A/N: This is sort of a new style for me, just wanted to give it a try. I did enjoy this particular AU universe, and may write a sequel that's more of a story and not just a one-shot, but I'm not sure, so for now we'll call this piece complete :) If that changes, I'll let you guys know.
Also, this story has very little root in actual legend- just throwing that out there.
Blue War Paint
Come, huddle around the fire and I'll tell you a story. No, Sokka, not there- you'll burn your parka. Katara, I'm handling it, don't boss your brother around. Now-
Oh? A third? Well, I suppose you can listen, too. Katara, don't pester the poor soul, the child only just got here. Although… I haven't seen you around before. Are you new? Oh, no need to shy away! It doesn't matter, forget I asked. I tell stories for the sake of telling, I leave the audience in the hands of the gods- Sokka, I saw you roll your eyes. Be respectful.
Now, on to the story! Today, I will tell you the story of the Blue Spirit and the Painted Lady. Don't be ridiculous Sokka, of course spirits have stories. You just haven't heard theirs yet. Now hush, and listen…
Long ago, the spirits were more involved in our world than the gods. They did not roam free or stay in the spirit world as they do today- but that is another story. Back then, spirits served no one but themselves, and rarely bowed to anyone's will, not even that of the Avatar.
One such spirit was the Blue Spirit. He was something of an imp, traveling far and wide and leaving a trail of trouble. He was not by nature a cruel soul, simply an unsettled one, and he often distracted himself through pranks and annoyances. He was renowned for being hard to trace and impossible to talk to, though no one knew why.
One day he tried to steal from a large building of which he did not know the name, as spirits in those days rarely concerned themselves with the language of men. When he did, however, he was stopped by a woman in a misty veil and covered in red marking, each representing a life saved. When she spoke his language, the Blue Spirit realized she was a spirit as well.
She called herself the Painted Lady, and was one of the few who took pity on the mortals and did what she could to ease their suffering and ailments. Her help was limited, as she was a minor spirit and not a god, but it was better than nothing and she had saved many lives. She told the Blue Spirit that he was stealing from a healing center and must return what he'd taken, for the people were in need of those supplies.
The Blue Spirit refused (yes, Katara, I know that's not very nice. Hush.) and disappeared into the night. Furious, the Painted Lady cursed him, saying that in his day of need those closest to him would turn away and leave him in misery. The Blue Spirit heard her curse, but was unconcerned, for none were close to him.
Little did they know, a third had heard her curse and was gleeful of the Painted Lady's weakness in temper, for such a curse was just the opening that he needed. He was called Shinigami, and had hated the Blue Spirit for a long time as he had once stolen from him, but had never been able to find the clever crook. Now, however, he had an excuse to call higher powers into play.
Shinigami went to the council of gods and cried that the spirits were attacking each other, and the mortal world was soon to be in peril. The council of gods had no great concern for the mortals, but it was through their world that they had come to exist, so they agreed to lend Shinigami their power so that he might rid the world of such troublesome spirits.
Now Shinigami had the power of a god and could track the Blue Spirit, who ran in fear of anyone who could follow him for shadows had been his sanctuary for many years. With no one to turn to, the Blue Spirit ran to the Painted Lady and begged for her help.
Many years had passed since the Painted Lady had last seen the Blue Spirit, but she remembered her curse was an ashamed clarity and regretted placing it. She, too, could feel the presence of a god nearby, and agreed to help the Blue Spirit in a desperate attempt to combat her own curse.
The pair fled, and with the Painted Lady's help the Blue Spirit was able to vanish. For years they led lives on the run, and to the surprise of both, fell deeply in love. (Sokka, don't stick your tongue out, for gods' sake child.)
Shinigami knew he had been thwarted and was furious, so he started trapping any spirit with his new power, and locked them up in an enormous cage in the name of cleansing the world. When he finally had all of them (all but two, that is) he challenged the Blue Spirit, claiming he would release them if the Blue Spirit turned himself in.
The Blue Spirit did not want to challenge Shinigami, for he was sure to lose, but he felt it was the only way to redeem himself to the people he'd hurt. So one night, when the Painted Lady was asleep, he snuck away and met Shinigami.
The Blue Spirit was very cunning and quick, but he was not stronger than a god, and the battle quickly took Shinigami's side. Just as the sun rose, Shinigami struck a fatal blow to the Blue Spirit, who died alone and in agony, just as the curse had said he would.
The Painted Lady felt the fulfillment of her curse and woke, crying and full of self-loathing for she knew it meant she had failed. She ran to the clearing and found it empty, except for a gilded cage and the lifeless form of the Blue Spirit, still and covered in burns.
In horror of what she had done and in agony of her loss, she took the Blue Spirit's form to the council of gods. She told them what had happened and begged to follow the Blue Spirit into death.
The council was deeply moved by the sight of the broken healer and regretted their nearsightedness in trusting Shinigami. They stripped him of his power and locked him in his own gilded cage, hiding it away where he could never escape.
Then they decided to reward the spirits who'd exposed Shinigami's true nature. They created a realm where spirits could hide, should such an event ever occur again (it is called the Spirit World now) and asked the Painted Lady what they could do compensate for her loss.
She wanted nothing but a second chance for the Blue Spirit, and they complied. They could not bring him back to life, but they could give him a second life. They healed his burns (except one, the fatal mark that could not be removed) and sent him hundreds of years to the future, where he was to be reborn.
Something still bothered them, though. The Blue Spirit had learned compassion from the Painted Lady in their travels; who would teach him compassion in his new life? So they put the Painted Lady to sleep and made her mortal, sending her away as well.
In the hopes they would find each other in their new lives, they left a trail. The Blue Spirit was left in the nation associated with red, and the Painted Lady was left in the nation associated with blue. They were given powers to make up for their new mortal weaknesses, and born in a time when the mortals would benefit from their births.
This is why, hundreds of years later, two babies took their first breaths of air; one in the sharp cold of the tundra, and one in the oppressive heat of a palace.
Why do I share this story? Why Sokka, you know I tell for the sake- don't interrupt!
Okay, okay. I admit I bring this story up for a reason. There are some who say the time of the Blue Spirit and the Painted Lady grows close- that they are destined to find each other and uncover the past while saving the future.
Do I believe it? Of course not, Katara. A spirit, reborn a bender? Now, how silly would that be?
