It's been a great run but here it is...the last chapter of our saga. AN at the bottom

Winning The Battle

Zuko woke to a rustling sound as his uncle stirred in his bedroll. He'd only fallen asleep an hour ago, his energy and agitation rising as the comet approached. He froze and watched intently as his uncle rolled over a few times, then sat up, facing away from him. Iroh stretched, looked over his shoulder, and turned away. Zuko gulped and squeezed his eyes shut.

"I know you must have mixed feelings about seeing me again. But I just want you to know-" His voice broke and tears began to fall down his cheeks. "I am so, so sorry, Uncle. I am so sorry and ashamed of what I did. I don't know how I can ever make it up to you. But I'll-" He stopped when Iroh pulled him into his arms. Zuko's eyes widened. "How can you forgive me so easily? I thought you would be furious with me."

"I was never angry with you," Iroh said, tears dripping down his cheeks. "I was sad because I was afraid you had lost your way."

Zuko nodded, relaxing in his uncle's arms. "I did lose my way."

Iroh held his nephew at arm's length, bearing a proud smile. "But you found it again, and you did it by yourself. And I am so glad you found your way here." Iroh pulled the young man back into his arms, and Zuko returned the embrace and smiled.

"It wasn't that hard, Uncle. You have a really strong scent."

Iroh chuckled and threw his head back. "So I've been told. How have you been, Nephew? I want to know all about your travels."

Zuko sighed. "Kunai and I teamed up with the Avatar. At first, we hid out in the Western Air Temple until Azula…" Zuko stopped. It had only been a few days since she died and her name still made his chest feel heavy. "Until Azula found us. Then we moved to the old vacation home."

Iroh nodded. "I can see Azula's death is still weighing heavily on you."

Zuko furrowed his brow. "How did you know?"

"The Fire Nation is mourning her loss. News of her death traveled quickly, especially among those who see it as a step towards peace. Azula was troubled and cruel, but she was my niece," Iroh said.

Zuko swallowed and looked down. "Aang and I were the ones who killed her. I didn't mean to kill her but-"

"In the throes of battle, it is easy to act in ways you normally would not," Iroh said. "Azula may have been your sister, but she was also a tyrant. Ending her was necessary."

Zuko swallowed and nodded. "That's what Kunai said."

"Where is Kunai? I've been anxious to know how she has been," Iroh said.

Zuko sighed. "She disappeared the night before we left. We don't know where she is, or Aang, for that matter."

"I see," Iroh said, standing up and walking out of the tent, Zuko close behind. "This seems to trouble you a great deal."

"I love her," Zuko said.

"I see," Iroh said with a smile. "Does she feel the same?"

"I… I think so. At least that's what she tells me."

"Daddy!"

Zuko turned to the source of the excited screech. Kameko barreled towards him, holding a creature in her hands, unaware of Katara chasing behind her.

"She's been up for an hour," Katara said, exasperated.

Zuko nodded. "I've got her. Thanks."

Katara nodded and walked off, yawning. Zuko knelt down as Kameko approached him, holding a small, kicking badger-frog. "I finded a baby! What is it, Daddy?"

Zuko smiled and shook his head. "You found a baby badger-frog."

"Bad-er fwog? Can I keep my baby fwog?" she asked, bouncing on her toes.

"You have to let it go, Kameko," Zuko said.

Kameko poked out her bottom lip. "Okay," she said sadly, kneeling down and placing the tortured creature on the ground. The badger-frog bounded away and Kameko waved. "Bye bye, baby fwog!"

Zuko lifted her into his arms and ruffled her hair. He looked to Iroh. "She's Kunai's."

"I can see. She has her mother's eyes," Iroh said.

Zuko nodded and sighed. "I'd rather let Kunai explain it to you."

"I understand," Iroh said. "So you're taking care of this little girl?"

Zuko smiled and nodded. "Yeah." He looked down at the little girl who was playing with a lock of his hair. "She's a good kid."

