The Gaang had landed in a small forest clearing far outside what was once Ba Sing Se. The thick canopy of trees above sheilded them from the noon's sun. They had already set up camp, and things were going very slow. Aang rested against a tree trunk. Katara and Toph spoke, while the Earth King stroked his bear. Sokka threw and caught his boomerang, very bored. Everyone became silent when a figure entered their clearing. Sokka charged with his club but the man stopped him with ease and pushed him down. "Who are you?" he angrily demanded.

Zuko wandered the Earth Palace courtyard. Unattended flowers and shrubs shriveled in the sun. The firebender set a bear topiary aflame by sheer boredom. Life was much more interesting with Iroh. Thinking of him made Zuko fill with guilt. All his uncle ever wanted to do was help him. The old man actually believed in Zuko, and saw potential in him. He sighed and returned to his room.

Did he really want this life anymore? As Prince Zuko he had no friends. Just Azula and Ozai to critcize him. But when he was just Zuko, people seemed to like him. There was Lee, Jet, Song and Jin. Actual friends. Suddenly, a piece of paper on his dressar caught his attention.

"Ty Lee, can I talk to you for a second?" Mai asked. Her friend was practicing her acrobatics in her room.

"Sure!" she flipped over and went to Mai.

"Do you think what were doing is right? You know...helping Azula?" she sounded sad.

"Azula's our friend. Her plan seems a little harsh though..." Ty Lee said.

"Well thats just it. Is there really a need to kill Zuko and Iroh?"

"She just wants to make sure she rules after her father. But still, it is her brother..." Ty Lee sighed.

"I already told Zuko to leave with Iroh." Mai confessed. Her friend was shocked. "Please dont tell Azula!"

"You did the right thing, I wont tell her." Ty Lee chirped. Then she hugged Mai.

"OK, Ty Lee. Yeah...you can stop hugging me now."

"I KNEW YOU LIKED HIM!" she teased.

Zuko stood stunned by the letter. Who wrote it? Was it true? He couldn't take chances. Zuko sat thinking for a while. How would they escape? Before he was called for dinner, the firebender had already plotted their escape. Now to just play along...

"Are you anxious to leave tomorrow, Zuko?" Azula asked. He, Azula, Mai, and Ty Lee were all eating dinner. "

Very. I'm glad to be going home." Zuko lied. Mai and Ty Lee exchanged worried looks and he noticed. "I suppose Iroh is coming too?" he continued.

"Of course." she said.

"Is everyone packed?" Ty Lee asked. Everyone nodded.

"You should really check those dressars in the rooms, I forget stuff in them all the time. Knives, clothes, letters..." Mai sounded a little unsure. She was improvising.

Zuko and her locked eyes for a second. "She wrote the note!" he thought surprised. Mai looked down shyly. She was close with Azula, she must know. He felt devastated: Azula lied to him again and he fell for it. His father didn't want him back. Nobody did.

Azula always lies.