Change of Heart

Chapter 1

It has been a year since the 100-year war has ended. Sokka has gone to Kyoshi to visit Suki. Toph has started a metal bending near a village named Yu Dao. Katara and Aang are in the Southern Tribe. Fire Lord Zuko is in the Fire Nation capital with Mai. The Gaang has just found Lady Ursa, Zuko's Mom. Ursa and her family have taken residence in the Fire Nation Palace with Zuko. Katara and Zuko write letters to each other once every week to keep in touch

Zuko is working in his when Mai suddenly walks in.

"Zuko? Do you have a moment to talk?" Zuko looks behind him and sighs. "Mai hey uh yeah sure I guess."

She walks into the and sits down in the seat next to Zuko's ginormous and elegant desk. "My mother is sick. And they're still in Omashu. I was wondering if you could come with me."

Zuko looks away from her and back to the paper, he was paying attention to. "Mai, I'm Fire Lord. I can't go somewhere when I feel like it. I have a duty to the Fire Nation. I'm sorry but you're going alone." Mai looks sad at first but then goes back to her emotionless face. She sighs and sees he's concentrated on his paper.

"What are you ? Seems important since you're blowing me off for it." Zuko sighs and says, "It's a letter to Katara. I've told you many times I write to her once a week. But then again, once you get bored you shut me out."

Mai glares at her boyfriend. "Zuko why are you turning this around on me?!" 

Zuko puts his pen down to look at her when she stands up. "What the hell are you talking about? You're the one who said you would listen to me more, which you still don't do so why shouldn't I have the right to do the same?!"

Ursa walks by with her young daughter and hears the muffled yelling. 

She shakes her head in disappointment that her caring son would choose an emotionless girl like Mai as his girlfriend. She grabs Kiyi's hand telling her to walk faster to get away from the yelling and screaming between Zuko and Mai they endure every day.

"My Gods Zuko the only thing you care about is stupid Katara and this stupid nation. When are you going to care about me?!" Zuko can see the pain and anger in her yes but ignores it.

"Well, Mai you make it very difficult to care about you when you act like this! You say you've loved me since we were six but let me ask you a question. Did you still love me when I was banished? Did you love me when I came back?" Mai stutters trying to lie but she can't answer him with a false statement.

Zuko scoffs at her silence "Exactly. You should leave. Go see your mom. But Mai if you come back don't come back for me because we're done."

Mai gasps in surprise. "But Zuko...you promised you would never break up with me again!" Zuko groans in frustration, "No Mai! You pressured me into never breaking up with you! I don't want that kind of manipulation in my life! Go to Omashu and don't come back for me!"

Mai walks out as she slams the door. Zuko groans as he finishes his letter to Katara:

Dear Katara,

How are you? How's Aang? I heard the Southern Tribe is starting to look like the North. That's exciting. I miss the group. I miss you. I even miss Sokka being a dumbass letting Appa eat him. We should all go to Ember Island. Get away from reality for a little. Depends on what you, Aang, and the rest of the group think. But talk to you next week. Have a good week Katara.

Sincerely, your friend, Zuko

Zuko very much wanted to write about his breakup with Mai and had an urge to tell her he was now available. He mutters in his mind, 'What are you thinking Zuko? You are an idiot'

He rolls the letter into a scroll and ties it with a red ribbon. He goes to Royal Messenger and puts the scroll into the compartment on the hawk. The bird takes off knowing exactly where it's going.

Zuko walks into his sleeping quarters and lays down on the bed with a sigh.

He then here's a knock on the door. "Come in." He sees his mother walk in with a concerned look. "Mom are you okay?"

"Are you? I heard you and Mai yelling earlier. Everything okay with you two?" 

Zuko sighs and puts his head into his hands. "No. I ended things with her. I wasn't happy. I know everyone expected us to marry, and for her to become... Fire Lady, but,...I don't know I guess I was lying to myself thinking I was happy when I wasn't. It was for the best."

The Fire Lord's mother sighed and hugged her son. "Hmm seems like another thing mama was right about. I had a feeling Mai wasn't right for you. You're too caring, and loving for her."

 Zuko looks at his mom. He just nods his head and yawns. His mother kisses the top of his head and leaves his room. The young lord changes into his sleeping attire waiting for something to go wrong as it usually does.