He is in the spirit realm now; spirit in a mortal shell, Earth Kingdom iron knife held in a firebender's fist.

He is the one who has always done the impossible. This will hurt- there is no avoiding that fact. But it needs to be done.

The world needs an Avatar. The world needs a compassionate Fire Sage leading the Fire Nation- he knows, without his presence, Azula can do it. She was always better than him at- everything.

Koh's coils are behind him, now. He stands beneath a tree, raises the knife high-

-And brings it to his throat.

It has been three months, and Azula isn't sure the pain will ever stop. It isn't that she has lost her brother. She never knew him well enough to care if he was there or not. It isn't that she discovered how little her father valued her. She had slowly come to that realization already over the years.

Aang smiles at her, and lowers the Fire Crown into her top knot, Ty Lee, Mai, Katara, Toph, Sokka, the expanded core of 'Team Avatar' standing around her.

She has what she wanted- Fire Lord.

And she has never felt so alone.

"When did you know you were going to die?"

"Azula. Does it matter?"

"...No. Were you ever really my brother?"

The spirit stands, blue mask firmly in place. "I died for you," he says, and leaves her to her dreams.

He kneels in front of Agni, throat tight, remembering all that has come before. Aizu, his sister Karin, the torture- he shudders- the millennia as the Blue Spirit, Zuko, his sister Azula...

"I'm ready," he says. Agni smiles, rests one hand on his head.

"Step into the fire."

It is white. The spirit steps forward, and burns to be reborn.

And it's over. I hope you drop me a line, let me know what you thought of this.

And if you enjoyed this, I am planning another Avatar story for sometime in the future, probably around fall/beginning of winter. Azula centric, and yes, spirits will be involved. Especially the Blue Spirit.