A/N: So I had been debating whether to write my alternate ending to this story, and after talking to some reviewers I decided to. This is the original idea for the ending of the story, but I chose the to use the other ending because this one seems even more OOC and crazy, but I still love the idea. I hope you have all enjoyed this story and thanks for all your reviews and love, it has been great hearing it and writing for you all!

Katara's eyes blinked open as she woke up the next morning. The sun was shining in through the curtains, just like any other day. But today felt different. She didn't know what it was, but something felt wrong. It was worse than how yesterday ended.

Katara hadn't seen Zuko for the rest of the day after he got the truth out of her, after he learned that she was the one who was behind Mai's death. She figured he was going to have the guards come and take her away, lock her in her room, throw her in prison, anything. But he did nothing. He had left the room, went to an unknown place, and left Katara alone. After a bit of time she had went and wandered through the palace, but she didn't find him anywhere.

She got up out of her bed, not bothering to make it this morning. She didn't feel it was necessary. Something wasn't right about the air in the palace. It was different from any other day she had been here. She left her room and began roaming the palace, looking in every room trying to find Zuko. She needed to talk to him and explain to him why she had done it. She had got the gist out to him yesterday, but he needed to listen to her calmly and try to understand where she was coming from. She had never meant to hurt him, she had only hoped for better things for him, and for herself.

After a while of looking, Katara made her way to the last place she could think that Zuko might be. She had meant to avoid this room if she could, but it was her last resort. She sighed, and knocked at the door. When she heard no response, she opened it. She wasn't surprised to find Zuko's bedroom empty. He had completely disappeared, and she didn't blame him.

She walked further into the room, examining it. She had never been in it before, but she knew that this was the place where Mai had died. The sin she had committed had taken place in this room, even if she hadn't been present for it.

A piece of paper caught her eye against the red of the room. It sat on one of the nightstands next to the bed. It was just a regular piece of paper, but it seemed to radiate some kind of glow. It was important, and it was placed there for her. She had a feeling about it.

She walked over and picked it up, sitting down on the bed as she began to read it. Her eyes widened in surprise as she read through it. She couldn't believe what she was reading. This couldn't be real, this couldn't be true. There is no way this is happening. If what the paper said was true, it meant that everything she had done was for nothing.

Katara,

I will never be able to understand why you did what you did or what would possess you to think to go to those extremes. I had always thought of you as a close friend and as a kind, caring person, but now I do not know what to think of you.

This may come as quite a shock, and to be honest, I don't know why I am doing it. But this whole scenario needs closure, and this seems fair. I'm sure you've heard of the phrase 'an eye for an eye'. Well, this is your punishment. In return for taking the life of the person I loved, I will take the life of the person you love; myself.

I wish you well in whatever you decide to do with your life form this point forward. But never forget the wrong that you've done. I know first-hand that the bad things you do will always haunt you.

-Zuko

She believed him. After reading the last line of his letter, it was like a cloud had formed over her head. She was hidden in darkness, and had nowhere to go from here. She felt a tear roll down her face. This was the end.