hello! sorry for the late update, but i've been working my but off and got distracted with another story. so! here it is, if you want to read the new chapter. enjoy!

disclaimer: i don't own Avatar: the Last Airbender. sadly.

Chapter Eleven: Altered Destiny

Iroh woke up to the sound of someone pounding on his door. He opened his eyes, groaning. From the gray light just beginning to spill into his room, he guessed that it was dawn. He sighed and rose from the bed. And here he was planning on sleeping in.

Iroh crossed the room and opened the door, fully expecting to lecture which ever young person decided to wake him up. But then a heavenly scent drifted into the room and the old general found himself staring into a very large cup of tea. He looked up, sleep fading from his eyes and smiled at Katara.

"Good morning," he said brightly, snatching the cup from the young woman's hands. "Please, come in."

Katara giggled at the sight of Iroh's rumpled clothes and disheveled hair. "Gladly."

After Iroh had completely drained the cup and a servant hesitantly entered, bringing more tea, the two sat down, smiling.

"I need to see the rest of what's in that book," Katara said without preamble.

Iroh looked at her carefully, holding back the smile that attempted to break through. Finally. He had been beginning to wonder if she would ever come to her senses. But apparently Katara was willing to give herself a chance at happiness.

Without a word, Iroh stood and retrieved the book. But when Katara reached for it, the old general moved it away. "Are you certain, Katara, that you want to see the rest?" he asked gently.

Katara hesitated only a moment before she firmly took hold of the book. She took a moment to study the old tome, to soothe her nerves. It was quite old, the leather binding faded. And, if she wasn't mistaken, there was a small tea-stain on one corner, as if someone had been reading the book too close to a cup of tea.

The young waterbender took a deep breath and then opened the book to the middle. After a moment of flipping pages, Katara found what she had been looking for. But she didn't know if she was relieved or horrified.

There on the page was a sketch of the very stone she held in her pocket. And beside it, was the same stone, only that one was predominantly red. Her eyes traveled across the page and found the two stones fused together.

She looked up. "What is this?" she whispered.

Iroh sighed. "Those two stones were created by the very first Avatar. No one knows for what reason the stones were actually created, but the fact remains that they were. And in them holds a great and terrible power. At once they were one stone, which, with a mere thought, could bring peace to the land…or control it. So the stones were broken apart and were given to the wisest in the land. One was given to the Water Tribe, the other to the Fire Nation. But they didn't stay there long.

"Long after, when tensions between the elements were beginning to rise, two young benders fell in love. But they were separated and so they sought to find a way to see each other again. They wished to enter the spirit world but it was only the Avatar who could truly do such a thing and return. And so they took the stones and used their powers to find each other once more. But the two lovers were soon lost to time, as were the stones they still carried."

Katara frowned. "Then why…" she trailed off, brow furrowed.

"Why are you needed? Why are you a part of a prophesy which mentions those very stones?"

Katara gave a small nod.

Iroh smiled affectionately and handed the frowning Katara a cup of tea. "My dear, you are kind and strong, sweet and caring. And you are the strongest waterbender since Nilam himself vanished." Suddenly, his expression darkened. "There have been rumors of a powerful bender hiding deep in the mountains. It is said he possesses secrets only the Avatar should know. And worse yet, a sword infused with ancient magic has appeared…and in this bender's hands. It is said he seeks the stones so that he, and no one else, might rule this world. And even more disturbing yet is the fact that Azula has come out of hiding. And her intentions are not what they always appear."

Katara was silent a moment. This all seemed so ridiculous. How could she be part of something? How could the world's fate rest in her hands?

Is it so hard to believe that you could save the world when only days before you believed you could destroy it? asked a voice in her head. Give yourself a chance, Katara. Who knows. You might get your happy ending after all.

"All right," Katara finally said, raising determined eyes to Iroh's. "Where is the other stone?"

Iroh's eyes sparkled. "Ah, I wondered when you would ask that."

Zuko entered Katara's rooms to find them empty. Well, not completely. Mitsuko and Sunil were curled up together, sleeping peacefully. But their mother was nowhere to be found.

Shaking his head, Zuko backed out into the corridor and gently closed the door. Where was she? And why couldn't she be where he expected so he could apologize to her?

And so Zuko began his search. He looked in every room for her, but couldn't find the missing bender. And with each room he looked in, his mood darkened. Uggh. Here he was trying to apologize and she didn't even have the courtesy to stay in one spot! Then again, why should he be apologizing? Shouldn't she say sorry for scaring him yesterday? What was she thinking, throwing herself from the deck? It didn't matter that she was a waterbender; she could have been killed!

