A/N: Just a little something to tie up loose ends.

Epilogue

A few days had passed since the destruction of Sozin's Comet, time spent by both sides mourning their respective losses. But there was still work to be done for Aang and the others, or else risk prolonging the war even longer. The Fire Lord's throne was vacant once again, and Azula had to claim it before any ambitious nobles considered taking it for themselves.

Accompanied by Ty Lee, Sokka, and Suki, the princess took Anya back to the Fire Nation. The journey was quick and quiet, but felt tediously long in uncomfortable silence. It wasn't the lingering distrust of Azula that kept them quiet, but the eerily still faceless body strapped into the saddle. Sokka couldn't bear to look at him, not while he still felt guilty for the fate of the former Fire Lord Zuko.

As Anya flew over the Fire Nation the skies were quiet, not a single burning boulder from a catapult could be seen. Even in the middle of the day over the capital there was no sign of any retaliation, despite the very real possibility of messenger hawks beating the bison here. Anya slowly descended towards the palace, yet there was still no response to their presence.

"Something's wrong down there," Azula said.

"Should we turn around?" Ty Lee asked.

"No," Azula answered. She kept her eyes open for any sign of trouble. "Just be ready for anything."

After a gentle descent Anya landed in front of the palace, which appeared to be completely deserted. One by one the group climbed out of the saddle, except for Suki to guard the near lifeless body of Zuko. When the three approached the palace doors they were opened from the other side, revealing the glorious interior once they walked inside. However, the décor was not how Azula remembered it.

"Is it supposed to look like this?" Sokka asked.

The large interior still had the dark metal walls Azula knew, along with various tapestries showing the Fire Nation insignia as well as other artwork on the walls. However someone had placed new smaller tapestries over the insignias, a white flower on an indigo background. Azula recognized the kind of flower on the new tapestries, and she couldn't help but laugh.

"What's so funny?" Ty Lee asked.

After getting her laughs under control Azula shook her head and answered. "So this is what the old man was planning all this time."

Sokka raised one eyebrow at that comment. "So this is not a trap?"

Azula ignored him and led the way through the palace, where there continued to be no resistance to their passing. The occasional servant was seen performing essential tasks, but not one said a word. More of the same flower tapestries were spaced along the hallways under every lamp, which had Sokka and Ty Lee getting more curious about what it meant. All too soon they reached Azula's destination, pulling back a curtain to enter the throne room.

"You've really outdone yourself," Azula said on entry. Inside she saw someone occupying the throne, as well as with a group of old people standing guard in front of it. "Taking the palace by force when its defenses are strongest, but I suppose that's to be expected from the Dragon of the West."

Sitting on the throne Iroh took a sip of tea before putting down the cup, then stood up and watched Azula approach. "It wasn't difficult as you'd think. There were many sympathizers here that missed my way of running things."

Meanwhile Sokka entered and took a look around, in particular around Iroh. "Who is this guy?"

"Who is that guy?" Iroh asked.

"One of the Avatar's companions," Azula answered.

"I could have sworn his Water Tribe companion was a girl," Iroh said.

"That'd be my sister," Sokka corrected.

"Ah," Iroh said.

Azula changed the subject by holding up the Fire Lord headpiece. "I suppose now you'll be wanting an Agni Kai to see who gets to rule?"

There was a pause as Iroh seemed to consider that, but it ended when he shrugged. "Not really. At my age it would only delay your eventual reign. I'd rather retire peacefully and give advice when needed."

"Even after everything?" Azula asked.

"Especially after everything," Iroh answered. "Someone has to keep you from burning the place down."

"Fair enough," Azula conceded.

Sokka politely raised his hand. "So are we done here?"

"Almost," Azula said. She made the short walk up to the throne, stopping in front of her uncle. Iroh gently nodded and stepped aside, letting Azula take the throne and sit in it. From there Azula looked at Sokka, liking the new perspective. "You'll have your peace right after my coronation."

"Sounds like a plan," Sokka said.

