Chapter 25: Ever After
The birds chirped happily as the warm sun made its slow arrival; beams of comforting light shone through the window and illuminated the smooth skin on the fire bender's face. Minuets passed by and the beams of light moved upward toward the fire bender's eyes; wincing at this sudden act, the cream colored eyelids flashed open to reveal a pair of pale green eyes.
"Morning already?" the fire bender mumbled as a hand came up to shield her eyes. Rising slowly in a sitting position she observed the room with a new view: life. Satisfied with her surroundings she letted out a loud yawn and a small giggle. She couldn't help but laugh and grin at the room as she felt the warmth of sun's ray hit her neck.
An absurd but genuine thought popped into her brain as she stared at her bed. Without any haste she stood on her bed with wobbly legs. After a few unbalanced moments, her legs got adjusted to standing up and bending about. The fire bender bit her bottom lip in felicity as she started to leap on the bed. Her face soon turned to a rejoicing smile as she jumped in circles on the bed. It was contagious and she found herself laughing in pure bliss as this unknown energy surged through her veins.
The fire-resistant door swung inward suddenly, making the gleeful fire bender pause in her merriment. "Ciara? What on earth are you doing?" asked the retired general as he stared at the young teen in amusement. Ciara couldn't help but grin widely and reply in a cheerful tone, "I was just testing the mattress…to see if it has spring." The general raised his hand in mock defeat, "Alright, alright, you win. When your done though…do tell me the results. Oh before I forget…here's some Ginseng tea."
The young fire bender nodded and replied, "Thank you, Iroh. If you get the chance, you should try this out. It really gets a kick out of you." Iroh couldn't help but smile warmly at the fire bender, "Will do." The retired general closed the door silently and made his way out to the deck; It's funny…Ciara is the exact opposite of what Zuko is now. But before…I still remember the boy that climbed trees in search of insects to scare his mother.
Iroh found himself out in the large courtyard his eyes resting on a figure that stood silently. He smiled and walked gradually toward the figure as he called out, "Zuko I have some good news." The figure turned quickly to face his uncle as his amber eyes tried to seek out the answer on his face, "What is it?" Iroh noted with awe as he didn't detect any firm, oppressive, grim or a harsh tone in his nephew's voice.
Then again…maybe Ciara changed him. "Uncle, get on with it!" his nephew snapped impatiently. Then again…maybe she didn't. "Ciara is jumping on the bed." Iroh replied as he struggled to keep a straight face on. Zuko raised an eyebrow in confusion and asked in a stunned tone, "Is this another one of your proverbs? If it is…I really want to cut down to the chase." Iroh chuckled as his eyes shinned brightly, "No, no, Zuko. This isn't a proverb; it's more like the truth. You should come and see yourself!"
Zuko stared hard at his uncle before shaking his head and headed toward Ciara's room. He paused slightly as he heard laughter but opened the door as a rushing thought penetrated his mind. Taken a back, he stared in disbelief as he watched the young fire bender jump on the bed without any signs of stopping. "It's another sign that I am going to have healthy grandchildren." whispered his uncle in the young lord's ear. Zuko glowered at his uncle but was stopped when he heard Ciara's voice, "Morning Zuko!"
The young lord stared at Ciara in awe as she still continued to hop on the bed, "Ciara…I see that you are well." The young teen just moved her brow hair behind her ears and smiled at Zuko, "Yep! You should really try this." Zuko rolled his eyes and couldn't help but smile in amusement. I thought I would never live to see this day…when I gaze upon a thief jumping on my bed in pure bliss. What more could I ask for?
The young teen finally came to a stop and plopped on the bed with a tired sigh, "That was fun." Zuko watched with interest as he stared at Ciara's chest rise and fall as she recovered her breath. He felt his eyes narrow in anger as he heard his uncle whisper in his ear, "Hormones, Zuko, hormones. Just like your temper…uncontrollable." Before Zuko could answer back in anger his uncle was already sauntering away from the young lord.
He looked back at Ciara who was sitting up and staring intently at the window, "Beautiful isn't it?" Zuko took a few long strides toward the young fire bender and replied in a low voice, "Very beautiful." He watched her attentively as she continued to stare at the window. "I didn't realize how much I missed this place…until now. I feel like I'm seeing everything from a different point of view." Ciara continued as she felt Zuko sit beside her.
Ciara turned her head to face Zuko but was instead encountered with his lips locked on her's. She wrapped her arms around his neck and embraced him with a sense of longing and craving for more of the sweet taste of his lips. "Hormones, Zuko, hormones!" called out a voice from far away. Zuko murmured into her lips, "Crazy uncle."
It's funny…how I came home in search of honor and acceptance. But I received none from my father; instead I became the lord of the Fire Nation and have a thief steal my heart. For once in my life…I am quite proud of my hormones.
"Zuko, after you two are done…would you like to join me for a nice game of Pai Gow?" his uncle smirked by the door. Zuko opened his good eye and saw his uncle with a smug grin on his face. Slowly releasing his embrace with Ciara he turned and glared at his uncle, "Uncle! Not now!" Iroh shrugged and replied, "If you say so…but do know this old fox sees all." The retired general turned and walked away from the two fire benders as he beamed at the clear blue sky, "Commander Yuen owes me five silver pieces…I am going to have healthy grandchildren."
((Well this is my last chapter...the end of this happy story. Ah you got to love the happy endings. Well going on, I spoke before in the previous chapters of the new story I wrote, 'Playing With Fire.' It is Avatar related and is rated M for violence, bad language and sexual content. I don't know why I'm writing a story like that...but I want to see of I am able to compose stories that hold such...um...high content. Also thesetwo stories, Bitter-Sweet and Playing With Fire, are more like my practice runs until I hit the real race and grand prize. So it would be loved if you could read 'Playing With Fire' and comment...oh god please comment! I don't care if you cuss me out, just comment! If you guys could help me at least reach thirty or more comments in my other story...I'll kiss your toes! Yes! Toes! So thanks for reading! ))
Note: Also for my character, Ciara. It is pronounced See-are-ah. Not the singer. I more into alternative and rock. So if you see her name on my other story, don't assume they are the same people. Nope...I'm just a little obsessed with the name.