Transmutation

Part 6: Empty

The stillness was unearthly. After their initial rush onto the beach, the rebels had stopped, staring at their quarry, the fire from their torches flickering in the darkness like pretty temple candles. There the Fire Lord was, right in front of them, the man who represented everything that they hated, and they were unsure how to proceed.

Zuko wanted to push his way forward, shove Mai and Kenji out of the way and face his tormentors head on. But his wife and his advisor held on to their positions, stubborn and protective. He was the nation's last hope, the only sane member left of the royal family, the only leader Avatar Aang and the rest of the world would acknowledge. They needed to preserve his life if possible. Their own were not nearly so important.

Of course, Zuko did not see the situation in those practical terms. No one was more important than Mai. He would die a thousand deaths for her, suffer any torment. And Kenji was so much more than just an advisor. He was their friend, their good friend, a man they trusted without question, a man that both he and Mai loved. Should harm come to him, Zuko would be devastated.

So it was a strange situation, each wanting to protect the others, none worrying about their own lives. And none of them made a move. The first of a battle might set the tone. That thought was a scary one. Who would want that responsibility? Then again, would it really be much of a battle? They were only three and could count dozens of rebels, disorganized and untrained looking though they were.

It was a young man who moved first, He was hardly more than a boy, one of the rebels who stood at the front of their ragtag group. Letting out a shrill yelp, some sort of battle cry, the man started forward, aiming a blast of fire at Kenji. The older man deflected it as easily as he might swat aside an irritating bug.

The trio had no plan. All they could do was fight their best and their hardest, use the experience they had accrued over the years and hope. In this dark time, in this dark situation, with such odds against them, hope was almost impossible to foster let alone maintain.

"Is that the best you've got?" Zuko's advisor grinned and charged at the rebels, shooting fire from hands and feet. He was a whirlwind of blinding orange and red and took out four rebels in just a few seconds. The screams of the men as they burned, their desperate drive to reach the sea and some sort of relief sounded sweeter than any music, sweeter than the cries of his favorite lover. Kenji roared with laughter. He sounded and looked like a crazy person and some of the rebels backed off, afraid of this fiery spectre.

Mai possessed a limited arsenal and had to make every throw count for something. She ducked spears and arrows with grace and tried to pick out the leader. Taking him or her out might crumble the remaining rebels. With any luck, and Mai was not counting on that, they would become like a body without a brain, aimless and broken. Perhaps then they would scatter and she and Zuko and Kenji could see one more sunrise and perhaps even make it to Piandao's. Her eyes scanned the people. They wore no uniforms of any kind, just everyday clothing in an array of reds and browns and maroons and gold. A few were clearly capable with their weapons. They might be military or Home Guard. Others looked more like farmers or fishermen, more comfortable wielding a hoe or a net than the spears and bows and axes they carried.

"Damn," she cursed under her breath.

While studying the rebels and avoiding death, she also kept a close eye on her husband. He had followed Kenji's example and was taking the fight to them. She couldn't help but admire Zuko's form and grieve for him too. The young leader had taken such pride in rediscovering the true nature of firebending. He hated the idea of using it for violence of any kind. She knew his already shattered heart suffered another blow every time a blast of fire hit a mark and someone burned. But this was self defense and these people were tearing down everything good that Zuko had built. They deserved the pain. That's what Mai told herself as the stench of sizzling flesh filled her nostrils. That's what she believed.

One man hung back from the others. He appeared to be in his early thirties, handsome in an ordinary sort of way, emanating a certain power and charisma. The others looked to him every so often, as if waiting for acknowledgement or direction. He would nod or point but stayed outside the range of fighting.

Coward!

He became Mai's target and she was determined to cut him down. As she took aim with one of her favorite weapons, a curved, red tinted blade with a deadly point, an arrow grazed her thigh. The sting took her aback for a moment and she stumbled in the heavy sand, placing one hand down to maintain some sort of balance. Zuko panicked and in a frenzy cut down two men with his dual sword. He put a hand on her back and leaned down. His blades dripped red and the black sand drank it up. Mai couldn't take her eyes off the sword. Further ahead, Kenji continued to battle like a man possessed.

"I'm fine," she said, shoving him away. "Worry about yourself."

Inside she reveled at the feel of his touch. The heat of his hand penetrated the material of her tunic and she recalled those times over the years when such a touch would lead to something else. Those were challenging days, complicated ones with Zuko the new Fire Lord and the world in transition. But they were so innocent compared to the ones she woke up to now.

"Mai, please…." He reached for her. He was always reaching for her and she was always pulling away. He hardly ever got to touch.

"Stop it, Zuko." Her voice cracked and she stood up, flinching as the pain hit once more. "I need to fight. I need to protect you."

Amidst all the tumult, she found her target again and threw. Her aim was perfect, her throw straight and true. The blade lodged in the man's throat and he fell, one hand clutching the wound, the other scrabbling at the air as if it might save him. It didn't.

