Gifts

"Cuddle close, my little ones, and listen to my stories while the storm blows out. Never worry, we are safe and warm here and the snow is much too cold to want to get us.

"Listen close, my little loves, for the story I tell is from many upon many years ago, more years than hairs on your heads, and tells of great deeds and great loves and great gifts.

"Back in the days of the Airbenders' absence, when the Fire Nation grew hungry and huge, your ancestors were born on opposite sides of a war. Zuko, the Prince of the conquering Nation, and Katara, last Waterbender of the Southern Water Tribe. When they were young, neither knew they would go on to be heroes. Neither knew they would go on to fall in love. Neither knew they were going to change the world.

"Neither knew when they were young the gifts they would give each other.

"The first gift he ever gave her was the gift of listening. The first moment of connection between enemies was a turning point in the war, though at first it didn't seem so.

"The first gift she gave to him was doubt. She inspired him to do surpass his own expectations for himself and he achieved great things and brought the Avatar to mastery of his bending art.

"The next gift he gave to her was his life. In a moment of direst danger, he gave up his fate and responsibility to the world in the effort to save her from a treacherous attack.

"The next gift she gave him was her heart. Despite his peoples' prejudice, despite the Avatar's desire for her, despite everything that stood in their way, they loved one another and proved it over and over.

"From then on, they gave the world gifts. They gave the world a stable Fire Nation that worked together with the other Nations to bring about harmony and prosperity. They gave the world four excellent Princes and Princesses who went on to become heroes in their own right. They gave the world peace at last.

"And they gave you, my little grandchildren, a worthy bloodline whose roots run deep and wide, that you may always rely on in times of hardship, even in the bitter winter cold when your parents go to commune with the Spirits. Now snuggle tight and close your eyes, for I have more stories for this long cold night, and if you're good there will be another of your many-times great-grandparents…."

A/N

This is the first Zutara Week I've participated in for a loong time, so I'm super excited for this! I've made it a personal challenge to upload something every day, even if it's just a weird little drabble. Maybe I'll write something good, maybe not, but hey, we're here for the ship and that's what matters :)

That said, I'm not especially pleased with how this one turned out. I was going for sweeping and epic and historical and definitely did not hit the mark, lol, oh well. Better luck next time!

All characters are owned by Bryke, Nick, and Viacom.

E.I. signing out