Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender.

Author's Note: This is an idea that's been floating around in my head for a while. It originated with a suggestion by Kataang's-Loyal-Devoted-Slave for the song "Pick-A-Little, Talk-A-Little" for my 76 Trombones collection about Azula, Mai, and Ty Lee gossiping about Katara. It didn't quite work there, but I still thought it could spawn an interesting story, and although it wanders away from that theme somewhat, here it is at last.

Tale of Kataang's-Loyal-Devoted-Slave

"Do we have to keep her here?" Ty Lee demanded, re-applying her Kyoshi makeup in the common room she shared with Azula and Mai at the Earth King's palace. Azula presumed she was talking about the waterbender they had recently captured.

"What do you want me to do? Let her go?" Azula sneered with all the considerable disdain she could muster.

"I don't know," Ty Lee pouted. "I just don't like having girls around who are prettier than me."

"Is that all you ever think about?" Mai accused wearily, rolling her eyes. "What difference does it make who's prettier?"

"Easy for you to say. I bet you'd care if she was after Zuko," Ty Lee shot back in a sing-song voice. "He's all you ever think about." Mai looked down abruptly. This comment seemed all the more relevant because they had just learned that Zuko and Uncle Iroh were actually in the city. In any case, Ty Lee's words began to give Azula the germ of an idea.

"Well, at least I'm not throwing myself at the enemy!" retorted Mai.

"Stop it, both of you!" Azula commanded. They'd been having pretty much the same argument for weeks, and it was giving Azula a headache. At times like this, it was hard to remember why she'd recruited them. "I can't get rid of the girl because she's bait. The Avatar will come for her, and when he does, I'll get him. I need her alive and under my control for that."

Azula was hoping she could kill the Avatar. The Fire Sages had revealed that if the Avatar were killed while in the glowing Avatar State, he would not be reborn, and the cycle would be broken. Azula's plan was to provide him with enough of a threat to force him into that state and then dispatch him once and for all. That was the best scenario, but she'd settle for capture, if necessary. If she killed him under any other circumstances, he would just be reborn into the Water Tribe, and though she was pretty sure the new Avatar would grow up far too late to stop the Fire Nation's world domination, it was best not to take chances.

"Oooh, maybe he'll bring that cute guy with him," Ty Lee suggested eagerly. "The one with the boomerang."

"Won't the generals notice she's gone?" wondered Mai, though without much interest. "She's supposed to be meeting with them regularly."

"By the time they realize she's missing, the generals will no longer be a problem," Azula stated confidently. "We have a lot to do before then, though. I have to solidify my hold on the Dai Li and use them to remove the king and his generals from power. Naturally, I also need to deal with my brother and uncle."

"What do you want us to do, Azula?" asked Ty Lee.

"Mostly, just behave yourselves and stay out of my way. I'll let you know when I need you."

"What are you going to do to General Iroh and Prince Zuko?" Mai asked, this time trying a little too hard to sound like she didn't care.

"I believe my uncle is a lost cause, but it remains to be seen whether Zuzu is an enemy." Azula tossed the last word at Mai deliberately, reminding her that she might be guilty of the same thing of which she had earlier been accusing Ty Lee. "I think I'll put him in with the waterbender when we catch him."

"Why?" Mai could no longer feign her indifference, and Azula rather enjoyed the flare of jealousy, although it also worried her. She didn't bother about Ty Lee's crushes; they were superficial and fleeting. Mai, however, had had this thing for Zuko for years, and the fact that it seemed to have persisted through three years of his absence was cause for concern. Part of her reason for putting him in the crystal caverns was to keep him safely away from Mai, at least until Azula was reasonably satisfied as to which side Zuko was really on.

"Ty Lee gave me the idea," said Azula calmly. "I need to test him. My brother always did have a nauseating, sentimental side, and I want to see if the girl will soften him up. He'll spend a little time with her, and maybe she'll try to convince him that hers is the better cause. Then the Avatar will show up to rescue her, and Zuko will have a big decision to make."

"I think he'll still go after the Avatar!" Ty Lee contributed, sounding like a contestant on a game show.

"So do I, but I need to be sure," Azula agreed.

"I still don't see what makes Zuko a traitor," Mai broke in dryly. "Was it escaping when those pirates tried to kill him or not going quietly with you to be imprisoned for the rest of his life?" Although the tone was not particularly offensive, Azula didn't appreciate the apparent challenge to her authority. She narrowed her eyes at Mai, who gazed back unflinchingly. Azula was not really angry, being scarcely capable of experiencing any true human emotion, but she found Mai's lack of fear disturbing. It was part of what made Mai useful, true, but eventually, the irritation would outweigh her usefulness. When that day came…well, Azula would come up with a way to settle these scores. For now, Azula needed her, so she just smiled coldly, causing Ty Lee to give a satisfying shiver.

"Enough talking, ladies," she almost purred, cutting off all further debate. "We have work to do."

--

Author's note: Only Ty Lee was truly gossiping, I guess, but that seems to fit the characters. For those who are interested, I will soon be posting a standalone oneshot about Aang growing his hair out for the third season. I know it's been a long time, but I've still tried to do review replies from the last chapter of this series. I don't know if there will be more added to this or not.

Member of the Boomeraang Squad: charleegirl, Jesus.Lives, Liselle129, Strix Moonwing, Avatarwolf, MormonMaiden, libowiekitty, Snows of Yester-Year, La Vixen de Amor, chocolatecoveredbananacheese, Aangy, and honorary member SnakeEyes16

Thank you to TTAvatarfan, Tech-Man, libowiekitty, Aangs fangirl1214, kataang93, pinguinolatino, chocolatecoveredbananacheese, gigi2690, Sonic1fan1, talonlee, Nerf-or-Nothing (replied privately), and Avvygirl (I guess I am continuing) for reviewing Chapter 17.

frozenheat: Yeah, I do wonder if that injury will result in a permanent scar for Aang. Interesting thought.

Durins Bane: A multi-chapter Maiko is an idea I've been playing with. The four chapters in this collection could provide a good foundation. Of course, as you know, I'm still plugging away at Destiny's Call.

White Fuzzy Ears: Nope, no idea. Here I left this collection for five months, and I'm finally updating again. I hope you're getting more sleep now that school is out!

MormonMaiden: We can only hope. I've been thinking that The Awakening episode might refer in part to Aang and Katara "awakening" to the true potential of their relationship. I wish I wish I wish!

Kimbalynn616: Yes, but Toph could have theoretically held onto one arm each of Sokka and Aang, if she felt about them both the same way. I agree that it's subtle, but the Kataang has been subtle for the last six episodes, too, so who knows?

UNDER-CITY WALLS: Um, I don't know? I haven't had any ideas going forward, but that doesn't mean there won't be something.

IGAF-kun: Thanks. I don't use Bible quotes very often, but it's amazing what they can illuminate.

Kataang's-Loyal-Devoted-Slave: I'm still astonished that you read that much of my work all at once. I'm certainly glad you think it's worth the effort. Thank you very much for your compliments, and this one was for you!

Mirani: I love trying to squeeze little moments in between canon. If you liked these, you might also enjoy 76 Trombones and Avatar Goes Broadway, which are similar. The idea of having Sokka find Suki is still open, but I haven't come up with a solid idea yet.