I needed to get this done before we leave for my tournament out of state. So yeah... -SQUEAL!- I'm at 100 reviews!! Thanks a bunch to everyone who's been reading/reviewing since the beginning! Anyway, this chapter was based on an episode of a show...yeah, I kinda thought it would have been devious of Azula to sabotage the girl, helping Mai. Then with the help of Ty Lee...

Ah! I've said too much! -hides- Here it is! Note: I don't watch Hannah Montana. I just saw the commercial/preview and it sparked an idea in my head.

Ages are, of course, still the same; Zuko- 12, Mai Azula and Ty Lee- 11

Chapter 20: Sleepover? You're Kidding! Pt 1

De ja vu.

Really. About an hour ago, Azula and Mai stood in the same spot in front of the school during free period. And there they were again- only this time, things weren't much of a surprise anymore. Sighing, Mai spoke up.

"So..." she tried starting a conversation.

"Shh," Azula kept her quiet. Obviously, there was a reason Azula hadn't said anything yet- and normally she -next to Ty Lee- was one of the loudest. "Have you seen Lyka yet?" she brought her up.

"No, why?"

"Because..." the frown on her face slowly grew into a smirk with every word she was saying. "We're gonna sabotage her." she happily boasted. Mai had a mixed look on her face; of confusion, deviousness, and anxiety.

"You and me? You just...you?" she asked.

"Well, you're staying at our palace anyway, so yes. You too." she turned to her. "Here's how it's gonna work..." she looked around for anybody near or approaching before leaning in to whisper into her ear.

--

"Ty Lee, have you seen Lyka?" Mai calmly approached her jittery friend. She was merely a few feet away from her and Azula a few minutes ago- and she had thought maybe she'd seen the girl yet.

"Over there," she happily replied, clueless of what she was asking for. "Which reminds me- have you gotten over the fact that she's with Zuko? That every minute they spend together it seems like you're invisible. And that she's already kissed him like...3 times?"

"What?!" she released in a sudden outburst. "I never even thought of it that way!"

"Oh, sorry..." Ty Lee had calmed down. "Did I mention she's kissed him like 3 times already?" she smiled. Mai's previously open mouth closed as her eyebrows sank into a frown.

"Yes. Yes you have." she refused to change the expression on her face, before walking away. Once she turned around, she realized Ty Lee was right. Zuko and his so called, "girlfriend" were sitting under a tree. Her favorite tree.

"That little..." she growled quietly to herself. By this time, Azula had caught up with her.

"Come on," she dragged the troubled girl to that tree as she now stood over the couple, arms crossed with the vicious glare from Mai. "Hello Zuzu...Lyka..." she greeted.

"Azula, what now?" he asked impatiently.

"We need to talk to Lyka," she smiled innocently and sweetly. "privately?" she asked. Zuko had a suspicious look on his face at first, but the sight of Mai with a somewhat hurt yet angry expression in her eyes had him walk away with no second thought.

"Yes?" the girl stood up.

"Look, we're really sorry for anything we've done." Azula started. She had really sounded believable- gotta give the girl some credit for that. "So we want to 'start over'." she finished as they both turned to Mai who was very unwilling to say this.

"Do you want to...come over to the palace?" she gritted through her teeth. "For a...sleepover?" she choked out. 'Very smooth', she thought. Judging by this -and previous times- Azula would definitely pass as an actress, possibly leaving Mai as an understudy for her qualities.

"Really?" Lyka raised an eyebrow, still suspicious. Though her parents would probably be very happy if she would associate with the princess. Mai and Azula nodded their heads. "Okay,"

"Great..." Azula smiled.

--

'Ding!' 'Dong!'

Normally the only times you would hear those was when Azula was mad. Specifically at her brother- therefore resulting in calling him a ding dong. But now was different. Previously, the girl's had invited Lyka to some sleepover as part of Azula's little plans- then somehow Ty Lee found out and begged to come. Of course, who would say no to that?

"Now remember, we're only trying to get her to admit she's using Zuko," Azula reminded Mai and Ty Lee, who were now sitting on the couch- Ty Lee sitting on the floor. "Nothing else." she gave Mai a look that clearly meant she was specifically addressing her.

"Sure," the girl replied. With that, a servant walked in with Lyka and about five bags. Of course...

"Hi!" Ty Lee piped up. Lyka smiled at her and sat down between her and the princess. Mai noted perhaps, just maybe, she was avoiding her. Good. Out of nowhere, Zuko had come from a hallway nearby- shirtless with wet hair- holding what looks like one of Azula's underwear.

"This is so gross, Azula." he held it at least a foot away from himself, clearly disgusted. Obviously, he was in the shower when he found...that. "You should really..." he looked up to see all four girls looking up at him, three of them trying to hold in a laugh- while the other one-

"What the?" she stood up, slightly embarrassed as she grabbed it and dashed off. For at least a minute, they all sat there in an awkward silence. After a while Azula came back with a shirt.

"Here," she handed it to him as she sat back down in her spot. "Put it on and come join us." she commanded.

"But...I'd rather no-"

"Do it!" she glared at him. He then gave her a 'fine-no-need-to-yell' look as she slipped the shirt on. Mai had to admit she did prefer it off...

"Excuse me," the servant walked in once again. She stopped just a few feet away from the couch. "But your father wanted me to tell you that your dinner will be ready in about 20 minutes." she spoke in a gentle voice. Similar to Ursa when she was still here. Maybe that's why she's one of Zuko's favorites...

"Thank you," Azula smiled as she bowed and left. Then turned to the group. "Now that Zuzu's here and dinner's almost ready, let's start with one of my favorite games." she stood up.

"We call it...Hide-and-seek/truth-or-dare," Mai helped as memories of them years back played this.

"And we're going to use teams," Zuko suddenly remembered this little game they had played before. Right before they were told to go to the market. He opened his mouth to say something, but shut it once Azula gave him another deadly glare. Those have gotten scarier since the last time he's seen one.

"Oh! Can I work with Lyka?" Ty Lee asked. Azula rolled her eyes meaning 'yes' as the girl walked over to her team-mate.

"I'm working by myself- and Zuko, you're with Mai." she stated. Zuko looked over to Mai- who returned his expression. She smiled weakly and stood up with now word. "Do you all remember how this goes?" she smiled deviously as they all stood up to play.

'What's up with her?' he asked himself, even though he knew it was a stupid question. Tonight was going to be a long night...

Yeah, I normally put only about 1,000 words in each chapter so I stopped here. Didn't mean for it to be one of those nasty cliff-hangers! So keep reading! This will get interesting...

I'm also open for any suggestions they can do to get Lyka to talk. Thanks!

-Black5Belt