XXIII.

Epilogue

Three weeks passed since the Fire Palace fell and the comet in the sky shattered. Nothing changed overnight. For the most part, Suki had the right idea-tend to the sick and the wounded and then get the living home.

Prince Zuko was honored a majority agreement among the people of the Fire Nation his citizenship and was made Fire Lord Zuko during a small ceremony held out on the site of the fallen palace. General Iroh was offered a place on the Fire Lord's council, but gently declined it for a better position: Grand Tea Master.

The Avatar was thrown a four day celebration, one day for each element in the balance. During the celebration, held in the Hakuza Valley, people of all nations hesitantly but enthusiastically mixed with one another, slowly beginning to smooth the rifts the war had caused. It would be a long time before they could trust one another, but at least they could break bread together.

After the celebrations, the work began. The Fire Navy arrived home and those whose loyalties did not hinder them helped to rebuild. Lord Zuko advised any Fire Nation citizen who wished to help rebuild the Palace would be more than welcome, but anyone who participated in the war, including all generals, commanders, and admirals, were ordered to rebuild the villages they helped destroy. Zuko himself was scheduled to help rebuild Kyoshi at the end of the month. It wouldn't make everything right, but it was a step in a direction away from his father.

Whom did not show up among the ranks was Admiral Zhao. He had disappeared, any trace of him lost in the excitement and new order. His belongings were reported missing, the door to his hut torn open. Zeilu was also no where to be found.

Mo-mo was found gnawing on a brown apple in a cage stuck among the brush of the Hakuza Valley. Appa, who had spent the better part of the week in the shade, was fat with a healthy unbridled diet of fruits, leaves and nuts. Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom children were rapt with wonder at the two Air Temple creatures.

Bumi returned to Omashu to survey the damage. He accepted Lord Zuko's offer to rebuild the Palace, but advised Zuko the Earth benders in turn would help with any other reconstruction projects after they completed Bumi's initial plan: to rebuild the Avatar temples, including the four Air temples and Avatar Roku's demolished ruins.

A handful of Air benders were discovered in the rubble of a nearby shed on the palace grounds, petrified beyond all reach. How they managed to escape the palace and shelter themselves in the shed was anyone's guess. Aang, at first, was heartbroken to hear what Fire Lord Ozai had done to them. He looked his brothers in their vacant eyes and mourned only a moment before coming to a decision:

"Well, now I'll be able to watch over them. I can take them back to the Air Temples and…"

"Aang, I doubt they can Air bend on their own much anymore. Unless someone kept an eye on them every minute, they could really hurt themselves," Lenara cautioned, "Ozai has stolen everything from them except the ability to follow orders. Whoever they were, they don't exist anymore."

"I think they do. That Air bender I spoke through remembered he likes toads and his favorite color is yellow. They can get through this. I know they can."

"But Aang, who will watch over them when you're away?" Katara asked.

"The other Air benders, of course." Lenara cocked her eyebrow.

"You wanna run that by me again?"

"These Air benders came from the Northern and Southern Air Temples. The Air benders from the Eastern and Western Air Temples are still out there."

"How can you be sure these guys aren't from the East or West?" Sokka said. Aang pointed to the nearest one.

"Because these are all boys. Monks lived in the North and South. Priestess lived in the East and West."

"Girl Air benders?" Katara's eyes got bigger.

"Yep. The bracelet Lenara found at the Western Air Temple was a tight fit on my wrist. It belongs to a girl. They're out there all right."

Two weeks after the end of the war, a council was held in the battered but functional Omashu Palace. All Nation leaders were asked to attend. Lenara came to represent the North Pole, Katara and Sokka the South. Aang was the lone representative for the Air Nomads.

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As the leaders took their seats around King Bumi's dining table, the walls drew back and Bumi walked to the head of the table, dusting off his shoulders.

"Darn place is falling apart. Slabs don't fit together, needed to be rebuilt." He sat down, folding his hands like a politician.

"So, where do we go from here?" The table was silent. This was the question everyone had spent some time thinking about. Bumi continued:

"Well, we sure as heck can't all be pals right away. We know that. And we all can't throw ourselves into our separate kingdoms and tribes and what have you and forget this ever happened. So, what should we do?"

"How 'bout it, Aang? If anyone knows reconciliation, it's the Avatar," Jet replied.

"Lay off, Jet," Katara snapped, "he shouldn't be expected to solve every problem just because he's the Avatar. And while we're at it, who invited you anyway? You're not a nation leader. "

"Sure I am. The newly formed League of Freedom Fighters. Our business cards come out next month."

