Fire and Ice

Klare's Not Klare

Klare frowned at Zuko's words. "If that's what you think, then so be it. However, don't finalize your opinion until you learn the full story." "This isn't a story for words, sister." She nods to Rin. "I know." She looks Zuko in the eyes once again. "Zuko, I don't ask you to trust me, it's too late for that, but I am asking that you'll keep both your mind and heart open for me... at least until you know everything about me that there is to tell." He simply nods and she pulls him closer to her. 

"What are you doing?" Zuko narrowed his eyes as Klare made him stand directly in front of her, barely an inch between him and her knees, which were at the edge of the table. "So as to guarantee to you that I'm not going to give even the slightest lie, I'm going to let you see directly into my memories. Please keep in mind, that I'd never do this unless I feel confident that I can trust someone... trust someone enough to put my life in their hands." His eyes widened in utter shock before Klare suddenly pulled his head towards hers and their foreheads gently collide.

A white light covered their vision until it cleared and they were both standing outside a magnificent shrine that Zuko had only ever seen in drawings. "Welcome to 'The Grand Shrine of the Pheonix', Zuko."

Zuko was just about to say something, yet was stopped as a little four-year-old came running out of the shrine. She was chased by a ten-year-old and a sixteen-year-old and they were all laughing. Each of them had peculiar hair colors, which confused Zuko greatly. The eldest girl's hair had mixes of greens and browns. The ten-year-old's hair was a sky blue with patches of whites and slightly pastel pink at the very end of the tips. As for the first girl, the four-year-old, she had the strangest colored hair as it was many different blues, whites, and purples all together (the picture). 

"Klaresa! Come back here! We aren't done dressing you up yet!" The ten-year-old laughed as she nearly caught the toddler. "No way, Akia! I don't wanna wear that pink stuff!" The oldest girl stopped, falling onto the soft grasses in laughter. "Aww, but they'd look so cute on you, though! Don't you agree, Yuka?" Akia pouted, stoping to look over at the girl holding her stomach on the ground. "S-Sure, Akia. Whate-ever you say! Haha!" 

Klaresa stopped and stared at Yuka, noticing her smile and grinning happily to see the older girl fighting back her tears of joy. Akia seems to realize Klaresa's pause in movement and uses the opportunity to sneak up behind her and call out, "Tickle Attack!!" Klaresa started writhing around and giggling as Akia began tickling her small figure.

Klare smiled softly at the scene before turning to look at Zuko. "In case you haven't realized yet, that tiny girl is me. My name was first Klaresa, but I lost it not too long after this, as you will soon see." 

"Klaresa, dear, it's time for your afternoon lessons!" A soft, kind voice called. Merely a second or so later a tall woman came to the door of the shrine, smiling calmly at the young girls. Zuko gasps at the woman's appearance as it was very much like that of the girl standing next to him. Tears silently slipped from Klare's eyes as she looked at the woman with long white hair that nearly reached her knees and went perfectly with her icy blue eyes. 

"Mommy!" "Lady Chilam!" The girls cheered happily. Klaresa jumped from Akia's grasp and raced up to the woman, taking her outstretched finger into her small hand. "Yes, mommy. What are we doing today?" "Phoenix history, my child." They walk back into the shrine and the pair's vision is turned to white again.

When it returned, they stood in the same place as before, but it was pouring. Thankfully, as it was a memory, the rain couldn't affect the pair. "We're... going to have to go inside." "How do we know where to go?" Klare gave him a 'seriously?' look. "There's a reason these are memories. It means I know this place, probably better than you know the fire palace. Now come." She lightly took his hand and lead him through the door and through various hallways until they came across a door where wails of sorrow could be heard the closer they got.