On the other side of the world work was already underway rebuilding Ba Sing Se, utilizing the tools currently at the citizens' disposal. Avatar Aang was using earthbending to raise a set of stone walls to build a new house for a dislocated family, and he finished the construction by earthbending several stone slabs into position for a roof. The finished house was crude and bare inside, but sufficient for immediate shelter. This house joined a row of others just like it in the lower ring, all built by earthbenders for the people of the city.

"Next," Aang said. He watched a family of four enter the stone house he just finished building, only to be replaced by another displaced family waiting their turn. So he got back to work earthbending another stone house into shape, taking his time to make sure it was done right.

When the construction was half complete Aang was interrupted by Appa landing next to him, followed by Katara climbing off the saddle. "Hey."

"How are things looking around the city?" Aang asked.

"Better than they were," Katara answered. "There are still a few fires left, but the Dai Li have them contained."

A few groans and complaints were heard from nearby civilians, which Aang had no trouble understanding. "Who'd have thought that Toph could keep them under control?"

"Maybe honest work is a welcome change of pace for them," Katara guessed.

"Yeah," Aang said. "There's plenty of it to go around."

"More than just rebuilding homes," Katara said, waving an arm at the stone houses. "This city still doesn't have a new leader."

"And what do you expect me to do about that?" Aang asked.

"Well you are the Avatar," Katara said. "Isn't this the kind of thing you're supposed to sort out?"

Aang earthbended a stone bench and sat down on it. "Even if I knew what I could do, I'm not sure if I should do it. I just don't know what this city needs in a leader."

Katara sat down next to Aang. "Can't you ask a past life for advice?"

"I don't think I can rely on them," Aang answered. "Avatar Kyoshi propped up the line of Earth Kings, but that only delayed their downfall a couple of centuries. I'm thinking that Kyoshi made a mistake."

"That's not all of it, isn't it?" Katara asked.

"Yeah," Aang admitted. "This city is about as different from the air temples as anyplace could get. I'm not really qualified to have a say in who gets to lead it."

"I see," Katara muttered. "Well then, who does get a say?"

"The people who live here," Aang answered. "They deserve to choose their own leader."

"Then I guess we'll just have to wait and see who they pick," Katara said. She stood up and offered her hand to Aang. "Whatever happens, we'll find a way to get through it."

Aang nodded, and then took Katara's hand to let her help him up. "But for now, we'd better get back to work."

The months ahead passed by all too quickly, consumed by the work of establishing a new world order. Another new Fire Lord took command of the Fire Nation, and immediately decreed that all soldiers were to return home immediately. The war had gone on for far too long, and deserved to be ended after the same celestial event used to start it. Now known as the Hundred Year War, the century of fighting was finally coming to an end.

While Fire Lord Azula sorted out her nation's internal politics, the united Water Tribe started their own rebuilding. Now it was the South's turn to build in the North, resurrecting a frozen city from the ruins of the North Pole. Under the leadership of Chief Hakoda the northern city gradually began to live again, populated by returning refugees and southern civilians providing assistance. Even some of the swampbenders lent a hand, even if they had to forego their usual attire to survive in the cold.

Meanwhile the Fire Nation colonies were left to settle their own affairs, each achieving autonomy when the soldiers were withdrawn. The westernmost colonies established new ties with the Fire Nation, the easternmost colonies rejoined the Earth Kingdom, and the colonies in the middle banded together in rejecting both nations. Instead those colonies formed their own nation, one to fill the void left by the long gone Air Nomads.

And once the world was back on track for peace, Avatar Aang spent his time seeking out those with the potential for airbending. More wild sky bison were found in the uncharted lands and brought into the wider world, so that people could once again watch and learn from the original airbenders. Aang had high hopes for his search, especially after discovering the airbender in Ty Lee. That proof of concept convinced Aang that the Air Nomads could live again, now that the world could welcome them back.

The road ahead would not be easy, but it would be worth it.

A/N: Alright, confession time. It's a great relief to have this story done and over with, so much that I have decided to not write a sequel. Originally Aang was going to die at the end of Sozin's Comet so that Korra could be born prematurely, but I've come to realize that such a sequel is not worth doing. There are already some stories out there involving an early Korra, and those aren't tied down by an existing story's continuity. So I'm letting this story end here with a happy ending.