"Shiro Shinobi here broadcasting from the new radio station built within the new arena. As we know a new spirit portal had been created in the center of Old Republic City during the battle against Kuvira. Since then the city expanded towards the mainland. Our heroes have been busy even during these hard economical times, but during their stay at the Eastern Air Temple a stranger with the astonishing ability to bend attacks two elements Korra and Tenzin when they were going to train their students in the Spirit World. Who is this stranger that is appearently no longer alive?"
*Book: Strength Chapter 2 - Return*
Tenzin and Mako unchained the stranger from the pillar as he looked confused.
"Have I really been gone for more than hundred years?"
"Yes. I know it must be confusing and hard to believe. We can help you find out how is it this came to be."
The stranger grips his wrist after being unbounded, "To answer your question of who I am, I am Ronin, from the village of Shyria."
"I'm Korra, these are my friends Mako, Bolin, and Asami. How long have you been wondering the temple?"
"I'm not sure. It has been a couple of months since I had awaken from my meditation. I had wondered around the temple again, met a few of the air benders, thinking the monks had returned. It's strange that some do not use air bending to complete their tasks, which would make it simpler for them."
Tenzin then steps forward, "The air nomads had been wiped out in all the air temples in the 100 year war. Aang, however, was the last one in his time. My family and I were the ones to continue the line of air benders, until Harmonic Convergence made a few non-benders have the ability to bend air as well. Now a few of them decided to live here and the other air temples to learn how to control their bending long ago."
Ronin was disappoint to hear what had happened during his absence, "How much has changed in all this time?"
"So much I'm afraid, but now there is peace for the best. Korra was able to reunite the physical world with the Spirit World, which is why you'll be seeing them all around."
The group started walking within the temple talking to Ronin to know him better.
"All I can remember is I had went to meditate, waiting for the air benders to come back and when I had awakened I was in a dark place, which I would be in for so long. I was angry that nobody was here because I just wanted to get onto training the Avatar and return home for something important. It wouldn't be until a light shined from above that it seemed someone had removed some sort of cover and I began to float towards it. When I was out I would soon be surrounded by a light that eased my sorrows."
Korra then remembered when Tenzin had performed the cleansing ceremony in the ancient meditation site, "Wait, those dark spirits, all of them were you. Of course it all makes sense now. You were either all or among the dark spirits we had encountered when investigating a meditation site."
The group stopped walking.
"Yes, that explains you being sealed in darkness and Korra using her spiritual knowledge to bring you to harmony."
"But why was in the meditation site?"
"It was a spiritual place where the monks would cross over to the spirit world. It could be with all that energy your spirit lingered there. But how can it be you're in this unusual state I don't know. I never heard of such, condition, nor came across any knowledge about it."
"Well, in time things will become clear. Are there more people here?"
"Yes, my family is here as well. You'll meet them this evening at dinner. If you don't mind I have to attend to some of the new air bender Korra and I have been training. They must have wondered why we haven't showed up."
It was night and everyone was eating at a big dining room inside the temple. Ronin was eating far more than the others, enjoying every bite of every thing he got from the table.
"Well, I imagine being gone for a while and having not much of food to eat really built quite an appetite for you." Pema said to break the amazement everyone was in watching Ronin eat.
"Yes it did." Ronin said after swallowing some food he had in his mouth. "Haven't had such good food for a long time, this is so delicious."
Ronin replied as everyone got back to eating again.
"So what are you all doing here by the way?"
"Well we came here for a vacation. But now it seems we're going to be busy." Bolin responded.
"What do you mean?"
Asami puts her spoon back to her bowl to join the conversation, "Let's just say when we find someone, special like you, we get pulled into troubles and later in some sort of conflict."
"Oh, well, no need to worry. I'm sure all my enemies are gone."
"You are sure there isn't some sort of spiritual evil that is looking for you?" Korra asked in a serious tone.
"Not that I know of, I've never messed with spirits or any one who would live for more than 100 years." Ronin says unsure of what Korra wants to hear.
She gives him a serious stare for a short time, "OK, he's good."
"I guess the vacation is back on." Asami says with a relieved tone in her voice.
"So Ronin, what was your village like?" Tenzin asked.
"It is a great place. Everyone got along with each other, we were all close. A place one could call home."
"Do you think with all the time that has passed it'll be there?" Ikki asked with sympathy.
Ronin was going to take a spoon full of soup, but puts it back in the bowl, "I don't know now that you bring it up." He pauses for a second looking down at the bowl, "Tenzin do you think the air acolytes might have some maps?"
"I do believe they do have some here in the library."
"I can use one to point out where it is and later go to visit it."
After dinner everyone except Pema along with Rohan, Meelo, and Ikki went to the library to start looking through maps the acolytes had placed on a big table. Ronin points to where his village is in the Earth mainland.
"It is right here, I remember since I lived near the Gowgyn River."
"Sorry to say this, but you do know the people you grew up with won't be there any more." Korra pointed out.
"I know, but seeing their descendents doing alright will put me at ease after all that was happening."
