Aang hovered over Ozai, his eyes and tattoos glowing as pure rage overtook his body. Suspended inside his element sphere, he clenched his hands, locking Ozai's hands and feet. The firelord's eyes widened with fear as the avatar spoke.

"Firelord Ozai, you and your forefathers have devastated the balance of this world and now you shall pay the ultimate price!"

Aang rotated his arm until it was reaching the sky. The four elements obeyed his command. The avatar roared as he threw his arm down sending the elements to the ground as fast as a bullet. A sickening squelch could be heard. Aang felt himself come back as he looked at what he had done. The firelord's lifeless body laid on the rocky ground. Aang started to quiver as realization began to dawn on him. He just killed a man in cold blood! The airbender floated down to the ground. His glowing light blue eyes and tattoos returned to normal. He couldn't believe it. He had actually done it. He actually killed the firelord. Aang turned his back against the man and called upon the avatar state again. He pulled the waves onto the land dousing the fire then pushed them back. His stomach churned but he did his best to ignore it. Aang couldn't bring himself to look at the body. He heard his friends walking up to him and saw Momo flying in the sky.

"Aang, you're okay!" Suki cried relieved.

Aang gave his friends a sheepish grin. "Of course I'm alright."

Sokka and Suki looked at Ozai and grimaced.

"You did a good job," Sokka complimented, "though I wish I can have some soap for my brain and eyes."

"You don't have to remind me," Aang sulked.

"Let's go and annouce the end of the war, that'll make things better."

Aang forced himself to walk with his friends to Zuko's home. He saw Zuko and Katara walking outside the palace. Toph made her way to the gang as well. Aang's stomach started to churn as he saw the fire prince. He moved back a couple steps as Zuko approached the Gaang.

"What's the matter Twinkle Toes?" Toph asked.

"Nothing important," Aang replied.

"Tomorrow you two should annouce that the war is over with," Sokka told Aang and Zuko.

Aang shifted away from Zuko uncomfortably. "Why does it have to be both of us?"

"To show that the balance has been restored," Zuko answered.

"Oh right, completely forgot about that."

Aang sighed as he walked away from the Gaang. Confused with his current attitude Katara ran after him.

"Aang, wait up!"

Aang continued to walk until his feet led him to a pond. He slumped to his knees and stared at the turtle ducks swimming around in circles. He crossed his legs and gently pushed his knuckles against each other as he closed his eyes. Not even a minute later he sensed footsteps coming towards him. The air nomad pulled the water from the pond then threw it at the would be attacker but it was instead thrown back at him.

"Katara?" Aang said.

"Yes, it's me Aang."

"What are you doing out here?" they both asked each other simultaneously.

"I was just meditating," Aang said.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"It's nothing."

Aang slammed his fists together to create an air sphere around him. Once his damp clothes became dry he stood up and faced his girlfriend.

"So why do you look so guilty?"

"I think it's both fear and guilt. In case you didn't know I just killed a man in cold blood that just so happens to be one of my friend's father who we just got on our side not too long ago."

"Aang, Zuko himself said that he wanted to see his father's downfall."

"But he's still his father. I don't think he hates his father that much considering that he scoured the world looking for me for months."

"Three years," Katara corrected.

"Same diff."

"The only way to bring peace was to defeat Ozai, Aang. And besides, who would want to be the son of someone who would kill them at birth and physically scar them for life?"

"No, I guess not."

"It's going to be alright Aang."

"Are we going to hold a funeral for him at least?" Aang asked changing the subject a bit.

"Why would you want to do that after he nearly killed you?"

"Good point."

Aang looked at the palace. He saw Zuko, Sokka, and Toph chatting in the dining room. His stomach started to tie itself into a knot.

"Are they talking about it with Zuko?'

"I'll go ask," Katara offered and got up.

Aang swiftly grabbed Katara's arm, clapped a hand to her mouth, and pulled her backwards.

"What's the matter?" Katara muffled.

"I just don't want to tell Zuko."

"He's gonna know eventually."

Aang dragged her backwards so they could talk in private. "But this is his father. I just took away the only adult relative he has left."

"Aang, if Zuko didn't want his dad killed then he wouldn't be with us right now."

"So you're telling me that he actually wanted his father to die?"

Katara nodded confidently. "I know it's a hard choice, but if that man lived, thousands of lives would've been taken." The water bender hugged the nomad. "Zuko's gonna be fine Aang. Besides he has bigger things to worry about than his father's death."

Aang lowered his eyelids and looked down at the pendant on his neck. "I guess so."

"And he says that his uncle was more like a father to him than Ozai ever was so I don't think he's going to hold you accountable."

Aang bowed to the water bender. "Thanks Katara."