Weee! Thanks for reviewing you guys! I'm glad you all liked it! I hope you like this chapter. It starts off…well…I don't want to give it away, so you're just going to have to read. Hope you like it!

Flames 220- Okay, a sequel is a continuation of a story. Like…umm…the "Harry Potter" series. Each book is a continuation of the one before it. And, like…the "Series of Unfortunate Events" books. Each book is a sequel. Okay? You get it? I'm planning to continue this story, so the continuation of this story will be a sequel. Oh, and one more thing…please don't kill me! I swear I didn't mean to hurt your feelings! I'm sorry! Just kidding. Thanks for reviewing. For the record, I too would be way too embarrassed to wear that dress in front of anyone let alone my mom.

Lavanderrose- Thank you! I appreciate your comment about my dress design. One day, it just popped into my head and I had to write it down on a piece of paper so I wouldn't forget. Like I said before, I think my memory last only 3 seconds. You are correct, sir! The ball is going to be a bunch of people wearing masks. It has to be otherwise Ayaka won't be able to invite Zuko. Hee, hee. Interesting things will happen. But…I don't know. Thank you for reviewing.

Fire Blazing Chan S.E.- I agree with you…it wasn't that short. I'm happy that it wasn't. Yes…Zhao is, in fact a perv. You go and pass on that news that Zhao is a perv. I support you. I will make a sequel, but it depends on how I end this.

Ally- Yes! You must review for all of the chapters! Why would you even think that you don't have to review for all of the chapters? The idea! I am greatly disappointed in you! By the way…you mixed up the characters. Zuko is the lover of Ayaka and he is also the Fire Lord's son. Ryu was the one who was complaining about his mother. Not Zuko. Ryu. Ree-you. Okay? Okay. Well! Now that we cleared that up, thanks for your review!

Brokn Innocence- Uhh…you hope the ball will do what to Zhao? You kind of lost me. I think what you're trying to tell me is that you hope the ball will expose Zhao and the Fire Lord's plan and then Zhao would be either executed or banished from the island. Right? Correct me if I'm wrong. It's all right. I forgive you, no worries. You'll find out how Zuko's going to make it to the ball, and no, Ryu is not going to marry. This story is about Ayaka, Zuko, and their problems. Ryu…just happens to be tied into it. Till the sequel!

I really hope you guys like this chapter!

Chapter 11: Receiving the invitation

General Iroh was sound asleep and snoring loudly in bed. He had just gone to bed at 2:30 that morning waiting for Zuko to come home. It was now 10:00 in the morning. Everyone else in the palace was awake except for him and Zuko. Zuko was sound asleep in his room dreaming happily about Ayaka. Iroh was dreaming about his favorite kind of foods and things like that. Just then, a bird flew threw the window and landed on the General's stomach. It had a purple envelope in its beak and after a moment of not being noticed, it took matters into its own hands. It pecked at the sleeping General, bit his ears and even sang very loudly into them. Iroh woke with a start. "Oh," he said, relieved that it was only a bird. (He had been dreaming that it was a bunch of angry old people chasing him around the world.) "You startled me, little bird," he said. Actually the bird was fairly big but seeing as how the General was finally awake, the bird didn't care what the old man said about his size. It held up the envelope for him to see. "What's this?" he asked himself. His question would soon be answered. He opened the envelope and read,

You are cordially invited to the upcoming ball celebrating Princess Ayaka's betrothal to Captain Zhao. It will be a costume ball, so proper dress is required. You may wear whatever costume you like and you may invite whomever you wish. Please keep in mind that proper behavior is required for this as well, and anyone who disrespects the Princess or her family will immediately be thrown out. The ball will be tomorrow at 8:00 p.m. and shall end at midnight. We all hope you can make it. We are sure you will have a wonderful time. Yours truly,

