History Repeats
Such a beautiful day, for such a beautiful occasion.
There, on the alter, she stood. So pretty with her dark skin. The blue garment she wore fit snugly to her curves.
He stood in front of her, dark red robes wrapped about him, golden crown of flames positioned regally in his hair, holding both of her slender hands in a promise.
The man was coming to the end of his speech, and then...
The kiss.
The kiss that would seal the deal, 'till death did they part.
They embraced passionately, and Aang had to admit to himself, it was slightly painful to watch.
When they separated, those gray eyes looked directly at the Avatar, almost apologetically. Then, with a tearful smile, she touched her mother's necklace tenderly, looked at her new husband, and they descended the small set of steps together.
There was loud applause and cheering, especially from Sokka, who could be heard above all the others very clearly.
When she walked past him she briefly layed a gentle hand on his shoulder. Just the smallest whisper of a touch.
And then, she was gone. Down the aisle and out the door forever.
Another set of dark hands covered his own, and Aang looked down at them, then up, into blue eyes.
"Are you all right Aang?"
Aang forced a grin. "Absolutely."
After all, he could take comfort in the fact that Zuko would be feeling somewhat the same. And sure enough, the Firelord and the Avatar made eye contact, sharing their mutual agony through a simple look.
Such was the gift of old friends.
Aang could take another simple comfort, he realized, as he and his wife got up and left the temple, Zuko and Mai following.
His daughter was never more happy than when she was in the arms of the young Fireprince, her childhood sweetheart.
And with a real smile this time, Aang left the memories of his little airbender as she once was behind, and allowed himself to leave space for new memories.
As Katara wrapped her arms around him, rubbing his back in a soothing manner, and Aang offered the parents of the groom a lift home on Appa, he had one last thought.
It must have been tradition for Avatars and Firelords to have descendants intermarry.
As they say, history always repeats itself.