AN: So the ATLA reruns on Nickelodeon have been coming on just as I get home from school. That's one way to make my day better :) Monday, I think, was The Firebending Masters (and The Southern Raiders, but I didn't write about that episode), and I came up with this little oneshot. It was really hard not to put any Zutara in this piece, but somehow I managed. I suppose it turned out nicely, and if you agree, you had best leave a review! Interpret the last line however you want, I'm not actually sure how I even interpret it...but it kind of works, so I'll keep it. Thanks for reading!

Another AN: So I just uploaded this, and holy crap, I don't like the new account layout thingy...it's weird. Eh. I digress.

Another AN: Holy shiznit I haven't written in half a year O_O I feel so ashamed...and out of practice. If the flow or wording on this is really weird, please please tell me.

In his lifetime, Zuko had seen few beautiful things. His mother. Turtleducks tucked beneath their mother's wing. The beginning of the era of peace. His son and his daughter. The dragons.

They were beautiful, the dragons.

The way that they moved, lithe and smooth in the air, as if ripples on a still pond. They were silent; even the flutter of their enormous wings made no sound, though he could feel the gentle breeze of air that they caused on his cheek.

He watched as his son, of but seven years old, stared up at the creatures in awe; he wouldn't learn from the royal masters, no. No son of Zuko's would be brought to firebending by rage and hate. The child would learn from Ran and Shao, the beings who knew that fire was not hatred and destruction and power, but energy. Passion. Life.

The drumbeats quickened as the dragons danced over the ancient stone bridge, until the child was engulfed in tongues of colored flame. Then they retreated once more into their caves.

That day, Zuko found a new beauty.