"Prince Zuko!" Leiko was taken off guard and lunged forward, causing Tila to flutter. She didn't expect him to actually be correct! "What makes you think it's him?"

"Because…he's returned to the Fire Nation for a visit and he is forbidden to leave due to my orders. I sent men to his ship to tell him that all information concerning the avatar was to be reported to me. He must have discovered my luck in capturing the avatar and decided to take matters into his own hands." He grinned more, "That and the fact that you wrote it in your diary." He spoke up. Tila pecked gently at Leiko's head. So that's what Tila was telling Leiko, that Zhao had read her diary!

"You read my diary?" she yelled, "That is a total invasion of privacy! You know that everything I write in there is for my eyes alone!"

"But I am your father, and I have all the authority to do so. I also read about your undying hatred for me."

"At least I don't have to tell you to your face now." She grumbled.

"I was hurt to the heart Leiko. I am your father, I've provided for you all your life, and that's how you really feel."

"Can't fight emotions." She said with a shrug.

"Well, back to the matter. I have decided what I want for a going away present."

"Going away present?" she asked.

"Yes, it is tradition for the bride to be to give her parents a gift before they leave. And I know exactly what I want."

"And what would that be?" she rumbled through clenched teeth.

"I want you…to kill Zuko."

"WHAT!"

"That's right! I want you to rid this nation of that ill-bred teenage boy!"

"No, I won't do it!" Leiko yelled at her father, and Tila chirped in agreement. "Fire Lord Ozai will execute the both of us for murdering his son! Are you out of your mind?"

"The Fire Lord won't care. If he really wanted his son he would let him return."

"You don't know that!"

"Oh I know that there is no reason to keep him alive, especially with the fact that he was the one who released the avatar. His father would never let him back after discovering that." Leiko growled under her breath, he was right! The Fire Lord would never let him return…or even live. "There's no way out of this, Leiko."

"I refuse to do this!" she said as she stood up. "It's wrong."

"Nobody will care, and you'll be a great hero. Maybe The Fire Lord will even build a statue in your honor."

"But that's what you wanted!" she shouted as she pointed at her father, "You just want to use me to live up to your dreams! Like you always have!"

"YOU WILL DESTROY THE ODDS STANDING IN MY WAY OF CATCHING THE AVATAR!" Zhao barked as he turned over a table with his foot! It crashed and Leiko watched as glasses shattered.

"Control your temper."

"You're not the boss of me, I am your father!" And there was more silence. "As your father I order you to kill the rogue prince."

"And what if I don't?" she asked.

"Then I'll have no choice but to throw you in the dungeon for the rest of your young life." He said as he circled her. "You'll live down there, no sun, no food, no water…just the rats and bugs to keep you company. You'll suffer until you breathe your last breath and then you'll rot." He bent down in her ear and she just looked straight ahead. A cold chill ran through her whole body. Would he really do that? She thought about what it would be like…starving to death in the cold, damp darkness. "I'll have you strung up, and you'll hang there until only the bones are left. You'll lose your honor, your life, and everything entitled to your name."

"You ahole." She muttered as he walked away to the map in front of her. "You wouldn't!"

"Try me!" he yelled at her. "I'll make sure you're put through torture until you're begging for your own death! You will obey me, no matter what it takes! And I say kill the prince!" Leiko looked down and squeezed her fists. He bent down to her face again. "It's either the prince…or you."

"But father…" she started, still not looking at him, "I can't…I can't kill Zuko! He…he was my best friend."

"But now he's banished, and nothing more than a traitor." He placed a hand on her shoulder, "After reading you diary entries…I'd say that you kind of had a crush on the prince didn't you?" and she still didn't speak, "The way he looked into your eyes every time he helped you…the way he held your hand and stood up for you. He was nothing short of a prince charming."

"I-don't-want-to-hurt-him." She said flatly. And tears gathered in her eyes. "He's done nothing to you." But then she grinned, "Other than kick your butt in that Agni Kai."

"I told you never to mention that!"

"Must have slipped my mind." She shrugged, with all her wit.

"Well as slippery as your mind may be, hold onto this. You will kill the prince. I don't care how tender he was towards you years ago. He probably doesn't even remember you."

"Not true!" she snarled at her father, "Zuko and I would never forget each other…not in a million years."

"You do like him, don't you?" Leiko didn't answer. "Do not let your feelings for the traitor get in the way of following my orders."

"I had feelings for him, but only feelings of friendship." She confessed, "And maybe that time is over, but feelings last forever when they're true. I will not hurt him."

"May I remind you that the rats in that dungeon haven't eaten in years. They would gnaw happily upon your sour heart." And Leiko grit her teeth in frustration. There was no way out of this. She would have to kill her old friend.