Mai mourned the loss of her weapon, but already had another in hand. She took out a second rebel before any of them noticed their leader was dead. Rather than fall apart and scatter as Mai had hoped, they shouted curses at the trio and swarmed en masse like a hive of enraged buzzard wasps.

Instinct kicked in. Mai, Zuko and Kenji formed a tight unit, backs touching backs, shoulders touching shoulders. All of them were wounded now. Kenji's sleeve was heavy with blood and a huge gash marred his right cheek. Zuko's hair was matted down with sweat and blood. He limped a bit, favoring his left leg. Mai took a moment to examine him more closely. There was a huge dark patch on his stomach as well. It was hard to see in the darkness but when the fire in his fist flared up, it stood out. She gasped softly.

"Zuko….how bad is it?" Mai wanted nothing more now than to hold her husband. She was terrified and unprepared, though part of her had known that only death and heartache remained for them. All her determination to remain objective and cold vanished. Was everything good to be snatched away from her?

He attempted a smile and nonchalance. It came out a grimace and a groan. "I'll be fine. We'll be fine. They're coming."

~~~~0000~~~~

Mai could not keep track of the movement around her. It was so fast and so muddled. But it did not take long for Kenji to drop. She heard Zuko's cry of grief and bit her lip hard. The blood was sharp and tangy in her mouth and kept her alert. The young woman spared a glance for the fallen man and blinked back her tears.

Anger traversed her veins, moving along with the blood, and it filled up her heart. She fought with terrifying ferocity, sending each of her remaining darts and blades flying, kicking out with her feet, scratching and clawing once all her weapons were gone. The remaining rebels, and Mai had a flash of pride as she saw how few were left, all suffered wounds. They bled and their skin was charred. But they kept coming and coming and Mai wanted to scream.

"Can't last long." Zuko could hardly get the words out. He crumpled and fought while on his knees. Too exhausted to bend, he slashed out with his dual sword. "Go!"

"Get up!" Mai did scream. She screamed the words as loudly as she could. They penetrated the night air and sounded in the thick jungle. Birds and monkeys shrieked and chattered and the cacophony of sound almost drowned out the devastation of the battle. "I'm not going. You go. I'll stay and fight." These words she spoke close to Zuko's ear.

He laughed and Mai almost smacked him. "I'm dying, Mai. You're the practical one, remember? Can't you see?" Zuko fought to take in air. He let his eyes linger on Mai; bloodied, dirty, disheveled, her eyes blazing with both anger and grief, she was as beautiful as he had ever seen her. "Go!" He pointed toward the jungle with one half of his sword. The other half he handed to her. "Take it and go."

She hesitated. Should she die alongside Zuko? What was there to live for anyway? A rebel swung his sword, aiming for Mai. She dodged the blow and grabbed hold of Zuko's blade. Separate from its partner, its other half, the blade could only do so much. Like she and Zuko, together they were so much better.

Zuko wept now. The tears made tracks down through the filth caked on his face. Mai hacked at a rebel, cutting him down, before risking everything to cup Zuko's cheek, kiss his lips and say goodbye.

"I've always loved you. I won't stop."

Zuko nodded and mouthed his reply. Mai ran then, the sword swooping around her body. She ran toward the trees and looked back only once. Zuko's body was covered with rebels, their cottons covering his silks, their crude weapons biting his flesh, finishing him off.

Sobs wracked Mai's body as she fled through the jungle, tripping over roots, falling and picking herself up again, escaping to she knew not where. Fat tears rolled down her cheeks, all the tears she had not shed before. What had it all been for? Everything was lost to her; her baby, her husband, her lover, the best friend she ever had. All was lost and for Mai there was no future but one.

~~~~0000~~~~

"Mai, I brought you some tea."

Piandao placed a hand on her shoulder. His touch was hesitant and brief, his voice gentle. Mai didn't much like being touched. She wore white, the colour of mourning, a simple robe. Raven hair hung down her back. She was free of any adornment. Mai had lost weight. Eating was a chore and she took no pleasure in any food, any taste.

The swords master placed the tray nearby. Mai would drink it when and if she chose to. He could not cajole her into anything. But she was as safe here as she could be. Members of the Order, the strongest, the best benders, guarded his estate night and day. No one could get to her. Perhaps no one wanted to. Her husband was dead. Mai, alone, meant nothing to the rebels.

She nodded and murmured her thanks. Even that was an effort. Once Piandao left the room, she poured a cup and continued to look out the window, across the green vista, unspoiled land, jagged mountains covered in a carpet of vegetation. It was lovely, but Mai took no real note of that fact. Her gaze was empty.

But inside, in her mind, a flurry of thoughts and plans abided. She would have her revenge. It might take years, she might die enacting her plans, but that did not matter. She would have her revenge and they would pay.