Chapter 3- Peace at Last

(2 years later)

Aang stood in front of the mirror in his chambers practicing the speech that he would be giving to the leaders of the nations in only a few short hours as Momo watched curiously. He was pacing back and forth as he went over each line. "Don't be nervous," he thought to himself, "you just have to get through this banquet." He was interrupted by a knock at the door.

"Come in," he called out. The door opened and Fire Lord Zuko walked in.

"Avatar Aang," he said bowing his head.

Aang bowed in response, "Lord Zuko."

"Well I don't know how you managed it Avatar, but somehow you succeeded in gathering all of the world leaders at the Fire Nation capitol."

"Give yourself some credit Zuko," Aang replied with a grin, "after all it's your leadership that convinced them to trust the Fire Nation again." Zuko looked at Aang in surprise; it wasn't that long ago after all that he had been relentlessly chasing the young Avatar. It honored him greatly that after everything Aang still felt that he was a great leader.

"I only wish my Uncle could witness this," Zuko stated as he gazed out the window.

"He would be proud Zuko," Aang replied.

"I'll leave you to prepare," Zuko said turning to leave, "See you there."

"Wouldn't miss it", Aang answered.

A few hours later Aang was standing at the entrance of a grand banquet hall. "Well, this is it," he thought to himself, "This is the moment that we've been working so hard for." He gazed upon earth benders, water benders, and fire benders all in the same room, with the same goal.

"It's an historical moment," Zuko stated coming up next to Aang, "Are you nervous?"

"Considering that the speech I'm about to give will decide the future of the world… just a little," Aang replied.

Zuko smiled at the Avatar's response, "Come on, it's time to start." The two walked into the banquet hall side by side. The people stood as they entered. Zuko took the seat at the head of the table and Aang sat in the chair next to him. Zuko raised his hand and motioned for everyone else to sit as well. After a small moment of silence Zuko stood.

"I am truly honored that all of you have attended this important meeting; a meeting that will decide the fate of this world and its future generations. With your help this day will be remembered by all as the day that the nations came together to unite the world in peace," Zuko was met by a thunderous applause that echoed throughout the room. He then motioned for Aang to stand and present his speech .As Aang stood, he looked around the room at each face, he could feel his heart beating hard and he closed his eyes for a moment before he began to speak.

"It has been a long hard road to this destination. I know that each and every one you have felt the strains of war. Some of you have lost family, some have lost friends, and some have even lost their homes. But it is important that we do not dwell on the things that we have lost. Instead we must focus on what we are about to gain. We must look forward to a better life. Now is the time for us to come together in unity, putting our hate and anger aside. We must start to put the pieces back into place and work for a better tomorrow. At times it may feel like too much, the loss might be too great, but we must not lose hope. The goal of peace will be worth it in the end. What better way do we have to honor those that were lost than to ensure the hope of the future. It is our job, our responsibility to provide future generations with a better existence then we have known. Together, we will become the founders of a new world." When Aang was finished he was met by a standing ovation. Zuko smiled at the reaction of the crowd.

"We have succeeded Avatar Aang," he said triumphantly, he then motioned for two of his guards to bring forward a large scroll.

"This treaty," Zuko announced, "is a promise between our nations to maintain a peaceful alliance, by signing you commit yourself and your people to the cause of peace; please come forward one at a time and sign." Zuko then unrolled the scroll before them. Aang looked on smiling, shaking each of their hands as they approached. When they all had returned to their seats Zuko stood to address them.

"This is a truly historic moment, now let the feast begin." Everyone began to cheer in response.

Later on that night, Aang stood on the balcony of the palace, looking off into the distance.

"We did it Katara," he whispered softly into the starry night sky, "I only wish you could be here."

"I would think that after such a momentous victory that you would be celebrating Aang," Zuko said approaching from behind.

"I just wish my friends could have been here to see it," Aang replied sadly, he turned to face Zuko who now stood beside him gazing out into the night sky.

"If it wasn't for them I wouldn't be standing here right now, I'd still be trapped in that ice berg."

"I understand how you feel," Zuko replied thinking of his uncle Iroh, "I know that I wouldn't be the man I am today if it wasn't for my uncle." Zuko paused. "So Avatar," he said changing the subject, "where will you go from here?" Aang turned and looked out into the distance.

"I think it's about time I got back to my family, two years is a long time to have been away," Aang sighed.

"Well I wish you luck in your travels Avatar," Zuko replied turning to walk away.

"Zuko," Aang called out, "After everything that we have been through, I'm glad that we have become friends." Zuko turned and bowed his head to Aang.

"I'm honored that you consider me your friend, Aang," he replied. The next day Aang set off for the long journey back to the South Pole.

Katara stood on the glaciers edge watching a small group of benders from the North pack a canoe with supplies. She was there to say goodbye to a handsome young man named Takashi. He had befriended her not long after Aang had left.

"Here I am again"' she thought to herself, "saying goodbye to another good friend." She sighed as her mind once again drifted to Aang.

"I wonder if he'll ever come back," she thought to herself. Just than, Takashi came walking towards her.

"I'm glad you came to see me before I left," he said softly, gazing at her.

"Well," she said smiling, "you know I would never let you leave without saying goodbye." Takashi caressed her face with his mittened hand and leaned in to kiss her lightly on the cheek.

"I promise I'll be back before you even have time to miss me," he said.

"I'm holding you to that," Katara replied with a wink. Takashi laughed as he picked up his bag and headed to the canoe.

"Be careful," she yelled after him waving. Takashi just smiled and waved. After the small vessel had gotten far enough away that she could barely see it on the horizon Katara turned and headed back home.

When she arrived home she was greeted by Sokka, who had been sitting down polishing his boomerang.

"Hey Katara," he said without looking up.

"Hey Sokka," she sighed flopping down in a cushioned chair, "where is Dad?"

"He went fishing with a few of the guys," he said looking at his reflection in the boomerang.

"Fishing," Katara questioned looking to Sokka in surprise.

"Hey just cause the man can't walk doesn't mean he can't go fishing," Sokka replied.

"No, I didn't mean, I'm just surprised is all," Katara said, "It's been so long since he's gone out of the house…how come you didn't go Sokka?"

"Well… I kinda promised Myoshi that I would spend some time with her today," he replied.

"Ahh," she said, "The old ball and chain beckons."

"What?" he exclaimed looking up at her finally, "what about you Katara, gettin' all smoochy with Takashi."

"Takashi is just my friend," Katara exclaimed defensively.

"Yeah your boy-friend," he laughed.

"Oh shut-up Sokka," she said rolling her eyes as she got up to leave. She knew that her brother was only trying to annoy her, but sometimes he just went a little overboard. She couldn't help but think about what he had said though. It was, after all, quite obvious to her that Takashi wanted to be more then friends but for some reason she just didn't think of him in that way. She sighed as she muddled through her thoughts; she cared about Takashi a great deal. He was by her side the entire time that her father was sick, offering her a shoulder to cry on and comforting words whenever she was in need of it. Her father absolutely adored him, and treated him as one of the family.

"I wish Aang was here," she thought to herself. She missed him terribly and it was moments like these that she longed to have him around to talk to.

To be continued