"Okay, enough," Lenara sighed, "we know this is going to take a lot of work to repair the damage done and we'll just have to accept some of the scars that were made may never heal," she met Zuko's eyes and something unspoken passed between them, "but balance doesn't just come from the Avatar. It comes from us all. Every nation has to put forth the initiative to retain that balance or we'll be in the same mess as before."

"But the Air benders are almost wiped out. We're not even sure if they will survive the work Lord Ozai did to them," Suki explained, "if they pass and something happens to Aang, what will happen?" Katara smiled and stood up, fingertips pressed on the tabletop.

"Aang and I will be working on that, Suki. We will be on a search and rescue mission for a few months to locate the other Air benders."

"Great, Aang gets to chase girls while we stay here and build houses," Sokka muttered. Katara jabbed him in the shoulder.

"How will we be able to contact you if there is an emergency?" an Earth bender elder asked. Aang set the Hotaru on the table.

"I've changed the bell a little, Lenara. Hope you don't mind." She gestured for Aang to continue.

"All you need to do is ring the Hotaru. It'll reach me where ever I go."

"Where will it be kept?" Zuko asked. Aang stood and carried the bell over to the Lord of the Fire Nation.

"With you." Zuko was taken aback by his former adversary's trust. He took the bell and dropped a nod of respect to Aang.

"Oh, and let me know when the huge Koi start spawning…that's good riding!" Zuko quirked a brow at Aang as Iroh chuckled.

"He's right, you know."

"Okay, that's settled," Bumi wheezed, "if I could meet with the Master Artisans of the Fire Nation-we need to go over some capital selections. And that frieze…yuck! Needs some flair!" The council adjourned, most of them agreeing to meet the next week to discuss the building and task schedule.

Aang, Katara, Sokka, and Lenara trotted down the steps towards Appa. Several mats were rolled up on the saddle, bags packed, tents tied. They were heading home.

"Avatar. A moment, please." Aang turned to find General Iroh descending the steps with a bundle in his arms. Zuko removed his ceremonial helmet and scratched behind his ear.

"We want to thank you for what you have done. The kindness you have shown my nephew and I will not be forgotten."

"Don't mention it," Aang waved it off. He peered at the infant in Iroh's possession, "who's this little guy?"

"The Prince of the Fire Nation." Katara and Aang gasped. Sokka smacked a palm to his forehead.

"Here we go again."

"Lay off, Sokka. Zuko's brother is one of the first children of the New Dynasty. He has a lot to look forward to." Lenara scooped up the child and smoothed back his hair. He yawned, a gaping pink hole that pushed his stub of a nose up and then settled it back below his eyes.

"Have you thought of a name for him yet?" Zuko allowed his brother to curl his tiny fingers around his hand.

"Taro."

"Really?" She caught a grin before he dropped back to his serious demeanor.

"You're an amazing guy, Zuko, you know that? My father would have been flattered." She touched a kiss to the child's forehead and handed him to Zuko. The Fire Lord fumbled, unfamiliar with this kind of territory. His arms stuck out awkwardly.

"You'll make a great brother. I just wish I could be here to watch Taro grow up."

"Getting ready to head back, huh?" Zuko tried not to sound somber. He knew she would be going back; he would have been a fool to think otherwise. Perhaps his greatest tormentor was ceaseless hope. He passed off his brother to Iroh and sealed his hands into fists, fighting everything inside him that wanted to escape and be known. The last way he'd want to be remembered was as a mumbling idiot who couldn't express how devastated her departure was making him feel.

"Then have a safe trip home." She paused, taking Zuko in down to the last delicate line in his scar. 'This is much harder than I expected,' she thought.

"Is someone…waiting for you at home?"

"Yeah, a whole tribe full of 'em. I should just get going, before this gets saccharine." She stuck out her hand, just as she had when they first crossed paths below the deck of his ship.

"I'm glad you found your place again, Lord Zuko." He paused, then reached out and clasped his hand around hers. Before she could shake it, Zuko pulled Lenara to him, circled an arm around her waist and whispered, "I'll never forget you."

"Stop it. They're staring at us," she blushed, but didn't pull away.

"Let them stare." He leaned forward, brushed his brow against her own and touched his fingers to the nape of her neck as he kissed her. She shut out all sound as she leaned against him. Sandalwood would never smell the same to her again. The slight pressure around her waist faltered as he lost his nerve and it was enough. She ended her last moments with Zuko trying to understand everything he told her in the kiss. She smiled.

"I can't believe you won." He recalled the Agni-kais they had had, their unfinished battle. He couldn't believe it, either. Just like that, it was over. He smirked and she left his embrace. She walked past Sokka, who made a retching sound until silenced by Katara's elbow. Katara and Aang shared a smile as they mounted Appa. Lenara sat curled by Sokka, knees drawn up to her chin. Aang took the reins.