Princess Ayaka and her family

"Well," said Iroh, "if the Princess is willing to expose her love for Zuko by sending this invitation, then she must really want him to come. Don't you think so, little bird?" But the bird had already left, its job fulfilled. The old man sighed. "Well, I should give this to Zuko. He will be so excited," he said. Just then there was a knock at his door. "General Iroh," came the voice of a soldier. Uh-oh! I'd better hide this, quickly! He thought. "General Iroh," said the voice, clearly becoming annoyed at his silence. "Just a minute, I am coming," he said to the soldier. The soldier sighed and began to reach for the door handle. Iroh saw the handle turn from inside. "I must think of something fast! I have to hide this thing!" he whispered to himself. The door burst open, and the soldier looked at the old General who was sitting on his bed. "Is everything all right in here, sir?" he asked. "Uh, yes. Heh…why do you ask?" said Iroh smiling unconvincingly. The soldier could tell that Iroh was hiding something, for he was sweating uncontrollably, and extremely fidgety. "Never mind. The Fire Lord wishes to see you immediately," said the soldier. "He says it is very important." "All right, I'll be right there," said the General as he watched the soldier leave. When the door was closed, Iroh let out a sigh of relief. He got up from his bed, and reached in between the mattress and the bed itself and pulled out the invitation. "Phew. That was a close one," he said. Once he took a bath and got dressed, he went to put the invitation in Zuko's room. When he opened the door, he saw that his nephew was still fast asleep, and he didn't feel like waking him. "I'll just put it here on his mantelpiece, he's sure to see it," he said to himself. He then walked to the Fire Lord's war room. Upon entering, he sat down in silence and waited to be addressed. "Iroh," said the Fire Lord. "Yes, My Lord," he said. Iroh hated saying 'My Lord' to his own brother, he felt like a servant addressing his Master. "You are here, concerning the upcoming ball for the Princess, Ayaka," the Fire Lord said. Now, Iroh was terrified. What if his brother found out about Zuko's undying love for Ayaka and vise-versa? What if he found out about him supporting Zuko's love for the girl? Iroh didn't want to think about that. If the Fire Lord found out, then he'll kill them both. He did his best to hide his growing fear.

By the time Iroh's appointment with his brother was over, he felt sick to his stomach. His brother told him everything of his plan to rid the islanders of their Royals. How he was going to have spies, assassins, and just about everything you need to kill someone. He even told him that Zhao was in on everything. That information came as a shock to him, for he trusted Zhao and never dreamed that he would want to kill anyone. "How will I explain this to Zuko?" He asked himself. He reached Zuko's door, mentally bracing himself for what he was about to tell his nephew. When he opened the door, he saw that Zuko was wide-awake reading the invitation he had placed on his mantelpiece, and smiling broadly. "Zuko," said his Uncle. "Uncle, you won't believe what I just got," said Zuko. "Zuko, you have to listen to me," began his Uncle. "I will, you just have to read this first," said Zuko. Iroh sighed. "I already read it. Now listen Zuko what I have to say is very important and I need you to -" But Zuko interrupted him again and said, "Well, if you already read it, then you know that I have to go." Then he started pacing around the room and appeared to speak to himself rather than his Uncle. "Now, I need a good costume, then I need to figure out how I'm going to get there, Uncle," he said turning his attention to the old man. "How am I going to get there? You think one of the Fire Navy ships would be too…suspicious? I mean our families aren't even supposed to be talking to each other. Imagine what would happen if they found out that I am in love with their daughter, " he asked.

Iroh couldn't bring himself to tell his nephew what his father told him. Zuko looks so happy, he thought, I have never seen him this happy before. It would be wrong of me to destroy such happiness, especially one so pure. He has to figure it out on his own, even though it might break his heart. "Uncle, are you okay?" asked Zuko for his Uncle was silent for a long time. Iroh looked at Zuko and smiled. "Yes Prince Zuko, I am fine. Now, we need to find you a good costume, and figure out how you are going to get to the palace. A ship wouldn't be so bad, but make sure it has your little boat in it," he said. "Why?" asked Zuko. "Just in case," said his Uncle. "In case of what, exactly?" Zuko asked. "In…case…someone…suspects us and we have to make a getaway. That little boat is faster that a ship don't you think?" said Iroh, thinking fast. Zuko shrugged. "Alright, I guess that'll work," he said and went to go take a bath. "Uncle," he said before he went. "Yes, Prince Zuko?" said his Uncle. "I just wanted to say…thanks for not telling anyone about me and Ayaka," he said sheepishly and smiling slightly. Iroh smiled at his nephew. "You're welcome, Prince Zuko. Now go get ready, we have a costume to look for!" he said. Zuko smiled and left the room. Iroh sighed heavily. "Prince Zuko," he said to himself, "You have no idea what you are getting yourself into. But I could not bring myself to tell you that Ayaka and her family are in grave danger, and you putting yourself into it does not help in the slightest." He sighed again. "But you must figure this out on your own…I just hope your heart can bear the pain."