The next morning the Fire Nation held the ceremony. Aang wore yellow robes and a wooden pendant around his neck. He looked up and saw Zuko walking up to him. He quickly shifted his eyes to the ground as he bowed his head. Shame and guilt started to pool inside of him. He stood up as his friend stopped in front of him.

"I can't believe that a year ago my purpose in life was hunting you down. And now..."

"And now we're friends," Aang smiled back.

"Yeah we are friends."

"I can't believe that a year ago I was frozen in a block of ice. The world's so different now."

"Well it's going to be even more different and we'll rebuild it together."

The two shared a hug then went outside. Zuko declared that the war was over with and that they'll start restoring the balance with the help of the avatar. A firebender came up to him with a crown in his hands. Zuko knelt down then rose again after the crown was placed on his head. The crowd cheered as the firelord and the avatar stood together side by side.

After the ceremony the friends all hung together in Iroh's tea shop. Zuko went over to his uncle and dragged him into the kitchen so they could talk in private.

"What's the matter nephew? You look on edge."

"It's about my father, uncle. How are we going to put him away?"

"Just like we did the other firelords."

Zuko looked the other way. "Okay."

Iroh sat his nephew on a chair. "There's something you're not telling me. Why would you bring this question up?"

"Because I'm at war with myself. I wanted my father gone so I pushed Aang to get rid of him but now that he's gone forever I'm a bit angry."

"It's okay to grieve but please try not to lash out at Aang."

"I know but when I said that I wanted to see his defeat I meant for him to be beaten not killed."

Iroh wrapped his arms around his nephew. "It's alright nephew."

Tears spilled out of Zuko's eyes as he hugged his uncle back. "Why do I regret this decision?"

Iroh stayed silent as he tightened his grip on his nephew. He put his hand on his head and rubbed his back. Zuko calmed down enough to not start another crying fit. He lifted himself from his uncle's arms and wiped the tears from his eyes.

"Thanks uncle."

"It's gonna be okay Zuko. I know it's going to take a long time to heal but please spare Aang the hostility. He still has a lot on his plate."

"I'll try uncle."

Aang rubbed Momo's ears as he played with an air ball. He watched the winged lemur swipe high and low at the object as he tried to catch it. He turned to the door as it opened then quickly focused on Momo upon seeing the firelord himself dressed in robes.

Katara and Toph noticed the tension between the two as Aang tried his best to ignore his friend. Aang hurried up and departed from the scene before Zuko could utter a word with him in hearing range. He didn't want to talk or see the firebender knowing how hot-headed he was so he decided to go out to get some fresh air. He stepped onto the balcony and looked over the kingdom.

"What's the matter Twinkle Toes?" Toph asked as she and Katara walked up to him.

Aang hesitated for a minute upon remembering that the blind earthbender could tell that he was lying. "Did I ever tell you the reason why I didn't want to kill the Firelord?"

"You mean that all life is sacred nonsense you were blabbing about?" Toph asked.

"Yeah, that was one of the reasons but the main reason I didn't want to kill Ozai was because we just got Zuko on our side. He may have Iroh but he was the only parent that he had left and I took that from him. I basically orphaned him and now Iroh is the only thing he has left. And if he dies then he has no one."

"I hate to be the cynical one here but one life isn't worth thousands. Ozai would've burned everything in the Earth Kingdom down to ashes."

"Besides, that's in the past," Katara added. "Zuko's not gonna hold that against you if he himself wanted to see him gone."

"For some reason that doesn't help at all," Aang grumbled.

Aang felt Katara wrap her arms around his neck. He patted her arm and she released him.

"I'll catch up with you later. I promise."

Once Katara and Toph were out of earshot Aang meditated to confront his past lives. The thirteen year old monk sure had a bone to pick with them.