Epilogue

Such were the strange and incredible events, that finally brought about my union with the sister of my best friend, with my adored Idris. With simplicity and courage she set aside the prejudices and opposition which were obstacles to my happiness, nor scrupled to give her hand, where she had given her heart. To be worthy of her, to raise myself to her height through the exertion of talents and virtues, to repay her love with devoted, unwearied tenderness, were the only thanks I could offer for this matchless gift. ~ Mary Shelley, The Last Man

Spring came eventually, as Katara had promised. Just as humanity had been restored to the objects, life was restored to nature.

Zuko and Katara held their wedding on spring equinox, marking the beginning of a new season in their lives as well as the year.

Suki and Meng tried to help Katara prepare. As usual Katara refused to wear makeup, but she allowed Meng to fetch a few ribbons for her hair. "These match your dress," she said, holding up the pink and green fabric strips.

Suddenly Momo leapt onto the vanity, snatched up one of the ribbons, and brought it onto the floor to play with it. "Momo!" Katara laughed. Meng knelt to reclaim it, but Momo took wing and flew out the door with it.

"Can we catch him? The wedding's in less than an hour!" Suki said as the three girls ran into the hallway.

"It's not a big deal," Katara started.

But Meng was adamant, almost indignant. "Split up. We need to find that lemur!"

It was Katara who found him a few minutes later, playing with the ribbon on the floor. "Momo, I need that," Katara said, trying to sound gentle. But Momo started to run away.

"Hey! I can't run in this!" Katara was wearing the same dress she had worn on Zuko's birthday, the day the enchantment was broken. She hitched up her skirt and tried to chase after the lemur, who was much faster now that he had wings again. Katara followed him outside, into the gardens.

An old woman was there, tending to the flowers on the bushes. Katara thought she must be a palace gardener. Katara gazed around at the budding plants, which looked vaguely familiar to her. "Wow," she said softly.

"Do you like it?" the old woman asked.

Katara nodded. "It's beautiful."

"These are a new addition." She nodded to Katara. "My wedding gift to you."

"What are they?"

"They're called fire lilies. They only bloom for a few weeks—usually in the summer." She paused. "I can't say whether your soon-to-be husband will like them or not."

Suddenly Katara remembered where she had seen such a flower: in the Dragon Bone Catacombs, and then in Zuko's private rooms. He had been so angry with her, when she almost touched it … it had wilted, but ever so slowly, as if magic was keeping it alive indefinitely.

She hadn't seen that flower in months—since the night she left to find Sokka.

"You know it was no ordinary flower," Hama said, as though reading her mind.

"What was it, then? Why did Zuko like it so much?"

"Oh, no; he loathed it. But he had to keep it safe. It showed that he still had time left, before his fate was sealed one way or another." In response to Katara's confused look, she explained, "You know that they were enchanted. There was a time limit. If Prince Zuko couldn't break the spell before the last petal of the fire lily fell, it would become permanent. That fate could only be circumvented by true love."

Katara studied the old woman. She had said "they," not "we." She did not live here; that was why Katara had not met her before.

"It was you," she realized. "You're the one who asked the Mother of Faces to cast that spell."

Hama nodded. Katara started to speak, but Hama raised a hand to silence her. "Before you get angry, ask yourself: Where would you be now if I hadn't done that?"

Katara stared at her. She had not taken the time to think about it, to meditate on everything that had happened in the past year.

If there had been no enchantment … Zuko would not have asked her to stay. She would not have gotten to know him, much less fallen in love with him.

"He deserved everything we gave him. And," Hama added, "he deserves everything you give him."

Katara didn't know how to respond to that. She gazed at the flowers again, wondering if Zuko would appreciate them or abhor them.

She remembered how she had felt about her life a year ago—uncertain, apprehensive, full of longing. Katara had known that she wanted more in her life, but she couldn't put her finger on what it was. The worst part was not simply not knowing, but rather not having any idea.

