Disclaimer: I Do Not Own Avatar

Author's Note: This is Book 5, my final conclusive book in the Avatar saga. Before reading this you should probably check out my Book 4 so that you don't end up totally lost.

As for this story … well, let's hope that lightning strikes twice.

Without further ado, I present to you Avatar, Book 5, my final installment of the Avatar saga…

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Winter is quickly returning to the four nations. Though still autumn, a thick heavy snow has started to coat the north and south poles and parts of the Earth Kingdom. Children laugh and play in the snow, making snow angels and snow men. Some have even created a snow Momo and Appa.

Other areas of the world still experience the warmth of summer, although, they too will quickly give way to the bitterness of winter in time. People flock out to the beaches, enjoying the last few glimpses of warm weather before the frigid cold sets in.

For the first time in a hundred years, the world seems to be fully at peace.

No Fire Nation raids terrorizing innocent civilians. The Fire Nation is progressing rapidly back from a horrifying tyranny to a peaceful, pacifist kingdom under the benevolent rule of its current Fire Lord.

The monstrous Ozai, who planned to burn the Earth Kingdom to the ground, has vanished off the face of the earth.

Monk Guandao, who held the entire world by the throat just a few short weeks ago has been robbed of his powers and is imprisoned on an isolated island under the watchful eye of a certain cabbage merchant. His perverted army of Airbenders has been rendered useless.

The flames of war have finally died out.

Enemies have now become friends. Siblings, once violent enemies, are finally reunited as brother and sister.

However, the cost of these things is high.

Entire cultures have been wiped out. The North Pole and the Earth Kingdom lie in ruins. Friends have become enemies. Loved ones, out of contact with each other for many long years, after finally being reunited, are violently torn apart. A mother has been sacrificed to save her child – the ultimate act of love.

And now the nations of the world rebuild in the wake of all this devastation, in the hopes of creating a lasting peace.

A funny thing about peace.

As high as the cost is to bring peace to the world, the cost of maintaining peace is even higher…

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Kyoshi Island – Morning

"Rise and shine!"

Suki moaned and rolled over in her bed, pulling the covers high over her face, shielding her eyes from the sudden burst of sunlight that now poured into her bedroom. Sokka was pulling the blinds of her windows open, as he danced about the room. "Time to get up," he sang.

Suki moaned again. "Just five more minutes." She began to slip back into sleep.

Until Sokka jumped up on her bed. "Come on, sweetie! Get up, get up, get up," he whined in a singsong voice, dancing about the room again.

The Kyoshi warrior slowly sat up, rubbing her eyes. As her vision came back into focus, she watched her boyfriend as he began rummaging through her drawers. "You're up uncharacteristically early," she commented. Sokka usually slept like a log, long into the afternoon. The whole building could come crumbling down around them and Sokka would never notice.

"Yea, well, today's an exciting day, remember?"

Suki was suddenly fully awake as she remembered. "The reunion!"

"That's right," Sokka exclaimed. "Aang and Katara are coming!" He rubbed his hands together. "Oh, I can't wait! Do you realize this is the first time we've seen them since that battle at Ba Sing Se?!"

Suki shuddered. She remembered. So much had been lost that day…

"It's pretty warm out today," Sokka said, commenting on the heat wave the island was currently experiencing. He turned back to Suki. "How about we take Aang swimming? I bet he's itching to ride that elephant koi again, huh?" He reached into Suki's drawer.

"Here, put this bathing suit on." He tossed her the garment, and she caught it with her snappy reflexes. She eyeballed the "swimsuit" in her hand and looked up at her boyfriend in confusion.

"Sokka, this is a shoe lace, not a bathing suit."

The Water Tribe boy flashed a mischievous grin. "I know."

***

Fire Nation Palace – Afternoon

"And sign here. And here. And here."

Fire Lord Zuko sat at a desk, a whole pile of papers stacked in front of him. Several dignitaries and representatives from the Earth Kingdom huddled around the young Fire Lord, as Joo Dee babbled inanely in his ear. The creepy woman had been appointed chief diplomat and personal ambassador to the Earth King shortly after the battle of Ba Sing Se. While she had undergone heavy "deprogramming" to heal the effects of Long Feng's brainwashing, she was still bossy and blissfully ignorant.

