History of Mai (100 AG – c. 103 AG)
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| Mai's main article Mai's weapons |
| History |
| Early life (85 AG - 100 AG) Book Two: Earth (Spring 100 AG) Book Three: Fire (Summer 100 AG) 100 AG - c. 103 AG |
| Relationships |
| Mai's relationships |
Following the end of the Hundred Year War, Mai rekindled her relationship with Zuko, who had become the new Fire Lord. She helped him in his efforts to reform the Fire Nation's government and concerned herself with his safety amid considerable resistance. As a result of lost trust, Mai eventually broke up with Zuko, though she covertly continued to support his government. In 102 AG, she played a major role in countering the New Ozai Society's rebellion and foiling Azula's Kemurikage plot. After a request by Zuko, Mai eventually became a teacher at the Royal Fire Academy for Girls, where she helped to implement education reforms.
Life as the Fire Lord's girlfriend
After the conclusion of the Hundred Year War, Mai was released from prison at the behest of her uncle and thanks to her known connections to the new Fire Lord. She subsequently visited Zuko at the Fire Nation Royal Palace, rekindling their relationship, yet also warning him to not abandon her again. Afterward, Mai made peace with her former enemies of Team Avatar and accompanied her boyfriend to the celebrations in Ba Sing Se. There, she stayed at the Jasmine Dragon, joining Suki in a game of Pai Sho and later complaining about Sokka's amateur drawing of her; in Mai's case, his efforts made her resemble a man.[1]
Over the following year, Mai was by Zuko's side as he implemented reforms and strove to steer the Fire Nation into a non-imperialist direction. One major concern for Zuko was the growing conflict surrounding the Harmony Restoration Movement, designed to remove the Fire Nation colonies from the Earth Kingdom. One colonist, Kori Morishita, even tried to murder the Fire Lord inside his palace. When Zuko returned to the Fire Nation Capital from his trip to Yu Dao, Mai commented on his tiredness and asked him to tell her his problems since she was his girlfriend, to which Zuko answered that he would. She subsequently informed him that, in order to put his mind at ease, she had asked the Kyoshi Warriors, including Ty Lee, for help with the security of the palace as the other guards had repeatedly failed to stop intruders.[2]
However, Mai later found out through Suki that Zuko had been secretly visiting his father Ozai. Angered that she was being kept out of the loop of everything, Mai broke up with Zuko, saying "You love your secrets more [than you love me]".[3] After their breakup, Mai left the Fire Nation Royal Palace and accepted her Aunt Mura's invitation to work at her flower shop as her assistant.[4] This decision was largely motivated by her lack of any other concrete plan, though she found the work tolerable.[5]
Despite her hurt feelings, Mai continued to feel an attachment to Zuko, keeping a small painting of them together. Regardless, she temporarily cut off all contact with him.[4][6]
Learning of the New Ozai Society
As time went by during her work at Mura's shop, Mai was often visited by a young man named Kei Lo who bought flowers. He often flirted with her, and Mura encouraged her niece to open up to him in hopes that more contacts might cheer her up. One day, Kei Lo outright asked her for a date, and Mai reluctantly agreed. They shared a meal at the local noodle shop, and she actually began to enjoy herself as he entertained her with funny tales.[4]
When Kei Lo established that Mai had been downcast ever since she had broken up with Zuko, he led her to a meeting of the New Ozai Society. To her surprise, her father Ukano was the leader of the society, having propositioned Kei Lo to bring his daughter there. Mai was displeased to see him, even more so after he offered her to join them in their attempts to reinstate Ozai to the throne. As Zuko's former girlfriend, she could give the society the confidential information they would need to bring Zuko down.[4]
However, Mai was disgusted by Ukano's imperialist nationalism and the fact that he had taken her young brother Tom-Tom to the meetings to indoctrinate him. Picking up Tom-Tom and tying him on her back in a sash, she calmly announced that they were leaving, rejecting Ukano's offer. The society members moved to apprehend her, but they were no match for Mai, who swiftly dealt with them. Apart from her father, Kei Lo was the last man still standing. He did not fight her, instead trying to tell her that he really liked her, though she cut him off by knocking him out, declaring that to be the end of their date. She left Ukano in the middle of the wrecked meeting room. Afterward, she returned to her aunt's flower shop with Tom-Tom and stared at a picture of her and Zuko.[4]