Now, she could imagine her future. She and Zuko might raise a family together. They might go on adventures. Sokka would continue inventing and travel to science fairs and conventions. Ty Lee would become a composer in her own right.

Katara turned to speak to the old woman; but she was alone in the garden. It was as though the enchantress had never been there.

No, that was not true; Hama had left a larger mark on the castle than its inhabitants could comprehend.

The ceremony and reception were held in the great hall, the same room where the Winter Solstice celebration and Zuko's birthday party had taken place.

All of their close friends played a role in the wedding. Suki was Katara's maid of honor, and Ty Lee was a bridesmaid. Zuko asked Chief Arnook, who would be returning to the North Pole soon afterwards, to be his best man. Aang was an usher, and escorted Meng, the flower girl, up the aisle. Aunt Wu officiated the ceremony. Sokka walked up the aisle with Katara, and gave her away.

Zuko was waiting for her at the end of the room. Today was his last day of waiting for Katara.

As the wedding procession walked up the aisle, Ty Lee led a full orchestra, and played a solo on the pipa. Iroh added to the melody on the Tsungi horn.

Zuko and Katara had written their vows together. They promised to love, honor, cherish, and protect each other; to be forever loyal, in sickness and health, whether beautiful or ugly. They kissed, and then turned to face their audience as Aunt Wu proclaimed, "May I present, Prince Zuko and Princess Katara, husband and wife."

While the servants cleared away the chairs to make room on the dance floor, Katara and Zuko went upstairs to the second-floor landing overlooking the first floor. All the girls and women gathered in the foyer below. Katara turned her back to them, and tossed her bouquet over her shoulder.

"I caught it!" Suki said excitedly, holding it up for the others to see.

"She'll be the next one to marry," Aunt Wu predicted.

Meng nudged her. "Who is it?"

"I can't tell, that would ruin the fun!" the old woman exclaimed.

Everyone went back to the great hall, which now had a section for the orchestra, a table laid with food, and a large area cleared for dancing. Ty Lee, Iroh, and the Kyoshi Warriors started with a slow song for Katara and Zuko to dance to. It wasn't their first time dancing together, but it was their first time doing so as husband and wife. And this time, they could be confident that it wouldn't be their last.

After that, the others started to join in. Aang didn't even have to ask if Meng wanted to dance; she was already pulling him into the circle.

"May I have this dance?" Iroh asked Aunt Wu formally.

The fortuneteller smiled coyly. "I knew you would ask," she said, before following him.

For a while Sokka hovered near the refreshment table. Until someone came up and tapped him on the shoulder. He turned and saw Suki, the Kyoshi Warriors' leader.

"Hey. Do you want to dance?" Suki asked.

Sokka blinked at her, before swallowing his mouthful of food. "Sure," he said, his voice squeaking as he tried to sound casual.

Suki smiled, taking his hand and pulling him onto the dance floor.

"Just one problem," Sokka said, as though just remembering. "I can't really dance."

Suki responded by spinning him around. "You're a warrior, right? Pretend we're training together. They're both about movement, working with another person."

Neither of them led the dance; if anything they took turns. Katara and Zuko snuck glances at them.

"They are kind of sweet together," Katara said to Zuko, sounding amused. Zuko rolled his eyes, but smiled nonetheless

"This is going to sound weird," Suki said, "but I'm glad you got lost in the swamp. It led you and Katara here."

Sokka smiled sheepishly at the memory. "Heh. Yeah. I am, too."

The song ended then. Suki and Sokka parted slowly. "Thanks for that," Suki said.

"Sure. Maybe I'll catch you again later."

Appa watched from outside, looking through the doorway that lead to the great hall. Sokka came over with a plate of food for the bison. Appa eagerly caught some vegetables on his tongue.

Sokka stroked Appa's head, a smug smile on his face. "See Appa? My instincts were right on the money!"

Meng approached Aunt Wu, breathless from dancing with Aang. "Are we going to live happily ever after, Aunt Wu?" she asked, watching Katara and Zuko dance together.

"Of course, my dear," the old woman said happily. "Of course."