Ch.21 Epilogue

The entire Gaang felt as though a huge weight had been lifted from their shoulders. The first thing Sokka did was take Suki in his arms. "I got so scared for a while there," he said as their eyes met. She kissed him ever so gently on the lips. "So did I," she replied. He released her briefly and turned to Aang. "Thank you so much," he said. Tears of joy streamed down his cheeks. "I can't tell you how much this means to me. I don't think I'll ever be able to repay you for this." Aang embraced him in a hug. "You'll never have to," he replied. "Seeing you two happy and well is payment enough."

As the group stepped outside, the celebration found itself prematurely interrupted. "TOPH BEI FONG!" an angry voice bellowed. General Fong pushed his way through the crowd. "You are coming with me to your parent's house this instant, my wife!" he ordered. Aang began to glow again at hearing this, but Toph placed a single hand on his shoulder. "Settle down, Twinkle-Toes," she said with a grin. "I've got this." If the good general had any inkling of what he'd just triggered, he'd turn around and run away as fast as his legs could carry him.

But alas, Fong did not show that wisdom. Instead he let his arrogance take over. In all fairness, Toph tried to resolve the matter peacefully. "No," she replied. "I am not going anywhere with you." General Fong flew into a rage. "I am an Earth Kingdom General!" he shouted. "And you are my wife, and a wife obeys her husband. Now you will come with me now, or I shall take you by force." If not for Toph blocking the charge, the rest of the group would have bum rushed him on the spot.

A cocky grin made it's way across the young earthbender's face. "I would love to see you try to take me by force," she dared. Like clockwork, Fong unwisely took the bait. He took his stance, and stamped the ground, intending to imprison his quarry. To the entire group's surprise, he actually succeeded. Or so it seemed. Toph laughed. "You call this a prison?" Toph mocked, before effortlessly breaking out. Fong couldn't believe what he'd just seen. "Now, what was it you said on the train?" Toph asked, her tone suddenly menacing. "Something about being superior to me because I'm blind?"

Before the general could answer, she launched him like a ping pong ball into the air. As soon as he hit the ground, she launched him again. This continued for about five minutes, Toph's friends cringing every time he hit the ground. Finally she decided he'd had enough. She stood over his broken, crumpled form with a smile on her face. "If I've said it once, I've said it 1000 times," she said with a grin. "I am the greatest earthbender in the world! And don't you forget it, Dunderhead!" In emphasis of this, she launched him one last time. "Consider this a divorce," she quiped.

4 months later

Hakoda smiled poudly as his son stood before him. Sokka was joined by Aang and Zuko. Katara and Toph waited expectantly to Hakoda's left. The Kyoshi Warriors, Ty Lee, Mai and the rest of the Southern Water Tribe filled the audience. Finally, the moment of truth had arrived. Suki stepped forward, clad in the finest Earth Kingdom Green dress Sokka had ever seen. He could not believe her beauty, as the dress accented her form perfectly. As a nod to her heritage, she wore the facepaint of her homeland. To round everything out, she wore a betrothal necklace that Sokka had tirelessly carved. Sokka clutched the necklace she'd made for him with a smile.

In a few moments, Suki stood side by side with Sokka. They turned to face the Chief of the Southern water tribe, and Suki's future Father in Law. "It is with great pride that I look on you here today," Hakoda said. He seemed overcome in his emotions as he presided over the ceremony. "Sokka, you have come very far in a very short period of time. I know you will handle the burden of Chief well when the time comes," he continued. He seemed to pause for a brief moment.

Finally, he continued. "But enough of that. I take it no one objects to this union?" he questioned. Predictably, no objection was forthcoming. In fact it was thought by most that this moment was long overdue. "Very well, then," Hakoda said. "It is my pleasure to announce Sokka and Suki as man and wife. May their union be blessed by the Moon and Ocean Spirits, and may they find many years of happiness by each other's side." Sokka and Suki were visibly moved by his words. Finally, Ty Lee couldn't hold her happiness in anymore. "So kiss already!" she yelled. The happy couple needed no further prompting.

Aang smiled to himself. To prevent anything like this from ever happening again in the future, the council of world leaders was dissolved. The world would attempt to go back to the way it was before the Hundred Year War started, with each nation coexisting relatively peacefully and the Avatar resolving conflicts.

6 months later

Aang had been working on it painstakingly for the last half of the year. It was finally done. Suki had relocated to the South Pole, leaving Ty Lee in charge on Kyoshi. They recieved regular updates via messenger hawk, but for the most part there was no trouble. The entire group had come for a great feast at Chief Hakoda's invitation, however, so Ty Lee was there at the moment. "I have an announcement to make," Hakoda said as they took their places at the table. "Effective at the end of the year, I am stepping down as the chief of the Southern Water Tribe," Hakoda said, much to the amazement of his guests. "I have asked you here to announce who will succeed me."

This of course was a formality, but even so Sokka began to feel overwhelmed. "Sokka, you are more than ready to lead this tribe into the future. At that time, you will be known as Chief Sokka," he said. Sokka fumbled for words as the weight of the announcement sank in. "I... I'm honored. I promise I won't let you down, father," Sokka said, bowing in respect. Aang decided it was time. "I don't want to steal your thunder, Chief Hakoda," he began, "but I have an announcement as well."

Hakoda took no offense. "By all means Avatar Aang, the floor is yours," he replied. Aang nodded. "Actually, it's more of a question." The entire room watched in silent happiness as Aang made his way to Katara. He kneeled before her, a smile on his face. "We've known each other a long time, and I feel that in you, I have found my centre." Katara felt joy in her heart, and that feeling got larger as he showed her the betrothal necklace.

"Katara of the Southern Water Tribe, will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?" Aang asked. Katara did not think twice. "Of course I will," she answered. Aang fumbled slightly as he put the necklace around her neck. She held her mother's necklace close to her heart as he did so. She looked forward to the day she could pass it down to a daughter, as her mother had passed it down to her. "Well, this is a happy day indeed," Hakoda said as the meal began.

The End

Author's note: Wow, what a journey this story has been. I want to take this time to personally thank everyone who read, reviewed, favorited and followed this story. I never thought it would get this big, and you are the reason I'm in this business! I hope you will continue to read stories I have coming out, because if you've seen my profile, I have quite the list! Stay tuned, Same Bat time, Same Bat Channel! LOL I couldn't resist that one!