Hello everyone! Welcome to chapter 46 of Sparks Ignite! I know that last chapter was kinda short but this one is a little bit longer for you guys. I hope you enjoy it! As always, I do not own avatar or its characters. Onto the story!

Fate and Destiny are a funny thing. They are so permanent, but yet can be changed by the smallest thing. It can cause the moon and the sun to collide. Or the most opposite Sparks to Ignite.

Chapter 46: The Last Midnight

The week passed quickly, Katara guessed that may happen when she barely saw the sun. She would wake up just as it was rising and would head into the hollows of the library, only coming out for a quick meal now and again.

It was the last midnight until the tasks begin. She knew nothing of what they may be or how many there were. She hadn't been allowed to see Zuko for the past 3 days, as the tasks had drawn closer. As much as she missed him dearly, there wasn't a lot of time to miss anyone. Her head had been buried in book after book that it felt like she might get her head stuck in one someday.

"Do you think I'm ready?" she asked her mentor. Ming, the elderly woman sighed, "I think you are as ready as you ever will be my child" she patted the younger woman on the cheek, "Go to your room and rest… that is the best lesson you can give yourself right now"

Katara nodded and bowed before exiting her room. She walked by Zuko's office as she went, and every part of her wanted to bust through the doors and enclose him in her arms. But she knew that she couldn't. She didn't want to be accused of trying to cheat.

She walked into her room and shut the door behind her. Her thoughts wandered to the tasks and what was coming next. She tried to focus on something else, hoping to calm her racing thoughts, but no thought calmed them. She walked to her washroom and turned the faucet to the large bath, thinking the warm water may relax her mind, if she had any hope of falling asleep this evening.

The faucet trickled into the tub, and she frowned at its speed. She flicked her wrist and the water streamed through, pushing past the muck that clogged the line along the way. But still the water filtered until it was crystal clear. She saw the fancy soaps that sat next to the tub and poured a few in, creating bubbles in the bath.

As soon as it was full, she stripped herself of her clothes and lowered herself into the warm bath water. She felt all of her muscles relax as soon as she was incased in it, like all of her stressors melted into the air.

She laid in the water until it had gone cold, thinking of nothing in particular, not realizing how nice it was to have nothing to think about it again. She had been up to her nose in books and papers that she didn't remember what it was like to not think.

As she drained the tub, she wrapped the soft towel around her body, walking into her bedroom.

But when she looked up, she saw a dark figure on her balcony, trying to get through her patio doors. Her eyes widened and she gasped, immediately pulling the water from the tub to freeze the man to the railing. She kept her towel pressed against herself as she went to go look.

The man groaned, "Katara, it's me"

She gasped again, "Zuko!" she spoke, unfreezing him and bringing the water back into the tub. She quickly pulled him into her room, hoping nobody heard the ruckus. "What the hell are doing? Scaring me like that!"

"I was just trying to come see you before the tasks tomorrow" he spoke, pulling his black mask from his face, letting his black locks fall around his face.

Katara sighed, "I'm sorry for freezing you" she told him. "I'm sorry for scaring you" he retorted back.

There was a moment of silence between them, and she became very aware that she was only in a towel. There was a very thin piece of fabric that separated her naked body and his blazing heat. She tried to stop the excitement that coursed through her veins.

"Can you just…" she asked him. His eyes widened, now suddenly aware as well, "Um yeah yeah" he spoke, as he turned his back to her, hoping to give her some privacy.

She gulped silently, and quickly grabbed her clothes. When she dropped her towel, it was like a marathon to get all of the important clothes covering her as quickly as possible, not wanting to be standing nude in the room with him for long.

Once she slipped her night gown over her head, she cleared her throat, letting him know that she was decent. He turned back to her, his eyes flicking down her form but not lingering long enough to be considered indecent.

"I thought I couldn't see you until tomorrow…" she told him, sitting down at the edge of the bed. He cleared his throat to speak, "Technically no… hence my coming in through the window"

Katara nodded in understanding before pausing a moment, "Do I have any fighting chance?" she asked him. Zuko sat down next to her and nodded, "I think so… I tried to sway the advisors as much as I could… Make challenges that you at least have a fighting chance at"

She sat up, attentive, "Okay I'm ready… I want to know what I'm up against" she told him, the warrior coming out of her. He took a deep breath, "Well there is two tests tomorrow…" he started, which caused her to frown.

"I thought there was supposed to be one a day" she questioned, but he shook his head, continuing, "The first one isn't really a challenge… Well… They aren't telling you it is anyway…" he paused for a moment, "You will be summoned for lunch with the wives of the state… So governors and representatives, and most importantly, the advisors wives…"

"So I have to impress them…" she reasoned. He nodded in agreement, "They're a… tough bunch… but it is very important that you get in their good graces. Everything you say or do will go back to the advisors before the official first task"

Katara nodded, determined, "I can do that… What's next?"

Zuko sighed, "Next is the fire nation quiz… They'll ask you questions about our industries, our culture, our background, anything you can think of…"

She pondered this for a moment, "I've done a lot of studying… Do you know the questions?"

But he shook his head, "I think they knew I may try to tell you the challenges… which makes me think that Mai may know them as well"

Katara groaned and rolled her eyes, "Great…" but she shook her head, trying to stay positive, "What comes after that?"

"Next is the tea ceremony… They decided on the wedding ceremony, as it is the one you would do first" he told her. This caused her to light up in a smile, "Ming had a feeling they might choose that one. We practiced that one a lot…"

Zuko smiled at this, knowing he could count on Ming to prepare Katara the best she could, "Well the next task should be easy for you as well" he told her, causing her ears to perk up, "You'll be given war scenarios and you'll have to decide the best course of action. Then I will give my course of action and you will react to what my decision is"

Katara smiled, knowing her work with Ozai's transfer and all the duties of Republic City; she knew that this would be easy for her. "There's only one more thing…"

She looked at him, curious and expectant, before he continued, "The last challenge is…"

A knock at the door interrupted them. Katara's eyes widened as she pushed him towards the balcony, knowing if they were caught, it could compromise her place in the tasks. He quickly jumped down, mad that they were disturbed and he couldn't tell her what came next. She had to practice, if she had any hope of winning.

Katara opened the door and her eyes widened when she saw Mai standing on the other side, "Mai, what are you doing here?"

She showed hardly any emotion, her eyes flicking around the room, looking for the firebender, "My father was looking for Zuko and couldn't find him. I was just making sure we didn't have a cheater in the competition"

Katara stood, headstrong and tall, not letting the drab fire nation native scare her, "I haven't seen him, I was just heading to bed, which I intend to do now unless you have any more further questions"

The other woman was silent for a moment before Katara practically slammed the door in her face. She let out a breath and walked to the balcony, looking below to find Zuko but he had already run off. He must've heard Mai's voice and ran for the hills. She would've done the same.

But as she went to go back inside, a small slip of paper caught her eye. She picked it up and opened it

Knife Throwing. Pick your own knife, or make your own.

She smiled down at the paper and threw it in the fire quickly.

Ta-Daaa! What do you guys think? Now we know the challenges but easier said then done! Until next time!