Shiro Shinobi: "The Western Air Temple has changed a lot after these past years. As Tenzin informed President Raiko of their recent encounter with the spirit soldiers and Asami repairs the airship with some new help, team Avatar passes their time exploring the temple. When searching for Ronin who'd gone to meditate, he shows up to tell Korra the most shocking news of all: He found a spirit that claims to know how to recover Korra's predecessors. The race to finding the temple is now really on."
*Book: Strength Chapter 6: Worlds Apart*
The airship arrived at Old Republic City a two hours before it was noon. There were blue skies with little to no clouds in certain directions with all sorts of flying spirits as well. A gentle breeze was blowing that hardly moved the grass and the leaves of the trees. The airship lands in an open area not too far from the portal just off a water front partially blocked off by spirit vines and a few bushes. Oogi circled the airship once and landed near the entrance while everyone was exiting. Tenzin, Jinora and Korra dismounted with back packs.
"Here we are, again." Tenzin looked at the portal, "We should get moving there's no time to waste."
"Right." Korra gave a single nod and then turns to her friends, "Well I guess this is where we part ways temporarily."
"You all watch yourselves over there. Hopefully we'll meet in Ba Sing Se soon enough." Mako assured and gave Korra a hug.
"We'll be going now as well, best of luck finding what you're looking for." Asami walks up and hugs Korra.
"Thanks. You all take care of each other."
"You all sure you don't want someone else to come along?" Bolin wanted to make sure having asked before.
Korra chuckled, "No I'm sure the three of us will be alright. Besides, I know you will want to see Opal at some point."
Bolin agreed as he placed his right hand behind his head blushing a bit, "That's true. She said she was going to be visiting her family in Zaofu in a couple of days. It is on our scheduled route."
Korra nodded and then walked back to Tenzin and Jinora to continue onward to the portal. Korra then remembers to tell Tenzin and Jinora where they all were going to meet in Ba Sing Se as they walked, "I almost forgot to tell you two that the rendezvous point at Ba Sing Se. It will be at Mako and Bolin's family's new home."
The area around the crater had changed having more spirit wild vegetation, but the inside still only had the vines. Tenzin, Korra and Jinora looked at one another confidently and walked into the portal. Once they were on the other side among the purple pink flowers with the dead trees with the white mountains in the background.
"The Twilight Woods should be in that direction. I had been coming through here on my days off in the past month."
"This is going to be exciting, I should write about this in my book."
"You've been writing a book?" Tenzin was surprised to hear.
"Yes, mainly of my time in the Spirit World."
They all start to walk to the direction Korra had pointed out. Small spirit fireflies would fly up where ever the flowers and later the tall grass was being moved aside. In the horizon ahead they all could see the fine line that separated both land and sky from day and night.
Outside of the new Republic City's limits the airship flew over the valleys and mountains Kuvira and her army had marched on. Now only faint mecha tank tracks and large foot prints from the giant mecha suit remained in the green grass far below. Asami looked at it all through one of the windows until she heard President Raiko's voice on the radio calling for her.
"Asami are you there? This is President Raiko. Is anyone there?"
Asami picks up the microphone calmly with no hurry since it wasn't far from reach, "Yes I'm here sir."
"I'm afraid I have some troubling news."
Asami gasped away from the microphone, "What is it? Has something happened?"
"We have lost communications with nearly all of the United Forces in the mainland along with the leaders of the states. I got everyone who could help recover communications, but were unsuccessful."
"What can we do to help?" Asami said attentively to help.
"Since it'll be a while before one of our operators will find out a solution, I have to ask if you can go to General Iroh to keep in contact with his officers and I through messenger hawks. That is the only way we can keep everyone up to date on this whole- Dragon Brothers' army situation."
"And where is General Iroh located?"
"My last contact with him was when he was near the Serpent's Pass. That's when all communications with all of the United Forces were lost."
Asami looked into a drawer, searching through the documents inside and finally found what she was looking for, a map, "Have they by a chance encountered any of the enemy soldiers since they were sent?"
"I had been informed that General Iroh did confront some soldiers in a town before reaching the Serpent's Pass. Before that a battalion also confronted a group on the other side of the lake across from the Serpent's Pass."
"Any chance you were told what direction they came from?"
"No unfortunately, also the fleet stationed in Kyoshi Island can be of use to-"
Just then President Raiko's voice is covered by white noise.
"Hello, President Raiko, are you there?" Asami tried other channels, but couldn't make any connection.
Mako knew something was up and walks over to Asami, "What's wrong?"