After exposing her father's activities to her mother Michi, the latter angrily left Ukano. Thus, Mai, Michi, and Tom-Tom all went to live with Mura. However, Mai was unwilling to publicly expose her father's criminal activities, reluctant to see him imprisoned.[6]
Foiling the New Ozai Society's rebellion
Despite their unpleasant split, Kei Lo reconnected with Mai. He claimed to be truly in love with her and willing to act as her spy within the New Ozai Society to prove his earnestness. Mai realized that this might allow her to keep taps on her father, thus protecting Zuko without risking Ukano's imprisonment. She thus agreed to form a romantic relationship with Kei Lo who subsequently worked as her double agent. As a result, she was able to stay up-to-date on the New Ozai Society's plans.[6] One night in 102 AG,[7] Ty Lee visited Aunt Mura's shop. Even though she was happy to see her old friend again, Mai was a bit annoyed to be hugged by Ty Lee. The two ventured to a nearby teashop to catch up. As they talked, Mai noticed her friend's unease, and was shocked when Ty Lee revealed that Zuko had freed Azula.[6]
They changed the topic, as Mai told of her recent history with the New Ozai Society and Kei Lo. Soon after, Kei Lo entered the teashop. Mai warmly greeted him, whereupon he relayed Ukano's plan to ambush Zuko's family during their return to the Fire Nation Capital. She responded by faking emotions, praising his bravery and affirming her love for him. As soon as Kei Lo had left, however, Mai switched back to her usual self and was scolded by Ty Lee for using him like that. This rebuke left Mai unfazed and she responded that he had lied to her during their first meetings as well. She asked her friend if she though that Kei Lo was telling them the truth, causing Ty Lee to respond that he was more truthful than Mai. This left her a bit hurt. The two subsequently notified Suki of the New Ozai Society's assassination plot regarding Zuko.[6]
Ty Lee, Mai, and the Kyoshi Warriors subsequently prepared everything for the safe return of Zuko and his family. It was decided to set up a decoy caravan that would travel the regular way from the harbor to Hari Bulkan, whereas the Fire Lord took a secret route through the woods. Ty Lee, Mai, another Kyoshi Warrior, and a group of Fire Nation soldiers were stationed at the official pathway up to Hari Bulkan. While they were waiting for an attack by the New Ozai Society, Mai mused how the official pathway was an extremely difficult target for a rebel assault, as it had been designed to be well defendable by Fire Lord Sozin. Believing it unlikely that the New Ozai Society would attack there, she concluded that Kei Lo had be a liar after all. Ty Lee rebuked this assessment, causing the two friends to bicker until the decoy caravan approached. Just in that moment, a group of rebels attacked, whereupon Mai, Ty Lee, and another Kyoshi Warrior rushed to help Iroh, who was posing as Zuko.[6]
Mai and her comrades easily defeated the attackers, causing her to wonder that this rebel assault was far too small. She tried to question a captured New Ozai Society member, but he refused to talk. Shortly afterward, the group saw a distress flare go off in the nearby woods, signaling that Zuko's actual caravan was being threatened. Mai regarded this as proof that Kei Lo had betrayed and mislead them, commenting that Ty Lee's belief in the boy's "good aura" had proven to be misplaced. They rushed to help Zuko and his family, using a hot air balloon. The group arrived just in time, fending off the New Ozai Society. As Mai saw Kei Lo, she accused him of betrayal, but Zuko revealed that the ex-insurgent had actually helped to save the royal family. In that moment, more rebels attacked, causing Mai to set off to find her father. Together with Kei Lo, she defeated a few rebels, whereupon she accused her boyfriend of having been fooled by Ukano. However, she was still concerned for him when a rebel threw him into a depression. Kei Lo responded that he was fine, but Mai was now left alone with her father.[6]
Mai asked Ukano about why he was doing this, and he argued that Zuko was no effective ruler. He also claimed that Mai had been "pushed away" by Zuko despite being his only true friend from the Fire Nation. Despite mostly disagreeing with him, Mai was not willing to arrest her own father, allowing him to flee. Afterward, she sought out Kei Lo who was moving through the woods with a hurt leg. She helped him to walk, exchanging some friendly barter, before offering him to ride with her in the Kyoshi Warriors' hot air balloon back to the capital. Mai also admitted that she now believed his claim about being manipulated by Ukano.[6]
