A/N: So after seeing the finale. I know for certain that I'm not the only one who bought a chew toy to exact my rage. Anyway, this is wishful thinking of what could happen next- from a Zutarian perspective. Call it Polyanna syndrome. I need to make myself happy again.

Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar, for if I did Appa would be sitting on Azula. And Zuko would go with his uncle to teach Aang firebending…


The Gaang, plus one Earth King and a bear, had landed several miles outside the outer wall of Ba Sieng Sei. Originally, they had planned on putting far more distance between themselves and the memories, but in the end they were all too exhausted to travel any longer. Everyone promptly feel asleep- save Katara. Despite all she had endured mentally and physically in the last few hours sleep feigned her. And much to her dismay her mind kept returning to her cave encounter with the Exiled Prince…

"The Firenation took my mother away from me!"

She had managed between sobs. She had expected him to mock her display of weakness. What she heard in return confused her.

"I am sorry. That's something we both have in common."

He had said it with empathy. She turned and looked at him, as he had seconds before…

"NO!" Katara hissed through clenched teeth.

Snapping herself from her recent memory, for under these new circumstances she loathed the Prince of Fire. It was the right thing. It was the way of things. They were enemies- they were still enemies, that much was made clear. Katara looked to the moon. Judging by its position it was much later than she had originally thought. Nevertheless, she rose off her sleeping mat, turned her back on the small campsite, and ran. While running she silently prayed, to Yue, and her mother. They were Enemies.

"But, then- why does it hurt so much more this time? Yue help us all…She whispered, and then continued while clutching her mother's necklace. Help him, please…please…"

Katara's legs seemed lighter, and she suddenly changed the direction of her run without realizing it.

For they had heard her.


Sleep eluded Zuko. He couldn't place why. He had finally restored his honor after so long. He was close to finally having his father's love. He taken the right path…Hadn't he? Zuko closed his eyes figuring to give sleep one last chance for the night. It worked.

He found himself back home in his dream, only the hallways seemed far to dark-and where had all this mist come from? He continued to walk towards the exit that would lead to the turtle duck pond. What he saw shocked him. The garden was burned, the pond was dry, and the only thing that looked remotely like it used to was the blacked tree near the pond. But the more disturbing was who was in the dead garden. For staring straight at him was Young Prince Zuko, and his mother behind him. The Young Prince bore a look of such animosity in his face that it rivaled any Zuko had ever seen. He looked to his mother's face, and realized at once she had been crying. The tension here was thick with shame.

It was Zuko who spoke first.

"Mother…I…" The words would not come.

"Zuko, before I left you I told you 'Never forget who you are.' Zuko, my son what have you done?"

She spoke with a tone Zuko had only heard once-the last time he would ever hear her voice among the living. Immediately, Zuko felt his heart speed up, and his palms sweat. He suddenly felt the urge to explain why he had taken the actions he had all but a few hours ago.

"I did it to restore my honor." The words sounded brittle even to him.

Her reply was swift. And as the first word left her lips it began to rain.

"Your honor was not lost before today, my son, who are you? Not only did you betray Iroh…You betrayed your own heart Zuko and in doing so you have lost a great love that could have been yours…"

Ursa turned her back towards him, and offered her hand to the Young Prince Zuko. Together they walked away. Leaving Zuko standing in the rain of a dead garden.

Zuko ran off after them in the direction they had gone. He began to call for them.

"Wait. Wait, come back!" He was five feet away from the pair when Young Zuko released his mother's hand and spoke for the first time.

"Azula. Always. Lies."

Suddenly lightening desended from the sky hitting the Young Prince, as a blue dragon appeared saying;

"At least now the scar will match the rest of your body…"

Zuko shot out of bed (far faster than Sokka on blubbered seal jerky) panting. He attempted to slow his heart's thundering rhythm before whispering;

"What have I done." And he knew he never wanted to know the answer.


A/N: Tell me what you think please. And help me know how to format quotes, flashbacks and such. I'm new at this. Should I continue?

R'R.