Iroh smiled brightly. "If I heard correctly, her name is Kameko?"

At the sound of her name, Kameko looked up at him and waved. "Hi!"

"Hello. It is a pleasure to meet you," Iroh said.

Kameko giggled and buried her face in Zuko's neck. Zuko leaned down to her ear and pointed to Iroh. "That's my Uncle Iroh."

She glanced over with a small smile. "Hi, Uncle Iwoh." She looked up at Zuko. "Daddy, I'm hungry."

Iroh started towards the center of the camp. "Come. Our apprentice should have breakfast ready for the camp."

When they approached the center of the camp they met a young woman bent over a pot, chestnut hair covering her face. She stood up and cracked her back. "I'm getting too old for this. I don't know how-" She stopped abruptly when she turned to address Iroh and saw the teenaged brat who'd nearly ripped her door off its hinges. However, her initial anger faded when she saw Kameko.

"Kiri!" Kameko shrieked, nearly jumping out of Zuko's arms and clinging to Ekiri's leg.

Ekiri lifted the little girl and held her tight. "Oh, I missed you so much, baby girl. Let me look at you." She brushed a strand of hair behind Kameko's ear and tilted her head, looking for cuts, bruises, or injuries. She took the little girl's hands. "How did you get these scars?" She asked, running her fingers over the healed remnants of burns.

"I firebended when I was wearing my gloves even though Mama said not to," Kameko said.

"She's fine," Zuko said gruffly. He put a hand on Kameko's back and she crawled back to him.

Ekiri scowled at first but that expression soon melted into a cruel smirk. "Is this that nephew you've been talking so much about?"

"Yes. You know him and this little girl?" Iroh asked.

"Well your nephew is that angry little bastard who kicked in my door."

Zuko dropped his head. "I'm sorry. I was angry. It was a mistake."

"Whatever. Where's Kunai?" Ekiri demanded, sitting in her hip.

Zuko sighed. "We don't know. She disappeared two night ago with the Avatar. We-"

"Disappeared?" Ekiri said. "What do you mean 'disappeared'? You swore you'd keep her safe, and you don't even know where the hell she is?"

"Well it's not like I was constantly watching her!" he snapped. He closed his eyes and exhaled, pinching the bridge of his nose. "The point is, we'd planned on taking Kameko to Sakura while we took on Ozai."

"Are you asking me to stay behind because you made terrible plans?" Ekiri asked.

"How were we supposed to know you'd be working with the White Lotus? We assumed-"Zuko pinched the bridge of his nose. "Yes. I'm asking you to please take care of her," he said through gritted teeth.

Iroh stepped forward and placed a hand on Ekiri's shoulder. "My nephew has nothing but good intentions with Kunai and her child. Taking care of her would be a great gift."

Ekiri closed her eyes, exhaled, and nodded. "Sure. Fine. I'm going to start preparing the weaponry. Breakfast is ready." She walked past them, quickly kissing Kameko on the forehead before storming away.

Zuko sighed and sat down, handing Kameko a small bowl of rice. Sokka, Suki, Toph, and Katara emerged from the tent and sat in a circle, beginning to discuss their plans.

"Uncle, you're the only person other than the Avatar who can possibly defeat the Father Lord," Zuko said.

"You mean the Fire Lord," Toph corrected.

"That's what I just said!" Zuko snapped. He turned to Iroh. "We need you to come with us."

Iroh shook his head. "No, Zuko. It won't turn out well."

"You can beat him!" Zuko said and motioned to the others. "And we'll be there to help."

Iroh sighed. "Even if I did defeat Ozai, and I don't know that I could, it would be the wrong way to end the war. History would see it as just more senseless violence, a brother killing a brother to grab power. The only way for this war to end peacefully is for the Avatar to defeat the Fire Lord."

Zuko nodded solemnly in understanding. "Then… would you take your rightful place on the throne?"

