Well, I've decided to compare writing this story to ridinga bike up a very steep hill. Once you get almost to the top you start to slow down and burn out. But then once you get to the top you get to fly down the other side. Well, this chapter is the slow down and burn out chapter. I just had no idea what to write which is why I didn't update yesterday. But don't worry, it's all smooth sailing from here on out because we're going downhill. EVERYONE PUT YOUR HANDS IN THE AIR! WOOOOoooo! Anyways, news about my life. Me and my dad were planning on driving up the canyon tomorrow morning so he could show me this spot where he has his treestand set up. If you go early enough these huge bull elk come right beneath and start bugeling to each other. But then after working all day today we decided that waking up tomorrow at four in the morning was just a tad too early. But that's okay, I've heard elk bugle before. Man, but today was a rough day. I can't begin to express how good it felt to take a steaming hot bath and scrape and inch of dirt off myself.

Lovergal1227: Glad you loved the chapter despite the awkward ending. Yes, Ozai is still evil and until I sneak him some anesthesia and get him on an operating table to remove his brain, I don't think it's going to change.

Zukoscute2: Yay indeed.

Khazia: Doctors are stupid. My family really doesn't believe in them so I haven't been to one since I was about six. We're all into natural remedies, so if you get sick in my house, out comes the garlic, echennecia and silver water. Then your expected to go outside and work because fresh air is good for you. I think I should re-read this story myself. I'm beginning to forget what I've written. I tend to do that, it's weird. About my eyes. They are really dark hazel. Like super dark. From a distance they usually look black, gray or dark brown depending on what I'm wearing, but close up you can tell that they're a dark olive green color. Like a sort of camoflauge green. So if I open my eyes really wide you can't see me!

O-dragon: This story basically is a novel by now. I think I'm up around 150 pages, but maybe it's more by now. I should go through a count them. This is the longest thing I've ever written. I've never played an electric violin, but I love the sound of them. I really love the sound of the Norwegian fiddle. It's what plays the music in LOTR whenever the people of Rohan come on screen. Yay! Texan talk! Don't worry, I myself talk like a farmer. My accent is even more pronounced when I'm around my dad.

Titan09: I'M COMING ZUKO BABY! J/K. I agree with everything you said and I loved that spongebob episode. My favorite spongebob quote would have to be: SB-"PATRICK! ARE YOU READY TO GET CRAAAZY?" P-"I'M ALREADY HEARING VOICES!" About the green violing. It was sad, I really did want to play that one, but I pulled it out and was tuning it when the bridge snapped. So I'll probably just play my black one tomorrow. By the way, Athenera says she's coming for Zuko, so you'd better watch your back!

Athenera: Oh, I'm writing I'm writing! cough-slavedriver-cough-cough! J/K. Luv ya gurl!

Blue 1/2: I really didn't know I wasn't accepting anons. I don't think Zula will be coming back into the story, at least I don't have anything planned for her right now but you never know if that is going to change. If you have any good ideas for her, I'd love to hear them. I wish I was good at running. I tried picking it up at the beginning of this summer, but I quickly gave it up. I like running when it's involved in sports or I have scenery to look at, but just plain running is too boring for me. So I'm an out of shape lard sitting here typing at my little keyboard. J/K.

Randomwriter88: DON'T WORRY RW88! I'LL SAVE YOU! (grabs innocent pedestrian and uses it to beat away nonbelievers)

Blue striped White Boxers: Wow, next to Suave Boogie, you have to have the sweetest name ever! I like to writes me a good cliche. I think they're easier because, heck, they've already been done before! I think everyone writes about Zuko because he's the deepest character on the entire show and people just have a tendancy to appreciate the character with a tortured past. Plus he's just so dern hot! If I write anything after this story on I think it will be parodies because I love stories that are hilarious and make no sense. You can't really take me serious most of the time either. No thanx about the cookies though. I'm still trying to get myself through the 12 dozen that RandomWriter88 blasted me with a few chapters ago. And no, I don't have an account of fictionpress, but I think I oughta get one. I have several stories in my head that I would like to get out into the open. But I think I'll finish this one first because I'm not much of a multi-tasker.

Katie paced around the room in irritation. Iroh had assured her that he would do anything possible to get word to the avatar that there were allies in the palace. And yet she felt like a caged animal. She felt trapped and her mind was clouded with frustration. A soft knock on her door around three in the morning snapped her back to reality.

"Come in!" She called, hoping upon hope that it was Iroh behind the door. But instead it was a tired looking messenger.

