They dressed and continued their trek home. On foot, they travelled alone to avoid contact with anyone who could report them to the Dai Li. It was a long and hard journey. A few times they took the risks to trust Earth Kingdom peasants to ride on their small boats or ostrich horse wagons to shorten their journey.
From the peasants they heard terrible rumors about the death of the Avatar and the fall of Ba Sing Se, but they were too afraid to talk to anyone to find out more.
The rumors added to their resolve in their quest to return home, find their friends, reunite the Freedom Fighters, and continue the battles against the Fire Nation. With their new-found feelings for each other, they did stop along the way once and awhile for quick kiss or hug, or a bit of laughter. Every day their love for one another grew and deepened, and found new ways to express it. But they didn't let love distract them from their cause.
Finally they arrived at the tree fortress, hoping that their friends were still around, even though they unofficially disbanded when Jet, Longshot, and Smellerbee left for Ba Sing Se months ago. They snickered that they didn't realize they were still holding hands, so they dropped their grasp just before coming into view of the fort. The rest of the Freedom Fighters didn't need to know about their relationship yet.
There were indeed a number of the Freedom Fighters in the treetops, who greeted Smellerbee and Longshot with hugs and handshakes and lots of whooping and hollering.
It wasn't long before they were all reunited, and enjoyed their first good meal in months. Even though they rested in the familiar comfort of the tree fort, they were anxious to return to action.
"OK guys. We have to reorganize and take on the Fire Nation again!" urged Smellerbee.
One of the Freedom Fighters said, "Didn't you guys hear? The Avatar and his friends won the War! It's over!"
Smellerbee and Longshot jumped up. She shrieked and cheered, and they hugged and kissed. They were so relieved the rumors were wrong.
Still embraced, they turned around to see the stunned looks of all the other Freedom Fighters watching them kiss.
Sneers was not the smartest Freedom Fighter and blurted, "Erm, Smellerbee, you and Longshot...you're together?"
Smellerbee's short temper bristled, she grabbed Sneers by the collar with an icy cold stare, and growled, "Yeah. Yeah, we are. You gotta problem with that?"
Taken aback, Sneers apologized, "Spirits no! We think it's great."
Another chimed in, "Yeah, we always figured you'd both end up together."
There was a general happy chatter among all the Freedom Fighters in sharing congratulations with them. She felt more than a little embarrassed at being angry with Sneers, and Longshot put his hand on her shoulder to comfort her.
"When you guys rushed off months ago, we really thought you were crazy. We thought you were all going to die! So where isJet? When does he get back?" quizzed another friend.
"Well guys...we need to talk about that." said Smellerbee sadly.
Everyone sat uncomfortably around the evening fire. Telling the story brought all the pain back quickly to Smellerbee and Longshot. The tears returned as they explained everything, but both kept their composure this time. Expressions of grief and sadness were on all the Freedom Fighter faces as they heard the story for the first time.
They didn't talk about finding each other. It wasn't the right time, and it really didn't need any more explanation. To everyone it was obvious anyway.
She reflected, "At least Jet didn't die in vain. He saved the Avatar at Lake Laogai, who lived to end this war."
Then it was Smellerbee and Longshot's turn to be stunned as they realized the hard, cold truth.
"The Freedom Fighters have no purpose now," she muttered.
"It took you that long to figure it out?" sadly asked Sneers.
They all sat in silence, sadness, and confusion around the fire. Their only comfort was in Smellerbee snuggling close to Longshot.
Abruptly, Longshot stood, looked at her invitingly, took her by the hand, and they departed.
Smellershot called over her shoulder, "Oh. OK. Sure, Longshot. Guys, we'll be back. Don't wait up."
Sneers said to no one in particular, "Those two scare me sometimes."
Even the intimate solitude of a moonlight swim in the river near the tree fortress was not comforting to Smellershot and Longshot. Only their heads could be seen above water, with their bare arms wound around each other's necks, and with Smellerbee's legs firmly wrapped around Longshot's waist. Despite the closeness, their conversation was troubled.
"Longshot, what are we gonna do? We came all the way home, with the chance to honor Jet's memory. For nothing."
Longshot tried to cheer his love up with a smirk and an eye roll.
"What do you mean, let's sleep on it? The last thing you want to do right now is sleep!" teased Smellerbee.
Wanting exactly the same thing, she kissed him mercilessly hard and squeezed her legs as tight as she could, toppling them backward in the water. Just for awhile they forgot all their worries.
The next day was spent in small talk and getting reacquainted, but they all felt frustrated. The evening meal and campfire was more serious.
Smellerbee was focused. "So what happened to all the others? There's only a handful left."
"Well, The Duke and Pipsqueak left about a week after you did. You know after the flood of Gaipan they were really disillusioned. They were talking about helping the Avatar somehow," said one of the adult Freedom Fighters.
Smellerbee lamented, "Yeah. I know. Gaipan changed all of us. Who knowswhere they are now? Maybe they found the Avatar."
Smellerbee was impatient, "So guys, what are we going to do? We can't survive doing nothing. We are the Freedom Fighters. We know how to fight. Maybe we can hire ourselves out as security guards."
Sneers sighed, "We tried that. Our reputation is that we're ruthless mercenaries as much as liberators. There isn't much need these days for rogue warriors."
"We have to do something to honor Jet. His memory needs to live on. What else can we do now that the war is over? Especially with the Fire Nation colonists and soldiers all gone."
A silence fell. Sneers admitted, "They aren't gone."
Smellerbee was beside herself, and Longshot had to hold her back, "What? They aren't gone? The War is over. We won. What gives?"
Sneers and the others explained the Harmony Restoration Movement that the Fire Lord, The Earth King, and the Avatar all agreed to, and the plans to move all the Fire Nation colonials back to the Fire Nation.
Smellerbee and Longshot looked at each other, and an idea immediately formed. He motioned for her to explain it.
She explained, "So, the Harmony Restoration Movement is underway to get rid of the Fire Nation. We are not done yet. We always wanted them gone. So the Freedom Fighters are gonna help them be gone faster. This time peacefully. We're gonna help them all pack up and move!"
Everyone cheered at the idea, and Longshot hugged his girl and smiled with a very satisfied look.
"So we stillhave a cause, and will do it all in Jet's memory. So pack up, close the fortress, and let's head for the colonies."
She did warn, "And if they don't go, we will take action Freedom Fighter style!"
On that strong promise and vow, everyone roared their delight, and the
Freedom Fighters quickly packed their gear to leave.
Whether she knew it or not, Smellerbee had just become the new Freedom Fighter leader. No one questioned her. They had accepted and rallied behind her.