"Appa, yip-yip!" They soared away from Omashu. Lenara couldn't bring herself to look down. She wrapped her arms around her knees. Sokka silently put an arm around her shoulders. He kept his promise: to be there for Lenara when Zuko wasn't. She leaned on him as the bison they rode tore through the clouds and beyond the history they left below.

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A ragged and weary Appa touched down at the North Pole a month later. Lenara stretched and reached over a dozing Sokka to nab her pack. Aang jumped down from Appa's head and Katara followed.

"Do you need to stay here for the night? Appa looks exhausted." Appa shook his massive head. Aang grinned.

"I think we'll be okay."
"Suit yourself." She watched her fellow tribespeople approach them in the fading light. A scattering of stars tried impatiently to outshine the dying sun.

"Well, guess this is it. Aang, Katara," she embraced her fellow Water bender and the Avatar in turn. She noticed she hardly had to stoop down to Aang.

"You grew, Aang."

"I did?"

"Guess you were too busy to notice. Tell 'Sleeping Beauty' up there I said goodbye." Katara and Aang climbed back onto Appa. Katara placed a calculated kick on Sokka's leg and he tipped over.

"Wh…what? What's goin' on?"

"Oh, nothing . We're just saying goodbye to Lenara. Ready to go?"

"Oh no, you don't!" Sokka scrambled down from Appa, still half asleep. He tapped her on the shoulder as he cupped a yaw in his hand.

"The dead has arisen."

"Very funny. Leaving without waking me up, huh?"

"You looked so peaceful, Sokka. Would've broke my heart to disturb you."

"Yeah, well…" he trailed off, unsure of how to sum up his relationship with this girl. She was by far the most confusing.

"Sokka! Hurry up!" Katara yelled. Sokka shot her a venomous glance, then pulled off the glove on his right hand.

"We'll see you around, right? I mean, you can't stay away from him for too long…"

"I don't plan on seeing Zuko again, Sokka. If it happens, it happens. But how's a Fire Lord and a Water Tribe Chief supposed to be together if they're worlds apart? A lemur may love a bison, but where would they live?"

"You had me right up until the lemur." Lenara laughed and brushed Sokka's hand away. Instead she rested her chin on his shoulder as she embraced him. Sokka realized this was enough and held her for a moment. Then he was back on Appa and the bison climbed the orange sky, his packed footprints the only token she had of them.

The tribespeople welcomed her home, but she longed to be in her own tent with her thoughts. She would regale them tomorrow. She excused herself and made her way to her own tent. She scraped the back of one of the huskies, his tongue winking in and out, clouds puffing up from his mouth. The tracks of her Agni-kai were gone, smoothed over by a few recent snows. She raised the heavy leather hung over the door and ducked inside her tent.

The steamy, rich smell of soup greeted her. A clay spoon knocked against the pot. Vegetables tumbled and disappeared. A woman in a green dress, faded around the knees, stoked the fire. Her eyes flicked up for a moment, regarding Lenara, then returned to the fire. She collected her long silver hair in a bunch around the nape of her neck as she blew on the embers. Lenara set her pack down among her belongings and began to peel off her robe. It was good to be home.

"Hello, Lenara."

"Hello, Mom."

"Dinner's almost ready. Pour us some tea and then you can tell me how you got that scar on your hand." Lenara smiled. 'Skipped my hair and moved right on to the scar,' she thought, 'yes, it was good to be home.'

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Katara yawned, watching the sky grow pink. The stars would succumb to the sun soon. She felt a hand gently take the reins from her and turned to see Sokka nudging her off of Appa's head.

"Go keep him company. I'll take it from here." She surrendered her place without a word and climbed back to the saddle. Aang stared down at the black ink of the river below, lines of silver threaded by a graying moon. Katara sat beside him and he turned away from the world below.

"On to Kyoshi?"

"Yup. You sure you don't want to stop by the South Pole?"

"I'll drop Gran-gran a line to let her know we're okay. She'll understand."

"You know, I'm glad you and Sokka came to find me. I know I couldn't have made it without your help."

"Happy to do it, Aang. And I'm glad you were able to forget your fears and kick some Fire comet butt!"

"I don't know how long it will take me to find the Priestess Air benders, Katara. You don't have to come with me, you know."

"And leave you alone to be swarmed by a bunch of girls? No way! Don't even try to talk me out of it!" Aang chuckled. He didn't think Katara would refuse. Aang felt Katara's hand bump into his and he cupped his hand in hers. They sat on the broad back of a flying bison, connected in this way as the dawn broke through the clouds. It was starting out to be a pretty good day.

The End