Katara smiled at the spirit of the Painted Lady that hovered a few feet away from her. "You are welcome. I'm just glad to do my part." Katara also loved doing her own part.
The Painted Lady nodded but weariness and stress shown in what showed of her eyes. "Your part is much bigger than you know. It may be difficult but you have your choice. The Spirit World is dividing." The Painted Lady's words shocked Katara,
"What?!"
"Twee and La are at odds. Twee does not think that the Darkest Day should happen but La is all for it. Twee is stubborn and will not give up without a fight. Already, sides are being chosen. But there is a distinct possibility that the Darkest Day will still not happen. Your plan may not be successful."
"How am I supposed to help? Am I supposed to help Yue in the Spirit World or something?" Katara wanted to know. Badly.
The Painted Lady laughed a bit. "No, you are not able to. The Avatar will be talked to by Avatar Roku, he is the only one who can help. But you, you will have another role. But for this to be realized, you must become one with the past and embrace it in your heart!" She threw her arms up into the air as a blue power appeared on them. The mist shifted around them and Katara felt like she was spinning.
Katara automatically closed her eyes and when she opened them again, a startled yelp came from her mouth. Katara was standing next to the Painted Lady and they were floating midair. "What the….!"
"Hush." The Painted Lady said. "You must learn to watch and listen."
Katara looked down and saw that they were hovering over the Fire Nation's capital. It was still late but you could just see the beginning of the first rays of sun coming over the horizon. But then some movement in a nearby window. Her surroundings seemed to move on their own and Katara found herself alone in the room. On the bed was an older man and next to him stood and beautiful woman.
"My Lady, why have you chosen to come?" the older man said.
"Because you wish it, my Lord." Unseen to the old man, who was now facing the other direction, the woman rubbed something on her teeth, gums, and lips.
The man pulled her towards himself and kissed her. Suddenly, his body jerked. "What have you done to me?" he rasped out.
"There was some blue teeth in your wine tonight. I put blackroot on my mouth to bring its effects to the fullest. By daybreak, you shall be dead."
The old man fell backwards onto the bed, not moving any longer. The woman made it look like he had died in his sleep. "Ursa, you will not be welcomed here. You will be killed." he rasped as she forced him to write something.
"Do you not think that I know that, Azulon?" Ursa said before running out of the room, leaving the paper by the bed.
The scene switched again. Katara saw the woman, Ursa, standing over someone, talking. The next thing she saw was Ursa standing in front of a man. Tears streamed down her eyes as Fire licked out from the other man's fingers. Katara gasped and closed her eyes.
"Katara, you must learn to watch." The Painted Lady's voice said.
Katara opened her eyes and saw Ursa again. She was traveling and saw some sick people. She tried to help the best she could but nothing seemed to help. Later on, in a dark forest, Ursa found a shrine. The writings spoke of a Spirit that went around helping the sick and the poor. Ursa called out to the Spirit, asking them to let her help as well. It did, giving her powers that no human, except for the Avatar, could imagine.
One more scene showed. One of Ursa putting on the mask of the Painted Lady. Then everything went dark and Katara found herself standing in front of the lake once more. "You are Ursa. You became the Painted Lady."
Ursa nodded. "Yes." Ursa also sighed. "But it had side effects. As time went on, I became less and less human. When I finally surrendered to the Spirit world, they explained. It was because I wasn't a bender. They also hold inhuman qualities and were able to take the strain of healing. But, in the Human World, in just those five years, I had become a legend in the poor Fire Nation towns."
Katara understood. "You want me to become you?" she guessed.
Ursa smiled and nodded. "You have been dealt a hand of fate. It is your destiny to become the next Painted Lady. Will you do it?"
Katara closed her eyes. It would give her a chance to help and they would need to come up with a new plan since the invasion/ Darkest Day plan might not work. "I'll do it."
"And now it begins."