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The plum that blossoms in autumn	By : MaiLee Category: Avatar - The Last Airbender > Het - Male/Female Views: 16840 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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Autumn was steadily descending onto the Fire Nation capital. The leaves turned to flaming yellows and bright auburns, showering down in their intricate dance. The wind became stronger, its cold breath grabbing on to the loose window, door curtains, or drying clothes hanging near the neat, small houses. Once in a while an especially strong current would wipe out a flame in a torch-lamp, to be eventually lit again by a passing raid guard. The night itself was dark: a thin crescent loomed over the horizon and cold blue stars blinked at the earth.

Suddenly a man on a rough-rhino hurried down the small road, so fast he was stirring the surrounding air. The animal’s heavy feet stumped the ground, shaking the sound peace out of the idyllic neighborhood. As it turned the next corner, the rider stopped the rhinoceros at a large house, hurried to the front door and knocked hard.

That night Mai couldn’t sleep well. She liked the weather during fall, but this chilling wind wasn’t right, and as the girl twisted in her bedcovers, strange dreams, even nightmares came to her mind. But she never screamed like other children, she was taught well to stay quiet and composed – that’s why she lay listening to the noises, eyes open wide, ready to embrace the ghosts and monsters that had to crawl out during night-time.

She jumped up when a heavy knock stirred the silence of the house, followed by careful footsteps of a maid. Mai sat in her bed, wondering who could be visiting so late at night, and the answer followed after a few minutes of people exchanging loud remarks. Her mother hurried into the room and put a lamp near the girl’s bed, she seemed serious and worried, but Mai knew better not to ask unnecessary questions. She stood up and followed her mother, as the woman took the best clothes out of the small chest at the foot of the bed. She stood patiently, as her nanny Zara came in to help with the girl’s hair.

- Shall I follow Mai to the palace, lady?

- No, Zara, I will be escorting her myself. Now, Mai, listen carefully! – Her mother looked up at the girl, tying the silk belt of her robe. – You’ve been asked to be in the presence of the Fire Lord immediately.

Mai’s eyes had widened and she jerked out of the woman’s arms, the belt falling to the floor undone. The girl started to shake her head sideways backing towards the wall, but her nanny took hold of the young girl. Mai tried to free herself:

- Why me, Mother? Why does he want to see me? – Her voice seemed to be too strong and mature for a kid her age. – I don’t have to go there, do I?

And she looked into the eyes of her closest people, to see them turn away. One of the braids fell apart, and Zara started pulling it back together. In the meantime, the mother sat on her knees, unable to answer the child’s simple question.

- You have to understand, Mai. We must obey Fire Lord Ozai’s orders, especially if we want a good political career for your father. There’s nothing else I can help you with, but remember what I’ve taught you…

- Be quiet, listen. Stand straight and proud no matter what, eyes down. I must obey my Fire Lord. I know Mother, - and she finished dressing up, after the servant picked up her belt. She seemed to freeze, as if enclosing herself in a hard unbreakable shell. Her eyes calmed down, her back became straight and her head was held up high.

- But I will be with you, Mai, - and Mother stood up to escort her daughter, but Mai pinned her back down with a single cold glance.

- The Fire Lord demanded my presence, not yours, Mother.

Zara bowed as Mai left the room, and slowly pulled her head up to see the face of her lady. The woman sat back down and looked at the empty doorway, even paler than she was.

- What should I do, my lady? – She asked, keeping her hands down in front of her. The other woman blinked and whispered:

- Pray. I hope the spirits will support us.

Mai came up to the front door and was about to leave the house, as her father walked out of the shadow. He looked at her, unsure of what to say. She seemed to be so grown now, so serious: what could possibly be going through her mind?

- Your career will be fine, Father, so will I.

And with a final confident cool look, she walked across the terrace, came down the few small steps, and went along the path, leading to a small rickshaw, standing beside the royal servant on the rough-rhino.

As they left the block, stillness seemed to seep back, the dust from the road had already settled down. People of the house waited in the dark, expecting something to happen at any given moment: a miracle or a curse.

The rickshaw stopped at the Grand entrance of the Royal Palace. Despite the late hour, there were people – soldiers, sages, servants – wondering around the courtyard, working on the orders of the royal family. The Palace seemed to live its own life: the fire danced in the lamps, eagerly lit up the torches and was carefully handled in the hands of the sages, who opened concealed doors; the wind wasn’t strong here, but it gave a soft flutter to the blood red flags of the Fire Nation.

- Fire Lord Ozai is expecting you in his Throne room, - a soldier stood in front of her, speaking loud and clear. – Please, follow me.

Mai gave him a quick nod and followed, suppressing a small shiver. Although she was sure that there was nothing to worry about, the girl couldn’t help but take a quick desperate look at the flags. The flaming tulip, the proud yellow on the intense red cloth. She made herself think of her family, father and the pride that parents took in her.

She differed from all the other girls her age and she knew it very well: being taller, thinner and paler. Mother always took great care of her skin, hair and body: as if she was a porcelain doll and was to be handled gently. Unlike Azula or Ty Lee, Mai preferred sitting still and reflecting the life that passed by, and watching people. She watched the high class society and all the intricacies that were entwined between: rules of conduct, fake behavior, and lies. And she was part of it – she was a daughter that helped her family climb up the social ladder. She was a good daughter.

They came up to the curtain which concealed the grand doors. The young girl stood, trying to slow down her heart’s pace: it was beating so hard against her ribcage that it almost hurt.

- You may come in, Miss Mai, - bowed the soldier, after catching a particular gesture from one of the guards. And he stepped back to leave her at the entrance.

The girl took a last look at the heavy fabric – breathing in slowly - before closing her eyes, and lunging forward into the unknown.

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This is my first fanfic on this website, in the fandom with such a rating. I'm not an english speaker, so I beg your forgiveness for any mistakes in grammar, spelling, synthaxis or lexical.
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The plum that blossoms in autumn