Revelation

A new day dawned.

Bright orange rays streaked across the sky, preceding the arrival of the sun. Wispy clouds danced amidst the sun's colors, chasing each other on the wind. The sea was ruffled, and a huge, lone mountain stood at the shore, refusing to bend with the air. An apple tree, situated in the center of a large courtyard in the Royal Palace, shuddered as the breeze wove through its branches. Pink blossoms were tugged loose from its branches, and floated downward in clouds.

Zuko smiled as one of these tiny flowers landed in and got caught in his black hair. Instead of removing it, he simply broke off another piece of the bread he held and tossed it into the pond, where a young turtle-duck quickly snapped it up.

Sitting beside the Fire Prince was Katara, dressed in a crimson robe that replaced her singed and worn out battle clothes. She laughed the turtle-duck's eagerness and at the sight of her mortal enemy-turned-friend with a pink blossom tucked just above his ear.

"Here, let me help you with that," the waterbender reached forward and worked the flower tenderly out of his hair, and then held it out for him to see. "Never thought you'd be one to wear pink."

Zuko smiled at her comment, and broke the remainder of his bread in half, handing some to Katara. Four young turtle-ducklings fought for the crumbs as the waterbender and firebender fed them.

"I used to always come here," Zuko began, when the bread was gone.

Katara shifted, turning to look at her friend curiously.

The firebender went on. "I used to come here and just feed the turtle-ducks and think. It's so quiet here, it was then and it is now. It's a good place to think." He paused before adding solemnly, "I decided to join you sitting right here."

Katara smiled. "Well, then," she started, "Who do I have to thank? You, the tree, or the turtle-ducks?"

Zuko glanced up at her, a hint of a smile passing over his face. "A little of all three, I guess."

"Thank you all, then," the waterbender glanced toward the playful little birds and the blossoms falling like a snow flurry around them, but her gaze settled on Zuko. "I do mean that," she whispered, her eyes glittering with the memory of a shadow that leapt into the path of cold fire, just to save her. "For everything."

After a long moment of silence between them, Zuko sighed. "When I faced my father on the Day of Black Sun, it was the most frightening thing I'd ever done in my life. Three years ago, I could have never imagined how my life would turn out. After I was banished, I was so confused. I never knew for sure what to do. I felt lost in a world that hated me because of my incompetence. When I joined you…I—" he hesitated, and Katara saw the gleam of tears in his eyes. She put a comforting hand on his arm, and after a brief second, he sniffed and continued, "I found something in your family that my family could never give. I found something surefooted and certain. I found true friendship and trust and real life." He leveled his gaze with Katara's, sincerity gleaming in his amber eyes. He spoke with a tone that betrayed the tears of joy he was fighting to hold back. "I finally recognize the unconditional love that my uncle has given to me all these years, after the world of trouble it took for me to get there." He smiled.

"And I've never been happier."

A/N: How was it? Sappy? Sweet? Soggy? Savvy? Okay, I'm just throwing words out there. I ask only that you do the same! With that nice little gray button below. Come on, you know you want to...