"It's the radio. I was talking to the President when all of a sudden we were cut off." She kept changing the channel, "I can't get a signal with anyone."
"Let me see it." Mako changed the channels and messed with the other nobs, but made no avail, "Something must have happened to the radio towers or the station, that's why there's no signal being received."
"We'll have to see if something has happened to the station then, it shouldn't be far from our current location. Whoever is in the station should know what's going on."
Mako nodded agreeing with Asami's claim. They both immediately walked to Ronin, Bolin and Kyria who could clearly see there was a problem they all were going to try to fix.
"Has something else happen? You two look like you got bad news to tell us."
"We hope it's nothing serious bro, but we have to check on the radio station. Communications have been going down and there's no way to get in contact with anyone anywhere."
"How far do we have to go? Will it throw us off route?" Ronin asked.
"No. As a matter of fact we're at least a mile or two from its location. I should go and let Captain Mharu know where to head now."
"It doesn't sound too serious. Maybe we'll be able to fix the radio station's controls in no time when we get there." Kyria said confidently.
"I don't know, it is rather strange communications have been cut off especially during what's been going on. We're going to have to be prepared should the army be responsible for all this."
Back in the Spirit World Tenzin, Jinora and Korra made it to the outside of the Twilight Woods. They stood a few yards away from the trees that almost looked like they were a wall grown to keep anyone even spirits out. They walked along the outside searching, hoping to find the masked spirit or some spirit that would know how to find the masked spirit.
"It won't be long now, all we have to do is find that spirit Ronin told us about to see what she wants with me and get her to tell us how to recover the past Avatars." Korra walked with haste, but in a pace Tenzin and Jinora were able to keep up with.
"Be patient Korra, we are where we are wanted. It's only a matter of time before the spirit presents herself."
Korra inhaled and exhaled to calm her excitement that was causing small white clouds to form in the clear sky, "You're right, I'm just still shocked that after so many years I'll be reunited with my past lives. Everyone who'll help in my future endeavors."
"I know this is big and important for you Korra that is why we're here for you to help however we can. Just go at this slowly." Jinora kindly assured.
Just then Korra pops her head up with glee, "I got an idea as to how to bring the spirit to us." Korra sat down and got into the meditative position.
"What is it that you have in mind?" Jinora was curious to know.
"It is something Iroh showed me during the Unalaq crisis. When I'm in the Spirit World I have a positive and negative affect on it all. If I concentrate I could bring the spirit here to us."
"Good thinking Korra. Then we'll wait here and see if she'll show up."
Jinora and Tenzin also started got into the meditation position to wait along with Korra.
Meanwhile, the radio station in charge of transferring radio signals came into sight. It looked to be normal from afar. Everyone was looking at it through the front windows standing behind the controls to allow Captain Mharu to see where he was heading. But as the airship neared they started to see a few figures on the mountain side. Asami grabs a telescope to get a better look at them one at a time. She was shocked to see they were soldiers from the Dragon Brothers' army, clearly keeping watch to insure no one can get to the radio station that shown damages caused by conflict.
"Guys, there are soldiers surrounding the station."
"What are we going to do? They'll be on us if we land nearby." Out from the air came a burning boulder that nearly hit the airship on the right barely hitting the engine. The Captain turned to the right to dodge another incoming boulder. He had turned real hard forcing everyone to lose balance and rolled to the left side of the ship piling up on one another.
"Sorry 'bout that that, but those boulders would really do a number on us." The Captain yelled out as he was leveling out the airship.
"And now we can get blown out of the sky." Bolin continued as he was picking himself up from the floor.
"Alright here's what we should do." Ronin started to explain his quick plan as he was getting up, "Mako and I are going to fly out and take out as many soldiers as we can. Bolin and Asami wait on top of the airship. Bolin keep those boulders from smashing into the airship."
Kyria was confused as to why Ronin didn't mention her and what she could be doing in the fight, "What about me Ronin?"
"Oh, um, I don't know. What will you want to do?"
"Oh boy." The Captain says as a burning boulder headed towards the airship. Nobody else could see it having their backs facing the side of the airship. Kyria quickly jumps forward, using her earth bending to destroy the huge boulder turning it into dust with a few pebbles hitting the glass. Everyone was astonish to see Kyria had earth bending abilities.
"OK you should stay inside since Bolin might not be able to reach the bottom of the ship." Ronin said still astonished at what had happened.
"Captain Mharu, will you and your crew be alright when we're away?"
"Don't worry 'bout a thing, I got a few earth benders myself, you can go on up with them missy." The Captain grabs a microphone to talk to the crew, "All earth benders come to the bridge for new orders."
