WARNING: Hello my fans. I think I should warn you that from now on this fanfic will no longer be as fluffy as it has been. Most people write a fic with the intention of hooking characters up… as I did. However I gave it a storyline. Which I am now going to go into. There will, of course, still be fluff and kawaii scenes. But I feel I haven't been doing myself justice by just doing a romance. So anyway, yeah. Plus the ending is gonna be awesome! So keep on reading!

WAH! I hit 50 reviews. eyes begin to water OH ARIGATOU! You guys rock! This is my first fic, and I thought it would be a miracle if it hit 10. Anyway, as stated above, I'm going to be changing the direction of the fic. This isn't a sudden thing, I've been planning this from the beginning, so yeah DON'T HATE ME!

Don't own Avatar! Oh! Also, the first season of Avatar is going on sale in January.

Chapter Seven

The Prophecy

But the kiss did not stop. She shifted her hands to the back of his head as he moved to cradle her neck in his own hands. Tears started to pour over her own face. Tears because she was so happy. Happy to be with Zuko. Happy to be kissing him.

It was a calm a soothing afternoon. The sun was few hours away from setting and the tropical birds in the trees were still fluttering about looking for goodness knows what. Iroh reached out to the table next to him and gently lifted the cup there, raising it to his lips. It was tea made from the petals of a cherry blossom and green tea leaves. He sipped it delicately and sighed. Life was indeed sweet and he was happy.

At the moment. Even as he sat there, looking out over the balcony in his room to the foliage below, he could feel the little troubles of life, sneaking up on him.

"WHERE IS HEEEEEEEE!" cried Katara as she threw open the door to Iroh's grand chambers. Her hair was a wreck and she truly looked very frightening. However Iroh simply laughed aloud and lifted an empty cup to her before filling it and setting it across from himself. Katara stood fuming in the doorway for some time before she flipped her hair back, straightening it out, and went to sit by her now cool cup of cherry tea, and Iroh.

The silence stretched for some time. Katara sat quietly across from Iroh, her temper now quiescent. Three days ago, Katara had given into Zuko's pleadings to heal the burns on his face. And three days had passed since Katara had kissed Zuko. She kept raising her fingers to her lips, to recall the feeling of his lips pressed against hers. And it had been three days since she had seen him. She had passed out and slept for a whole day, but when she awoke the soldiers told her he had disappeared into the palace library. She had gone to go find him but the library… that library.

The size of the palace was now understandable. The library took up about three fifths of the place. Upon opening the doors she had immediately given up her quest. And decided to wait. However, water does wait. Water over comes obstacles forcibly, by either going around them, or eradicating them completely. Katara didn't even notice Iroh watching her intently. However his smile was not that of a perverts, but of a happy man, content with watching the drama unfold.

More calmly this time, she asked, "Where is Zuko?… did I… do something wrong?" Iroh started and rearranged his features to look semi-angry.

"Something wrong! I should say not! The first thing Zuko said to me when he came back was 'Uncle! She kissed me!'" he sighed happily, "You have worked wonders on him, Katara. He was once far older than I, in spirit that is. Always scowling 'Where is the Avatar. Have you seen the Avatar. Are you hiding, the Avatar?' but then you came. And he started acting protective, which was unusual. He lectured the crew on how to behave when with a lady, and I had to stop him from demonstrating the punishment to any who even thought of harming you."

Katara looked at Iroh, now she was frazzled, "It was just when you had come back from the pirates that he told me, he loved you." Here Katara coughed nervously, "Yes, I suppose the word love is quite strong this early in the game… to sum it up, no you did nothing wrong. Zuko, has stumbled onto something…" Katara never thought the word "something" had sounded more ominous, "I won't tell, I can't. You must go to him." Now Katara looked like she was about to hit him. So Iroh quickly added, "On the eastern shore is a lagoon, that isn't easily found. You will find him there."

He was hardly finished before Katara had flung open the doors and was once again tearing down the hallways.


