here we go...new chapter!

disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: the Last Airbender...if I did, Mei would find herself stranded in the middle of the desert...

Chapter Sixteen: Coincidences and Speculations

"Your presence is required in the court."

Katara looked up, shocked at Kouta's grumbled words. "The court?"

"Yes."

"Will...will Zuko be there?"

Kouta looked uncomfortable. "The Fire Lord will be there, yes."

Katara smiled happily. "Oh, that's wonderful!" she exclaimed, moving into the hallway. "I get to see Zuko!" Suddenly, she stopped. "I don't have anything to wear."

"Just anything from your closet will do, my lady," Kouta said.

Huffing out a puff of air, Katara crossed her room to the closet. "There's nothing," she muttered. "And I don't want to make Zuko look bad..."

Shaking her head, she opened the door. And gasped. Where before she had found only a small collection of day clothes, Katara now saw before her an entire wardrobe. And there, closest to her, was a set of lovely, deep red robes.

"Kouta--" Katara turned to ask the older woman but Kouta was gone. Katara turned back to the closet, a smile on her face.

Katara entered court with little notice, but murmurs still whispered across the chamber. Aside from the procession to the palace, Katara hadn't been seen in public before. All anyone really knew was that she was A hero and princess of the Water Tribes.

Iroh stood and, with a reassuring smile, escorted Katara to a seat near Zuko's. "This won't take too long, dear," he promised.

Katara nodded and sank into her chair, trying not to let anyone see how nervous she was.

The next hour was nothing but an endless parade of people coming before the Fire Lord to offer their complaints. It was boring. And, from the look on Zuko's face, Katara could guess that he wasn't finding much interest in it either. Finally, a break was called and a servant approached the dais with a tray of tea. Iroh, who looked as if he might have fallen asleep, immediately perked up, eyes lighting in delight.

Zuko leaned towards Katara. "All these complaints make me wish I hadn't gotten rid of the Fire Lord's sanctuary," he whispered. "At least there, only people I summoned could come and complain. Now everyone is allowed to whine."

Katara giggled. "Well, at least you're getting to know the Fire Nation."

"How is solving someone's chicken problem getting to know them?"

Another giggle escaped Katara and she shrugged "I don't know."

Zuko smiled and Katara reached out to stroke his cheek. Though his scar had never been removed, Katara never thought about it. Zuko's scar was just another part of him and, instead of marking his shame, it now marked his honor.

"Fire Lord Zuko."

The two turned to see a guard kneeling before the dais. After a moment, Zuko straightened. "Yes?"

The guard held up a scroll, his head still bowed. Zuko motioned for a servant to bring the scroll to him. The guard stood. "The weekly report, sir," he said and then bowed once more before walking away.

Zuko opened the scroll and then began to read. The further he read, however, the more he began to frown. "Uncle?"

Iroh paused, his cup of tea halfway to his mouth. Reluctantly, he put it down and moved to stand beside his nephew. "What is it, Nephew?"

Without a word, Zuko handed the report to Iroh. As his Uncle read, he turned to Katara, worry in his eyes. "These reports show that there have been several mysterious attacks within the Fire Nation. They seem quite similar to the damage done by the Avatar right after he woke." He shook his head. "If I didn't know better, I'd swear it was the Avatar. But Aang is in seclusion in the Air Temple with my mother and Toph."

"This is quite unusual, Nephew," Iroh said. "We've had rebel attacks before, but this is different. As you said, it resembles attacks made by the Avatar."

Katara listened, blue eyes wide. "But who could be doing this?" she asked.

Zuko's face hardened. "I don't know, but I will find out."

"You say the attacks are similar to what Aang used to do, but you haven't described them," Katara pointed out.

Iroh moved closer to Katara. "Equipment and buildings have been destroyed, but there is no evidence of fire or earthbending as the means." Iroh sighed and reached for his tea. "We can only assume that waterbending was used only there isn't any evidence of that either." He winked at Katara. "Besides, the Water Tribe and the Fire Nation are strong allies now."

