The Fire God's Bride

A/N: School's almost here. (shudders)

Me: This is the last chapter, folks!

Readers: (gasp) What? Why didn't you tell us?

Me: Just because.

Epilogue

The soul comes from without into the human body, as into a temporary abode, and it goes out of it anew… it passes into other habitations, for the soul is immortal.

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Just one more, Grammy. Please!"

Forty six year old Ana sighed as she eyed her seven grandchildren suspiciously. They were sitting round the fire as Ana told them stories. The girls were looking expectantly at her while the boys tried to mask their interest. "Come now. I think it's really time for you all to go to bed. Your parents would be upset if you wouldn't."

Ami, the oldest among them, groaned. "Aw, just one last story, Grammy. I won't go to sleep if you won't."

"Well…"

"It has to be the best," three year old Taeko quipped.

Ana smiled at their enthusiasm and then began to speak in a hushed voice. "Forty one years ago, when I still lived at the Southern Water Tribe–"

"It's a real story then?" lisped four year old Yama, looking excitedly at her cousins and her sibling. They began to grin and squirm.

"Now, how can I finish my story if you would interrupt?" Ana scolded gently and the children stopped. Satisfied that she had gotten the kids' attention back, she continued. "As what I've said, I was four back then when the daughter of the former chief there lived. Her name is Katara. She was the sweetest eighteen year old girl I have ever known. She is beautiful and a good waterbender."

"A female waterbender! That's cool," Kyara exclaimed.

At this, Ana chuckled. "Yes, it is. Anyway, one day, a middle-aged man in red robes appeared out of nowhere. I was so scared back then but he reassured us that he only wanted to talk to former Chief Hakoda. The next time I saw him was the day that he and Katara disappeared through a beautiful flame. I didn't know why or where she went but eventually, I learned that Taiyo-Omi-Kami summoned her to make her his wife."

The kids gasped in horror. Mae said, "That must be really scary! She married the Fire god? Doesn't he look like a monster?"

Ana ignored their questions and pressed on. "She was gone for a long time and I thought she was never coming back. I was wrong. A month later, she came back… but she changed."

Ueko smirked. "The Fire god must have dumped her. After all, she's a girl!"

Five pairs of blue eyes glared at him. Their grandmother immediately jumped in to avoid arguments among the kids. "The Fire god did kind of dump her but not because she's a girl, Ueko. It was because Taiyo-Omi-Kami's Father, a Supreme Being, regarded Katara as the Fire god's weakness.

"She was very sad and miserable. Her guy childhood friend tried his best to cheer her up and they were engaged after five months of Katara being miserable. On their wedding day, a big surprise happened. The Fire god and his Mother arrived. He asked her to go back with him, that he was very sorry that he banished her."

Hana sighed dreamily. "That's so sweet."

"So you mean you saw his face? Was he handsome?" Mae asked.

"Even if a large scar almost covered the left half of his face, I do admit that he's… beautiful," Ana answered with a smile. The girls squealed while the boys sulked. "Now, don't be jealous, boys. He's a god after all.

"Anyhow, the tribesmen persuaded Katara to go back to the Sun Palace and she finally agreed. She said goodbye to us and off they went to the Sun.

"Legends say that the Fire god's Father was punished by the other Supreme Beings, though I don't know how they did it. It also says that since Katara is a mortal, she was granted the gift of reincarnation to be able to be with her love. Who knows, one of you might be Katara's reincarnate."

Ana's grandchildren started chattering excitedly. They stopped when their parents arrived.

"Goodbye, darlings!" Ana called out at her seven before waving goodbye. She was about to go back inside when she caught something red at her peripheral vision. She saw a very old man – the same man forty one years ago! – smiling at her, as if pleased with something she had done.

Readers: (throw anything within reach) You screwed it, kusachi-chan! Go to hell!

Me: (shields self) I'm really sorry. Sadly, I can't go to hell because Demon only can.

Demon: Hey!

Temper: Please review!

Author's Rant: I might make a set of drabbles about this story… but as what I've said, I might.

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Chapter 5

Thank you so much:

- AnnaAza, Momomiya Ichigo Loves Inuyasha, Bunzilla894, Horsewoman626, Violet-eyed-Tiger4, akay2, and badonyx for the oh-so-awesome reviews;

- LiahkonaAS for the private message; and

- to all guys who read this fic and sticked with me 'till the end!

I love you, guys! Zutara all the way! :)