1Well, I saw the Western Air Temple online this morning. 0.o Don't worry, I'm not gonna spoil it.

Or WILL I? -shifty eyed- XD Nah, jk, I won't.

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Chapter 10: Family Matters

Iroh woke up in a very uncomfortable position. He groaned and opened his eyes. The Dragon of the West found himself in a dark cell with his arms and legs chained to the wall. He sighed.

'Karma must really be upset with me right now.' He thought. Iroh wondered how long it will be before he saw Ozai again. He hasn't seen his brother since Zuko was banished.

"Brother, I'm begging you to reconsider." Iroh was kneeling in front of Ozai in the throne room just after Zuko's Agni Kai. "He is only thirteen-"

"Rules are rules, Iroh What Zuko did was beyond disrespectful!" Ozai glared down at his older brother. "Zuko is not a child anymore. Hunting the Avatar shouldn't be that hard of a task."

"The Avatar is dead for all we know, brother!" Iroh argue. "What then? What if he is found dead?"

"Then I will still give Zuko a reprieve. Until then, he is banished."

Iroh sighed deeply."Then that makes two of us. I will accompany Zuko on his quest."

Ozai frowned. "Very well. But I warn you: if you don't come back with the Avatar, coming back will be the last thing you'll do."

"I understand." Iroh said. "And I warn you: if you hurt Zuko in any way, it'll be the last thing you do."

Back to the present, Iroh tried yanking the chains off with no avail. A few minutes later, Ozai came in.

"Ozai." Iroh said firmly.

"Iroh." Ozai said the same tone. "Well, I see your act hasn't changed much."

"Neither has yours."

"Have you met up with my failure of a son yet?" Ozai asked casually. "He told me he was going to set you free from your prison. That you were a real father to him. It was quite beautiful, really."

Iroh just glared at him. "Where is she? Ursa?"

"My is she popular amongst traitors!" Ozai commented. "You knew she was banished. But did you already know she too was captured?"

"Yes, I did." Iroh answered. "That's why I'm asking."

""Don't worry, she's alive. For the time being." Ozai replied.

"What do you mean 'For the time being'?" Iroh asked, narrowing his eyes.

"My daughter lied to me about who took down the Avatar who happened to survive." Ozai explained. "Cleaning the entire palace inside and out was only her punishment. She needs a test in loyalty."

Iroh's eyes grew wide in horror as he realized what his brother was saying. "You mean...you're going to..."

"Oh yes." Ozai replied, nodding. He turned to leavew. "Have fun in confinement."

Iroh sighed once again in sadness. Ozai was going to have Azula kill Ursa, and Zuko probably had no knowledge of this, and there was nothing he nor Iroh could do.,

They were screwed.

XXXXXX

Azula caught up with Mai in the city's marketplace.

"Mai." Azula called out.

Mai turned to greet her friend. "Hey, Azula."

"Tking up shopping, huh?" Azula asked, conversationally.

"Yeah. Times at the palace have gotten pretty boring ever since Zuko left." Mai sighed.

Azula smiled. "Well, you're in luck, then. My brother was captured and imprisoned this morning."

Mai almost dropped the basket she was holding. "What?!"

"Yes. He's somewhere in the palace dungeons now." Azula grabbed Mai's arm as she began heading to the palace. "I wouldn't recommend seeing Zuzu right now. My father's on his way to do a little...bonding time."

Mai stiffened. "What is he going to do?"

"Oh don't worry. He won't kill him./" Azula replied. "Look, you can see Zuko in two hours. You'll tell me all about your visit, right?"

Mai glared at Azula. "I'll tell you only what concerns you. Anything else is between me and him."

Azula glared back at Mai. "I sense your loyalty is wavering. Ty Lee's, too./"

"Oh you sense a lot of things." Mai retorted.

"I do." Azula replied. "And if I sense any disloyalty from you, not only will our friendship be over, but your life will be over!"

Mai scoffed. "What friendship? All I was to you was a damn sidekick!"

Azula smacked Mai across the face. Mai gasped and put a hand to her face and groaned slightly.

"I'm assuming you will tell Ty Lee of this." Azula said. "Tell her the same thing goes for her."

Without another word from Mai, Azula turned her heel and left for the palace. Mai sighed

'This is what I freaking get for doing something out of boredom.' She thought.

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The metal cell Zuko was sitting in was dark. Dark and cold. The only window was the opening at the top and bottom of the door so people can push food in and look into the room. There was a chair in the middle of the room, which Zuko spent most of his time on.

He wondered if Iroh was captured as well. He wondered if Iroh is even alive now. He wondered if Mai knows he was captured.

The door creaked open, and Zuko stood up to greet his father.

"Zuko. We meet again." Oai said coolly. "How's the Avatar?" Zuko just glared at him. "Ah, no matter. You won't tell me, anyway. I have bigger fish to fry now. It seems that both your mother and uncle were on the run. But they were both captured."

"Where are they?" Zuko asked, seething. He walked toward Ozai and grabbed the front of his robes. "Where are they, you son of a-"

A couple of Ozai's bodyguards grabbed each of Zuko's arms and forced him down on the chair. Ozai continued.

"I assure you, they're quite safe." Ozai replied. "For now."

Ozai left the cell, leaving Zuko to yell out in anger and send a fireball through the bars of his cell door.

About an hour later, the door opened again. Zuko looked up and saw who was standing in the doorway.

"Mai."

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CLIFFIE! Next chapter will be entirely focused on Mai and Zuko's conversation. Just a heads-up. -winks-