The War Ends

"I KILLED ZOE! How do you except to win if Zoe, you're best fighter is dead?" Azula screeched.

"But she's not." A voice called out. Zuko turned around. Zoe was walking towards Azula. She looked exactly the same, except she seemed to seem calmer and collected, like she had planned this whole thing. Azula stopped laughing.

"But you're dead."

"Apparently not." Zoe laughed, and then Zoe's face turned deadly serious.

"You killed my baby sister." Zoe didn't look sad at all. She looked angry. If looks could kill, Azula would have been dead.

Katara heard Zoe's voice. She looked around and saw Zoe. Katara smiled. The rain was pouring harder than ever. Toph laughed.

"Zoe's back!"

Nate found a canoe. It was small, and would break easily. Nate got in and started paddling for the Fire Nation Palace. Nate didn't care how long it would take, he would find Zoe. And he would tell her that he loved her.

Azula laughed.

"SO? She was weak! Just like you! She couldn't handle prison." Instead of yelling or tearing up at the mention of Hope, Zoe smiled her wicked smile that said very plainly I'm going to take great pleasure in destroying you.

"Weak? I don't think so. Azula, you are the weak one." Zoe looked Azula straight in the eyes.

"HA! We'll see about that!" Azula shot lightening at Zoe. Zoe simply redirected it. Zuko ran to help Zoe.

"No. She's mine." Zoe growled, pushing Zuko back. Zuko stared at Zoe in wonder. Suddenly Katara cried out.

Ozai shot a fireball at Aang, Aang had dodged it, but Katara had not.

"Katara!" Zuko yelled. Zuko ran to Katara. A Dai Lee member tried to stop him, but Zuko simply knocked him down.

Katara felt her hand burning. The next thing she knew, she was falling, Zuko caught her.

"Are you okay?" Zuko asked.

"I am now." Katara replied.

Hadoka ran when he heard Katara's yell. He saw Zuko holding Katara, putting out the fire on her hand. Hadoka smiled.

Katara watched as Zuko put out the fire.

"Zuko…" Katara mumbled.

"Yeah?" Zuko asked. Katara blushed under the intensity of his gaze.

"I love you." Katara forced herself to look Zuko in the eyes. Then Katara did something that surprised herself. She kissed Zuko full on the lips.

And in that moment, everything felt right.

Hadoka smiled. He trusted the Fire Nation Prince. But if he ever hurt Katara, it wouldn't be so pretty. Hadoka heard Sokka running towards him.

"Is Katara ok…WHAT DOES ZUKO THINK HE'S DOING?"Sokka yelled. Zoe turned around and saw Katara and Zuko kissing. She laughed when she saw Sokka's face. Lovebirds… this isn't really a good time. Zoe thought about yelling at them, but decided against. She'll tease them later. And there will be no end of it. Zoe was snapped back to reality as a large tunnel of fire was coming straight for her. Zoe stepped to the side, and bent over to the side and steered the fire back to Azula. But as it was making the loop around Zoe, it changed into icy water. Zoe made a movement with her hands and the water hit Azula. Azula fell backwards.

Nate's island was out of sight now. Nate clutched his sword, seeing the approaching pirates. Things are about to get a whole lot harder.

"When this is all over, I'll find you." Nate would stick to his promise, or die trying.

Mai watched as Zoe fought Azula. Every move Azula made, Zoe was one step ahead. Mai hated the girl, but she had to admit she was good. Mai rolled out of the way of a water whip. Mai threw her knives. This was too easy. Suddenly Mai felt like someone was pushing her head down.

Zoe sent a tidal wave over Azula and froze it. Zoe realized she would have about two minutes till Azula broke free. Zoe scanned the battlefield. Toph was still battling the Dai Lee. Katara was saving some man that looked like Sokka. Zuko was running to stop Hama from killing Mai. Ty Lee was frozen. Literally. Zoe sighed and forced the ice that was holding Ty Lee to melt. The water splashed all over Ty Lee. Ty Lee looked around.

"What just happened?" Ty Lee wondered in her air head tone. Zoe slapped her forehead.

"Idiot. TY LEE!" Zoe screamed.

"Yeah?" Ty Lee asked.

"Mai's in danger! Maybe you should go help her." Zoe yelled.

"Oh. Right!" Ty Lee ran over to Hama.

