A/N: An idea that I've finally gotten around to writing down. Read and review please !

It was over. The banners flew, and people cheered. They were one voice, one sound.

Cheering for the death of their old world, and the dawn of a new one, of peace and hope.

And it was all because of the Avatar. Their hero, their savior. So why not let them appreciate him? They bowed to him, gave him gifts and honor.

But, despite everything, Aang wasn't happy.

And he didn't even know why. Which was the reason he found himself lying on the roof of the tallest tower of the castle of Ba Sing Se.

The scenery was beautiful: Below him, the people, rejoicing, shooting fireworks into the sky. Fire Nation soldiers and Dai Li greeting each other for the first time. People of every nation was united, more now than they had been in the history of the world. And above: The fireworks flew through the sky, almost as if dancing. The moon shined, as though it wanted to show its happiness on this incredible day.

The scene before Aang was mesmerizing, so much that he couldn't see the earthbender climb up and sit next to him.

"Hey, Twinkle Toes." Toph said, to Aang's surprise.

"Toph! What...when did you get here?"

"The question is WHY I'm here, and that's to find out what you're doing here," she said, lying down beside him, "Why are you here?"

"Thinking." Aang replied softly, looking back up at the stars.

"About?" Toph asked.

"How to say goodbye."

"Are you leaving?"

"Yeah. The world's at peace. It doesn't need an Avatar anymore."

"That's not true-!"

"Yes, Toph, it is. It's taken so much, but we finally did it. We ended the war. We restored balance to the world. Now it's time for the Avatar to leave. I don't want all the fame and honor and riches."

"I heard that!" Toph agreed, "But..."

Aang looked at his friend, who had turned her head away from him. "What is it?"

"You don't have to go. You're a hero. People still need you...I...need you..."

Aang blinked in surprise. "Toph, I-"

"No, forget it," Toph said, getting up, "I shouldn't have said anything."

Why did you say that! Stupid! Toph thought to herself bitterly.

Aang grabbed her arm. "Toph, wait."

"What is it, Aang?" She asked curtly, but not unkindly.

"I don't know where I'm going, or what's going to happen. But I do know that wherever I go next, whatever happens, I want to be with you. I want to face it together."

Now it was Toph who blinked in surprise.

"Come with me." Aang said, taking her hand and smiling at her.

Toph hugged him, and felt the water tribe pendant under his shirt.

Then she remembered, and broke away from his embrace.

"I'm sorry, Aang, I can't..." Toph whispered sadly, and she climbed down the tower, leaving a confused and hurt Aang behind.