Dash paced around in his room, struggling with the clasp of his Fire Nation robes. He couldn't shake his nerves. Even though he wasn't being crowned today, his ascension to the throne was being announced. He wasn't sure how it would go over with the Fire Nation. An airbender, the Firelord? Someone who wasn't even born in the Fire Nation? It was unheard of.

At least now he knew that one non-bender for sure had been crowned Firelord. On their return to the palace, Mike and Sulley had found Randall blubbering to everyone about how Syndrome had taken his firebending because Syndrome wasn't actually a bender himself. But Syndrome had hidden it from everyone during his reign, so maybe it didn't count. Dash wondered if Mirage even knew.

He also wondered if that was part of the reason Syndrome was so cruel. Dash imagined Syndrome's father had probably forced him to hide his true identity as a non-bender, to protect the Fire Nation's image. Deep down, Syndrome was probably just that same insecure little boy lashing out at the world. Of course, that didn't excuse any of Syndrome's awfulness, but it maybe explained it a little bit.

Violet walked in with Jack-Jack. "Hey, Dash. How are you?"

"Fine," he lied. He fiddled with the clasp some more, then gave up. "Ugh!"

Violet smiled and shook her head. "Let me help." She helped him close the clasp, and straightened out the robes. She brushed his hair back. Just like Mirage used to do.

He wondered what Mirage would think of him if she could see him now. If she knew he'd run away to help Violet defeat Syndrome. If she knew he was going to be Firelord someday. He hoped she would be proud.

"The ceremony's about to start," Violet said. "Come on." He followed her out of the room and outside.

Sulley was standing on the big stage. Mike stood next to him. Behind him stood Ian, Barley, Alberto, Luca, Woody, and Buzz. A massive crowd watched. Thousands of people from the Earth Kingdom and both Water Tribes were there. Violet gulped.

Violet, Dash, and Jack-Jack joined the others onstage. Violet stood next to Alberto. She didn't look at him. That would make her want to talk about them, their kiss, everything they hadn't discussed yet.

Sulley addressed the crowd. "Thanks to the bravery of these eight people, Firelord Syndrome has been defeated. Dash will be your new Firelord."

Dash stepped forward and waved awkwardly. He waited for the crowd to panic or boo him. Instead, there was a round of applause. He looked around, a bit stunned.

His gaze landed on the Fire Sages, the extremely traditional religious and ceremonial council of the Fire Nation. They were whispering amongst themselves. That didn't seem good. But at least the people accepted him.

"I'll be ruling as his regent until he comes of age," Sulley said.

One of the Fire Sages stepped forward, carrying the crown. Sulley bowed. The Fire Sage placed the crown on his head, pinning it through his hair.

Sulley turned to the crowd. "I declare this war officially over!"

The crowd cheered.

With that, the ceremony was over. People began crowding onto the stage to talk to them.

Celia ran to Mike. "Googly-bear!"

"Schmoopsie-poo!" Mike cried. He kissed her. Locks of her long hair surrounded him like snakes.

A woman walked through the crowd. Ian and Barley gasped. It was Laurel. She looked tired and a bit shaken, but it was her. The real her, without the unsettling, brainwashed smile.

"Mom?" Ian said hopefully.

Her face lit up when she saw them. "Boys!"

"Mom!" They ran to her and hugged her. She held them tightly. Ian sobbed, unable to contain his overwhelming joy.

Laurel kissed the tops of their heads. She was crying too. "I'm so sorry, boys."

Barley kissed her cheek. "It's not your fault. And you're back now. That's what matters."

"What did I miss?" Laurel asked.

"We've just been surviving. One day at a time," Barley said. "Together." He put his arm around Ian.

"I was in good hands," Ian said. "Barley got a job and took care of everything."

Laurel looked at Barley. "You took care of your brother?"

"Of course I did," Barley said.

She kissed his cheek.

Luca smiled watching them. Then he saw two figures pushing their way through the crowd. His own parents, running toward him with their arms open.

"Mom! Dad!" He ran to them and sank into their arms. His mother's arms locked around him like she would never let him go. For once, he didn't mind.

"We thought…we thought you'd…" Daniela couldn't get the words out.

"I'm fine, Mom," Luca said. "That play wasn't very accurate. I mean, some of it was, but for the most part…"

"Was it true, what you did at the North Pole?" Daniela asked.

Luca nodded. He lowered his head, waiting for her to scold him. "I'm sorry, Mom. I know it was dangerous, and—"

Daniela cut him off. "Honey, that was amazing! And I'm so proud of you, and I am so mad at you! And you must promise never to do that again!" She broke down into loud sobs.

He hugged her. "I love you too, Mom."

"Come home now," she said.

Luca nodded, trying not to seem too dejected. "Yes, Mom."

"Actually, he's not," Alberto interrupted.

They all looked at him.

"What?" Daniela said, more confused than upset.

"He's going to go to waterbending school in the North Pole," Alberto said.