"Thank you for your time, Fire Lord Zuko," she said, bowing politely. She handed the documents to the dignitary next to her, never taking her eyes off of Zuko. "Make sure these documents make it to the Earth King," she snapped.

Zuko stood up from his desk, rubbing his temples. He had woken up this morning with a throbbing headache, and signing these documents was making it worse. Joo Dee's prattling wasn't helping either.

"I need a break," the Fire Lord said, making for the door. Joo Dee followed after him. "A break? But we have a very strict schedule to stick to, Fire Lord Zuko. There is no room for breaks. There are still many, many more things that you must sign today. And tomorrow. And the next day."

Zuko groaned as he slapped his forehead. Three more days with Joo Dee? One was bad enough!

"Look," he stammered, trying to sound as polite as possible. "I would like just one hour to spend with my girlfriend. That's it. Just one hour."

"I must advise against this," Joo Dee protested. "Think of how much paper work one hour will cost us! It is your responsibility as Fire Lord to oversee all matters in this nation – no matter how unpleasant! And I will not allow you to place me behind schedule!"

The Fire Lord bowed his head in defeat. "Fine. Can I at least take a quick bathroom break?"

"Very well. Five minutes. If you are just one second late, I will come looking for you."

Zuko nodded. He knew from his friends' experiences with that woman that she would indeed come looking for him. If she could, she would probably follow him into the restroom just to make sure he stuck to her schedule.

And so, with a bowed head, he exited the throne room doors.

When the doors closed behind him, a wicked grin spread across his face.

Five minute bathroom break?

Yea right!

Joo Dee would never think to look for him outside the palace.

***

Underground Battle Arena – Afternoon

"And in this corner, weighing in at 275 lbs, we have a newcomer; the loud, the unmovable, the mighty Concreto!" The announcer stood in the center of a ring, introducing the contestants to this coming battle.

A giant of a man, wearing spandex like pants and a mask roared loudly, flexing his bulging muscles for the large crowd.

"And in this corner! You've seen her win, night after night after night! She's pummeled everyone in her way! Her very name makes her enemies quake in their boots. She's as hard and tough as iron itself. You know her! You love her! Weighing in at a mere 97 lbs, it's the Blind Bandit!"

The Blind Bandit stepped forward, and a sudden hush fell upon the audience. They've seen what this girl was capable off. Concreto didn't stand a chance, they knew it. Audience members bit their fingernails, afraid to watch the horrible beating Concreto was about to take.

And then suddenly out of the silence, breaking the tension, two odd voices rang out.

"Go get him sweety-kins!"

"Toph, honey! Remember to change into some clean underwear afterwards!"

Toph slapped her forehead in embarrassment as the audience burst into laughter and two skinny guys began making catcalls.

"Aaaaw, sweety-kins loves her mommy!"

"Don't forget to put on clean undies, lamb-chop, pudding-pop, lummy lummy lumchkin!"

After helping to save the world – twice – her parents had become a little more lenient with her. They had even agreed to allow her to take part in Earthbending competitions once again. However, they had recently taken to coming to her competitions to watch her. She was, inadvertently, embarrassed by their overbearingness and coddling daily.

"Okay, mom," she shouted back, her cheeks reddening. "Can you please, please stop talking now?"

The two scrawny men continued their catcalls. Toph just slightly tilted her head sideways, and the two guys found themselves suddenly sinking neck deep into pure bedrock.

"Whoops," she said sweetly.

"And now," the announcer yelled. "Let the match begin!"

"A blind girl," Concreto laughed. "How did you become champion? Were all your opponents three year olds?!" And his laughter intensified.

Toph just smiled. Underestimating your opponent. That was your first mistake.

Toph waited. She moved her feet softly across the ground, sensing her opponent's position. Concreto, oblivious to her ability to "see" through her feet, made the first move, stomping the ground, forming a boulder and hurling it at her.

Recklessly making the first move. That was your second mistake.

The rapidly flying boulder never touched the ground, so Toph couldn't sense it through her feet. Instead, she relied on her heightened hearing senses. She could hear the air currents swirling around the rock. It was almost at her face. Closer. And closer. And closer.

It was almost an inch from her face. Her parents held their breaths. Concreto grinned in triumph.

And Toph disappeared.

The boulder went sailing, hitting nothing, and smashed harmlessly against the opposite wall.

Concreto was frantically looking around. He knew the young girl was rapidly burrowing underground. He was at a disadvantage. Unlike Toph, he couldn't sense movement through his feet.