Atop of the airship the five friends carefully to the side of the airship that was facing the mountain side occupied by the soldiers who were still throwing the boulders with fire.
"While Mako and I clear out a couple of the soldiers for a safe zone for you all to fly in with those parachutes and land on to join us. That way we can take the radio station back."
"Understood." Asami replied.
Ronin and Mako then use their fire bending to take off toward the mountain side.
"I didn't know you had bending abilities."
"Oh yeah. Well we never really got to that, but was going to mention it eventually." Kyria smile at Asami and then focused on the task.
After meditating for a while Tenzin opened his left eye to see if Jinora or Korra had stopped as well. He then let's out a deep breath, "Korra, this doesn't seem to be attracting any spirit." Tenzin looked around as Jinora opened her eyes looking around as well.
Korra concentrated hard her brows would twitch, but she stopped knowing Tenzin was right, "I guess we should have asked Ronin to come along with us just in case, huh?" Korra looked at the ground, disappointed to not have met the masked spirit. But then she immediately thought of an idea, "Jinora, can you go into the world to get Ronin? Maybe he can summon-"
Korra then spots the masked spirit up on a tree looking in between Tenzin and Jinora. With wide eyes she gets up, "There she is!"
As Tenzin and Jinora barely get a glimpse when the spirit retreats into the Twilight Woods, Korra runs after the spirit passing Tenzin whom also follows her with Jinora behind him. When they entered the woods Jinora looks back to see the entrance get sealed off by trees closing in on each other. The masked spirit jumped branch after branch while Korra ran over the roots of trees and puddles of water reflecting the sky and tree tops. "Wait! Stop!" Korra called out. She then used air bending to get on the tree branches as well. Up ahead was a tree with an opening where the spirit took refuge in. Korra jumps down to block the entrance with Jinora in the center and Tenzin by Jinora's left.
"Alright, come out. I don't know what you really want with me, but here I am."
The spirit hesitated for a moment then slowly walked to the entrance of the tree.
"We were told you knew how the Avatar can recover her past lives, so we've come for the information." Tenzin added.
The spirit looked down a second and then to Korra. She stepped out of the tree and stood in front of them, "I had to bring you deep into the woods, it was the only way to insure I could talk to you and ask a favor from you."
Korra and Tenzin looked at each other and back at the spirit.
"I do have what you seek, how to regain your predecessors. However, I apologize to have to use it as a way to get back what was taken from me long ago. When we were together."
Everyone was surprised to have heard what the masked spirit said.
"What do you mean when we were together? You mean in a past life?"
"Yes. I am Ummi. I had been engaged to Avatar Kuruke long ago. But to our misfortune I was attacked and had my face stolen by Koh, The Face Stealer."
Tenzin was shock having known what malevolent spirit was mentioned. Then he understood what the spirit wanted, "You want Korra to recover your face for you in exchange for the information."
Jinora then took a step forward to try to reason with the Ummi, "I am sorry for what Koh did to you, but the world is currently in danger and Korra needs to contact with one of the past Avatars in order to stop the evil that has risen."
"Yes, I have felt a change in the Spirit World, but you must understand that those who get their face stolen are condemned to wonder in the Spirit World forever never to find peace."
Everyone looked at one another knowing they had no choice but to help Ummi.
"OK, we'll help you. But you must give your to tell us what we came for."
"I will young Avatar, you have my word."
Back on the mountain side battle, Mako and Ronin were defeating the soldiers while Bolin and Kyria protected the airship from oncoming fire boulders. Once Mako and Ronin cleared an area for Asami, Bolin, and Kyria he picks up his walky talky to let Asami know they can come down, "It's clear enough, come on down to us, we'll cover your landing."
"OK, we're going." Asami puts away her walky talky and gives the queue to jump off.
Inside the airship the Captain saw the three friends take off, "Alright, two of you men get on top!"
Two of the crew benders immediately headed to the ladder to get on top of the airship. The other men got into their stances on the other side of the airship since the Captain started turning the airship to keep it flying near the battle site.
"Keep those boulders from smashing into the airship."
It wasn't long till the three friends landed and joined the fight, with Bolin and Kyria earth bending and Asami with her newly improved electric gloves and a new protective suit for battle. They all moved forward up the mountain using their bending abilities to make it easier to climb forming steps and making stone platforms to carry them like a lift. As before the spirit soldiers would disappear leaving their armor and weapons to fall to the ground. Finally they reached the building clearing out the last soldiers. Mako burst into the building while Bolin threw rocks to eliminate the three soldiers guarding the five hostages that had been bound and had bandanas covering their mouths. Mako and Bolin start to unbind the hostages helping them up.