"Kemurikage" crisis
One month later, Mai was on a date with Kei Lo, who asked why she did not visit with her and she dryly responded she was not attracted to "casts". Kei Lo correctly recognized that his broken leg had not been the real reason, however, but that she still needed time to trust him. Mai admitted that this was the case, finding it difficult to believe how someone could abandon their cause to be with her. He maintained that he had simply sought a place to belong when joining the New Ozai Society, but now wanted to belong to her. Moved by this revelation, Mai moved in to kiss Kei Lo. The heartfelt moment was interrupted by Michi screaming from the nearby flower shop, causing Mai to rush off and witness her brother Tom-Tom being kidnapped by the Kemurikage dark spirits. Despite her desperate attempt to rescue him, the kidnappers got away. The next day, Mai and Michi reported the abduction to the police, who were confused by her claim that spirits were involved. However, Zuko arrived at the flower shop and argued that Mai's story was probably true. He went on to contact Avatar Aang, believing him more versed in dealing with spirit issues.[6]
Mai greeted Aang upon his arrival and informed him of Tom-Tom's abduction by the Kemurikage. Her explanation was cut short when her father barged in, accusing her of being the reason Tom-Tom was kidnapped, as she had taken him from the safety of their home. When Ukano proposed a curfew and special task force to deal with the dark spirits, Mai disagreed and backed the Avatar's suggestion to first investigate the events before acting rashly. Zuko decided to side with Aang and Mai, leaving Ukano shouting furiously as he was escorted from the palace. The Fire Lord thought that he recognized the ex-governors screams from the New Ozai Society's previous ambush, and inquired if Mai knew about her father being involved of the attack. She lied, stating that she had no information of Ukano aiding the attack.[8]
Soon after, as Aang and Zuko prepared to gather information on the Kemurikage, Mai and Kei Lo were left alone. He used this opportunity to urge her reveal Ukano's involvement in the rebellion, but Mai stated that he was right that she had failed to protect her family. Accordingly, she could not allow him to go to prison, as this would leave Tom-Tom without his father.[8]
In the evening, Mai and her friends traveled to the High Temple where Mai revealed to Kei Lo that she knew the place, as she and Zuko had once gone on a date there. She sarcastically commented that the Fire Lord had believed the "burial site of his ancestors" to be romantic place, causing Zuko to retort how he had been proven right on their date, leaving Kei Lo and Aang feeling awkward. The group descended into the Dragonbone Catacombs, where Mai continued to bicker with Zuko. She later helped Kei Lo to open a door to the sealed parts of the catacombs, causing Mai to praise her new boyfriend's ingenuity. Deep in the burial chambers, Mai eventually located a scroll explaining the emergence of the first Kemurikage during the Fire Nation's violent past.[8]
Afterward, the group followed a ghostly smoke that led them to the grave of the first Fire Lord. There, they split up, as Mai refused to enter the burial chamber. While Aang and Kei Lo ventured deeper, Mai and Zuko stayed behind, starting an awkward conversation. The Fire Lord expressed his remorse about their relationship and said he missed her, but Mai angrily insisted both of them should move on. She claimed she regretted ever allowing him to break her heart so many times, and intended to stay with Kei Lo, despite her lack of enthusiasm for him.[8]
After Aang discovered that the actual Kemurikage had never returned to the mortal world, the group returned to the Caldera City. On the way, the group pondered what the new information meant, with Mai arguing that the recent dark spirit attacks might be committed by human imposters. Back in the city, they found out that Ukano had set up the Safe Nation Society to "protect" the citizens from spirit kidnappings. Mai confronted her father, telling him that he was surely hiding something. She and Kei Lo returned to Mura's flower shop, where Mai expressed her annoyance at Zuko's increasingly imperialistic behavior. After telling Kei Lo how she was sorry for always talking about her ex-boyfriend, she expressed her worries about Tom-Tom before saying goodbye. Upon returning to her room in the flower shop, Mai took a painting of Zuko and her as couple, and put it into a drawer, seemingly trying to get over their relationship.[8]
