So, welcome back to the Avatar Niella universe, after so many years. Here is the final Book in the series, 'Peace'. It took me so long just to get past the first Chapter, but eventually (with help from binge-watching Legend of Korra) I got back into the Avatar mindset and have finally completed the series. Thanks to all of you for your patience, and I hope you like this one. I recommend you at least re-read the last Chapter of Book Four, because we're picking up right where that one left off.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Avatar: The Last Airbender

WORD COUNT: 1688

"Quin, I have something to tell you. I'm pregnant."

Quin stared in shock as those unexpected words were said to him by his… girlfriend. Okay, so he wasn't so sure if he should be considering her his girlfriend. Their relationship was complicated and he wasn't quite certain about what they were to each other. But that wasn't his biggest concern at the moment.

"Y-you're what?" he stuttered, still not completely finished processing what she'd said.

Tae Xing smiled just a bit. "I'm going to have a baby. Your baby." Her smile faded just as quickly as it had appeared. "You're not upset, are you? I mean, I never saw this coming, either, but…" Tears began to form in her eyes.

Quin, unable to bear seeing her cry, pulled her back to him, holding her tightly. "I'm not upset," he insisted, "Worried, maybe, and nervous, but not upset. I won't leave your side again, I promise. You and me, we're going to make it through this, and we'll take care of our baby."

At that, Tae Xing stood on her toes and kissed him, throwing her arms around her neck. Quin couldn't believe he was actually going to be a father, and his child's mother was the love of his life, undoubtedly.

"Um, I hate to break up the happy moment," Chief Sokka interrupted, "But I don't think it'll be that simple." The pair drew apart, but only partially, staying in each other's arms. "For one thing, I doubt the Earth King will approve of this."

"I don't care," Tae Xing declared, "He doesn't know me, and he certainly doesn't own me. If he has a problem with whom I choose to love, then that's his opinion. But it's not my problem."

Sokka sighed. "I know, I know. But you still have to figure out how to make this work. Believe me, I'm not going to stand between you two, and not because it's none of my business, but maybe you should at least talk to your father about it. Tell him how you feel. As far as any of us know, he genuinely thinks you'll be perfectly happy to get married to that other kid. He doesn't know any other way of life besides aristocracy and arranged marriage. As far as he's concerned, it's what's best for you, so you need to show him that it's not. Give him a chance to understand."

Tae Xing's jade eyes fell to the ground. Quin recalled how, at the South Pole and on the Hakoda, she'd worried that her father neither knew her nor loved her. This idea of talking to him about it had clearly never occurred to her.

"I can try," she whispered, rubbing one hand over her stomach. Quin pulled her tighter to him, stroking her shoulder with his thumb. "My ex-fiancé won't be a problem, at least. He knows I'm in love with someone else; so is he, actually."

Quin knelt down to Kichona's level, gently pulling Tae Xing down with him. "What do you think, Kichona? You're gonna have a baby cousin."

Her little brown eyes widened, and she proke into a smile, nodding and looking shyly at Tae Xing. The princess smiled nervously. She didn't have any real experience with small children.

While the three of them had their little reunion, Sokka turned to his men and the troops sent with him by the Earth King. "Most of these people here are in rough shape. Treat the wounded as best as you can, and make sure they get food and water as needed." He looked around at the hell-pit still full of half-starving slaves. Many were already being tended to, especially the children.

Children. Azula had been using children for slave labour. Some were the same age as his own daughters. It made him sick to his stomach. As if reading his thoughts, Suki squeezed his hand. He pulled her closer, his blood running cold as he took in the cuts and bruises on her own body. "We are not splitting up until this war is over," he declared, softly enough that only she could hear it, "Our girls need their mother, and I need you."

Zuko sighed in relief as the message was read to him. Suki was okay, Ty Lee was hurt but alive and would recover, and half of the Black Phoenix prisoners had been found. Many soldiers who had only been fighting because of their loved ones being held hostage had deserted, leaving Azula's ranks heavily diminished. This war might just end before it got out of hand.