"Are you all alright?" Mako checked on them.
"Yeah, that was quite the entrance you two. How did you manage to take care of the monsters outside?"
"We had help from three other friends."
"That's good, were you able to beat the man and woman who brought the monsters here as well?"
Bolin and Mako looked at each other then back at the radio operator.
"Man and woman?"
Just then one of the windows in the room was shattered by Ronin whom was actually thrown into it from the outside. He got up slowly as the openings in his body closed.
"Looks like we aren't done here yet."
He limped to the entrance at first, then returned to a normal posture. Asami and Kyria fought the two strangers dodging Xersi's fire bending and Xi'Lee's air bending. Kyria bravely fought Xersi using her earth bending to attack and defend. Xersi would climb or jump over the walls Kyria made as he also dodge the rocks she would throw at him. Though she would get a few hits on him it didn't seem to affect him much. As Kyria fought Xersi, Asami would carefully keep a short distance from Xi'Lee to dodge the whirling winds jumping and rolling. Then they would close the gap and fought with their fists each using their own martial art. Asami would land blows with her electric gloves that could throw some electricity within a yard. Xi'Lee would show how little to no affect it had on her by grinning as her body's openings revealing a purple light that closed quickly.
"Do you honestly think you can defeat me so easily?"
Asami wasn't scared of seeing Xi'Lee recuperate, but knew she had to keep in mind Xi'Lee wasn't a normal being.
"Where are Ronin, Mako and Bolin? We sure could use their help." Kyria asked as she backed up next to Asami as the attacks stopped.
Xersi and Xi'Lee regrouped as well grinning to show they weren't hurt and that the two friends were no threat. Before the two groups could attack one another again Ronin threw a ball of fire from the top of the radio station at the enemy's feet. Mako and Bolin also appear, each going to the side of Asami and Kyria. Despite the three friends showing up it didn't stop the two villains from continuing their attack. Mako tried taking on Xersi whom after throwing two fire punches, Xersi used his bending to block Mako's attack and kicked him out of the way. Not long after Mako attacked Bolin tried to confront Xi'Lee with earth bending, blocking the whirl winds as Kyria attacked as well. Ronin jumped from the building to fight with Xersi to insure he doesn't attack Bolin and Kyria as they fought Xi'Lee. Bolin had bended a block of earth under Xi'Lee as she charged at him, but she used it to get into the air when she knocked him down with a whirl wind and threw knives to pin him down. She was going to land a devastating blow on him, but Asami lunged her open palm to strike Xi'Lee with electricity. Xi'Lee did get struck a bit, but was able to evade most of the electricity. Meanwhile, Ronin fire and earth bended at Xersi to try to defeat him. Xersi had to really try harder to avoid the attacks especially since he could not do anything to Ronin's earth bending. Mako joined fire bending at Xersi to distract him as Ronin threw huge rocks that barely hit at times. Xersi and Xi'Lee then got together still in a fighting stance as everyone cornered them on an edge of the mountain.
"You all won this fight, but you will not win the war." Xersi called out.
"As you wonder around doing your "heroic deeds" we'll make sure it'll all be in vain." Xi'Lee exclaimed.
Then they use the same gestures making the purple smoke cover their bodies and vanished leaving the smoke to fade away with the breeze. Everyone drops their stance know the fight was over.
In the Spirit World Ummi with Tenzin, Jinora and Korra arrived at a far distance from the huge tree where Koh inhabited the underground cave within.
"We are here." Ummi said as they look at the tree from atop of a huge root.
"What's our plan?" Korra turns to Tenzin.
"Koh is a dangerous spirit Korra. When we go into his domain to talk to him you must not show any expressions. I don't know, however, how we're going to be able to get your face back Ummi."
"You will have to fight him I'm afraid. He will refuse to just give it up so easily. But to take it from him it will be like taking off a mask."
"I see. We will try have to reason with him." Tenzin turns to Jinora and places his left hand on her right shoulder, "While we're in there I want you to stay out here in case we need back up."
Jinora nodded to let him know she understood why.
"Please be careful inside. I am terribly sorry for having you do this, but I been here for so long, away from everyone whom I loved."
"It's alright, it is our job to help anyone even spirits in peril."
"Are we ready to go?" Korra asked.
Tenzin nodded. Jinora and Ummi stayed behind watching as Tenzin and Korra started to walk towards the tree as they were looking at the dark entrance not knowing what darkness awaits them.