In the circle of life, there are no beginnings, and no ends. It all goes on. This is an end, but it is also a beginning.
Zuko woke in the early afternoon and left his beautiful new wife in favor of a walk. He met Aang just outside the city. The boy had turned into a strong teenager, dressed in light leather armor, unrestrictive, perfect for air-bending. His staff had been fortified with steel caps. Aang had become a warrior. When Zuko joined him, Aang sighed.
"The Fire Lord will take us seriously now."
"What news?"
"Before coming here, Sokka and I led our armies against Kusho Di."
Zuko nodded, hiding his surprise. Kusho Di was a huge city, well defended, and a key port to the Fire Nation. Whoever controlled it controlled a good deal of the western Fire Nation trade.
"Did we take it?
Aang nodded.
"Zuko, can I show you something?"
"Of course."
They called their Dragons, and side by side they flew out over the waters. After a good half-hour of flight, they dove through the clouds. Zuko gasped.
Below them, on the water, were hundreds of thousands of ships, each flying the flag of the Guerriers Réels.
"This is what you're the leader of, Zuko." Aang stated. "All these men and women answer to you, and you are their hope."
"Ozai has no choice but to accept the fact that we are a threat now. He must now recognize that this is not, nor ever has been, a mere rebellion."
Zuko turned his head towards Aang, who met his gaze. Their eyes said the same thing, but Aang put it into words.
"The Civil War of the Fire Nation has begun."
THE END
The final randomness...
(Katara, Zuko, Zula, Iroh, Jet,Zhao, the Director, and the Stage Hand are making their way to confront Sokka.)
(Sokka is sitting comfortably in a chair, whistling. Katara stands in front of him and shakes her finger in his face.)
Katara: SOKKA! I SWEAR IF YOU DON'T STOP PLAYING JOKES ON PEOPLE...
Iroh: IT'S NOT FUNNY TO POISON SOMEONE'S TEA! THAT IS SACRILEGE!
Zhao and Jet: YEAH!
Zula: AND WAXING FLOOR SO I FALL ON MY BUTT IS SO NOT FUNNY!
Director: YOU'RE RUINING MY PRODUCTION!
Stage Hand: YOU'RE MAKING ME WORK FOR MY PAY!
Sokka: HOLD ON! I haven't played any jokes on anyone!
Everyone except Zuko: THEN WHY DO YOU ALWAYS WALK BY WHISTLING INNOCENTLY!
Sokka: What? I've just been practicing my whistling.
(Everybody looks at everybody else, kinda confused)
Katara: If not Sokka, then who?
(Everybody starts denying it. Zuko tries and fails not to laugh.)
Everybody: ZUKO!
Zuko: Yep, it was me.
Zula: You? But you were the victim most of the time?
Zuko: Just to throw you off track. (rotfl)
Katara: Dogpile on Zuko?
Everybody: Sounds great.
Everybody: WHEEE!
Zuko: AHHHHHH!
Stay tuned for the Sequel...
Of Demons, Dragons, and Dreams