Authors note: I can't believe I've been able to get a sequel up. It's really amazing, at least to me.

Ok so this is set in season three and is going to be about Zuko, Mai, and their journeys. Just for a very important notice: If you want to understand this story it is vital that you read the first story "When We Were Younger". You don't have to but if you don't understand some of things please don't complain. Ok then, that's all, please enjoy the first chapter in my sequel.

Chapter One

They Meet

So sad, the fallen city seemed. So meek, the people had become. So dim, the hope they had. And yet in the palace, in the palace of Ba Sing Se, sat the princess of the Fire Nation, the conquer of the Earth Kingdom Capital.

"It seems such a short time ago that this city was the only hope for the rest of the nations. And look it now, it's ours brother."

"I feel…so strange."

Azula glared at Zuko from the corner of her eye, "You've been feeling strange quite much lately, to be exact…ever since you betrayed uncle. You aren't regretting anything, are you?"

"No Azula, nothing at all. I just…don't feel right."

"Well you're boring me. Why don't you go away and come back when I'm bored as well."

Zuko, rather than answering, just left the room and his sister's mood. He quietly made his way through the palace corridors, scanning the decorations here and there. For awhile everything seemed to be alright until all of his thoughts caught up with him.

"What have I done?" Zuko said, looking at his hands, "Why did I do it? I was disloyal to uncle, I let go of everything we had taught me. All the things I learned…and for what?"

Zuko didn't notice how loud he was and quieted himself quickly, "Azula says I did it for fathers honor but I am not so sure. I should be but-"

"Prince Zuko."

He turned around to see a guard of the palace. A letter was clutched in his hand.

"This is a message, from the Fire Nation princess. It seems to be of a private manner. It was told to be given to you a few minutes after being written."

Zuko nodded and murmured a thank you.

He opened it soon after the guard had left, surprised to receive a letter so soon after his dismissal.

Dear Brother,

I know this is so soon after I told you to leave but I have some news for you.

Zuko sighed but read on.

An old friend of mine has joined me in our victory. I'm sure this one, if any, will be of entertainment for you. Now who that is…well is for you to guess. I'm sure you won't be far from your answer. And if, as usually do don't know the answer; just go to the other side of the palace. In the library you will get your amusement.

Zuko, in anger, crumbled the paper, and threw it to the floor.

"If she thinks I'll be entertained by some of her friends then she is wrong."

But as he walked on he began to think of who it was. Zuko did see, as he had entered the earth kingdom palace for the first time that someone had disappeared from Ty Lee's side, one of Azula's best friends. Who could it be?

"I'm scared to find out," he mumbled all to himself.

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"Oh Zuko, I still can't believe it's you," Ty Lee said as she hugged him closely, "Azula wouldn't "allow" this earlier so."

Zuko barely embraced her, scarcely putting up with her happiness.

"It's nice to see you too," Zuko said as he slightly pushed her away.

She smiled her weird smile and giggled at the prince.

"Why do you seem so frightened Zuko? It's just me."

"Yes Zuko, why are you frightened?" Azula asked.

Zuko shrugged as he made his way to the dinner table. He sat down and just picked at his dinner plate.

"So is there any news from your father, Azula?" Ty Lee asked with her hyper attitude.

"You mean the Fire Lord?" Azula said as she turned her gaze to her brother, "No…none at the moment. The messenger is still on his way to deliver the news of Ba Sing Se. In the mean time we will stay put."

"Alright, it's just that-"

"Don't tell me that you want to go back to that…attempt of a circus."

"Oh honestly Azula, I can't help myself for missing it. I mean know that our journey is over there is no reason for me to stay."

"We still have much more to accomplish and you wouldn't want to disappoint the Fire Nation, would you?"

Ty Lee now sat upright, "Of course not. I'm feeling fine now."

Azula grinned deviously, "Now that's what I thought…Zuzu, you haven't eaten a bit of your dinner. Aren't you hungry?"

"I might be…if you stopped calling me Zuzu," he muttered under his breath.

"What was that, Zuzu?" Azula said with a teasing tone to her voice.

"Nothing, anyway, I'm not hungry."

Zuko stood up and walked from the table.

"But don't you want to join in Ty Lee's and I conversation."

"No…I'd rather not."

Ty Lee whirled around in her chair, "I think I know why. Has he seen her yet?"

Zuko looked down, "Seen who?"

Ty Lee mouth went open in awe, "You mean…you haven't seen her yet."

"Seen who?!" Zuko asked, now more angry than confused.

"Oh," Azula started, "You would have known if you'd followed my message."

Zuko glared over at his sister, leaving the dining room in a fury. So much bewilderment had consumed him in the last few days that he had no idea where to go and who to turn to.

"Was everything that I have done a mistake-?"

Zuko stopped talking though when he heard a door open behind. He turned around but no one was there.

Zuko went into the room with the open door and his eyes searched around everything.

"Something doesn't-"

"Feel right," a person behind him finished.

Zuko span around to see the solemn face he had always kept in his mind and even though he wouldn't admit it, in is heart. It was the face of Mai.

"Mai," he said, "It's you."

"We have a lot to catch up on, don't we?"

Zuko watched as the dagger in her hand fell to the ground.

"We do…"

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Authors note: I didn't mean to put a cliff hanger on the first chapter but they had to meet somehow. I hope you enjoyed the first chapter of my sequel. Please, please, please review. I hope all my old reviewers from the other story are back and ready to review.