A/N: Last we left our brave and virtuous heroes they were all busy being depressed. But you're probably wondering if I've forgotten the contest. I haven't. I'm just going to drag this out for as long as possible. Bwahahahahahaha!

Oh, if you're wondering how Katara knows Zuko's name, she lived in the Fire Nation almost all of her life. Of course she knows that the scarred prince's name is Zuko!

Chapter 6

"Zuko, come on," Aang suddenly appeared at Zuko's side. "Father is going to begin the judging."

Zuko walked behind his brother and frowned. Had Aang heard his confession? He hoped not. They entered the throne room and stood before their father. Their father began to attempt to place Jet's dogs one by one into the walnut shell. None of them fit. He proceeded with Aang's horde of dogs. None of them fit either.

Zuko stepped forward and handed his father the hazelnut Katara had given him. "Open it carefully and you will have what you seek," Zuko told him. Zuko watched as his father cracked open the nut and a tiny dog jumped out and barked at the other dogs. The ladies made little sounds amazement and adoration.

"Drown the other dogs!" Ozai commanded. "Zuko, yet again you have proven your worth. However, there is one last test. The most important test. Bring home the fairest wife and you shall be my heir."

Zuko's heart sunk. He wasn't positive the toad was the girl from the window. And he couldn't marry anyone but that toad. He was doomed.

The three princes set out immediately in search of the most beautiful girls. At the crossroads, Jet and Aang debated following Zuko. But one glance at the road changed their minds. Nothing could be down that road that could help them.

Zuko continued on his journey with a heavy heart. He could either propose to Katara, ask for her help, or turn around and look for someone else, turning his back on his chance for true love. He doubted Katara could help him. Where would she find a girl? She lived in a swamp where no human existed. The only things there were her fellow frogs. Zuko arrived at the little creek and walked to the bank slowly. He collapsed and sighed heavily.

"What is it, Prince Zuko?" Katara asked from across the bank.

Zuko looked up and stared at her, debating. Should he propose to her? Or ask for her help again?

"What? Have I grown a third eye?" Katara asked with a slight smile.

Zuko smiled weakly. "No," he replied. "It doesn't matter what my problem. You could never help me with it. You couldn't solve this even with your magic."

"Well, it can't hurt to tell me. I may yet be able to help," Katara replied.

"My father's last challenge is to find the prettiest bride. The only problem is I'm in love with someone else. But I don't think he would see her the way I see her." Zuko looked up. He looked into Katara's eyes. "I don't think he would see the beautiful woman she is inside."

He knows, Katara realized looking in Zuko's eyes. He knows who I really am. He knows I'm the girl he saw in the window.

Katara realized looking in Zuko's eyes.

"But I feel I should follow my heart. Even if it costs me the throne. Katara, I don't know if I'm right but I need to ask. In the swamp when I heard the singing, was that you?" Zuko asked her bluntly.

"Yes," Katara admitted. "It was me."

"Then you were talking about yourself."

"Yes," Katara said sorrowfully.

"And you were the girl in the window that I fought with my brothers over." It wasn't a question. He stated.

"Yes," Katara choked out.

"Katara," Zuko got down on one knee and looked down at her. "You know this feels really awkward." He picked up Katara gently and placed her on his saddle. He knelt again. "Katara, will you marry me?"

Katara's blue eyes filled with tears. She covered her face with her hands. Her tears spilled over and flowed down her cheeks. "Why did you have to be so wonderful?" she asked.

"Katara, please—" Zuko began.

"No. I can't, Zuko," Katara began to sob even harder. "Look at me!"

"I am," Zuko replied tenderly. "And do you know what I see?"

"Yes," Katara said miserably. "A horribly ugly little toad who fell in love a prince. A Waterbender who has no right to love you."

"No," Zuko said, taking her face in his hands and wiping away her tears with his thumbs. "I see the most beautiful girl in the world who should take a look in the mirror. Because she's talking nonsense." Then Zuko lowered his head and kissed Katara gently.

That was when Katara realized it. She wasn't a toad anymore. She hadn't been since Zuko proposed to her. He had broken the spell. She wrapped her arms around Zuko's neck and pulled him closer. He deepened the kiss.

You've found hope
You've found faith,
Found how fast she could take it away.
Found true love,
Lost your heart.
Now you don't know who you are.

...She made it easy,
Made it free…

…You will fly and you will crawl;
God knows even angels fall.
No such thing as you lost it all.
God knows even angels fall.

It's a secret no one tells;
One day it's heaven, one day it's hell.
It's no fairy tale;
Take it from me,
That's the way it's supposed to be…

A/N: And they finally kiss! I dragged it out. And yes, I changed the fairytale again. Because let's face it. The original fairytale sucks when it comes to her transformation back to a human. This one's so much nicer, cuter, romantic, and touching in my opinion.

The song is Even Angels Fall by Jessica Riddle. I thought it fit Katara and Zuko in this story.

Don't leave! The story's not done yet!

Umm…I think the squirrel outside my house is flirting with me…O.o Or I could be imagining things.

I'm so innocent. I get all giddy writing about a kiss. A kiss, for goodness sake! Naïve authoress slaps herself to try to rid herself of giddiness. Doesn't work out. Beats herself over the head with a shoe. Aah, that's better.