Iroh shook his head. "No. Someone new must take the throne. An idealist with a pure heart," He looked to Zuko and smiled. "And unquestionable honor. It must be you, Prince Zuko."

Zuko drew back and shook his head. "Me? But I've made so many mistakes."

"Yes, you have. You've struggled. You've suffered. But you have always followed your own path. You restored your own honor, and only you can restore the honor of the Fire Nation."

Zuko opened his mouth to protest but stopped when he saw the conviction in Iroh's eyes. He looked down. The notion of being Fire Lord one day had dwindled from his birthright to an unlikely fantasy since he'd left the Fire Nation but here it was presented to him as a reality. Instead of lingering on his shock, he pushed the thought from his mind, focusing on what was important now.

"Well, what if Aang doesn't come back?" Toph asked.

"Sozin's Comet is arriving, and our destinies are upon us. Aang will face the Fire Lord and Kunai will be by his side," Iroh said. "When I was a boy, I had a vision that I would one day take Ba Sing Se. Only now do I see that my destiny is to take it back from the Fire Nation, so the Earth Kingdom can be free again."

"That's why you gathered the White Lotus," Suki said.

"Yes," Iroh said. He turned to Zuko. "Zuko, you need to return to the Fire Nation so that when Ozai falls, you may take his place on the throne. As unfortunate as Azula's death was, we have one less major obstacle."

Zuko dropped his head and nodded. "You're right. So when we get there, what do we do?"

"Well, even though we don't know where Aang is, we should do everything to stop that airship fleet," Sokka said, pressing his fist into his palm

"And that means when Aang does face the Fire Lord, we'll be right there if he needs us," Toph said, smiling.

Their plans solidified, they all went their separate ways, sharpening swords, filling water skins, and repairing Appa's armor. Zuko got his dual swords and sat inside his tent, methodically sharpening them with Kameko at his side.

"Daddy, do you have to leave?"

Zuko sighed and set his swords down, turning to face her. "Yeah. But I'll be back. Until then, you're going to stay with Ekiri."

Kameko poked out her lip. "But I don't want you to leave!" She crawled into his lap and grabbed a handful of his shirt.

A lump formed in Zuko's throat, and he swallowed hard. "I wish I didn't have to." He wrapped his arm around her and stood up, walking out of the tent to where Ekiri was sitting by the remnants of a fire, scribbling on a map of Ba Sing Se. She looked up, scowled, then stood, her furious gaze making him feel small.

"We're about to leave," he said.

"All right. Hand her over," Ekiri said, opening her arms.

Zuko hooked his hands beneath Kameko's armpits to hand her to Ekiri. Kameko squealed and threw herself back onto him. "No! No! No!"

Zuko squeezed his eyes shut. "Kameko, please."

Kameko looked up at him. "Do you have to go fight the bad man?" she asked.

Zuko sighed. "We have to go fight a lot of bad people, Kameko."

Kameko pawed her eye. "Are you gonna come back?"

Zuko swallowed and sniffed. He brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "Yeah," he whispered. "I promise, I'll be back." He looked at Ekiri then back to Kameko. "It's time to go to Ekiri, ok?"

"Okay," Kameko said sadly. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him on the cheek. "Bye bye, Daddy. I love you."

Zuko hugged her tightly. "I love you, too." He reluctantly tore himself away from her and handed her to Ekiri, who set her down and pointed her to her tent.

"Kunai would hate you for lying to her baby," Ekiri said once Kameko was in the tent and out of earshot.

"I didn't lie to her," Zuko said, scowling.

"You did," Ekiri said. "You have no idea whether or not you're coming back."

Zuko clenched his fists. "I have too many obligations not to come back."

Ekiri shrugged. "Well, words don't mean shit. You can say you love that little girl; you can say you love Kunai. Come back and maybe it'll mean something."

