All awkwardness between anyone in the palace faded. Everyone took turns babysitting Lu Ten. Suki and Katara often took their turns together, for they had the most fun with Lu Ten then. They would play games with him. Their subconscious was imagining as them in the future when one of them had a family and the other was that child's aunt. (A/N: Does that make any sense to anyone? I don't know how else to word it. They're practicing for the future, when they have families, which I thought was kinda cute.)

Everything was peaceful, the first time in weeks.

That peace didn't last long.

They had received word that Azula had broken out of her prison. She killed three guards in the process. No one knew where she was now; there were no clues to where she had gone, either. The Fire Nation had heavy security everywhere and the other nations had been warned.

One night, Katara stood out on the balcony from her room. She could see the whole city from there and what she saw wasn't good.

Several houses were caught on fire. They lit up the night sky so brightly; it might as well have been noon. She saw a large group of people walking slowly toward the palace. Behind them, dozens of people ran out of their houses, screaming and trying to protect their loved ones.

Katara raced out of her room and downstairs to the commons, where several of her friends were still lingering.

"The city is on fire!" she shouted. "We have to help!"

The others were confused. "What?" Suki asked.

"The city. Is on. Fire," Katara said slowly.

The others jumped into action. Sokka went to wake anyone who could help up. Katara, followed by Suki, Toph, and Aang ran out of the commons and down a long hallway. They made their way to the chaotic streets of Ba Sing Se. Aang and Toph built trenches to stop the movement of the fire. Katara heard someone crying in a nearby flaming house. Two parents were outside, crying, for they could not find a way in to save their child. Using water as a barrier, Katara ran into the house.

Z x K

Zuko made it to burning buildings just in time to see Katara run into a house. A pang of fear shot through him. She's going to get hurt, Zuko repeated over and over in his head. She's going to hurt herself. This mantra kept him fueled as he made his way through the door. The ceiling collapsed to his right and he heard a yelp.

"Katara!" he shouted. He heard a weak response, but he couldn't tell where it was from.

"Help me, please!" The voice sounded like a little boy, maybe seven or eight years old.

Zuko ventured forward. The wood creaked and groaned. It was all going to fall any minute now. "Where are you?"

"Here…" The boy coughed. Zuko took a few more steps and caught sight of blue and green.

Katara was half-bent over the boy, passed out. Her forearm had gotten burned. Part of the wall had caved in, falling on top of them both. Zuko pulled the debris off of the two. He hoisted Katara up and into his arms and had the little boy hang on to his arm and follow him (Zuko) closely.

The trio made it out, mostly safe and sound. The boy was reunited with his parents. Zuko had set Katara on the ground. He was trying to wake her up. She finally regained consciousness several frightening minutes later.

Z x K

The first face Katara woke up to was her brother's. She slowly sat up and glanced at her arm. She suddenly remembered where she was, what was happening. The numbed pain was quickly returning. She felt for water and, after finding it, she soon healed herself, but it left a faint pink mark on her arm.

"Help me up," she said. Zuko and Sokka grabbed one of her arms each and pulled her up. "We have to hurry. When I got here, I saw people—the rebels—they we walking that way." She pointed down the street. "There's not much we can do here. By the time we get these fires out, at least twenty new houses will be burned to the ground. We have to stop it at its source."

Zuko and Sokka agreed with her.

"Sokka, you, Suki, and Toph stay here and try to put out the fires. Katara, Aang, and I will go stop the rebels."

"But you three can't take them all out!" Sokka complained.

"Have you not been with us this past year? You and Suki and Toph took out and a whole airship fleet, Aang took out of a whole fleet of Fire Navy ships by himself. And me and Zuko stopped Azula," Katara said.

Sometimes I think he forgets what we've been through, Katara thought.

Z x K

It took twenty minutes until Zuko, Katara, and Aang found the rebels. Their trail was easy to follow. The three hid in non-burning brush while they assessed a plan. Aang would come up the rear, with Katara and Zuko on either side.

On the count of three, they all ran to their positions. They stealthily took out their ranks one by one. Soon, they were noticed. The Waterbender, Firebender, and Avatar had to fend for themselves, as the rebels were attacking them. It worked as a good distraction, though.

Katara did a scan of all the rebels marching. There was more than what she saw in the cave that day. Maybe there were others already in the city, waiting, but she didn't have time to think of that because she saw Zuko surround by a whole bunch of people. She couldn't see him anymore because of the swarm around him.

Katara saw a crack of lightning and maniacal laughter. The worse came to mind. She jumped over people, trying to get across the crowded street. The people around Zuko faded away. They thought they had done part of their mission, and now they were continuing on their original path to get the Earth King this time.

"Zuko!" Katara shouted. She crouched down beside the wounded Fire Lord.

Katara checked to see if he was breathing. He was, but just barely. She felt his pulse, but it was very faint. He was going quickly.

"Katara…" Zuko said weakly. "I…love…you." He closed his eyes and Katara couldn't feel his breath anymore.

To be continued…

OOOOHHHHH….cliffie. Haha.

Okay, so I haven't said a disclaimer in a while. I do not, or have ever, or shall ever own A:tLA.

So, boo hoo, the story's almost over! Awwww. IDK how many chapters are left, but I know just a few. Under eight I think, but more than three. So, does anyone have anything that I should do before this is over? Any changes I need to make? Let me know—quickly, like, right now.

Um, I don't think I'll need a beta for this story anymore, but if any of you would like to help me on my other stories, please let me know. I think I'll work on "When the World Shattered" next, but if I get an offer for the other one ("The Modern Benders") I'll do that one after I make some changes to it…So, well, bye!