“You know, I didn’t always love Zuko. Actually, up until I turned 6, I hated him. He was always so serious and constantly scolded me for ‘acting frivolous.’” - Maiko
“So what made you decided you loved him?” -Katara
“Well, it happened 8 years ago.”
~~~
6-year-old Maiko was being dragged toward the Fire Palace for a playdate with her fiancé, the Crown Prince Zuko. “But Mommy! I don’t wanna play with Zuko! He’s mean!”
Her mother sighed experatedly. “Sometimes, we have to do things we don’t want to for the greater good, Sweetie.”
“But why?”
She sighed again and turned swiftly toward her daughter. “Just try to get along with Prince Zuko today, all right?”
Little Maiko gave in. “Ok Mommy.” She ran out into the garden to attempt at making nice with her much aggravating playmate.
Prince Zuko watched with dread as Maiko came running toward him. “Why must I be forced to play with her, Uncle? I should be perfecting my firebending or training to become the next Firelord. Not playing with a silly little girl!”
“Now, Prince Zuko, you should be nicer to Lady Maiko. You might end up stuck with her for the rest of your life.”
Zuko groaned disgustedly. He stared as she slowly made her way up toward him. He sneered when she waved energetically at him. In a last minute decision, he began running off in the opposite direction.
Behind him, Maiko frowned. She hadn’t really wanted to play ‘Chase’. “Zuko! Wait for me!” She gathered up her skirt and ran faster to catch up with the runaway prince.
Zuko briefly looked over his shoulder to Maiko surely gaining on him. He gave his body a shove and begun sprinting.
The insides of Maiko’s shoes contracted and pinched the bottom of her feet until she could feel blisters starting to form. Her chest was heaving and her lungs burned like she had just swallowed a bunch of hot coals. Her leg muscles tightened and threatened to lock up. “Zuko! Please… stop! I… can’t… run that fast!”
Zuko ignored her cries and ran faster, laughing. In the distant, he heard a loud thud and Maiko’s anguished cries. He halted on the spot and whirled around. “Maiko?”
She laid face down in the dirt, crying and coughing uncontrollable. Zuko knelt down beside her and patted her on the back in a meager attempt to calm her. Her cough became increasingly volatile as she started hyperventilating. She started gagging from a lack of oxygen. Her lungs ached for air, sending pain coursing through her body, causing her to cry harder. Zuko watched this display worriedly. He hugged her. “I’m sorry, Maiko. I should have stopped.” Her crying ceased and she regained control over her breathing.
“I… I can’t feel my ankle.” She said, trying to hold back the new onslot of tears that insisted upon coming. Zuko examined her ankle. A thorn vine had tangled up around it. Carefully, he peeled the vine off her skin. She winced in pain as the thorns tore bits of her skin.
Zuko ran his finger over the wounds. He tore a strip of fabric off his shirt. He started bandaging the ankle. “This is all my fault. I’m sorry.” He leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on her ankle. She flushed a deep red.