Kunai watched the horizon intently as an airship came over the hills. She narrowed her eyes, seeing the Fire Lord himself standing on the end of the head ship, a trail of fire spewing from his hands, destroying everything in its wake. She widened her stance and cracked her neck. "I've got your back."

Aang nodded. "Let's see if we can take out the ships."

"All right. Time to get his attention." Kunai exhaled and pressed her fist up, bending a large pillar of earth from the ground. With a grunt, she punched forward, throwing the stone into the side of an airship and sending it careening to the ground, clipping the main airship and causing it to falter in the air. Ozai cut off his trail of fire, searching for the source of the attack. Aang jumped to another pillar, sending several disks of the column at the other ships. Kunai shot a large fire ball towards the engine of the head airship. Ozai looked up, gazing directly as the pair with rage in his eyes as the ship began to plummet to the earth. He smirked and tore off his robs, incinerating them and propelling himself towards them on powerful bursts of fire. Kunai backed up and ran to the edge of the pillar, jumping and landing next to Aang in a crouch. Ozai landed in front of them. Kunai stood up slowly. She was only a few feet away from the Fire Lord and her fingertips twitched. She looked to Aang, who was standing still and strong, and as much as she wanted to strike, she followed his lead and waited for Aang to act first. This was his fight.

"After generations of Fire Lords failed to find you, now the universe delivers you to me as an act of providence," Ozai said, a smile on his lips. He turned to Kunai and smirked. "And you, who many believed to be a legend, a myth, proved to be nothing but a whore laid at my feet."

"Please listen to me. We don't have to fight. You have the power to end it here and stop what you're doing," Aang said, opening his palms in a gesture of peace.

"You are right. I do have the power." Ozai's eyes darkened, and a disturbed grin spread across his face. "I have all the power in the world!"

Ozai shot fire from his mouth and fists, sending the blaze rushing between them. Kunai captured the fire in her hands, redirecting it towards Ozai while Aang obliterated the stone from beneath the Fire Lord's feet. Ozai propelled himself into the air, dispersing the fire and sweeping his hands in a circle as he plummeted and shooting a tunnel of flame directly at Aang. Kunai sent several disks of earth towards Ozai while his back was turned, each disk lowering her towards the ground. Ozai glanced over his shoulder and narrowly dodged the flying earth, breathing a wall of fire towards her who ducked, barely keeping the fire from burning her. She growled and looked to Aang just as fire rushed towards him. She jumped as high as she could and landed in front of Aang, repelling the flames. She looked him in the eye and nodded. This was like no battle she'd ever fought.

The battle raged with an intensity neither had ever felt. Every fireball was closer and every time they struck their opponent, he was a little quicker to get up. Kunai kept Aang in her view, and at some point, she realized they were running. Aang ducked beneath an overhang, and Kunai ran in next to him.

"What are we doing?" she whispered.

Aang pressed his fists against his temples. "I don't know. He's too strong."

Kunai grabbed his arm. "Listen to me. He's not stronger than us." She glanced up as rocks tumbled over the edge of the overhang. She turned to him. "He's cocky. His fighting style is completely offense. If we can catch him off guard we can-"

Fire engulfed the edges of the overhang. "You can't hide forever!" Ozai taunted over the roar of the flames.

Kunai tore her way through the flames, fire licking her arms as she struggled to repel it. She turned to strike Ozai only to see nothing but flame. She turned her face and used all of her energy to bend the fire away from her skin but she was still launched through the air. She was spinning in the air, unaware of which way was up. She tried to put her legs down to find traction. Before she had the chance, her body slammed against a stone pillar. She gasped, eyes flying open. She slid down into a pile on the ground, her whole body paralyzed. Her eyes shut.

When her eyes opened again, Ozai was standing with his back to her, throwing fireballs into a tight orb of earth. "You're weak! Just like the rest of your people. They did not deserve to exist in this world, in my world. Prepare to join them. Prepare to die!"

