The battle was over.

Kurai entered her palace, but the hearth fire was extinguished, and Pakku sat on the throne.

"Master Pakku." Kurai bowed. "My throne?"

"I am sorry, Kurai." Pakku said, his voice soft and broken. "Despite everything you have done for us; the Northern Water Tribe will never be ruled by a Firebender."

"That isn't fair!" Katara shouted.

"She was willing to die for this Tribe!" Sokka cried.

"Respectfully, Master Pakku." Aang bowed. "The only reason Kurai is now a Firebender is because she sacrificed her Waterbending to save this Tribe. She is the greatest Queen the Northern Water Tribe has ever known. She should be a legend."

"And that is how she shall be remembered." Pakku said softly. "As a hero. I promise."

The three moved to protest, but Kurai stopped them.

"It's better this way." Kurai said. "Now I am free. I can find my sister, and, if you'll have me, try to help you learn Firebending, Aang. Though I'm hardly a master, and I'd be an awful instructor. You'd be better off learning from someone like Zuko honestly."

"Ugh!" Katara said.

"Yech!" Sokka said.

"If it's all the same, I'd like to learn from you...Master Kurai." Aang smiled and bowed.

xxx

Kurai met Zuko at the edge of the city as he was leaving with his uncle.

"Come with me." Zuko said. "You're free now. I'll help you find your sister."

There was a silence as they locked gazes.

"You aren't coming, are you?" Zuko said, an edge to his voice. "You're going with the Avatar. He's always in my way. Even now..."

Zuko reached out and stroked her cheek.

"We will never be apart, Zuko." Kurai said finally. "It's your fire that burns inside of me now."

The two shared a kiss.

Kurai chuckled. "You know, you make an awful villain. You should really switch sides."

Zuko was surprised.

Kurai winked at him, and then left.

Xxx

In the Fire Nation, Fire Lord Ozai was addressing his second child, Princess Azula.

"Iroh is a traitor, and your brother Zuko is a failure. I have a task for you." Ozai said.

Azula looked up at him, a smile on her face.

xxx

Kurai joined Aang, Katara, and Sokka on Appa.

They flew off into the sky.

"I wonder if Zuko will still come after us," Sokka grinned. "Knowing he has to fight his girlfriend!"

Kurai lit her hand on fire and held it threateningly in front of Sokka. "Wanna run that by me again?"

"Sorry, Sorry!" Sokka said fearfully.

Kurai extinguished her flame.

"This is gonna take some getting used to." Sokka said.

"I'll say!" Katara said.

"But it'll be fun!" Aang said. "I can't wait to learn the Lotis as well as Firebending!"

"But Aang, you have to master Earthbending next." Katara said. "We have to find you a teacher.

xxx

In the Earth Kingdom, a formally dressed young red haired girl finished having tea with her parents.

"C'mere Kit!" The girl said softly.

Her pet, a kitsune, or spirit fox, scampered up and jumped into her lap.

There was a loud shout; and outside the entire staff who were preparing for a formal dinner were trapped in quicksand.

The red haired girl, Reiko Beifong, smirked and chuckles to herself, petting her fox.

She then said in a soft whisper, "Never corner a fox, we have a tendency to show our teeth."