"My lady, firelord Ozai wishes to speak with you in the throneroom." The man said, bowing respectfully.

"Tell him to shove it." Katie said and resumed pacing. She looked up a few seconds to see that the messenger was still there. "What?"

"Um, the firelord gave me specific instructions to escort you to the throneroom."

"Well I ain't goin'. So beat it." Katie said. She had never been this rude to a complete stranger in her entire life, but to her everyone in this palace was just as evil as Ozai.

"I, um…"

"I SAID GET OUT!" Katie yelled, commanding the fire in the lanterns around the door with her mind and pulling them into the open. The messenger squeaked in surprise and scuttled away as the flames chased him halfway down the hall. Sweat began streaming down Katie's face. She felt the energy growing inside her. She closed her eyes and thought deeply about her breathing, about her heartbeat, and just about everything else her body did to keep itself in check. In her mind she saw her energies and functions as thought they were a glow of different colors, using deep concentration she put them in their places. When she opened her eyes the welling energy had subsided. But the anger and frustration was still there. She needed to release some steam. She pulled on her pajama pants and a tunic and stepped boldly out of the room, daring either of the two guards still posted outside to make a move to stop her. Katie was glad to see lanterns lit around the training arena. She stepped onto the charred floor and began punching the air. Gradually she fell into the fighting and gymnastics moves Zuko had taught her. She had come a long way from a girl who could barely hold her own three months earlier. She kept this up until she was exhausted. She just stood in the center of the arena for a few minutes, trying to slow down her breathing.

She closed her eyes and felt a refreshing breeze drift in from the pane-less windows. She could feel something else as well. She could feel the flames in the lanterns. She reached out and pulled at them one by one. Soon the small globules of light surrounded her. She swirled them around her head, losing herself in the motions. Then she held up her hand and did as Iroh had instructed her to create a flame of her own, all the while she kept the lantern fire rotating around her head. She closed her eyes and made a channel for some of her internal fire to escape through her palm. It was extremely difficult and she almost lost her grip on control, but when she opened her eyes there was a small flame floating just above her hand. It was entirely different from the fire in the air; this one had come from a different source.

"That is quite impressive." A voice said softly. Katie nearly lost her hold on the lantern flames. She whipped around and saw Ozai standing up on the balcony above her.

"What do you want?" Katie demanded, turning her back on the firelord.

"I want you to stop hating me…Katie. I want you to show me the same mercy and compassion that you showed my unworthy children."

"And what makes you think that you are worthy?"

"Because whether you want to believe it or not you are my wife. Your name is Zerita and I love you more than life itself."

"Ozai, I'm not Zerita. My name is Katie. I was born and raised on a farm in Utah. I'm seventeen and I've been married to your son for little over a month. Just look at me and you'll see that I'm not your wife." Katie said pleadingly, turning back to face Ozai.

"I am looking at you. And I see my Zerita's face. I see her eyes and I see her fire…"

"But you don't see her soul, Ozai. I'm a completely different person, even if I do look like her." Ozai pursed his lips and turned away.

"You will see. The solstice is tomorrow; the comet will be over the pinnacle at sunset. Then you will remember who you are." Ozai said, he didn't wait for a reply but disappeared. Katie heaved a sigh and went back to the flames in the air. She brought them all together to mingle with the flame she had created to make a ball almost as big as herself. Then an idea came to her. She focused everything on the fire in front of her. She forced every flickering spike to bend to her will. It took some getting used to, but after half an hour she had created a sculpture of fire. She had made it to look like Zuko just because it was the first thing that came to mind. After she stared into the face for a few seconds she began moving the fire once more, forming it into shape after shape. She made it into every family member she possessed, she made it into her horse, she made a dragon. Anything that popped into her head she made the flame to resemble. She lost touch with everything until she felt a hand rest on her shoulder. She turned and saw Iroh standing right behind her.

"I've never seen anybody do anything like that. I must say I'm quite amazed at your ability." He said, smiling at her proudly. But Katie didn't want praise right now, she wanted news.

"Did you find him?" She demanded. Iroh glanced around the charred room and wrapped an arm around Katie's shoulder, leading her out of the arena. He didn't say anything until they got back to her room. Iroh made sure that they were out of view of the balcony before he finally spoke.

"I found the boy and I gave him your message. We discussed his cause of action and he will attack the palace tomorrow morning." Iroh said, keeping his voice low.

"That's cutting it too close. The comet will be over the palace tomorrow night." Katie hissed.