Kunai grunted as she tried to stand. She struggled to her feet and her back cracked as she straightened. She fixed her eyes on Ozai's back and began to stagger forward, each step stronger than the last until she was barely a foot behind him. She raised her hands above her head and slammed her fists into the center of his back, fire bursting from her fingertips just as Ozai sent a powerful blast into the orb, blowing it so pieces. Ozai growled and collapsed onto the ground as Kunai flew back from the force of the blast. She cried out as she tumbled on the ground. Footsteps encroached upon her, unsteady and heavy. She looked up too see Ozai marching towards her.

"It seems like your life is coming to an end," Ozai sneered, looming over her.

Kunai tried to sit up. She wanted to laugh in his face. She wanted to mock his pathetic attempts at scaring her and welcome death openly, the way she had when she was a warrior. But this time was different. Death meant leaving her daughter defenseless and alone in the world. But even as she lifted her head to plead, death seemed like the only possible outcome.

"What do you want from me?" she choked. Each word flexed her broken ribs, sending pain radiating through every nerve. "Want me to beg? I'll beg!" She looked up at him. "Please… don't do this. Do whatever you want to me but please… please don't kill me."

Ozai smirked. "Tempting. But I'm afraid there is no room in my world for you." When he raised his fist, Kunai forced away all her resolve. She closed her eyes and whispered, "Gorou protect her," bracing herself for the overwhelming pain of burning, knowing it would be over soon. When the pain didn't come, she opened her eyes, awe and relief consuming her when she saw Aang hovering above Ozai, gripping the Fire Lords fist. Before Ozai could react, Aang flung him across the canyon. Aang looked at Kunai, unearthly power pouring from his glowing eyes.

"Apprentice," the voice of each of his past lives spoke simultaneously. "Stand and fight."

The pain that wracked her body suddenly dissipated. She felt her ribs come back together, she felt her skin come alive as power and energy rushed through her veins. She stood to her feet and looked up at him and through her body, her past reincarnation, who she'd only met once in a dream, spoke.

"I will follow you to the end, Avatar."

Kunai had no time to be shocked, to be confused, as Ozai propelled himself into the air on a jet of flame. Aang roared and blocked Ozai's path as he tried to flee, and Kunai followed him. Ozai continued run and Aang continued to block every path, until there was a solid wall surrounding them. Ozai roared in frustration, sending a series of fireballs Aang's way. Kunai blocked them, slowly encroaching upon him. Ozai started to sprint and slammed his fist down, trying to propel himself out of the arena. He let out a growl as he found his feet bound to the ground. The cuffs around his feet shot forward and he collapsed on his back, his wrists immediately caught on the ground. He looked around for the source of the attack when Kunai marched over to him, placing her foot on his neck. She clenched her fist, raising a blade of earth and holding it over his heart. She cocked her hand back, ready to strike him down and end it all here when she made a mistake she was never guilty of in all her years of fighting

She hesitated

She remembered the words her brother had said on her thirteenth birthday as he handed her an inscribed knife. "One day, this'll mean more to you. But remember, it isn't always you're fight. You don't always have to be the one to win."

Aang had agonized for weeks over this moment, trying to balance his own moral code and the greater good. She'd never considered it and had only found herself with the upper hand and an opportunity and a deep hatred of everything this man symbolized.

Kunai gulped. Her hand shook and the blade crumbled into dust. Ozai's jerked and thrashed in his bindings, roaring fire in every direction. "Coward!" he barked.

Kunai looked up as she heard the sound rushing air coming closer and closer. A spiral of flame, rock and water was hurtling in her direction, aimed at the Fire Lord's heart. She stepped to the side and watched at the mixture of elements came inches from Ozai's chest and collapsed into mud and smoke.

