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-Ardala91

"Forgiveness is the sweetest revenge." -Isaac Friedmann

The night was dark and the stars, not the moon, dared to shine. An unnatural light of many red fires dotted the landscape like fireflies. The burning smell carried in the air as parts of the great palace still smoldered. There were many fires that burnt that night the once foes alike for now they were dead. It did not matter of they had fought on opposite sides anymore. One side had officially been victorious but not without their own heart-wrenching losses. Now all mourned together, disposing of comrades and enemies together amongst the new ruins.

There were several different places he should probably have been but he could not resist the need to be here. At this particular fire. Those who walked by glanced at him curiously for only moments before they returned to their own havocked thoughts. They wondered of all the pyres to attend to, why this one? All those on both sides who'd encountered her had hated and been terrified of her. Yet still he was there and the only one to be.

Prince Zuko, now the heir apparent, assuming the Avatar did not dismantle the throne. His appearance was one of a ragged and exhausted look. The grudge of the battle had mutilated his once fine outfit. The skin on his face and naked arms was marred with bruises and cuts. He held one hand to his side, holding it as if a massive bruise was growing there. Ebony hair was disheveled and wild as it was free from any bindings. The flaxen eyes, common among his nation, glowed eerily in the shadows. He stood only feet away from the fire, his form barely swaying from the exhaustion as he watched the fire burn.

A slight female form walked out of the dark and trudged over to him. Dark hair hung even wilder then his own in waves and her dark face was strained with a combination of things. Her own once light blue outfit was singed and dirtied like his own. The firelight reflected against her own grim, sky-blue eyes. They stood side by side for minutes while the fire cackled. The only music of the night was the other calls of the fires and the far off murmured wails of other people.

Finally, her haggard voice spoke. "Somehow I knew you'd come here." She turned and looked at him for a response. His eyes were vibrant with confusion and feeling.

He answered her after she'd given up on thinking she would get a response. His voice came out strangled, distorted as if it were caused by the smoke. "Did…did you see? How…?"

She did not look into his eyes. "Yes," she said in a tiny voice. His hand grabbed her shoulder roughly and she looked at his demanding eyes.

"Tell me."

She couldn't look away. "She was trying to get to Aang. I had to stop her." At this, Zuko's hand released her shoulder. "It was quick."

Zuko now took a step away from her. She couldn't interpret the scowl on his face or the flaming eyes. "Did she say anything?" he whispered. His words floated heavily in the air between them.

"No."

Zuko turned his back towards the fire.

"But there was something. She looked…relieved."

Zuko's eyes snapped back at her own. "What?"

She took a step towards him. "I think, just maybe, she was glad it was over."

Zuko laughed cruelly, making her wince as his laughter turned into a cough. "She was never one to give up," he explained cynically. His eyes became cold as he observed the fire dancing. "I'm glad she's gone."

"I know she wasn't a good person, but she was your sister. Was she always that way?"

Zuko's face became blazed with fury as he glared at her. "Who are you to judge?" he spat.

"I'm not," she replied with a shrug. Her eyes were tired, but filled with empathy. "Maybe it's best she's gone. Then maybe not." She started to walk away, leaving him at the edge of the fire.

She was at the brink of the dark when he called out to her, almost desperately. "The others...How're they…?"

Her face was a true expression of complete sorrow. "Their handling it best as they can."

"He is…was my friend," he said softly, almost to himself.

"And he was my brother," she said in a hoarse voice, choked with the efforts not to cry.

Zuko looked directly at her and she was surprised to see unshed tears in his eyes that he would not release. "I'm sorry."

"I know," she said in turn, she looked over her shoulder into the darkness. "I need to go."

He nodded and turned back to the fire. Somehow he felt completely alone for now he was the last of his family. Savage joy had been his when he knew that she was dead along with their father, but of all things he desired for her to be alive. He had changed and perhaps, just perhaps…he knew it was only the wish of a brother. Most people can never change. Still…he stared at the fire…still…