The Blind Bandit suddenly shot out of the ground like a cork out of a bottle only a few inches from her opponent. In midair, she kicked two large rocks at him.

Concreto batted them away with his wrists, but when he looked for Toph, she was gone again.

BAM!!!

The masked Earthbender was struck from the side, flying several feet. He shakily rose to his feet to see Toph, tongue stuck out in defiance.

"B-but … you're only a little girl. A blind girl at that!"

"Yea, and this little blind girl is totally kicking your butt!"

Concreto was stammering mad. "Why you!"

He unleashed a whole volley of boulders at the young girl. Her mother buried her face in her husband's shirt. "Oh, I can't look!"

To Toph, the boulders weren't moving fast at all. Oddly enough, they seemed to be moving at an incredibly slow pace to her.

WHIZZ!!!

WHIZZ!!!

Toph moved left and right, dodging the boulders as they flew past within centimeters of her head.

WHIZZ!!!

WHIZZ!!!

Concreto screamed as his efforts to bring down one little blind girl proved fruitless.

Good, Toph thought. I'm getting to him. Time to finish this. She mentally shrugged. Oh well, it's been fun.

Toph stamped her foot and a column of earth shot up between Concreto's legs, slamming into his crotch like a hammer. She mentally winced. If he's a normal guy, that should be more than enough to do the trick.

It did. Concreto's scream was high pitched, like a girl. Like Sokka's. She couldn't stop herself from laughing, picturing Sokka's effeminate ways.

As Concreto rolled around on the ground in pain, the announcer ran into the ring, grabbed Toph's hand and raised it into the air as the audience erupted into cheers.

"And, not surprisingly, the Blind Bandit wins again!"

Toph beamed as a huge sack of coins were pushed into her hands. Mr. and Mrs. Bei Fong rushed into the arena, grabbing their daughter.

"Congratulations honey!"

"We're so proud of you!"

And the two picked the girl up and raised her high in the air on their shoulders.

Toph could feel her lip tremble. This is what she had always wanted.

For her parents to finally accept her for who she was.

***

Fire Nation Capital – Afternoon

"Zuzu, you don't look so good!"

Zuko looked down at Azula's smirking face, and smiled back at her. Last time she had said those words, she had just fried him with a bolt of lightning and was ready to take on Katara in a fierce battle.

The Fire Lord caught his reflection in a nearby mirror and noticed the bags under his eyes. He shrugged. "It's because of stupid Joo Dee and all her treaties and everything. I haven't slept in two days because of her – and, she's still here for three more days!"

Azula really knew how to tick her brother off. "Well, you know, if the job is too stressful for you, I'd certainly be glad to step up and take your place for a while."

Yea, I know you would. "Don't push it," was all he said.

The two siblings were walking through the streets of the Fire Nation's capital city, along with their dates, Mai and Loi.

Just a few weeks ago, they had all been enemies. Azula, mad with power, had been doing everything in her power to destroy Zuko. She had almost succeeded on several occasions, first on the day of Sozin's Comet, and then, just a few weeks ago, during the battle of Ba Sing Se.

Zuko remembered it all clearly. They had thought that the war was over until the Sun Tzu, a mysterious clan of warriors, surfaced, led by the shadowy Shin Xao. Meanwhile, Aang had met the mysterious Monk Guandao, another Airbender who had survived Fire Lord Sozin's purges.

As luck, or fate, would have it, Monk Guandao was really Shin Xao who manipulated events to gain the ultimate power of the spirit of Apollyon. He betrayed Aang, pretended to be the Avatar, conquered the world and bent Azula to his will.

In the end, Aang was able to defeat the evil monk, destroy Apollyon, and banish Guandao to Shark Fin Island.

During the whole affair, Zuko had become reunited with his mother, Ursa. The reunion was short lived, however, as Ursa sacrificed her life to save Azula from a surprise attack. This had been the turning point that had brought about Azula's ultimate redemption.

Zuko pushed the memory away, returning to the present. Remembering Ursa was … painful.

The two couples sat down at a nearby restaurant. Zuko and Azula wore commoner clothes, so that no one would recognize them as being part of the Royal Family. As they ate, they made small talk.

"So how's life in the military," Zuko asked Loi.

"Well, believe it or not, I've actually been promoted to general! I have a full regimen of troops now stationed under my personal command!"

