Yay! Nine reviews! sniff sniff I'm so happy! Thank you all. By the way, I'd love to be able to write longer chapters, but it's hard for me. I decide to stick to quality, not quantity. Besides… The longer the chapters, the less likely I am to finish. sweat drops Anyway, enjoy the chapter!

The next morning Prince Zuko paced restlessly in his throne room. Uncle Iroh sat at a table in the middle of the room, a kettle of tea and a game of Pie Chu in front of him. He watched patiently as his nephew trudged restlessly back and forth across the floor.

"Prince Zuko," he said. "You are going to wear a hole in the floor if you keep up that pacing." A fiery snort was his response, and Prince Zuko turned around determinedly and began another lap. Uncle Iroh tried again. "I know! How about you soothe your nerves with a calming cup of ginseng tea?" To emphasize his point, he took up his own cup and took a deep sip. "Ah. My favorite."

Prince Zuko whirled around and snarled. "I am calm!"

Uncle Iroh held up his hands. "All right, all right. I am only trying to help." He took another sip and calmly moved his lotus tile across the board with a soft scrape.

Prince Zuko glared at his uncle and, with a frustrated snort, turned around and resumed his pacing.

"Prince Zuko!" The iron doors banged open and one of the soldiers ran in. "The prisoner has awakened!"

"At last!" Prince Zuko exclaimed. He pushed his way past the guard and made his way down to the prisoner cells. He entered the chamber and looked at the barred cells, all empty except for one.

The earth bender girl sat rigidly in a wooden chair, her hands bound to the wooden frame. Her pale brown hair hung in tangled curls around her face, obscuring her eyes.

Prince Zuko entered her cell and stared down at the girl. "Where is the Avatar?" he demanded.

The girl did not respond, except for a light snore.

Prince Zuko twitched. The girl was asleep! "WAKE UP!" he yelled.

"Hm?" the girl opened one eye blearily and looked at the prince. "What's going on?"

"Tell me: what is your name, girl?"

The girl looked up, and stone grey eyes bored into gold. "Sekiei. Who wants to know?"

Prince Zuko's eye twitched. How dare she speak to him that way! "I do not need to tell you."

The girl cocked her head. "I told you my name; it's only common courtesy to do the same."

The boy growled. "I am Prince Zuko."

"Hm. Nice name."

This girl was infuriating him! "Pay attention! Where did the Avatar go?"

Sekiei only stared at him, an amused glint in her eye. "Why do you think I know?"

Prince Zuko felt his temper rise. "You were caught associating with and defending the Avatar. You must know where he is."

"Ah. So you automatically assume that just because I was doing what any decent person would do—" Prince Zuko snorted angrily at that, "—I suddenly know everything about the Avatar's life. Smooth."

Flames sprang up all along Prince Zuko's body. "Do you have any idea where you are, girl!" he snarled.

Sekiei was not intimidated. "Sure I do. I'm on a fire navy ship being interrogated by a fire nation prince about a subject I know nothing about. How's that?"

Prince Zuko was too angry too speak. This girl was mocking him! He turned around and stomped out the door, pausing only long enough to choke out, "No meals for her tonight," to the guard.

Upstairs, he stomped into his room and screamed, flames of rage billowing out of his throat and nostrils. He stood there, chest heaving, when Uncle Iroh entered the chamber.

"Whoo! You really should open a window in here, Prince Zuko," he coughed, opening his fan for air circulation. He walked up to his nephew and laid a hand on his arm. "I take it it did not go well down there?"

Prince Zuko allowed himself to be led to the bed and sat down before placing his head in his hands. "That girl is maddening! She goes so far as to mock me!" He punched his pillow angrily, and feathers flew up into a cloud in the air, floating gently down like early snow.

Uncle Iroh watched the feathers fall, muttering, "…should probably replace that…" He turned to his nephew. "Calm down, Prince Zuko. Do not let anger cloud your judgment. Are you really going about this the right way? After all, you catch more bees with honey than with vinegar…"

Prince Zuko was silent for a moment. "Please let me be, Uncle," he said quietly.

Uncle Iroh bowed. "As you wish, Prince Zuko." He was halfway to the door when he remembered something. "Ah, Prince Zuko? Will you be coming down for supper?"

"I'm not hungry, Uncle. Just send something up to my room later."

"Of course, Prince Zuko." Uncle Iroh bowed again and exited the room. "More for me, then," he murmured to himself as he left.

Prince Zuko laid down on his bed and stared at the ceiling. Maybe Uncle Iroh was onto something. He played thoughtfully with a ball of flames floating above his fingers. He was curious to learn her secret to metal bending, and she did not seem likely to be telling him anything anytime soon. Prince Zuko extinguished the flame, and the room was plunged into darkness. Ah, well. He would try again tomorrow.