Zuko was panting heavily. His breathing, short and staggered. It was no longer sand beneath his hands, but smooth glass. In fact, the three-foot deep and two feet wide crater he was in was completely comprised of glass. Katara advanced quietly, before stepping on an open book; which sighed oddly as it sank deeper into the sand. Katara bent to pick it up and then walked over to Zuko. Sweat was pouring over his body, and evaporating at the same time. She set the book back down and slid into the glass crater with him, colliding with his bare chest. He slid forward and she went under him, ending up in a very compromising position. Katara looked up into his worried and wide-eyed face and Zuko looked down into her surprised and relieved face. They both began to laugh. Light little gasps first, and then into full body laughing. Katara found she couldn't stop as tears began to run down her face. Though whether they were tears of mirth, rage or sadness, she did not know.

Suddenly Zuko picked her up in his arms and jumped out of the odd crater. He set her down in the sand and sat next to her, "Do I even want to know what caused that crater? I mean that had to be some serious fire bending to create glass that thick and smooth…" she stopped as Zuko's normally tan skin paled.

"You may not want to know, but you must…" he looked at the book by their feet, his eyes widened by fear, "I'm sure you've noticed that lately nature has seemed strange, yes?" Not Katara paled, a great feat for her snow tanned skin. Lately? Her mind chastised, I've felt this my whole life. That the balance of the world was being thrown into turmoil by the fire nation's advances. She nodded gravely. It had been getting worse recently. Not enough to truly worry, just enough to come to mind as she lay in bed at night. She looked at Zuko and he was looking at her. There was an odd look in his eyes.

"What if I said, I saw that night I took you." Her thoughts immediately went to her secret or becoming one with the water. Though her face portrayed nothing.

"I would say, what are talking about?" Zuko looked angry for a moment. He had hoped, futilely, that Katara would play along. Obviously, she wasn't.

"What if I said, I saw you dancing, your body made of nothing but water? Watching you glide across the lake surface and control the waters at a whim." He saw that Katara was horrified, "And what if I said, I finally understand why. Because I have been searching. And I found an answer, albeit a bad one." Now her face was one that thought he was a lunatic, "I found this book. It's a diary. A very old one, I was surprised it hadn't rotted away."

"Cut to the bloody chase Zuko!" Katara suddenly shouted. She hated dodgy people, and Zuko wasn't normally one. He winced, but did as she said.

"This is the diary of the first Avatar, ever. Wei Lin."


(Ok peples, people have been saying this is a flashback. IT'S NOT! sniffle it's a flashforward. It makes you wonder, wha happen)

The boat rocked dangerously under Katara's feet. The decks were wet, causing her to slide. She flew towards a rail and only the thick arm of a sailor saved her. He righted her and smiled.

"You all right there little miss?" Katara nodded, "If yer lookin' fer Zuko. He's up in the mess." He turned her in the right direction and she was off again. The storm was picking up and Katara was tired of being alone in the cabin. She walked along the swaying deck to the mess and Zuko.

This was all the result of that awful conversation now two weeks past. The conversation about Wei Lin. But she was determined to be happy.Herrelationship with Zuko ahd soared sky high since everything had settled down. Every night she found it harder and harder to simply sleep in his arms and not do anything.

She found him sitting on a bench pulled up next to a long table where several men sat. He was playing some wild drinking game. Something he had never done with his men before. He was obviously winning, seeing as how he wasn't drunk as hell. As she approached he turned and pulled her into his lap, kissing her. Maybe not completely sober…

"What are you doing?" he asked. There was a funny smile on his face as he readjusted her in his arms.

"I get bored in those rooms. Why do you keep me locked up in there?" she said with a slight pout. Zuko looked around seriously at his men. They were watching, "Because of them? You think I can't hold my own…" she stated. Zuko nodded.

Katara stood up and sat down next to him. She grabbed a full tankard from a man who didn't need it and turned to Zuko, "Uno Mas?" she asked. Zuko smiled. They both began a serious of gestures and a long rhyme in the old language. When the finished, they began again, even faster. Until Zuko slipped up, he tipped his tankard back in penalty. They began again with Katara as the loser. They continued with several people until they were both more than a little dizzy. They sang all the way back to their cabin, joyfully drunk, but still aware.