Zoe was blinded by a bright light. Sozin's Comet was at its peak. Azula was circled by blue fire.

"DIE!" Azula screeched. She threw lightening at Zoe. Zoe redirected the lightening.

"I don't think so." Zoe smiled her wicked smile.

Zuko ran at Hama. Hama never saw it coming. Zuko tackled Hama. He heard Mai gasp. Zuko flipped back on his feet. Mai nodded curtly and Zuko ran off towards Sokka. Zuko pulled out his dual swords.

Sokka narrowed his eyes when he saw Zuko. Zuko and Sokka both where dueling multiple guards.

"WHY WHERE YOU KISSING MY SISTER?" Sokka yelled. Zuko felt his face heat up.

"Sokka… um I don't think this is the best time." Zuko mumbled. Sokka grimaced.

"True. Anyway you're coming with me." Sokka said as he knocked some soldier to the ground.

"Why?" Zuko asked. Sokka probably is going to kill me.

"Part of the Fire Nation army is going to the South Pole. We have to stop them." Zuko nodded, and together the two men ran to the ships.

Aang narrowly dodged one of Ozai's fireballs. Ozai's fireballs where huge, bigger than Appa. Aang suddenly realized how to end this war. Kill Ozai or surrender. Aang thought of all of the people that had died in this war.

Monk Guastau, Zoe, Katara's Mother, the Air Nomads. Aang went into the Avatar State.

Learn to let go. Learn to let go. Let go. The elements swirled around Aang. Ozai backed up, terrified.

Zoe used the water around her to ride a tidal wave of fire and water. It was a brilliant sight. Zoe jumped down from her tidal wave and let it wash over Azula.

"Give up yet?" Zoe asked. Azula threw a building size fireball at Zoe. Zoe used a basic shielding technique. The fire scattered. The fire and water seemed to hover around Zoe. Zoe needed to be strong. The fire and water swirled around Zoe's body. Zoe looked up at Azula.

"You killed my baby sister." Zoe said to Azula, Azula's eyes widened in fear. Zoe pulled her hands back and then shot her palms out. The water and fire barreled towards Azula. Azula missed it by an inch. Azula fell on the ground.

Suki and the Kyioshi Warriors caught up with Sokka.

"No way. You don't get all the fun." Suki saw Zuko.

"You burned down my village."

"I'm sorry." Zuko muttered awkwardly. Suki eyed him and then sighed.

"Whatever. Come one girls." Suki ordered. The Warriors stormed the boat and within five minutes they crew came out, hands held high in surrender. Suki bound them behind their back.

Toph and Katara finished off the Dai Lee.

"I beat 50." Katara smiled.

"51." Toph grinned.

"NO fair!" Katara fake pouted. Toph laughed.

Ty Lee finally got close enough to Hama to take away her bending. Mai pinned Hama to the ground with her knives. The battle was starting to slow down. Azula had fallen. Slowly the Fire Nation army's where giving up.

Zoe watched as Azula struggled to get up. Zoe needed to handcuff Azula and fast. And she had a brilliant idea.

One of the pirates threw a grappling hook at Nate's canoe.

"Who are ye?" the Pirate asked the pirate had a green parrot on his shoulder.

"No one." Nate grunted.

"To the brig! To the brig!" The parrot cawed. The pirate chuckled.

"Till ye talk, to the brig." The pirate smiled showing his missing teeth and yellow ones. Nate was grabbed and forced into a cage. It was titanium. Nate sighed. This was going to take a while.

Zoe let Azula get back. Zoe dropped to the ground and placed her palms on the ground, push up position as lightening cackled over her head. Zoe spun her legs around herself and fire shot out of her feet, knocking Azula off her feet. Zoe got back up and swirled the water around her. It spun around Zoe and the ice hardened and fire grew at Zoe's feet. The fire surrounded Zoe and broke the ice. Azula flew back and the icicles pinned Azula to the ground.

"TOPH!" Zoe yelled. Toph stomped down and raised her hands. The earth rumbled and held Azula down. Azula screamed in anguish. Azula struggled for a while.

"Good work champ." Zoe smiled. Toph responded by punching Zoe on the arm. Katara ran up to Zoe and hugged her.

"I thought you were…" Zoe looked away. Katara stepped back.

"So where's your lover boy? And don't deny it!" Zoe teased. Katara's face turned beet red.

