(A/N) Second chapter, coming at you! This one is gonna close out the ATLA plotlines. The creative stuff should start next chapter. As always, enjoy, and feel free to leave me a nice, juicy review!
Disclaimer: Despite all of my wishes and prayers, I do not own the Avatar world.
The last few days have probably been the best time of my life. I've been so busy, but so many good things have happened… I just don't think I could be any happier.
The war is over, my former-enemy-turned-friend rules the Fire Nation, Azula and Ozai are on their way to their new homes, and KATARA LIKES ME!
You know what, this must be my peak. I'm the Avatar, so eventually, something is going to go wrong. Problems seem to just follow me around. But most people don't realize they're in the good old days until they're over. Most people don't get to appreciate their life's peak until it's already over.
But I'm going to live life to the fullest these next few weeks. It seems like every conflict in my life has been resolved, and that I just get to live in this blissful, happy world.
Anyway, here's what happened.
It took two days for our airship to arrive in the Fire Nation capitol. My last journal entry really did seem to calm me down, so I didn't spend the WHOLE time in a twitchy panic. I did, however, spend our entire final day perched on one of the lookouts, trying to spot the capitol. Unfortunately, Sokka locked me indoors again during one of my bathroom breaks, so he was the first one to see the capitol.
A crowd of people was waiting for us next to the stairs leading us off of the airship. I desperately scanned the crowd for Katara and Zuko as I walked down the steps, but I couldn't see either of them. I took a few step towards the crowd and I was nearly tackled by a world famous Katara polar bear dog hug.
We hugged for what seemed like an eternity, and when we finally separated, she began speaking.
"Aang, you did it! I don't know what I would've done if I…"
I frowned and interrupted her, "It doesn't matter. We're both here, right now, and we're both okay."
"I know, you're right. But Aang, I really do…"
I felt somebody pull me into a hug. I looked up and saw Zuko, well, smiling. A rare occurrence indeed. After a minute or so of a big group hug, Zuko and Katara began telling their side of the story.
They had gotten to the Capitol just before Azula was to be crowned. She challenged Zuko to an Agni Kai, which was apparently the most awe-inspiring, magnificent fight Katara had ever seen. Zuko won the Agni Kai, but Azula played dirty and tried to strike Katara with lightning. Zuko jumped in the way, intercepting the lightning and absorbing it in a near-fatal way.
Katara tried to go help Zuko, but Azula cut her off. They fought for a little while, but eventually, Katara trapped Azula in a giant ice ball and chained her to the ground. Since then, they had been healing and repairing some of the city until we arrived.
As soon as they finished telling their story, a group of Fire Sages came over and took me and Zuko away to plan the events of the next couple of days. Katara gave me a sad look and mouthed that we would talk later.
I'm not going to re-bore myself by talking about all of those atrociously dry talks, but we basically planned Zuko's coronation and a peace celebration. As soon as the super-combo party was over, we would go straight to Ba Sing Se to begin negotiating a peace treaty with the Earth Kingdom and Water Tribes.
I didn't get to say a single word to Katara until we got to Ba Sing Se, but it was still incredible to be at the coronation/peace thingy. Zuko gave an incredible speech (which he later told me he had completely improvised) and I couldn't find a person who wasn't smiling. Almost everybody who had helped us out with the war was there, and they were all happy. Even the defeated Fire Nation troops were happy, looking forward to seeing their friends and families again.
The Fire Sages made me take an official airship to Ba Sing Se with Zuko, but it only took us a few extra hours. Team Avatar finally got to sit down and talk in Iroh's wonderful little tea shop.
We sat around for a while, catching up and joking around. After a particularly pathetic attempt by Sokka to make a sentimental painting, I gave Katara a wink and walked out to the balcony. Surely enough, she got up and followed me out there.
We gave each other a long look, and everything that needed to be said was said in her eyes. I knew, right then and there, that everything was going to be alright. We hugged each other, and it was the single greatest hug of my life.
We separated and she took my hands. I looked her in the eye, and we kissed.
WE KISSED!
It was a simple kiss. But it was still incredibly deep and affectionate. Before we could advance any further, I heard Toph laugh inside and Sokka immediately burst through the door with a shocked look on his face. After a partially sarcastic scolding by Sokka, we all decided to call it a night and headed to our rooms.
I don't know what Katara and I are, but I don't even care. SHE LIKES ME BACK! I just couldn't be happier.
(A/N) Alright, all of the canon fluff is out of the way. Time to get creative! If you enjoyed, leave a review. Expect another chapter before the end of the weekend, and enjoy your post-Thanksgiving hangovers!