First of all…thank you for the AMAZING feedback! I was blown away by the response to this story. I love you guys.

Second…HUGE apologies for the lateness of this. There are a bunch of reasons, but the main ones are centered around: 1) my computer catching a virus and having to completely reboot, 2) having major writer's block for Aang's perspective and the plot surrounding it, and 3) spazzing about Avatar in terms of writing fanfiction, drawing fanart, and wanting to make fanvideos…all at once. Overload right there. The finale will do that to you, folks. I'm sure I'm not the only one on cloud nine.

So, without further ado, here's chapter two. (Hey, it rhymes!)

Epilogue

Selfish

It's finally over.

Well, not entirely over, Aang reminds himself idly, a grin playing on his lips as he pulls his airball just out of Momo's reach. The soothing melody of the Tsungi Horn pauses for a moment, and he glances over his shoulder just in time to catch the warm smile on Zuko's face as he places a tea cup in front of his uncle.

Yes…this is what they had been fighting for. This is what the world had been waiting for.

He hasn't felt a sense of peace like this in over a hundred years. Quite literally.

It had been incredibly hard, adjusting to the newfound knowledge of being the Avatar. It had even been harder waking up in the heart of the South Pole a century later, only to find himself in the middle of a war that apparently only he, the Avatar, could stop.

But it had been almost unbearable when he'd gone home and realized that everything – his family, his culture, his entire race – was gone.

At twelve years old, he had not only been the world's last hope, but the world's last airbender.

The airball breaks apart and Aang blinks, noticing for the first time that Momo is no longer crouched in front of him. His eyes settle on the table where the lemur is now sitting, scolding a disgruntled Sokka as the others stare on with amused expressions.

"Oh, you think you can do a better job, Momo?"

His eyes soften. He can't even begin to imagine how any of this would have been possible without the people in this room; in fact, it wouldn't have been possible at all. This is his new family, no matter how mismatched and unlikely it may seem.

Aang quietly stands up and makes his way towards the entrance of the Jasmine Dragon, a smile etched on his face at the irony of it all. It's definitely the most unlikely family anyone has ever seen: a banished Fire Nation prince – now Firelord – and his war general, tea-loving uncle; the world's most powerful (albeit blind) earthbender; a (slightly crazy) Southern Water Tribe Warrior and his Kyoshi Warrior girlfriend…and, of course…

Katara. He can't even describe how much she means to him. She's his best friend, she's family, and yet she's so much more than that…

He absently scratches Appa's nose before walking down the steps towards the fountain.

It hadn't made any sense when the Avatar State retriggered. Even now, after all the time he's had to think about it, he still doesn't understand how it happened. Guru Pathik had once told him that he needed to let go of worldly attachments in order to release the final chakra, and yet Avatar Yangchen had said it was impossible for the Avatar to detach himself from the world.

In the era before the Avatar,

We bent not the elements,

But the energy within ourselves.

With energybending, though, none of that had really mattered. The usual blue-white glow from the Avatar State had instead erupted from his eyes and mouth and engulfed his entire body, the pure essence of his spirit painting the sky a brilliant blue.

To bend another's energy,

Your own spirit must be unbendable,

Or you will be corrupted and destroyed.

He had felt Ozai's spirit slowly seep into his own, running up the length of his arms and threatening to consume him completely. He had fought against it, his mind screaming at him to force the evil out of his body before it killed him, destroyed him…

But no matter how hard he had tried, he couldn't stop it.

It tore through him like a thousand knives, the last of his spirit fading away until it was a just tiny sliver of light.

He was going to die.

And then…

"AANG!!"

The memory fades, and the smile is still on his face.

It had probably just been a figment of his imagination, hearing her voice; after all, she had been back at the Fire Nation Palace with Zuko at the time.

Despite everything, he knows one thing for certain: It's always been because of her.

The sound of footsteps comes from behind, and suddenly she's standing right there beside him, a radiant smile on her lips and a blush coloring her cheeks. He turns to look at her, eyes never leaving her face.

She's everything. She's always been everything to him, since the moment he'd met her. Because of her, he's alive. Because of her, he's the Avatar.

As she pulls him into a hug, it finally hits him. Mastering the Avatar State had never been about letting her go; worldly attachments are simply just acts of selfishness.

The slowly pull apart and gaze out at the horizon, and he nearly shakes his head in disbelief at the realization.

He loves her so much. Back then, he'd been selfish; he'd refused to give her up.

But his duty is to the world...to her. It was never about giving herup at all.

All he really had to do was give up himself.

And he already has.

She turns to him again, and he can tell instantly that she's no longer confused. The look in her eyes tells him everything.

Without hesitation, she leans in and places a soft, warm kiss on his lips. Then her hands reach up to his face, and he knows he's lost.

After a hundred years, it's finally over…

Not entirely over, Aang reminds himself distractedly, sliding his arms around her waist and tugging her closer. There's still a long way to go before the world is at peace again.

Sometimes, though, even the Avatar has his selfish moments.

It's 5:00 in the morning, and I seriously need to get to sleep. God, this was INCREDIBLY difficult. You will NOT believe how long it took me to word that whole "selfish" concept…I'm not even sure the whole "Avatar State" thing made sense! And gah, my Aang perspective is iffy…

Anyways, feedback would be great! I dunno whether I should just leave this as is, or do a final chapter or something…

Thanks again!