The Fire Nation was still unstable, even twenty years after Zuko took the throne. There were still factions that Ozai be reinstated (and after his death a few years back, his 'true heir' Azula), colonists who were furious at having to give back their stolen land, and those who'd made money off of the war effort.

In other words, the last thing this country needed was more conflict.

Unfortunately, the good news was followed by bad news mere hours later. Notifications began coming in of small groups bearing the Black Phoenix crest, each marching towards the Fire Nation capital from a different direction. They appeared to be comprised mostly of firebenders, from what the scouts were saying, and were burning down villages, crops, and people in their path. But what was most worrying was that blue flame had been spotted coming from at least three different groups.

Zuko didn't know how Azula could appear to be in multiple places at once, but he had three messenger hawks sent off: one to Ba Sing Se, one to Hahn's successor in the North, and one to Omashu, where Sokka was reported to be heading.

Whatever Azula's endgame was, it looked like it would be going down here.

It took them a few days to regroup at Omashu. Most of the prisoners of the Chin Village camp were being sent back to their homes, though the ones in the direst need of medical care had been brought along with them. Forces from the Northern Water Tribe had already arrived, along with their best Healers, who immediately got to work alongside Katara and the local doctors to treat the sick and the injured. Niella was heavily relieved to learn that Ty Lee would eventually make a full recovery.

Toph had taken Tae Xing, Quin, and Kichona back to Ba Sing Se. Niella didn't envy them what would be awaiting them: one very angry Earth King who could easily strip Toph of her rank and possibly put her in prison for helping the princess run away. And there was no telling what he would do to Quin once he found out that the firebender had gotten his daughter pregnant.

When they got to Omashu, Uncle Sokka quickly broke off to talk with the successors of Hahn and King Bumi. Niella was recruited by her mother and the other Healers, running around and doing whatever she could to help. A lot if it involved talking to the rescued prisoners; a few words of comfort and encouragement from the Avatar seemed to go a long way in giving them hope.

Three days later, more people joined them: reinforcements from the Southern Water Tribe. Niella was overjoyed to see more familiar faces and more helping hands, but she was hoping to find one or two particular people.

As it stood, those two people wound up finding her. Aleikka tackled her in a hug while she was searching the crowd for them, and Haeno was right behind her, though he declined to join in on the tackling.

"Oh, thank the Spirits you're here!" Niella gasped, "I missed you two!"

"Like we were going to just stay at home and let you fight this all on your own!" Aleikka argued playfully, still hanging on, "Even if you did take off without saying goodbye!"

Niella bit her lip, finally managing to get Aleikka off her back so that she could face her and Haeno properly. "I'm so sorry, guys!" she apologised, "But it was an emergency. I didn't have time to tell anyone goodbye!"

"We know," Haeno assured her, "The Fire Lord's ship was still docked when we arrived, and he explained it. We're just glad you're alright." He looked worried. "People were saying you fought Azula herself."

The memory sent a shiver up her spine. "I did. It was terrifying. She had me on the ropes the entire time; I couldn't go on the offensive at all. I only survived because I- I went into the Avatar State."

Aleikka gasped and sat down on a random nearby crate. "Seriously?! What was it like?!"

Niella wrapped her arms around herself. "Scary. I was so confused, especially when Avatar Aang suddenly talking to me."

"Avatar Aang?!"

"Yeah, we've been rather surreal, but I guess 'surreal' is supposed to be normal for Avatars. But yeah, he told me that if I died while in the Avatar State, there would be no more Avatars after me, and the Cycle would end. And even before that, it felt like my body was moving on its own; I had no control, and I don't even remember what happened after that, but everyone tells me I threw Azula's own fire back at her and forced her to retreat."

Both her friends were staring at her in awe. "That's… incredible," Haeno breathed, gently taking her hands, "Are you sure you're doing okay?"

Niella took a shaky breath and squeezed his hands back. "I'm dealing with it," she assured him, "It hasn't been easy, and I still have nightmares sometimes, but I know I need to beat this. I have to, if I want to be able to win against Azula."

Next chapter:

Haeno and Niella have a very personal talk, and Tae Xing has a much-needed one with her father.