Kunai shook her head as Aang lowered to the ground in front of her, the glow falling from his eyes. "Not a coward," she said. Kunai and Aang made eye contact. She knew what needed to be done. Kunai stepped back and bent Ozai's cuffs so he was kneeling, his head craned back. Aang stepped forward and placed his thumbs on Ozai's forehead and chest. Kunai watched with rapt attention. Aang's eyes and tattoos glowed with an intensity she'd never seen before. He stood there, nearly motionless, though both his and Ozai's muscles were flexing and quivering , sweat beading on their skin. Finally, after a few moments, he stumbled back, every muscle in his body falling limp. Kunai ran up behind him and caught him under the arms.

"What just happened?" she asked, trying to steady him.

Aang placed his hand on his forehead and said, "I took his bending."

Ozai groaned from where he lay, a crumpled pile on the ground. He thrust his fist at them, only to have it fall weakly to the ground.

Aang gently nudged Kunai off of him, walking over to tower above the Phoenix King. "You can never use firebending to hurt or threaten anyone again."

Ozai roared in frustration and collapsed. Kunai snorted and shook her head. "Aang... we did it," she whispered.

Aang turned and smiled just as she wrapped him in a tight embrace, the warmest display of affection she'd ever shown him. However, when they pulled away, Kunai wasn't smiling as he was. There was no pride or joy in her expression. Aang was about to inquire about what she was feeling when he noticed a familiar, fluffy figure coming in from the horizon.

"That must be the others!" he cried.

Kunai turned and gasped. "Please, please, please," she whispered as Appa grew closer. Her hands were beginning to shake when she saw a glint of red sit up in the saddle. She put a hand over her mouth, swallowing past the sore lump in her throat and trying not to cry out as Appa landed and Zuko jumped from the saddle, his eyes going straight to her.

"Kameko…" she said as she made her way towards him.

"She's fine. She's with-"

She didn't allow him to finish, throwing her arms around his neck and kissing him desperately, digging her fingers into his scalp and the back of his neck to assure herself he really was there. The angry burns on her body stung when they touched him, but she didn't care. She only held him tighter. His arms locked around her waist, pressing her entire body against his. He'd kept his concern for her locked away during the battle and now he poured it all into his kiss, along with his relief. When the need for air became too great, she pulled away and buried her cheek in the crook of his neck. Even though her own body was racked with sobs, she could feel him gently trembling against her, struggling to keep his own tears in check.

"I love you," she whispered, relaxing her grip on him slightly.

"I love you too," he choked.

Slowly, they released each other, save for their hands, still tightly interlaced. It was then Zuko noticed the crumpled husk of a man on the ground. There were no burns on him, no deadly wounds, and only tiny droplets of blood on skin deep cuts.

"What did you-"

"Aang took his bending," Kunai explained.

Aang pulled himself from Katara's arms and walked over to them. "I learned it from a giant lion turtle."

Zuko frowned. Kunai and squeezed his hand a little bit tighter.

It was a quiet and intimate trip back to the camp. Sokka, Suki, Katara, Toph and Aang were all sitting as close as possible and seemed not to notice the former Fire Lord bound and gagged in the back of Appa's saddle. Sokka had made it easier to ignore him by hitting him once with the blunt end of a sword. No one objected. Kunai and Zuko sat beside them, just far enough that they weren't part of the loving mass. With her free hand, Kunai stroked his arm, squeezing his bicep whenever he looked back at his father.

Appa hadn't touched the ground at the camp when Kunai jumped out of the saddle, looking for Kameko.

"Kunai!" a familiar voice cried.

Kunai turned and smiled at seeing an old friend. Then she noticed a small brown face peaking from behind Ekiri's leg.

"Kameko!" she cried, rushing over and scooping the little bundle into her arms. "Oh, my precious baby," Kunai whispered, tears dripping down her cheeks.

"Mommy!" Kameko squealed happily, squeezing her mother's neck. "Where did you go?"

Kunai looked into Kameko's eyes with a sad smile. "I went on adventure. But I promise I'll never leave you again, okay?"

