Avatar Zuko

Epilogue

One year after Zuko had defeated his father, all was well.

Okay, not perfect but certainly better. Much, much better than it had been before. There was no one thing that could fix the entire world, it appeared, but Ozai going to prison was the first step- and many others had been taken too.

The White Lotus (long story) had helped them finish off the Fire Nation army, before taking over their bases so they couldn't regroup to make a plan. Only extremely high officials were arrested, everyone else given a blank slate to work from.

Suki and the other prisoners of war were freed within two days, and Zuko had almost thrown up at the gooey look on Toph’s face when the two girls hugged. If that was how she felt every time she sensed him and Sokka together then no wonder she was always so cranky. Still… It was nice to see his friends happy.

His uncle had been named as the Prince’s regent until he was twenty one, about a week after they'd imprisoned Ozai. Really Zuko was old enough to start ruling straight away, but everyone involved (especially Iroh) thought he could do with a break. They still saw each other often, after their tearful reunion, when Zuko visited his home- but mostly they conversed through letters now. Somehow, his uncle always had the more interesting tales; national tea day and a harrowing Pai Sho game against Hakoda.

Mai and Ty Lee got engaged. Zuko had thought it a little sudden, but apparently they'd been secretly dating ever since they were fourteen. He applauded their secrecy since him and Sokka got found out after barely a week. Both girls were travelling around a little before their wedding, and then after their planned honeymoon in the Northern Water Tribe they had plans to join the Kyoshi Warriors. After finding this out, Sokka had told him that Ozai should have been less sexist, since then he could have had the Kyoshi Warriors to back him up- who would've definitely beat their little group.

Azula was… Still Azula, even after everything. Zuko liked to think he would've pardoned her crimes just for her age, even without her moment of guilt, but she still needed help. He'd put her in a hospital indefinitely, a good one in the Earth Kingdom that had lots of room and nice furniture. She complained about it constantly in their letters and when he visited, but Zuko could tell she was happier than when she was at their father’s side. The first few months had been rough, yes, but she'd made some good progress. The doctors were thinking she could be discharged by the time she was eighteen, though they strongly discouraged taking her back to the Palace. You know, because of all the trauma.

Toph left practically straight after Iroh had been named regent, back to the Earth Kingdom. Katara and Aang had offered to join her but she wanted some time to herself, perhaps to reconnect with her family or to regain her title as the Earth Rumble champion. She'd also mentioned something about breaking down Ba Sing Se’s walls, which Zuko really hoped she was kidding about. If not he might get called in to fight her and, somehow even though he was the Avatar, he figured that would go pretty poorly for him.

Speaking of the Earth Kingdom, it was now completely independent. All troops had been ordered out and all prisoners returned. Of course, every leader except King Bumi and King Kuei didn't trust the Fire Nation, which was a bit of an issue since the Avatar, ‘Peace Keeper of all Nations’ was destined to rule over it. On the bright side, they all adored Aang and his airbending, and were much more open to negotiations including him… Which meant Aang had been stuck there for the last six months.

Apparently he didn't mind so much though. In his letters it seemed he and Katara were having fun on their days off, Katara joining a hospital to teach the swampbenders healing magic so that the Earth citizens could benefit. The pair were growing closer, and even Katara had admitted last time they saw each other that she was becoming more… Interested, in the prospect of dating the airbender.

Which brings it back to Zuko and Sokka, who had been living together happily on the road for a while. They visited the Southern Water Tribe with Katara and Aang eight months back, before the four split in two. Sokka wanted to travel a bit more in order to set up trade routes for his tribe, since foreign relations could help get it back on its feet. Zuko sort of needed to travel more anyway so he could actually finish his Avatar training, since according to Aang he'd ‘never even properly connected with the spirit realm’. By that point Zuko had found a dragon (another long story) so travel was no big issue, and the two were free to go wherever- since the Avatar had the free reign to go anywhere, even if the Fireprince did not. Besides, they'd been sneaking around for months anyway before Ozai had been defeated.

There had been rough patches along the way. Sometimes Zuko still woke up from a nightmare screaming, and sometimes Sokka did too. They'd argued and fought and slept on separate sides of the saddle occasionally too. But without the war there to put pressure on them, the two could breathe- enjoy a normal relationship where neither felt ten minutes away from death at any given moment. It was relaxing to say the least.

Zuko remembered back only, what? Twenty months ago? Scared and alone, sneaking off his ship to try and prove he wasn't the Avatar. Ironic, really, since being the Avatar ended up being the catalyst for his new, much better life.

He didn't regret leaving that boat one bit.