Authors note: Okay, interesting last chapter. Sorry for all the grammatical errors, I'm not a great writer. I hope this chap is up to my reviewers standards. Please enjoy.

Chapter Twenty-One

Something's To Know

"Morning has arrived!" screamed Orion as she shoved the curtains open, "People are already opening their shops!"

"Thank you, Orion, for this wonderful wake up call."

"Oh you're welcome. Your friend is waiting downstairs."

"He is?" she asked, kind of surprised.

"Yup, for about an hour now."

Mai immediately jumped from her bed and ran to the first floor. She rolled her eyes just to see Zuko sitting at the table.

"What are you so worried about?" he asked as she sat down across from him.

"Nothing…Orion just…nothing…" Mai finally finished.

"She's very interesting, isn't she?"

"Yeah, somehow I know her."

"Not that again…"

"No really, I know her."

Zuko heaved a sigh at Mai who smirked back. Somehow, right then, it felt like old times.

"Hey Mai?"

"Hmm…"

"Remember when first met?"

Mai gave a confused look but nodded, "Yeah, we played tag. You were so much better than me."

"Yes, I was. I remember you tripped."

"Yeah…right on top of you…"

Zuko gave a quick laugh that he couldn't believe came from his mouth. Mai gave a low giggle also as the scene came to mind.

"You were so scared," he murmured.

"Hmm…I was. You said you wouldn't tell anyone?"

"I didn't."

"Really?"

"Yeah…never did, never will."

Mai smiled secretly at this. The prince hadn't told anyone.

"Well that was back then…"

"Back when we were best friends."

Zuko looked up into Mai's eyes. She still remembered everything that was between them. The friendship they used to have…or still had…

"Back when it was you and me."

"Yeah…you and me."

Mai gazed into Zuko, recalling everything. Why couldn't they just go back?

"We should look for Ty Lee."

"Yes, I agree."

"You two are leaving?"

The fugitives spun around to see to Orion's pleading face.

"But I'm sure my mother would want to meet you."

"We're sort of on a time line. We can't stay in one place too long."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes," Zuko answered, "But we thank you for your hospitality and a gold piece is lying on the trunk."

"I suppose…but if you see my mother, she will want to talk to you…Zuko."

The prince felt strange as this was being said. Right then and there he knew he needed to see this woman. Zuko didn't know why or how it would happen but he needed to see her.

"Thank you, Orion," he finally said.

The girl gave a happy nod to the two travelers before opening the door.

"Good luck," she called as they made there way down the road.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Zuko…"

"Yes? If it's about Ty Lee, then yes, I'm worried too."

"No, it's not about Ty Lee. Yesterday night, I was wondering."

Zuko stopped midway in his walk and turned around to Mai. She was staring at the ground when she mumbled the words.

"How did you get your scar? What happened?"

"Mai…I…"

Zuko was abruptly interrupted as someone came running in their direction. The running girl stopped instantly when she saw who the two standing there were. Both Mai and Zuko gasped in happiness to see the white face of Ty Lee.

"Finally, I found you!"

"Ty Lee, where have you been?" Mai angrily said.

"You don't want to know. We have to get out of here!"

"What? Did the guards catch up with us?" Zuko urgently asked.

The acrobat panted loudly as she fell to the ground in exhaustion.

"No…but…"

"But what?" the two said in union.

"Azula…her guards…they found us…"

"What?!"

"They almost killed me."

"Killed you?!" Zuko exclaimed.

"Their out to get us…get us both…"

"What do you mean both?"

Zuko and Mai waited impatiently for Ty Lee's answer.

"They want Zuko captured and me and Mai dead."

"Why would she want us dead?"

"And me captured?"

"I think I know why."

However no explanation could be said for just as Ty Lee finished, guards of the royal Fire Nation family surrounded them in the small ally. There was no way out of ambush, the morning in Zaru already looking deathly bleak.

"Zuko…Mai…there's something you need to know."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Authors note: Cliffhanger! And one I'm actually proud of. It's getting pretty good, I think, and I hope you all enjoyed. Ty Lee's got something to say but will she be alive to tell it? Please review.