leaped back into the chair and resumed brushing her long, sleek hair. The asylum messenger resumed his composure in the presence of the Fire lord . He swept a low bow before saying, " Pardon me, my Lord, but there is an urgent message from the asylum chief…your sister…..Princess Azula….. She is….dead.".

Mai's brush stopped, wide silver eyes looked over at Zuko.

He asked, "Dead?, Are you sure?"

Mai gave him a reproachable look.

"What? This is Azula we're talking about."

Mai sighed at his answer then looked over at the messenger again. The messenger cleared his throat and said a bit dryly, " She committed suicide last night, My lord. She is still in the ocean where she drowned, the asylum chief is awaiting your orders on what to do."

Zuko had a troubled look on his handsome face, " Go down and have the cooks make you something to eat, I'll call for you when I need you, thanks."

The messenger swept another low bow, "Thank you, my Lord." and he left.         

" You know, you don't act like any other Fire Lord I ever known." Mai said, sighing in faint amusement.

Zuko growled, "If by other Fire Lord you mean my father, thank you very very much."

Mai smirked, "Well, what are we going to do?"

Zuko had that same troubled look again " I really don't know."

Two days later

Mai awoke wrapped in the silken sheets of the Fire Lord's bed. She blinked drowsily a few times, vaguely wondering what time it was. The bright morning sunshine (or was it afternoon sunshine?) flooded through the wide windows, illuminating the normally dark room. She sighed and settled back into the warmth of her lover's arms, smiling when Zuko subconsciously tightened his hold on her. Her mind roamed to random things when suddenly she felt uneasy. An unexpected emotion welled up inside her, an emotion that she hadn't felt in a very long time.