"It's the best we can manage. Do not worry. I'm sure everything will work out fine." Iroh said. She could tell from the look in his eyes that he didn't mean it. He had been told his entire life that Ozai was going to harness the power of the comet. But Katie appreciated the gesture. She gave him a small smile and a hug.

"Go ahead and get some rest uncle." She said quietly. She felt guilty for snapping at him earlier. "And thank you for everything."

"You are welcome. Would you like me to send for Imoen to keep you company?"

"No thanks. I think I should get some sleep as well." She said. Iroh placed a hand on her shoulder in farewell and left the room. Katie sat down on the bed and she began rubbing her fingers through her hair out of habit, but realized it had grown to long to do this anymore. She glanced out the door to the balcony and was somewhat shocked to see how high the sun was. She wanted so badly to be doing something but there was nothing for her to do except sit and wait. She put herself to work on her firebending. She would create small fireballs and over time it grew much easier to force down the giant current of energy inside her. But she also began to grow tired. She laid down in the bed and pulled her covers up to her chin. She buried her face into Zuko's pillow and drifted of into an unrestful sleep.

"I don't know that we should trust him." Sokka said that night after Iroh had left. "He's Firenation and he's one of Zuko's goons. We'd have to be insane to do anything he says."

"Sokka, we don't really have much choice. The solstice is just to close and he said it was Katie who sent him." Katara said, trying to sound reassuring.

"And how do we know we can trust her?" Sokka demanded. He grabbed a stick and poked at the campfire.

"Uh, maybe because she went behind her boyfriend's back and risked everything to set us free." Katara said, raising an eyebrow.

"And she gave us enough money to get us here." Aang put in as he practiced his earthbending several yards away.

"And that Iroh guy says it's the only way to save Zuko's life." Katara finished.

"You guys are blind. You'd trust anybody." Sokka said grumpily as, for the millionth time, the other two teamed up against him.

"Why don't you listen to your instincts?" Katara said with a playful grin.

"Okay, that's just really getting old." (A/n: I have to agree with Sokka. Why do people keep bringing it up?)

"Rise and shine Katie!" Katie sat up with a start. Imoen had entered the room and threw open the curtains. Bright, midday sunlight shot into Katie's eyes. She let out a hiss and covered her face with her blanket until her eyes adjusted. "Come on lazy head. We need to make you another gown for the solstice banquet and you need to eat something." Katie pulled her blanket away grumpily. She had only had an hour or two of sleep. Imoen propped a tray laden with food in front of Katie and forced her to eat everything on it.

"So, why didn't we start making this dress before today?" Katie asked between mouthfuls.

"What's the fun in that? Besides, I work better under pressure." Imoen said, bustling around the room and straightening things.

"Famous last words." Katie grumbled. She finished eating and followed Imoen down to her room to get the gown made. The gown itself was mostly already made, it just needed to be fitted and finished. Katie tried to stifle yawning every three seconds as she stood on the small table, but the movement caused a sharp reprimand from Imoen. And so the entire day was spent. As before, Imoen wouldn't let Katie see herself in the dress which was red and a blue-violet color. When Katie reached her room at sunset, she felt exhausted beyond the point of being surprised to find Iroh waiting for her.

"It doesn't look like you got much sleep." He said, watching her stumble into the room. Katie only grunted. "I've been corresponding with your avatar friend for most of the day…"

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I haven't been able to find you. As I was saying, I've been corresponding with the avatar and together we have managed to device a sort of plan for tomorrow night."

"Well then, let's hear it." Katie said, clapping her hands together, her exhaustion forgotten.

"PRINCESS KATIE LIN." The announcer voice called to the crowd when Katie stepped out onto the staircase. She was alone this time and felt utterly exposed. But she put on a confidant face and walked boldly down the wide staircase into the ballroom and strode up to Ozai's throne to bow. When she stood up she could barely contain a smile from her face as she thought 'You're goin' down'. Katie turned and lost herself in the immense crowd. She saw Iroh slip into the room by some secret door and b-lined for him.

"So, how goes the evil plot?" She muttered.

"Everything is going according to plan."

(singing) Cause it's the fic that never ends!bum bum.yes it goes on and on my friend. Lin13 staarted typing it not knowing what it was, and she'll continue typing it forever just because! It is the fice that never ends...

It's funny because it's true. Please review, and if you have a good idea for a plan for them to take down Ozai, let me hear it because I could use some ideas. That's mostly why I ended this chapter at this point.