Kameko nodded. "Mama, why are you crying?" she asked, poking the wetness on her mother's cheek.

Kunai chuckled and wiped her face. "Those are happy tears, sweetheart. Mama's just so happy to see you."

Satisfied, Kameko laid her head down on her mother's chest and hummed. Kunai smiled and kissed her daughter's head over and over again. Zuko walked up behind her, putting one hand on her lower back and the other on Kameko's head, brushing her hair. Kameko looked up at him with a big smile.

"Daddy!" she cooed.

Zuko smiled. "Hey, Kameko." Zuko looked to Kunai. "Iroh is going to take care of my- of Ozai. We can take Appa back to the palace."

Ekiri, who'd been watching quietly from a distance, walked over. "Come on. I'll help you get Kameko's things," she said, and though words were directed at Kunai, she looked straight at Zuko with a smile. Zuko nodded in reply.

They went inside the tent and started collecting the scattered toys and packing them away. "So what are you doing now, kid?" Ekiri asked Zuko.

"I uh… I'll be taking the throne as Fire Lord," he said.

Ekiri nodded. "Kunai? What about you?"

Kunai looked up, surprised to be asked. "Well for now, I'm staying in the Fire Nation."

Zuko turned to her. "Are you going to stay after my coronation? After everything's settled down?"

Kunai smiled. "Of course." Kunai said as she walked over to him, handing him the last bag. "I couldn't take Kameko away from you."

Zuko's eyes widened, his eyebrows raised and his lips turned up at the corners just slightly. Kunai giggled and kissed him on the cheek. "Can you take Kameko and give me and Ekiri a second? It won't take long."

"Sure," Zuko said. "Come on Kameko."

Kameko looked up and ran to him, taking his hand and clutching Lala in the other. When they were gone, Kunai turned to Ekiri, finally getting a chance to hug her.

"I'm so proud of you, Dragon," Ekiri whispered as she pulled away. "You've really grown up."

Kunai nodded. "I do my best. Kameko deserves that."

"And do you think that boy is the best?" Ekiri asked.

Kunai nodded, a small smile gracing her lips. "Yeah. I do. He's made a lot of mistakes but he tries. And he loves us. What else can I ask for?"

"Not much else, I guess." Ekiri sighed. She took Kunai's hand. "Promise me something. Promise you'll go see the militia again. At least visit. You can't give up your family, Kunai."

Kunai sighed and reluctantly replied. "I promise."

"And something else?" Ekiri asked. "Take care of yourself."

Kunai nodded and wrapped her arms around Ekiri one last time. "This isn't goodbye, alright? I'll come back soon and bring Kameko."

Ekiri smiled and nodded. Kunai breathed deeply and mustered all her strength to pull away from Ekiri and walk out of the tent. She climbed into Appa's saddle and as Appa took off, she waved goodbye to one friend while nestling into the arms of another. She thought about her experiences in the Fire Nation. Her first had been as a mutt and a reminder of her father's shortcomings. Her last had been as a sex slave. Now she would be returning as The Avatar's Apprentice, as the girl who'd helped defeat Ozai. Maybe a day would come when people described the Dragon as a hero and a legend. Maybe they would no longer see her as a whore, a bounty hunter's dream, a troublemaker. Maybe that day would never come. It didn't matter. Kameko's mother, Zuko's love, Aang's ally wasn't the Dragon.

Her name was Kunai.

While this may be the last of the story, there is still more to come. Sooner or later (probably later) I will be posting a sequel called "Beneath Our Silken Sheets" . It will be a series of loosely chronological oneshots describing the misadventures that happen after the war. Starting right this moment, I'll be taking requests! If there's something you want me to write about, by all means leave a review or send me a message!

Thank you for all your support and if you want to keep up with me personally and see some of my non fanfiction writing, check out .com

I love you all and I've had so much fun along the way

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