"I'm going to kill her," he muttered as he stomped up onto the deck. "And she's probably around here somewhere, playing with water or something. Doesn't she ever think of anything else?"

Sure enough, as Zuko walked across the deck of the ship, he spotted Katara at the prow, beautiful dark hair flying about her, water floating in lazy circles.

"Katara!"

Katara winced at the angry sound of Zuko's voice. She turned and cringed. From the look of things, he wasn't too happy with her. Was he still upset with her, then?

Upset? asked a sarcastic voice in her head. No, of course not. I mean, you only dove into the ocean from a moving ship. That's all. There's no need for anyone to worry.

As Zuko came closer, Katara smiled hastily. "Hello," she said brightly. "Lovely day, isn't it?"

Zuko stopped in front of Katara, all his angry words draining out of him. He simply couldn't stay mad at her, not when her blue eyes were sparkling and her hair was swirling about her lithe form.

"Zuko?"

The Fire Lord shook himself to attention. What had she said? Deciding it was better to answer in the affirmative instead of having Katara worry about him, Zuko nodded. "Yes. Lovely day."

Katara shook her head and laughed. "You're not paying any attention, are you?"

Zuko immediately looked sheepish and he shook his head. "Sorry," he replied. "You were just so beautiful, standing there with those eyes, I--" He didn't manage to get out his apology for Katara had thrown herself against him and pressed her lips against his.

Shocked for a moment, Zuko kept still. And then his arms snaked around her and he pulled her closer, deepening the kiss. Joy surged through him. He had forgotten how wonderful she felt. It had been so long since she had thrown herself into his arms like this. And Zuko found he never wanted to let her go.

Pulling back, Zuko looked into Katara's sapphire eyes and he smiled. "Good morning."

Katara laughed softly, sending a chill through Zuko. "Good morning yourself, Lord Zuko." With a sigh, she hugged him closer and rested her head on his chest. When was the last time they had done this? When was the last time they had stood like this? She didn't know. And, at the moment, it didn't matter. They were together.

"Mama!"

Katara stepped away from Zuko as Sunil and Mitsuko ran up to her. The two seemed excited, brimming with eagerness.

"Mama, look what 'Suko can do!"

Katara's eyes flitted towards Zuko at the mention of her daughter's nickname. But the firebender only had an amused smile on his face…and warmth in his golden eyes.

Mistuko grinned and then proceeded to demonstrate a fire bending move which seemed all-too-familiar to Zuko. It was a move he had once tried to show his grandfather. A move which Azula had perfectly executed. Yet the move Mitsuko had shown was more like what he had done. Not to mention it had been performed by a three-year-old. Still, it didn't stop an affectionate smile from tugging at the corners of his mouth.

Katara grinned at her daughter. She knew her children were powerful. They were barely older than babies and yet they had already begun to bend. To them it was a game and Katara never worried about one of them getting hurt for the other would never be so careless.

With a squeal of delight, Katara scooped up her daughter. "You're so brilliant, 'Suko!" She cooed. Forgetting herself in her motherly excitement, Katara turned on Zuko. "Isn't she just the greatest?"

Zuko laughed and then picked Sunil up. "Ah, but this one here is just as grand, I think."

Katara couldn't fault him that judgment. Still grinning, Katara looked at Zuko. "What do you say we show them a few tricks?"

The Fire Lord nodded. "But I think we'll have to trade."

They did and soon the four were moving back below deck, not noticing the smiles that followed them. Never had the soldiers on the ship seen the Fire Lord so happy and at ease.

Azula frowned. She had spent the day searching for information and yet, despite the bribes and threats, no one seemed to know anything. What was this? She wondered. It was as if the stone didn't even exist. And no one had even heard of the legend, either. She growled. If she didn't know any better, she would say Masaru had set her up.

There's always another way, her mind whispered. It would be difficult, but so much easier if you simply let ZuZu find the stone for you. After all, he's bound to come after the stone eventually. Patience, my dear, is good for something.

Fine, then. She would wait. Azula hated waiting, but what was a few weeks? At this rate, it would take her that long to find the stone anyway. And this way, she would be able to steal the stone right from under Zuko's nose.

"I'll steal the stone and then we'll see who's fit to rule."

how'd you like it? well, first off, i'd like to thank everyone who continues to review. and i would like to ask everyone who read this to please, please, please review!!!!!!!!! please?