On the following day, Mai heard that the false Kemurikage had abducted Zuko's half-sister Kiyi, prompting her to travel to the palace to express her condolence. Hugging the Fire Lord, she stated that they found find their siblings. However, Mai was shocked upon hearing from Aang, Zuko, and the Kyoshi Warriors that the false spirits were led by Azula. This revelation convinced her to reveal that Ukano had led the New Ozai Society. After defending her initial reluctance to betray her father, she argued that she suspected his involvement in Azula's plot based on his suspicious behavior on the previous day. When Zuko consequently organized a curfew and the arrest of Ukano's followers including most Safe Nation Society members, Mai stayed by his side, retracting her previous disagreement with the policies he was deciding to implement, which she justified by telling Aang that drastic times called for drastic measures. Mai and Zuko eventually went to the Capital City Prison where they learned that Ukano had escaped. Mai was not surprised to hear this, but nevertheless frustrated. As Zuko consoled her, the two held hands until the arrested Safe Nation Society members arrived at the prison. Mai was shocked to see Kei Lo among the prisoners, and successfully demanded that Zuko set him free, as he had been captured by accident.[9]
After Kei Lo was released by General Mak, Mai hugged him in relief. Afterward, Aang arrived and took Zuko with him, prompting Mai, Kei Lo, and the Kyoshi Warriors to follow them. The Avatar revealed that they had found secret passageways that probably led to Azula's hideout. Hoping to save her brother, Mai consequently joined the ad hoc rescue team. Using the passageways, the group arrived at the Garden of Tranquil Souls where they were quickly confronted by fake Kemurikage. In the middle of the fight, one of the hooded figures attacked Mai, revealing to be Azula. The princess commented that Mai had practiced her skills, but refused to reveal the location of the kidnapped children. Azula instead mused on how Mai had inspired her to take up the guise of the Kemurikage, prompting the nonbender to attack her in annoyance. However, she was driven back by Azula's lightning, whereupon the princess continued her rant, asking for Mai's opinion on her new style.[9]
At that moment, Kei Lo intervened and tackled Azula, causing Mai to comment that purple did not fit her former friend. To Mai's horror, however, Azula quickly overwhelmed Kei Lo, threatening to harm him. As Mai pleaded for Kei Lo's life, Zuko stepped in, causing Azula to run off. Mai helped Kei Lo up, who looked concerned as he followed her gaze toward Zuko. The two subsequently followed Aang to a crypt, where they discovered the Avatar rendered unconscious by the fake Kemurikage. Mai and Kei Lo overwhelmed two of Azula's comrades, saving Aang and the kidnapped children. She was overjoyed to reunite with Tom-Tom, and happy to learn that her father had eventually aided the children in an escape attempt from the false Kemurikage. On the next day, Ukano turned himself in at the Capital Prison. There, Mai said goodbye to her father, telling him that he deserved punishment, but that he had also been "brave" in the end. She swore that she would remember his eventual bravery, causing Ukano to state that this was "more than [he had] a right to ask". When she returned to Mura's flower shop, Mai would later break up with Kei Lo, who left the flower shop in tears.[9]
Start as a teacher
Mai continued to work at Mura's shop until she received a surprise visit by Zuko who asked her to become a teacher at her alma mater, the Royal Fire Academy for Girls. Mai reacted with disbelief that the Fire Lord would even suggest this, considering her dislike of people. In contrast, her mother Michi –also working at the shop at this moment– reacted with joy, countering that Mai's gloomy attitude was just a facade. Zuko also pointed out how well she was getting along with her brother Tom-Tom. Yet Mai only began to warm up to the idea when the Fire Lord explained that he suspected problematic influences at the institute, with his reforms not being implemented. Mai did not want other children to make similarily poor experiences as she had during her time at the Royal Fire Academy. Though annoyed when Zuko further revealed that he had already mentioned her to the current Headmistress Shihan, Mai eventually agreed to the proposal.[5]
