Yay! Another chapter! Thanks for all the reviews, everybody. They're my motivation ;). Anyway, here's where they get busted...by Azula (duh- who else :P).

Disclaimer: I still don't own Avatar. Wouldn't it be a lot easier if I told you when I did own it?

Ages are FINALLY changed. Zuko- 9, Mai/Azula/Ty Lee- 8.

Chapter 12: Busted...

As usual, Mai and Ty Lee would be at the royal palace at least once a week or so due to political problems. Fortunately, the kids are a bit young to be worried about that stuff. Now, they were all in Azula's room. The silence killed them, even thought they really had nothing to say.

"Um...I'll be right back..." Mai excused herself, and was about to head for the door when-

"Where are you going?" Azula calmly asked before she could leave.

"To the...um- bathroom. Ya, the bathroom!" she stammered, uncomfortably. It wasn't easy thinking of an excuse when facing Azula. "I uh...really have to go." she quickly bolted out the door. Azula raised an eyebrow, turning to Ty Lee- who was sitting on the floor.

"Come on," she stood up and pulled Ty Lee with her. They carefully stalked the hallways, staying approximately ten feet away from Mai. Soon enough, she stopped at a door and quietly made her way outside, cautiously shutting the door.

Azula and Ty Lee on the other hand, had followed her this far as well. They opened the door only a few inches wide and watched whatever was going on outside. Then Azula noticed her brother was outside too.

Mai walked up to the prince and casually greeted him. He looked over to her and, from Azula and Ty Lee's point of view, started talking to her. She smiled back, happily. Mai was not normally like this when she was with them. Ty Lee smiled as she watched the whole thing, while Azula had a frown on her face.

"Aw, they're so cute together!" Ty Lee quietly squealed.

"You're kidding, right? They sicken me..." Azula looked over to her friend. "I knew it. No wonder she's been acting weird lately..."

"So-"

"Now all we have to do is tell my dad." she stated, smirking.

"But, why not-"

"Because, Ty Lee..." Azula explained deviously. "If we tell my mom, she'll just let them go easily. But if we tell my dad..." she stopped there, seeing Ty Lee had already caught on.

"And-"

"But before we go rat them out, I have a question..." she walked out the door, leaving Ty Lee still confused. But she soon followed. Mai and Zuko were now sitting in front of the pond, as Azula heard more chattering and laughing.

"Ahem," she coldly interrupted the two. Turning around, Zuko's eyes went wide. "So...what are you two doing here?" she sounded as if she couldn't care less.

"Why does it matter to you?" her brother shot back.

"Actually, it doesn't." she crossed her arms in front of her chest. "But it will be your problem once I tell." Zuko glared at her, angrily. She was good.

"Azula-"

"Be quiet, Mai." she snapped. "Traitor! However, I don't blame you for doing this, as I blame myself for not anticipating it..." she looked angrily at the grassy floor beneath her.

"What makes you think we'll get in tro- you're telling dad, aren't you?" he asked, sounding a little intimidated. She nodded, smirking. The young prince sighed as his sister started talking again.

"Now I just don't understand why. Why would you do this?" she asked darkly.

"You little-"

"Now you two come with us," she gestured for them to follow her. "I'm sure he'll want you there when he finds out what you did..."

--

"So, what you're saying is your little friend and Zuko have supposedly...'betrayed' you?" Ozai questioned his younger daughter. She was standing right in front of him with Ty Lee, Zuko and Mai knelt down behind her.

"Yes, father..." she quietly said as she nodded her head. "I've tried being nice to them, but they had to run off and try to "avoid" me. I just don't get it!" the princess looked up at the Fire Lord, with a thin line of "fake" tears streaming down both eyes.

"Okay..." he was now thinking. "Thank you, Azula." She bowed in respect and walked back, smiling evilly towards her brother.

"Now Zuko, is this true?" he turned to his eldest son. He kept quiet though. Not wanting to admit anything. Sure it was true, but the way Azula put it, it just took it way out of context. They had betrayed her- but she didn't seem so hurt, and barely cared. They had run off- but it's not like they did it on purpose. And yes, they did try to avoid her- but then again, she was bossy, pushy, and mean most of the time.

It's been a good five seconds since Ozai had asked him the question. Silence flooded the room, as Ozai asked him once again.

"Answer the question, Zuko." He hated this. If he said 'yes', he'd for sure punish both of them. But if he said 'no'...it was all Azula. She was 'daddy's little girl', and surely he'd always side with her.

"Y-yes," he choked out. Glancing over to Mai, he felt guilty- the consequence still unknown.

"Well then," Of course. They all expected what he'd say next. "Zuko, I forbid you to see this girl ever again." his harsh words echoed through the large room. Azula smiled, satisfied.

"But-"

"Silence!" he roared. "You heard what I said. You may never see her again...now you all are dismissed." They all stood at once as Ty Lee and Azula ran off back to the backyard.

At this time, Ursa was about to take her son back to his room. Mai looked up to him, her eyes filled with sadness as she silently wrapped her arms around the prince's neck, knowing she would never see him again. Who knows what could happen to her, or her family, if she disobeyed the Fire Lord's commands.

So this was it. All those years the Fire Lord's son and the governor's daughter had been friends. Close friends, actually- possibly more. But now that was over. Slowly, his arms found their way around her waist- but soon enough, she pulled away. Before he could say anything else, she already proceeded out the door.

"I'm sorry," Ursa gently set her arm around her son's shoulder as she pulled him out the door.

Great. Just great. The only way they could ever see each other again was if Azula said- or did- something about it. And we all know that's never going to happen...

Wow. This chapter was pretty fun to write. BTW, how old was Zuko when Ursa was banished? A giant, tasty, chocolate chip, sweet, sugary, caramel covered cookie to whoever answers the question! Thanks!

-Black5Belt