Luca stared at him. What was Alberto doing? What about their plans to stay at the South Pole together?

"You have so much talent, and smarts, and you need to use that," Alberto said. "Go become the greatest waterbender this world has ever seen!"

Tears welled up in Luca's eyes. "Really?"

"Of course!"

Luca looked at his parents. "Can I? Please?"

Daniela opened her mouth to protest. They'd just gotten him back. She couldn't lose him again right away. Then she shut it again. Loosening her grip and losing him to school was better than trying to keep control and driving him to run away again.

"He really wants this," Alberto said. "Please. You're smothering him. I know, because I was doing it too." He lowered his head. "You love him, so you don't want him to be miserable. Right?"

Daniela and Lorenzo looked at each other. Lorenzo nodded, almost imperceptibly.

Daniela sighed. "Okay. You…can go."

Luca gasped with excitement. "Thank you! Thank you so much!" He hugged them again.

"Write to us every day, okay?" Daniela said, hugging him fiercely. "Even if it's just to say you're okay."

"I will."

She let him go and smiled sadly.

Luca hugged Alberto. "Thank you, Alberto. You didn't have to do that."

"Are you kidding? You deserve it."

Luca smiled. "And what about you? Will you be okay?"

"Yeah, I think so."

"What are you gonna do?" Luca asked.

"I'm not sure yet. But I'll figure it out." Alberto looked over at Violet, who caught his gaze and blushed.

Several strangers wanted to talk to them about their adventure. Violet was quickly overwhelmed. Alberto and Barley did most of the talking for Luca and Ian, but she found most of the people wanted to talk to her. Everyone wanted to know what it was like being the Avatar's sister, and how it felt being one of the last surviving airbenders.

After a while, she broke away and went inside the palace for some peace and quiet. The door shut behind her, finally dulling some of the noise. She went up the stairs and into one of the bedrooms, then went out onto the balcony. She leaned on the railing, staring out. A minute or so later, someone joined her.

"It's nice up here," Alberto said.

Violet smiled at him. "I had to get away from everyone trying to talk to us."

"Yeah, our adoring fans," Alberto said. "It's weird being famous."

Violet nodded. She wasn't sure she'd ever get used to that. All she'd ever wanted was a quiet existence at the Air Temple.

"Hey, maybe someone will write a good play about us now," Alberto said.

Violet laughed.

They stood there in silence for a few minutes. There was a lot Violet wanted to talk about, but she was enjoying the quiet. It was nice to slow down and just be, after rushing all around the world for the past few months.

"So, are you going back to the South Pole?" she asked finally. "Or the North Pole with Luca?"

"I haven't decided," he said casually. "What about you?"

"I'll probably stay in the Fire Nation with Dash and Jack-Jack," Violet said. She wasn't done rebuilding their bond. They'd only just started. But she wondered what her decision meant for her relationship with Alberto. She didn't want their relationship to end before it even really began.

Alberto looked down, running his finger along the railing. "I could stick around here too."

Violet's heart leapt. "Really?"

"I mean, why not? It's not like I have anywhere else to go."

"I'd like that," Violet said.

Alberto's smile could have outshone the moon. The sight made her stomach flutter. It wasn't a smug grin, or the trembling, vulnerable smile he gave when he was trying not to fall apart. It was a real smile of pure happiness. For her, for their future together.

He inched closer to her until their shoulders were nearly touching. "So, we both made it."

"Yup. I can't believe it."

His smile faltered a little. "I really thought you were gonna…"

"I didn't, though." She took his hand. "Thanks to you." She leaned against him, staring earnestly into his eyes.

He bit his lip. "So, uh, since we're both here, and alive…You said if I came back, I could get another kiss?"

She smiled. "Shut up and kiss me."

He pressed his lips against hers. It was forceful, but not rough. She grabbed his face and pulled him in closer, hungry for more. He wrapped his arms around her waist and leaned her up against the railing. His body was pressed up against hers, and she could feel his heart racing in his chest, almost as fast as hers.

They finally came up for air. Violet sighed contentedly, still holding Alberto's face. Everything was perfect.

She eyed the bed in the room behind them. She didn't want to rush into anything too crazy, but she was down to try some things. "Wanna go inside?"

"I dunno, it's nice out here," Alberto said.

She raised an eyebrow at him, and he realized what she meant.

He grinned. "On second thought, that does sound pretty good."

"That's what I thought." She took him by the hand and led him inside. As the door closed behind them, she realized how relaxed she felt. She felt safe. Secure. It was a nice feeling, after all the stress they'd been under lately.

They sat down on the bed and looked at each other. She wasn't sure where to start. And it didn't look like he did either.

"So what do we do?" she asked.

He leaned closer and nuzzled her neck. "We'll figure it out as we go."

She was on board with that. She pushed him down on the bed and kissed him, eager to explore this new territory.

She wasn't afraid of anything new. The war was over. A new era for her—and the world—could finally begin.