Zuko nodded in surprise. Loi – barely older than Zuko himself, a general. Go figure. Azula gently patted his shoulder. "I'm very proud of you, Loi."

Mai turned to the Fire Princess. "And what have you been up to, Azula?"

"Well, you know, a little of this, a little of that?"

"What does that mean," Zuko asked suspiciously.

"Yea," Loi stated. "You have been wandering off lately? What have you been doing?"

Azula raised her hands in defense. "Look, everyone. It's a secret. Frankly, it's none of your business what I've been doing. So just butt out, okay?"

"You're getting a little defensive there Azula," Mai replied sarcastically. "We're not planning another coup, are we?"

"Please, can we just drop it," she pleaded.

Zuko's eyes darted throughout the crowd – and his eyes widened.

A very angry Joo Dee was storming right towards them.

"Oh great," Azula folded her arms. "Aggro, huh?"

"Aggro," was a term the small group had given to Joo Dee. It was an inside joke the four of them shared.

"Hurry," Zuko rushed. "If we get out of here quick, she won't catch us!" There was a mad scramble for them to get out of their seats.

"Fire Lord! FIRE LORD ZUKO!!!"

"Oh great, she's already spotted us," Mai sighed.

Joo Dee was way past her boiling point as she began reprimanding the Fire Lord. "Bathroom break? Bathroom break?! You've been gone for over two hours, we're far behind on our paperwork, and here you are cavorting around you … you … juvenile!"

"Now look here lady," Azula said. "That is the Fire Lord and you will not address him in such a way!"

"And I am the Earth King's personal ambassador. You will not address me in such a way!" She rounded on Zuko and pointed him towards the palace. "Now come along with me. We have much work to do. And don't think that I won't have my eye on you from now on. To think that I have to baby sit the Fire Lord himself, disgraceful…"

"Dang aggro," Zuko mumbled under his breath.

"What was that?!"

"Nothing."

***

Kyoshi Island – Afternoon

A whole crowd had assembled at the shores of Kyoshi Island. The Avatar was on his way here. For the members of this remote place, it was a huge event indeed.

"He's coming," a little girl shouted, pointing at a flying dot in the sky. The dot grew bigger, and bigger, finally taking the form of a sky-bison and two people riding on it.

"Lemme through, lemme through," Sokka shouted, nearly tripping over himself in his effort to get to the front of the crowd. Suki and Ty Lee followed, dressed in casual clothing.

In a few moments, Appa the sky-bison landed and everyone held their breaths at the sight of the Avatar. There was Aang, in all his glory, his bald head shining in the sun light. The crowd cheered and one particular guy became so excited that he began foaming wildly at the mouth.

"Hey guys," Aang called cheerfully, hopping off Appa. He helped his wife, Katara off the bison. Above, Momo, the lemur, circled around before alighting on Aang's shoulder.

"Aaang!!!" Sokka was ecstatic as he rushed forward to embrace his brother-in-law.

"It's been too long Sokka," Aang said, struggling in Sokka's death grip.

The Water Tribe boy released the Avatar, who panted for breath. Sokka turned and planted a wild kiss on Katara's cheek. "Hey sis, you doing good?"

Katara frowned. "Why wouldn't I be doing good?! What're you suggesting? Do you think something's wrong with me," she snapped. Sokka stood there, mouth hanging wide open.

Katara's eyes suddenly widened. "Oh my gosh, Sokka, I didn't mean that! I'm so, so sorry! I didn't mean to yell at you! I don't know what's wrong with me, I've been snapping at everybody lately. Just the other day, Aang spilled some water on my shoes and I flipped out."

Suki and Ty Lee made their way over to Katara. "Why Katara," Ty Lee bounced. "You're positively glowing!"

"Hey," Katara commented. "It's great to see you guys again!" The girls embraced. Katara turned red as her stomach loudly growled. "Umm, do you guys have any food prepared? I'm kind of starving."

"But Katara, you just ate not even half an hour ago," Aang commented.

Katara rounded on him. "What?! I'm not allowed to get hungry again?! What're you, the hunger police?!" Aang backed down. Suki was watching Katara with a knowing look on her face. The Kyoshi warrior pointed her towards one of the huts.

"The kitchen should have been restocked by now." She eyeballed her boyfriend. "That is, if Sokka hasn't been there yet today."

