"Hey new guy, you don't have to wear your hat in the lounge you know." Zuko turned around and cringed. "Um right." He said, "But what if we suddenly have an emergency?" Zuko noticed that the whole group laughed, except for one girl with long black hair that had slight waves. After they had finished laughing, the girl stood up and tapped Zuko's shoulder. "Hey, you're coming with me." Zuko looked at her and followed suit. Once they were alone in a dark hallway, the girl said. "So, do you know who I am?" Zuko stood stiff. "No." He replied, "And I don't really want to." The girl grabbed his shoulder. "Oh Zuky, after all these years?" Zuko's eyes widened. How did she know it was him? And Zuky? It sounded familiar but he couldn't quite put a finger on it. The girl took off her hat. Her face, it was almost… nostalgic. The girl rolled her brown eyes. "Zuko, it's me, Mei Ling. I don't know why you don't know who I am." Then it all came back to Zuko. Mei Ling. His best childhood friend. He gave her a hug. "But why are you working here?" Mei Ling was his best friend because she had the same ideas as his. And the last time they communicated, she didn't like what the war was doing to the other nations. Mei Ling looked at him, "Zuko. You betrayed your nation, I am a fire bender, I have to work in places like these." Zuko's smile turned into a frown. Mei Ling smirked at his frown. "Zuko, you fall for my pranks EVERY time! Let's bust outta here." Zuko smiled. This was the Mei Ling he used to know.
*flashback*
"Zuko you have the weirdest friend." 12 year old Azula pointed at Mei Ling. Mei Ling sat on the ground, looking at the lavender flowers and smiling at them. Her hair was let loose except for firework barrette and Zuko liked it when they lay on the ground to look for the hidden stars in daylight that her hair flew out onto the grass. Zuko's face scrunched up. "No she isn't. I think she's pretty cool." Ty Lee looked at Zuko, "I thought you thought that girls are stupid." Zuko flung his arms out, "But guys, Mei Ling is different, she understands me!" Mai, a little jealous, mocked Zuko. "A 12 year old boy, with a girl best friend! HA!" Zuko blushed. He looked at Mei Ling. "She's not my friend." He told the girls. They all smirked at each other; they had finally got to Zuko! But then Zuko just smirked as well. "Nope, she's not my best friend. She holds my hope."
*End flashback*
Mei Ling snapped her fingers for the 3rd time. "Hello?" She asked. Zuko looked at her. "Yeah?" Mei Ling looked at him. "We got caught you spacer-outer." Zuko realized his hands were clasped and he was tied to a chair. He looked at Mei Ling. "Oops." Was all he could say.