"What?.."
The little stone, which Aang was twirling with the help of air, fell out of his fingers.
"I said, I just fell out with the news that my sister is messing with Zuko!" future Southern Water Tribe chieftain said.
"Sokka, shut up!" Katara hissed and looked at the monk with regret.
"What?! I'm the only person here, who found out about this for the first time?! Aang, say!"
"Yeah, it was... suddenly." he demaged.
"Damn it, we're running from this firejerk last year and now... Ah, sorry Fire Lord. Should I take responsibility for my word's? Or are you going to blow us up in this wonderful tea shop? You're such a bully!" with these words, Sokka slapped him on the back with his hand with all his might.
Zuko smiled in silence and continued to drink tea. He doesn't need to join the general conversation.
"My nephew would never do such a thing!" Iroh exclaimed fervently.
"Exactly, you must remember that he's a high person now, or you may accidentally lose your head!" Toph said and all laughed. Iroh has smiled. He's nephew don't need his support anymore.
In all this general merriment, no one noticed how the monk had left the room.
Not much time has passed since the end of the Hundred Years' War. After battle with Fire Lord Ozai Aang very tired. Monk didn't even think that it would take so much effort. He was only can to finding power inside him for to be on ceremony of coronation a new Fire Lord. He know that this moment is very important for Zuko. Avatar was the object of all attention, of course, but Zuko didn't minded. But all next week avatar was only lain in his room.
Zuko didn't let anyone into the avatar room, and Aang was thankfull him for that. He wanted to see his friends for sure, but not now. But the Fire Lord himself often visited him. They knowing each other better thanks to that. During these conversations, Zuko would often mention the project, without revealing what it was. He says that will be surprise for him. The only thing he said was that it would definitely help him bring the nations together.
Now all is changed. Aang don't feel to myself part of team anymore. Everyone started their own way.
Zuko and Katara are dating now... as it turns out. Of course, Aang guessed this, but he studiously rejected that. Nevertheless, he will have to accept this news, no matter how much he wants to...
However, the new Fire Lord is currently quite busy and cannot spare the time to focus on his beloved, but Katara understood everything. She has problem too. The Waterbender helped her Father to install the Southern Water Tribe. Sokka and Suki want to married and now they think where they will creature their family.
And Toph... She has a grandiose plans. She want to open the school, where she will teach a new metallbendering. And she even said that all metallbenders will take over the world. Well, she a genius earthbender, so it may be reality.
Aang breathed in a light breeze, watching the sun slowly sink into the water surface... So beautiful sunset...
"Aang!"
Her voice has turned Aang insides upside down.
"Aang, what are you doing here? Everyone is worried about you..."
His heart began to beat faster.
He'll be fine. He's has ended the Hundred Years' War, learned all elements, defeated the Firebending master, Phoenix King Ozai...
"I wanted to tell you about that, but time not coming..."
...He's the avatar.
"It's nothing, Katara. I'm glad for you two, guys." he has smiling brightly.
"Really?" she was even confused.
"Yup!"
Katara let out a sigh of relif and walked over to the balcony railing. They stood there in silence for a while.
"You know..." waterbender finally broke the silence, "you're a great man."
"Yes, I know that I am an avatar." he laughed softly in response.
"No, is not that, what I mean." Katara objected, "You're really grown up. You know... I'm never lost hope that this terrible war will ended up, and you just did it. I was be worrying when I seeing you in the first time, in iceberg, but I was wrong." The girl looked at her hands distantly. "You has learning waterbendering so fast..."
"I have a great teacher."
"But you surpassed me." she pretended to frown and they both laughed.
"You're a really amazing man, who I have ever met. You're changed world, me, Sokka, Toph, and... Zuko. I'm very proud of meeting with you."
With thesе words she hugged him softly. Aang is perplexed and hugged her undecided in response for a little. Her hairs smell so pleasant...
"Katara you may go. I'll be here." Aang gently pulled away and smiled awkwardly.
She nodded and began walking back to the others.
Some time later, the flying lemur has land on Aang's shoulder. He bored to playing with stone, which even not flying.
"What is it Momo? Do you think we're redundant here too?.."
In the evening monk made his way to his bison. Aang carefully put the seat on the animal and put his few belongings. Bison yawned in displeasure, as his sweet sleep was so rudely interrupted.
"I know Appa, you want to stay here, but we're must go..."
"Why are you must go?" a voice came from behind him.
All his friends standing behind him. Aang had no idea how he'd been trapped.
"I says you that Twinkletoes was up to something." Beifong said.
Oh, exactly.
"We're waiting your explanation." Sokka said crossing his arms over the chest.
"Sorry, guys, I'm just..." he did not expect that they would catch him so quickly.
"Are you kidding?!" Sokka burned. " You're didn't saying us nothing and you're just leaving?!"
"Sorry." Aang couldn't say anything.
"We're not mad on you, but it's just not nice to do that..." Suki said.
"Suki, you must to be my side!.. I'm very mad on him!"
"Everything's fine." Zuko said. "You did what you had to do and more. Now, you deserve some time to yourself."
"Sokka, cease." Katara let the hand of Zuko and walked over to the monk. "Just be okay, okay? Don't make us worry."
"Okay, Katara..."
"I nothing say, okay? I'm still angry with you." Sokka said and turned away pointedly, but all knowing that he will missed too.
"Twinkletoes, one minute." Toph said and went in one direction from others. Aang had no choice but to follow her.
"Toph what do you want from me..?"
"And now you telling me all truth."
"What? What are you talking about?" Aang really didn't understand anything.
"What kind of person are you! I'm blind, but not stupid. You can fool others, but not me. And don't lie me! I'm wait."
He let out a sigh. How could he possibly fool someone who could sense vibrations in the ground?
"It's not because of Katara. I just want to find peace within myself. And training my earthstyle... Don't forget that I'm an earthbender too. I need practice. Besides, I've wanted to for a long time..."
"Okay, okay, that's enough." Toph gave up and rubbed the bridge of his nose tiredly. "You may go. But remember, you never hide from me, because I can get you off the ground at any moment!"
"Yeah, I know it."
Aang quickly began to return back. Toph continued to stand in place, follow him with her eyes.
"Tsk, you are so stupid, Twinkletoes."
After listening to the numerous wishes of his frends once again, Aang say goodbye to them.
"Alright. Appa, yip, yip!"
The flying bison rose into the air. Aang's friends were getting further and further away from him.
He didn't know, to expect from this trip, but one he knowing nearly.
The adventure is starting!