"I'm still wondering as to why it is you haven't moved on and how you still have the abilities to control the elements. I should look into this matter and see what can be done." Tenzin attentive to know what Ronin state is.
"It could be like how when someone has unfinished business and can't move on until their goals are met." Asami responded and turned to Ronin, "What do you think you need to do in order to truly be in peace?"
"Well there was my duty to serve the Avatar, but it seems that time has long since passed. All there is now is to see how my village is now present day."
"I guess as the Avatar I should help you obtain spiritual peace. We should go see your village."
"Korra, you know we have to finish the acolytes' spiritual training. Until we can have someone else with the right amount knowledge to become a teacher it is up to us to train them."
"I know Tenzin, but maybe there is a reason we found Ronin. By helping him maybe we'll discover something spiritual that wasn't written in a book."
Tenzin lets out air to poise, "You might be right, but I highly doubt it'll mean putting the acolytes aside for now. I'll have Jinora be in charge of finding two teachers. The air acolytes will have an air bison prepared with some supplies for your journey starting tomorrow I assume Ronin?"
Ronin then thanks Tenzin by bowing to him.
Bolin then steps up, "Hey maybe Mako and I can accompany you, it'll be a great change to see more places in the Earth kingdom." He then turns to Mako, "What do you say Mako?"
"I guess, might as well take full advantage of this vacation while I'm at it."
"You all will be traveling on an air bison, so if Ronin completes his mission you two can bring the bison back on it."
Walking down a corridor, Korra was showing Ronin to the room he will be staying in.
"So how do you feel to finally be going home after all this time?"
"Great. I didn't want to tell any one at the table, but I'm more into knowing what happened to the love of my life."
"You had a wife?"
"No, we were to be wed after I returned from training Avatar Aang."
"Oh, I'm sorry you two weren't united. It must be hard, I don't know how you must be feeling to find out so much time had passed and not be able to be with the one you love." Korra lowered her sight to the ground.
"At this point, I know we'll be reunited in the after life."
They reached the room, Ronin looked around for a bit, "Hey, I also want to apologize for what happened in the court yard."
"No, it should be me to apologize, it was very wrong to have attacked when I should have presented myself to find out who you were." Korra sympathized.
"It's alright. I hope everything works out for you in whatever endevours comes your way. I should get to sleeping now, tomorrow is going to be a long day."
They bow to each other and Korra walks away as Ronin puts the blinds down. That night
Korra had a nightmare full of fire and terrors that lured within it. She woke up immediately sweating and breathing heavily, "Was it a nightmare?" She asked herself as she watches her hands shaking, "Or was it some how a vision of what is going to happen soon?"
It is the next day and an are bison was readied to take Ronin, Bolin and Mako on the journey to Shyria. Everyone was at the court yard to see them before they took off.
"Everything is ready Ronin for a safe travel." Tenzin said after air bending off the bison's saddle.
Ronin looks at the bison then to Tenzin, "I can't thank you enough for what you have done for me."
"I wish you good fortune and hope you find what you are looking for."
"I hope so too."
"Have a safe trip you two. Come back as soon as you can." Asami says looking at Bolin and Mako.
"We will, we'll also try to bring some things the places we're going." Mako replies.
"You guys be careful, I feel this won't end the way we think it will." Korra adds.
"Don't worry Korra, he doesn't look like a threat, I'm sure he is on our side."
"It's not him, I just feel for some reason we might just need him soon. But hopefully I'm wrong." Korra looks down,
The three then take off on Moshi out into the horizon to their journey. As Ronin held the harness, Bolin and Mako sat on the saddle relaxing as they flew.
"So Ronin, how far is your village exactly?" Bolin asked.
"I believe we can get to it under a week."
"I'm guessing that there will be some stops to rest right?" Mako asked.
"Of course, we have to stop to rest, eat, sleep, and see places don't we?"
"Good. So how were things back in, well, your days?"
"They were great, I had everything any one could ever want, a home, a job, and the love of my life who gave me purpose in this world."
"Oh, you were married?" Bolin asked surprised to hear Ronin.
Ronin laughs a bit, "No, no, we were engaged. Due to be married after I completed my duty to the Avatar.."
"Sorry it didn't get to happen." Mako said as he and Bolin were silent not knowing what else to talk of.
"Well, I'm sure she'll be waiting for me in the Spirit World where we'll be reunited."
Up high on a tree top a dark spirit sees Moshi heading its direction. It watches Moshi for a bit before zooming through tree branches up a mountain side in the opposite direction from Moshi. Mean while, Tenzin and Korra were continuing the acolytes' lessons in defense in the spirit world.
"That's good Zuo, but remember since you cannot bend the element there's no need to use more of your energy." Tenzin watches the acolyte performing the new defense moves.
Korra walked to talk to Tenzin, "Do you think Mako and Bolin will be alright being with Ronin?"
"I believe he is trust worthy. He has the same wisdom as the Avatar is taught, so they are in good company."
Tenzin gets into a stance to show the acolytes another new technique.
"The next move I'm going to show you will stop multiple attackers."