It was at this time that Katara found out something about Zuko, or rather about men in general. They grow very horny after ingesting much alcohol. She got his shirt off before he pulled her onto the bed and to his uncovered chest. His eyes sparkled.

"You too." He whispered as he hands slid down to her front. Katara stiffened but Zuko didn't stop. They'd been at sea for two weeks now, every night Zuko grew more and more difficult. She grabbed his hands and gave him a pleading stare. But Zuko shook his head. Suddenly she realized it. His eyes may sparkle, but they were clear. He was not drunk, "Katara. I love you." He grabbed her and pulled her into a more comfortable position onto his chest, "I love the way you smile. I love the way you know me and can figure me out. You thought I was handsome, even before you fixed me. I love you. But not just that. I love watching you move. Your body drives me nutty too." Katara was blushing by now, "Please, Katara? I won't without your permission."

After a moments hesitation, "I think we should take this slowly." She whispered, but with a smile. He pulled her forward again and kissed her gently. His lips pressed gently against hers. Then he began to kiss her more passionately. Katara wrapped her arms around Zuko's neck and he flipped them over so that she was on her back. She was lost in his sweet kisses. Then he bent down and kissed her neck softly, causing her to shiver violently. He went back to kissing her lips. Then his lips parted sensually, causing her heart to skip a beat. His tongue was begging entrance. After a moment, she parted her lips too. Her heart was beating rapidly. And as he pressed himself against her she felt his heart matching pace. He was nervous too. She sighed happily and allowed herself to dissolve into his love for her.

It was at times like this that made her forget what was coming.


Katara looked at Zuko. Then she leaned forward and placed a hand on his forehead, "You must be sick to think that." She said. First Avatar's diary indeed, she thought.

Zuko frowned, "I'm serious Katara. Very serious. It's not a very good diary, she only kept it in her last days. She wrote her prophecies down." Katara knew what he was talking about. All Avatar's experience visions. Aang had. But as they got older, they were longer and longer and they could see farther and farther into the future. Now she knew Zuko was serious, "She made a prophecy. Her last one, and it takes place right now." He whispered.

Katara took the book and opened it. It fell open to the page Zuko was talking about. She began to read it aloud, "'In the time of the 6, 047th Avatar, an Air Bender named Aang, a great catastrophe will occur. He will sleep for one hundred years, and in that time, the Fire Nation will go unchecked. My work, my precious work of balancing the elements, will begin to unravel. By the time he awakes, there will have been too much damage. Young Aang will find himself unable to master the elements in their entirety. There will be born, aside from him, three children. Who possess powers untold. Each will perfectly personify their given element.'" Katara's hands began to shake, and even though Zuko took the book, the kept on reciting. As if from memory, "'An exiled Prince, heir to the throne of the accursed Fire Nation. A lost daughter of the Southern Water Tribes. A wayward son of the Earth Kingdom. And Aang, the Last Air Bender. These four will be drawn together by unseen forces and then will travel together to Mount Sagaku. And from there they will enter into the labyrinth there to the center of the world. From there my vision is clouded. I know no more.'" She looked up at Zuko who now standing, "Zuko?" she whispered.

He turned back to look at her, "I only just discovered this." He said with a grin. He stood with his feet apart and squared off against nothing. Suddenly, he burst into flame. Or more like, his body appeared to be molten rock that still flamed. Katara stood up too and turned herself. Her body becoming water. She looked at Zuko and he at her. His voice was like a thousand voices all at once, his eyes glowed a demonic red, "You know what we must do." He said.

Katara nodded. Her voice was like a symphony of harps and flutes, "I do." The glass crater stood in between them. Their magic was what compelled them to do as they did. The smooth glass began to rise and flip until it was a dome above their heads. Using seawater, Katara filled it, even though it was upside down. The water smoothed and the face of Aang appeared. Zuko and Katara spoke as one, "Brother of Air, we come for thee."


