"So…I guess we should survey the full extent of the damage, then…" Suki suggested.

"We don't need to. We already know that Douchelord Ozai burned down miles and miles of land. It's depressing to look at. And I can't even see!"

"Yeah, I'm with on Toph with this one." Sokka said.

"Sorry, but I agree with Suki," Katara said.

"What about you, Zuko? You can't possibly want to go see-"

"I want to know. So that I can punish my father accordingly."

"Then it's settled. You five go, I'll stay up here with Ozai," Aang said. They didn't think to ask him, they figured he would say no.

"Those are a lot of burnt trees, huh, Katara. I can smell the charred wood from here."

"Yeah, Toph. Firelord Ozai really messed things up." Katara said, half to her friend, half to herself.

"You'll be a much better Firelord than your dad, Zuko," Suki assured Zuko, trying to change the negative mood of the conversation.

"Shouldn't be too hard, " Sokka commented. "No offense."

"None taken. He's a horrible man and I have the dishonor of calling him 'Dad.' I try to listen to him for once, and look where it got me. I almost ruined the world. It'll haunt me 'till the spirit world."

"We're here, guys," Toph muttered awkwardly.

"Appa, go farther down!" the bison readily obeyed Katara.

"Wow. I knew the comet gave us firebenders lots of power…but this much? Damn, we really fucked up."

Suki felt something hard hit the back of her head. "Ow!"

"Suki! Did you burn yourself?" Sokka said looking over at the charred remains of what once must have been a beautiful forest.

Suki turned to see what had pelted her, and smiled as she held up the metal object.

"No, Sokka."

"Boomerang came back."

Years Later

And with a discreet slip of his sword under the foot of his master, the teenager pushed it up, successfully knocking the man flat on his back. The younger warrior put his foot on the elder's chest, being careful to apply no pressure so that he wouldn't actually hurt his master. He held the edge of his self-made sword at his master's neck, claiming victory.

"Well done Bumi. You're a master now. I'm so proud!"

"Really? I can't believe it! After all these years of training! Thanks Uncle Sokka! Does this mean I'm ready for…you know, it."

Sokka pondered for a moment, the nodded, with a rare look of solemnity on his face. "Yes, I believe you are."

"Ready for what?" Tenzin piped up from the steps near Air Temple Island's courtyard.

"The greatest weapon ever, baby bro. "

"Yes, Tenzin, this weapon is not just one that is useful for fighting, but a strategic tool, and a symbolic treasure marking a great warrior." Added his uncle. "In fact, let me go up and get it right now. Tenzin, do me a big favor, and gather the rest of your family. Bumi, stay here."

By the time Sokka had come down from the room he and Suki used when they stayed at the island, Tenzin had rounded up his mother, father, sister, and aunt.

Aang's smile was so big Tenzin worried that his face was going to break it two, Katara was blubbering, Kya's reaction was pretty identical to her mother's, and Aunt Suki had tears welling up in her eyes.

"Aang! My baby's grown up so fast! Sokka's really going to give him…the thing!"

"I know sweetie, I know!"

"His aura is the loveliest shade of fuchsia, isn't it, Aunt Suki?" his hippy sister mused dreamily.

"You're right! The color of absolute pride and honor, honey!"

Both of them had been spending way too much time with Aunt Ty Lee.

But Tenzin had to admit, he was curious as to what the great weapon was, considering that his mother and brother referred to the object as 'the thing' and 'it.' All he knew was that it was a great weapon, and nothing else. Was it a sword? No Bumi already had one. A spear? A club? Although he felt genuinely happy for his brother, he was a bit peeved about being the only one in the dark. Even Kya knew! And she was usually too taken with her flowers and 'special plants' to be concerned with anything.

"Guys, what exactly is this-"

"Ssh! It's starting!" his mother whispered excitedly.

Bumi was smiling, standing straight and tall, with his chin up. Quite the improvement from his regular slouch. Uncle Sokka walked up to him. Resting in his two large hands, was a medium sized, squared polished pinewood box, inlaid with mother of pearl and blue quartz crystal. Engraved in the center was the symbol of the Water Tribe. It was small, so it couldn't hold a spear or a club…a dagger, perhaps?

He kneeled in front of the teenage boy, holding the box out in front of him. "From one master to another, my nephew. You have a strong warrior's heart, brave like a tigerdillo, but a mind sharper than any General's."

Bumi took the box from his uncle. He gingerly lifted the lid, to reveal, in all its glory, sitting atop cerulean silk, gleaming as the metal caught the sunlight, a light blue…

…boomerang?

What.

Tenzin looked at his uncle incredulously, then to his family sitting atop the stairs, then to his brother, then back to his uncle. "T-that's it then. A boomerang?"

"Not just a boomerang, son. The boomerang."

"You don't know how many times Boomerang has saved our lives!" his mother chimed in.

"I remember when Sokka lost it on the day of Sozin's Comet. He was so sure it was gone, forever. Then while we were going down to check on how much of the surrounding land was damaged…Boomerang came back."

Boomerang came back.

Boomerang came back.

He saw the wistful look it Suki's eyes when she said those three words.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't know it meant that much. How insensitive of me. I'm really happy for you, Bumi."

Bumi looked at his brother. "Aw…baby bro…I love you!" he said, almost something that sounded like…tenderness, and ran to pull Tenzin into a hug. It was so…Un-Bumi. "And since I love you so much, I'm gonna call Aunt Toph."

"Why?"

"To bend that metal pole out your ass." Bumi said with smirk.

"BUMI! LANGUAGE!"

"Hey, you're the monk, not me, dad."

"Calm down, pops," drawled Kya. "Let Bumi enjoy his Boomerang."

"Actually..." Bumi began. "I'm calling it...

...BUMI-RANG!"

Everybody laughed.