Prior to her first day of teaching, Mai reiterated her goal and purpose to inform students exactly what happened during the Hundred Year War to Headmistress Shihan, who continually desired the school's historical legacy to be upheld. Mai further opined the less traditions held from the rule of Ozai and Sozin the better. As she got to her first class, Mai was initially nervous and unsure, but quickly noticed a potential topic when a cicada beetle landed on Kiyi, one of her students. She promptly gave a lesson on entomology, explaining the cicada beetles' environmental relationships.[5]
Realizing the young students' positive reactions to her hands-on lesson, Mai opted to take them into the Academy gardens to continue her teaching about the insects. Upon returning to the building, she was challenged by Shihan as her lesson failed to uphold the academy's traditions of teaching discipline as well as the art of war and politics. Mai responded that the students were still children for whom these teachings were neither necessary nor useful, especially as the Fire Nation had lost the Great War despite its much-vaunted great traditions.[5]
Over the next days, Mai continued her unusual lessons, much to the students' excitement. At one point, she taught tightrope-walking to Lihua and Kiyi, with the latter using the chance to inquire about her older sister Azula. As Mai retold some of her experiences with Azula at the Royal Fire Academy, she pondered how the institute had encouraged her former friend's worst traits. Later, Mai and her students built a cicada beetle terrarium for their classroom. They were interrupted by a student who claimed that a dispute between two older students, Diu and Chen, was about to escalate into violence. Mai rushed to interrupt the dispute, quickly learning that the two were friends and only feuded due to the Academy's teachings on the necessity of constant mistrust.[5]
Soon, Shihan also arrived and encouraged Diu and Chen to fight an Agni Kai to solve their arguments. Mai angrily countered that a violent duel was not a sensible way to solve conflicts. As the headmistress again tried to resort to the importance of traditions, Mai declared that the school's traditional teachings had hurt so many students and ultimately only made "leaders" like Azula, figures who were not great but utterly dysfunctional. Finally, she recalled Shihan's inaction as a teacher when two students had fought a duel during her own childhood, challenging the older woman on why she had not stopped violence in the past and was now allowing this harmful behavior once again. These arguments left Shihan speechless, whereupon Mai sent all students back to their classrooms, including Diu and Chen.[5]
Mai's arguments ultimately inspired Shihan to question her own worldview. When the two next met, Mai was happy to learn that the headmistress was reconsidering the Royal Fire Academy's purpose. Over the next days, Mai continued to teach her classes until she received a surprise visit by Ty Lee and Zuko. Though happy to see Ty Lee, Mai initially suspected that the Fire Lord was "checking up" on her evidencing mistrust, much to her disappointment. Reluctantly, Zuko admitted that her guess was correct and apologized for not trusting her to do her job. Placated, Mai gave her friends a tour of the school until they ran into two suspect men in front of Shihan's office. When the headmistress opened her door, the men promptly kidnapped her and attacked the trio with earthbending.[5]
Mai, Zuko, and Ty Lee pursued the men to save Shihan, eventually cornering them in a classroom. As she did not have her weapons on her body, Mai used one of her shoes as an ad-hoc projectile to break the room's terrarium. This released numerous cicada beetles, distracting the earthbenders and allowing Mai to save Shihan. The duel continued, with the earthbenders revealing themselves to be rogue Dai Li agents who were still loyal to Azula. Mai eventually knocked out one agent with a well-aimed, thrown book, while the other was defeated by Ty Lee and Zuko.[5]
After the clash, the agents were arrested, while Shihan publicly destroyed a painting of her predecessor, Headmistress Pearl; the latter had sent the agents to murder Shihan as punishment for discarding the school's old teachings. Afterward, Mai spoke with Ty Lee about her new work. In the process, she admitted teaching made her happy and put her on the right path. Happy for her friend, Ty Lee hugged Mai despite the latter's feeble protest.[5]
References
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