The Avatar, the Firelord, two Kyoshi Warriors, the Firelady, a master waterbender, a sky-bison and Sokka sat on the top of a hill, overlooking the entrance to the secret base of the Red Lotus. Below them, one of the Yuyan archers escorted Jiang out with a bandaged hand.

Most of the leadership of the organisation had escaped, but a large number of prisoners had been taken; these were locked into the same dungeons that had until recently held Aang and Katara. They were being held there until the White Lotus could arrive to secure the scene. Many of the Yuyan archers had been sent to try and track the escapees, but without much success thus far.

Aang flexed his wrist, testing to see if his bending had returned.

"It's good to see you again," he told Zuko. "How have you been?"

The Firelord shrugged. "The usual," he replied. "Ozai loyalists still causing trouble, but even they had quietened down so it was all boring until I got your letter."

"I wish I could say the same," Aang replied ruefully. "Getting kidnapped was not fun."

He turned and patted Appa on the nose.

"Appa came through in the end though."

The sky-bison grunted happily.

"Are you coming back to Kyoshi Island with us?" Suki asked Aang eagerly.

"Please say yes, otherwise we'll have to walk home," Sokka added. Suki swatted him.

"What?"

"Yes," Katara nodded, much to their general relief. "I think we need a holiday anyway, after that."

Sokka suddenly shouted, and jumped up, startling the group. He ran back to them and thrust something into Aang's hand. The Avatar looked down at the painting.

"I painted it before you arrived," Sokka explained. "I wanted to give you a present when you arrived, so, well, here it is."

The painting showed a sweeping landscape of Kyoshi Island, with the sea and sky at the back, then the village, and then a group of figures in green who were obviously Kyoshi Islanders training.

"This is really good!" Katara told him. Aang nodded in agreement.

"None of the Kyoshi Warriors look like they're firebending either," she added.

"That was one time when I was just starting!" Sokka protested. Katara just laughed and hugged him, which shut him up.

"We may not be able to stay long though," Aang warned them. "Republic City can't seem to function without us, and it won't wait for us for long."

"Are they still causing trouble?" Sokka shook his head.

"Oh, you name it. Crime, political infighting, even problems with spirits. Establishing a new nation is hard."

"Running one that already exists isn't exactly easy either," Mai told him sympathetically.

"You get used to it though," Zuko added encouragingly.

"Now there are those weird cultists to worry about as well," Aang pointed out. "Another problem."

"Wasn't that all of them?" Sokka asked.

"If their leaders get away, it's probably not the last we'll see," Katara said.

"Maybe we can come and help you," Suki told them.

Aang and Katara looked at each other.

"Obviously we appreciate the offer, but you don't have to-"

"Yes we do," Suki pointed out. "Kyoshi Warriors exist to help those in need. Our island doesn't need us much, but it seems you do."

"Great!" Katara said. "We're glad to have you on board!"

"You could join the police!" Sokka told her. "Or set up a new chapter of Kyoshi Warriors in the city- are you allowed to do that?"

Suki nodded.

"It just seems like a bit of a big decision to make on the fly like this," Sokka stated, thoughtfully.

Suki took his hand. "I know it seems that way, but we'll be closer to our friends and people who need us," She told him.

Sokka nodded. "Then I'm obviously coming too. We'll save this city together!"

"Oi!" They looked up to see Jiang storming up to them, her Yuyan guard rushing behind her. She was still tied up and had an arrow wound through one of her hands, so she settled for trying to threaten them.

"You think this is over?" She called. "We're only just getting started!"

"You're not," Katara pointed out.

"The only thing you're just starting is a jail term," Sokka added, and high- fived Ty Lee.

Jiang scowled. "And to think you seemed nice when I met you."

"You tried to kill us!" Sokka protested.

"And we'll keep trying," Jiang promised. "Well, perhaps not me but you haven't got all of us-not by a long shot. The day will come when you fear us."

"Yeah, yeah," Suki rolled her eyes. "I'll believe that when I see it."

The Yuyan archer grabbed Jiang's arm and led her away, still glaring at them. They watched her go for a while.

"She seems nice," deadpanned Mai.

"She did before she tried to kill us," Ty Lee replied.

Aang gently pushed out his arm, and the group felt a sudden breeze envelop them as the air responded to his command. Katara smiled, and leaned against him.

They looked back down at the remains of the base, which looked rather picturesque in the red light of the setting sun. Sokka glanced at Suki, and caught her looking at him. He smiled encouragingly, and slipped his hand into his own. Whatever the future in Republic City held, he was sure the two of them would face it together- and come out triumphant just as they had this time.

Suddenly, there was a crash of foliage behind them and a small figure smashed through the trees like a wrecking ball. It came to a stop in front of them, and the familiar figure of Toph Beifong froze.

"I heard you were in trouble!" She said. "Did I miss it?"

And so another story ends. This one was always intended to be short and sweet, but the next will be longer. Next on my agenda is finishing Crisis of Faith, and then carrying on with my LoK book 4 rewrite. I hope you enjoyed this story!