TO: Mikaela Banes <mbanes@la-resident.org> FROM: Prince Zuko <zuko@angelinvestigate.com> SUBJECT: Explanation.
Mikaela,
I believe I owe you an explanation and I feel like such an ass for not contacting you sooner. I know I said that I'd drop by so we could talk about that whatever it was/is that you needed to talk about, but I got...sidetracked. To quote Cordelia (and this will probably be one of the few times I will actually do so), I've been "the great flailing prince" the past few weeks. Crude description, but simple and effective.
Remember all those things I told you about my past, my family, my nation, and how I grew up? Well, my sister arrived, followed shortly by her two lackeys friends. I've been trying to keep Azula, Mai, and Ty Lee off the Avatar's trail, for it would be disasterous if my sister were to learn Aang and his friends were here. Or that I was affiliated with them, let alone an unofficial part of their group. They seem to think I'm still on their side, but I'm not trusting what I hear from them - especially my sister. Azula always lies. Never trust anything you hear from her.
I should also tell you that the Mai mentioned above is the same Mai I was involved with back home. The one I left because we were on opposing sides of the war when I made my decision to join the Avatar, as to spare us any unnecessary conflict and heartbreak later down the line. I felt it best to, as they say here "bite the bullet" then as opposed to later. I haven't told her (or Ty Lee and Azula) about you yet. I don't want them to come after you and should they realize - or perhaps they already know, there's no telling with them - that I'm a traitor towards our their nation and their cause, they'll use you to get to me. I won't have you be used like that - Azula is cruel and won't hold back. I can't put you in that kind of danger.
The waterbender is having those of us affiliated with the Avatar - Toph (the earthbender), her brother Sokka, Princess Yue, and myself - meet at the zoo tonight to discuss what we're going to do about Azula, Ty Lee, and Mai. I'll let you know what sort of conclusion we come to. I have an idea of my own that I may go through with regardless of they're decision, but we'll see. If I do go through with it, I'll tell you what it is I plan to do. If so, only you and Avatar will be aware...for the Avatar's had...past experience with that plan.
Please, whatever you do, avoid my sister. There's no telling what she'll do, depending on all she knows.