The prisoners were called for breakfast. Suki and I had to split with Sokka. Suki sat at a table in the far left corner of the room while I sat by myself at a table in the top right corner. Some of the prisoners figured out who I was and kept their distance. All their friends followed. Suki came to join me. "Sitting by yourself, huh?" she asked.

"Yep," I said, poking the food.

"Did some prisoners find out who you are?"

"Yep."

"Geez, some nerve. Don't even want to sit with their prince! Honestly, if I had the choice, I would sit with my prince. Figuratively speaking."

"Heh, thanks," I said. "Thankfully, not all of them figured it out yet. Otherwise, this place will be in much worse shape than now."

"What do you mean?" Suki asked.

"I'm Prince Zuko," I said, putting my fork down. "Fire Lord Ozai's son. A traitor to my kingdom."

"Oh," Suki said. "I see. So you're saying if some found out, that they will be mad?"

"Exactly." Suki was quiet for a minute. "It's good that Sokka found his dad," she said after a while.

"Yep."

"I was starting to get worried if he was even here at all. Is that why he came? To save his dad?"

"Yep."

"He didn't come to get anyone else?"

"We didn't have a solid escape plan," I said. "If we did manage to save everyone, it'll be out of pure luck."

"Sokka saved me though."

"I think he has a special connection to you."

"You really think that?"

"Yep."

"Breakfast is over!" a guard called by the door. "Everyone back to your cells!"

"See ya," Suki said as she stood.

I walked down the hallway with a few other prisoners. They all went into their cells. They had to put mine at the end of the hall where no one goes didn't they? I glanced at a guard as I walked passed. He's sleeping. He's slacking off on the job. I enter my cell and close the door.

"Zuko, are you there?" Sokka asked outside my door.

"Yeah."

"I just got done talking with my dad," Sokka whispered. "We thought of an escape plan."

"Hey!" a guard from behind the door asks. "What are you doing here?"

"I was just telling this dirty low-life what I think of him!" Sokka replied quickly. Keep it together, Sokka. "Well, you have to do that later. He's coming with us."

"Why?" Sokka asked.

"We had direct orders from the Warden, that's why!"

"Could I just get ten more seconds?" Sokka asked. "To...rough him up a bit?"

The guard sighed. "Fine. But just ten seconds." I grab the mattress of my bed while Sokka walks in. He closed the door behind him. "Take that!" Sokka said, punching the mattress.

"Oof!" I said.

"The new plan needs a huge distraction," Sokka said, still punching the mattress. "I'll meet you in the courtyard in a hour."

The door opened a little and Sokka quickly grabbed me. "All right, time's up, newbie," a female guard said, pulling Sokka off.

The first guard lead us down a hallway as the female walks behind me. "What are you doing?" I asked. I looked at the sign in the hall. It says 'Interrogation room'. "Where are you taking me? I didn't do anything wrong!" The guards threw me in the room. "Be back in a few minutes."

"Hey!" I said. "What did I do?"

"Come on, Zuko," a familiar voice said from behind me. I turned around to see...Mai! "Mai?!" I asked. "How did you know I was here?"

"Because I know you so well," she said.

"But-"

"The Warden's my uncle, idiot," she said, crossing her arms. "But, I guess I don't know you. All you left me is a letter? You could have at least looked me in the eye before you ripped out my heart."

"Mai, I didn't mean to-"

"You didn't mean to? Is that the best you have, Zuko?" She looked at the letter. "'Dear Mai, I'm sorry you have to find out this way, but I'm leaving.'"

"This isn't about you, Mai! It's about the Fire Nation!" I said.

"Thanks, that makes me feel a lot better." She threw the letter at me. "I'm sorry, Mai. I never wanted to hurt you," i said, rubbing my head. "I did this to save my country."

"Save it?" she asked. She walked closer to me. "You aren't saving it by leaving! You're betraying it!"

"That's not how I see it, Mai." Mai crossed her arms and turned around. "Mai, please listen to me. I wasn't trying to hurt you. I was just trying to protect you."

"Protect me? How, Zuko? How? By breaking up with me? By leaving me alone? By betraying your country?"

"Mai, look. I left to stop this war. Everyone in the Fire Nation thinks I'm a traitor. If I stuck with you, they would be interrogating you; asking you questions. It was best I left. I didn't want to drag you into this. I have to help the Avatar to defeat my father. It would be too dangerous to drag you along."

The door burst open. "Ma'am! There's a riot going on in the courtyard! I'm here to protect you!" a male guard exclaimed. Mai glared at him. "I don't need protection!" I laughed a little. "Believe me, she doesn't."

"I'm under direct orders from your uncle, ma'am, to make sure nothing happens to you." They must have started the plan without me. I gotta get out of here. I blast fire at the guard. The guard blocks it. I run towards the door. Once I leave, i quickly turn back around to lock the door behind me. Mai looks at me with a stern look. I'm sorry, Mai. I have to do this. You leave me no choice. I have to do this for my country. I really wish you could understand me. "I'm sorry, Mai," I said before I turned.