A/N The title references a song called "Itte," which translates to "Say It" in Japanese. The title takes from Jubyphonic's cover's translyrics.

Hey, Gyatso.

I… well, I don't really know why I'm writing this. I don't really know how it would help, but Katara thinks it might. She's usually right about what I need. She's awesome like that. I wish you would've gotten to meet her.

It's been a long time since I last talked to you—or was it? It feels like it was only yesterday when I last saw you. It's hard for me to believe that a hundred (well, a hundred and one, actually) years had passed by. I almost can't believe it… but then I see how much of the world has changed, and I have to remind myself that it really has been a long time.

If I'm being honest, I'm not really sure how to feel about it. Well, I do, but I don't. I got to meet Katara and Sokka and Toph and Zuko—they've been taking good care of me, don't worry. I got to make new friends even after they found out I was the Avatar. I got to travel the world. I got to see so many places, meet so many people, learn so much more.

But at the same time, I wish you were here. I wish we could've traveled the world together, just like we always planned. I wish we could bake fruit pies and throw them at the elders again. I wish Junji and the others were here, so I could play that air scooter game with them—do you remember? I hope you do.

Oh, did you know? A week ago, the Hundred Year War ended! We did it! And I didn't have to kill Ozai! Everyone was telling me to do it, but I was able to find out another way. Did you know that the Lion Turtles are still alive? Yeah, one of them showed me how to take Ozai's bending away. I wish you were there to see it. I hope you're proud of me.

Yeah, it's been hard, I'm not going to lie. It's hard to think sometimes, and it's like I'm drowning sometimes. But that's okay—Katara and Sokka and Toph and Zuko are here with me. They're making sure I don't burn myself out over politics.

Katara's been amazing. She's always making sure I'm sleeping enough, eating enough, not draining myself from all this work with the governors and getting the world back in balance. She's also been doing awesome work with the clinics and the hospitals! Did you know she's a master waterbender? She can heal AND fight! And not only that, but she's also one of the most compassionate, stubborn, kind, passionate people I've ever met. I don't think anything I would say could tell you just how lucky I am to have her as my best friend. I think you would've liked her.

Sokka's been awesome too. He's super smart—he designed the submarines for the invasion, did you know that?—but he's also really goofy and fun to be around. He's kind of like the older brother I never had. He's always cracking jokes that make me laugh and fooling around with me and just… I feel like a kid again when I'm with him. I think you guys would've had a lot of fun with each other.

Toph is… interesting. We definitely butted heads with each other at the beginning—you know, her being an earthbender, me being an airbender. But we eventually worked everything out, and I'm so glad she's my friend now. She's always keeping me on my toes (like you always would, haha) and making sure I stay focused. I wish you would meet her just to see what you guys would come up with!

I think out of all of us, though, Zuko had changed the most. You should've seen him in the beginning! He was always chasing us down, always snorting fire everywhere and acting like a grump—well, he still does, it's just less… apparent. But now, he's a lot calmer, a lot more clear-headed, a lot wiser. I know he's going to be the best Firelord in a century, but he's stressing about it even now. I wish you would've been able to meet him—I think he needs that wisdom you were always giving me when I was a kid.

I love them all, Gyatso. They're just so amazing in their own ways, and I wouldn't trade them for the world.

I just wish you were here.

I miss you. I miss you so much it hurts. I miss being able to fly with you on our gliders. I miss being able to play Pai Sho with you—I'd give anything to see you cheat in a game again. I miss being able to bake fruit pies with you. I miss being able to feel the wind with you and watch the stars with you and take walks with you. I miss… I miss a lot of things, really. I miss so many things, and it hurts to think about, but it's hard to put them into words.

I'm sorry for a lot of things too. I'm sorry I wasn't there to save you and everyone else. I'm sorry I ran away from my responsibilities. I'm sorry for being such a coward and not being the Avatar you needed me to be.

I'm sorry for not being there by your side when you needed me most.

I just wish you were here so I could tell you I love you one last time.

Love,

Aang

When Aang woke up, the first thing he noticed was that a new scroll had been laid upon the letter he had written last night. A shimmering orange ribbon was tied around the paper, and on it was the Air Nomad insignia.

He snatched up the scroll and unrolled the parchment.

Hello, Aang.

It has been quite awhile since we last chatted with each other—over a hundred years, in fact! But it can't really be helped; it's hard to keep track of the time when you're stuck in an iceberg, after all.

Every change will have both its blessings and curses, my young pupil. I will admit, I am thrilled that you found yourself a group of friends that can take care of you! And to see your journey through the world, there is no doubt in my mind that you have grown into the young man you were always meant to be.

I miss every moment we had together as well. If only I was there by your side! But just as the little songbird must leave its nest to find its place in the world, so you must find your place without my guidance. And even when we may not do them again in this life, we will have all of eternity to do it in the next (Junji and the others say hello, by the way).

No words will ever be able to convey just how proud I am of you, Aang. You grew into the Avatar you were always meant to be, and you never let go of being an Air Nomad. I confess that I would have told you to let us go for the sake of the world, but like a true Avatar, you found the balance between both the responsibilities of the Avatar and the Air Nomad. For that, I could never be prouder.

Your friends sound like an amazing group—you will have to introduce them to me sometime! (I am particularly interested in meeting this Katara of whom you speak so highly.) These bonds are rare, and rarer still are the friends you made; remember to always cherish them, my young pupil. Keep them close to your heart, and never take them for granted.

I wish I was there as well. I miss every single moment we had together, from flying and Pai Sho to the fruit pies and watching you grow as both a student and a young boy. But we all must eventually find our own way in the world; I'm only sorry you had to do it too soon.

You cannot blame yourself for what had happened, Aang. You were only a child when they told you of your responsibilities—far too young to bear the burden of the entire world. You deserved to have a childhood, and I will never regret giving you that chance.

If there is anything you should remember, my pupil, it is this: death is never the end. Think of it as a curtain, separating the living from the dead. I am never truly gone; I am simply waiting beyond the veil.

Do not be so hasty to depart for it. Life is fleeting, but death is eternal. Take every moment you have with your friends. Cherish each second you live and breathe. Value each day the sun rises and sets for you. Hold onto life, so that when you depart, you can look back and say that every moment was worth it to be alive.

I never regretted every second I spent with you, and I never will. If I could do it all again, if only to see you grow into the young man you are today, then I would. What happened wasn't your fault, and it was never your fault. If it meant protecting you from the Fire Nation, I would've done it over again.

You don't have to tell me, because I already know.

Take care, my son. And remember: I will always be watching over you.

Love,

Gyatso

A yellow butterfly flitted on by.

The orange sun rose, shedding light on a parchment dotted with salty wetness.

And the world began anew.

A/N The yellow butterfly is an allusion to a Filipino tale, which says that butterflies are the souls of lost loved ones and relatives that visit to remind us that they are still there.