DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN AVATAR

It had been a few hours since Zuko had seen his Uncle and the Avatar's friends and his mood hadn't exactly increased since then. He was still mildly affected by what the Water Tribe peasant had said, despite his efforts. Walking through the Earth King's palace, Zuko wasn't exactly sure where he was supposed to go. He didn't particularly want to see what Azula was up to, nor her friends and he definitely didn't want to back to the dungeons for another guilt trip.

"Prince Zuko." A guard, rounding the corner had spotted Zuko and called out his name.

"Yes?" Zuko asked.

"Princess Azula has requested your company. She says it's urgent." The guard said, bowing his head respectfully.

Zuko sighed. It's always urgent with Azula…he thought, annoyed that he would have to see her.

"Fine." Zuko replied, distracted by something down the corridor that had now disappeared.

"It would be my honour to escort you to the throne room." The guard said, peering at what Zuko had been looking at.

"Yes. It would." Zuko told the guard. "But I'm sure I can find the throne room by myself."

"But, Sir." The guard said, hesitantly. "Princess Azula ordered that I accompany you to-"

"Fine." Zuko said again, holding up his hand for the man to stop.

The guard bowed again, and began to walk in silence, Zuko not far behind him.

"Did Princess Azula specify exactly what was so urgent?" He asked, following the guard past a series of identical doors.

"No, Prince Zuko, she did not." The guard replied, leading him up to the most spectacular door in the corridor and knocking on it.

"Come." Rang out Azula's voice, loud and clear despite the thick door separating the room from the corridor.

The guard opened the door for Zuko, who nodded at him and entered. The guard didn't follow, just stayed by the door after closing it.

Zuko walked the long length of the room before reaching the throne that Azula, again, was sat on.

"What is it Azula?" He asked, impatiently. "I was busy."

Azula's friends (if you could call them that Zuko thought), Mai and Ty Lee were standing next to the throne. Zuko looked at them in turn, yet neither gave him acknowledgement, apart from Mai's slight blush. Zuko resisted the urge to roll his eyes. There was no one else in the room apart from them, yet Zuko didn't know if this was a good or bad thing.

"Busy doing what?" Azula asked, her eyebrows raised.

"I fail to see how it's any of your business, but I was exploring the palace." Zuko lied.

Note to self: if you're going to lie to Azula…think up a better lie! Zuko thought, seeing Azula's eyebrows raise even higher in disbelief.

A moment later, however, her face relaxed and a small smile crept onto her face.

"It's okay, Zuko. I know you went down to see the prisoners." Azula said. To Zuko surprise - and suspicion - she didn't seem angry in the slightest.

You could've told me that in the first place before you let me make an idiot of myself, Zuko thought bitterly, yet kept silent.

"In truth, I was expecting it. Besides, you are not completely unpredictable, brother." Azula added with a smirk. "So how were they?"

"As well as to be expected in their position." Zuko replied carefully. Any show of emotion for the prisoners and Azula would pick up on it.

"I see. And they no longer trust you?" She asked.

Zuko almost laughed in disbelief. Almost.

"Of course they don't." He said. And who can blame them? Zuko added as an afterthought, then frowned inwardly. Why did I just think that?

"I see." Azula said again, thinking now. Things were silent for a minute or two, and nobody dared interrupt Azula's thoughts. Well, Zuko was too preoccupied with his own.

Feeling guilty for betraying them yet? The prisoners, I mean, an all too familiar voice in the back of Zuko's mind spoke up.

You again? Zuko asked the voice.

Yep, me again. I answered your question, now you answer mine. Do you feel guilty?

Zuko looked around the throne room, in an attempt to distract himself from the voice. He heard the voice groan in annoyance.

I'm in your mind, idiot. You can't ignore me.

I can try, Zuko replied and proceeded to do so until Azula spoke again.

"Zuko. I have a task for you."

Zuko looked up at his sister and waited for her to explain.

"I need you to betray me." She said, then, seeing everyone's expressions, quickly added, "Not literally, of course. But I need everyone to think you have."

Zuko ran through these sentences in his mind, yet in whatever order he put them in, none made sense.

"I don't understand."

"The Avatar's friends know where the Avatar is, correct?" Azula asked Zuko, who nodded, still confused.

"And they're not likely to tell us, are they?" She continued. Zuko shook his head.

"Gain their trust and find out where he is." Azula said, in a commanding voice.

Zuko nodded again, slowly. I "betray" Azula, she locks me up with the Avatar's friends. I gain their trust and they tell me where the Avatar is. Azula lets me out and I tell her where the Avatar is.

"One problem." Zuko murmured. "No way are the Avatar's friends going to trust me. Not after what I've done."

"I have faith in you." Azula told him. "If we split the prisoners up into three different cells and put you in with the Water Tribe girl-"

"Why her?" Zuko interrupted sharply.

Azula smirked. "Why not her?" She asked. "Like I was saying, if we put you in a cell with the Water Tribe girl then she'll have no one else to talk to but you."

Zuko did not like where Azula was going with this. Not at all.

"I don't think it'll work." He objected.

"You've tried everything else, if I'm not mistaken. And, seeing as apparently, tying the girl to a tree doesn't work, you'll just have to work on your conversation techniques." Azula said, openly smirking now.

Zuko stared at her, wondering how she knew about that.

"I have my sources." She shrugged. "I'll give you a week. Two weeks, tops. If you don't know where he is by then…we'll have to resort to more drastic measures."

Zuko saw Mai smile coldly and stroke the edge of her throwing knives.

"By the way, you're going to betray me tonight at ten thirty in the throne room. Don't be late." Azula ordered.

Zuko knew he was dismissed, so turned to walk away.

"Oh, and Zuko?"

He turned back to Azula, wondering what else she could possibly say.

"Don't let me down."

A/N:

And that's the last chapter this year, lol, don't forget to review!

Hope you all had a great 2006 and best wishes for 2007 :D