Disclaimer: I do not Avatar or any of its characters; this is merely fanfic by me.
This a piece set in the future clearly, enjoy and its one of my favorites!
-Ardala91
Crisp, fall wind swept through the small valley, whipping the branches of the few trees that grew there. Grass grew abundantly with few flowers in and between. A small, worn trail snaked along the gentle rises, stopping at the largest rise to the western side of the valley. A young tree grew there, its flowers of white and pale pink dying as winter approached. The sun was setting; casting golden light across the land with clouds tinged a pale pink.
A man of middle years stood near the tree, watching the sunset with silent reverence and sighing softly as he looked down at the tree. The man seemed out of place with the setting, his stark red clothing contrasting to the greenness of the ground. Dark hair was pulled half into a top-knot on his head, the rest flying lazily around his face. Scarecrow feet extended from hard, golden eyes and a huge distorted scar covered the left side of his face. Harsh lines pulled on his mouth, making his expression grim as he gazed around.
Every year he came on this day. He had invited Mai this year, but she had refused. He looked sadly at the tree, nodding his respect towards it. Clasped on its roots underneath and embraced there lay the last Avatar. Every year he came, except this year it was different. Last week he had met the new Avatar, a young waterbender. The girl, well, woman really, he corrected himself, had come to begin her training in firebending. She'd come to court to meet him out of respect and soon she would leave to be trained by the Fire Sages in seclusion.
He wondered for a moment about her family…were they happy? He stopped himself. It was better not to think about it. He had a good wife who loved him, a beautiful son and daughters, and a throne he'd held nobly over the years. What more could he want or regret? Yet still…he stared at the tree branches, hoping for redemption. He hadn't been able to save his student, his friend at the end. His back stiffened. She blamed him and probably still did…he pushed her away from his thoughts desperately. But the new Avatar's eyes gazed at him from his memory of court last week, so like her aunt's…
He closed his eyes, breathing in deeply. The last Avatar, Aang had loved her and so had he once. He'd almost had her, but then…
He let out the breath he'd been holding in. It was all past and he would forget till next year…when he'd come again to remember, to wish, and to cry for those he had lost.