Author's Note: Well, this is it. The last chapter of "High School Can Really Burn"... *sigh*
Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar.
The war room of the Fire Nation's Royal Palace had been used for many things over the ages: religious festivals, heated political debates, coronations, discussions of strategy, Agni Kais, the creation of large-scale invasion plans, and a few rousing games of Pai Sho. But on this particular day, it housed the heroes who had won the war against the Firelord as they attempted to answer the difficult question they were confronted with at the war's end.
"Now what?" Mai put it bluntly.
"We're on clean-up duty, I guess," Aang shrugged.
"Well, since we seemed to agree on pardoning the whole damn Fire Nation Army," Jet rolled his eyes, "I think releasing the war prisoners should come first."
"I can take care of that," Sokka volunteered.
"I'll go too," Toph grinned, "Make sure Snoozles doesn't get into trouble."
"I think I'll visit back home at the Southern Water Tribe," Katara suggested, "Spread the good news, see how everyone's doing, help out the northerners if I can."
"Say hi to Gran Gran for me," Sokka smiled.
"I will," Katara agreed.
"How long do you think you'll be?" Zuko asked.
"I'm not sure," she shook her head, "A few months, probably. You're welcome to come with me."
"I should stay here at the palace," Zuko sighed, "Somebody has to hold down the fort, in case some freedom fighting psycho decides to take advantage of the end of the war to wipe out the rest of the Fire Nation, like he did to Firelord Ozai."
All eyes suddenly turned to Jet.
"Oh, come on," he groaned, "I'm not determined to kill all the Fire Nationers anymore. I've changed, I swear. If I weren't, little Zuzu would have kicked the bucket a while ago."
"You've expanded my confidence in you tenfold," Zuko rolled his eyes.
"We might have to keep you here, though," Mai smirked, "Matter of national security."
"I can't tell if you're joking right now," Jet admitted, "I really can't…"
"Well, anyway, I'll be sure to keep in touch," Katara changed the subject.
"I guess I'll take Appa and let the Earth Kingdom cities know they've been liberated," Aang suggested, "But I'll need a decree from the new Firelord to get anywhere with that." He looked hopefully at Zuko. The prince shook his head.
"The throne never belonged to my father," he said quietly.
"We are gathered here today," the head Fire Sage announced, "To witness the crowning of a new Firelord!"
Applause came from the crowd as the Prince-turned-General Iroh came onto the stage. Iroh began to make a speech about his brother's tyranny and his intentions to rule the Fire Nation for only a few years at most, until he felt his nephew was completely ready to take over the throne. But not everyone in the audience was listening to him.
"You two can stay here if you want to," Zuko whispered to Fred and Milo, "You might raise suspicion if you go back."
"But if you want to go," Aang pointed out, "Me and Zuko could try to take you to the Gateway in the Spirit World."
Milo looked to Fred, "I'll stay if you do. Same for leaving."
Fred was silent for a moment. "I… I still have some of the orb's power, don't I?" she finally asked.
"Uncle… thinks you might," Zuko admitted, "But that's irrelevant. Are you staying or going?"
Fred looked undecided, "I have… been feeling homesick lately… I think…"
The crown was placed on Iroh's head by the head Fire Sage.
"Hail Firelord Iroh!"
"Where are you taking me?" Azula struggled as the guards carried her away, "This is no way to treat a princess!"
"Shut it," one of the guards commanded, "We're taking you where you belong: a prison cell. Hope you like your cellmate, some old witch from a small town somewhere…"
The other guard silently took a key out of his pocket, and opened a cell. The two threw Azula to the ground and laughed as they closed the door behind her.
"Hello," an old woman sitting in the corner smiled kindly, "I suppose we're cellmates. My name is Hama. Who are you?"
"I am Princess Azula of the Fire Nation," the girl proclaimed haughtily, "And I expect that you'll do exactly as I say, you old hag."
"Fire Nation?" a dangerous spark appeared in Hama's eyes, "Well then, I expect that you'll do exactly as I say. After all, tonight is the full moon, and I've been wanting someone to practice my bloodbending on… Get ready."
Azula had the strangest feeling that she wasn't going to like this.
The gateway stood before them. Fred gulped. She would finally be home, but…
"Good-bye," she turned and hugged Zuko, "I'll miss all of you guys."
"We'll miss you both too," Zuko smiled sadly, before reaching into his pocket, "Here," he pulled out a slip of paper, "Something to remember us all by."
Fred took it. An expired coupon for a free small cup of tea at a place called the Jasmine Dragon. A smile spread over her face, "Your uncle's idea?"
"Who else's?" Zuko asked, "Well…"
"Yeah…" Fred stared at her feet, "This is it… Zuko, Aang… Good-bye."
She turned and stepped through the gateway, with the expectation of never seeing either of them again. Milo waved and prepared to follow her.
"Listen, Milo," Zuko held him back for a moment, "I need you to do me a favor. I know you care about Fred, probably even more than I do-"
"Wait, you know about that?" Milo interrupted.
"Yeah, I think everyone except Fred knows…" Zuko shrugged, "Wait, you didn't tell her, did you?" Milo shook his head.
"Jet is so screwed," Zuko smirked, "So we won the bet after all…" Milo gave him a bewildered look.
"Yeah, there was a bet going… Jet and Toph thought you would tell her, but Mai and I knew you wouldn't. Whoever was wrong had to do whatever the winners said for a week. Anyway," Zuko coughed, "I need you to make sure that Fred doesn't use her powers. I don't want her getting hurt. And if you break your promise and Fred gets hurt and I find out, she'll have company in the infirmary, got that?"
Milo gulped, nodded, and scampered after Fred through the portal, leaving Zuko and Aang behind in the Spirit World.
"Gee, Zuko," Aang observed, "That was harsh."
Zuko merely shrugged.
A pair of teenagers stepped into the police station. The officer looked up from her paperwork and gasped. She really hadn't expected to recognize them, but they were the two who had gone missing about a month ago. Their names… Tallulah Culvid and Milo Dawson, weren't they?
"Hey," Fred cleared her throat, "Can we call our parents?"
Milo's parents came and left. It was odd. Their reunion had been without tears, without laughter. Just a "Good, you're all right," and a "Yeah, let's go home."
Fred stared at her feet. She was back. She was finally back. But she was alone, and always would be as long as Milo wasn't around. And her chances for track the next year were probably shot. And the chances she would meet Zuko again were slim. She really didn't have much reason to return, but…
The door opened and a middle-aged woman stepped in, anxious and seemingly on the verge of tears. Her eyes scanned the room before catching sight of Fred. The woman suddenly smiled as a tear escaped the corner of her eye. She ran forward to hug her daughter.
"Tallulah, you're home!"
"Yeah, Mom," Fred smiled softly as she returned her mother's embrace, "I'm home now. I'm home."
A/N: So, yeah, that was it... I was thinking of writing a sequel before, but I'm not so sure now. Let me know what you think... Y'know, it was really a Christmas miracle that I managed to finish writing this at all... Well, it's been fun, and thank you all for reading and giving feedback.
Ja na! ^_^