ZUTARA WEEK 2023: Day 6: FORGE

Defying a Tainted Legacy

DISCLAIMER: Avatar: The Last Airbender belongs to Bryke but Zutara Week belongs to all Zutarians.

NOTE:

My most ambitious entry yet, and though there might be enough for a longer story, I do not have the bandwidth to do it justice. What began as an exercise to see how many different interpretations of the prompt I could fit in evolved into this dark piece.

Enjoy and let me know what you think. Thank you!

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"Any alliance with the race of warmongers and tyrants is cursed

All manner of misfortune will befall them that cannot be reversed

Those who took pleasure in watching the whole world burn

Forfeited their rights to happiness, as they will soon learn

Water and Earth must beware of this prospect most dire

Doomed is the union with anyone who wields fire

For they brought forth the world's annihilation

So all that is left for them now is desolation…."

Zuko crumpled the scroll in his hand before setting it ablaze. He sighed as he leaned back in his chair, staring at the desk in his office. More and more of these scrolls were being discovered every day.

He knew that he should not take this text seriously, that it was one of the many attempts of his enemies to sabotage the work he was doing to restore his nation, while also choosing to be with the woman he loved. It was utter nonsense. But even though his rational mind told him not, he could not help but worry. The scroll has turned to ashes but its words were already engraved in his memory.

These pieces of amateurish poetry had been disseminated across the Four Nations by those who wished to undermine his rule and his upcoming alliance with the Water Tribes. Fanatics from the Earth Kingdom, claiming to be monks from a forgotten order, preached that these words were prophecies from ancient wise sages. Anyone who dared begin a relationship with a member of the Fire Nation would be cursed.

And as crazy as these claims were, they were not ineffective. There were enough people who wanted any reason, no matter how flimsy, to continue hating the Fire Nation. Many still could not believe that peace was possible. Many could not forgive Zuko and his people for a century of war and suffering.

He could not blame them. He was still wracked with guilt over his part in the war, and there were many days that he was not sure he would ever be able to atone for what he and his family had done to the world.

He didn't believe that the scrolls were authentic but he was not sure how he could argue against them. He sighed as he leaned back

"Is that another one of those ridiculous 'prophecies'?" Katara asked, entering the office after a long day of training.

Zuko nodded sadly. "They keep popping up whenever we think we've gotten rid of them," he explained, "and the worst part is more people seem to believe in them."

"People are afraid, Zuko," Katara said gently, "afraid that this peace we're building will not last. Many of them have spent most of their lives in a war so they do not know what a different world looks like. So they latch on to these crazy prophecies because at least, fear and suspicion are more familiar to them. It doesn't make sense but that's the way people are sometimes."

"You're right," Zuko agreed, "I just wish there was a way to show them that I am not my father or grandfather. That Aang has really restored balance to the world. That there are better days ahead."

"You've already started that, silly," the waterbender said lightly, trying to lift Zuko's mood somehow, "No one has worked harder than you to restore the Fire Nation's honor and to repair your people's reputation. It might take a little while to get everyone on your side, but I am confident you'll get there."

He smiled at her gratefully. She reached out and took his hand gently.

"And if you're worried about all that nonsense about marrying a firebender being cursed, then don't be," she said firmly, "All that has nothing to do with us. After all we've been through together, no stupid scrolls can ruin what we have."

"I still don't think I deserve you," Zuko said uncertainly, "And I sometimes wonder if I can ever make you as happy as you make me."

Katara frowned and let go of his hand. Zuko started at this but before he could react further, she had walked to the other side of his desk and thrown her arms around him, pulling him into a tight embrace. After a moment, he returned the gesture and held her close.

"Do you trust me?" she whispered.

"Yes, of course," he replied earnestly.

"Then trust in us," she told him with conviction, "Trust in our love. That's all that matters."

Zuko pulled her closer to him. He remembered the first time she had ever hugged him, after the encounter with the Southern Raiders, and when she had finally forgiven him for all he had done. He remembered every moment between them after that, all the years of fighting by each other's side, healing their wounds, sharing their sorrows, laughing at the same jokes, learning harsh truths, and facing these together. They had been separated and reunited. They had quarreled and reconciled. All of life was still before them. Their love had been forged in fire, and it only grew stronger every day.

"You are my life, Katara," Zuko whispered.

"And you are mine," she replied, "As long as we're together, everything else will sort itself out."

There was no curse or prophecy of doom. Only two people who were determined to forge forward into the future, unencumbered by the shadows of the past.

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One day, years later, a messenger fox from Wan Shi Tong's library arrived at the palace with a brief note from the Spirit who wanted only to safeguard all wisdom. It read simply:

"Destroy those scrolls cursing alliances with the Fire Nation. They are but pathetic forgeries and unworthy of being attributed to the ancients."