Katara laughed just as the court was called back. Knowing another hour or so of court was coming, Katara subsided and fell into her thoughts. The news of the attacks troubled her, not just because of their oddities but because they happened at all. Though the Nations were at peace, only a handful of years had passed since the Fire Nation's war. There were still those who were miscontent, but Katara never dreamed that they would go so far as to attack the Fire Nation so openly.

Her mind flashed to Jet. She hadn't heard from him in years. And these attacks seemed similar to the ones he carried out. She frowned. That, at least, would make more sense than Aang being the culprit. Still, Jet had changed...or so she thought.

The hour passed quickly and soon court was called to a close. Zuko took hold of Katara's hand, bringing her out of her reverie. "Come walk with me," he said.

Katara nodded and allowed Zuko to help her stand. She cringed at her sore back. She hadn't felt this stiff since her days of riding on Appa.

"Are you all right?"

"Tea soothes all ailments..."

Katara and Zuko stared after Iroh as the old general sailed from the chamber. After a moment, the two began laughing. Iroh was outrageous and always managed to make people smile. Or at least think deeply about their actions.

"I'm all right," Katara assured Zuko when she stopped laughing. "Just a bit sore." She smiled ruefully. "I'm not used to sitting for hours on end."

Zuko smiled. "I'm still not used to it, either," he admitted.

The two walked in silence for a while, hands intertwined. Finally, Katara's thoughts rose to the surface, hesitantly, she glanced up at Zuko. "Ah...you...haven't heard from...Jet, have you?" she asked quietly.

Zuko frowned. "Not since the wedding."

Katara stopped. "Wedding? What wedding?"

The Fire Lord glanced down at her. "Oh, you didn't know? Jet and Mei got married about a year ago."

"What?"

Zuko laughed and began walking again. "Yeah, I was surprised, too."

"Jet and Mei? What are they doing, spreading apathy and misery throughout the world or something? Are they now an evil duo bent on world destruction?"

Zuko laughed harder. "Actually, they've hidden themselves in their mansion for the past year and refuse to see anyone." He shrugged. "Apparently Mei hates everyone and Jet wants nothing to do with the Fire Nation."

Katara was silent a moment. "...Jet and Mei?!"

Shaking his head, Zuko tugged on Katara's hand. "Come on," he said. "It's not that shocking. They're made for each other."

The waterbender snickered, humor finally pushing away her shock. "That's for sure." She sobered suddenly. "Zuko, I'm worried about those attacks. What do you think they mean?"

"I don't know," Zuko said, frowning. "There's not much I can do at the moment. There's some sort of bandit loose in the city, and my guards haven't been able to catch her."

"Her?"

Zuko nodded. "Everyone who's seen the bandit has said she's a girl." He frowned. "A woman dressed all in black, who bends fire with little effort."

"How long has this been happening?"

"Every night for about a week. And the odd thing is that she doesn't steal anything. It's like she's looking for something."

"Well, I'm sure we'll find out..." Katara looked away, her face darkening. "Don't you think this is all a bit coincidental?"

Zuko paused. "What do you mean?"

"Well, first this old woman hands us a book we can barely read which tells us how to find the other stone. And then someone's attacking places all over the Fire Nation. And now there's some bandit who's not really a bandit but really just looking for something? Tell me this doesn't seem a bit too suspicious."

"You think the bandit is looking for the stone?" Katara nodded. "And the person attacking the Fire Nation is the one who wants the stone?" Again, Katara nodded. "So you think the stone is somewhere in the city?"

Katara shrugged. "I guess. I mean, it's as good a place to start as any other."

The Fire Lord frowned. It seemed to be his new favorite expression. "Maybe you're right about that," he said. "But where do we start?"

"I have no idea."

okay...how did you like it? It wasn't very action filled, but there are connections here. Well, please review, okay?

p.s. Is it just me, or does Zuko seem sorta...weird in the new season? Just asking. And the last episode, "The Beach," it wasn't as good as i thought it would be, though Zuko did realize something about himself. Hopefully this will prod him out of stupidland. Grrr...and him and Mei together makes me sick. Ugh. I want to burn her shiny hair...sniff. It's supposed to be him and Katara!!!!! i want my zutaraness! But! Zuko's the blue spirit and Katara's the painted lady, all dressed in red...is this a bit of foreshadowing here? Maybe...