Author's Note: This is a short story for the holiday season, and even though it's sad, in a way, it's sweet. Comments/suggestions welcome and appreciated. Have a wonderful Christmas! :)
Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender or any of its characters.
Across the Fire Nation, a glittering, frosty blanket of snow had spread across the ground and rooftops in the villages. It was Christmastime, and spread out all across the buildings and homes were decorative lights, which twinkled in the pink glow of dawn. The streets were quiet, but there was a feeling in the air that could be felt even in the early hours of day; that feeling was Christmas. Even the people of the Fire Nation, the most feared and despised realm, were lovers of the holiday season. You could hear it in the children's giggles and whispers of new toys, and see it in the elder's eyes, which told many tales of past Christmases, and eagerly awaited the new stories that would take place on that magical morning. This time of year always made everyone a little happier, and a little friendlier.
But the bliss could not be found everywhere. On a balcony, at the top level of the Royal Palace, a little boy leaned over the railing and watched the glittering world below. There was no happiness in his eyes, and there was no joy. No smile lifted his face or brightened his eyes, there was only an empty, vacant stare that reflected the emptiness he felt in his heart. His tiny hands gripped the railing tightly, as if it were his anchor to life itself. After all, when someone's world comes crashing down around them, they need something solid to hold on to. As lightly falling snowflakes settled themselves onto his shaggy black hair, a single tear slid down his pale cheek. Why did this happen? He thinks, despair tugging at his tiny, fragile heart.
Had it been any other year, there would have been smiling faces waiting for him when he arrived downstairs, where a sparkling Christmas tree sheltered the gifts wrapped in shades of green, red, and gold. But not this year. All that awaited him now was a dark, empty room devoid of any life, and the cold silence that told depressing tales of pain and loss.
He watched his tears fall to the blanket of snow that laid far below him, and couldn't help but feel resentful to the shiny lights that glittered across the nation. Nothing should have been happy; it might have been a cheerful time to everyone else, but for him, it was just a reminder of all the things he had lost. What Zuko wanted couldn't be wrapped in boxes, or tied up with strings. He rested his head on his small hands, wishing that things could be the way they were before. I guess…sooner or later, every good thing has to end, he contemplated. He wished more than anything that he could be happy, but after what had happened, it didn't seem possible. He turned and headed into his room, which was dark, the only light in the room coming from the pale glow of dawn. The little boy padded silently down the dark-red staircase, not wanting to wake his sleeping family. There would be no greetings murmured if he was discovered leaving the palace, instead he would be reprimanded with harsh words of disapproval. So he made his way quietly to the door, then slipped out into the frosty air of sunrise.
As he walked through the streets, his tiny feet pushed through the fresh snow with a slow, steady pace. His head was held low, protecting his pale face from the chilly breeze that blew between the houses and shops of the Fire Nation. He pushed his hands into the pockets of his thick coat, and stared at the snow that reflected the gold, green, red, and blue lights of Christmas. But nothing would make him smile. Nothing would ease his pain. And as he walked through the town dressed for Christmas, he thought, Mom…all I want for Christmas is you.