After watching Tenzin, Korra gets in the stance, "You're right, he'll keep them safe." Korra then readies to show the acolytes what to do as well, "I remember this move from the book you gave me. Bring it Tenzin!"
Tenzin and Korra then perform the technique as the acolytes watched.
"Good form. Hopefully at this rate we will be finish teaching sooner than I expected. Now everyone get your sparring buddy and practice."
It was near sunset and the three made it to a small town in a forest to rest for the night. Mako was at a small stand paying a farmer for the bales of hay for Moshi, while Ronin was amazed to see the machines that soon stopped working the fields as the farmers retired for the night.
"Wow, so much has changed. These things are quite impressive."
"We should find a nearby inn to stay in for the night." Mako says as he walks up to Ronin and Bolin.
"Yeah, flying in an air bison made me tired." Bolin rubbing his right eye to show how tired he was.
The three wonder into town to look for an inn. Near their position, a mother waits by the front door of her home to call out for her for her children, "Sho and Iri, time to come inside! It's getting late!"
The two children were playing hide-and-seek with three other kids from the town. As they heard their mother they went to their friends, "We have to go now, we'll play again tomorrow."
But as the children agreed they saw a few glowing shadows approaching them all and soon every detail became clear. The mother hears the children yell and started running to where she heard them. She runs to where she saw the other children run from and finds them graveling on the ground away from the armored figures with weapons. The mother immediately holds Sho and Iri as the figures approach them. As one of the figures was about to attack the family, a rock hits the figure arm making it back away as it dropped its sword.
"I don't think so big guy." Ronin called out as Mako and Bolin appear on the scene, rescuing the kids and mother.
"Quick you all need to get away from here." Mako point to the direction where the town was for the family.
"Who or what are these guys?" Bolin asked as he got into his stance.
"They look like spirit of some soldiers" Mako replies.
The soldiers then attack the three swinging their weapons. The three use their bending to block and attack the soldiers back and every time they hit a soldier it ended up disappearing leaving their armor behind. Despite all they were doing, more soldiers were coming from the forest and the three were forced back close to the town where people were running away.
"There's too many of them, but we can't leave the town to be conquered." Mako informs everyone.
"It will take all night to defeat these guys."
It was then a water bender bended water to one of the spirit soldiers about to attack Bolin, "Don't worry bender, the town folk are here to help." A town's men said as more of the town's people bending different elements joined the fight.
"Do you all know who they are? Have they came here before?" Ronin asked one of the town's folk near him.
"We don't know, this is the first time we saw and fought them." He replied as he bended against the spirit soldiers.
Soon after an awesome fight, every one of the town's folk eliminated the last spirit soldier leaving their armor on the ground. Everyone celebrated for their victory.
One of the officers on the site order another officer to report this to headquarters. Then one of the town's fold stands in front of Ronin, Bolin, and Mako, "We thank you for helping us fight off these invaders, is there anything we can do or give to repay you?"
"If it's alright with one of your inn keeps, we just need a place to stay for the night."
"Of course, we have one inn with a couple of rooms that are free."
"We don't want to trouble you all, my brother Bolin and I will stay in one room." Mako looked at the inn keeper.
The inn keeper bows to the group. As everyone left to be indoors while some stayed to keep watch overnight, the dark spirit from before watched and then went back into the forest. As Bolin and Mako laid in their own beds there was a knock on their door.
Bolin gets up to open it, "Ronin it's you, what's up?"
"We have to talk about what happened near the forest."
"Umm, sure come in" Bolin replies as he lets Ronin inside and closes the door.
"What do you guys think think those soldiers were and who they serve?"
"We don't know, we were hoping you might some how know of them. Not that you could in any way be responsible for what happened."
"No, I don't. I did however collect one of the helmets to investigate later. We need to head back to the Air Temple, I feel we'll need help from the others and notify the whole mainland."
"I guess we should, who knows, Tenzin might know who these soldiers are and whom they are serving."
"You're right, he might know something. Well we should get some sleep, luckily we'll be at the Air Temple before sun down."
At the Air Temple near sunset, Pema and Asami were picking some fruits from one of the temple's gardens.
"These will be good for tonight." Pema says with content.
"They surely will. It is quite lovely here, I really feel at peace and relaxed."
"I'm glad you do. I remember when Tenzin had brought me here for the first time before I had Jinora. We were going through a rough time in our marriage, he wanted to do something special for me. He thought coming here was a great idea, course it was all about trying to get me relaxed over the stress I was having." Pema continued to get more fruits with Asami, "We needed to get away from the world. Hopefully being away from it all will help you as well."
"I do believe it will, being isolated and away from my company's troubles and the world is helping me get my energies back, I was so stressed and tired. I really needed the time to spend with the people I care about."
Just then they both hear Moshi in the sky coming back to the temple. Moshi lands in a court yard next to the big garden Pema and Asami were at.
"What's happened? Why are you all back so soon?"
"Something has happened and is going to affect a lot of people if we don't do something about it."
Pema and Asami then put on a worried, but concerned face. They didn't know what to say or think.
