Here is the epilogue to Book 4 and therefore the final upload in the fourth major chapter in Avatar Harry's life. As promised the epilogue is released on time just bringing Book 4 to a close on schedule. That is all I really have to add here, everything else will be at the end so please sit back and enjoy the final installment in Avatar: The Tale of Harry. Book 4: Family.

Disclaimer: As always I own nothing related to these two great works of fiction.

Epilogue

A month had passed since Dominique's coronation and Harry's formal announcement of retirement, the latter of which was still reverberating around the world. However, that was not what was on Harry's mind at the moment.

At the current moment, Harry stood in his family's tomb in Omashu with is family and friends looking on as they finally laid to rest the members of his family who had died in the Principate War, including James. It was time to entomb them all so that they were at peace.

After the Second Siege of the North, James and Harry's parents' bodies had been put in cold storage under the Palace in a location only known to Harry, Ginny, Ron, Luna, Remus and Sirius, so that no one would try and desecrate James's body. They were kept there until Omashu was cleared and Harry was able to travel there to be present when the caskets were put in the tomb. Albus's body had been vaporized so he was represented by an empty casket, but the other bodies had been transported Omashu the day before and the small family ceremony was now set to take place.

The Tombs of Omashu were located in the walls at the bottom of the canyon that surrounded the city. As Harry's family had been part of Omashu for centuries, they had a tomb that was on the ground level that extended straight into the land around the city. It was a high honor and made the whole atmosphere more somber because of how cool and dim it was down here.

The Tombs were bent into the earth, lit with the gems that the city was famous for, and extended deep underground in straight lines out from the city. Each tomb was a long corridor with two alcoves, one above the other, on either side where an earth casket could be placed. It continued from the first member of the family, the one who'd settled and established it in Omashu to be buried until the most recent. As such Harry and his family and friends were at the far end of the long tomb.

Harry and Lily had personally bent the 4 caskets into the tomb and then place them one by one in the alcoves that would house them. It had been a sad progression as they carried them with their friends and family as they laid to rest those who had died in the last year.

On one side was Harry's parents, James above Lily, and the other side his sons, James above Albus due to their ages. There was still about a hundred feet of corridor stretching out into the earth and more alcoves waiting for Harry, Ginny, Lily, and any grandkids that they may have, something Harry doubted as Lily didn't seem to be ready to settle down.

The one exception to everything had been James's casket and alcove. The tombs were open to the public to pay their respects and it was logical to think that James would be laid to rest here, despite claims otherwise, so they had to take precautions to avoid it from being desecrated as James was the only one of Harry's great enemies to have a burial spot.

To prevent such desecration, the alcove had been coated with a thick layer of platinum to prevent bending. The same was true for James's casket so they'd used a slab of earth to carry it into the tomb and place it in the alcove. Then a special sheet of purified glass was placed over the alcove to prevent anyone from getting to it.

In addition, a small battery that would be changed every few months was installed to give the metal a charge strong enough to knock someone out while sensors were placed so that any entrance to the tomb would be noted. It was all designed so that James could be laid to rest without his tomb or the others near him being vandalized by those seeking vengeance on his resting place for the crimes that he'd committed in life.

The other 3 caskets and tombs were normal, minus the empty casket for Albus but that was not the only one in the tomb as there were plenty of Harry's ancestors whose bodies weren't recovered and were thus represented by an empty casket. As soon as they were all laid in place, Harry turned to his friends and family, took Ginny's hand and spoke a few words.

"Thank you for being here today." Harry said as he looked out over the gathered group. "It means a lot that you could be here for this moment. You knew them best and were like family to us."

In addition to his family; Ron, Luna, Rose Hugo, Lorcan, Lysander, Scorpius, Sirius and Remus were present as they had all been close to either Harry, Albus, or his parents, or all of them. As such Harry couldn't imagine them not being present for this.

"We wouldn't miss this for the world." Sirius said somberly. "Even with mine and Remus's responsibilities, this couldn't be avoided, not for Prongs and Lily. It is a day I knew would come, just not like this. I had hoped that it would be more peaceful, but James always had to do things his own way."

"None of us expected this." Ron said. "Go on Harry."

"Yes, well, it isn't easy for any of us." Harry began. "We have all seen death and lost people we've known but never like this. There have been several funerals over the last few months, as well as during the war, but it never gets easier. There isn't really much I can say."

"Just speak from the heart Harry." Ginny said softly and squeezed his hand. "That's always best when it comes to remembering those we love."

"Thanks." Harry whispered before continuing. "I loved my parents and always will. They lived a good long life, and I am blessed to have had them in mine for over 60 years. They died protecting what they believed in and those who they loved which I know is how they would have wanted to go out. Sirius, Remus, any words you would like to add?"