Sokka was backing up away from Aang. Normally when his eyes glowed the glow of the Avatar, they were a light blue. But right now, they were white. In his mind he heard two voices speaking as one. One spoke with the harshness and roar of a volcano, the other the sweet melody of water, "Brother of Air, we come for thee." Sokka shoved his fingers into his ears, trying to block out the voices. Aang responded, "I await Sister of Water and Brother of Fire." His voice was like the wind whistles they had seen in the Air Temples and drums of thunder.

Suddenly Aang was back to normal and he collapsed. Sokka dashed forward, "Aang? What happened? What was that?"

Aang was gasping for air and sweat poured over his body, "I don't think we have to look for Katara and Zuko anymore."

"Why?"

"They're coming for us." He whispered ominously. Sokka shivered. This was way beyond his comfort zone. But he would see his sister again. He looked down on the harbor town of Kaikou and let out a big gust of air. What ever was happening was big. Bigger than the Avatar, and his sister was involved.


The weeks on the boat were hard going, even with Katara's Water Bending. She was tired and the seas seemed to be revolting. But she was happy. During the day Katara helped wherever she could. Most of the time she was with Zuko, doing what she could. Once a week she cooked dinner for he whole crew and she often helped serve the food. Sometimes she sharpened weapons or practiced with her steel fans. At night she hung out in the mess with Zuko and the crew.

They soon found out that she could be a tad on the wild side. They began to jokingly call her 'Whitewater' for the wild ferocity of whitewater rapids. Afterwards her and Zuko would go back to their private rooms and simply be with each other. So far they didn't do much else but kiss. But, mostly they talked with each other. About their pasts and their hopes for the future. They told embarrassing stories from their childhood and stories meant to scare. And always fell asleep in each other's arms. During this time one word kept pounding in her ears and mind. Love. But as always, she was afraid of it. One thing on her mind was, what would Sokka think?

She confided Zuko in the matter and he was almost as nervous as she was. It was times like this that she was thankful for Iroh's presence on the ship. They spent many hours playing Shogi and drinking tea. Wisdom seemed to fall out of his mouth, even if it was coded. And everyday, Katara grew nervous. Zuko was patient and let her panic, to an extent. But everyday Kaikou port drew nearer.

Until they were there. Suddenly the reality enforced on them from three weeks ago was thick in the air. They could see Appa flying towards them two lone figures on his back. Zuko gave Katara's hand a squeeze for support and withdrew. She stood alone now. Zuko and Iroh were standing some distance back, giving them room. Zuko had his eye on Aang though. Always watchful.

The great flying bison landed and Katara immediately forgot about all the fears and ran to her brother. He jumped off Appa and ran towards her. He picked her up and twirled her around as she laughed and cried at the same time. Aang was still sitting up on Appa, nervous. Sokka put his sister down as she looked up at him.

"I forgive you, Aang." She said. But Aang could see the pain behind her eyes. But, something had contained it. Her eyes were soft in a way they never were. She smiled and then turned to look at the approaching Zuko. She began to walk towards him as he said, "Come, we have much to speak about. Both of you are welcomed as honored gusets on my ship, the Phoenix." They all began to walk towards the open door that led deep into the ship. Iroh walked ahead, chatting excitedly about the food they would be eating tonight.Aang, always friendly, was walking by him Ohh-ing and Ahh-ing.

Katara shook her head, "Please Aang, don't encourage him." Aang stiffened for an instant, but realized she was teasing. Sokka was walking a small distance behind Katara and Zuko and he saw something that he did NOT approve of. As they walked, Zuko reached out and tenderly touched Katara's shaking hand. She smiled up at him with warmth she usually only shared with him. He glowered at Zuko's back, I wonder what's been going on with my sister dear?

I'll sat this and this alone. I AM NOT SATISFIED WITH THIS CHAPTER! Ugh! I had such a hard time writing it, please like it. I have a good reason for not posting. I'm writing an original story and my friend is making it into a manga. It's getting good and I forgot about my poor fanfic. Hopefully never again. Enjoy.