"Oh shut up!" Katara mumbled. Zoe laughed. The battle was over. It's over. It's finally over. No more death. No more pain. No more tears. Things are finally going to get normal.

Aang was prepared to kill Ozai. Ozai was right before him. He was helpless. It wasn't fair that he should live when everyone else died.

Do whatever it takes to protect the world. The world would never be safe as long as Ozai lived. Aang closed his eyes and killed Ozai. The life drained from Ozai's eyes and Ozai's body went limp.

Aang closed his eyes and wondered if he had done the right thing.

Zuko watched as the fighting ceased. Zuko walked over to the palace. He wanted to find out what happened to his messed up family.

Iroh smiled as the green banners replaced the reds. Iroh had always known he would conquer Ba Sing Se, but he never thought it would be for the Fire Nation. He sighed happily as he felt the comet past. The sun rose in the east.

"The war is over! Fire Nation governors no longer rule, The Earth King will reign once again. And never again will the Fire Nation step into the Earth Kingdom as an invading army." Iroh declared. The crowd in the streets cheered. Mother's were crying, Children were dancing and jumping. Iroh smiled.

"That was some speech." King Bumi congratulated. Iroh nodded.

"Thank you." Iroh replied. He walked back to the Earth Kingdom palace. A little girl stopped him. Her eyes where wide and her dress was filthy and old.

"Thank you." The little girl whispered. She rocked back and forth on the balls of her heels. After a moment of thought she hugged Iroh.

"Does this mean my dad will come home?" The girl asked.

"Yes child." Iroh replied quietly. The little girl beamed and ran off to her mother.

"MOMMY! MOMMY! DADDY'S COMING HOME!" Iroh smiled and walked the rest of the way to the palace, with a deep sense of pride. When he arrived at the palace he sat down and wrote a letter.

My dear children,

I don't know what's going on in the Fire Nation. I pray that everything went well. Now I know things might be difficult right now. So I recommend tea and good advice (like don't let Zuko make the tea.) Now for the advice. You must keep your guard up, Ozai supporters will be angry. Watch each other's backs. And swear to me you will not leave the palace yet. Not until I get there. Riots will break out when they see you. But most importantly follow your heart. Even if you don't know here it's going.

Love,

Iroh

Iroh smiled and gave tied the message to a messenger hawk. The he glanced at one of the servants.

"Do you play Pai Sho?"

Katara saw a young boy. She knelt down.

"What's your name?"

"Lee."

"How'd you get hurt?" Katara asked as she began to heal his wounds. The boy gasped.

"Shh. It's going to be fine." Zoe knelt down beside Katara.

"All the wounded have been moved to the tent. One of them used a tourniquet. Hurry up we need to…" Zoe trailed off when she saw the boy. He was a little younger than Aang.

"I….My brother…. He was fighting….. Had to make sure…." Lee's voice was suddenly quiet. Katara closed her eyes.

"Dead." Katara murmured. Zoe picked up Lee's arm.

"Knives cut him. He was shielding something. Water tribe." Zoe stated coldly.

"Knives….?" Katara asked.

"Mai." Zoe growled. Zoe stood up.

"Go to the tent and start healing. I have to do something." Zoe ran off. Suddenly Suki was by Katara's side.

"Suki! Go tell Zuko Zoe's going to fight Mai." Katara called as she ran to the makeshift infirmary.

Zoe saw Mai talking to Ty Lee.

"Murderer!" Zoe screamed. Mai looked up, unsurprised.

"And?"

"He was 11!"

"He was the enemy!"

"He was water tribe!"

"Enemy!" Mai spat.

"I only fought for you so I could be free." Mai growled.

"He was a kid. He didn't deserve to die." Zoe yelled. Zoe used a water whip. Mai pushed her bangs out of her way and drew her knives. Zoe went into a fighting stance.

Zuko saw Zoe and Mai standing yelling at each other.

"ZOE!" Zuko yelled. Zoe threw a water whip. This won't be pretty.

Mai threw her knives. Zoe rolled out of the way.

"What now?" Zoe taunted. Mai huffed and charged drawing a longer knife.

Zuko threw his sword at Zoe. Zoe grabbed it.

Zoe grabbed the sword Zuko had thrown. Then it occurred to her she didn't know how to use it. Great time to learn. Mai threw her dagger. Zoe tried to deflect it. Then her arm was bleeding. Zoe dropped the sword. Zoe shot fire at Mai. The hem of Mai's dress caught fire. Ty Lee stepped back.