"Oh good," Katara swayed happily. "You guys are gonna think I'm totally nuts, but you know what I'm in the mood for? Pickles. I don't know why, I just really, really want pickles right now."

"I think I know why," Suki mumbled under her breath. She turned to her fellow Kyoshi warrior. "Ty Lee, would you take Katara to the kitchen please."

"Of course." The acrobat began cartwheeling towards the hut, Katara following after her.

"Okaaaay," Sokka said slowly. "So there was nothing weird about all that."

"What do you mean," Aang asked. "It was totally weird! For the past few weeks, she's been acting nothing but weird. She's been snapping at people, she's an emotional wreck; one minute she's totally happy, then angry, then she starts crying, then back to happy again." He held his head in his hands. "I just don't get it."

"I think I know what her problem is," Sokka said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "I have it all figured out."

"Oh, I can't wait to hear this," Suki said sarcastically.

"Well what is it, Sokka," Aang asked.

"Katara … is … is …"

"Yea?"

"She's been kidnapped by evil space aliens and been replaced by an evil look-alike!"

Suki burst out laughing. "Really? Can't you two put two and two together?"

"What do you mean," Sokka asked.

"Isn't it obvious? The signs are all there. Mood swings. Snapping at people. Cravings for weird foods."

"I'm not following," Sokka said.

Suki sighed as she gently placed her hand on Aang's shoulder. "I feel for you Aang, I really do. The next nine months of your life are gonna be pure hell!"

***

Woods – Nighttime

"She was everything you said she would be; and more. The way she was able to read my attacks, my every move. It was … poetic, really." Concreto bowed low before the newly freed Long Feng. The two were in the middle of the woods somewhere in the Earth Kingdom.

"I told you," Long Feng replied. "So what do you think? You've battled her personally. You've seen how she fights. Do you think you can beat her?"

Concreto smiled. "Without a doubt. She has absolutely no chance."

Long Feng smiled. "Good. That's exactly what I like to hear. Things are beginning to fall into place."

"Don't be too sure of that," a female voice called from the woods. The two men turned around to see a middle-aged woman appear from behind a tree. The woman had piercing blue eyes, and she wore blue clothes that were definitely Water Tribe.

"Lady Eena," Long Feng bowed in mock humility. "Such a pleasure to see you again."

"Cut the pleasantries," she said. Her face was deadly serious. "You fools have no idea what you're up against."

"Excuse me," Long Feng said. "I've fought against the Avatar and his friends before."

"And you lost!"

"I admit they did catch me by surprise." The former head of the Dai Li narrowed his eyes. "They will not do so again."

"See that they don't," Eena snapped. "Everything must be ready before the Winter Solstice arrives."

"What's so important about the Winter Solstice," Concreto asked.

"So glad you asked," Eena replied. "It is during that time that the boundaries between our world and the Spirit World literally disappear. It is the only possible time that my plans can work. And you forget – I am Water Tribe. Winter is my time."

"You still haven't explained your 'plans' to me," Long Feng said. "I've just been sprung from prison, so hopefully you can understand why I'm in no rush to enter into any … agreements that might jeopardize my newfound freedom. You must guarantee that I won't get bitten in the rear by all this!"

"Don't worry," Eena cooed. "I've planned things too well. My plans are flawless. And you will be handsomely rewarded."

"And what of the Avatar?"

"What of him? Come Winter Solstice and he won't even be a factor anymore."

Long Feng decided it better not to ask how she planned to accomplish that feat. But he still wanted to know a little more about her plans.

"So after you get rid of him, then what? You plan a hostile takeover of the world?"

"What," Eena asked. "No, no, you're quite mistaken. Unlike the Fire Lords and that foolish Air monk, I am not interested in something quite so mundane."

"Well then, with all due respect, what are you after?"

Eena's features twisted into hate. "The Fire Nation … hurt me. Personally. They took away everything from me. And not me alone. They ravaged this world! Millions lie dead because of them! They cannot go unpunished!"

"Ah, so it's revenge you're after," Long Feng realized.

The Water Tribe woman nodded. "I will see to it that their entire nation lies in ruins!" She clenched her fists tightly as she ground her teeth. Her mad look caused even Long Feng and Concreto to back up.

"I will not rest until the Fire Lord and the entire Royal Family lies dead! I will stand over their broken carcasses and laugh as I bathe myself in their blood!"

***

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