"Just a thanks to my best friend and his wife for all that they did for me." Sirius said looking at their caskets. "We were inseparable at the Academy and there is no one I can thank more than James for all the support he gave me when I needed it the most He showed me a life that I had not thought possible growing up in the bigoted ways of the Northern Water Tribe under Chief Lucius and his cronies like my own father. He helped me find my passion for probending, helped me break from my family and make a career out of my passion in my adoptive nation after my banishment."

Sirius paused to wipe a tear from his eye and Harry knew how painful this must be for his godfather. Sirius had had a rough childhood when he grew up to be different from his Purist parents and had been banished for it. However, he'd found true friends in James, Remus, and initially Peter before the latter's betrayal. They had been Sirius's family when he needed it and helped him make a life of his own before the sudden change.

"It was also James who persuaded me to take the role of Chief seriously after I became Acting Chief and to campaign to become the new full time Chief after the Second Purity War." Sirius continued addressing that change. "He was a constant confidant and a true friend who will be missed. I know that will see him soon; I am sure of that."

"As for Lily, I can't think of a more kind hearted and talented woman." Remus said taking up where Sirius left off. "She was the best of us. She was the one who tempered James, who made us realize how arrogant and what absolute assholes we were back at the Academy. James fell for her and she helped make him into the best that he could be, just as he did for her. She was a talented fighter who resisted the Enlightened, let us know of their existence, and helped fight Voldemort when the Purity Wars raged. She was a fine woman and a talented warrior who gave it her all until the very end."

"Thank you both for your kind words." Harry said a tear in his eye. "Now to my sons. We all know what happened there. I will leave James, there is nothing to say about him. The man who was the Princeps was not the son I raised. I do not know when that boy actually died but I have already done my mourning for James and his soul. I only hope he can find peace in the next life."

The others all nodded at this. They'd all come to accept that the James they knew had died sometime in the last 20 years and been replaced by the Princeps. When that had happened Harry wasn't sure, at least before the massacre, but he'd done his mourning for his eldest child and was just glad he'd been stopped. Hopefully, he was finally at peace. It was his other son that was harder.

"As for Albus, what is there to say that hasn't been said." Harry continued when he was ready. "We all know the history we had. We know how hard it was for Albus growing up with me as the Avatar. We know what it led too. However, in the years since then we repaired our relationship, and I couldn't be prouder of him becoming a Water Mystic and helping people who needed it the most."

Harry paused and took a breath. They all knew of the struggles Albus had dealt with growing up as Harry's waterbending child and the son of the Avatar. They knew of the fallout, the way Albus had been manipulated by Delphini to get to Harry, and how in the end they had managed to work together to end her and the other two members of the Unholy Triumvirate. It had been the beginning of their reconciliation, one that had brought them back together and Harry had fully supported Albus's decision to become a Mystic.

"To the end Albus was always helping people and gave his life to ensure that a weapon of mass destruction could never be used in the Principate War." Harry said. "Had it not been for his sacrifice, we would have lost the Siege as we couldn't have stood against a Spirit weapon. Does anyone want to add anymore?"

"I do." Scorpius said and no one was going to stop him. "I was Albus's first, best and for a while only friend who wasn't part of his family just as he was mine. He showed me kindness when no one else would because of my father and could relate to my struggles dealing with my own family's evil legacy."

Scorpius paused and Harry saw how hard it was for him. Albus and he had been inseparable and for years they were all they had. Even with the large family that Albus had, Scorpius was the only person he was close to. His death had affected Scorpius the most so Harry was going to give his son's best friend all the time he needed to speak about their friendship.

"Together we made our fair shares of mistakes, the worst of which is part of the public record, but we had a lasting bond that survived even while he was traveling, and I was studying." Scorpius continued tears in his eyes as Rose took his hand to help lend him strength. "I was on the train that fateful day. I was willing to stay with Albus when we say that machine approaching, but he made sure I would survive knowing what would happen if he stayed. That was who Albus was, and he is the brother I never had but the one that I will always love."

"Thank you Scorpius." Harry said before looking around. "Anyone else want to say anything?"

"You've said everything that needs to be said." Ron said shaking his head. "I think that is all that is needed. I will give you a moment with just your family. Come one, let's leave them for the moment."

"Yeah, come on Remus, let's go toast James and Lily and get blackout like old times." Sirius said as they left. "It's what James would want from us and then our wives can scold us in the morning as Lily would want."

"Fine but let's not create an international incident this time." Remus said. "It took a few years to clear up the last one and I still can't go to Whale Tail Island because of it."

They all embraced Harry, Ginny and Lily before leaving. It took a moment of silence before they were all lone in the dimly lit tomb. Lily didn't say anything, she was silently crying, and all Harry and Ginny did was pull their surviving child in with them as they all embraced as a family for the first time since the end of the war. A moment later Lily pulled away.

