Chapter Ten-Endings and Beginnings
They sat around a bonfire at the beach on Ember Island, two days later. They finished telling their amazing tales, and they all stared into the fire peacefully.
"So Zuko, I hear your coronation is tomorrow." Aang said, breaking the silence.
"Yeah." Zuko said, grinning. "I'd like you to be there with me, Aang, actually." He said, and Aang smiled.
"I'll be there." He said, and Sokka spoke up.
"The rest of us will be there too, in the crowd, cheering ya on, so no pressure, right?" he said, grinning, and they all laughed.
"I'm tired- I'll see you guys tomorrow at the coronation, okay?" Toph said, standing up, and Aang stood up with her, taking his hand as they walked off.
"'Night." Sokka said, but Suki looked over, taking his hand.
"Actually, Sokka, I'd like to go to bed too…"
"Sure. See you guys tomorrow." He said, and they left too. Katara rested her head on his shoulder and the fire slowly burned out. They looked across the ocean at the moon, and they smiled.
"How are you feeling?" Katara asked, sitting up and looking at Zuko. He touched his chest gingerly. I don't know…can you check?" he said softly. Katara gently slipped his robes down off his shoulders, leaving him shirtless. She touched his chest gingerly , where his wound was, and he slipped his arms around her waist, kissing her passionately. She kissed him back.
His fingers brushed against her wrap, and she smiled and shook her head. "You're too hurt for that, and you know it." She said, and he sighed.
"It was worth a shot, right?" He said, smiling, and they both sat by the fire in each other's arms, watching the flames turn to embers. "Hey, Katara?"
"Yeah?" she asked, her eyes almost closed as she watched the moon travel up among the stars.
"What do you say about being fire lady?" Katara's eyes opened, and she looked at him.
"What are you saying?" she asked, confused.
"You know…"He said, looking down.
"No, I really don't." Zuko looked her in the eyes.
"Marry me, Katara." He said, and she was silent for a moment.
"Of course I will!" she cried, hugging him, then immediately backing away, apologizing, "Sorry, sorry- I forgot…" He half smiled, half grimaced at her, and they both laughed. He smiled and kissed her again, running his hands through her hair.
"This is going to be something very beautiful, isn't it?" he asked, and she nodded, taking his hand. "A new age has begun, I think , Katara. All the nations will rebuild, and the air benders will return in a few centuries, and we'll all live in peace." He said, looking off into the future with eyes unclouded by troubles. Katara smiled.
"And it all begins with us, now. We'll undo what has been done, and remake this place." She said. They kissed one more time. "Come on, Zuzu, you've got a big day tomorrow. Coronation, engagement announcement, and saving the world. You're gonna need your sleep." Katara said, standing. He took her hand and together, they walked off to join the others, and to start a better, more perfect world.
The End
By Wolf Aerith 2008