"Uh Mai…. I didn't. I wanted to help." Ty Lee said quietly. Ty lee walked over by Zuko.

Mai threw her knives again. Zoe melted them.

"Nice try." Zoe smirked. Mai grunted. Mai charged at Zoe once again. This time Zoe grabbed Mai's hand with the knives.

The two girls stared at each other with a deep hatred. Zoe suddenly heated up. Mai gasped from the pain. Zoe smirked. Mai suddenly flew backwards.

Zuko ran over to Zoe looked like she was ready to keep fighting, but Zuko grabbed her arm.

"Come on. It's over. Let's go." Zuko whispered. Zoe sighed and followed Zuko.

"Cowards." Mai sighed. Zoe began shaking with rage and turned around.

"Watch it." Zoe turned around walked back to the infirmary.

"What were you thinking?" Zuko yelled.

"The war is over! She's on our side!"

"That's what you think." Zoe mumbled. Zoe walked into the infirmary. The man that looked like Sokka was there. Chit Sang, Haru and the Duke were also there. Zoe bended a little water and began healing people. After four hours of rushing from person to person, healing wounds, changing bandages, Zoe walked out of the infirmary. The sun was high in the sky. It suddenly hit her it was over. All the war, pain and suffering was over. Things would go back to normal for some people, but for Zoe, it would be a rebirth. But only one thing kept popping in her head. Nate.

"Did he talk yet?" the pirate asked.

"Yes. His name is Nate. Looking for a girl. Strong. Perfect for slavery." The pirate captain smiled.

"What day is it?" Nate asked from his cage.

"Five days after the Comet." Nate cursed. He needed to find Zoe.

Five days after the Comet.

"Zoe! Wake up!" Katara knocked on Zoe's door. Zoe groaned.

"Five more minutes Mrs. Mother." Zoe pleaded. Katara barged in.

"STOP CALLING ME THAT!" Katara yelled. Zoe rolled over. Katara splashed water on Zoe.

"OKAY! I'm up!" Zoe snapped. Katara glanced around the room. Zoe was holding a picture of some guy. Zuko walked in the room.

"Don't worry she did the same thing to me…. Who's that?" Zuko asked.

Katara slapped him on the shoulder. Zuko stared at Katara and thought of one thing.

"Girls are crazy." Zuko muttered.

"Get used to it." Katara snapped. Zoe shoved the picture under a pillow. Zoe's eyes were red and puffy. Katara was overwhelmed by a sense of pity.

"Zoe come on. We need to practice." Zuko grunted, rubbing his arm.

"Practice what?" Zoe said as she rolled her eyes.

"Swords. You stink." Zuko grunted again.

"Gee Zuko, you really help my self-confidence." Zoe grumbled. Katara smiled. Zoe had seemed to be much more relaxed. She was definitely happier and laughed in a genuine way, and not just when she mocked Zuko. Katara watched Zoe follow Zuko out to the courtyard. Katara smiled and walked after them. Suddenly Toph barreled into Katara.

"IROH SENT A LETTER! READ IT!" Toph yelled. Katara chuckled and yelled to Zoe and Zuko.

Zoe punched the air.

"Perfect timing." Zoe smiled her evil little smile.

"You still have to practice." Zoe stopped walking a looked at Zuko.

"Who said?" Zoe smirked.

"The Fire Lord." Zuko smirked back.

"And since when I have I listened to authority figures?" Zoe raised her eyebrows. Zoe walked over to Katara.

"What does it say?" Toph asked. Katara read the letter aloud. Afterwards, the group was silent, each one of them pondering Iroh's words. There was a moment of silence. Not one of the awkward silences but a thoughtful one. Like you had so much to say, but you weren't sure what to say first. Then a servant ran up to Zoe.

"Message for you." The servant gave Zoe the letter and then scurried off. Zoe unfolded the letter very carefully. Zoe's eyes scanned the page. Zoe's eyes widened.

"No." Zoe whispered. Zoe stood there for a moment and then bolted out of the hallway. Ran into her room and locked the door. Zoe sat down and screamed. Zoe screamed until her voice was hoarse, and cried until she cried herself dry. Zoe looked at Nate's picture and the tears fell down her face.