"Thanks dad, this was needed." Lily said as she wiped her eyes and looked over at the tombs of her brothers. "I will not forget them, and I will come and pay respects to them whenever I am in town. I know what James did was evil, but I agree with you, the man he became, the one who killed Albus and almost killed me is not the same boy I grew up with and looked up too as the earthbender I wanted to be when I was his age."

"That's the only way to look at it." Harry said. "James had his demons, and we never knew. All we can do is remember the good and separate the boy he was from the man he became."

"I know, that is what I will do because the man I faced on the roof of that truck was not my brother, he was a zealot who'd become a monster for his cause." Lily said. "As for Albus, I will always miss and love my brother, I just wish I'd been able to help him when he needed it the most, but I was too young to see the issues. Albus saved me more times than I can count, including my life in the end. His death hurt so much because he was supposed to come back but he wouldn't want me to dwell like this. He'd want me to go on and make sure he is not forgotten which I will do."

"Good girl." Harry said with a smile at his daughter. "Just be safe when you get to Ba Sing Se. We have no idea what Zeller will do when you arrive and make your presence known."

"I will do my best." Lily said. "But there will be combat of that I am sure."

"I know and you will do what has to be done, just remember all that we have been through." Harry said. "Avoid anything needless and try to minimize the casualties."

"I will." Lily said. "I have to go now though. I am already 2 weeks late and Zeller likely won't budge until I get there and show them the threat I pose."

"Ok, we will be here for a few weeks before going back to the South." Ginny said. "Keep in touch but you have your own life and as the new Chief of Police of Republic City you have your own life to live. Just don't do anything reckless Lily."

"I will, thank you mom, dad." Lily said as she embraced both of them before walking off, drying her eyes again.

Harry watched his daughter leave before turning to the glass over James's casket and looking at the metal case the son he had killed with his own hand was in. Harry placed his hand on the glass, that wasn't electrified, and lowered his head tears in his eyes.

"Whatever it is I did to lead you down this path son, I am truly sorry." Harry said quietly. "Just know this, I forgive you for all that you have done. The world will not, it never will after what you did to it, but I have. I hope that you can find true peace in the afterlife and all that pained you in life and made you this way is over. Goodbye my sons, I will always love you despite all that has happened."

As Harry spoke he felt Ginny hug him from behind. Harry turned to her and pulled her into his arms. He knew she was crying, as was he, but it was over, and they could move on as best they could while the world healed with them.

"I know the pain and everything, but it is all over." Harry said quietly to his wife. "We won and restored peace and balance to the world, it just came at a higher cost than usual."

"For now, but what happens when the next great threat comes." Ginny said looking up at him her eyes wet. "Because there might be one that rears its ugly head, it's always a possibility, and we will have to deal with it."

"If that happens then I will do my duty." Harry said holding his wife close to him as she pressed her head to his chest. "No matter what I am the Avatar, and I will always do my duty to maintain peace and balance in the world. If there is another threat that I must face I will face it head on. That is my duty, and I will fulfil it. No matter what it is."

Ginny didn't respond and Harry didn't say anymore. He closed his eyes and held his wife in the family tomb. They had been through hell and back, but they had each other and right now they needed each other and their family more than anything.

That was how they stayed as Harry lost himself in his mind. Harry didn't know what the future would hold but he would face it with his family, his friends and as the Avatar just as he had done so his entire life. That was his duty and Harry was the Avatar, when the world needed him he would always do his duty.

That is it for Book 4, I hope y'all enjoyed the longest, darkest, and most emotional book in this series. It was the most ambitious of all the books as I knew it would be long and tough but when I had the idea I rolled with it and I think it has turned out well but that's me. This epilogue is more in line with Book 2's only depressing rather than sweet as it wraps up the last thing of Book 4 in a peaceful little bow and showed a location that will be seen in Book 5. There really isn't much more to say here but as always I will give a little news on the upcoming Book 5 in this note.

Book 5 is fully drafted so there is no worry on it not coming out on time or being completed, the only things left to do for it is make the necessary edits before uploading each chapter. It will also be the final full book in the story of Avatar Harry and as with Book 1 (fascism), Book 2 (socialism), and Book 4 (military imperialism), Book 5 will follow the standard formula of a addressing a political philosophy that is extreme and espoused by a singular charismatic leader who will serve as the primary antagonist in a major conflict. That is all I will say though, you will have to wait 3 weeks for the start of Book 5, the shortest gap thanks to Book 4 being the longest book in this series. As always, Book 5 will be released on June 18th 2021 (and it will be after 4am EST that day) so you will have to wait until then for more details and of course the reveal of the final subtitle, the one for Book 5.

That is all for this long post epilogue note so as always please like, favorite, follow, and review this story if you can and any questions in PMs or reviews will be answered at the start of Avatar: The Tale of Harry. Book 5: (REDACTED). Until Book 5.

Stringdog